Dh and I did a month's food shopping today and spent ...

[Miaou]

£98.05

Beat that!!

radley scroll down the lemon one is excellent, makes a fab basis for differnt ones

Thanks munz,

I think my eyes must be painted on, i can't find it

here u go:
By Miaou on Saturday, 18 November, 2006 9:04:40 AM
This recipe is really quick and easy because the mixture doesn't need rolling and cutting

Lemon Fork Biscuits

6oz butter, softened (I use marg instead and it's fine)
3oz caster sugar (I use granulated if I haven't got caster suger )
grated zest of one lemon
8oz self-raising flour

Cream together sugar, butter and lemon zest then mix in the flour. Form to a soft dough with hands.

Place walnut sized pieces of the dough onto well-greased baking trays allowing room for spreading. Dip a fork in a little cold water and flatten the bicsuits.

Bake at 180c, 355F, Gas 4, fan oven 160c, for 15-20 mins until pale golden. Put on cooling rack.

This recipe works just as well with an orange too and makes about 24 biscuits.

I can't remember who - but someone suggested putting some stuff on a website - so MrMiaou is setting one up at the moment! It's live but in very early stages so a lot of the text needs altering - but it's coming together! www.eating-for-less.com

Just tried the website but no luck. Can you put everything that is on this thread on threr please - recipes, shopping lists, menus etc.

Argh!! That's because I put up the wrong web address!!!! (Tis Miaou btw, I'm on MrMiaou's computer though)

here it is correctly:

Living-for-less.com

ooh is loking fabby miaou, can we join up yet?

loved your advice on saving with the food bill, wish i could get mine down to that level. one of my family faves is intil soup (so named by DH), so named because i just keep piling veg, pulses and meat IN TILL the pot is full hence the name. i dont use stock cubes though i find a ham hough is much beeter and only costs about £1.50. would love to hear from anyone with a good no yeast bread recipe though, the kids hate the smell of yeast

Hello karaco

Yes munz you can join in on there! Rest assured though, we will still keep this thread going with recipes and tips

excellent miaou, I don't mind any of my recipes being taken over to the other site btw

Right I have collated all the recipes on this thread onto the other site so they are all in one place. Please feel free to add to it - or post them on here and on there too!

Our idea is to spread the net a bit - MrMiaou and I have RL friends who wouldn't use MN but would like to get ideas on eating cheaper/better.

Tonight was pizza night but dh fell asleep so we had beans on toast instead!

I did my lasagne tonight and it was....a complete diaster . It was watery and all mingled and only the pasta was tasty - although we all thought it smelled delicious.

I really wanted a hearty filling meal for DH as he goes out to play sport on a Tuesday, but had to send him out on sausage sarnies instead . He was very nice about it though a complimneted my soups again, saying more soup was fine if I wanted to ty something else.

So tomorrow is roasted root veg soup, then I might get brave again and try a rissotto on Thursday!

Can I ask those who go to Lidl/ Aldi what products do you buy? I think I may venture there before doing my Tesco shop.....is everything ok or do you have to be a bit selective in what you get?

Peasinapod, I find that I tend to go to Aldi and Lidl for specific items.

For example -
Aldi
Jaffa cakes (DH and Dsis prefer them to McVities)
Frozen prawns
Value Ham - 1.79 (2.00 in Asda)
Lamb shanks
Dover sole
Brioche
some Ice creams/desserts

Lidl
Nappies for dd2
sausages
some fruit drinks
fruit (have to be careful with these and check them)
Kidney beans
frozen vegetables (they do a nice mexican mix which I use for my stir fry and I add prawns to it.)
Washing powder
Some cleaning products

I also bought some Christmas presents from there a few weeks ago. DH bought a doctors play kit for dd1 in ELC which cost £15.00, I saw one in Lidl for £3.49 and returned the other one.

The other places worth having a look at are Wilkinsons and the 99p stores for toiletries. I was having a browse thru my local store and saw Johnson's baby wash and Kandoo hand wash in there for 99p and I know that in Asda they are almost £3.00 each. Wilko's do BOGOF offers every so often on shampoo, deodrants, baby wipes etc.

hi miaou...where is the recipe thread ?

We did the jam tarts yesterday. they are going fast! Thanks

lulumama - MrMiaou and I have started a website with them all collected together - here

If you go to the forums you will see the recipes there. Join up! and add your comments and recipes there too!

Micku5 - that's interesting to hear re. Aldi and Lidl - what does anyone else buy from there?

VM - about your lasagne! MrMiaou says he'll post later with some tips.

We are running out of fresh fruit and veg now - this is when it starts to get expensive as we have to shop at the local shop - eek.

Oh and Gillian - lol at the tarts! They don't last, do they

ta! off to lidl now! XX

oooh let us know what bargains they've got lulumama!

I shop in Lidl regularly and find the vast majority of stuff is very good quality. My personal highlights are wine (when I'm not pg!), chocolate, cheese, frozen pizza (fresh not so good imho), nappies and cleaning products.

The only things I've not really liked are baked beans and tinned soup. From what I've heard other people say the fresh fruit and veg seems to vary store by store. I've not had any problems myself though.

The specials are quite good as well, we got a Santa suit the other week for £1.99!

Just joined the website will post a few of my favourite recipes later.

Oh, forgot to say, frozen fish very good as well. 2 tuna steaks for about £1.80.

I get in Lidl (when I get round to going):

Pasta
Basmati Rice
Olive Marg
Crumpets
Tuna
Fresh herbs
Fruit & Veg(some is organic now)
Olive Oil
Croissants
Bread Flour
Bacon
Pesto
Natural Yoghurt
Bread (till started making own)
Milk (organic now in ours)

Our store is quite posh though compared to some I've been in, I feel like the poor relation in the car park amongst all the new Mercs etc.

Mr and Mrs Miaow, fab inspiring thread and brilliant website - have just registered as peegee, waiting for confirmation.

I really want to get on top of my shopping budget, I frequently spend around £600 per month on my supermarket shopping, to inlcude cleaning materials, and that downfall - kids clothing in supermarkets....

Have been a SAHM for 7 years and loving it, want to remain one but all of dh's salary goes on mortage, bill and our supermarket bills. Absolute madness...!!!

So, with your help I am going to actively tackle this, my aim is £300 per month. This would mean more money for fun days out, money to do some much needed diy, perhaps eventually even a newer car!!

Thank you for opening my eyes to the extreme ridiculousness of my monthly shopping bill!!

You are officially my new heroes, even though I have a mental image of you both walking around in cat suits complete with whiskers!!!