I think Lidl might be the way to go..............I am very pleased that mumsnet recommended it!

[Collision]

Went today on a whim as we were in the area.

this was a midweek topup shop to go with things I had bought last week.

So, this week we will eat

Butternut squash soup for lunch today and dinner tomorrow

Sausages braised in vegetables served with polenta and gorgonzola.

Spinach gnocchi with tomato sauce

Chickpea, bacon and tomato pasta

Pizza with a variety of toppings ie chorizo, mozzarella, roasted peppers, olives

Vegetable tortilla

HM raspberry pavlova

Spaghetti with fresh tomatoes, garlic and mozzarella

We bought masses of fruit and vegetables for a fraction of the usual cost.

Also bought dw tablets, deodorant, shower gel, toilet duck, biscuits.

How much did I spend????

£28.72

jojo -ask at Tesco bread counter and they give you a huge block of it for free!

DH made custard donuts yesterday, breadsticks and bread and pizza tonight!

wow I can't believe it, thanks for the tip collision!! So jealous of all your dh's cooking by the way!

Following this thread, I popped into a Lidl shop. I bought mussels, white wine (couldn't remember any of the recommendations on here, I hope it's not vinegar), lots of chocolate, some yoghurt etc. I was strangely tempted by some Croc lookalikes at 2.99 but I reminded myself that I haven't got Crocs because I don't like them, not because I can't afford them. The chocolate is lovely.

the chicken nuggets are fab - big chunks of chicken not reformed

ALDI- do some delicious mini chicken fillets in the freezer that you cook from frozen and are scrummy

The chicken nuggets are good: not regular shapes but proper bits of chicken meat.

oooh went in today after reading this, very pleasantly surprised.

mrtumbledoesmyheadin- i saw the nasi goreng but i was afraid the meat in it wouldn't be nice!

picked up this salmon en croute thingy which looks awful but i saw recommended highly by restaurant critic in the papaer.

galia melons 49c as were red peppers. beautiful organic tomatoes which i had with a drizzle of olive oil tonight.

they even had heinz tomato ketchup- phew! i could never compromise on that .

picked up a packed of those kids biscuits with chocolate inside that you get in france, yum yum.

cant wait to go back! must try the beer/wine.

have a look at this blog- good recommendations about what to buy at lidl and what to do with it. Those choca mocha pots look yum.

www.lidltreats.com

dw tablets are very good. DH wants to know if we need to use rinse aid as well as the tablets. It doesnt say on the box.

My parents buy the most delicious smoked salmon in Lidl. The salmon is good quality, it has a chili crust and comes with a sachet of horseradish sauce that clears the sinuses wonderfully. I'm hoping that they stock it in London too (parents are in Dublin) and will be making a special trip to seek it out when I'm home.

yes use salt and rinse aid with the dw tabs.

If were still recommending stuff, frozen pollock, prawns and salmon are all good value and great to go in fish pie, etc.
espresso ground coffee in the tins also v nice.

Thanks Jojo. I wonder if Lidl stock it!

bran - you can get loads of different kinds of smoked salmon in London Lidl. I get the gravadlax one normally but that one sounds good - I'll give it a go

Stuff in the middle is only there for a week or so. It's worth signing up to their newsletter IMO if you want to know about deals - they don't clog your inbox except by telling you what the specials are twice a week. I got a really good shelving unit thing for my DS for 12 quid (they do similar at GLTC for about 60 quid) and a wooden cube with loads of different toys on it for a tenner. Makes a great gift! I am waiting for them to do the boiled wool slippers again - I've worn mine through at the toes!

Icecreams are great and loads of their cheese and veg (love the huge tubs of rocket for 80p)

I have never bought meat there. I'm a bit of a free-range freak

I'll go and check it out then, thanks spicemonster.

collision, yes to salt, no to rinse aid, bizarrely....ours have stopped doing rinse aid for some reason...!
Spicemonster, i got two of those 12 quid shelving units for the ds's too, brilliant, they are still going strong! They often do things like travel cots and stair gates much cheaper too.
OHHHHH, just thought of something else BRILLIANT that I got from Lidl, fleece lined rain suits (dungarees) and fleece lined Jackets, a fiver each. They are great, like the expensive ones you'd get elsewhere, well made and cosy. I got several sets in different colours and they have been used by loads of my minded kids, and still are going with no signs of wear. Would highly reccommend getting these if they do them again for little ones......