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

Lesley_Gaye

Made a fab Cauliflower and Potato curry last night with cauliflower from the bashed box, so very cheap. It was a Sophie Grigson recipe, I have used her curry recipes before and she doesn't use enough flavour for us, so after adjusting the spice mix, it turned out really tasty

It is veggie Mark so would you like the recipe for your veggies? I added some frozen green soya beans for protein, as otherwise it was just veg and although it would still have been tasty (the soya beans don't add any flavour really) it wouldn't have been as filling.

I know what you mean about portion control failure. I have only just cracked this, my OH is a terrible tidier upper given half a chance, and I am (was?) a terrible picker at leftovers, esp when tidying the kitchen

Queen-Bee_2

Lesley_Gaye wrote: »

I know what you mean about portion control failure. I have only just cracked this, my OH is a terrible tidier upper given half a chance

Hmm.. wish I had it cracked with my OH. Basically he just eats, and eats and eats. I have to cook for four: 1x portion for me and 3x portions for him. It's very irritating and blows a bit hole in my budget when he comes round to eat!
QB

pelirocco

mark88man wrote: »

Reporting back for Mon 8th February

Back at work - but back not too late - warning portion control failure - haggis, neeps and tatties for supper today (once at 6:30 and then again at 7pm)


Today's Summary - 15/18 meals 50p or under
Summary Total - 633/690 = 91.7% = Target 91.3%

Breakfast: 50p or under (6/6)

Lunch: 50p or under (6/6)
OP, OH: Pate & Oatcakes, Apple
DS1, DD2 : LO Pasta salad
DD1 : Cheese & Lettuce & Carrot
DS2 : Ham sandwich & Apple

Supper: 50p or under (3/6) -
OP, OH, DS2 : Haggis (£2 from Mr S), Neeps and Tatties about £1 worth - hoped to go two portions each - but seconds/thirds saw to that
DD1, DD2: Scrambled egg on toast
DS2 : HM Soup (from school)

How old are your children? , they dont eat much !

mark55man

Reporting back for Tue 9th February

Up in town today - very nice, got taken out for lunch - blimey having a real run at a social life this last week - have to cut that out

Today's Summary - 12/18 meals 50p or under
Summary Total - 645/708 = 91.1% = Target 91.3%

Breakfast: 50p or under (6/6)

Lunch: 50p or under (6/6)
OP : 0p
OH: Pate & Oatcakes, Apple
DD1 : Carrot 12p, Lettuce 10p, Boiled Egg 6p, Bread 5p, Apple = 44p
DS1 : Carrot, Lettuce, Radish 10p, Bread, Apple = 48p
DS2 : Ham sandwich & Apple = 41p

Supper: 50p or under (0/6) - Fish Pie a la weezl - cheaper but not there yet - think I may have to leave the prawns out and add a bit more white fish

6 portions made - used 1/4 pack SP broccoli = 42p, 4 pieces SP frozen white fish (4 fillets from 12 at £4) = 1.33, 1/2 pack sainsbury value prawns 88p, Oak Lane Mash 22p - 100g cheese = 50p + Flour/Milk/Marge for sauce = 30p: = £3.65 for 6 = 61p each

mark55man

hi lesley - apart from DS1 the kids don't like curry, shame really

hi perilocco - kids are teen and pre teen, and they used to eat more than they do now, but they eat enough to keep well - all very active - boys even more so than the girls

weezl74

mark88man wrote: »

Fish Pie a la weezl - cheaper but not there yet - think I may have to leave the prawns out and add a bit more white fish

:rotfl:

Thank you for acknowledging me:):o

But I laughed out loud because it sounded a bit like you'd made a recipe out of some unfortunate old, stringy road-kill :rotfl:

Are the family still liking the fish pie as you frugalise it?

I wondered about a pack of those value smoked salmon trimmings 87p ish I think from asda, to add smokeyness, colour and salmonyness but for not much cash!

mark55man

weezl74 wrote: »

:rotfl:

Thank you for acknowledging me:):o

But I laughed out loud because it sounded a bit like you'd made a recipe out of some unfortunate old, stringy road-kill :rotfl:

Are the family still liking the fish pie as you frugalise it?

I wondered about a pack of those value smoked salmon trimmings 87p ish I think from asda, to add smokeyness, colour and salmonyness but for not much cash!

Well - they ate it all so no problems on the taste frugally speaking - but OH bought the cooked fish out and went "is that it" - so may have to accept that this will never be a 50p meal unless I skimp on the cheese and leave the veggies out - I don't really think that's in the spirit of things!!

Will still have it though - just have to take the hit - but I would rather pay 60p than £1.20.

knithappens

mark88man wrote: »

hi perilocco - kids are teen and pre teen, and they used to eat more than they do now, but they eat enough to keep well - all very active - boys even more so than the girls

Hi mark, i noticed my kids eat less now than they did before, before it was more processed stuff and they were forever hungry, now more veggies, real food they seem fuller and snack less too ( unless they are twinks hobnobs)

Lesley_Gaye

weezl74 wrote: »

:rotfl:


I wondered about a pack of those value smoked salmon trimmings 87p ish I think from asda, to add smokeyness, colour and salmonyness but for not much cash!

Not sure from your post if you have tried these or not. I have and they taste fine, they are just small pieces, no change on the flavour at all. I like them with cream cheese and cucumber in a bagel - yum. They would work fine in something like a fish pie

mark55man

Lesley_Gaye wrote: »

Not sure from your post if you have tried these or not. I have and they taste fine, they are just small pieces, no change on the flavour at all. I like them with cream cheese and cucumber in a bagel - yum. They would work fine in something like a fish pie

Yes - half a pack would add to the flavour and would only be 42p - which is about half what the shrimps cost. that would get us pretty close to £3.00 for the dish - maybe serve with carrots instead of broccoli would help as they are about 30% cheaper

finally - we could just use a bit less cheese - maybe save it for the mash so it crisps up under the grill. will deffo try again!!