Is OS *REALLY* cheaper?

Queenie

Churchmouse wrote: »

Surely that should be FFSAS society:rotfl: :rotfl: ...

Technically ... :think: ... yes. Can I justify it by admitting I like fish fingers any way they come? In a tortilla wrap with mayo and shredded lettuce is my latest way of eating them

sluggy1967

tr3mor wrote: »

I'll join, but only if I'm allowed cheapy white bread, butter and lots of ketchup!

It's not the same with posh HM stuff!

Funny, that's the only way I like it (same with bacon, you can't have wholemeal bread with bacon), also fish fingers have to be mashed to a pulp before going on the bread. The difficulty is trying to eat it before it goes cold!

Tracey04

so is it really cheaper, before I get my head bit off I never really buy convience foods say except fish fingers or pizza and have always made my own cottage pie, chicken gougons, lasagne etc but can't seem to cut the cost anymore I have always made these sort of dishes so no money saved there.
What other things do you use?
would it not cost more to buy all the ingredients to make items like ice-cream, bread, etc
Any ideas are useful Thanks

Queenie

Ice cream can be made quite simply with some double cream and orange juice or a fruit puree (recipe in the recipe thread) I make it when I find double cream reduced.

I know some people use the cheapest plain flour to make bread, I don't, and they claim to have success with it. I don't mind paying a little extra for proper bread flour though and still think it works out cost effective for us - mainly because the temptation of going into the supermarket to buy bread and coming away with the extra's that tempt me means and immediate saving :laugh:

Sourcing ingredients to make things from scratch is the same as any other item. Know where the best buys/deals are. Cook with seasonal foods.

Cottage pies/lasagne's and the like I use half fresh mince and half soya mince. This makes a difference in the costs as does bulking it out with veggies. I'm lucky to have good farm shops around so veggies are horrendously expensive to use.

Pink.

Hi tracey,

I think it is cheaper and much better for your health. This recent thread should interest you:

Is OS *REALLY* cheaper?

I'll merge your thread with that one later to keep all the replies together.

Pink

hilstep2000

Sometimes it isn't cheaper, but it sure is tastier!

HariboJunkie

Things like bread, yoghurt and soup as well as hm meals are cheaper for me but baking is more expensive. However I'd rather feed the girls more expensive hm biscuits that the cheap ones from the shop which tend to be full of cr*p.

shell2001

I agree its about the balance of healthy foods vs price - I know which I choose. I make my own bread and after a couple of days if the loaf isnt finished it goes mouldy (hassen to add it very rarely gets chance to go mouldy as does not last that long). Shop bought bread sits around for ages - so what kinds of preservatives must be in it?

I much prefer HM foods I know whats in it and I know my hands are clean when I am making it etc. Yes it takes a bit of effort but its so worth it. I made a HM chinese meal for us the other night - sweet & sour chicken with peppers & pineapple, chicken curry, BBQ ribs, Egg Fried Rice, Plain chow mein. The whole lot cost me £10 for the same portion sizes from the chinese it would have been about £40. None of it was deep-fat fried, no artificial colours or preservatives. Yes it took time and effort but sitting there watching my littles tuck in to it and helping themselves to seconds really made me feel proud (of myself but of them too). My kids are 2 and 4 and will eat whatever is put in front of them. Other people I know who feed their kids smiley faces, chicken dippers and such that is ALL their kids will eat.

Sorry gone into a bit of a ramble. HM for me everytime.

Caterina

tr3mor wrote: »

Maybe you couldn't make a single portion ready made lasagne for 99p, but you could make 6 portions of home made lasagne for a lot less than £6!

Add that to the fact that ready made stuff, especially the cheap variety, is full of crap - I know which I'd rather eat!

Here is cost of veg. lasagne - makes 6 main course portions. I know, I make this all the time:

Lasagne sheets: 70p
Tinned tomatoes: 50p
Cheese (for white sauce and topping): £1.00
Milk for white sauce: 45p
Misc. for tomato/veg sauce (carrot, onion, celery stick, frying oil, cornflour, salt, pepper, nutmeg): £1.00 - and that's possibly too much, or prob. you have already a lot of these things in your larder/fridge/cupboard!

Total (max.): £3.65

Add £1.00 for mince if you make mince beef (or lamb, or pork) sauce lasagne, or 20p. if you want to add some lentils to the sauce for extra veg. protein.

Still a bargain, and you KNOW what went in it! NO additives, no bulk fillers, only decent food!

Caterina

Hapless_2

sluggy1967 wrote: »

Funny, that's the only way I like it (same with bacon, you can't have wholemeal bread with bacon), also fish fingers have to be mashed to a pulp before going on the bread. The difficulty is trying to eat it before it goes cold!

When I run out of fish I make cheats fish pie with fish fingers....bottom of lasange dish covered with good quality frozen fish fingers, 1 drained tin of sweetcorn, hand ful of froz peas, topped with mashed potato with cheese, parsley, good shake of garlic granules and a pinch of dill. Bung in an oven until the top is all golden crispy and crunchy. Serve with baked beans.