Bulking out Meals?

flea72

has a pack of 6 sausages and wondered how i could stretch them to feed a family of 5

so, i cut each sausage into 4, and then made individual toad-in-the-holes in a muffin tin, with one piece of sausage in each hole

hungry people got 6 toads each and the kids got 3 each. so even the greedy guts only got one and half sausages each :rotfl:

OH usually has 4 sausages to himself, but this way, he only got one and half, but was still stuffed

Nothing like the full feeling of getting one over on the hubby lol

Flea

Cheapskate

What a mathematical whizz! Pmsl!! Have you told him yet? Must try something similar on DS - he's 16 & a real protein freak & always thinks he needs loads of chicken/fish etc.

Penelope_Penguin

flea72 wrote: »

has a pack of 6 sausages and wondered how i could stretch them to feed a family of 5

so, i cut each sausage into 4, and then made individual toad-in-the-holes in a muffin tin, with one piece of sausage in each hole

hungry people got 6 toads each and the kids got 3 each. so even the greedy guts only got one and half sausages each :rotfl:

OH usually has 4 sausages to himself, but this way, he only got one and half, but was still stuffed

Nothing like the full feeling of getting one over on the hubby lol

Flea

Well done :T :rotfl: I'll add this to the existing bulking out thread.

Penny. x

BigMummaF

Had a hit the other evening by adding yellow split peas & lentils to a pork casserole. I'd had a good couple of handfuls the peas soaking over night & added similar portion the lentils to them for about three hours, before rinsing well & adding them to a pound of diced pork, frozen mixed veg & par-boiled spud & broc....yum!
Enough for three good adult potions & one in the freezer, plus two doggie versions minus the leek.

LoopyLinz

Ok this is going to sound really stupid but lentils...........do I just chuck them in straight from the packet or do I need to do something first?!

BigMummaF

So far, I've only used red lentils..I did put them in to soak for the pork casserole, but usually just sling them in at the beginning of cooking--eg for cottage pie or bolognaise base.
I'm seriously considering trying other pulses & beans to 1) help stretch the meat out a bit further & 2) get a better variety into our diets. Like most things involving older children, these things have to be undertaken rather like a covert military operation & yes! That includes under the cover of darkness

Verianna

I have read that quite a few people use lentils/pulses to bulk out stew/casseroles/chillis etc.

I've just been eyeing them up while do my weekly online shop and thought I would get a bag but there is so many Can anyone give me the dummies guide to lentils please? Do I just throw them in? Which ones do I get? Do they have flavour etc?

I think you get the idea, I'm a complete lentil n00b

ALFlem

Hi Verianna,

I use the orange coloured Split Lentils. They don't seem to have a lot of flavour and I tend to put them or Oats into everything. Especially in the slow cooker, they cook away to virtually nothing and make things very filling!

I'm sure you could use other ones but I use these because these were the first one's I've bought. I bought the bag a month ago and it's still going strong!

Hope this has helped and enjoy your lentil experiments!
A

suep

I agree with the op, the red/orange split lentils are probably the best ones to start with. Rinse them first in a strainer and you can add them to any stews,casseroles etc. Some of the others need soaking first, but they usually have instructions on the back of the pack.
sue

Pink.

Hi Verianna,

There's a recent thread with lots of advice on using lentils to bulk out meals so I've added your thread to it to keep the suggestions together.

Pink