June 2008 Grocery Challenge

greent

Wish I was one of those organised people who made notes as they went along reading this thread!:D

Can't remember who wrote what, but some points re the above are:

• yes washing soda can be used with Fairy - it is fab for sensitive/ irritated skins and can even be used by itself, tbh
• Re mixing soda & wp - I'd go half and half and still use less than the recommended spoonfuls - unless the load is heavily soiled
• I make laundry gloop for washing clothes. Very cheap - I use soap bar scraps (but we gets loads, as I make soap!) but I know peopple who buy a bar of soap and grate it down (can be as cheap a bar as you want - but it's best not to have a clear/ see through bar - lots of people use Fairy. For 100gm of scraps (roughly) or bar, grate it down and add to 2 litres of warm water. 'Cook' over med-low heat until melted. Throw in a handful of washing soda crystals and stir well. Turn off heat. Add essential oil if desired - lavender is nice, as is geranium. Leave to cool - will set to a sort of jelly.
  
  I use a scoop of this and dilute it in a cup with boiling water (I always wash at 30degrees and this ensures it all 'melts') - will resemble clothes washing liquid such as ecover. I then pour it into the soap tray. I also use white vinegar (bottle capful) as a rinse aid - not fabric conditioner. Lovely soft clothes & fluffy towels and incredibly cheap!

You can add a tablespoon of borax to the gel before it sets for stain removal purposes too.

The soap-gel can be used as a pre wash stain treatment on clothes too. I have a batch that is lemon scented and I use it in a paste with bicarb as a scrub instead of something like Cif/Jif. I also use a tiny dab on a very wet cloth then wrung out to wipe over my stainless steel cooker and granite surfaces (I don't add borax to this batch) I just polish with a microfibre cloth then.

I try to use as little chemicals as I can - cheaper & better for environment

Bit wafffly - sorry:o

gt

Edit - I also read on the forums about using washing soda in the dishwasher - so I'm going to give that a go - much cheaper than tabsif it works!

annelouise_2

Hello all,

Totted up another NSD today as I volunteer at school all day and we had freezer fish and chips for tea.

I've laid out all the kid's packed lunch for tomorrow.Found my lost jaffa behind a cushion on the sofa!!!!! so its chopped and divided in half for the girls as they are on a farm trip all day.

Have planted 4 more courgette seeds as the other 2 are thriving.Collecting yogurt pots and plastic strawbs trays to use as propagators and can't wait to test out my produce.

Have made the shopping list again and defered clingfilm and coffee until next time so I think I'll have to go for packed lunch fruit and carrots for carrot sticks a staple with alioli over here.Although I no longer pay 85c for a 75ml tub I make my own easy a wink..

Mayonnaise
Pinch dried herbs or teaspoon of fresh parsley
1/2 garlic clove finely sliced
Pinch of pepper
Squeeze of lemon if you have one

Mix together,Chill,Serve with veg sticks,crackers,baguette,olives etc

Have got a Christening / 8th / 9th / 40th party in the next 2 weeks so I'm going halves on the 40th gift of speciality cheeses,pickles and crackers hamper and for the others I'm shopping at Carrefour as I get cashback - thinking of a watergun for the boy and a girls book like Jac Wilson.

Might offer a night of babysitting for the Christening as it is Number 4!!!!

Have got chicken & lentil soup out of freezer for lunch tomorrow and have a roasted pepper one for Wednesday.I have a handful of prawns I froze from last week that I'll do with garlic butter for me and the kids are having a few in the nasi goreng with some bacon lardons and no chicken as I'm not buying some specially!

Will get organised and get some tea after getting my lot in bed and iron school uniform on the balcony as I usually do the weeks uniform in advance on a Sunday but was gadding about with visitors.

I have reduced my washing liquid consumption to 1 measured tablespoon per whole cram packed full wash both whites and coloureds with great success,I have a sports drink measure and am faithfully using it and seeing how long my store own detergent will last,the conditioner store own keeps giving me a wink to see if I'm going to use it but no - jojoba and vanilla will have to wait.
I'm disappointed that I was part way through the bottle as I want to date it as everyone else does but mine has lasted for more than 5 weeks now with a family of 4 thats great going.

Must check my premium bonds .......am I a winner......I'll let you know......

annelouise:rotfl:

MRSMCAWBER

Here you go miecherox

CHICKEN N SWEETCORN SOUP
serves 4
per serving -2WW points -128cals

• 200g chicken breast
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 egg whites
• 750ml chicken stock
• 250g creamed sweetcorn
• 1tbs cornflour
• 2 tsp soy sauce
• 2 spring onions- sliced finely

1. place chicken in processor and blitz until finely chopped
2. add salt
3. lightly beat the egg whites in a bowl until foamy
4. fold into chicken
5. bring chicken stock to the boil
6. and add creamed corn
7. dissolve cornflour with a little cold water
8. add to soup and stir over a low heat until thickened
9. reduce heat and add the chicken mix -breaking up with a whisk
10. allow to heat through -without boiling
11. season to taste with soy sauce

This really is a lovely soup -and hubby reckons better than the takeaway one

Right my cheaper version is,

• boil your chicken carcass to make stock as normal and strain.. place back on heat, grab a tin of sweetcorn (tip it into a blender with its liquid and blitz)-if you have a lot of stock then i use 2 tins.
• tip it into the stock, and heat through, thicken with cornflour -again how much depends on how much stock you have...
• season, i add all the little bits from the chicken when i strip the meat off,
• and i also throw a handfull of frozen peas in sometimes and the darker bits of the spring onions
• plenty of soy sauce -although this will lose the lovely yellow colour

I also do these recipes but break up some fine noodles into at the stock point so they have chance to cook:D

miecherox

MRSMCAWBER wrote: »

Here you go miecherox

CHICKEN N SWEETCORN SOUP
serves 4
per serving -2WW points -128cals

• 200g chicken breast
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 egg whites
• 750ml chicken stock
• 250g creamed sweetcorn
• 1tbs cornflour
• 2 tsp soy sauce
• 2 spring onions- sliced finely

1. place chicken in processor and blitz until finely chopped
2. add salt
3. lightly beat the egg whites in a bowl until foamy
4. fold into chicken
5. bring chicken stock to the boil
6. and add creamed corn
7. dissolve cornflour with a little cold water
8. add to soup and stir over a low heat until thickened
9. reduce heat and add the chicken mix -breaking up with a whisk
10. allow to heat through -without boiling
11. season to taste with soy sauce

This really is a lovely soup -and hubby reckons better than the takeaway one

Right my cheaper version is,

• boil your chicken carcass to make stock as normal and strain.. place back on heat, grab a tin of sweetcorn (tip it into a blender with its liquid and blitz)-if you have a lot of stock then i use 2 tins.
• tip it into the stock, and heat through, thicken with cornflour -again how much depends on how much stock you have...
• season, i add all the little bits from the chicken when i strip the meat off,
• and i also throw a handfull of frozen peas in sometimes and the darker bits of the spring onions
• plenty of soy sauce -although this will lose the lovely yellow colour

I also do these recipes but break up some fine noodles into at the stock point so they have chance to cook:D

mrs M you are a dream thankyou!!!!!!

turbo5019

miecherox wrote: »

Also, a question about nappies i've got two in nappies at the mo and usually use washable nappies (very os i think!) but sometimes I really want a "nappy washing holiday" However I am super tight about something I'm just going to throw away 4-8 times a day! So....just wondering if anyone has tried the smartprice nappies from asda the REALLY cheap ones? If so what are they like?

I use re usable during the day disposable at night. I use asda own brand but I tried the smart price ones and found they had a plastic cover and not very breathable and made DD sweat I wouldn't buy them again.
HTH

SAV3R

Does anyone know if it is possible to freeze left over tinned tomatoes. I have 1/3 tin left from yesterday, as I buy the expensive ones, it seems a shame to waste them.

fizzel81

miecherox wrote: »

Good evening - am on the scrounge for advice and a recipe.

I am looking for a recipe for chinese chicken and sweetcorn soup or similar if anyone has one - I think I recall mrsm talking about it once?....

Also, a question about nappies i've got two in nappies at the mo and usually use washable nappies (very os i think!) but sometimes I really want a "nappy washing holiday" However I am super tight about something I'm just going to throw away 4-8 times a day! So....just wondering if anyone has tried the smartprice nappies from asda the REALLY cheap ones? If so what are they like?

Thanks guys you're all fab

M x

no dont do it or more to the point buy them, the best sposies ive found are tesco there better or so i found than pampers/huggies, ive also used asda

mumzyof2

turbo5019 wrote: »

I use re usable during the day disposable at night. I use asda own brand but I tried the smart price ones and found they had a plastic cover and not very breathable and made DD sweat I wouldn't buy them again.
HTH

I agree with this also.. I got them for my DD, but had to change her every 2 hours (she is 2) and by 2 hours her nappy was falling off her. I buy pampers because any other nappy gives her bad nappy rash.. usually boots nappies do that.

angelnikki

SAV3R wrote: »

Does anyone know if it is possible to freeze left over tinned tomatoes. I have 1/3 tin left from yesterday, as I buy the expensive ones, it seems a shame to waste them.

Yes you can freeze them.

miecherox MrT's own brand nappies are really good. I use them during the day and pampers over night.

Nikki
x

Honeyapple

carolt2 wrote: »

Hi there, I know you did not ask for the recipe but i thought you might like to try and make them. May work out cheaper for you.

ORIGINALLY POSTED BY ANGELNIKKI? On the MAY GROCERY CHALLENGE THREAD.

Cheesy Biscuits - Makes about 20 Ritz sized biscuits

50g SR flour
25g butter/marge
80g grated mature cheddar
splash of milk

Mix all ingredients together and knead a little until you have a ball
Roll out to about 2 1/2mm and cut into stars (or whatever shape you fancy)
Bake at 200c/Gas6 for about 8-10 minutes until they start to colour.
They rise really nicely and crisp up a bit as they cool.

The original recipe said to add 20g Parmesan and a pinch cayenne pepper too but they’re just as yummy without. You could use an egg yolk instead of the milk to bind, which will crisp up the biscuits a bit.

Never even crossed my mind to make them. Will give them a try, thanks.