Cheapest recipes???

[mum of 4]

Originally Posted by whatatwit

As Pen-Pin says, if you have a freezer then it makes things easier.
You could cook for 2 and eat one and freeze one....even better if you cook for 4

Can someone offer advice.

I want to freeze more meals but don't really understand the freezing rules. I grow my own veg, have chickens and cook 90% of our meals from scratch but really let myself down on the freezing side.
Do i freeze food before it's cooked or after?
Do i have to defrost the meal before cooking or just put straight in the oven?
Someone listed roast dinner as a meal to freeze that's a fab idea is it true?
Can you really freeze cheese?
I keep chickens can i freeze the eggs? (minus shell)
Where do people get their supplys of freezable dishes?

Thankyou

[Kandipandi]

Dont forget you dont need loads of meat for spag bol, lasagne etc, you can bulk it out with lentils, they dissapear when cooked.

[vinrute]

My favorite at the moment is an American pancake recipe, which makes nice thick pancakes that are perfect for any meal of the day. The most expensive things in it are the milk, butter, and eggs, but even so I think it costs about 50p to make enough for me and my husband. Plus, its something that I almost always have the ingredients for, so a really good spur-of-the-moment meal. Just spreading lemon and sugar or jam on top is quite cheap as well.

Sorry about the US measurement sizes. I always estimate anyway, so you don't have to worry about being too specific.

Makes about 6 medium-large pancakes or 8 medium-small ones.

1 cup flour
1/2 tablespoon sugar
1 and 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt

1 egg, well-beaten
1 cup milk
1/4 cup melted butter

Mix flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt together. In a separate bowl combine beaten egg, milk, and melted butter and mix thoroughly. Add the liquid mixture to the dry ingredients.

I don't measure anything exactly since I don't have American measuring cups or spoons, so I just estimate it all. I use an average size mug for the cup measurement for the flour and milk, and when I estimate the butter I put it in the mug in the microwave to melt it so it doesn't clump. Then I just estimate the other stuff on a teaspoon.

[lightisfading]

Originally Posted by vinrute

I don't measure anything exactly since I don't have American measuring cups or spoons, so I just estimate it all. I use an average size mug for the cup measurement for the flour and milk, and when I estimate the butter I put it in the mug in the microwave to melt it so it doesn't clump. Then I just estimate the other stuff on a teaspoon.

An american measuring cup is nothing like an average size mug Assuming you mean the type of mug you'd make a cuppa in ... i think US cups are about half that.

According to delia's website
1 cup flour = 150g,
1 cup milk = 220ml.
1/4cup butter = 55g

[vinrute]

Lightisfading, thanks for the correct measurements. I hadn't realized how far off I'd been. But my dad used to make these pancakes every Sunday, and when I first made them here and estimated the amounts, they tasted just like going home. I think the recipe allows for quite a bit of leeway, so as long as you're basically on target they'll taste great, and for 50p I suggest making a pancake and then altering the recipe to taste.

I do use a basic-shaped mug that I bought at Poundland, though, so I would consider it average sized and it works perfectly for me.


Sorry I can't post exact working measurements, but here is a better idea of how I estimate them:

1 standard sized mug of flour
Slightly heaped teaspoon of sugar
1/2 to 2/3 teaspoon of baking powder
pinch or 2 of salt

in a separate bowl:

1 egg
1 standard sized mug of milk
55g butter, melted

Then mix the two bowls together and start making pancakes.

Btw, if you can't make them all at once, my dad used to store the batter in the refrigerator for up to a day and that worked for him, though I haven't tested that myself.

[horsechestnut]

A U.S. measuring cup = 8 fluid oz (20 Fluid oz in a pint)
You can use oil instead of melted butter. (55g = 55ml )

[moneysaverdebs]

Hi I am new here. I have a family of four and am really trying to cut costs. I have managed to get my self in a bit of debt over the past few years and am now trying to pay it off and save a little too.

I already buy mostly tesco value products. I am willing to put the effort in in the kitchen ... although I may not be that great at it. At the moment I can spend about £45.00 - £60.00 on the weekly shop and that also included breakfast ceareals , sandwich things for packed lunches and toilet paper, washing up liquid , washing tablets, cat litter and biscuts and airfreshener and polish.

What are your cheapest meals and recipes ... I want to cut my shopping down by half if I can. I realy need your help on this one as I am not really a thinker in the kitchen department.

Thanks in advance
Debbie

[Pink-winged]

Hi moneysaverdebs,

Welcome to MSE

There's a recent thread that has lots of recipes that should help so I'll add your thread to that one later to keep the replies together:

Cheapest recipes???

These older threads might give you some more ideas too:

Meal for two for 50p. Suggestions?

The Cheapest Healthy Meal Ever!

Feed 6 for £1.62

Cheapest meal

Your Cheapest Evening Meal.

cheap, easy family meals

Show Jamie How To Cook On A Budget Champagne Contest

Meal idea's under £1

Pink

[nimbo]

not a recpie exactly, but try to bulk out stews/soups with lentils etc as they are mucho cheap, and mucho filling....

try to shop just before the supermarket closes, and but thier marked down stock.... as you do this more often you'll get to know the best times for it...

try to bulk cook as it stops you from ordering a takeaway... (or at least it stops me!!!!) pack up lunches the night before as again it stops the purchase of overpriced soggy sandwhiches....

oh and meal plan, so you can effectively use what is in the cupboards, and rotate stock!!!!

[brightonman123]

sausage with sweet n sour pasta

frozen sauages £2for 20- ist supermarker budget tranges (7-10 portions?)
tesco sweet n our cooking sauce - 79p (good for 2 portions)
pack of died pasta (£1.50, say - 10p a portion?)

preheat oven to 200'C
bake sausages for approx 20mins (use a grill tray to prevent swimming in fat).

10mins in, start pasta - about 8mins in microwave dish, filled with water..

drain water off the pasta, add sausages (cut into pieces i wanted), add sauce, stir together and m/wave again for 4-5mins.

stir again, serve.

these timigs work for fo 3 sausages, and handful of pasta- may need to adjust for larger servings.

[bertiebots]

The cheapest meal I do is probably pasta in tomato sauce...
1 pack of sainsburys basic pasta 19p
1 tin tomatoes 19p
clove of garlic 5p (get huge bag of fresh from market for approx 70p)
Pinch of oregano 2p?
1 onion 10p?
This will feed five + and is lovely with some grated cheese on top but obviously this bumps the price up from 55p for the whole meal!

[bullet]

Tin of value tuna £0.35
Packet of value pasta twirls £0.18
Jar of value pasta sauce £0.24.

Total cost £0.77.

Make tuna pasta.

1 bag of value plain flour £0.33
2.5 kg of generic potatoes £1.17.
1 tub of butter £0.96
2 tins of value baked beans £0.36.

Total is £ 2.82, but you only need a fraction of the butter and flour and not all the potatoes, so it works out cheaper. I usually cost things imagining a person has nothing in the cupboard.
Make potato cakes by boiling the potatoes, mashing them with a little butter and mixing in enough flour to form a dough. Roll out as you would pastry and cut into squares, place on a greased tray and bake. Serve with baked beans.

[Chell]

Originally Posted by brightonman123

sausage with sweet n sour pasta

frozen sauages £2for 20- ist supermarker budget tranges (7-10 portions?)
tesco sweet n our cooking sauce - 79p (good for 2 portions)
pack of died pasta (£1.50, say - 10p a portion?)

preheat oven to 200'C
bake sausages for approx 20mins (use a grill tray to prevent swimming in fat).

10mins in, start pasta - about 8mins in microwave dish, filled with water..

drain water off the pasta, add sausages (cut into pieces i wanted), add sauce, stir together and m/wave again for 4-5mins.

stir again, serve.

these timigs work for fo 3 sausages, and handful of pasta- may need to adjust for larger servings.

You can get Value/Smart Price for just over 20p a jar/tin. The Asda one is nicer than Tescos.

[David333]

I've just started at university so really want to save some money and be a little more healthy (a meal used to involve giant chocolate buttons). I've started cooking pasta with tuna, sometimes spaghetti bolognese, sometimes some rice: nothing particularly exciting. Anyway, I thought about making my own pasta sauce to save some money but after buying tomatoes, tomato paste, etc, well it was cheaper just to buy a jar of tomato sauce. It's the same with microwave meals: they're £1 from the co-op. Is it not cheaper and less hassle to just do that then mess around, spending more money to make my own food...?

[Pink-winged]

Hi David,

It's possible to make cheap meals with cheaper ingredients that are almost certainly better for you than ready made microwave meals.

These threads may give you some ideas:

Cheapest recipes???

Meal for two for 50p. Suggestions?

The Cheapest Healthy Meal Ever!

Feed 6 for £1.62

Cheapest meal

Your Cheapest Evening Meal.

cheap, easy family meals

Show Jamie How To Cook On A Budget Champagne Contest

Meal idea's under £1

I'll add your thread to the most recent one later.

This thread may interest you too: Is OS *REALLY* cheaper?

Pink

[David333]

Thank you very much. I shall work my way through those threads: I really appreciate you collating them. Thanks!

[blueberrypie]

Originally Posted by horsechestnut

A U.S. measuring cup = 8 fluid oz (20 Fluid oz in a pint)

But if you're following a North American recipe, remember that a US pint is 16 fl oz, not 20.

There's a slight difference between a UK fluid ounce and a US fluid ounce too, but they're close enough that it probably won't make a difference. The pint difference would probably be noticeable though!

[smarterbytheminute]

Haven't had time to read all posts to see if this has already been mentioned but if your kids like bread pudding it is so easy to make your own and really cheap and filling too and much tastier than shop bought!!

I usually shop at Asda and buy up any packs of bread rolls/loaves when they are really cheap - like *10p for a pack of 8 rolls or 10p for a loaf etc. I then freeze them straight away for use in various ways but my main one is to make a yummy bread pudding and I only buy wholegrain/multi grain etc rather than plain white rolls or bread so it is more nutritional and tasty. (*Depending on the make/product the original price can be anything from 50p to £2.00 so there's quite a lot of saving and you have longer to use them if frozen).

I take one pack of rolls or a loaf and defrost.
Cut into small pieces and place in a large mixing bowl - cover with cold water to soak (approx 30 minutes but sometimes I leave it longer till I am ready)
Drain as much water from the soaked bread then add whatever sweet ingredients you want to use or have to hand in the storecupboard.

I use: raisins, sultanas, chopped dates, cherries, chopped ginger pieces, prunes, chopped nuts, any mixed dried fruit selection, chopped apple or a mashed banana that is perhaps on the turn (if they don't like to eat them browning)
large spoonful of mixed spice, or cinnamon, nutmeg etc to taste
large spoonful of golden syrup and/or honey (sometimes I use some of the syrup from a jar of stem ginger if I have it - there are endless possibilities).
1 or 2 eggs

Basically you add whatever you want or have available and I never measure, once mixed just turn into a greased baking tray and sprinkle with any sugar you like/mixed with spices is nice on top and firm it down in a baking dish and bake in the oven (at approx 180 for about 30-45 mins or until you get the texture you like on top - I leave mine a bit longer to get crunchy on top.

If I have a handful of fruit such as blueberries etc I throw these in the mix too.. you can make it your very own recipe and once cooked and cooled down - I place it in a tupperware type container and put in the fridge as it is much better cold although I never can resist a bite whilst it's still hot!!

The kids can take some in their lunchbox and it's much more healthy for them than biscuits or sweets.

I also use the cheap bread purchases to make bread and butter pudding - using the sweeter breads such as brioch/or even crossants - but I also use the grained breads for this too - just slice and butter/add fruit/dried fruits as above/3 eggs mixed with milk and sugar/pop in oven ..... yummy!!!

For a snack - defrost some rolls - sprinkle with grated cheese, top with a tomato slice or two and some dried herbs and place under grill - tasty and cheap!

Happy New Year

[lottemaxwell]

3 meals that we like are Corned Beef hash? (lots of different ideas of how this should be done!), Spicy Spaghetti, and Chicken and Bacon Ranch Salad.

We use - 1 and a half tins of value peeled new potatoes, in water
1 tin of corned beef
beans

Drain potatoes from there water, heat potatoes in the pan, mash, add the corned beef, mash again, heat throughly then serve with beans!

Can be modified to make dry hash if you place in oven for shorth while. Probably feed 3 comfortably for £2?

Another favourite is spicy spaghetti,

3 rashers of bacon, chopped up
1/2 a chilli
2 x garlic cloves crushed
Spaghetti
garlic bread (optional)

Fry bacon, then add chilli, garlic, add a small amount of olive oil, whilst you are frying this boil spaghetti, and cook your optional garlic bread. once spaghetti is cooked, drain and add bacon to the pan, stir through then serve! Very tasty and very cheap. Especially if you buy chillis cheap - they freeze really well but stick to you when you are chopping (you can freeze from frozen)

This meal can be adapted to make something more "gourmet" - I sometimes swap the bacon for chorizo and prawn - although you dont need any where as much chilli as I once learnt!!!

Another favourite is Chicken and bacon ranch salad - Asda's do a ranch salad pack for £1, add 1 x cooked chicken breast, and 2 x rashers of bacon (once fried and left to cool) and you have a lovely salad - again this is probably about £2 for you both?

[Stephen Leak]

PEA SOUP

This has got to be the simplest and cheapest recipe for the most wholesome and filling end result – ever. My box of dried peas cost 36p, so each serving cost just 9p!

Serves 2

INGREDIENTS

125g (½ a 250g box) of dried peas
500ml of water
Ground black pepper to taste

METHOD

Soak the peas in water according to the instructions.

Put the peas into a saucepan and cover with fresh water. Bring to the boil, then turn down the heat until it is just boiling (simmering). Check the liquid level from time to time and top up if it starts to dry out.

Continue cooking the peas until they are the desired consistency. Adjust the quantity of the liquid to the required quantity of soup.

If you have a food processor, put the soup in it and blend it to the desired consistency. If you have a hand blender, put it in the soup and blend it to the desired consistency. If you don’t have a food processor or hand blender, press the soup through a sieve with the back of a spoon.

Season with the pepper. Continue to cook for another couple of minutes.

ADDITIONS & ALTERNATIVES

You can use fresh, frozen or tinned peas. These do not need to be soaked, and should be added after the joint has been removed.

Pea soup can be any consistency from a thin liquid with soft peas floating in it to a thick paste you can stand a spoon up in.