I'm eating out of the freezer and cupboards challenge

Lynsey

Edwardia wrote: »

It has to be said that I learned more about cooking economically in Food & Nutrition lessons in school than I ever did in college.

Even better, it's economics we're after with all the budgets.
Great cooked food cheaply.........nothing better.

I might even have a copy of the "The Dairy Book of Home Cookery" - I'm sure we got it as a wedding present - spooky.

Lynsey

Edwardia

Lynsey wrote: »

I might even have a copy of the "The Dairy Book of Home Cookery" - I'm sure we got it as a wedding present - spooky.

Lynsey

They are quite hard to come by because people hang on to them and if you do find one then usually they come well loved

For anyone with this book, look in the index for Pot au Feu. It's a vegetarian recipe from Luxembourg and basically you simmer a variety of veg for about 40 mins and serve with a heap of cheese on top and fresh parsley (you could use chives also). Great as a filling warming winter dish especially if you got yellow stickered veg !

gailey_2

I went shopping as I had to as low on

milk
nappies-run out
yogurts nearly run out
butter had run out

went co-op but dident get milk as its £1 in mchols few doors down but they so grumpy and rude

got nappies instead of pullups as had pampers reduced in grocery bric brac section.

value yogurts

own brand butter as no brand butter on offer £1 my prefred figure.

but I did get lots reductions on fruit and veg but no meats.
did get reduced crumpets and rolls.

spent £15 in end and nearly 5quid was on nappies

still need more

cheese
eggs
squash
cofffee
more milk
washing powder.

tonight we had sherperds pie made with chopped tomatoes and oxo . topped with part sweet potato and normal potato mash and chese served with reduced salad.
hubbys impressed with how we coping and still eating like kids as he puts it but next week much more challanging unless find some reduced meats.

Im a terror for making up recipies as go along. with tomato based dishes i just chuck loads in!
sometimes trial and error.
if expecting guests or stuck for ideas I look at recipie books.

if i see feed your family for foiver cards sometimes copy but source cheaper ingrediants or eliminate the expensive stuff.

Kirri

I seem to remember my mum having the Dairy Book of Home Cookery! Did it have a brandy snap as one of 4 pics on the front cover??

Pasties recipe:

Pastry:
The recipe says 500g of shortcut pastry but I can only work in ounces for pastry (!) so this is the only amount I know works so I make this amount twice, ie in two batches in the processor - then chill it for 30 mins.
6oz plain white flour (didn't work with a mix of brown!)
3 oz butter
3 tbsp cold water

Filing:
1 leek finely sliced (I use more but then shop leeks might be bigger than mine!)
175g oak smoked cheddar diced (I use bit less)
1 tbsp fresh chopped sage
50g breadcrumbs
1 egg

Cook leek/s in 25g butter on low heat and slowly.
Put the cooked leek in a bowl, add in cubed cheese , chopped sage, breadcrumbs, beaten egg and mix.

Roll out pastry and cut 6 circles (I use a saucer).
Get a second beaten egg and brush round outside of circle so it sticks, put filling in middle and crimp edge.
Chill for 30 mins.
Brush all 6 with rest of the beaten egg and cook on 180 (fan oven) for 25-30 mins.

They are best eaten as is, hot, or very nice cold next day even. I tried freezing from cooked and re-heating but it dried them out. Or if you freeze uncooked without the beaten egg wash on uncooked pasties that wasn't as good either. I'll still probably freeze 4 of them cooked and reheat though as that was the best option out of them all.

I use the Morrisons oak smoked cheese but it's not from the packaged cheese aisle, it's on the pretend cheese counter in the meat aisle bizarrely, where the deli bits are, not sure what other shops have in. It wouldn't be as tasty with a normal cheddar.

Edwardia

Kirri wrote: »

I seem to remember my mum having the Dairy Book of Home Cookery! Did it have a brandy snap as one of 4 pics on the front cover??

I think it does Kirri and my mother used it so did my MIL

Thank you for the recipe ! :T

Kirri

Edwardia wrote: »

I think it does Kirri and my mother used it so did my MIL

Thank you for the recipe ! :T

I just googled it, this was the one my mum had!!!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Dairy-Book-Home-Cookery-1969-/140692226103?pt=Non_Fiction&hash=item20c1e90037#ht_500wt_1360

I wonder if she still has it...

bramble1

Well OH got paid last night, and money burns a hole in his pocket so we went to the pub then got takeaway! Not good for purse or diet!

But we've agreed to stay in tonight. So lamb burgers tonight instead, lunch is yet more soup, i think i have one more potion left after today, so will have a portion of cottage pie from the freezer for Friday's lunch.

Normally on the first day of the month I go and do a HUGE shop to set me up for the month ahead. But i'm going to attempt to just weekly shop this month. We've got plenty of meat in so will only buy good offers, and then it's just side dishes and lunches to worry about. So soup ingredients and then OH's stuff.

Did i tell you about my success in waitrose the other day, Loaves were reduced to 35p and there was full price offer of buy 2 save 50p which still stood on the reduced stuff, so i got 2 loaves for 20p! Was tempted to get more but have no freezer space.

bramble1

and thanks for the recipe! going to give those a try

Lynsey

This is my version of the "iconic" book, sadly falling to bits as it was well used.

Thanks for the recipe Kirri, the smoked cheese can be picked up cheaply at both Aldi and Lidl for those wanting to try.

Seriously Guys, if you have a Coop near you, pick up some of the Persil non-bio liquid if you have or can get the £1 coupon - only £2.19 for 28 washes when using coupon. Ends in approx. 1 week. I've bought 4 and added to stash - no more washing powder/liquid this year............unless something (major glitch or freebie/near freebie) comes along.

I'm feeling much better today, no paracetomols needed, just gargle with a mouthwash.

Not had breakfast yet, but will soon.
Waiting for the Lidl meat offer update and as Aldi have meatballs on offer, I'll pick up some probably tomorrow. Got free tickets for the dogs tomorrow night - free drink and snack which will save a meal and passing an Aldi.

Lynsey

Lip_Stick

Morning all.

I have a challenge for you all. You're not to mention Lidl. There's no prizes, I'm just peed off that the Lidl near me has closed.

Yesterday was a NSD. For dinner we had lo tart and for tea ds had ham and cheese omelette with peas and I had a butternut squash and goats cheese pie with baked beans. Couldn't really taste the goats cheese so there didn't seem much point of it being in it lol. It was still nice tho.

Today it's cuppa soup for moi. Ds has a ham sandwich and yoghurt. Just me on my own for tea as ds is with his dad til 6:30 so I'm having butternut squash and goats cheese lasagna.

Decided to do the grocery challenge. Put myself down for £150 ex alcohol. I'm thinking that might be a bit much since I'm doing this challenge as well. Will have to see how it goes!

Today will be a NSD. Hoping tomorrow will be too.

Bramble - those pasties sound lovely, will have a go at making them too!

Edwardia - will have to check out those cook books. They sound very interesting and I could do with ones that teach me more about the basics lol.