June 2008 Grocery Challenge

MRSMCAWBER

Afternoon all

Well i went back to the supermarket for the butter to find it had gone back up and was more expensive than i pay anyway :rolleyes: ..so i wouldn't bring any..luckily i was just going to stockpile whilst it was on offer i don't actually NEED any at the moment.. I did get the collapsible table n benches though :j well actually i got 1 hubby unpacked it and went back for another :rotfl: .. thought they are great for taking on picnics as the bench legs fold in and then they become the carry case..and the table fits inside as its aluminium slats, and it has a carry bag that unpops and becomes the bench covers...all for €29.99 ..and the benches will take over 240kilo so they are built well


i was thinking they would be great for bigger BBQs or when you have a buffet style meal as they will both line up along a wall :T so im happy...

We have just had some of the leftover chicken in a pasta salad..but when i stripped it off there was that much meat i have enough left for another 1 plus hubbys chicken n sweetcorn soup for tonight (have the bones boiling )... so that will be
3 salads
6 servings chicken pasta salad
and 4 portions of soup

Hi KITTY :T on the weight loss...
Im affraid im the opposite side of the coin to Victory .... i spent years WWing and have done all the others plus slimfast, lipo trim etc and went up n down like a wh*res drawers:rolleyes: -excuse the saying
This time around i finally realised i needed to find a way i can eat for the rest of my life... so i have dumped most low fat, low sugar, diet products
I have butter, full fat mayo, yogurts, milk etc, i do cook from scratch -but always have really.. at first it was quite scary as i was so conditioned to having low fat products i did expect to balloon even more.. but it hasn't happened... in fact i have lost every week -even whilst back home for xmas:p
The way im eating now is so liberating as im not constantly thinking ooh can i have? or if we are going out im not panicing about how many points etc i have left to use..
Over on the OS weightloss thread quite a few of us have gone back to "normal" foods and are finding it works.. i really do believe that all the synthetic stuff messes up your system and makes you crave more... well mine seems to... I get no cravings for junk at all not even when its TTOTM-which is a miracle
I started in August and had no chocolate until xmas day -at my mums..but didn't enjoy it and have had none since -the smell of it makes me feel sick (although i did have the paul mckenna CD for a few weeks..so i think that might have done that he tells you to link your fave food to something you can't stand so i thought of choccy and remembered the taste of whiebait...the devils food:o and now if hubby has choc in the car i have to have the windows open :j )
The basics i try and stick to are

• I eat what i want when i want..so if i want cereal for lunch i will and if im hungry for lunch at 10.30 i will have it then -spent years think ooohhh dinner time -must eat :rolleyes:
• I put out a sensible portion and tell myself that if im still hungry 30 mins after eating i can have something else -and it has never happened.. i have always had a hard time leaving anything on my plate
• I have no good/bad foods.. so find that i naturally choose the healthier options -but if i want something like say an ice cream ..i enjoy it and then im done..no feeling like i have blown it so may as well eat more... in fact hubby has ice cream i pinch 1tsp and im satisfied :eek: ..and i used to adore ice cream-of any kind

EKKKK sorry..better stop rambling... but i would suggest visiting us on the thread... its a really lovely group -if a little crazy at times.. everyone is so helpfull and always swapping hint n recipes.. and most importantly there is always someone there to cheer you along when things are going well and to pick you up when they aren't . Keep on going you are doing great.. there is no dealine is there? and every little bit off is taking us in the right direction :T
i will go away now and be quiet

JennyBee_2

Can't remember who asked for it, but this is the dough ball recipe that was posted on here a while ago!

to make 6 dough balls,
you need

5fl oz water
1tbsp olive oil
1tsp salt
1/2tsp sugar
1/2tsp italian herbs or oregano
2 cups strong flour
1/2tsp dried yeast

make dough in the BM
when its finished, divide it into 6 equal balls
mix a bit of crushed garlic with some butter
poke a finger into each dough ball, and put about 1/2tsp of garlic butter inside, then squidge the ball closed
allow to rise , but they won't rise much,just leave for about an hour
bake at 170/180 for about 12-15 mins


I've just made a batch of the shortbread from the recipe that was posted with the 5 yo step daughter. She loved it mainly because she got to stick her hands in butter in an attempt to rub it into the flour and sugar. It got everywhere!

However, they are now out the oven and they like them a lot. Although they seem to be a bit more like biscuits than shortbread (if that makes sense!) Might add some raisins to the next batch I think.

Kaz - spending the extra money on baby things sounds like a good idea but at the moment we've not told anyone so my family might think it was a bit suspicious! I went into WHSmith yesterday to look for a book. (I know you can find out most things from the internet but I like to read books sometimes!) I was completely blinded by science as there were so many to choose from! I ended up walking back out looking a bit dazed! So anyone got any recommendations for good books on bumps as I haven't a clue!

poohbear59

I would like to join in properly this month and have set my budget at £200. We should have four adults this month and DS3 is working in a kitchen so gets at least one meal per day which should save a massive amount of money. I bought my rice and pasta in bulk last month and also a whole lamb which completely skewed last month's budget.

poohbear59

Someone asked about uses for rhubarb. I haven't read all the posts back to the start of the thread but just in case I will list the things I make with rhubarb.
Rhubarb chutney, DH and DD love it, great with cheese and ham
Rhubarb and ginger jam
Rhubarb cake, crumble, pie. Add a soft fruit to sweeten it naturally eg raspberries.
Sell it at car boot sales. We sold loads for charity last year.

Tomorrow's task is to pick more and cook down to go in the freezer for the winter.

julie-jukes

Went to Mr A's last night with OH and only spent £55 ish! Normally if OH is with me it is double that amount but I had just bought him a new ipod so he wasn't in his 'Can I have?' mode!

lil_me

MRSM can you send me one of those tables please :rotfl: looks loads steadier than the daft one we got from Argos.

Just been shopping for packed lunch stuff etc, will add to total in a bit.

MRSMCAWBER

lil_me wrote: »

MRSM can you send me one of those tables please :rotfl: looks loads steadier than the daft one we got from Argos.

Just been shopping for packed lunch stuff etc, will add to total in a bit.

I just said to hubby that if it wasn't for the postage i would get some and sell on e bay :rotfl: just found one similar on a website -but quite a bit smaller and it was £69.99 :eek: ours work out at approx £22.50 each :T

Annie021063

poohbear59 wrote: »

Someone asked about uses for rhubarb. I haven't read all the posts back to the start of the thread but just in case I will list the things I make with rhubarb.
Rhubarb chutney, DH and DD love it, great with cheese and ham
Rhubarb and ginger jam
Rhubarb cake, crumble, pie. Add a soft fruit to sweeten it naturally eg raspberries.
Sell it at car boot sales. We sold loads for charity last year.

Tomorrow's task is to pick more and cook down to go in the freezer for the winter.

We have never cooked rhubarb before freezing it - we simply cut into chunks and put into bags then freeze. We are still eating last years and it's great, simply defrost them simmer. Should we be cooking first?

savingfortravel

Mrs Mc-OB and I are very impressed with your table and benches. Super treat m'dear!!

Anitaj73 - Congrats for paying off debts and great to hear about disability benefit for your son!!! Thanks for your message.

Kaz2904-Always great to hear of successful whoopsie hunts-the trout sounds amazing!! Thanks for your message.

razra-Will write the 5th in my diary and toast you then-bit of naughty mid-week drinking-all for a good cause. Congrats on being debt free except mortgage!!

Have a good day everyone!!

SFT

BigMummaF

Quite reserved for me...£3-58 in MrS for value ice-cream, value natural yog for Pup [I'll freeze some too cuz he loves ice cream + it will save me throwing it out...he doesn't like other brands:eek: ]negotiated down TTD Cornish Clotted to JS Extra thick double cream for a strawberry tea [if I'd been on my own & thought of it, it would've been elmlea whipping ], butter & a Mirror.

The accompanying offspring wanted to BUY scones too, that's how the cream barter was settled:p we have cheaper today & posh for his B'Day in a couple of weeks in exchange for HM goodies:j

Oohh Razra, I'd like the Ginger Nuts recipe please:D & here's the Coconut Bites to compensate.

• 200g Condensed Milk
• 100g dessicated coconut
• 8oz [approx] icing sugar
• 8ox chocolate of your choice

1) Mix first two ingredients.
2) Add enough sugar to make a stiff dough.
3) Form into shapes & leave on a baking tray to firm up.
5) Refridgerate--preferrably over-night.
6) Melt chocolate & coat the mixture..leave to set if possible:p