cheating when cooking lets share ideas

Caz2_2

Hi all
My cheats are
1) packet of golden veg soup mix, made up with water (I think it says 1 and half pints but just put in a pint) and cooked for 5 mins then sieve it add fresh veg and ham if available and add dumplings put in oven with cheese on top. I tell them its my special receipe.
2) when making gravy i add 2-3 spoonfuls of either minestrone or french onion dried soup mix and then sieve, it gives extra flavour.
3) when cooking sunday dinner i make the gravy in the swede pan and l mix some swede with it then add sprout water and a stock cube for a sprog that reckons he is allergic to veg, sometimes i puree veg and add to gravy no one ever knows
4) I bought 5 Robinsons blackcurrent and apple juice 49p a bottle but no-one likes it, so i put it in a ribena bottle and its going down lovely.
Am going to try and put morrisons frosted flakes in a kelloges carboard packet and see how that works for a new person in our home.
5) going to try this with ice-cream as well because if they think it dosent taste right they won't want the branded stuff again.
6) This week have made buns for packups and put out of date celebrations on top then covered with chocolate. I am a wonderful mum and wife this week!
I need some more ideas everyone

mink35

LMAO Caz! :rotfl:


I put a bit of stuffing mix in gravy when doing chicken or pork.

I often puree veg so my lot don't know they are eating it - I think they are just too plain lazy sometimes! I usually do this with things like chilli, stew, bolognaise etc.

Can't think of much else at the moment! I'll have to put my thinking cap on!

sce37

My friend once cooked chicken and bacon bake with campbells condensed and diluted mushroom sauce poured over it. Delicious.

moggins

Home made chicken and mushroom family sized pie

remains of a boiled chicken, one can of Campbells mushroom soup, half a block of Puff pastry = equals one fantastic pie which still works out cheaper than one of the shop bought ones but takes about 15 minutes to make

chardonnay_2

campbells have a whole site of recipes that you can make from their soups and if you sign up they will send you a new recipe weekly

Pink.

Caz2 wrote:

4) I bought 5 Robinsons blackcurrent and apple juice 49p a bottle but no-one likes it, so i put it in a ribena bottle and its going down lovely.
Am going to try and put morrisons frosted flakes in a kelloges carboard packet and see how that works for a new person in our home.
5) going to try this with ice-cream as well because if they think it dosent taste right they won't want the branded stuff again.

Caz,

I love these ideas........going to try the juice and frosted flakes ones on my fussy lot!

Pink

Lillibet_2

My hubby won't eat anything tomato based so we used to end up having a lot of things with cheese/white sauce which is very fattening. After trying out a recipe a couple of weeks ago which used creamed sweetcorn (basically a can/fresh/defrosted whipped up in a blender with about 5 tabelspoons of water until thick sauce consistancy) I have been substituting this & just topping with cheese, he hasn't noticed so far!

tillytot_2

don't peel carrots, just rinse, top and tail them, chop, boil, then mash when cooked. you'll never know the difference, and theres lots of goodness just under the skin.

i have plastic boxes for cereals to go in, so empty shops own brand in, no one noticed the difference yet. lol. same for biscuits, only buy 1-2 packets a week and they go straight in a biscuit tin, and empty packets to bottom of bin.

Caz2_2

Hi all thanks for replying, I think its great fun conning them all. Anyway my latest is the cats. I am mixing branded with very cheap and they know something isn't right but are eating it. Mink35 stuffing in the gravy is a good one and I use campbells soups regularly, to really con them i add a stock cube and mustard. I thought of loads more last night but can't remember them now. I make washing gloop (powder)as well and tell them all it makes stuff really soft and won't take the colour out of clothes which is probably true.
Off to have another think

jaybee

Thank goodness it's not only me then
I cheat all the time with condensed soup used as sauce etc. Saint Delia did a book about How to Cheat at Cooking - I think most of the recipes are available (free, of course) on her web site.
I'm not afraid to lie either - I tell them that things are what they expect them to be and not what they are. How naughty is that?

Caz2_2

Hi some more here
I make my own "white bread" but in a little jar i have grounded up pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds. seseme seeds and linseeds I substitute 3 tablespoons of flour for this and also 2 of wholewheat flour.
I make vegetarian lasange and although they know there is no meat in it they love it and cant understand why it tastes so good. I use lentils and cut veg up really small, I reckon it confuses their brains.
Green peppers who on earth likes them but when the mixed bag is cheaper and you are a money saver how can you resist, I cut them small and diagnially and tell them they are green beans and not to moan as they cost a bomb and its a treat. Ha Ha