How to survive on what’s in the store cupboard (plus a little money)

the_cat

Domsmummy wrote: »

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Anyone no what to do with Trout fillets? found some in back of the freezer.

Maybe make a white sauce? Add some sweetcorn or other veggies and the cooked fish. Serve with rice or over pasta or jacket potatoes

gailey_2

Hi

just wanted to say been in similar situation before and it is doable.
Been some fantastic advice on here.

definatly sort nappy issue I use cloth so thats one less expense.
maybe something to consider in future ebay/carboots/nct sales sometimes have bargains.

I think eggs-kids love boiled egg and solidiers also pancakes are fab especially with fruit.
Scrambles eggs on toast , or fried you said you had bacon maybe cooked brekkie for lunch.

omlette i add chese and ham but could so chese and bacon, usually serve with chips.

I buy bread flour mixes and lidls do 1 for 99p makes 2 loaves or farmfoods have 3 for 1pound on hovis.

co-op have fab redictions on sundays normally bread /fruit and veg.

red lentils brill for bulking out mince hubby never noticed made 1 500g pack stetch to 2 seperate meals.

get big bag of spuds. cant go wromg with jacket potato and chese.

ensure you have butter, flour and oats could make twinks hob nobs or even cakes then as cheap treats.

trout fillets- take out freezer pop on baking tray.
cover in little oil
passata or tinned tomatoes
bake for 15mins
add grated cheese cook for another 15-20mins will have baked chese and tomato fish.
nice with wedges or ptatos or equally good mashed up and added to pasta.

kids love tin of tuna sweetcorn mixed in their pasta.
do try cheap packet mixes morrsions own brand were 30p as made cauli cheese.
own brand morrisons nachos tortill chips 25p would go nice with chilli, rice and grated cheese.

do try opt for value as value choc mouses about 35p -co-op.
fromage frais sainsvurys and co-op 55p for 6.
6pack morrosions value crips 26p.
sainsburys basic stockcubes 10p
sainbury basic stuffing just 15p as wehn broke before someone suggested stuffing and red lentil burgers were ok.

anything growing around to forage at the moment near you?

lidls/farmfood chepest place for milk we get through 4pints a day thats 2adults, 4half year old and 1year old.

one bag frozen wedges handy to go with omlette or other stuff.

rice
dried pasta
passata or tinned tomatoes with herbs can make fab sauce.
add bacon peices to give some meat.

value ranges can be fab.
sunday good day to find reductions.
lidls/aldis seem cheapest for fruit and veg try to get mine to eat 1portion of fruit a day at least.

cheap teabags/coffee to see you through.
maybe energancy value cupasoups as be warming and quick as weathers getting colder and useful standby.

its amazing what you find in cupboards and freezer when you look.

do check out storecupboard challange and join grocery challange next month.

good luck.

Domsmummy

Would porridge oats work for bulking things out?
Just been given some Kung Po sauces and curry sauce, i don't like either but OH does so he can have that some times an me n DS can have fish. Also been given several bags of hulo hoops so OH can take some for lunch n half a bag sometimes for DS. Im starting to see that this should be fine just have to plan an think more.

Thank you all for being so helpful an supportive.

Bronnie

Domsmummy wrote: »

Anyone no what to do with Trout fillets? found some in back of the freezer.

Kedgeree! Will make a lot out of a little IYKWIM. Just tweek the recipe to suit what you've got. Sample recipe here, although I must admit, I've never put tomato ketchup in , this article suggests it goes well!


http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/food_and_drink/recipes/article2167033.ece

bluebag

Domsmummy wrote: »

Would porridge oats work for bulking things out?
Just been given some Kung Po sauces and curry sauce, i don't like either but OH does so he can have that some times an me n DS can have fish. Also been given several bags of hulo hoops so OH can take some for lunch n half a bag sometimes for DS. Im starting to see that this should be fine just have to plan an think more.

Thank you all for being so helpful an supportive.

Yay! That's the stuff! you're much more positive now, way to go girl.:T

Hippeechiq

Can I also suggest that you dice/cube your chicken breasts.....unless of course they're already frozen.

It's surprising how much further chicken breasts go when you cube it, and if you cubed 6 breasts, you'd end up with a lot of meat, and be able to make more meals out of it than using 1 breast per person if you see what I mean

For just myself and OH I normally use 200g of chicken breast, so you wouldn't need much more than that for your toddler as well.

Also, if you did a stir fry for yourself and OH, you could get away with 150-175g padded out with veg. Icel@nd do a bag of frozen mediterranean veg for about £1.50 and OH & I can get 3-4 stir fries out of one bag.

I see you have Bacon - this is cheap to make and is totally lush:-

POTATO ONION & BACON HOTPOT

3-5 Medium Potatoes, thinly sliced
1 Large Onion, thinly sliced
3 Bacon Rashers, chopped

White Sauce
1 Tablespoon Flour
1 Tablespoon Butter
½ Pint Milk
50G Cheese, grated
Cayenne, Paprika & Pepper to taste

Place 1st 3 sauce ingredients into a saucepan and heat over a medium heat whisking continuously until ingredients have melted and combined and you have a thick sauce.
Stir in cheese until incorporated and add Cayenne, Paprika & Pepper to taste

Pre-heat oven to 200C
Grease a casserole dish
Add a layer of Potatoes (season with pepper only as there is salt in the bacon) a layer of Onion and a layer of Bacon
Repeat layers
When you have used ½ your ingredients, pour over half the cheese sauce
Continue with layers making sure you end with a Potato layer
Pour over remaining sauce

Cook covered for 45mins then remove lid and cook for a further 30-45mins @ 180C

Good Luck - you've had some fab advice already, so I'm sure you can do it

emiliah

Just popping in to see how things are going, and so pleased to see you are feeling a bit more upbeat, and light at the end of the tunnel.

Domsmummy

Thank you all so very much for your help.

Today for tea we had Spag bol and im now meal planing for the remaining time.
Going to make some rolls later so can have them with the soupim planning on making tomorrow.

falady

Hi domsmummy,

Just a couple of tips if you need to do some shopping - Sainsburys have 30p winter veg inc carrots, baking potatoes and cabbage.

Frozen veg generally tend to be cheaper than fresh.

Take a look at WWW.mysupermarket.com before you go shopping - it shows all the offers at the big supermarkets.

HTH,

Ali xx

ixia

Re the milk if you have a farmfoods nearby 2 big jugs for £1.50.

good luck.