Feeding a family of just 2 on very limited budgets

Dicegirly

djbum_syd wrote: »

She loves cheesy pizza, so that is another good meal - is it easy to make dough for the pizza? I've never tried. Lol.

Or if you are not up to making your own from scratch, a packet of pizza base mix is about 40p and you just add water to ity and mix it with your hands.

potato_pizza

We have found that making a couple of switches has helped us save money eg we buy tinned sardines instead of tuna (tastes the same to me and less than half the price). Instead of buying meatballs we make our own and we bulk them out with loads of wholemeal breadcrumbs. We also try to go to the supermarket close to closing time and get eg reduced bread that we can freeze. Sometimes we get a cooked chicken at this time and because it's reduced it's usually under £3 (and you don't have to spend any time or gas/electricity cooking it)!

faithless

carolinemarbles wrote: »

I make a quiche every week for my daughter and myself (can't stand the soggy shop bought ones). Eggs and cheese aren't cheap but it makes enough for two big slices for me and four small slices for the little one. We have them with beans or baked potato.

Ooh, Caroline could you post the quiche recipe? I've just discovered I like quiche after trying a freshly made one in work canteen the other day - I've only ever tried the horrible soggy shop ones before and hated them.


My only tip would be that frozen veg is usually cheaper and more convenient - no prep required - than fresh, and you haven't got to worry about it going off. My fridge crisper drawer is now less often full of green slime from stuff I've forgotten about!

Oh and I make mini 'pizzas' by slicing pitta breads in half so they are thin, spreading the top with tomato puree (a tube is about 33p) and then putting any bits I need to use up on there - anything as long as you slice it thinly. You're supposed to top with slices of mozzarella but I just use grated mild Cheddar cos it's cheaper! Then bung under grill for 2 mins.

Your little one will be able to put her own toppings on as well which might help. Good toppings are thinly sliced peppers and pepperoni, but anything goes really, leftover bits like if you've half a sausage you can slice it up.

If you're thinking of growing some veg then it might be worth popping into Focus etc - I got a bunch of plastic pots free that they just put by the tills for people to take. Or keep an eye on Freecycle.
Wilkinsons seems quite cheap for garden stuff too - I've just planted some tomato and some herb seeds as this year is the first year I've had a garden, so going to see how it goes!

IzzyBiz

djbum_syd wrote: »

I have tried hiding veg in her pasta, and she wont have it. Far too clever! :-/
She loves cheesy pizza, so that is another good meal - is it easy to make dough for the pizza? I've never tried. Lol.

I do a Jamie Oliver pizza base. Mix 1 mug self raising flour with half mug cold water, little salt and a glug of oil, in a food processor until it makes a dough. (theres enough here for 2 pizzas) Roll out dough - use plenty of flour cos its sticky. Put a little oil in frying pan on a medium heat. Place pizza base in pan. As base is cooking use some of your pasta sauce to cover pizza base, then top with cheese etc. When underneath of base is crisp and brown, put pizza under grill to finish off the top. Yummy and cheap.
This recipe is adapted from Jamies 30 minute meals on Channel 4 and can be found on his web-site.