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

HowlinWolf

ONION TART FEEDBACK
Right I have made and just finished eating the onion tart

My thoughts are as follows:

Is it as good as Delia's full fat version - no
Is it good enough for my 200 a month for 3 people budget - absolutely
Is it good enough for Weezl's theoretical family - definitely
Would I eat it again - yes
My marks out of 10 - 7
Would dp eat it again - yes
DPs marks out of 10 - 8 and says he's happy to eat the leftovers for lunch tomorrow (I did give him meat with it but he is clear that a 100 a month family would be happy to eat once or twice a month).

Comments - the recipe needs to specify size of tart tin - I just made it stretch to my flan dish by rolling it wafer thin. The pastry is not the easiest in the world to handle, I would describe it as medium pig!

It would probably be better to rearrange recipe so that the onions go on first before pastry is made. I think in reality they take longer than half an hour to get good colour without the heat being high enough to make them catch and burn

I think there is plenty cheese in it and I really really like cheese. I might want a little more mustard though (used coleman's powder).

I can't remember what day you have this on in your plan but I don't think this would be suitable for a weeknight meal for a family where the cook also works full time. This is just my opinion but I started cooking this at 7 when I would normally start cooking when I get in from work and we literally just finished eating, the plates aren't cleared and I haven't had my pudding yet. It's 10pm - on a work night I would be in bed by now.

Weezl take it easy for goodness sake woman. And Ceridwen is right, family politics is the family's matter you can't be responsible for it or do anything about it. I'm sorry if my post yesterday caused you any consternation.

Fire_Fox

I haven't tried the onion tart as I can't make pastry but it sounds delicious.

Thinking on the speed issue raised by HowlinWolf ... I occasionally make a version of the Slimming World 'quiche' as taught by an ex-housemate. The recipe I was given doesn't have any pastry but uses a pack of Batchelors savoury rice (precooked); I have also seen recipes online using Batchelors pasta'n'sauce. I just use leftover brown basmati rice which makes it cheaper and really fast food, but have never tried the pasta version as I hate overcooked pasta!

Don't know if giving rice or pasta as an option makes your plan too complicated or is a bit 'out there' for the average family?

Fivenations

Fire_Fox wrote: »

Carbonara: not sure how MSE it is, but tinned evaporated milk makes a very good carbonara in place of cream. If your protein is a bit low or saturated fat a bit high this might be an acceptable addition/ substitution?

Traditonal Carbonara does not contain any cream so you could even leave it out unless you are using it ti cut back on cheese.

Regarding cheese, I buy Grana Padano instead of Parmigiano Reggoano for cooking.

Grana is the generic name for this type of hard cheese and a good Grana can be better than a mediocre parmesan. Costco sell a very good one it for about £9 a kilo which can ame cheap ingredients taste like luxury, though probably not for this plan. I'm lactose intollerant but can eat this with no problem so that's my excuse!!!

Fivenations

Hi Wheezl

Thanks for suggesting I ask for help from this board but I think there's enough of challenge here already without adding another! I've accepted that having lactose and gluten intollerance on top of fructose malabsorption is not going to be cheap, with or without prescriptions.

nopot2pin

weezl74 wrote: »

potty's survey link is now in post #4, the one that gives guidance to the testers. I figured we'll remnd ourselves of the purpose of the feedback and then be able to answer accordingly...

Cracking idea :TI'm just trying to catch up with the thread, after posting the survey link earlier on
I'm very chuffed to have a linky in your thread Weezl

got-it-spend-it wrote: »

I'll have a bash at the new chutney and frugalising the falafels...I have a bag of chickpeas in the cupboard waiting for inspiration.

I have my 'it has to be Marks's' in-laws coming next week and I'd love to dish up an ultra-frugal dish for them! Although I'm not sure they've recovered from my lentil lasagne yet!

Hmmmm.... lentil lasagne ?
Could I possibly trouble you for the recipe please ?:o:D

In_Search_Of_Me wrote: »

ps just did the survey - v posh!

Thanks ISOM

I do hope that the surveys wont prove to be too much of a chore for those testing the recipes... as I think, once done, they will provide Weezl with some much needed figures and facts for the way ahead.

I have just checked the results, so far, for the carrot cake survey, and its all looking very good ...
Thankyou to those who have completed it :T, so far.
I will be cracking on with surveys for the other recipes posted so far, over the next few days... so.... please watch this space for further details

nopot2pin

:cool:

boredofbeingathome wrote: »

Just reporting back- Sweetcorn fritters are a favourite now..i would add garlic to them next time. DD declared 11/10. I used up left overs from last night and chucked some carrot in as well.

Carrot cake is a hit too- although they prefer the weetabix cake. I have done the survey..does it automatically publish when i press done?

There will be a sweetcorn fritter survey soon Honest

When you press "Done", the information is collected and then analysed, by the survey site...
I access the analysed info.... and in due course, provide the general trend of the survey:think:....
Hmmmmm actually Weezl, will that be enough for you, or do you require all details of the survey ??:think:

To be hones BOB(not Shirley's DH:p), the survey site does all the work... as long as the questions are manipulated and worded correctly, the results can provide great results

phizzimum wrote: »

I've filled out the survey for the carrot cake- very user friendly and simple to use (the survey I mean, not the cake!)

Thanks for completing the survey :T
Tis good to have feedback in the early stages

HowlinWolf wrote: »

ONION TART FEEDBACK
Right I have made and just finished eating the onion tart

My thoughts are as follows:

Is it as good as Delia's full fat version - no
Is it good enough for my 200 a month for 3 people budget - absolutely
Is it good enough for Weezl's theoretical family - definitely
Would I eat it again - yes
My marks out of 10 - 7
Would dp eat it again - yes
DPs marks out of 10 - 8 and says he's happy to eat the leftovers for lunch tomorrow (I did give him meat with it but he is clear that a 100 a month family would be happy to eat once or twice a month).

Comments - the recipe needs to specify size of tart tin - I just made it stretch to my flan dish by rolling it wafer thin. The pastry is not the easiest in the world to handle, I would describe it as medium pig!

It would probably be better to rearrange recipe so that the onions go on first before pastry is made. I think in reality they take longer than half an hour to get good colour without the heat being high enough to make them catch and burn

I think there is plenty cheese in it and I really really like cheese. I might want a little more mustard though (used coleman's powder).

I can't remember what day you have this on in your plan but I don't think this would be suitable for a weeknight meal for a family where the cook also works full time. This is just my opinion but I started cooking this at 7 when I would normally start cooking when I get in from work and we literally just finished eating, the plates aren't cleared and I haven't had my pudding yet. It's 10pm - on a work night I would be in bed by now.

Weezl take it easy for goodness sake woman. And Ceridwen is right, family politics is the family's matter you can't be responsible for it or do anything about it. I'm sorry if my post yesterday caused you any consternation.

Cracking feedback:T
I hopefully will have a survey for the onion tart tomorrow
And, I will be unashamidley(sp) using some of your post to compile the survey :T:o
Thankyou

Kaz2904

jinky67 wrote: »

I am going to be haunted by that forever :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

"Do it for the grand slam Don!"
Or am I remembering the wrong quote? Sorry, only got this far cause I am sitting at the desk at work sniggering!!!!!!

crystals2632

hi does any one rememberf the website that matches recipes to whats in your cupboard?
thanks.

weezl74

Fivenations wrote: »

Costco sell a very good one it for about £9 a kilo which can ame cheap ingredients taste like luxury, though probably not for this plan. I'm lactose intollerant but can eat this with no problem so that's my excuse!!!

Thank you! I love a good costco trip Their meat and cheese are always superb quality.

FWIW I'd be buying bob and shirley a costco card just for the milk savings alone, but hey! Never mind...:rotfl:

HowlinWolf wrote: »

ONION TART FEEDBACK
Right I have made and just finished eating the onion tart

My thoughts are as follows:

Is it as good as Delia's full fat version - no
Is it good enough for my 200 a month for 3 people budget - absolutely
Is it good enough for Weezl's theoretical family - definitely
Would I eat it again - yes
My marks out of 10 - 7
Would dp eat it again - yes
DPs marks out of 10 - 8 and says he's happy to eat the leftovers for lunch tomorrow (I did give him meat with it but he is clear that a 100 a month family would be happy to eat once or twice a month).

Comments - the recipe needs to specify size of tart tin - I just made it stretch to my flan dish by rolling it wafer thin. The pastry is not the easiest in the world to handle, I would describe it as medium pig!

It would probably be better to rearrange recipe so that the onions go on first before pastry is made. I think in reality they take longer than half an hour to get good colour without the heat being high enough to make them catch and burn

I think there is plenty cheese in it and I really really like cheese. I might want a little more mustard though (used coleman's powder).

I can't remember what day you have this on in your plan but I don't think this would be suitable for a weeknight meal for a family where the cook also works full time. This is just my opinion but I started cooking this at 7 when I would normally start cooking when I get in from work and we literally just finished eating, the plates aren't cleared and I haven't had my pudding yet. It's 10pm - on a work night I would be in bed by now.

Weezl take it easy for goodness sake woman. And Ceridwen is right, family politics is the family's matter you can't be responsible for it or do anything about it. I'm sorry if my post yesterday caused you any consternation.

No consternation Howlin! My pregnant emotions are permeating my writing style at the moment, but that's not to do with you or anyone else I don't know in real life

Great recipe feedback.

It's a good point that Shirley and Bob might be in full time work with long hours. I guess that's the toughest thing about the UK and it's personal debt crisis.

Those who are extremely poor in the developing world at least have some time to devote to their subsistence living.

It is troubling isn't it that due to credit card debt there can be people who still have to work in a huge job, and yet from a food point of view they should have the time to go foraging, batch cooking, shopping around....

I guess if I was in that situation, I'd be spending weekends doing it, I'd certainly have my teenagers following a recipe when they came in from school, on pain of grounding if any ingredients went missing, and I guess when faced with the type of financial crisis we're talking about, I'd certainly be willing to use a day's leave or a bank holiday monday to start getting sorted on the domestic front.

But I know that for me personal debt represents a great deal of anxiety so I would be very keen to fix it!

I'm passionate enough about Shirley's and I've never even met her :rotfl:

And more specifically: In which ways did this version differ from the Delia? I can't remember if it was eggs or cheese you went lower on, sorry it's hard to keep up with what different people are trying

Do you think you will give it to DP without the meat now he's enjoyed it without?:)

weezl74

So just summarising where we've got to.

I estimate we've about 50-60 recipes to frugalise, test and approve. We've got some stock checking to do and some costings. We've got a bit of nutritional analysis to do. That was the remit of this phase.

This thread has only been live for a week and I'm amazed how unbelievably far we've got. I'd never have thought I could do even the bits I've managed this week, and you all have inspired me to do more than I thought I was capable of. :T:T:T

And that's to say nothing of all the huge time and energy that all the testers have put in. Potty and avocet have created invaluable resources for us, all of you have marvelous recipe ideas, Lesley has inserted the chick peas crumble, which I'd never have thought of in a million years!

Other things are brewing and are exciting: Twinkle has something brewing in our vegan version...

I feel very moved at the level of personal sacrifice of time and money that you've gone for. I said to DH last night that someone I've never met didn't eat her tea til 10pm last night because of her dedication to this madcap project after having done a day's work... he was utterly amazed.

I am amazed and thrilled by all of you. Sorry I've mentioned some and not others, that's just what popped into my head first.

A massive thank you from me THANK YOU