the cheapskate shopping list and recipe thread

wigglebeena

anyone want to join in? as stated on another thread, I don't write a shopping list then try to find everything on it at the cheapest place: I buy what's cheap then work out what to do with it. So my shopping list reads: any bargains available, full stop!

We could share what we've found super-cheap lately and proffer ideas to each other on what to do with it.

Here's one: I've been buying economy jelly (about 7p a time) and chucking the fruit my OH would otherwise buy and let rot into it (chopped up), once it's a bit over-ripe. Lovely!

wigglebeena

I have also used Mr S's economy squash (between 16p and 19p depending on flavour) with his economy muesli (about 55p) to make flapjacks, using the squash instead of syrup. A bit heavy, but edible.

jinny

I used to use Morrisons cheap washing powder that i mixed with soda cristals but it has'nt been seen in my local store for weeks now. The value tinned tomatoes are hit and miss as well. I think the value cornflakes are ok now I got used to them eventually. I use value flour for baking and making bread.

Cheapskate

With this username I have to join, don't I?!
I do a list, with basics we need, such as loo rolls, bread, veg, etc, not usually specific though. Sometimes we have certain menus choices, but more often the list reads '4 teas', '3 lunches' etc., & I just take pot luck. Always buy el cheapo chopped tomatoes, fresh spuds & one or two other things from whichever supermarket.
Got a reduced large pot (79p cos of date) of Yeo Valley yoghourt in Mr M today, Patak's curry sauces are BOGOF. Tomorrow M&S £10 meal deal on again (& every fortnight 'til Christmas as mentioned somewhere on another thread), so will see what they have. Did it once & got a whole raw chicken, wine, spuds & fruit & jelly - did me, DH & DS for 2 meals (with other veg I had) & leftover pud for another snack for DS!!
Got to do food stocktake tonight - then make up menus based on that, so I only need to buy odds & ends.
Looking forward to this thread!
A x

Stephen_Leak

Do this, with ASDA SmartPrice pasta in sauce and cottage cheese, and even the egg and pepper!

PASTA & COTTAGE CHEESE FLAN

Makes about 0.75L

INGREDIENTS

1 packet of pasta in sauce
Water
1 egg
200g pot of cottage cheese
Ground pepper to taste

METHOD

Make up the pasta in sauce, according to the instructions on the packet but replacing any milk with an equal quantity of water and omitting any butter.

Break the egg into a bowl and pick out any bits of shell. Mix up the egg. Add the cottage cheese. Mix up again. Season with the pepper.

Put the pasta and sauce into a flat ovenproof dish. Level off the surface. Leave to cool until the sauce has thickened. Put the egg and cottage cheese mixture on top. Spread to cover the pasta.

Cook in a preheated oven at 180°C, 350°F, gas mark 4 for 20 to 30 minutes until golden on top.

Olliebeak

Like the sound of that Stephen - thanks :T !

Stephen_Leak

Olliebeak wrote: »

Like the sound of that Stephen - thanks :T !

You're welcome. It's ever so filling and, if you do it with just water (not the milk and butter some packets suggest) it is evidently "Slimming World" sin free, as well. And you can use any of the different shaped pasta in different flavoured sauces.

Purple_Sparkles

I do a meal plan but don't stick to it rigidly as I'm not in the best of health and some days I am so bushed I can't cook but I always manage to put the BM/slow cooker on and a simplified menu makes life easier. I spend about £25 per week on food shopping for myself, my son, his friends who are always in my house! and greedy b/f at weekends.

Typical food in our house is;

Pasta with hm tomato based sauce, bulked out with soya mince or lentils, I always cook enough to turn the left over pasta & sauce from that into a pasta bake the next day by adding a cheese sauce bung into oven with breadcrumbs on top.

HM pizza, dough made in breadmaker, hm tomato sauce from the above.

HM cottage pie, using up any loose veg and again bulked out with lentils or soya mince, always enough for at least 2 days worth.

HM chunky vegetable soup & bread

I try and make sure we all get our 5+ a day by snacking on fruit and also make fruit salads and smoothies (especially good for using up 'dented' fruit that my kids won't eat).

Baked spuds scooped out and mashed with anything going in the fridge then put back into the skins and baked until golden.

HM soup - I usually chop up any veg that's nearing death add to stock and simmer until cooked, season with herbs to taste, sometimes I add broth mix or lentils to it to bulk it out, easy and cheap.

Dumplings - I add these to leftover casserole/stew/soup when greedy bf is visiting as he eats me out of house and home!

Eggs, eggs and more eggs - my chickens are laying like mad!