Last weeks shopping for the Value Range Experiment.
From Aldi(AL) and Asda(AS)
AS Lean Minced Pork 500g £2.35
AL 6 Small Apples 59p
AL 200g Fruit and Nut Mix 59p
AL Sardines in Sunflower oil 46p
AL Savoy Cabbage 65p
Al Mini Plum Tomatoes 69p
AL Miniature Potatoes 69p (I wanted a bigger bag of ordinary but their 'wonky' cheapest were in HUGE bags - too many to last without shooting)
Total = £6.02. + £43.10 Brought Forward. Running total £49.12
In the photo I've include the Decaf frothy coffee that I like for my evening drink. It's Nescafe, 8 sachets in the box are now £2 and it is unsweetened and doesn't need any added milk. I haven't included this in the running total today as I'm just adding £2 at the end of each 7 days.
Asda had the Essentials Value range pork mince that they didn't have before, so I bought that even though I didn't need to use it yet. I divided it into 4 portions and popped in freezer.
I used the two crusts from the Value Range Wholemeal sliced loaf to make breadcrumbs after drying in the oven and crumbling with a potato masher
Some of the crumbs were used to top a Tuna, Pasta and Broccoli bake. Using the essential range tin of tuna 55p, pasta, ⅔ of the head of broccoli and a white sauce, made with a bit of butter, flour and milk and water mix. Topped with the breadcrumbs, grated cheese and some of the grated parmesan.
This made 3 portions. One to eat and two for the freezer for later in the month.
Back Tomorrow
Sue
Please would you remind me of the maker and pattern of your china. I used to have plates, tea cups and dishes but they got superseded. Lesley
ReplyDeleteThat's the same one my SIL has. Johnson Brothers?
DeleteYes Johnson Brothers Summer Chintz - I've had it for about 35 years and have enough to last me out!
DeleteYou are so good with your white sauces, guess who puts cream into hers? Pasta bake looks good.
ReplyDeleteButter,flour, milk and water and plenty of pepper. I don't tend to have cream in the house!
DeleteCommendably thrifty - you should write a book!
ReplyDeleteI have a pet hate of writing measurements for recipes so would hate writing a book - I'll leave that to plenty of other people
DeletePortioning the mince before freezing is so sensible!
ReplyDeleteSomething I've always done
DeleteI do this as well. Huge saver. Here, buying meat in bulk makes it cheaper per pound.
DeleteIt's going really well. You are going to end up with lots of things in the freezer at the end of the challenge if you're not careful. Which is something I have to really try to avoid when I'm doing some of mine.
ReplyDeleteI've counted up the meals that can be made from what I've bought and it should end just about right - except for Rice Crispies which I've only had once or twice so far as I'd rather have toast!
DeleteThe value rice crispies make brilliant marshmallow bars.
Deletehttps://www.nigella.com/recipes/marshmallow-crispy-squares
Tuna bake is a favorite that I have not had in a long time. You have inspired me to find my recipe and have it for dinner tonight. A side salad and crusty french bread would be nice too.
ReplyDeleteI often make a big baking dish of tuna or salmon, broccolli and Pasta bake and portion up for the freezer. Saves a few days of cooking
DeleteIt sounds as if this challenge is going well so far. And you're eating well on it, a big point.
ReplyDeleteSeem to be having tasty meals using the cheapest ingredients
DeleteA budget tip we found by accident for free breadcrumbs; we keep the bread in a vary large lidless square Tupperware box.
ReplyDeleteEvery time we use the bread we put it back in the box along with the crumbs from the breadboard - and the toast crumbs too.
By the end of the week we've accumulated enough crumbs to cover a fish pie.
Because the box is square its easy to pour the breadcrumbs out by the corner.
Dried breadcrumbs were something I always collected and saved in the freezer when there was more than just me - now I don't often use them. The two ends from the cheap sliced made enough for the 3 portions of bake and some into the freezer too.
DeleteGosh, you're not wasting a thing are you! That pasta bake looks so delicious, Sue, and I wish G would eat tuna then I could make some to enjoy.
ReplyDeleteYour experiment is going so well 👍
I like tuna or salmon pasta bake, or pasta salad, but husband doesn't. But seeing as we often eat different meals now (as I'm now pescatarian), I get to have them!
ReplyDeleteReally enjoying this challenge of yours. I commend you for making frugal, tasty, healthy and appealing looking food. So often frugal food looks like a dog’s dinner - no I take that back, worse than a dog’s dinner.
ReplyDeletePS….will be going to straight Jan with no mention of snowdrops soon!
Good job on the Tuna Bake. I always use lots of pepper and quite often add some parsley that I have dried from my garden.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
This is very interesting. I would like it but not husband he is a major picky eater
ReplyDeleteCathy
Sounds lovely. Well done!
ReplyDeleteWe used to cook once a week at a Community Kitchen - for about 30 people but many had seconds so we did a lot of food. The pasta bakes were always a huge hit. Didn’t do tuna as it was all vegetarian - broccoli, mushroom and Mediterraneans all went down a treat.
ReplyDelete