Foodie on a budget

Smiley_Mum

Never tried making ciabatta bread. I did make bread one time, years ago, I didn't leave it to prove long enough or something. It looked fab when it came out of the oven, like something out of the bakers just great. Cut a slice and there was like a big air gap where the dough hadn't risen, tasted ok though. Haven't tried since. Just all that faffing about with kneading etc. Don't have a bread machine. Are they any good, any recommendations? I love trying out different recipes and stuff.

Smiley_Mum

I like the panini starbucks recipe and there is also another one with the ciabatta bread. I use Tescos low fat mozarella blob in a bag (or should that be boob in a bag) stuff, like a small breast implant, yukko, cherry tomatoes, basil, a big drizzle of olive oil, crushed garlic and salt and pepper. Chop up the mozarella into like bits, quarter up a heap of tomatoes, take a good few leaves of basil and chop up, a few cloves of crushed garlic, salt and freshly ground pepper, and you can chuck in some chopped olives as well if you like. Take a long ciabatta bread and slice in half and make a huge sandwich of it, I just leave it open rather than put it together, less mess. Don't use the small ciabatta rolls you can get, the mix falls off and ends up getting baked onto the baking sheet. I slice up the long ones into three for myself and the kids. Give the mixture a good mix up and then dollop it on your ciabatta bread and then bake in the oven for about 15/20 mins. I used fan assisted for about 20 mins or so, just keep an eye on it. Really yummy.

The starbucks panini is, take one panini, slice in half, spread with some green pesto and then add some sundried tomatoes, some mozarella slices, some olives and some salt and freshly ground pepper, add some basil if you like, then just cram it all into a toastie maker if you can, and bake in it for a good few minutes. Otherwise just do the oven again but not sure on timings.

Thank goodness for 0% credit cards. My only splurge time is foodshopping.

Magentasue

furrypig wrote:

. Use value butter all the time and have just bought value flour and salt to try.

Value flour is fine, not as sifted as branded. I knw this because when we had that petrol shortage I couldn't get cheap flour. Salt has to be Maldon salt crystals (for table) or some sea salt that looks like gravel that we brought back from France for cooking.

Galtizz

Try different shops. Lidl do packs of mozarella for 50p! They also have mature cheese at about the same price as Tesco do naff mild cheddar - you have to buy it in a big block though.

I also grow my own herbs - 29p for a pack of seeds from Lidl vs 89p odd for ready grown herbs from the supermarket.

I also make my own sauces etc. i.e salsa, guacamole, must try pesto one day too.

Try using cheaper cuts of meat and adapting the recipes to be done in the slow cooker, it makes all meat lovely and tender. That way you can spend more on the sauces and save on the meat. - Jamies Lamb curry could be done in the slow cooker using cheaper cuts of meat than suggested.

Don't buy the recipe books, either borrow them from the library and write out your favorites or have a look on the internet Jamie has a few of his recipes on there and Nigella has a site full of recipes, I'm not sure if they are her recipes but they are in the same vain.

Lillibet_2

I like good quality cheese but I try to stock up when it is on BOGOF etc, you need less stong flavoured cheese than mild & it keeps fine in the freezer if grated. I also like good quality olives although I don't use a lot of them, rather than just chopping in half I chop them much smaller for pizzas, bread etc. I love home made guacmole but eek it out by adding peas to keep both the cost & the calories down. Hubby would rather buy good quality wine & water it down then drink cheaper wine neat. (I get tiddly after 2 glasses so HAVE to have mine watered down anyway or I become a safety hazard!) We have recently switched to buying good quality wine in boxes, which work out cheaper than by the bottle. I will only buy good quality organic eggs, I would rather go without than buy the cheap ones, this isn't very money saving though 'cos they taste so nice I end up eating more of them! I like branded tea bags but get 2 cups out of each one so I think these pay for themselves, even though they aren't the 2 cup variety. I mix good quality instant coffee with cheaper stuff.

I am happy buying other stuff in value or own brand ranges and religiously plan my meals (OK, I don't always stick to the plan) & try to mix one or 2 of the good quality ingredients with cheaper ones to get a balance of flavour in each meal.

HTH