June 2012 Grocery Challenge

Mrs_Addicted_to_Spending wrote: »

I tend to use gravy granules but would like to try and make that myself - does anyone have a good recipe? Thank you .

I have recently mastered the art of "proper gravy" - mainly through not having an oven for 9 months! I have been cooking joints of meat in the slow cooker and using the combi-bit of the microwave for the spuds. Basically, when the spuds have about 10-15 minutes left, I take the joint out of the SC, pour the juices into a pan and return the joint to the empty SC to "rest". I put a teaspoon or two of cornflour into a wee jar (like the sort that mint sauce or horseradish come in), add a bit of water, put the lid on and shake like mad to get a runny flour/water mix. This is added to the pan with the SC meat juice and it goes on the hob to bring to the boil - stirring to make sure it don't go lumpy. When its thickened, taste & add salt, gravy browning and/or a wee bit of stock cube if the colour/taste dictates. Not sure what I'd use if I did the meat in the oven. Probably just a stock made with stock cube but haven't been that adventurous yet - particularly as OH still says he prefers b!sto :rotfl:

chelseabun wrote: »

But strawberry jam is meant to be a bit runny!

I always go for really cheap shop jam because I don't like too much on my toast - a scrape of what OH refers to as "jam juice" is enough to satisfy me. Perhaps I should try craigywv's runny jam for myself.


Had a bit of a failed mission yesterday. I had a couple of meals pencilled into the plan for the beginning of the week so wasn't planning on shopping just yet but forgot to take the joint out of the freezer and we'd invited my ma over for dinner. And I used the last of my yeast putting a loaf in the BM. So I decided to do the whole weeks meal plan and stock up on what was needed for that as well as getting a chicken for dinner. Ended up spending £27.88 in Ald! but didn't get the yeast. So went to the tiny A$da round the corner but they aren't big enough to stock the green allinsons yeast. But OH spotted that they've got a better selection of smartprice biscuits than the big a$da we usually use, so he stocked up on biscuits and walkers crisps which cost me another £4.51. And then we went to the MrM which is on the way home if we go the long way round. They didn't have the green allinsons yeast tins either, but at least they had the sachets so I bought one for emergency use only! and stocked up on a jar of OH's favourite Morrocan sauce too - mostly so I can read the ingredients and remind myself how it tastes to have a go at making my own next time :rotfl: So another £2.17 there too.

And I still need to buy a tin of yeast! But OH opened his last bottle of coke yesterday evening so I'd probably need to visit MrT on my way home one night this week anyway. Might call tonight as I'm going out again not long after I get home. If I'm in a rush, I might just be able to stick to yeast-and-coke-and-nowt-else!

Still £92.91 / £200 with meals planned for the next couple of weeks give or take. Feeling quite comfortable with the challenge this month so far

Hiya,

Done the weekly shop today in MrM (47.14) and L1dl (71.73). It is higher than I wanted but I didn't do a big shop last week and this should last us easily until next Wed when I plan to go again.

On a positive note, I have got an evening job waitressing for a few nights a week and this is helping bring the extra pennies in. All my wages are going into our rainy day fund and any tips are being put in a jam jar to enjoy when we go to london in the summer (£21 so far for two nights work so pleased with that ). And it is nice to get away from the house and kids for a few hours and be 'me'.

Have a nice day and going to make JJs herby bread for tonight!

Jedi x

sonastin wrote: »

and stocked up on a jar of OH's favourite Morrocan sauce too - mostly so I can read the ingredients and remind myself how it tastes to have a go at making my own next time :rotfl: So another £2.17 there too.

I am just getting into Moroccan flavours, can I ask what sauce you got?

I think there are probably too many ingredients to warrant me buying them individually just for me, but I am happy to get a jar of something, thank you!

Flo- bacon pasties sound good too, could you please share the recipe?

craigywv wrote: »

:)i CANT believe YOU of all people have never made jam lol:rotfl:you and FLO are 2 of the most rescourcful people i have ever met (in cyber space) i dont mind if it goes in recipe index but PLEASE beware this jam does NOT SET i dont want people ranting at me for wasting their time and money on fruit etc.... its just a way that suits me it IS quite runny but as the tv ad says TASTE IS NOT MEASURED WITH A SPIRIT LEVEL so make and enjoy but if your a shop bought preferring peep DONT make it my way

Hehe!!

I am happy to admit that I have a lot to learn still which is why I LOVE this thread. Everyone has great ideas and it is a veritable storehouse of knowledge:)

I don't mind jam that requires spooning on my scones!
As long as it tastes yum, I'm happy.
I bet using preserving sugar instead of regular could help it along a little.

Cheers for sharing :beer: