6000 meals under 50p in 2010; feeding your family on a low budget

AudreyHepburn_2

Big THANKS to everyone who has posted so many fantastic recipes.

The thread is now essential reading for me :-)

This site has a wealth of recipes.

http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/category/recipes

Best wishes to Mark and all readers.

Savvy_sewing

Well my evening meal was just mince, potatoes and carrots. The total costs brought our meal to just over 60p a head. Bit dearer then target figures, but as my Dad had donated the mince and I didnt have to buy it, we came in at 20p a head! I know thats cheating, but hey!

Lesley_Gaye

This one has a funny little story attached to it.

For 2 people 1 tblsp each of soy sauce, honey and olive oil.

Use this mix to cook your protein in, I usually use either chicken or paneer. Simmer until the sauce is thick and sticky, then at the last minute throw in 1/2 tsp per person of sesame seeds.

Has a strong and delicious flavour giving appeal to an otherwise plain meal of protein and plain veg.

You can also cook cherry tomatoes in the soy sauce and honey for 20 mins in a moderate oven, you don't need the oil for the toms. Makes a lovely side dish, delish with mash to mop up the juices.

The funny little story is when a friend had a representative couple from the twinning association in the twin town from France to stay for a week. Because they were from France, and she loves to cook, she knocked herself out providing lovely food all week. And the only recipe they asked for? Yes, the soy and sesame chicken one. Well I thought it was funny, not sure she did!

Lesley_Gaye

Here's another one. I'll do a couple of spicy ones tomorrow, off to watch telly now

Veggie Stew and Dumplings

300g parsnips
1 large onion
2 garlic cloves
350g carrots, cut into slices
350g turnips or swede cut into small slices
150g mushrooms
1 stock cube
200ml cider
1 bay leaf
1 ½ tsps cornflour

Dumplings
125g sr flour
50g cheese
3 tblsp parsley
50g butter / spread

Start off with the parsnips. I like to slice them into medallions, toss them in olive oil, s+p, and a little maple syrup or honey. Roast in a hot oven for about 25mins until sticky and golden.

Heat oil in a pan and saut! onions, add all other veg except mushrooms and saut! for about 5 mins. Add mushrooms.

Add the stock and most of the cider to the veg, plus the bay leaf and simmer gently for a few minutes. If you want the stew to be a little thicker, then add the cornflour to the remaining cider and stir in, let it bubble for a minute or so to thicken up.

Make the dumplings by lightly mixing all the ingredients together and season with s+p. Add about a tblsp of water to bring it together to form a soft dough. Form into about 16 small walnut sized balls.

Add the dumplings to the stew and ¾ immerse them in the liquid. Bubble gently for about 15 minutes until the dumplings are risen, the stew looks rich and the vegetables meltingly soft.

Serve with the golden parsnips scattered across the top.

The dumplings can be made without the cheese or parsley.

Freezes well

maro11

Hi Shazmumof 2,
I love your coconut cake recipe. Does it really work without eggs and butter? My daughter has an egg allergy and I am always looking for egg free cake recipes.
Thanks for posting.

mark55man

Firstly thanks to Lesley and Shaz for lots of recipes that will make their way in over the next week or so - shopping tomorrow - will do my best

Thanks everyone else for the chat. Glad its helping, but not as much as you all have been helping me :T

Will plan tomorrow's shop now when OH gets back - prob Mr L and Mr S after work

mark55man

Reporting back for Wednesday 20th January

More snow today, but quickly gone (more cheese today - likewise)

Today's Summary - 18/18 :A meals 50p or under
Summary Total - 328/360 = 91.1% = Target 91.3%

Breakfast: 50p or under (6/6)
OP - ASDA SP Fruit & Fibre
OH - Lidl Crunchie Oats
DD1, DD2, DS1, DS2 : Cereal or nothing

Lunch: 50p or under (6/6)
OP: Tomato Sandwich (Lidl 39p cherry tomatoes (for 15)) 18p + 2 Clementines 20p = 38p
OH, DS1 : Cheese Sandwich + Clementine
DD1: Quorn Chicken Sandwich + Tomatoes + clementine
DD2 : Quorn Chicken Sandwich + Carrots & clementine
DS2: Bacon Sandwich (32p) + Carrot & Apple = 48p

Supper: 50p or under (6/6)

OP: Chilli with HM Bread = 40p + 6p = 46p each
OH: Bacon Sandwich = 28p + 6p = 34p
Kids : 1/4 Asda 4 cheeses pizza £1 = 25p each

weezl74

maro11 wrote: »

Hi Shazmumof 2,
I love your coconut cake recipe. Does it really work without eggs and butter? My daughter has an egg allergy and I am always looking for egg free cake recipes.
Thanks for posting.

maro,

I can vouch for the coconut cake, It's lovely even rises and a nice consistency...

misscousinitt

maro11 wrote: »

Hi Shazmumof 2,
I love your coconut cake recipe. Does it really work without eggs and butter? My daughter has an egg allergy and I am always looking for egg free cake recipes.
Thanks for posting.

I have an egg and dairy-free cake recipe, carrot raisin and apple - don't have the ingredients to post at the mo - but will do when I get home!;) No butter or eggs makes it a cheap sweet treat too.

kafkathecat

If you google vegan cake recipes you can find almost anything you want egg free. I made this at the weekend. http://vegweb.com/index.php?topic=12596.0

K.

maro11 wrote: »

Hi Shazmumof 2,
I love your coconut cake recipe. Does it really work without eggs and butter? My daughter has an egg allergy and I am always looking for egg free cake recipes.
Thanks for posting.