Inspired by Frugal and Thankful :-)

Lately I have been reading a lot of Lena's posts over on her Frugal and Thankful blog.

And while I didn't set out to get a "value" shop today, things from her blog must be sinking in, because I ended up getting a lot of bang for my buck!  Unplanned, unexpected, but feels good!!

I am having my cousin Kasey over for dinner tomorrow and as I have a work day out today (family fun event celebrating 75 year history of the company) I said I'd go get everything organised this morning so that I don't have to think about it later.

So I popped over to Marks and Spencer which I admit is my Go To when I am entertaining.  The food is all just so nice, and with alot of it being prepped it makes things very easy all round.  It is more expensive than buying elsewhere but I always think it is worth it.

When I got over there I realised the Dine in for Two offer was on so I said I'd take a look.  This is a really good deal where they offer a main, a side, a dessert and a bottle of wine for just €14.  So I decided I would use that meal as the basis for my menu.

I bought the Dine in deal, plus extra vegetables, limes, oil and sea salt. A lot of the veg was short shelf (two days left) and were hence reduced.  The potatoes for example were just €1.50 instead of €2.95

Total was €22.98!!

Let me remind you this includes a bottle of wine!!!!

So to give you a taster of what I am going to make tomorrow.

First up I am going to make a nice refreshing cocktail.  

My caiproska's always go down a bomb :-)

For main I will do Gammon - which was the "main" in the Dine in for two deal.

I am going to try make hasselback potatoes for the first time ever.  Hope they go okay.

And then with the meat and potatoes I have both roast Mediterranean veg and nice green beans and other veg.

Oh and for dessert, as part of the deal I got profiteroles which I always like.

So if all of this food is enough (and nice) that will be dinner for three people for €22.98.

And if I had the above in my store cupboard then the overall total would have been just €20.50