Cheapest recipies.

yummymummy85

Thank you for all of your replies, I will be spending a fair few evenings looking through all of the advice on here!
Re: the bottle feeding the baby will be formula fed as I am unable to breastfeed. I know this works out very expensive however it's the only choice I have!
I will definately be using the food processor to do the bases for sauces etc. I hadn't thought of this and it definately should stop my hubby moaning about onionetc. in the bolognase!!
I have a slow cooker however whenever I've tried to cook things like casseroles in it they always taste horrible, meat really chewy and sauce really watery and veg practically raw. I'm assuming that I'm doing something wrong as it cooks beef and lamb joints lovely!!
Also, another question, do people generally find it easier to shop weekly or monthly? I have tried both and it seems which ever way I do it I don't have enough food for week/month and end up still having to do top-up shops! I'm going to start doing internet shopping once we're settled in our new house as I can see it being a nightmare trying to get round the supermarket with two little monkeys in tow - it's bad enough with one lol!! And it should also stop my hubby adding things into the trolley!!

missychrissy

You are going to be very busy and I hope your husband is going to help out with the cooking etc.

When my 4 sons were growing up I had one that didn't like onions, used to pick them out of a casserole, another that didn't like mushrooms and another that didn't like potatoes. I just liquidised these ingredients and added them to casseroles. They are now all grown up and not at all fussy about food. They realised over the years that they didn't really dislike these foods after all.

Patchwork_Quilt

As to having meals at different times, I used to have mine with the children and reheat DH's in the microwave when he came in. Then once a week, we would have a 'night in' - put the children to bed early and have a romantic meal together.

Good luck with all the house move/new baby stuff

Butterfly_Brain

I agree with everyone about batch cooking for the freezer - it really is a must you will be going without sleep for ages (Tip:Sleep when the baby sleeps during the day and sod the housework).
If you start now how about making double quantities of whatever meal you are doing and freeze- it is surprising how many meals you can accumulate this way with no effort at all.
Have you any family nearby who could help by cooking some meals for you, especially for the first couple of weeks at least
I am sorry to say that hubby will have to like it, lump it or cook it himself!

yummymummy85

Unfortunately I don't think it's going to be as easy as sleeping when the baby sleeps since I have an 18 month old too!! My mum is coming to stay with us for a couple of weeks so there's someone here to look after DS while I go in to have the baby but other than that we don't have any family nearby so after she's gone home it's going to be a case of me just getting on with it!!

I do already batch cook so have things like bolognase, shepherd's pie, chilli etc. in the freezer already but it's more the planning and shopping bit that I seem to mess up, I always end up running out of things and having to pop to the shop and end up spending a fortune!!

I'm trying to get our whole life organised basically so we can start a fresh in January and hopefully make our life a bit easier since we should konw what it what!!

Keeping_Motivated

Do you use frozen veg instead of fresh this can help with waste etc and keep stocks high.

What do you run out of regularly that means running to the shops? Might be best if you can identify these things then we might be able to help you find a way of storing/stocking up on these?

As for your son for lunches, cheese on toast, egg and soldiers, obvious sandwiches, soup and bread, beans on toast, scrambled egg, salad and breadsticks, potato wedges and salad..

Olliebeak

I shop monthly and try to get everything in one go - bit of a struggle, but well-worth the effort.

Not sure about other supermarkets, but in Asda their ordinary milk is usually good for about a week - what about buying in enough for a full week at a time? That should keep you out of supermarkets mid-week and avoid that trap of 'just going in for a pint of milk'!

You CAN freeze fresh milk but not everybody has enough space in their freezers to make this worthwhile.

Also, it's NOT ideal BUT what about keeping some UHT long-life milk in a cupboard (doesn't even need refrigerating until after it's been opened) - that lasts for months.

Other option is dried skimmed milk - again not ideal but ever so useful when you've got none at all.

I buy fresh veg, then prep and freeze it all, so that I never run out. I currently have broccoli, carrots, sliced onions, cauli, swede, courgettes and leeks stashed away. I also buy frozen peas, sliced mixed peppers and sweetcorn to keep in the freezer as these always come in useful.

I do sometimes run out of bread, but not very often as I buy up whoopsied bread and freeze it as well.

miss_peekaboo

hi

i have been trying the same thing - it does take a bit of getting use to and breaking the habit of going to the shops and spending £20 on milk and bread ect is hard!!

* i shop weekly that way there really is no need to 'pop' in somewhere for anything

* i shop online 3 outta 4 weeks - that way your not tempted by any offers!! i hate going to the shops with the kids - they hate it! plus i always end up forgetting things cos im rushing

* i sit down on a sunday night and write down what i fancy for dinner each night.... then write a list of all the ingreidents - then online shop - so much easier!

* i bulk buy bread and stick about 3 loaves in the freezer - i bought a wee counter top freezer from Gumtree for £10 an its in the cupboard under the stairs stocked up with bread and batch cooking

* milk gets delivered mon,wed,and fri so maybe look into that for your area

* i buy ready bags of bread mix - about 50p and makes a really big loaf - only need to add butter and water - so if your cut short you can make your own - dont need a bread maker - you and your little boy will have loadsa fun kneading it then you just leave it for 2hr to raise then bung in the oven for 20 mins!

* i use to get cheaper formula from the health visitor - worth asking about it when the baby comes along - you'll be down there alot for all the check ups

hope some of this helps

mummy2mygirls

I would say internet shopping is a really good start! I find going to the shops to much of a nightmare and always forget things and then need to go back - i can understand the not wanting to with the little ones i have a 6yr, 2 yr old and a 7mth old and shopping with them is really hard work there is no way i will do it when no4 comes soon.... I do a meal plan for the week and also think about lunches etc. I have a milk man for milk - works out more expensive but it stops me having to pop to the shop and spend a fortune! Also freeze bread so it lasts the week.
I do a online shop once a week - try to get it on the same day and i am getting there with making sure i have everything i need. You soon get into a habbit and work out the things you need more of etc.
I do shop at the butchers aswell as i find the meat so much better then the supermarkets.
good luck with no2 x

Penelope_Penguin

yummymummy85 wrote: »

I have tried to do meal planning in the past in an attempt to lower what we spend on food and the little trips to the shop to buy bread which result in spending £20 on !!!!!

I need some ideas of meals that are relatively quick and easy to make and will freeze well (although I don't have a huge freezer!) but also healthy.

Thanks to Pink-winged take a look at these threads

There are lots of ideas on these threads that should help:

Cheapest recipes???

Meal for two for 50p. Suggestions?

The Cheapest Healthy Meal Ever!

Feed 6 for £1.62

Cheapest meal

Your Cheapest Evening Meal.

cheap, easy family meals

Show Jamie How To Cook On A Budget Champagne Contest

Meal idea's under £1

As this has fallen from the front page of OS, I'll add your thread to the first link to keep the suggestions together.

Penny. x