How long will this lot last?

Ames

It was based on this one:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.html?p=310981&postcount=327

But I didn't have any mushrooms, and threw in a small tin of chick peas, and just chucked in various spices. I just need to practice it I think. It wasn't bad, just not what I expected!

MUMMYTO2BOYS

Heres mine for what it's worth!

Your choice of meat with half a jar of curry paste (this makes your house smell like a curry house!) in a wok with a drop of oil over a medium heat to seal. I add a few chopped chillis as we like a hot curry.

I do mushrooms, peppers and onions in a seperate pan till soft (quantities to your liking) then add them to the meat and turn low for 10 min.

Now either in the slow cooker or a casserole dish I mix a jar of curry sauce, 1-2 tins of chopped tomatoes and the spices.

I leave this on to warm up before adding the contents of the wok.

If in the oven put on high for half an hour then low for as long as poss with minimal stirring.

If in the SC I leave it anything up to 8 hours and don't stir at all as the meat is so tender that it can fall apart if disturbed.

It's well worth batch cooking a curry and freezing individual or dual portions as they seem to improve for being kept.

Ames

Well, the thai green curry chicken worked well, although since I didn't have coconut milk (or like coconut) it's more of marinaded chicken, but it'll be good with couscous or something. Freezer is now full almost to bursting with lovely things. It's funny, I had a ready meal the other day and thought how horrible it was, it's one I've liked in the past too.

I've also progressed to sweet stuff - apples are baking in the slow cooker as I type. I improvised a filling (sultanas, flaked almonds, mixed spice and honey). I *ahem* accidentally made a little bit too much filling and had to scoff it off (well, it might have gone off..) and it tastes nice enough. Would it be really fatty of me to have it for breakfasts for the next few days? I didn't add any sugar (they were normal apples, not cooking ones), so essentially it's just fruit and nuts. And it'll be a nice warm filling start to the day.

I wanted to do some baking, but morrisons didn't have bun cases, and since it's just me I don't want to do a full cake. I'll keep an eye out for cases. Other option was a crumble, but there's not enough room in the freezer.

My food budget for the next 4 weeks is £100. I'm hoping that I can save most of it and put it towards a little chest freezer, I want to have enough room to freeze everything I'll need for a month, including milk, and then I can just do one big online shop every month. Hopefully I can save enough over a couple of months. I am having to slowly build up my 'store cupboard essentials' though, which means spending a lot to start with, but then it'll just mean little bits need replacing as and when (but of course you all know that!).

Thanks again for all your help. I think I'm getting addicted to the smell of nice food coming from the kitchen, not to mention the tastes.

zippychick

Hey Ames, how's it all going now?!

Ames

It's sort of going ok. I haven't eaten much over the last week cos I've been feeling really sick and queasy at the thought of food, especially meat. It's starting to pass now though.

I did make a nice apple and plum crumble though! And I've got a big bag of ready made pastry, just pour it over and bake, so I can do more with that.

I've just bought a load of veg (peppes, aubergines, courgettes, onions) so I'll do loads of that each night, and have some potatoes with it until I can face meat again, I'll have egg or cheese sandwiches for lunch so I'm still getting some protein.

I've also got a loaf baking tin thing, I'm going to try a simple sponge cake or something first, and then have a go at an xmas cake. I'll do that at the weekend as a reward for getting my next OU essay done.

Thanks for asking!