Feeding an extra 5 as cheaply as possible!

footballmanagerwidow

Hi Guys,

Next week I have my SIL, BIL and 3 nephews (12, 10 & 8) coming to stay for a week as of tomorrw and I need some ideas for cheap meals I could put together...I have a family of 4.5 (the baby only counts as half!) myself so am going to be cooking fairly large amounts. It would be better if I could cook stuff that everyone would eat - the kids do tend to be a little bit fussy and SIL won't eat anything that isn't distinctly british! :rolleyes: Could anyone help me please, and would it be best for me to tell you what I have got and we could go from there?

Kind regards, FMW x

got-it-spend-it

Shepherd's Pie (or Cottage Pie) are easily bulked out with some extra carrots, onion and red lentils in the meat, then just add extra potato on the top too. Ditto chilli, if people will eat that, it's really easy to bulk out with veggies, lentils and kidney beans then just serve with loads of rice, wraps and sour cream.

Macaroni cheese is a good one to do in bulk.

Would SIL eat homemade pizza? If so they're dead cheap and you could do a few different toppings.

Could you go blackberrying to get some free fruit to make a crumble?

Those are just a few of the things that spring to my mind, but I'm sure others will have loads of ideas.

debtfreein4years

tuna pasta, baked potatos, roast dinner, toad in the hole with lots of mash, bangers and mash, (frozen sausages reasonably cheap and ok quality for using in a meal) big pot of chilli, tacos, fish and chips (home made of course) scrambled eggs on toast, spaghetti on toast, beans on toast, pasta and meatballs, spag bol, koufta, rice with something.

i think your sil is just going to have to go with the flow on this as its your house

good luck

footballmanagerwidow

Thanks guys, I appreciate your input.

Bethankim

a few other ideas...

snack ideas - my kids love them and are so cheap to make
cheese and onion rolls (makes 20 small ones) - i just make short crust pastry (6oz), for the filling grate cheese (any will do) chop one onion very finely, peel and dice very small 2 medium potatoes, use an egg to bind.

meals
bbq sticky chicken wings or drumsticks wonderfully cheap and ive not met a small person yet who doesnt like them - make a green salad and mini jacket potaotes

big one pot things chilli, pasta etc. one thing i have done to get round the fussy eater contingent is to liquidise the tomaotes sauce so its thick (i add in courgettes, onions, peppers etc) tastes fab but removes to euww whats this. sauce is great for meatballs or mince..or to make it extra cheap pasta bake (no meat required) - make a cheese sauce to go on top

fajitas - use pitta breads instead of flour tortillas - children seem to like creating their own - adding the cheese, salsa etc you can make a mild version with chicken or turkey, peppers etc

kids make pitta bread pizza - my lot loved making them i just used the really cheap ones.

ham egg and chips - a firm fave in our house and is pretty cheap (if you get a bacon or gammon joint i use the tesco basics for them 3 2LB would feed everyone with left overs)

hope that helps i shall stop now before I bore you to tears

kaz2004

Hi, I think you are really great for accomodating them for a week, so they should be grateful and helpful!

A few ideas that are easy and cheap:

Toad in the hole - everyone likes sausages and you can bulk out with potatoes and veg.

Chicken ham and pasta bake.

Meatballs and pasta ( cheaper with pork mince)

Corned beef hash

I hope this helps. I get all my recipes from "How to feed your family" by Gill Holcombe. I would really recommend it. It's my new cookery bible.

Good luck!

K:o

dobs

most kids i know seem to like noodles. I cook noodles in veg stock cube, then fry any veg ie sliced red pepper and carrot, spring onion, baby corn, red onion, cabbage, broccoli and cauli, courgette (whatever u have) and finidh that off in stock as well. You could add chicken pieces cut them up small to go further! Or sausage veg and mash always does well when we have family staying.

footballmanagerwidow

Thanks for your help everyone...

Bethankim - how would you do the BBQ chicken you mentioned? I like the sound of that (probably put it on the BBQ if its nice!)...do you use a jar spice?

FMW x

Bogof_Babe

A week is an awfully long time when you have houseguests and have to keep them fed and entertained.

Have you thought about making some giant lasagnes, pies, stews etc. and freezing them in advance? It will make life so much easier if you just have to remember to defrost something and reheat it after an exhausting day.

Bethankim

Hi fmw - i make my own marinade for sticky chicken.

i cook them in the oven but you can bbq them too (just takes longer)
you can of course cheat and use a bbq sauce mix but the one below works for me, i just add chilli but you can leave it out. works for ribs too.

i use cheap drumsticks - make up the marinade and put it all in a big tub and make sure all the chicken is covered leave for as long as possible. we call it sticky chicken

1/2 cup Tomato Sauce
1 cup Clear Honey
1/2 cup Soy Sauce
3 cloves Garlic, crushed - optional
1/2 spoon Chilli Powder "optional" - or more if you like it HOT

beth

Butterfly_Brain

Home Made Pizza , Chicken with salad, HM Burgers, Spag Bol (can be made in advance and frozen) Kebabs