I've got loads of questions/queries/problems!

southernscouser

Firstly, I'm sorry.

Secondly, I'm sorry again. :rotfl:

OK, I'll try and keep this as short as possible. :rolleyes:

I'm sure you've had dozens of these already and I will start reading the board more but I need to cut my food bill. Last year I was probably averaging £200 a month. That's just for me. I don't even really drink so alcohol is a very small part of that.

I cook all my meals, no ready meals or anything, but I need to start cooking cheaper, and stop throwing away so much. As an example, I had to throw away a whole unopened packet of wraps which could of gone in the freezer but didn't. Half packets of bacon that don't get used. Mouldy veg. Potatoes going off. I need to get more organized/organised!

I've tried meal planning but to very little/no success. For whatever reason I don't stick to it, or when I do I end up buying stuff that I don't need, or do need, but half of it goes off and has to be chucked!

It also doesn't work very well because I can't/won't/don't cook many things. However I'm now armed with Jamie Olivers Ministry of Food to widen my variety (I even bought fish today ).

I also need to make things cheaper. For example, I probably eat spag bol 3 times a week. For 5 portions it costs me about £11.50. Mince - £3.75, Spaghetti - £0.50, Mushrooms - £0.88, Dolmio x 2 - £5, Other bits/herbs - £0.10, Garlic bread - £1.25.

So it's £2.28 per portion but if I could make my own sauce like Dolmio I could save quite a bit. Does anyone know how I can make Dolmio but cheap? :think:

Admittedly some of my bill will go on fizzy drinks but other than that I don't really eat alot of junk. I might spend £6-8 on fruit per week which I don't mind doing as it's good quality, healthy, and yummy.

Maybe it's not working because I'm just being lazy and not putting the preparation in. I don't really know. :undecided

Can anyone help me? :A


I've also got some quick questions if anyone can answer them?

I like cooking stuffed chicken (chicken, pesto, sun dried tomatoes, mozza, wrapped in bacon). Can I make a few at a time and freeze these? If so do I cook them first?

This is gonna sound really dumb but how do you know when your pan is 'simmering'?

I like green beans. But I don't particularly like frozen green beans which I buy for convenience and cost (I assume they are cheaper frozen). Is there anything I can do to make them nicer?

And am I the only who finds non-stick pans don't work? :rotfl:

If you've got this far then I owe you a drink and another apology. Thanks for reading.

bullet_2

Spaghetti bolognaise. You can use the same amount of mince yet increase the portions by adding oats, grated carrot and lentils to the mixture. You can also replace the pasta with baked potatoes, or a mashed potato topping (make it into a sort of pie like Shepherds Pie) for variety.

Be realistic about how much fruit and veg you're likely to get through each week. I have a theory about the supermarkets. You go in there and see the fruit and veg at the front of the store so you often make a beeline for that, thinking how encouraging and healthy it all is. Then you stock up on lots of fruits and vegetables (you being a generic you), which is good, but not if you then end up throwing stuff away because it's gone off. This can be one of the dangers of the bogof deals. However, if you do buy more than you think you'll need you can do things like making soups and freezing them.

For simmering you have to compare the difference between it and boiling. Boiling is when large bubbles are popping in the water. Simmering is when you turn it down and the water is still hot, but the bubbles are now tiny and the water is not threatening to run over the top.


Green beans can be made nicer by cooking with herbs, adding curry powder or mustard or sugar.

vivaladiva

I also need to make things cheaper. For example, I probably eat spag bol 3 times a week. For 5 portions it costs me about £11.50. Mince - £3.75, Spaghetti - £0.50, Mushrooms - £0.88, Dolmio x 2 - £5, Other bits/herbs - £0.10, Garlic bread - £1.25.

So it's £2.28 per portion but if I could make my own sauce like Dolmio I could save quite a bit. Does anyone know how I can make Dolmio but cheap? :think:

First step - open the Jamie Oliver book and turn to page 165. There's a recipe for Bolognese sauce that will cost much less than £2.50.

Your pan is simmering when it's bubbling gently.

Are you over-cooking your green beans?

I don't get on with non-stick pans, especially frying pans - I've trashed everything from cheapo market ones to a very expensive Le Creuset one:eek:.
Best I've found so far is a Red Rose one from Dunelm - it seems to be fairly indestructible, but it's only about 4 months old.

HTH

Mini_Bear

£5 on dolmio sauce thats obscene! I make a massive amount of spag sauce with a couple tins of chopped toms (2 x 50p or less) one chopped onion (25p) a bit of garlic, some herbs like basil a few mushrooms and maybe a courgette. will cost you more like £2.50 and with non of those nasty chemicals.
My advise is to experiment with home made sauces, Mr Mini Bear makes a lovely korma sauce with a tin of coconut milk a couple green chillis, some ginger a bit of lime juice some mushrooms and some spices from the cupboard. No more than 2.50 for 3 or 4 portions!
Also have you thought about cooking with turkey mince, much healthier for you and i find it doesnt cook down as much (not as much fat/water)?
Just a few ideas!

MissB_2

southernscouser wrote: »

I cook all my meals, no ready meals or anything, but I need to start cooking cheaper, and stop throwing away so much. As an example, I had to throw away a whole unopened packet of wraps which could of gone in the freezer but didn't. Half packets of bacon that don't get used. Mouldy veg. Potatoes going off. I need to get more organized/organised!
I freeze everything I can and then defrost stuff as I need it - if you're cooknig in the evening, take it out the night before (leave in the fridge), or even the morning (leave in the microwave but NOT on very hot days!) and it should be ready by when you get in. This is fab if you're only cooking for one. WHen you buy it, also buy a STACK of freezer bags and freeze it in one-meal amounts - two rashers of bacon etc... - then you dont have to try nd prise a couple off a frozen block! If stuff looks like its starting to go off, cook it and then it'll keep a couple more days or can then be frozen to eat later.

I've tried meal planning but to very little/no success. For whatever reason I don't stick to it, or when I do I end up buying stuff that I don't need, or do need, but half of it goes off and has to be chucked!
I never bother planning because if the OH turns up then it all goes to pot, I just do what I fancy, though it helps if defrosting owt to know 24h beforehand!

It also doesn't work very well because I can't/won't/don't cook many things. However I'm now armed with Jamie Olivers Ministry of Food to widen my variety (I even bought fish today ).
I'm fussy in some ways too, but I just buy and use what I eat, no need to waste stuff you dont like.

I also need to make things cheaper. For example, I probably eat spag bol 3 times a week. For 5 portions it costs me about £11.50. Mince - £3.75, Spaghetti - £0.50, Mushrooms - £0.88, Dolmio x 2 - £5, Other bits/herbs - £0.10, Garlic bread - £1.25.

So it's £2.28 per portion but if I could make my own sauce like Dolmio I could save quite a bit. Does anyone know how I can make Dolmio but cheap? :think:
This link on here will help - from Wizk1Dolmio Type Sauce Thing

Admittedly some of my bill will go on fizzy drinks but other than that I don't really eat alot of junk. I might spend £6-8 on fruit per week which I don't mind doing as it's good quality, healthy, and yummy.
Look out for BOGOFs etc... and try to cut that down to £5 - it all helps!


I've also got some quick questions if anyone can answer them?
Here's what I *can* help with...

I like cooking stuffed chicken (chicken, pesto, sun dried tomatoes, mozza, wrapped in bacon). Can I make a few at a time and freeze these? If so do I cook them first?
Yes and yes - it makes better use of your oven to do like 4 or 6 at one time and you just freeze and then defrost in the fridge for 24h, microwave for about 3mins and make sure they're hot ALL THE WAY THROUGH.

This is gonna sound really dumb but how do you know when your pan is 'simmering'?
It's not dumb! If no-one tells you, how do you know?
You know once it's been brought to the boil and you turn it down a little to stop it boiling over? That's the point at which it's simmering - it's bubbling away happily but not burning or splattering everywhere.

I like green beans. But I don't particularly like frozen green beans which I buy for convenience and cost (I assume they are cheaper frozen). Is there anything I can do to make them nicer?
Bung 'em in sauce? Or steam them to try to keep more flavour in. Or start to grow your own - beans gan be grown in just a large tub with some tall cames to grow up.

And am I the only who finds non-stick pans don't work? :rotfl:
No! :rotfl: I use stainless steel because if you do really truly burn stuff to them to the point of amalgamation. you can use salt and lemon juice to scour it off and at the end of it you still have a shiny, usable pan and not a sink full of bits of teflon...

If you've got this far then I owe you a drink and another apology. Thanks for reading.

Mine's a nice hot cup of tea!
B
x x x

Pink.

southernscouser wrote: »

Firstly, I'm sorry.

Secondly, I'm sorry again. :rotfl:

OK, I'll try and keep this as short as possible. :rolleyes:

I'm sure you've had dozens of these already and I will start reading the board more but I need to cut my food bill. Last year I was probably averaging £200 a month. That's just for me. I don't even really drink so alcohol is a very small part of that.

I cook all my meals, no ready meals or anything, but I need to start cooking cheaper, and stop throwing away so much. As an example, I had to throw away a whole unopened packet of wraps which could of gone in the freezer but didn't. Half packets of bacon that don't get used. Mouldy veg. Potatoes going off. I need to get more organized/organised! Can you stick a reminder up somewhere obvious in the kitchen to check the fridge every couple of days for fresh things that are likely to go off so that you could remember to freeze them? If in doubt freeze it...you can always defrost it if you change your mind.

I've tried meal planning but to very little/no success. For whatever reason I don't stick to it, or when I do I end up buying stuff that I don't need, or do need, but half of it goes off and has to be chucked! What about starting gently by planning say three/four meals that you are going to definitely have that week and shop for ingredients for those? That will mean you have other days when you can change your plans or will allow for times when you just fancy something else.

It also doesn't work very well because I can't/won't/don't cook many things. However I'm now armed with Jamie Olivers Ministry of Food to widen my variety (I even bought fish today ). If you want to learn to cook you're in the right place. If there's something you'd like to try then ask on the board as there's always someone who will help.

I also need to make things cheaper. For example, I probably eat spag bol 3 times a week. For 5 portions it costs me about £11.50. Mince - £3.75, Spaghetti - £0.50, Mushrooms - £0.88, Dolmio x 2 - £5, Other bits/herbs - £0.10, Garlic bread - £1.25. Lose the Dolmio. Bolognese sauce is very easy once you know how.

So it's £2.28 per portion but if I could make my own sauce like Dolmio I could save quite a bit. Does anyone know how I can make Dolmio but cheap? :think:

Dry fry mince, add chopped onion, mushrooms, peppers, garlic mixed herbs, a stock cube, a tin of chopped tomatoes and a glug of wine if you like it. Lots of recipes here As bullet has said you could also pad the mince out with oats or lentils.

Admittedly some of my bill will go on fizzy drinks but other than that I don't really eat alot of junk. I might spend £6-8 on fruit per week which I don't mind doing as it's good quality, healthy, and yummy. Fruit is expensive but worth it IMO

Maybe it's not working because I'm just being lazy and not putting the preparation in. I don't really know. :undecided

Can anyone help me? :A


I've also got some quick questions if anyone can answer them?

I like cooking stuffed chicken (chicken, pesto, sun dried tomatoes, mozza, wrapped in bacon). Can I make a few at a time and freeze these? If so do I cook them first? Yes you should be able to make a few at a time providing the chicken and bacon haven't been previously frozen. You could cook it first and freeze it but I would make it up, freeze it and defrost it and cook it when you want it as chicken breast can be quite dry if reheated.

This is gonna sound really dumb but how do you know when your pan is 'simmering'? When a pan is simmering it is bubbling very gently as opposed to bubbling quite violently when boiling.

I like green beans. But I don't particularly like frozen green beans which I buy for convenience and cost (I assume they are cheaper frozen). Is there anything I can do to make them nicer? They are nice tossed in a little garlic butter.

And am I the only who finds non-stick pans don't work? :rotfl:

If you've got this far then I owe you a drink and another apology. Thanks for reading.

Sorry for messing with your post but it was the only way I could keep track of all the questions.

Pink

thriftlady_2

Can we have the recipe for the chicken stuffed with mozzarella and sun-dried tomatoes? Sounds gorgeous;)

I think with the green beans you either have to buy expensive fresh ones from Kenya or wait till August when the British crop is ready and then pig out on beans -at least that's what I do. Frozen ones are always soggy even with the briefest amount of cooking. I find it fun waiting for the different fruit and veg to come into season, mind you I wouldn't want to be without frozen peas and sweetcorn.

Gingham_Ribbon

Don't make life hard for yourself, SS. Chop an onion, fry it slowly for about 5-10 minutes, add some crushed garlic for a minute, add your mince and stir till brown. Then bung a tin of chopped tomatoes, a squirt of tomato puree and a heaped teaspoon of mixed Italian herbs into the pan and let it simmer while the pasta is on.

southernscouser

thriftlady wrote: »

Can we have the recipe for the chicken stuffed with mozzarella and sun-dried tomatoes? Sounds gorgeous;)

Well ok. :rotfl:

Flatten a chicken breast with a hammer type thing. Spread a couple of teaspoons of red pesto in the middle with some sliced sun dried tomatoes, and a couple of slices of mozzarella. Fold the chiken into a parcel type thing and wrap with stretched out streaky bacon.

Whack on a baking tray and in the oven for 25-30 mins at 200c.

Serve with rosti potato and spinach. Yum.

southernscouser

Gingham_Ribbon wrote: »

Don't make life hard for yourself, SS. Chop an onion, fry it slowly for about 5-10 minutes, add some crushed garlic for a minute, add your mince and stir till brown. Then bung a tin of chopped tomatoes, a squirt of tomato puree and a heaped teaspoon of mixed Italian herbs into the pan and let it simmer while the pasta is on.

I thought Dolmio would be more ingredients than that!

I put herbs and stuff in anyway so basically I'm paying £5 just to put 2 tins of tomatoes in that cost about a quid?

I could whack some puree in aswell! :think:

mrbadexample

southernscouser wrote: »

If you've got this far then I owe you a drink...

I read it. Honest. Pint of cider please. :beer: