£7.00 per week - menu ideas

Butterfly_Brain

hunters, this was at the request of someone who literally only had £7 for groceries, with no store cupboard to speak of. I would not want to have to try to live on so little for any period of time.

Butterfly_Brain

HOISIN EGG NOODLES

Egg Noodles (as much as you want) 58p Aldi
hoi-sin and garlic sauce 55p Tesco
1 green pepper cut into chunks (super six 3 for 69p = 23p
1/2 onion saut!ed 10p
2 chicken leg quarters that have been cooked and diced or shredded 99p

Total for 4 people £2.45 = 61p per portion

In a small pan add the hoi sin sauce, pepper and chicken, making sure that the chicken is well covered in the sauce. Cook your onions in butter to the colour of your liking, then add them to the sauce with the peppers and mix it until they are covered.
Cook and drain the noodles (this only takes a few minutes) and put on a plate or in a bowl then pour the sauce on top !

incredibleflameboy

I feel your pain chunkysmum. The bursary isnt great is it but its better than nothing, dont forget to claim all your travel expenses. We found that we started saving money when we bulk bought everything for the month on payday then avoided shops like the plague unless we have to go.

It doesnt save mega bucks but its a start. A few other things I noticed that eating hot food in the hospital that I have placements at is cheaper than buying sandwiches but dont forget a loa loaf of bread and some pretty fancypants ham will only cost you £4ish. Thats about the price of 2 hot meals and will last you probably 4 days (I push my luck on the last day but it adds variety to life) and can be used for the rest of the family. Also some wards have access to microwaves so if you need to theres also the option of microwaving your own food.

I know its not much help but you never know...

Butterfly_Brain

quintwins wrote: »

I just thought of another tip, butter is a big outlay but if your planing to have toast or sandwichs the soft cheese or cheese spread is nice at 50/57p and can be used as a spread and a filling in one, saving you buying jam or a sandwich filling aswell.

Thanks to whoever posted the link to someone blog doing a menu plan they mentions garlic sausage which is as cheap as value ham but with more meat and nicer, i had never heard of it but i bought a pack yesterday t try i figured at 55p for 12 slices i didn't ahve much to lose, it's lovely and i will be buying it again (but it needs well wrapped my fridge stinks!!

quintwins Garlic sausage is 37p for a pack of 10 slices in Aldi at the moment

Butterfly_Brain

It is blackberry season so I am off foraging this afternoon with DH and the kids, DS moans, because he is the tallest he has to get closest to the bushes:rotfl: I do my bit by carrying the bounty in my scooter basket :rotfl:We will also be on the look out for rose hips to make some rose hip syrup and rose hip and apple jelly. Oh and filberts and beech nuts as well.
It is a bit too early for chestnuts, but I will go and check the trees to see if they have dropped any. If they have I will cook them and freeze them ready for Christmas.
http://www.countryfile.com/countryside/top-10-foods-forage-september

http://www.goselfsufficient.co.uk/foraging-for-berries.html

quintwins

aww we don't have a aldi here, any suggestions on what to make with beetroot? i only ever eat it pickled but it's on my lidl deals this week along with butternut squash so i think i'll make a soup.

Soworried

Butterfly_Brain wrote: »

It is blackberry season so I am off foraging this afternoon with DH and the kids, DS moans, because he is the tallest he has to get closest to the bushes:rotfl: I do my bit by carrying the bounty in my scooter basket :rotfl:We will also be on the look out for rose hips to make some rose hip syrup and rose hip and apple jelly. Oh and filberts and beech nuts as well.
It is a bit too early for chestnuts, but I will go and check the trees to see if they have dropped any. If they have I will cook them and freeze them ready for Christmas.
http://www.countryfile.com/countryside/top-10-foods-forage-september

http://www.goselfsufficient.co.uk/foraging-for-berries.html

:rotfl: I can just imagine you now, bossying them around from your scooter. "No I want them berries up there on the right"
I am just kidding. :kisses3:

I need to go and pick some as well. Low cost desserts. :j

Butterfly_Brain

Rosehip Syrup

1kg rosehips
1kg caster sugar
a big sieve and a clean cotton cloth

Method

This recipe takes a while to complete but it is a delicious syrup full
of vitamin C when it is finished. It can be used as a topping for ice
cream or waffles etc or can be diluted to make a soft drink.

Wash and chop the rosehips.
Put 2 litres of water in a big pan and bring to the boil.
Add the chopped rosehips and bring back to the boil.
Remove from the heat and cover and leave to infuse for half an hour. Give it a stir from time to time.
Line a sieve or colander with muslin or use the very strong kitchen towel.
Strain the rosehip mixture over a very large bowl.
Set the strained juice aside and put the rosehip pulp back to the pan, along with another litre of boiling water.
Bring back to the boil.
Remove from the heat, infuse for another half an hour and strain as before.
Throw away the pulp and combine the two lots of strained juice in a clean pan.
Bring back to the boil. Continue to boil until the volume has decreased by half.
Remove from the heat.
Add the sugar and stir until it is dissolved.
Return to the heat again and bring to the boil. Boil hard for five minutes.
Pour into warmed, sterilised jars or bottles and seal.

Soworried

quintwins wrote: »

aww we don't have a aldi here, any suggestions on what to make with beetroot? i only ever eat it pickled but it's on my lidl deals this week along with butternut squash so i think i'll make a soup.

Beetroot risotto is nice and looks amazing in the bowl. I can type up the recipe if it is something you mighty like.

Butterfly_Brain

Found these on youtube step by step instructions for all sorts of foraged bounty, it has recipes and tips
Elderberry cordial and jelly
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lapzDQ21v28
Elderflower cordial
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNYusKSbt-E
rose hip syrup
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJr-mgLELrE&playnext=1&list=PLF7C7BDD42B20BFA0&feature=results_main
Note......... mute the rosehip syrup video it is annoying all the instructions are on screen, so no need for guitar man blasting the old eardrums unless you like it that is........................