Jamie Olivers money saving meals

olias

Are people really that thick in this day and age that they don't know or can't figure out how to use leftovers?

olias

flea72

I agree, i dont think the premise of the book/show is to cook cheap meals. Its to enlighten people that the stuff they buy ready-made, can be made for a fraction of the cost, with very little effort and that leftovers can be used to create a meal for another day, rather than putting in the bin

Ie, heres your favourite GBK burger, did you know you can make 4 of those for the price of buying 1, in less time than it takes to ring up and collect/get it delivered. That pizza dough actually costs pennies to make, and that leftover roast isnt just sarnie filler, it can be used to make so many other things

For some people this is normal day to day use of food, but for lots of people, the art of stretching food, is alien and wastage is expected

aliama

olias wrote: »

Are people really that thick in this day and age that they don't know or can't figure out how to use leftovers?

olias

What a strange comment. Were you responding to anyone in particular?

For a start, the recipes in JO's book aren't just 'heat up in the microwave and serve' -- they're totally new recipes, which simply use cooked meat as another ingredient.

Equally, you could say, 'why publish any cookery book? Are people that thick in this day and age that they don't know what to do with food?'

flea72

olias wrote: »

Are people really that thick in this day and age that they don't know or can't figure out how to use leftovers?

olias

Honestly, yes. People dont trust food that isnt sealed and fresh. They might keep some leftovers in the fridge for a day, but after that they fear food poisoning too much, because of all the guff they are fed by the media.

I have so many friends who stick to the dates on all food they use. Cheddar gets binned if mouldy. Boxes of eggs thrown if over the date. Even vegetables get binned if past dates, rather than tasting/smelling them, so why would they think to use leftovers, when all ready-made food they buy says do not reheat, or eat immediately.

andygb

I thnk that Jamie is to be applauded for encouraging people to use leftovers, but unfortunately the OP has taken a very unrealistic approach to costing everything.

Last Christmas, we invited some folks over for Boxing Day, and as we do not go "mental" with food buying in the festive season, we tried to feed them well whilst sticking to a budget.

The star of the show was a 2 kilo free range chicken (about £8 from a local butcher) with all the trimmings - roast tatties, cauliflower cheese, green beans, brussels with vac packed chestnuts, roast carrots and parsnips and an onion gravy (lifted with a drop of balsamic vinegar).
I made a starter - pork, chestnut and prune terrine, served with a little salad and cornichons.
To finish - bread and butter pudding, with orange zest and a glug of Ammaretto and custard.
I am not going to cost the oil, balsamic or the herbs (because we grow them), but the rest of the ingredients came to under £20, and there was enough left over to have bubble and squeak the next day.
It is possible to eat relatively cheaply and enjoy the food far more than if you had eaten out.

Lip_Stick

davehughes182 wrote: »

Product Placement is very much allowed these days. Even on certain quiz shows etc they have it.

The programme though, is sponsored by Uncle Ben's. There's something a little off with a money saving programme using one of the most expensive versions of a product, when it's their sponsor's product.

JReacher1

Lip_Stick wrote: »

The programme though, is sponsored by Uncle Ben's. There's something a little off with a money saving programme using one of the most expensive versions of a product, when it's their sponsor's product.

It would look strange if he didn't use the rice of the company that sponsors the product. I imagine its in the contract.

Lip_Stick

JReacher1 wrote: »

It would look strange if he didn't use the rice of the company that sponsors the product. I imagine its in the contract.

He doesn't have to show a brand of rice though. It could be just in a storage container. I don't mind product placement but I do when it goes against the ethos of the programme.

R_P_W

Lip_Stick wrote: »

The programme though, is sponsored by Uncle Ben's. There's something a little off with a money saving programme using one of the most expensive versions of a product, when it's their sponsor's product.

Seriously who cares? People have free choice when they do their shopping! You can buy supermarket own brand if you want or need to.

JReacher1

Lip_Stick wrote: »

He doesn't have to show a brand of rice though. It could be just in a storage container. I don't mind product placement but I do when it goes against the ethos of the programme.

That's probably the product he uses. Jamie's not known for using budget brands.

I would be surprised if any of the other ingredients were tesco value products.