April 2008 Grocery Challenge

pink_princess

thank kaz and angel nikki had a look at those links and ideas abit scary the thought of making these my self (pancakes and wraps) i might get some in incase of disasters lol
even if i could just give the wraps a go i d save a fortune we go through about 16 a week which costs me £2
the snacks do cost me a fortune but never made any thing other than flap jacks and fairy cakes before don t know where to begin and kids might revolt im also a useless cook only started cooking a month ago so even toad in the hole seems difficult lol
thanks for all the help
pink princess

belfastgirl23

Hi Pink princess

Just to say when you're doing the pizza it's worth doing double on the dough and sauce and freezing it. The dough freezes well in pizza sized balls and the sauce freezes fine too. That way some night when you come in in dire need of a treat you can just whack them in the micro to defrost and hey presto...

I found out on here that you can also freeze grated mozzarella too so you can have a whole meal in there

Curv

Well, I'm back in after an absence of far too long (forgive me MSEers, for I have sinned A LOT! LOL). I'm hoping I'll be able to keep to a budget of £350 for Me, DH DS(13), DS(2) and DD(1) - including nappies etc for both littlies.

I've done a HUGE online Asda shop, due to arrive tomorrow night and I'm expecting that to come in at about £240.00, but all I should need to top up on will be milk and maybe some nappies.

It's the first time I've done monthly planning and the first online shop in a long while - I used to go to Tesco twice a week but it's getting a bit tiresome with the kids so I decided to free up some precious time by going large, so to speak. I'm a bit concerned that I may have overestimated quantities and I know for sure that the quality isn't anywhere near what I'm aiming for e.g. too many packets and tins. But baby steps, baby steps and all that. Once I have reduced the budget and can manage the monthly shop I'll look at improving.

Good luck to everyone else in this month's challenge!

jackiegibbo

WOW arent there a lot of posts already

Mrs MC please put me down for £200 for aprils challenge

Good luck to everyone im hoping to surprise myself this month and reach my target.........perhaps i need to cut back on the odd goodies:rolleyes:

:T :T :T :T good luck all

chimp_choker

ifonlyitwaseasier wrote: »

i bought 2 packs my OH goes thro it at an alarming rate! and as thats £3 cheaper than tesco's own 24 pack i thought it was well worth it

So between mine ( wife) and yours they account for a rain forest......

Alan

Kaz2904

Well DH made tea as I was out dropping off DD.
Huge salad with jacket pots and tuna. Ok he used 2 tins but he made it and there were veggies!
Still not gone for a milk shop as I made up another pint from powdered. It is almost palatable from the fridge!
Fish with hollandaise sauce tomoroow night I think? Probably veggies to go with it.
Lets hope we scrape through.
DH has just read this over my shoulder and want's me to put that we're having kebab/chinese/takeout on Sunday......
I don't think he's ever read what I write on here!
Banana cakes are still going strong. Very nice they were but I wish I'd remembered to add some sultanas which I normally do- not sure if it would have worked with that recipe though. TTFN, Kaz.

angelnikki

PP I've not tried the pancake recipe but I'd really reccommend giving the wraps a try they are so easy to do (must be for me to be able to make them ) and they're really tasty and filling aswell.

For a good snack idea you could try Twink's Hobnobs or there's usually loads of baking ideas on this thread aswell .

Nikki
x

chimp_choker

Ok folks,

I'm down for £200 this month. This is my first official month ( like) and what a month to start !! Wife off at home for two weeks half term and a son home from uni for 3 weeks !! I'm not saying that they are a pair of locusts but........

I am reckoning on these being in during the day ( well my son is a student so he will only be up half a day) will cost at least another £60 during the month but I love 'em really...

Been on fixture ferrets and found out what's on offer so now off to the BBC food website for recipies and I will be doing my month long meal planner later tonight then I'll be sifting the cupboards and doing a shopping list. Decided to go shopping tommorow after the footie and tea... I never go food shopping hungry / on an empty stomach so wish me luck and see how it goes.

Good luck to each other and be as frugal as you wish but don't beat yourselves up if you buy the custard creams or pork pies or that curry or that.........lol.

Alan

P.S. for those that remember my cd fiasco.... I'm back up to 7234 tracks tonight......

carolt2

CHEERFULNESS4


This is the recipe that MRS MC posted towards a couple of days ago.


The bread sticks are :-
150ml warm water
1/2tsp dried yeast - i use 7g of fresh
pinch of sugar
225g plain flour
1tsp salt
2 tsp caraway seeds
Just dissolve the yeast n sugar in the water and throw into the dry ingredients ...nice n simple ... knead for a couple of mins -then divide the dough into 20.. usually about 20g each...
roll into long sausages -about 12" and place on a greased baking sheet -i use a non stick liner .. and wang in the oven at 220c/425f/gas7 for 10-12 mins
When you are rolling them out you do need some flour but try not to use to much as they just slide about
When mine are cooled i keep the wrapped up in a clean tea towel so they stay crispy..a bit like grissinis ...only nicer...
I have done them with poppy seeds too, and today i have done the caraway ones and 1 lot without the caraway seeds and with 10g parmesan and 1 tsp of mustard seeds - they are rather nice -had to quality test them

Keeping_Positive

Spent £8.42 so far this week and just starting my meal plan and shopping list for the week. Going to try home made pizza and hot cross buns using the BM. My slow cooker has bit the dust so annoyed at that was starting to get to grips with casseroles. Will have to convert to the oven route.

Away for a week Im not wether to increase holiday spends to include food and decrease April challeng. Will play by ear for now.

Freezer looks well stocked so off to do an inventory.