$100.00 per week grocery challenge

Well I can't do $100.00 per week. Blowed if I can.
I've been keeping account of how much I am spending in side bar - even the extra trips to gas station for milk & cream.
It's Monday of week 3 & I spent $47.50 vege box & $158.24 supermarket. I've been keeping a note of main meals we are eating.
My shopping includes all meals - I pack lunches & no takeaways. And it included special foods such as rice dream milk $4.65 & rice flour $4.84.

I'd really like to see what sort of meals folks are eating on $100.00 per week, I can't get mine below $200.00 per week. And my $200.00 per week is not a true & accurate figure as I have a big stockpile, beef & lamb in freezer which cost of home kill will be included if I keep a record. And rice bread I need a new delivery this week - so that will bump up this weeks food bill.

How are you all going on keeping a record of your grocery bill?

Chili Beef & Coleslaw

Again photo never looks as appealing as it does when we sit down to eat...

Chili Beef is a quick meal & relatively inexpensive - broccoli compliments of the garden.
I got a $15.00 pack of schnitzel on sale - which will do two meals & if lucky schnitzel sandwiches.

As used less meat - and have cabbages that need to be used up as organic vege box delivery is Tuesday I beefed up the meal with coleslaw - red cabbage, green cabbage, grated carrot, avocado, mandarins & handful of raisins.

Irish Stew

A cheap meal - I make a $12.oo of rump steak (shich was on special) do two nights meals -

2 large onions
500g beef or lamb (can use less or more) I cut all the fat off meat - we don't like fat so will be less than 500g once done this.
4 large potatoes cut in chunks
5 carrots sliced
3 ribs of celery
salt n pepper
a bay leaf
a sprinkling of mixed herbs (dried) or pop in some fresh herbs of parsley, thyme & sage.
Place all in a big stock pot & cover well with water.
Let it simmer on the stove top until veges tender & you are ready to serve (about 2 hours)

I serve it in soup bowls with a sprinkling of parsley
And served with home made poor mans bread - which I add in fresh herbs in the dough - to make herb poor mans bread.

Roast Lamb

Lamb is a cheap meal for us - due to home kill - I have got quite good at making lots of different lamb meals. My roast lamb is prepared with slits in the meat & insert cloves of garlic (home grown - when my new garden is underway I am going to plant a lot more garlic) and rosemary. Plus lots of fresh sea salt.
A rosemary bush is a must have in the garden - Do you know a home where rosemary thrives is ruled by a woman.

I like cooking roasts - once all prepared it pretty much cooks by itself leaving me time to do something I like - usually sneak some craft work in, and the left over meat is good for lunch.
Roast lamb served with roast potatoes, yams, kumera, carrots, cabbage & spinach & frozen mint peas with gravy.
My photo taking is getting better - some of the meals have looked blah in photos - I bet for all the glossy cookbooks the food is cold.

Rosemary originally came from the Mediterranean and was brought to northern Europe by the Romans. It is used in cooking, as a medicine, and as a pest control. It has been considered an herb of romance and faithfulness throughout the centuries. It is used in wedding decorations, as a charm ensuring fidelity and remembrance and given as gifts. Legend says that a man who doesn't like the scent of rosemary will be a lousy lover.

Sunday times article

The Sunday times article states that a basic food only BASIC budget for a mum & dad, teenage son & teenage daughter is $260.00 per week (living in Auckland or Wellington) Add in non-food items such as cleaning products and toiletries and the bill goes up by $16 a week. Total grocery shop per week is $276.00

A moderate shop that contains some convenience food and greater variety leaps to between $328 (Dunedin) and $339 (Wellington) whereas a liberal budget which allows for more expensive cuts of meat, specialty items and convenience products comes in at between $393 (Dunedin) and $407 (Wellington). That would climb again with non-food items costed at $31 for a moderate shop and $48 for a liberal spend.

From this article I would put our family in the Liberal class as we do like nicer cuts of meat and require specialty items for food allergies this would mean my food budget should be $455.00 per week.

Now this just proves that the way I shop, buying in bulk, buying on sale, keeping a price book, buying meat from home kill & raising our own sheep, keeping our own hens for eggs, having a vege garden (even tho not producing much at this time of year)packing our own lunches is totally well worth all my efforts. And I bet the Sunday times figures doesn't take into account brought lunches & takeaways.

Tacos & Apple Pie

Again there is something satisfying when you can provide a meal from the land. It really doesn't get better than picking a lettuce straight from garden. The mince was lamb mince (about 500g but you ca use beef & can use less mince just beef it up with kidney beans), I gave a leg of lamb to a fried this week & she wanted to know what it's name was so they could give thanks at the dinner table...

One of James friends is a very fussy eater - doesn't eat any fruit or vegetables. So when he stays I make meals that I know he will eat & we can still enjoy our veges. And I can't help myself I sneak in some fruit & vege he will eat - such as apple pie.

This is a great beginners meal & both kids can whip this up.

500g of mince - I don't mind cheap mince as I just boil it dry - ie no water or oil, drain the fat, boil again. Doesn't take long then I add finely diced onion, crushed garlic, 1 teaspoon cumin, 1 teaspoon coriander, 1/2 teaspoon chili (adjust to taste) salt n pepper.
2 tins watties tomato pasta sauce -
Optional is add a tin of kidney beans or chili kidney beans - can use less mince & make it go further

Then just prepare toppings, I've found kids really enjoy meals where they can help themselves.
lettuce, grated carrot, chopped tomato, taco sauce, cheese (we just make sure seperate tongs are used for cheese & everyone is careful not to contaminate the food - this is really important for guests to learn) mashed avocado - we had 3 avocados in vege box so I mashed 2 - due to allergies I just mash the avocado - if had visitors that would prefer sourcream, would split it & add sour cream & lemon juice to one bowl- but you do get use to not having sour cream.


Apple Pie
There was no need for pudding - but as James friend enjoys puddings I made an apple pie.
Very, very cheats way. I buy prerolled pastry - sweet short pastry, just peel off two sheets per pie, I'm not brand fussy - just which ever is on sale.

Peel & stew the apples - great way to use up bruised or mushy apples. - peel, take out core & cut finely - while preparing have pot of water to cover apple slices. I always make a big pot as can freeze the puree - usually it gets eaten for breakfast next day.
Once all peeled drain & leave a little water in pot & put on to cook.

I like chuncky apple pie not pureed so don't fully stew apples.
Best if you can prepare this ahead - as hot apple on pastry makes it go soggy.
But if no time - just pop dish in oven with bottom layer of pastry for a few minutes until it cooks. Then place apple on top - with about 1 teaspoon of cinamon sprinkled. - Top with another sheet of pastry. Prick holes & bake at 160 deg c until cooked.
Serve with whipped cream for those who like it/ can have it.

James just enjoys a large bowl of stewed apple.

Budget - a quick trip to shop for cream & milk $7.40 weeks budget = $174.46

Beef Casserole

Organic vege box delivery $47.50 - total weekly spend on food this week $167.06

Beef Casserole

Approx 500g beef I prefer rump steak & buy it when on special - we like lean non gristly meat & I cut off every bit of fat - so for our family worth paying a bit more for the cut of meat - less waste.
1 large onion diced
2-3 carrots sliced
2-3 stalks celery
2 bay leaves (James gave me a bay leaf tree fo my birthday & I just love picking the leaves!)
about 4 stems of parsley
salt n pepper
1 packet of beef stock - I use cambells real stock & top up with water to cover ingredients.
I try & let this for a day or at least overnight.

Pop in a med oven about 160 deg c and let it slowly cook. Just before serving I thicken if needed with 1 tablespoon of cornflour (make a paste in a cup of gravy water with 1 tablespoon of cornflour - then stir back into dish)

Served with mashed potatoes (yuck) - we only mash & have a dollop of olivani (dairy free) o milk we have got used to this
cabbage & cauliflower

And caught in the act eating dinner on our knees as I had forgoten to snap a photo. This is one of my least fav meals - but the family enjoy caseroles especial on a cold winters night.