June 2008 Grocery Challenge

Moniker

"...learning to decorate them will really keep her healthy and well fed when she goes to Uni.... im just glad she has learnt with us"

Mrs M you are so right. My DD1 did food Technology at GCSE because they 'had to' do a technology subject, and she was incredibly frustrated,doing profiteroles over and over again to get the packaging right! She hated it. Fortunately, she learnt to cook at home and both my DDs survived uni with out recourse to takeaways. DD1 is a very good cook and loves it.

A NSD for me today - though I normally do my main food shop on Thursdays, my shifts have changed till the end of the month so I don't get the morning off - it's a bit of a pain really as I like to buy the fresh stuff myself and see what I am getting! Can't decide whether to go on the way home tomorrow or on Saturday morning. It's our village fete on Saturday so a busy day - I think I will go on Friday.

Re the discussion about washballs etc. I have tried these but I think the soapnuts are cheaper and more effective and I live in a very hard water area. I put about 6 or 7 in the linen bag they come with and although sometimes they 'escape' it's not really a problem. I like the fact that you can put them on the compost heap when they are 'spent'.

Well, better get on with some work I suppose. Hope everyone has a good rest of the day.

M

jinky67

i am definitely getting better at this..went to Somerfield today and I bought....

12 toilets rolls 1/2 price
Cornflakes and Frosties £1 each
HUGE BAG of carrots reduced to 38p
3 packs rump steak whoopsied cost £5.50
1 pork belly joint whoopsied £2
and 4 packs chicken reduced in price too

bought some other stuff too

Total £38.16
i am ashamed to say I used to avoid whoopsies like the plague:o no I hunt down the bargins:D

annelouise_2

Having decided on pasta with pesto and bacon for tea,I got carried away and made up my own BACON & COURGETTE sauce without a jar of pesto.Saving there.

Bunch of spring onions gently fried in Olive Oil
Handful of bacon lardons or streaky bacon
1/2 Grated courgette
Dash milk or cream
Salt
Black Pepper

Fry off spring onions,add bacon ,cook 3 mins,add courgette and milk / cream
Season and cook further 5 mins till soft.

Blitz until smooth,I reserved a few lardons to add to pasta.

Pour over drained pasta ,add bacon bits and serve with crusty bread & parmesan.Yum.

Another leaf on each courgette plant,18 things listed on ebay ,10 more to be listed tonight.It's all going great.

Bought 2 birthday gifts for 20 euros and got discount off fuel - 7 euros to be exact.Although it did cost me 76 euros before discount!!OMG:mad:

New supermarket Eroski opening here on 21st June so 3 supermarkets in 5min walk from the front door:Lidl,Consum and soon Eroski.

Making fairy buns tonight any easy recipes appreciated.

annelouise:rotfl: :rotfl:

fizzel81

£9.53 spent here (last night)

8 pints of milk (asda have cravendale at 1.00 per 4 pints)
reduced 12 inch chicken feast pizza
reduced quiche ham and cheese
reduced salmon fishcakes
reduced cooked chicken pieces
reduced mini jacket potatoes
reduced chicken pie
pasta
pot of pasta sauce (pasta and the sauce non reduced, but looked nice)
and hmmmmm a chock trifle thing (sorry!)

the last 3 items did look nice and not something i would usually buy, meal plan today has now changed to use some of the above i brought as freezer is now jammed

i have just over 70 left in this months budget im pretty hopefull that im going to be ok need to think about doing a fruit veg top up just not had my vouchers yet (due by 8th)

vickster0304

Hi there. You are all wonderful at supporting each other. Does your grocery shopping include alcohol> We always have a couple of bottles of wine and some beer at the weekend and I am not giving this up. My fave bargains are Lidl Prosecco and their small bottled beers are not bad either. I am going to see how we do this month and join in next month, but have written recipes down for Chessy Biscuits, Bounty Balls, Millies Cookies and of course Twinks Hob nobs. I will be lurking this month, but wanted to say hello.

mandy_moo_1

jocarmom i think everybody just builds up their storecupboards/ freezer as they go along, and when you see a BOGOF you get them, cos then you have a spare one! plus when you buy something like mince, you make it into meals, then freeze them, hence building up your stock....oh and bytheway....welcome :wave:

greent the recipe for the yogurt cake that most of us make is here. its really more-ish!!
i've not tried doing it in the m-wave, only the oven. hope you enjoy it as much as we all do

vickster0304 welcome!! don't be a lurker!! get yourself on here and join us properly!! you can set your budget to whatever you want, some would include alcohol, petrol, clothes, and some don't . its up to you, just whatever you want to do x

victory

Lucifa73 wrote: »

Is it puff pastry? If it is you could make palmiers with it - roll out the pastry until about 5mm thick. Scatter over sugar for sweet ones or cheese/herbs for savoury ones. Roll over lightly to press into pasrty. fold one long side to the middle and the other to meet it then fold in half. Cut into 5-7mm thicknesses lay on a baking sheet and sprinkle (spread out cos they grow) and bake in 180C over for 10-15mins until golden. Lovely with a cuppa (savoury ones nice with soup too) and keep well (if you can keep your hands off them) in airtight container.

Or ask a friend/neighbour/family to put it in their freezer for you if they live nearby?

No,not puff ,shortcrust, moving away so don't know anyone there to ask, family live hundreds of miles away, new area, new schools, trying to get a job, it is all go, packing what a nightmare:eek:

vickster0304

I have spent all day on here!!! OK I have spent £32 on food so far this month, but don't feel I can join in as I am on holiday from 19th - 28th June so will set a goal for July. We have such an expensive time ahead, with two weddings in July and our holiday I am trying to cut down wherever possible. I am driving at 50 mph and have turned my aicon off in the car and have noticed that my average MPG has gone up from about 38 to 44 on my car journeys - Bit OT I know.

Lucifa73

victory wrote: »

No,not puff ,shortcrust, moving away so don't know anyone there to ask, family live hundreds of miles away, new area, new schools, trying to get a job, it is all go, packing what a nightmare:eek:

You could go on a pie only diet:rotfl: .

Seriously though - someone further up mentioned her sone had done a pizza with a pastry base rather than dough so you could try that. How about making some jam tarts and take them in the car/van on the move as treats and use up odds and ends of jam (we always seem to have 2 or 3 jars on the go)

OO quite fancy some tarts myself now:rotfl:

greent

greent the recipe for the yogurt cake that most of us make is here. its really more-ish!!
i've not tried doing it in the m-wave, only the oven. hope you enjoy it as much as we all do


Thanks for that mandy_moo!! Has anyone tried it with flavoured yog? I'm thinking strawberry/ peach???.......


GT