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The Great 'Cheap Christmas recipes' Hunt

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Former_MSE_Debs
Former_MSE_Debs Posts: 890 Forumite
edited 3 December 2013 at 5:35PM in Old style MoneySaving
Great 'Cheap Christmas recipes' Hunt

Whether it's traditional turkey with all the trimmings, or a festive feast dreamed up by a celebrity chef, cooking a Christmas lunch can soon become very pricey. So we'd like to hear MoneySavers' cheap and cheerful recipes to bring the cost down.

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  • rebeccatom
    rebeccatom Posts: 159 Forumite
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    For a cheap starter, I like to make chicken liver pate with onion relish and toast
  • joedenise
    joedenise Posts: 16,631 Forumite
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    Not a recipe but you can reduce your costs by using your freezer! Buy whatever meat you'll be having earlier in the year when YS and put in freezer. Use frozen veg, home grown if possible. You could also freeze gravy previously made so one less chore to do on the day - just reheat gently in a pan or in a jug in the microwave. Then the only thing which probably needs buying at full price is the potatoes.

    Won't help for this year but for future years - For the pudding, if you want a traditional pudding buy one in the sale after christmas and put away in a cool, dark place and it'll keep well until next year.

    I managed to do this with the cake a couple of years ago as well when they were selling off the cake mix (think it was Delia's) for 50p so didn't cost very much to make a decent cake.

    Hope this is helpful to someone.

    Denise
  • RAS
    RAS Posts: 32,864 Forumite
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    Two money saving ideas rather than recipes.

    1. Menu plan; all too often we rush round and fill our trolleys with all sorts of stuff "just in case" and end up with masses we cannot eat/use. Do you need a 11kg turkey for example, or even a turkey, for 2? Or would a single pheasant fill the bird shaped hole with a nice bit of beef for Boxing Day?

    2. Think left-overs in advance. Those cooked sprouts can be frozen if necessary and turned into bubble and squeak. The stock from cooking a ham is the basis for soup (into which you can tip all sorts of already cooked veggies towards the end).

    Strip the carcass of a bird and you have:
    cold meat for salads and baked potatoes
    meat for warm/hot salads like potato, chicken and avocado
    fillings for pies
    the basis of a curry
    something to pad out a pasta bake
    or to add to a stir-fry.
    The person who has not made a mistake, has made nothing
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 0 Newbie
    First Anniversary First Post I've been Money Tipped!
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    Cheap but lovely chocolates can be made by getting in some grapes and clementine segments and dunking them in melted chocolate then putting them on parchment/greasedproof paper to set. Chill them in the fridge and they are yummy!!! will keep for a few days and you can use other fruit too but cut pieces don't keep as long!
  • Steve059
    Steve059 Posts: 2,686 Forumite
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    DIY "BAILEY'S" CREAM

    Makes approx. 1 litre

    INGREDIENTS

    400g tin of condensed milk
    170g tin of evaporated milk
    300ml carton of single cream
    250ml of Scotch whisky
    4 teaspoons of coffee essence

    METHOD

    Pour the milk and cream into a 1 litre jug or bowl.

    Add the whisky and coffee essence.

    Stir together.

    Pour into a clean 1 litre bottle.

    ADDITIONS & ALTERNATIVES

    Adjust the amount of coffee essence to taste.

    The original recipe specified UHT long-life single cream, but this can now be difficult to find. Use normal single cream instead.

    Don’t use your best single malt for this. Any cheap supermarket own-brand blend will do.

    TIPS

    Use the whisky to wash out the milk and cream containers, then add it to the bowl.

    This will keep in the fridge. However, I don't know how long it will keep for: it’s never stayed around long enough to go off.
    If you fold it in half, will an Audi A4 fit in a Citroen C5? :)
  • maman
    maman Posts: 28,688 Forumite
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    I totally agree with RAS about the planning. My rule is that I don't mind buying anything provided it won't be wasted. Anything frozen or packets or jars/cans is fine. So I'll have puddings or biscuits or crisps or jars of antipasti or pickles any freezable meats.


    The only thing that's ever been wasted is salad leaves. A way round that is to buy baby spinach instead and use that up in cooking or buy tasteless iceberg lettuce which lasts for ages. Although I'm sure I saw Jamie Oliver putting cooking lettuce.;)
  • joedenise
    joedenise Posts: 16,631 Forumite
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    Lettuce, particularly little gem, is good cooked with frozen peas & spring onions. The French sometimes serve this with meat & potatoes. I've cooked it like that a few times when the lettuce is getting a bit limp!

    Denise
  • lkjhgfdsa_2
    lkjhgfdsa_2 Posts: 2 Newbie
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    Jazz up cheap dried stuffing by putting some dried cranberries in it when you add the boiling water.
    Dried cranberries are often pricey but check out the small snack packs as you only need a small amount and often these are on 3 for 2.
  • Downsizing__for_sanity
    Downsizing__for_sanity Posts: 390 Forumite
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    1. Go for frozen instead of fresh - saves the panic last minute. Ald! have what looks like some really nice 4 bird roasts for £9.99 in the freezer section.
    2. Put stuff away from the family's eyes if you buy things, eg crisps and biscuit, in advance. My OH will eat an entire pack of chocolate mints if they are left within view! (But make sure you remember to bring them out - no point putting them in a 'safe' place if you can't find them on the day!
    3. Plan, plan, plan! It might sound pretty boring (but I enjoy it, saddo) but try to estimate how many you'll be feeding and for what meal. It will save a fortune if you can rustle up a quick omelette before one of the many Christmas parties or carol singing events rather than ordering a takeaway later on.
  • bluecanoe
    bluecanoe Posts: 23 Forumite
    First Post Combo Breaker First Anniversary
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    Two family favourites for left over turkey are:
    1. Mix any dark or light meat with a tin of condensed mushroom soup and serve over rice. Also good with extra mushrooms, frozen peas or any other green veg mixed in. Serve with a dash of Paprika on top for a very respectable Boxing day dish.
    2. Christmas wouldn't be the same without a turkey curry- add meat to jar or can of sauce and serve with rice.
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