Cheapest recipies.

Tibbie's_mum

Although I'd go along with batch cooking as a great way of saving money, as I'm pregnant at the moment I've completely gone off cooking. So recently I have been buying the smallest mince portions 'cos I know I'll never get round to cooking a large batch of anything and I can't even been bothered to divide up larger portions to freeze. But what I've found is that I've been padding this small amount of mince out with lentils or an extra can of chopped tomatoes to make spag bol or chilli and it's just as good as usual, also it works out much cheaper and far healthier.

One of my boys (ages 2 & 4) favourite meals is really cheap and easy, I cook some wholewheat pasta with some frozen brocolli and then mix this with a can of mackerel fillets in tomato sauce. To my surprise they really love this and it really nutritious.

Hope that helps in some way.

Cazzdevil

Take some inspiration from Indian cuisine - lentils are a fantastic alternative to meat and are full of protein, count as 1 of your 5 a day, and are FAR cheaper than any cut of meat. Stick them in anything you make with mince (swap half your normal quantity of mince for lentils), or use them instead of chicken in a curry or a pasta sauce. Or even try substituting vegetables for the usual pieces of meat (meat always seems to be the item which bumps up the food bill hence OH and I seek out alternatives and only really buy turkey).

moanymoany

Hi Tracy, I was sitting with a group of people a few months ago. One of them asked us how many of us bought branded goods. Lots of us put our hands up, I bought Bold! She told us that she had spent many years working in advertising - the only thing different between many own brands and branded goods was the money spent on advertising - hence the prices.

Three months ago I bought a bottle of shampoo from Lidl, it cost about 60p for about a pint! I only use the tiniest amount each day as I have short hair. I have noticed NO difference. I use a pro-age Dove conditioner I bought BOGOF, again only half a teaspoonful.

Do what Martin :money: suggests. Start with value and if you really don't like it move up to own brand. This branded goods stuff is really a way to part you from your money, if they can convince you that you can't live without it - all the better for their profits! I use 70% value, 25% own brand and 5% branded. Me and the DH are healthy enough, not falling to bits physically, our clothes are clean, my whites white and my food lovely (well we think!)

Read Thriftlady's wartime ration thread, you'll like it.

Gingernutmeg, and everyone else of course, Have you tried the dried soya mince? It works very well in mincy stuff, really bulks it out and is not detectable. It has twice the protein in it than meat and fish so gives good value. (Got that from the Linda Macartney book). I use it when I bulk make and freeze, love it, cheap and tasty.

countrymusicfan

Thank you, thank you, thank you, all of you, but can I ask what gypsy toast is? I have never heard of it, but all of you will help tremendously lower my shopping bill :money:

newlywed

countrymusicfan wrote: »

Thank you, thank you, thank you, all of you, but can I ask what gypsy toast is? I have never heard of it, but all of you will help tremendously lower my shopping bill :money:

Also known as eggy bread or french toast

Beat an egg (or two depending on how hungry you are) add salt and pepper to it. Place in a shallow dish.

Take a slice of bread and dip both sides in the egg so it's covered. Then fry it in a pan with a little oil.

Yum, especially with bacon on top.

In canada you can have it with sliced banana and maple syrup for breakfast

kunekune

These are mine:

chicken liver pilaff
bean and sausage casserole/soup (doesn't need much sausage)
tortilla with added peas
macaroni cheese
cauliflower and broccoli eggy bake
pasta with butter and cheese
baked potatoes & baked beans & grated cheese
vegetable curry (potato, cauliflower, courgette is a nice mix)
vegetable biriani
lentil soup with naan bread

Now why is it I still manage to spend over £100 a week on food????

Bogof_Babe

Could you post the recipe for the cauli & broccoli eggy bake, please kk? Sounds delish.

bellaquidsin

Some great ideas here for survival. Don't think I've spotted lentil curry?

If chicken livers are liked they make a great little stove top casserole cooked with some onions and tinned tomatoes and then thickened to make a tasty gravy serve with mash and veg. - My hubby's favourite, he doesn't even know it's cheap.

Tuna rissotto. Fry onion and garlic add veg of your choice, we like sweetcorn and courgette or frozen mixed veg is nice, just stir into cooked rice.

Bacon roly poly. Fry some onion and bacon pieces (from a cheap bag of bits).
Make a suet pastry, spread onion and bacon mixture over it and roll up like a swiss roll and bake in the oven.

Some more of the cheap bacon piece made into a quiche.

If there are any bacon pieces left they are nice fried and cooked in the bottom of a cauliflower cheese to make it a bit more 'meaty'.

LearningToSave.

ooo nice to see this thread bumped back up!
some more fab ideas............any more?? very welcome!!

kunekune

Lightly cook some broccoli and cauliflower and put them in an oven proof dish (probably a good idea to grease it). Mix a couple of eggs with milk, seasoning and some grated cheese, and pour it over the veges. Then bake until brown on top (I recall it takes around 20 minutes). Very nice with tomato salad.