What are you making for dinner?

Florenceem

I ended up doing egg and chips yesterday so tonight is egg fried rice.

Islandmaid

Okay my lovelies, I know you can help.

A friend of my youngest son has asked for my cheapest meal ideas for her and her OH to get them to the end of the month due to an unexpected bill.  So approx 20 meals.  They are happy to go vegetarian and have no food allergies. Hit me with your best ‘skint’ meals.

just finished work so got  bit of brain freeze, I’ve suggested spaghetti Cacio E pepe, jacket potatoes, omelette etc in the middle of writing up some ‘rubber chicken’ suggestions too

sarahj1986

Busy Thursday I had a gestational diabetes test so by the time I got home it was late as we were at my sisters. Jacket spud cheese and beans 

Friday I did bolognaise in the slow cooker. As it was 500g of mince I added celery, carrots and onions to bulk it out more. Once it was cooked I took half of it out. Added in a cup of water and dry pasta. It takes about 20 minutes for the pasta to cook through but works great. 

Islandmaid

Written them a meal plan and shopping list - 🤞it’ll help - wish they’d teach proper home economics in schools 🤷‍♀️ lots of mince, chicken and pasta meals

popped into Lid! earlier bit of an eventful drive, some poor persons car was on fire, local news says no one hurt, so that’s good at least. 

Bought some massive prawns, will quickly fry in garlic oil and OH will have some fresh bread with his - wine will be taken 🥂

TracyS66

we are having pasta a sauce with garlic bread as i can't be bothered to cook!
Tomorrow we are having a homemade chicken and gammon pie all from the freezer with new potatoes from my garden, the kids and grandaughter are here so its like feeding an army!

Florenceem

I have half a tiger baguette left from lunch so will have that buttered with chicken wings and salad.

Brie

@Islandmaid
my go to at uni was pasta topped with a chopped onion, chopped courgette and a squeeze of tomato paste from a tube.  I'd never seen tomato paste in a tube in Canada - always was in tins and had way too much so the tube was great for a single person and lasted ages.  Even pasta with a bit of garlic softened in olive oil is a perfectly acceptable dish in Italy.

tell them too that lots of foodbanks are getting absolutely tons of fresh veg from local allotments so they should go and ask for some.  Our FB has so much that the volunteers end up taking it home - and face it we can all afford to buy this stuff but also don't want this stuff so lovingly grown to go to waste.  The number of marrows and large squashes is astounding!!!  They can check the local FB website to see if they need a voucher at all - some places suggest you can get one from your GP surgery, Citizens Advice, school etc.  Also our FB has a supply of past the best before date stuff that they won't give out but is available for anyone who wants to take it.  Likewise things like peanut butter that they won't give out due to nut allergies.  But all this is available in the front of the FB so people can help themselves.  

Brie

It's official - rack of lamb, new potatoes.  Might be a bit of rocket salad or peas too.  Lemon roulade (Lidl!) for afters.  And early anniversary dinner (real date being 15/8)

Islandmaid

@Brie firstly congratulations 🥳 secondly thank you for your suggestions, they wouldn’t be eligible for FB, but have suggested local faceache groups and olio etc they have just moved and their much needed car unexpectedly went Futtt… so needed sorting quickly, they are stretched financially due to move, but earn a good income just didn’t want to put it on credit 

greenbee

Islandmaid said:

@Brie firstly congratulations 🥳 secondly thank you for your suggestions, they wouldn’t be eligible for FB, but have suggested local faceache groups and olio etc they have just moved and their much needed car unexpectedly went Futtt… so needed sorting quickly, they are stretched financially due to move, but earn a good income just didn’t want to put it on credit 

If you have a local community fridge or similar they may be able to 'pay as they feel' (or can afford) and help avoid food waste. We have one here, and where I used to live, and they have plenty of fresh F&V. But I also agree that being taught proper home economics, learning how to budget etc (and having a clear idea of how much it costs to move ...) would be useful. Although I'd probably have ignored it at school just like I did maths - which I now realise is useful!