Loved life a wee bit too much!

missymoo81

nooo really wow!!! I love cooking programmes and watch them all the time, think I'm secretly in love with jamie oliver oh and gordon ramsey!!!!

I'm going to start making all my meals from scratch. hmmm I wonder if i would be able to get it under £50 with just two of us, I really want to have my freezer all lovely and full.

what sort of things do you cook?? I'm a decent enough cook but I' lacking in ideas!!

savingholmes

Just wanted to wish you luck - sounds like you are getting things together

BEAT_THE_DEBT

Thanks saving holmes.x
We have bolognese, shepherds pie,fajhitas,enchiladas,baked pots,curries.
Beef borgouinon, steak sirloin chilli and all yellow sticker meat used for all from freezer!!
We make a mealplan and buy what we need for it,we have downshifted brands and if something is a good bogof we have it if we dont need it we dont buy it!x;) Very in control of food budget not had a takeaway since march apart from holidays in july. Hubby very much on board which helps!:T

missymoo81

ahhh thankyou, am writing these down, I have a very good cook book which i need to look in as well.

well i've just told my OH that when he gets back we're going to have to stay in more and have nice home cooked meals instead of going out to dinner as we usually would, and watch some of the mountain of dvds we have instead of going to the cinema all the time (so expensive now!!)

So i think we'll get there, just very slowly! x

hypno06

Cracking the shopping budget is one of the hardest things to do I reckon - but once you have done it, boy does it make a big difference to the whole debtbusting business!

missymoo81

definitely the one thing i really need to work on, going to meal plan, budget and, shop and fill up the freezer with batch cooked stuff this weekend.

mum2one

Quick sausage casserole - brill for freezing.
Serves 4
1lb sausages
tin tomatoes
1 pepper
1 onion
baked beans (small tin)
add some veg.

1. Brown the sausages, chop them in half - sounds daft but they seem to go further. Transfer to casserole dish
2.Fry the onions to soft, - add to casserole dish
3. Add chopped pepper.
4. Cook the veg, (use anything, peas, cauliflour, carrots, what ever you've got
5. Add into casserole dish
6. Pop in beans
7. Add tin tomatoes, (usually dearer for chopped tomatoes, so I mash mine down with a fork in the tin. - Give good stir
8. Cook in over 45-60 mins, Gas 5. 160C.

The good thing about this - the baked beans and the veg bulk it out a bit, then when you serve, use a different veg with potatoes.

I usually do a big batch and put them in plastic food bags, in single portions.

---

Beef in Red Wine
1lb stewing or braising steak (can use the frozen steak cubes)
1 onion
1/2lb bacon - I use the value mixed bacon - needs to be chopped up
1lb mushrooms
1/2 bottle red wine (cheap does the job)
gravy granules (quicker).
Oil for frying.

1. Fry the beef, (drain it on kitchen roll, then put in casserole dish)
2. Fry the onion, chopped smallish, till golden - add to casserole
3. Fry the chopped pieces of bacon - (drain on kitchen roll add to casserole)
4. Make the gravy granules up, I make to pint, add extra if I need it
5. Pour the red wine in with the gravy, pour into casserole
6. May need to add bit of water to thin the sauce down (personal taste)
7. Cook for 2 hrs Gas 3, 140C?
8. Add the chopped mushooms, stir well, replace in Oven
9. Cook for another hr to hr + half.

Great dish, add extras in such as carrots, peas, double up and make big batch, I freeze mine in individual portions.
Great with boiled potatoes, if I serve it with a jacket potato, for 2 of us, I find one portion big enough for the 2 of us.
xx

*Jellie*

Hi BTD!
Just read all your diary. An inspiring read and your positive attitude is very infectious.
Your lunch club idea is great- hope it works!

BEAT_THE_DEBT

Hi Jellie thanks for reading. I to have a diet coke habit i am limiting myself to one a day on a work day with lunch!! Got 20 cans for £6 in tesco this week the fridge pack ones.xx

BEAT_THE_DEBT

big thanks to mum 2 one for that lovely recipie, will def be trying that have printed it off and put on kitchen board.
Well i did think i had not done anything mse but realised i have over the last week turned down three christmas parties saving about £200 i reckon, :Tand thats without the cost of buying clothes and accesories to wear to them! :eek:
To be honest i am glad i am not going i am very much in my staying in phase at the moment!!:D
All good here hubby and ds washing car and just had fishfinger sarnie for lunch pre mse would have been sandwich bar down the rd. why i ask myself what i stupid habit!!