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

donner_kebab

I have a LUSH recipe for Spag Bol:

Chop an onion and lightly fry it with 2 cloves of garlic.
Then add 500g mince and brown.
Drain off any fat and then add worcester sauce and a glass of red wine (or can leave out, doesn't really taste any different to me just an excuse to open a bottle!)
Add 2 tins of chopped toms and half a tube of tom puree
Then add half tsp salt / pepper and one tsp of paprika and 2 tbsp of oregano and 1 tbsp of honey (yep honey!) but saying that I left the honey out the other day and again didn't notice any change!
Finally add on dollop of chilli paste, I use 1 heaped tsp but I like things spicy!
Leave to simmer on a low heat for about 45 mins and give it a stir every 5 mins or so to stop it from sticking!

I love this SOOOOOO much that I cannot even eat Dolmio any more, only my own! I usually whack some in the freezer and have it another day. My fella loves it too so can't be bad! xxx

Sarahx

southernscouser wrote: »

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.

Write a cook book! I would definately buy it! Short, simple, to the point and actually funny!! :rotfl:

Well done x

southernscouser

kunekune wrote: »

Well done (though I'm not quite sure why you put balsamic vinegar in!!!)

Jamie Oliver told me to.

And I put Jacobs cream crackers (not the cockney term) in. Jamie told me to do that aswell. :rotfl:

southernscouser

Oh and the cooker is clean now. :rotfl:

hornetgirl

Asda is currently doing 500g of beef mince for £1. That and the homemade sauce instead of Dolmio should save you a fortune

scattymam1

Fab thread - will be lurking to hear all the great ideas, after the spag bol discussion I was just going to say try jamies meatballs and then as if by magic you had - I did them a couple of nights ago - AND I followed it to the tee too, balsamic and jacobs crackers too, cos Jamie told me to:rotfl: I know it would have been cheaper to leave out those things and the rosemary and the basil,etc but it really made a difference - my husband even enjoyed it and wants it again. Once you've bought all the herbs though they should last a fair while. I also bought some philadelphia stuff(on offer) as the meatball recipe only used 12 crackers I thought it would be better not to waste the rest and eat them for snacks.

scattymam1

If you need to cut down some cheap options for meals are veggie dishes as obviously the meat is the expensive part - I'm going to try jamies vegetable jalfrezi curry next.

Also Omelettes - as the main ingredient being eggs which again are cheaper than buying meat and is filling.

I'm sure it's lidl that does fizzy pop for like 20p that could save you.

Fruit and veg leftovers - put in a juicer if they are about to go out of date - makes a lovely juice for you,no waste and loads of vitamins for you too.

southernscouser

scattymam1 wrote: »

I know it would have been cheaper to leave out those things and the rosemary and the basil,etc but it really made a difference

I didn't bother with the fresh herbs. Just whacked some oregano in, but not a 'heaving tbsp' or whatever it is he said. :rotfl:

Karmacat

SS - king of the forum!

pinkneonmartini

all this talk of spag bol is making me hungry lol.

my recipe is the one i've used for 6 years (since my student days)

GET THYSELF TO LIDL/ALDI

• buy the 7p packets of noodles (or supermarket own) there a perfect portion for 1, and once the "bol" is all over it you don't notice it's not pasta. Or go to a supermarket and get the giant bags of 5kg pasta normally about £5 but will last AGES!!! plus alot of the time their on offer at half price at stuff, so even more saving to be had.
• garlic (dried and chopped) = 75p
• oregano = 75p (both of these will last months)

sauce:
2 tins of economy choppped tomatoes = 17p x 2= 34p
500g of mince = £4
bag of onions basics/smartprice/economy = £1

if you're gonna use all the mince this will serve 4

1. chuck all the mince into a pan, on a medium-high heat.
2. dice 2 onions (or if you can't dice just smash them into teeny tiny pieces like i do, lol)
3. by now mince should should be "browning" this is also code for producing tonnes of grease and water ---> perfect time to chuck in you onions as they will soak up all the grease and start to fry. Don't worry about the water it'll sweat off.
4. grab mixer/hand blender (or a bowl and a whisk) and get your two tins of chopped tomatoes, chuck in as much garlic and oregano as you want, and then add the secret ingredient an EGG!!! Beat like your life depends on it or just hit the blitz button lol. The egg adds sod all flavour to the sauce but makes your homemade dolmio a bit thicker and creamier.
5. mince and onions should be pretty much cooked by now, pour in your HM dolmio, give it a stir add a bit of salt and pepper, turn the heat down so it's just "simmering" and leave it alone for 10 mins.
6. Return 10 mins later add cheapo noodles to some water, when noodles are soft pour on the bol. JOB DONE

Thihs entire set up never costs more than £10 even when i do have to get more pasta etc. Just stick to the basics stuff, it's so cheap that they can't afford to go putting expensive salt/sugar/preservatives in it. Using all the mince will easily serve four. But the sauce in reality costs 17p for toms, 10p for an onion, 20p for an egg, mince £1 TOTAL = 1.47 a portion (if you buy and cook in bulk and then freeze the cost will go down). Everything else is "storecupboard items" as they'd say on ready steady cook, lol.