Creating an OS household...

Queen.Bess

I too would struggle to make it to £75 but would bulk up the shop with washing powder, toilet rolls, foil, bathroom essentials, basically long-term items that will keep and will definitely be used!

I agree with what others have said: flour, cooking margarine, rice, spaghetti, sugar, cocoa, tinned tomatoes, tinned tuna perhaps?

Good Luck!

Fivenations

Queenie wrote: »

Risotto rice (sorry, I hate to contradict, but we are talking MSE ) is expensive; basmati rice or even ordinary long grain rice can double as risotto rice! You may not get the creamy texture of risotto rice, nor the al dente core,

But then it's not a risotto, more a pilau. Yes, it can be more expensive than long grain but basmati? I buy my risotto rice from an Italian deli by the kilo and it works out no more than a good quality Basmati bought in a similar size pack. We all need a little luxury now and then!

Ytaya

Queenie wrote: »

Risotto rice (sorry, I hate to contradict, but we are talking MSE ) is expensive; basmati rice or even ordinary long grain rice can double as risotto rice! You may not get the creamy texture of risotto rice, nor the al dente core, but it is a moneysaving alternative to the more expensive risotto rice and as you can also make a sweet rice pudding with basmati rice, would work out more flexible and thus more cost effective in the long run ... as you say Sarahsaver ... "have the bigger picture in mind" and keep the risotto rice for dinner parties/entertaining!

Or you could buy pudding rice and use it for risotto Not as cheap as basmati, not as pricey as risotto rice. It's practically the same as risotto rice!

urshiem

I have only been cooking from scratch since Christmas :eek: (thanks to the advice on here) and my grocery bill for 4 has dropped by an average 20.00 a week but I'm sure I could get this down further by baking 'goodies' rather than buying. Please does anyone have a recipe for quick and easy cakes/biscuits/flapjacks? and also if I baked a load on a Sunday, (my only free day) would they last a week?

Sarahsaver

My risotto rice costs about 60p :rolleyes:

mel123

I got some Jamie Oliver risotto rice from home bargains for 29p, I often pop in their and see what their specials are. The rice was all posh in a little hesian sack.

jovichick123

Hi Urshiem,

I make refridgerator biscuits. I make the dough up once a week, takes about 15 mins, roll up the mixture into tinfoil and pop in the fridge. Then you can just chop slices off as and when during the week (mixture is good in fridge for about a week) and always have a fresh supply of HM biscuits :j

Am sure there are recipes on this thread, or the recipe I use is:
225g/8oz Flour (plain)
1tsp Baking Powder
100g/4oz Butter
175g/6oz Caster Sugar
1tsp Vanilla Essence
1 Egg, Beaten

1. Sift together flour and baking powder
2. Rub in butter to make a fine mixture
3. Add sugar, mix into a dough with vanilla essence and egg
4. Shape into a long sausage
5. Wrap tinfoil around 'sausage' and twist ends together, work backwards and forwards to form a roll about 2inch in diameter
6. Pop in fridge for 1 hour...

When you want to bake, just cut off slices, put on baking tray and bake at 190/gas mark 5 for 10-12 mins. You can even add chocolate chips etc to tailor them to your needs! Hope that helps!!

Finally, thanks to everyone on this post who has helped, I now have a full store cupboard of staple items and it has been great looking at recipes on here and mentally checking off all the items in the list knowing I have them all sat in the kitchen!! OH was a bit suspicious of all the jars of herbs and spices but now he knows I can pretty much make any food under the sun, I think he's warming to the idea of OS!!

Thanks again,

Sarah xx

Three_Dancing_Dragons

As well as being a bit more economical, basmati rice is also low GI so it will help keep your blood sugar level (so you don't get hungry as fast).

I'm still learning to cook and I have a cupboard full of herbs and spices but the only ones I really tend to use are the chilli, curry powder, smoked paprika and herbes de provence mix (which I find nicer than mixed herbs or the italian mix).

Sarahsaver

TO put yourself off buying 'treats' for kids just look at the recommended daily intake of fat, calories, salt etc for children and then look at the labels of such 'treats'.
You could even do what I have and show my kids how much sugar is in a can of pop, how much salt in crisps. They were disgusted.
Of course this works the same for grown ups too! If I want a cake I know I have to make one! (apart from the 30p RTC Organic double choc one from mr sainsbury the other day...;))

jovichick123

Sarahsaver wrote: »

TO put yourself off buying 'treats' for kids just look at the recommended daily intake of fat, calories, salt etc for children and then look at the labels of such 'treats'.
You could even do what I have and show my kids how much sugar is in a can of pop, how much salt in crisps. They were disgusted.
Of course this works the same for grown ups too! If I want a cake I know I have to make one! (apart from the 30p RTC Organic double choc one from mr sainsbury the other day...;))

I must admit, it is nice knowing exactly what goes into your food. My DS (2) has been eating only homecooked food and treats for about a month now (since I resolved to change my ways and not only cook when I felt I had time lol) and he seems happier and healthier... much better all round! :j