Cheapest way to feed 5 boys!

SunnyGirl

I feed 6 of us daily so would second the ideas about using the slow cooker. I often make a casserole (chicken, beef or sausage) and put the chopped potatoes in with it to cook. That way its a one pot meal. Also serve bread of any description with meals to fill them up Pasta bake is another good one - cook a bag & a half of pasta (500g size), gently fry together some chopped bacon, onion, peppers and/or veggies of your choice mix together & then either make a cheese sauce or use a bottle of pasatta or a couple of cans of condensed mushroom soup and pour over. Top with grated cheese & grill until golden & bubbly. HTH

Patchwork_Quilt

I've just made a lentil 'shepherds' pie. That must have been cheap. I can't give you a list of quantities but I browned onion, swede and garlic in olive oil, then added Crazy Jack's organic green lentils, Tesco's green lentils (for a change of texture) and cooked them in the stock from our last chicken. So it tasted meaty, but wasn't. Then, I put some mash on top, but I didn't bother peeling the spuds. I just salted them, boiled and mashed them, added an egg and spread it on top. Then I popped it in the oven at 160 C fan until it was browning on top. This might work well with corned beef instead of lentils. Served with red cabbage and peas, which was a bit psychadelic (sp?) but it tasted nice

The other thing you might consider is brunch, which means you only make 2 meals instead of three. I cook everything on trays in the oven - bacon, sausages, mushrooms, halved and seasoned tomatoes and even the beans in a covered dish. It all cooks in about the same time and if you put some rolls in at 5 mins to go, they get a nice warm too

hamstercheeks_2

Patchwork_Quilt wrote: »

I've just made a lentil 'shepherds' pie. That must have been cheap. I can't give you a list of quantities but I browned onion, swede and garlic in olive oil, then added Crazy Jack's organic green lentils, Tesco's green lentils (for a change of texture)

green lentils

i've never seen them wher do u get them?

SunnyGirl

hamstercheeks wrote: »

green lentils

i've never seen them wher do u get them?

They're also known as Puy lentils as far as I'm aware. They're slightly bigger than red lentils & have a more 'meaty' texture. HTH

Patchwork_Quilt

hamstercheeks wrote: »

green lentils

i've never seen them wher do u get them?

I get them at Tescos. The Crazy Jack's organic ones seem to be bigger than anyone else's.

Generali

When I have my nephews over I do mini pizzas as they can get involved by putting their own topping on. Can be very cheap depending on toppings.

LandyAndy

hamstercheeks wrote: »

sat nite - you could pub a roast in the slow cooker on the sat morning and serve with roasted potatoes n veggies

We can see what you'd rather be doing;) .

OrkneyStar

Home made pizza, get them to help do the toppings ?
Big pot of chilli ? Wraps/wedges to have with it ?
Hot choccie with marshmallows ?
Omelettes and toast/beans as brekkie/snack ?
Plenty of diluting juice

zippychick

Wow! Some fantastic ideas there! Thanks so much. This is my first ever thread, and 77 people had read it and no one had replied, so i had came in to try and delete it (huffing lol)

Really good input. I like the brunch idea. It would probably be cooked breakfast orientated so would be two meals in one. It isnt until next weekend so I still have plenty of time to prepare.

I think I will cover the two dinners. Ive not used the SC for chilli or Spag Bol, and usually throw it all in a massive pot. I am scared of doing for the first time though. So we still could all end up at the chippy! Would be good to have a pasta bake to throw in the oven for Saturday lunch or dinner. I could prepare this in advance so just needs lifted out of the fridge

Shopping list possibly - some things not included as i have them already!

1kg bag mince (is this enough for 6 large portions? Can you taste when spag bol is padded out? I might have to practice run this weekend)
2 Packs spaghetti


Can i make garlic bread in advance - do i partly cook it then cut, put in garlis butter and freeze like that ? Could it then cook straight from oven?

Torn between pasta bake and pizza. Never made HM pizza, and also not sure how much of that i could do in advance.

Think will make some buns and stuff to have, buy 2 big milks, Juice, 2 bread, Tea & coffee and multi pack of crisps.

I have cooked chilli in the past too but am scared of cooking rice.

basically i guess im scared of looking like an idiot if it all goes wrong :rolleyes:

Bitsy_Beans

Re the HM pizza I don't make the bread base because my local little shop sells massive garlic and coriander naan breads, they are bigger than a dinner plate and thin like a thin crust pizza. Bung on some tom puree or tin of drained chopped toms and add whatever topping you like. Serve with a salad it's a fairly cheap meal and you don't have to go to the hassle of making the bases.
HTH