I'm Quite Proud Of Myself!

bank_of_slate

Try getting yourself a large slow cooker!
You can cook amazing one pot meals full of goodness using cheaper cuts of meat and have leftovers to take to work for a hot lunch rather than a cold soggy sandwich!
Freeze portions of chilli and curry for when you get that take out craving and always keep some rice in to go with it.
I set my slow cooker up to start cooking in the morning, then, when I walk in from work it's all done and smells amazing!
...Linda xx

iamstacie

I bought myself a huge 5l one when it was on offer just before xmas, its brilliant Nearly used up all the sausages in the forgotten freezer drawer in lovely casseroles over the winter. Onto the meat with no label next.

Plan now is to try to get back into a 'normal' sleep pattern because you dont get much done sleeping all day (I was working last night and havent slept yet) then sort out the cupboards and do a meal plan based on whats in and whats arriving on Monday then make up some huge vats of bolognese/chilli/curry.

Can you freeze rice? It'd be useful to grab a bag of frozen rice & chilli rather than just batch cooking chilli and having to cook rice on the day.

Queenie

iamstacie wrote:

Can you freeze rice? It'd be useful to grab a bag of frozen rice & chilli rather than just batch cooking chilli and having to cook rice on the day.

Yes, you can freeze rice, but you need to cool it quickly (rinse it under the cold water tap) and reheat it *very* thoroughly because it does contain a bacteria which could make you ill if you don't do those two simple things

Very, very well done on your shopping :T :T :T

For hot meals on the days I am out of the house and to stop me from buying in the canteen, I bought one of these from Wilko's:- http://www.wilkinsonplus.com/invt/0248967
The lads have one each for their packed lunches and it's great because I can use up left over bolognaise, chilli and rice, chunky soups, dahls etc. The lads have even put hot dog sausages in theirs (with onions!) and taken the rolls seperately wrapped and made up their own "hotdogs" on the school playing field. (Actually, they could have sold them to their envious peers and made some extra pocket money :rotfl:

For some meals, if I'm out of the house for longer, I use the metal version of the Stanley food flasks which can't be microwaved but does keep the food hotter for longer.

Mappygirl

Well done you! It's such a buzz to save money!:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Have you got a bread maker? Some homemade stew with some freshly baked bread is always nice, sure it'll be more tempting than a takeaway?!?!

Good luck for next week:D

iamstacie

Mappygirl wrote: »

Well done you! It's such a buzz to save money!:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Have you got a bread maker? Some homemade stew with some freshly baked bread is always nice, sure it'll be more tempting than a takeaway?!?!

Good luck for next week:D

I have a breadmaker, there are very few kitchen-y things I dont have, whether I use them or not is a different matter! Stew & bread sounds great right now, I've spent so long looking at recipes & ways to eat well on a budget that I've not eaten yet.:o

Mappygirl

My new years resolution was to be more money saving and OS so that's just what i've been doing to!!!! I used my sc yesterday for the first time and with some good advice from here made a soup with some carrots and parsnips that otherwise would have ended up in the bin. It actually tasted quite nice, even DH said so!

lucielle

Hi
Very impressed with your shopping bill. I am going to hit Lidl on Monday. Just as an after thought what about using pitta breads, as you can stuff them full of all sorts of yummy things and they are slightly different from a sandwich.

iamstacie

Another good idea Thanks. Tescos do they're value ones for about 30p for 6 I think, so a few days sandwiches for less than a loaf of bread. I like pittas just stuff with salad too, or topped with tom puree, tuna and cheese for a sneaky pizza. I could take the stuff into work and warm it up in the microwave...hmm, all being added to the list! I'm sure soon I'll have enough ideas to last me into summer!

Mappygirl, I didn't know you could make soups in a slow cooker?? I made a soup a few month back using leftover chicken bones & the cooking juices from a roast, it was gorgeous, but because I had to boil it I didnt bother with a SC. I've ordered some parsnips to make a soup with because I love spicy parsnip soup - is there anything different I have to do if I make it in a SC rather than a big stock pot??

Mappygirl

I can't take the credit for this recipie, had some help from here for my first time using sc!

Just chop up whatever veg you have put in sc add some stock and that's about it really! I left mine on medium for 7 hours then when it had cooled a bit put it in liquidiser and it was lovely! You can freeze it to, then you can make loads!

Just trying out a leek and potato soup and got the bread maker on - guess what I'm having for lunch tom!

Queenie

Mappygirl wrote: »

My new years resolution was to be more money saving and OS so that's just what i've been doing to!!!! I used my sc yesterday for the first time and with some good advice from here made a soup with some carrots and parsnips that otherwise would have ended up in the bin. It actually tasted quite nice, even DH said so!

Yay!! Well done you!!! :T :T :T

Isn't it great when you a) learn something new but b) it gets the royal seal of approval from loved ones!

Freezing extra portions of food cooked in the slow cooker really is the way to go! You can defrost it and reheat it (in the microwave ) quicker than it takes to order in/go and get a takeaway! Saves a small fortune :beer: