Weezl's phase 1- recipe testing and frugalisation- come one, come all!

shanks77

ceridwen wrote: »

Nope - I tend to like the odd "regional" saying. As I understand it - "Dinna fash thysel" is a Scottish saying meaning "Dont worry yourself". I have some Scottish ancestors - so I guess that makes me entitled to use it:D

You are correct ceridwen but most of us would say "yersell" but it maybe got diluted in the ancestory but feel free to quote away

Sian_the_Green

weezl74 wrote: »

Hi sian, good clarification! I'd been wondering if by adding 'padding ingredients' like HM breadcrumbs and an egg and ummmm stuff, we could use some of this, but eek it out pretty far:





I'm not sure if I'm basing it on good maths but will check! When are you shopping next?

Whenever you tell me to dear lady! Tomorrow would be fine

weezl74 wrote: »

An onion marmalade using 320g onions would be fab if you could look at that

erm, more chutney and condiments requests to follow methinks.....

So, onion marmalade, am on it!

Regarding the One Show and This Morning I was trying to think of the kind of show Shirley and Bob would watch. I think maybe if she is part time Shirley would watch a bit of This Morning whilst tidying up etc, the kids will watch it on their holidays because Holly is beautiful and Phil is a silver fox

grandma247

The oil will make a softer biscuit. It seems to be the right stuff for basic biscuits. I wonder if garibaldi type biscuits would be acceptable?

System

I have got as far as entering the recipes (at least, most of them) into the spreadsheet, so I can tell which items don't correspond to the shopping list. However, I haven't yet done the stock control side showing the effect in combination, so I'll tackle that tomorrow evening. And I haven't done the possibly-not-quite-finished recipes yet (pork and apple burgers, spicy tomato meatballs and pasta, risotto pescatore, HM peanut butter, hash browns with beans and toast, lemon and raisin breakfast pancakes).

As far as I can tell so far, the following recipes all contain ingredients which are not on the latest version of the shopping list -- or, at least, not on the version in post 1148 when I started doing this earlier this evening:

• chutney (no cabbage in vinegar)
• chick pea crumble (no peanuts)
• onion bhajias (no chilli powder)
• pasta puttanesca (no anchovy-stuffed olives)
• falafel (no chilli powder)
• chana mutter masala (no chilli powder)
• pilchard fishcakes (no mixed herbs)
• peanut butter (no peanuts or linseeds - but I think this recipe is still at the "what if?" stage)
• anything with salt and pepper, which aren't on the list but are used throughout (most critically in bread)

Please note the following assumptions:
(1) All references to salt and pepper not counted because not in list.
(2) All weights taken as gross (ie before preparation), unless recipe indicates otherwise.
(3) Weight of cheese in shopping list assumed to be 1000g (changed from previous indication of 809g).
(4) In the apple curd recipe, 4 apples will yield the required 400g.
(5) In the cauliflower cheese recipe, an additional 20g cheese is sprinkled on top.
(6) 3 dessertspoonfuls flour is assumed to weigh 30g.
(7) Where amount of garlic pur!e isn't specified, have assumed 1 tsp except in the pizza recipe, where have assumed 3 tsp since the recipe says lots.
(8) The lower-end quantity of oil is needed where a range is specified (for bhajias and fritters).
(9) Chicken stock for risi e bisi comes from a single stock cube.
(10) 1 packet of stuffing needed for each roast dinner, along with 1 tsp mustard, 10g honey and 30g flour.
(11) 10g yeast for the pizza (recipe says "sachet" shopping list has 125g tub), with 5g sugar, uncosted salt, 15ml oil, 3 tsp garlic pur!e
(12) 1 tbsp honey weighs 25g (for the cereal bars).
(13) 200g apple needed to make "half can" for the chutney.
(14) Estimated dry weight equivalent of 1 tin of chick peas is 125g (for the chick pea crumble).
(15) Salt and pepper are assumed to be available, without purchase.
(16) Bread to go with the apple curd (or anything else) will eventually be costed separately.

Are any of these assumptions wildly off kilter? Please shout so that I can fix them before doing the next step! It all looks very tasty, by the way. If it wasn't bedtime, I'd be quite hungry by now! :-)

boredofbeingathome

shanks77 wrote: »

Really????? How????? that is impressive i thought i was quite good in the kitchen but i bow to you. Please let me know your ideas thanks.

BOB you will be pleased to know that my hunt for you is on hold i have tried the sp teabags and they are fine so you will be able to sleep easier at night knowing that you dont have 79 cups of tea to drink at once:)

Darn it i was hoping for a free box:D:rotfl::rotfl: And anyone who knows me reckons i am permanently hooked up to tea:D:rotfl::rotfl:

I did say they were fine though so good news there.:T

boredofbeingathome

Avocet wrote: »

I have got as far as entering the recipes (at least, most of them) into the spreadsheet, so I can tell which items don't correspond to the shopping list. However, I haven't yet done the stock control side showing the effect in combination, so I'll tackle that tomorrow evening. And I haven't done the possibly-not-quite-finished recipes yet (pork and apple burgers, spicy tomato meatballs and pasta, risotto pescatore, HM peanut butter, hash browns with beans and toast, lemon and raisin breakfast pancakes).

As far as I can tell so far, the following recipes all contain ingredients which are not on the latest version of the shopping list -- or, at least, not on the version in post 1148 when I started doing this earlier this evening:

• chutney (no cabbage in vinegar)
• chick pea crumble (no peanuts)
• onion bhajias (no chilli powder)
• pasta puttanesca (no anchovy-stuffed olives)
• falafel (no chilli powder)
• chana mutter masala (no chilli powder)
• pilchard fishcakes (no mixed herbs)
• peanut butter (no peanuts or linseeds - but I think this recipe is still at the "what if?" stage)
• anything with salt and pepper, which aren't on the list but are used throughout (most critically in bread)

Please note the following assumptions:
(1) All references to salt and pepper not counted because not in list.
(2) All weights taken as gross (ie before preparation), unless recipe indicates otherwise.
(3) Weight of cheese in shopping list assumed to be 1000g (changed from previous indication of 809g).
(4) In the apple curd recipe, 4 apples will yield the required 400g.
(5) In the cauliflower cheese recipe, an additional 20g cheese is sprinkled on top.
(6) 3 dessertspoonfuls flour is assumed to weigh 30g.
(7) Where amount of garlic pur!e isn't specified, have assumed 1 tsp except in the pizza recipe, where have assumed 3 tsp since the recipe says lots.
(8) The lower-end quantity of oil is needed where a range is specified (for bhajias and fritters).
(9) Chicken stock for risi e bisi comes from a single stock cube.
(10) 1 packet of stuffing needed for each roast dinner, along with 1 tsp mustard, 10g honey and 30g flour.
(11) 10g yeast for the pizza (recipe says "sachet" shopping list has 125g tub), with 5g sugar, uncosted salt, 15ml oil, 3 tsp garlic pur!e
(12) 1 tbsp honey weighs 25g (for the cereal bars).
(13) 200g apple needed to make "half can" for the chutney.
(14) Estimated dry weight equivalent of 1 tin of chick peas is 125g (for the chick pea crumble).
(15) Salt and pepper are assumed to be available, without purchase.
(16) Bread to go with the apple curd (or anything else) will eventually be costed separately.

Are any of these assumptions wildly off kilter? Please shout so that I can fix them before doing the next step! It all looks very tasty, by the way. If it wasn't bedtime, I'd be quite hungry by now! :-)

Totally impressed- wish i had a, 'We are not Worthy' smiley:D:) Will two do instead?

morag1202

shanks77 wrote: »

Really????? How????? that is impressive i thought i was quite good in the kitchen but i bow to you. Please let me know your ideas thanks.

I'm not great on exact quantities but here goes.

500gm mince
2 onions
garlic
2 large carrots
2 handfulls red lentils
2 tins toms
stock cube
mixed herbs

Cook that lot up and divide into 2 then add as appropriate (each meal serves 4)

for Spag Bol and Lasagne - add mushrooms, red peppers and oregaro (extra tom paste if needed)

for Chillie add red kidney beans, red pepper and chillie flakes

for Cottage Pie add extra carrot, swead and worcester sauce

Its not an exact science - more chuck things in if you have them, and can be as cheap or expensive as your budget allows. There are plenty of ideas on the Old Style board. hth

Kaz2904

Firefox: We routinely give a high dose omega 3 capsule to our cardiac patients who don't eat the recommended amount of oily fish as it has been shown to have benefits for heart health too.

weezl74 wrote: »

biscuit challenge:

zest of 2 oranges
610g raisins
sugar
flour
bicarb
1-2 tbspns honey if needed
pinch salt
veg oil

Hats off to the brave soul willing to attempt to turn the above into an enormous batch of biscuits I have no earthly clue if this is do-able

OK. My first attempt at making biscuits with the ingredients. I will try to cost too.
Zest of 2 oranges 22p- probably using the juice somewhere though so nil cost?
500g Sultanas 65p only had these in stock thought I had raisins and thought there were more! Same price though.
800g plain flour 22.93p
3tsp baking powder 4.2p assuming 3 tsp bicarb subbed? Also assuming 5g per 5ml teaspoon.
200g white granulated sugar 15p (cheaper from poundland 13.3p although not worth the petrol!)
300ml vegetable oil 25.2p
200ml water 0p (unless you use E*ian:eek:)
1/2 tsp salt 0.0775p

Total cost: £1.54p
Method: Mix flour, sugar zest and bicarb together. Then add sultanas. Slowly mix in the vegetable oil. Then gradually add the water. Mix to a dough consistency with hands. Roll into a small ball and place on a well oiled baking tray. Flatten gently with fork (or squish with fingers like I did :rotfl:).
Cook at 180 deg C for 15-20 minutes. I have a fan assisted oven and whipped the tray out of the top oven so was able to do 3 trays at a time. The first batch took 20 minutes (they were in a bun tin)
The second batch were done in 13 minutes (they were on a baking sheet).

So far I have got 76 biscuits. I have at least 1/4 left which I have wrapped in oiled tin foil in a sausage shape in the fridge for the night. I will try slicing or rolling out and cutting with biscuit cutters tomorrow.
What I think:
Mixture: Far too much to do in the one bowl. I would divide this by 3. I felt that this was too much fruit for the binding. Would consider adding another 300g flour (so 100g per batch) and up the water content gradually until the mix is right. This might make it easier to deal with.
Ease of making biscuits: For the mixture I had, I wouldn't have been able to roll it out as was (will see about it when it's been chilled overnight). It was easier to take small balls. Not good for portion control. I feel it would be better to have a rollable and cutable mixture.
Cooking: Makes a lot so would advise having 3 shelves or more to maximise oven space.
Once out of oven: Not browned. ?What could we put on top if anything? Not too oily (I was worried about that). Looked like rock cakes. Wasted 40g of crumbs from 3 bun trays. Tried to get out of tray when fresh out oven. Cracked and broke on transferring. Very crumbly to eat.
Batch 2 from trays: I allowed to cool fully before loosening with a fish slice (hence me posting at this time in the morning!). These transferred easier and have a more biscuit like texture. I was also able to get 20 per tray rather than 12 in the bun tin. Very little wastage from the trays and cooked in 13 minutes. Have a more satisfying crunch when biting into them.
Taste: Nice, like Garibaldi (thanks PP, couldn't think of the taste until you mentioned them). When we get the correct amount for water right, I would add the zest to the water and possibly zap it in the microwave for a tick to get more orange flavour through the mix.

To add the extra 300g flour would increase the cost to 31.53p for the flour and £1.63 for the whole batch (not counting energy costs).

I would be delighted if anyone could try the ammendments I've suggested and see if it is an easier mixture to roll out. If not, then I will give it a bash myself.
I will report back tomorrow with the results of the taste tests (I have kept the trays and the bun tins biscuits separate for a good fair trial). Also with the results of the cooled version and ease of processing.

weezl74

Avocet wrote: »

I have got as far as entering the recipes (at least, most of them) into the spreadsheet, so I can tell which items don't correspond to the shopping list. However, I haven't yet done the stock control side showing the effect in combination, so I'll tackle that tomorrow evening. And I haven't done the possibly-not-quite-finished recipes yet (pork and apple burgers, spicy tomato meatballs and pasta, risotto pescatore, HM peanut butter, hash browns with beans and toast, lemon and raisin breakfast pancakes).

Thank you so so much for all your hard work

As far as I can tell so far, the following recipes all contain ingredients which are not on the latest version of the shopping list -- or, at least, not on the version in post 1148 when I started doing this earlier this evening:

• chutney (no cabbage in vinegar) well spotted! I had noticed that pickled beetroot is cheaper, and so had been wondering about beetroot, apple, raisins (sorry sian) onion and carrot in the cutney instead. So I guess I'll need to cost that up and ask for a tester.
• chick pea crumble (no peanuts) Yep, goodness knows how I lost those- added
• onion bhajias (no chilli powder) added
• pasta puttanesca (no anchovy-stuffed olives) will keep recipe in potential non-fish planner, but in current google docs planner, have replaced pasta puttanesca with pasta pescatore (but I'd better just check that I have!)
• falafel (no chilli powder) added
• chana mutter masala (no chilli powder)added
• pilchard fishcakes (no mixed herbs) noted. So we need to test them without to see how they are...Oh hang on! there's some pesto we could add a spoon of. That would be herby and withstand the strong flavour of the pilchards?
• peanut butter (no peanuts or linseeds - but I think this recipe is still at the "what if?" stage) added but will remove linseeds as no one seemed to think they were worth munching unless you gave them to pets!
  
• anything with salt and pepper, which aren't on the list but are used throughout (most critically in bread) added

Please note the following assumptions:
(1) All references to salt and pepper not counted because not in list.Yep

(2) All weights taken as gross (ie before preparation), unless recipe indicates otherwise.Yep

(3) Weight of cheese in shopping list assumed to be 1000g (changed from previous indication of 809g). Ah! I didn't realise we'd done that. Is that cos I've put too much in some of the recipes?
(4) In the apple curd recipe, 4 apples will yield the required 400g. the bags of asda braeburns is saying 8 apples for approx 800g weight, so I'd agree since the recipe will use all of the apple bar the stalk!
(5) In the cauliflower cheese recipe, an additional 20g cheese is sprinkled on top.Yep

(6) 3 dessertspoonfuls flour is assumed to weigh 30g.Yep

(7) Where amount of garlic pur!e isn't specified, have assumed 1 tsp except in the pizza recipe, where have assumed 3 tsp since the recipe says lots.Yep

(8) The lower-end quantity of oil is needed where a range is specified (for bhajias and fritters).Yep

(9) Chicken stock for risi e bisi comes from a single stock cube.Yep

(10) 1 packet of stuffing needed for each roast dinner, along with 1 tsp mustard, 10g honey and 30g flour.Yep

(11) 10g yeast for the pizza (recipe says "sachet" shopping list has 125g tub), with 5g sugar, uncosted salt, 15ml oil, 3 tsp garlic pur!e Yep


(12) 1 tbsp honey weighs 25g (for the cereal bars). 34 on my scales, but the spoon full was quite heaped up cos the honey is thick
(13) 200g apple needed to make "half can" for the chutney.Yep

(14) Estimated dry weight equivalent of 1 tin of chick peas is 125g (for the chick pea crumble). Yep
(15) Salt and pepper are assumed to be available, without purchase.Yep

(16) Bread to go with the apple curd (or anything else) will eventually be costed separately. It will, DH and I are in negotiations about how many slices we yield from a 2lb loaf. I'm going on 16 atm. Please could you assume 1.8p per slice until we have a bread test?

Are any of these assumptions wildly off kilter? Please shout so that I can fix them before doing the next step! It all looks very tasty, by the way. If it wasn't bedtime, I'd be quite hungry by now! :-)

ooooooh avocet, with you around it's like having a whole new spare brain to tap into (although the spare is actually better with superior attention to detail! )

About the seasonings: here's my latest thoughts. By adding these, the list is now £102.90. However, Shirley would probably have in at least some of the following: chilli, garlic, salt, pepper, stock cubes, mixed spice etc...

Even if not, I still feel that this list is true to it's £100 budget because Shirley will have things in stock now for the next 3-6 months of some items she now has 3 kilos of salt for example! :eek:

That's my rationale anyway!

I also think I have over provisioned some ingredients, and when they are omitted I think we may claw back the £2.90

weezl74

new list, making sure all seasonings are accounted for:

Fruit & Vegetables Guide price in £


1 x Leo Dried Peas with Steeping Tablet (250g) 0.35
2 x ASDA Smartprice Salted Peanuts (200g) 0.54
2 x ASDA Smartprice Beetroot (500g) 1.08
1 x Whitworths Dried Marrowfat Peas (1Kg) 1.15
2 x ASDA Smartprice Oranges (6) 1.36
2 x ASDA Braeburn Apples (8) 2.00
2.9Kg ASDA Carrots by Weight (100g) 2.03
3 x ASDA Smartprice Potatoes (2.5Kg) 2.52
8 x ASDA Smartprice Raisins (500g) 5.20
8 x ASDA Smartprice Brown Onions (2Kg) 6.24

Dairy


1 x ASDA Cooks Value Medium Eggs (30) 2.98
4 x I Can't Believe It's Not Butter Spread (500g) 3.00 any 2 FOR £1.50 - valid until: 30/03/10
1 x ASDA Smartprice Mature White Cheddar (Approx 1Kg) 4.98
4 x ASDA Whole Fresh Milk 4 Pints (2.27L) 5.72

Meat, Fish & Poultry


1 x ASDA Smartprice British Beef Mince (400g) 0.97
1 x ASDA Smartprice Smoked Cooking Bacon Pieces (500g) 1.13
1 x ASDA British Pork Mince (500g) 1.95
700g ASDA Boneless Pork Leg Roast by Weight (100g) 2.03
2 x ASDA Smartprice Turkey Drumsticks (700g) 2.94

Frozen


2 x ASDA Smartprice Cauliflower Florets (907g) 1.58
2 x ASDA Smartprice Sweetcorn (907g) 1.72
3 x ASDA Fine Whole Green Beans (1Kg) 3.00
4 x ASDA Smartprice Peas (907g) 3.48

Tins, Jars & Cooking


1 x ASDA Smartprice Black Pepper Ground (25g) 0.18
1 x ASDA Smartprice Sliced Beetroot in Malt Vinegar (340g) 0.27 was 30p
1 x ASDA Smartprice English Mustard (200g) 0.40 was 44p
1 x ASDA Smartprice Red Cabbage in Vinegar (340g) 0.40
1 x Rajah Chilli Powder (100g) 0.49
1 x Rajah Garam Masala (100g) 0.56
1 x Gia Garlic Puree in Vegetable Oil (90g) 0.59
1 x ASDA Stock Cubes Chicken (12x10g) 0.76
1 x ASDA Cooking Salt (3Kg) 0.94
1 x ASDA Smartprice Corned Beef (340g) 0.99
1 x ASDA Green Pesto Sauce (190g) 1.00 any 2 FOR £1.00 - valid until: 02/03/10
2 x ASDA Smartprice South American Clear Honey (425g) 1.70
1 x ASDA Vegetable Oil (3L) 2.52
12 x ASDA Smartprice Baked Beans in Tomato Sauce (420g) 3.48
6 x Glenryck South Atlantic Pilchards in Tomato Sauce (425g) 3.90
14 x ASDA Smartprice Peeled Plum Tomatoes in Tomato Juice (400g) 4.34

Packets & Cereals


1 x KTC Lemon Juice (250ml) 0.44
1 x Thomas Allinson Dried Active Yeast (125g) 0.47
1 x SuperCook Bicarbonate of Soda (200g) 0.56
4 x ASDA Smartprice Sage & Onion Stuffing Mix (85g) 0.64
2 x ASDA Smartprice Self Raising Flour (1.5Kg) 0.86
4 x ASDA Smartprice Pasta Shapes (500g) 1.28
3 x ASDA Smartprice Plain White Flour (1.5Kg) 1.29
2 x Silver Spoon Granulated Sugar (1Kg) 1.50 2 FOR £1.50 - valid until: 23/03/10
2 x ASDA Wheat Bisks (24x18g) 2.00
3 x ASDA Smartprice Long Grain Rice (1Kg) 2.19
1 x Natco Chick Peas (2Kg)
2.53
5 x ASDA Smartprice Porridge Oats (1Kg) 2.90
9 x ASDA Strong White Bread Flour (1.5Kg) 5.49

Drinks


1 x ASDA Smartprice Tea Bags (80 per pack - 250g) 0.28