June 2008 Grocery Challenge

OrkneyStar

sjaypink wrote: »

hi im new here too! i was trying to use up whatever was left last night before my first asda challenge today.

i had a pack of bacon, cassorole mix, loads of leeks, mushrooms and an onion.
i fried of the bacon (roughly chopped) added the cassorole mix and water plus chopped veg. added more water than you're meant to cos it didnt cover all the veg, but then chucked in some gravy granules to thicken it up again. in the oven for 30 mins.
then i really pushed the boat out and made some dumplings:rotfl: back in oven for 20 mins.

not very adventurous but tasted good, and i guess you could use any veg you wanted, i just used that cos its what i had left.

i know the cassorole mix isnt very mse but i dont know how to make your own...............
probably something to do with an oxo cube?!

I adore dumpling- what recipe do you use ?
Thx

sjaypink

OrkneyStar wrote: »

I adore dumpling- what recipe do you use ?
Thx

veg suet & flour? isnt that the only way to make them? oh god my cooking skills and knowledge really need some attention! glad im on here- you guys know everything!

:rotfl: ah ha! no, there is another way- 'just add water dumpling mix'! :rotfl:

OrkneyStar

sjaypink wrote: »

veg suet & flour? isnt that the only way to make them? oh god my cooking skills and knowledge really need some attention! glad im on here- you guys know everything!

:rotfl: ah ha! no, there is another way- 'just add water dumpling mix'! :rotfl:

Lol I have been known to use the second option!
I just wondered if there was any trick to making the prefect dumpling!
I have started adding some dried herbs to mine recently and that makes them mmmmm. Might also think about some fresh herbs too, although depends on how much is in the cass already of course!

fertyskids

thanks so much. your ideas are great. i think ill do bacon eggs and chips tonight i know they'll love it. daughters party tomorrow so i need to do a healthy tea after tons of sugary stuff at lunch time. ive got a pie, pots and veg i think. for fri we are in the caravan so ive just chucked together a spag bol that i can take with us. no fish and chips for us!!

went to asda last night, didn't need meals but still spent £40. cat food.. shreddies.. bread by the ton we eat 2 loaves a day inc pack lunches. yoghurts again we eat loads in packed lunches and little ones for puddings.

not planning to do anymore shopping until sat ewhen im in the caravan. ill probable spend a fortune next week as its difficult to cook. we wont eat out though so that will save a fortune.

the only things i need to buy this week now are some non-alcholic drinks to take to a friends tomorrow night. they want fresh fruit juice or appletize. that will prob set me back a fiver!!
this site is great im going to dig othe breadmaker out of the garage as soon as im back from hols. karen

linzmac_2

Morning all!

Just updated my sig with spend of £12.81 over the weekend (mostly on beer! :beer: :embarasse ...ah well!)
Have done my meal plans for the rest of the month and am determined to only use what is in and stay within my budget (I'm sadly quite excited about the challenge too!). Looking forward to having an empty fridge and freezer at the end of the month...and I actually think we are going to still eat pretty well for the next couple of weeks!

Were meant to be having pasta with pesto tonight but realised that I had run out of parmesan . Need to use up some of my basil plant though so am going to make it minus the cheese and freeze it until next month! Luckily my Mum turned up last night with bags of cauli and broccoli florets she got for free at work so going to make a cheese sauce for them and hopefully there will be enough for DH and me for tea tonight with some HM cheddar & chilli bread I made yesterday to go with soup and then some for the freezer.

Will need to pick up some milk (btw have started buying full fat and adding water thanks to you guys! :T ) and fizzy water at some point today or tomorrow but other than that I WILL NOT BE SHOPPING for the rest of the month!

Hope everyone has a good (and inexpensive!) day!

Linz

FelineFantastic

For all the bread makers out there a question-- do you have to use bread flour for bread and if so where is the best place to get it from and also how long do I kneed it for??

Okay that was three questions.....:o

Just figured with the veggies now being delivered if I made bread all I would have to get from teh shops would be the bare minimum! :T

Axx

linzmac_2

I would think you would need to use bread flour. I get mine from MrA coz I like to use organic stuff, but I've seen others say that Lidl's is good.

Not sure about kneading coz I do mine in the machine...10 mins???

Sorry, haven't really been much help I don't think :-s but would definitely recommend doing it...it;s definitely worth it!

Linz

greent

sjaypink wrote: »

thinking about it though i reckon most of my money goes out on lunchbox things. does anyone have any cheap lunchbox ideas- for kids 5,6 & 9? they pretty much eat anything.
and think the fella may have to join in too instead of spending out on subways and maccy d's. guess i could do him some pasta?

two more questions ;

how come you're all talking about hm bread? how cheap is it to make?

what can i do with 10 large sweet potatoes?!

thanx

Hello and welcome!!!!!

It's my first month here and it's going ok (although not as good as siggy implies - it really needs updating:o )

Kids lunchboxes - well, home made bread or pittas will keep that bit doen. Pasta salad/ leftover from night before/ cold chicken drumsticks left from a roast (we never eat them with a roast cos they're nicer cold - lol!) Couscous and veg with wee bit of chicken or ham.leftover quiche from night before, leftover pizza.......
'Puddings' - home made bisuits/ muffins/ banana loaf/ choc & courgette cake (really! - it's yummy and they don't realise they're eating veg!!)

Mine have a few crisps from a big bag in a tub - cheaper, healthier and better for environment!

If OH has access to a microwave the potentials are almost unlimited re taking leftovers for lunch!

If they have ddrink cartons change to water/ squash in a reusable plastic bottle.


Home made bread - depends on the flour you buy. Most own brands seem to be about 48p pkt - you get 3 good sized loaves from that. Other costs are the salt/ sugar (minimal), fat if used (minimal) and yeast (free if you can get fresh from supermarket or about 6p if using sachet dried - cheaper if tub) Then you need to cook it, but you can do this whilst cooking something else.
I like Lidl flour - and Doves organic flour (about £1.20 a pack usually but I stocked up on some at 80p pack)- so I mix the 2.
If you want to try a breadmaker, try freecycle or ebay within a 5 mile radius so you don't have to pay postage as you could collect.
Tastes nicer and you know exactly what went in it! Trouble is you might end up eating more, as it's so yummy


Sweet potatoes - off the top of my head - mashed - combine with 'normal' pots if you want. MAkes a fab shepherds pie topping. Or chop into wedges and bake in oven - yummy and I believe the have a better GI than white potatoes too. Also makes a good root veg mash with parsnip & a smidge of creme fraiche and lots of black pepper.
If they need using, par boil and freeze - or fully boil, mash and freeze in scoop sizes and then use in cooler weather for pies/ mash



GT
who is ging to spend the rest of the morning tending her veggies :-)))

greent

sjaypink wrote: »

thinking about it though i reckon most of my money goes out on lunchbox things. does anyone have any cheap lunchbox ideas- for kids 5,6 & 9? they pretty much eat anything.
and think the fella may have to join in too instead of spending out on subways and maccy d's. guess i could do him some pasta?

two more questions ;

how come you're all talking about hm bread? how cheap is it to make?

what can i do with 10 large sweet potatoes?!

thanx

Hello and welcome!!!!!

It's my first month here and it's going ok (although not as good as siggy implies - it really needs updating:o )

Kids lunchboxes - well, home made bread or pittas will keep that bit doen. Pasta salad/ leftover from night before/ cold chicken drumsticks left from a roast (we never eat them with a roast cos they're nicer cold - lol!) Couscous and veg with wee bit of chicken or ham.leftover quiche from night before, leftover pizza.......
'Puddings' - home made bisuits/ muffins/ banana loaf/ choc & courgette cake (really! - it's yummy and they don't realise they're eating veg!!)

Mine have a few crisps from a big bag in a tub - cheaper, healthier and better for environment!

If OH has access to a microwave the potentials are almost unlimited re taking leftovers for lunch!

If they have ddrink cartons change to water/ squash in a reusable plastic bottle.


Home made bread - depends on the flour you buy. Most own brands seem to be about 48p pkt - you get 3 good sized loaves from that. Other costs are the salt/ sugar (minimal), fat if used (minimal) and yeast (free if you can get fresh from supermarket or about 6p if using sachet dried - cheaper if tub) Then you need to cook it, but you can do this whilst cooking something else.
I like Lidl flour - and Doves organic flour (about £1.20 a pack usually but I stocked up on some at 80p pack)- so I mix the 2.
If you want to try a breadmaker, try freecycle or ebay within a 5 mile radius so you don't have to pay postage as you could collect.
Tastes nicer and you know exactly what went in it! Trouble is you might end up eating more, as it's so yummy


Sweet potatoes - off the top of my head - mashed - combine with 'normal' pots if you want. MAkes a fab shepherds pie topping. Or chop into wedges and bake in oven - yummy and I believe the have a better GI than white potatoes too. Also makes a good root veg mash with parsnip & a smidge of creme fraiche and lots of black pepper.
If they need using, par boil and freeze - or fully boil, mash and freeze in scoop sizes and then use in cooler weather for pies/ mash



GT
who is going to spend the rest of the morning tending her veggies :-)))

FelineFantastic

Thanks Greent!

Do you have a good basic recipe- foolproof for idiots! I am going to have a go this week. :T

Lidl's Bread flour or ordinary flour- sorry to be so dense!:o