June 2008 Grocery Challenge

sashanut

MRSMCAWBER wrote: »

Don't know if you have done potatoes before? but if not -if you are doing them in a tub/bin..plant them under 2-3" of compost...wait until the shoots are about 5" tall..tip on more compost until just a couple of inches are showing then let them grow to about 5" again then do the sam again you do this 3 times in total and they reckon you should get a much bigger crop ...fingers crossed:D

Many thanks for the info - but the shoots are about 6" tall & spindly already !!!!daren't look TBH:eek: Haven't done spuds before but are tubs better than putting them in the garden? Might be easier, we have a couple of dustbins I could use but they are metal - suppose they need holes in the bottom

MRSMCAWBER

Yep

You need to whack holes in the bottom, then put in some compost, sit the potatoes in it and add enough compost to cover them..then carry on with the waiting until about 5" tall bit.. you will have plenty of room in a dustbin and its easier than sticking them in the ground:T

madmittens

Morning all!

This thread has grown so quickly, I have no hope of catching up! So hugs/commiserations/congratulations as appropriate.

Last night was my first spend this month - £15.61 at MrT. They've increased the price of Natco red lentils a lot, so own brand are now cheaper (but take care - it's a few pence cheaper to buy 2x500g than a 1kg pack). No value sultanas on the shelf for the second week running. Was rather late by the time I got there (after 10pm), so any good Whoopsies there may have been were gone.

Have a good weekend - hope it stays dry for a change!

Flylady_Flower

razra wrote: »

Drum roll please.....Just checked the bank and my total owed is now 00.00

Just the mortgage to go now

Seriously though Im so happy that Ive managed to clear the last debt over 1 year early

:T :T :beer: CONGRATULATIONS!:beer: :T :T I bet you feel absolutely wonderful. Hope you go out and celebrate in style (no getting into debt to do it though!:p )
Well done!

Ess-six wrote: »

I know I spotted it a couple of hours after I'd posted, but thought you'd all missed it

Yes the Twinks (as we call them in our house) are on my mind most of the time, in fact they shout to me when they're in the cupboard - 'eat me, eat me'

Ha ha, sorry to point it out, it just made me giggle - only noticed coz I was dreaming of them myself... mmm, must make some more...:rotfl:

MRS M - I wonder if you would mind posting your foolproof bread recipe on here for me. I have been making my bread in the breadmaker, and hubby & DS love it, but it is quite heavy and I would really like to do some in the oven as the hole in the bottom is quite annoying:rolleyes: . I could still use the breadmaker to do the kneading for me while I prepare some other stuff, but would like a recipe that is not so heavy - hope you don't mind me asking

A NSD for me yesterday, but really needed to buy some stuff, just put it off until today . Am going to Lidl's and Aldi's on way home from work then on to Mr T's to finish off - hopefully not too much of a spend as really trying to cut back - Have to pay £45 for fine next week plus £95 to take a 'course' on not speeding, as I didn't want the 3 points (maybe I should have just taken them and paid the £60 fine) I HATE speed cameras:mad: , I don't speed in built up areas but can't seem to help myself on motorways, etc as you just get into the flow of the traffic and when they have these stupid things set up and you know it is just a money making thing, it's REALLY annoying. If they stopped all the people driving in the middle and outside lanes instead (totally illegal if you're not overtaking, which they're not) and causing a road block and people to get road rage, blah, blah, blah, blah.... sorry, gone totally off track there, rant over (I do get a bit carried away when I have to waste money...:p ) so belt being tightened for the next couple of weeks.

mumzyof2

Im back and have made my shepards pie but no spag bol as there wasnt enough mince so all i need to do when i get in from Nursery is whack it in oven for 40minutes.

Cleaned all up and just had cheese sandwhiches for dinner. We all had showerers except my DD who is running upstairs everytime i mention the word shower :cool:

I have decided that im going to have a NSD even though i need to go to MrM for fruit and veg but im deciding on whether that can wait till tomorrow..it can do as i dont need it BUT tomorrow i will have both children at home so they will have to come shopping with me :eek: and if i dont go MrM what will i do for 2 and half hours whilst DS at school, as no point me coming home to go back to nursery again 2 and half hours later

Anyways off to drink my cup of tea and get DD showered. I still have not managed to get to look at the no smoking thread :rotfl:

MRSMCAWBER

Hi denise..no problem -

I make it by hand now but I used to let the BM do the work

• 300ml luke warm water
• 14g fresh yeast(dissolved in the water)...which i think is about 2tsp dried and a pinch of sugar
• 500g bread flour
• 3tsp salt

Throw them in your machine in the normal order for your BM.... just dump the salt in a corner to keep it away from the yeast to start with..and set to dough....
If you are letting the BM do the 1st raise then just tip out and shape into an oiled 2lb tin, cover with a carrier bag like a tent and leave until about 2-3" above the top of the tin... then wang in a preheated oven -230 for about 25mins or until golden -tip it out and if you knock on the bottom it should sound hollow

That makes a crusty loaf.... if you want it softer you can use part water and part milk .. and if you want it to keep better you can add a knob of butter/oil (i always found that oil makes a heavier loaf)-but we never bother as any that makes it past day 1 gets sliced and frozen:D

shelley1977

hi everyone,
my son had a visit to his nursery and then went to the co op where i spent £10, £3 was on a power rangers ball!! i must be mad.i haven't been on much lately as having stressful time with eldest son.hope everyone is well.

Confused_Newbie

Hi All

Can I ask a question..............What on earth are Twinks Hobnobs?!!

Kaz2904

Took me ages to catch up! I just skimmed again. Went to Mr T this morning and spent £33.33 after my £5 voucher was taken off. The SA didn't know if she could accept it so had to call over a superviser. When it finally went through she noticed it was out of date and looked really upset like she was going to get into trouble so I took pity on her and gave her an in date one.
I can actually see the back of the fridge through the gaps now! Managed to stock up on some syrup and things. Also treated myself to 5L lemonade to go in the beers I picked up.
Still need to try and create some space in the freezer now, ready for some more home made ready meals.

*BigBird*

Hello everyone. Hope you don't mind me tagging along with your fantastic thread. I've been having a read through (though it's taken best part of a week and I'm still 10 pages from the end!) and have picked up loads of tips and yummy-sounding recipes

I'm getting married next year and OH and me are paying the bulk of the costs, so trying to do what we can to save up for that. Not sure what we've been spending on food up to now, but it's normally around £70 in the main weekly shop and various top ups, so probably around £100pw - for 2 hoomans and 2 puss-cats :eek: For this month, I'm trying to cut down, plan ahead more and stock up the freezer then will see what we've spent at the end of the month and set a target for July.

Can I ask a quick question? Someone posted a little while back about growing carrots and keeping the sides of the pot 12-15 inches high to keep out carrot flies, I think? My garden is in tiers and the patio, where I'd like to put the pot, is on the bottom level - would this make it more susceptible to being attacked, as the beasties would come from the higher level? If so, what else can I do to keep the little boogers away?

Of course, perhaps what I should have asked first is - am I too late to think about planting carrots now?!