It’s Friday Guys – time for No Waste Tastes Great
Click here to find out more about my Friday routine
Simply Being Mum’s Friday Fridge
Firstly, please excuse any obvious grammatical errors etc… in today’s post. I’m a little bit tired. Yesterday I spent the day catering for a prom. Surprisingly tiring.
Anyhow…
There’s not a lot to show and tell today (I’m still on a school vibe).
Top Shelf – Usual cheese, spread and garlic – all in date
Top Middle shelf – Onion and green pepper which are to face the chop in precisely 30 minutes. They’ll be diced and frozen for later use.
Bottom Middle Shelf – The last of my biscuit dough. I had thawed it out yesterday optimistically planning to make the Kids a treat for their lunch today. After 6 hours of prepping food at school, all my good intentions took a hike. I will get shape cutting and baking this afternoon.
That leaves just milk and eggs. Cheese omelette for lunch then. Simple.
Usually on a Friday if the fridge is bare we indulge in a takeaway. Not tonight. We have a family evening out planned where we will be eating. A dance-class presentation.
(Note to self: I need to track down some Kids legwarmers ASAP)
Short and sweet today.
So, an ideal opportunity to mop up a couple of things.
Firstly, If you won a box of yeast in the giveaway last week please can you e-mail a delivery address to simplybeingmum (at) gmail (dot) com. Thank you everyone.
(If you have already e-mailed, I have received the mail and will be sending your box out this weekend)
Secondly, this week a Q&A with myself was featured over at the lovely Carla’s blog 1/2 Dozen Daily.
There’s an overview on how I manage my grocery budget, meal-plan and generally organise all things food at Chez Wright. If you get 5 minutes, please pop across and take a look – after all it is Friday 😉
Gosh – read all that back. Even my writing sounds tired. Going to call it a day…
Opps nearly forgot – I have half a mushy cucumber… Myself and Cuke are ‘on a break’ as of today (said in my best Ross voice from Friends).
How’s your Fridge looking this Friday? Anything to declare? Or is it nice and bare? Please share…
No Waste Tastes Great is bought to you (as always) with thanks to The Frugal Girl for the original inspiration.
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Thanks to you, my fridge is looking’ pretty good!!! 🙂 I am shopping today for a *few* things, but will do my weekly clean-out every Wednesday! I’m turning over a new leaf! 😉
Fantastic news Carla – I’ll be keeping up with your progress – very exciting!
Thanks to you, my fridge is looking’ pretty good!!! 🙂 I am shopping today for a *few* things, but will do my weekly clean-out every Wednesday! I’m turning over a new leaf! 😉
Fantastic news Carla – I’ll be keeping up with your progress – very exciting!
Not bad going for a busy week! We too, had a legwarmer emergency this week for an 80s costume (Year 6 ‘decades’ day)…ended up cutting the feet off a pair of my socks!
Hi Sarah. Yeah I considered adapting a pair of socks but a friend helped out with a spare pair at the last minute! Thank goodness! The thought of wondering round shops for a pair was not appealing (particularly in the rain). I’m planning on knitting some… watch this space…
Not bad going for a busy week! We too, had a legwarmer emergency this week for an 80s costume (Year 6 ‘decades’ day)…ended up cutting the feet off a pair of my socks!
Hi Sarah. Yeah I considered adapting a pair of socks but a friend helped out with a spare pair at the last minute! Thank goodness! The thought of wondering round shops for a pair was not appealing (particularly in the rain). I’m planning on knitting some… watch this space…
What do you mean by “spreads?” Do you have any idea what the average family of your size and income spends on groceries and do you know if you are saving money in comparison with your methods?
Hi Rachel. I categorise the fats/butters etc into spreads rather than listing each week. So I have a large container of vegetable fat/margarine for baking. I usually have olive oil spread for buttering sandwiches etc… and then I also have some real butter which is infused with lemon at the mo.
As for averages, I can’t say for sure, I don’t have the data to give a confident answer. However, this article in the Guardian says £98. http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2012/jan/22/fruit-vegetable-consumption-poorer-families
What I can say is that last year, before I decided to consciously reduce my spend, I budgeted £100 a week and spent it easily! Every family will do it differently, and I totally appreciate that – I can’t speak for the masses as to whether I can save a family money, it will depend where they started from and how they shop and cook. For me to keep to £50 it does take planning. Portion sizes and variety have certainly reduced, which isn’t really so bad as we are consuming less. Because of the way I cook, I do make a lot from scratch or almost scratch – I think this probably helps keep costs down. Again not highly scientific but last year I did a 5-day trial of ready-made versus home-made meals and the saving was just over 40%.
Hope that helps? Jo
What do you mean by “spreads?” Do you have any idea what the average family of your size and income spends on groceries and do you know if you are saving money in comparison with your methods?
Hi Rachel. I categorise the fats/butters etc into spreads rather than listing each week. So I have a large container of vegetable fat/margarine for baking. I usually have olive oil spread for buttering sandwiches etc… and then I also have some real butter which is infused with lemon at the mo.
As for averages, I can’t say for sure, I don’t have the data to give a confident answer. However, this article in the Guardian says £98. http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2012/jan/22/fruit-vegetable-consumption-poorer-families
What I can say is that last year, before I decided to consciously reduce my spend, I budgeted £100 a week and spent it easily! Every family will do it differently, and I totally appreciate that – I can’t speak for the masses as to whether I can save a family money, it will depend where they started from and how they shop and cook. For me to keep to £50 it does take planning. Portion sizes and variety have certainly reduced, which isn’t really so bad as we are consuming less. Because of the way I cook, I do make a lot from scratch or almost scratch – I think this probably helps keep costs down. Again not highly scientific but last year I did a 5-day trial of ready-made versus home-made meals and the saving was just over 40%.
Hope that helps? Jo
Mine was a mixed bag. I didn’t do too terribly and just wasted leftovers, but otoh I wasted leftovers that I should have used. I read your linked article too, good article! 🙂 We’re a family of 7 in the US and spend about $100/wk on groceries if you don’t count toiletries, and I don’t coupon much either as no one here doubles and I make 99% of everything from scratch. Nice to “meet” you, I’m looking forward to reading more!
Hi Meg – Lovely to meet you! I’d say $100 a week for 7 is good going. I’ve been over to yours and will most certainly be trying out slow-cooked yoghurt – wish me luck! Jo
Mine was a mixed bag. I didn’t do too terribly and just wasted leftovers, but otoh I wasted leftovers that I should have used. I read your linked article too, good article! 🙂 We’re a family of 7 in the US and spend about $100/wk on groceries if you don’t count toiletries, and I don’t coupon much either as no one here doubles and I make 99% of everything from scratch. Nice to “meet” you, I’m looking forward to reading more!
Hi Meg – Lovely to meet you! I’d say $100 a week for 7 is good going. I’ve been over to yours and will most certainly be trying out slow-cooked yoghurt – wish me luck! Jo
Hi Jo,
I made your veggie lasagna yesterday and it was a hit! Usually I just use shredded cheese but Tim liked your recipe with the cheese sauce better. Thanks again for sharing. Get some rest!
Thanks Tina – glad it worked out for you guys! I’m feeling more energetic today thanks, well a little! Have a great weekend – Jo
Hi Jo,
I made your veggie lasagna yesterday and it was a hit! Usually I just use shredded cheese but Tim liked your recipe with the cheese sauce better. Thanks again for sharing. Get some rest!
Thanks Tina – glad it worked out for you guys! I’m feeling more energetic today thanks, well a little! Have a great weekend – Jo
Your photos always make me feel better about my largely barren fridge… Though I must get that 6 month old bottle of Pepsi out stat – the friend who likes it evidently isn’t coming around often enough to warrant it taking space… though, I remember reading a blog somewhere, who said she put empty cardboard boxes in the fridge (as it made it more efficient that having it super empty), so then I think, well the pepsi bottle is doing that job in a way!? hrmmm thoughtS?
Hi Sarah – Really a fridge should be 3/4 full to be properly efficient. Keeping your bottle in there is a good way to reduce energy costs. My fridge is typically quite full until about Tuesday/Wednesday (because I have quite a small fridge anyway)- Very often I keep fruit in a bowl in there to fill up some space, but often remove for the photograph. I also pop packed lunches in there and food I’m thawing out overnight etc… A good idea is to keep water in there if you have space. When you run the tap at home, fill some vessels and keep in the fridge – that way you have cold water available and save on water you may have wasted. For someone who likes wine and beer (like me ;-)), you could pop those bottles in there also, and remove when you need the space.
ps – after my photoshoot on a Friday I do my shop and restock the fridge! But as I said it’s small so just my 6 days worth of cold items are enough to fill it.
Your photos always make me feel better about my largely barren fridge… Though I must get that 6 month old bottle of Pepsi out stat – the friend who likes it evidently isn’t coming around often enough to warrant it taking space… though, I remember reading a blog somewhere, who said she put empty cardboard boxes in the fridge (as it made it more efficient that having it super empty), so then I think, well the pepsi bottle is doing that job in a way!? hrmmm thoughtS?
Hi Sarah – Really a fridge should be 3/4 full to be properly efficient. Keeping your bottle in there is a good way to reduce energy costs. My fridge is typically quite full until about Tuesday/Wednesday (because I have quite a small fridge anyway)- Very often I keep fruit in a bowl in there to fill up some space, but often remove for the photograph. I also pop packed lunches in there and food I’m thawing out overnight etc… A good idea is to keep water in there if you have space. When you run the tap at home, fill some vessels and keep in the fridge – that way you have cold water available and save on water you may have wasted. For someone who likes wine and beer (like me ;-)), you could pop those bottles in there also, and remove when you need the space.
ps – after my photoshoot on a Friday I do my shop and restock the fridge! But as I said it’s small so just my 6 days worth of cold items are enough to fill it.
My Mum and I had takeaway lunch from our favourite veggie cafe today and it reminded me about your cucumber issues!! They don’t use cucumber in any of their salads but use thinly sliced raw courgette instead. It’s yummy and no nasty plastic packing on courgettes. (PS Mum says Lidl don’t package their cucumber!)
My Mum and I had takeaway lunch from our favourite veggie cafe today and it reminded me about your cucumber issues!! They don’t use cucumber in any of their salads but use thinly sliced raw courgette instead. It’s yummy and no nasty plastic packing on courgettes. (PS Mum says Lidl don’t package their cucumber!)