Economy Gastronomy - new budget cookery programme; BBC

thriftmonster

I made macaroni cheese this week and used up some chorizo in it and a tin of sweetcorn leftover from camping. Usually I put a layer of spinach and garlic (wilted together) on the bottom, then the mac cheese and then the layer of tomatoes and the kids really enjoy spinach this way.

Reverbe

Just catching up with this programme I missed last week. So far it looks quite good. Not as OS as us lot but then thats not where it is aimed. Have to say I am gobsmacked at pandering to the spoilt brat. If you notice he didnt actually try much of that chili. There was only the smallest bit of mince on his fork. Then he spat it out. I'd give him a clout round the earhole if he did that at my dinner table esp when they had guests round but yet they just went oh Billy in a halfhearted manner.

Billy must do as they used to when I was a kid - eat what he was given.And to give him an expensive day at a rock climbing centre to presuade him to do what he should be doing already... by jove... I certainly wouldnt be giving him a sweet treat either. He would be sitting there hungry til he'd eaten what he was given.

thriftlady_2

Thriftmonster chorizo in macaroni cheese -inspired, I love the stuff.

Reverbe who are you including in 'us lot' ?

I consider myself to run a thrifty kitchen and the meals and techniques that seem to have been featured on the programme (I haven't watched it but have checked out the recipes) are precisely the sort of things I cook for my family of 5.

I shop at Waitrose and know that I could spend less if I shopped elsewhere but that doesn't mean I'm not thrifty with what I decide to buy.

I'm a regular poster on this board but some of the comments made on this thread have made me wonder if I'm in the right place.

Reverbe

r.a.i.n.b.o.w wrote: »

I've only just started reading this thread, so forgive me if this has already been said...

The lamb dish they made was looking pretty tasty until he said "just £2.76 per person"...WTH??? I want to spend £2.76 ON THE WHOLE MEAL!!


Also: that hot dog meal looked YUCK. "Just 15p a can!" and "most people have a can of these"...erm... NOPE. I stopped buying hot dog sausages after I learned what "meat" and cr*p went into them, many years ago.

It was £2.67 per person and 15p per hot dog not per can.... that's if you watched the same show as the one I'm watching...

Dont really fancy the idea of potatoes smothered in sauce tho...

rosieben

lillibet_dripping wrote: »

I have read, with great interest, the comments about food technology in schools and would like to make a few points.
...
I realise that our school is quite unique, in this area at least, but I hope that my passion for cooking will rub off on my kids. It is a drop in the ocean, but it is a
...

What a great post! and how lucky the kids are your school are to have such a forward thinking head and a teacher like you! :T love the idea of the evening cookery class too!

Can we clone you and spread you about the UK?? :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

lillibet_dripping

Rosieben - oh, how I wish! I'm sure I could give Jamie a run for his money! One project I would like to get off the ground in the new academic year is something I learnt from a colleague on a recent training course. She takes 6 kids per week (there is a very long waiting list) and during their lunch hour the kids prepare, cook and eat together their lunch. Time contraints mean that they are limited to HM burgers and salad, stir-fry, omelettes etc. but hey, the kids are learning. Not only are they learning to cook, but they also learn the social skills associated with eating 'at table'. Watch this space.....:T

Edited to add: I love Economy Gastronomy. Although we OS's already do much of what they are suggesting we have to remember that the population at large are novices at shopping, budgeting, cooking etc. Any programme that can re-introduce the enjoyment of cooking, eating and sharing gets a big thumbs up from me...

Churchmouse

thriftlady wrote: »

Thriftmonster chorizo in macaroni cheese -inspired, I love the stuff.

Reverbe who are you including in 'us lot' ?

I consider myself to run a thrifty kitchen and the meals and techniques that seem to have been featured on the programme (I haven't watched it but have checked out the recipes) are precisely the sort of things I cook for my family of 5.

I shop at Waitrose and know that I could spend less if I shopped elsewhere but that doesn't mean I'm not thrifty with what I decide to buy.

I'm a regular poster on this board but some of the comments made on this thread have made me wonder if I'm in the right place.

Well they've all but convinced me I'm not :rotfl:And I'm not *hardcore* like you thriftlady

I love the occasional posh M&S ready meal. ( for those now screaming chemical muck, when did you last check the ingredients list on one of these? It will be exactly the same as a home-cooked version. I buy because I like the treat of a no effort meal. Like eating at a restaurant except I don't have to drive )

I shop at loads of places for different things, but Waitrose and M&S feature heavily for the quality items. I like a good cut of meat as well as the cheaper cuts. I think this obsession with cutting the food budget ever lower and lower in the name of OS is misguided. It's quite a different matter when need dictates a lower spend, but only two or three generations ago virtually all the family income would have been spent on housing and food costs. There would be precious little left for entertainment or treats. That was considered normal OS. Now it seems there's a mind to make the food costs the tiniest percentage of the family budget and people who don't wish to subscribe to that idea are considered wasteful and stupid Just my perception, and maybe I'm wildly wrong.

I watched the program on iplayer and thought they were a lovely family. Please remember it will have been heavily edited to portray the image the producers wanted. I happen to think that a chili prepared with the level of seasoning used, while great for me who loves spicy stuff, was never going to suit a child who didn't like spicy. A bit like trying to get me to drink a sweet wine, when I only like the dry versions I may not spit it out, but you really don't want to see my face after I've swallowed!

thriftlady_2

Churchmouse wrote: »

I think this obsession with cutting the food budget ever lower and lower in the name of OS is misguided.

I'm glad it isn't just me;) Thanks for your post Churchmouse I agree with you. I'm also quite prepared to believe you about the quality of M&S meals but personally I would rather not buy something that I can make and I suppose that does make me 'hardcore':D I love cooking and despite the fact my family are all away camping at the mo I'm still cooking myself scrummy meals and really enjoying it.

I suppose I'd better go and find this programme on BBCi player.

lillibet_dripping

Hmmmm .... for those of you who read my post about teaching cookery, I forgot to point out one of the most exciting bits:rolleyes:
All of the ingredients are subsidised by the PTA so no child is expected to pay for any of the ingredients. How lucky are we:A

Luckily, I run my school kitchen the same as I run my domestic kitchen - with a close eye on the budget thanks to all the tips I've learnt on this forum:T
x

Jolinar

Churchmouse wrote: »

Now it seems there's a mind to make the food costs the tiniest percentage of the family budget and people who don't wish to subscribe to that idea are considered wasteful and stupid Just my perception, and maybe I'm wildly wrong.

It's not just you it's been my perception too. I prefer quality over cheapness. Buying say value meats would be a huge waste of money for me because I would not eat it. I'd rather spend a bit more on higher quality and make it last longer and at the same time enjoy every bite!

For me it's all about living within my means and not wasting anything, something I've been very guilty of in the past abd now wish to remedy.