Learning to be frugal in the kitchen

MartagonLilies

I think you've got it suki. That's exactly how I feel. I get so stressed over it all, and I just can't keep up with the level of meals that I plan.
I'll check out the what s for dinner thread. I'll also post up my freezer contents, as mentioned upthread, and hopefully get some suggestions once they're mixed

Thanks so much to everyone for the support and offers of walking me through this all.

MartagonLilies

Ok, freezer contents, finally! The chicken breasts are the ones that were in the fridge.

Veg: Mixed veg (peas / carrots / sweetcorn / green beans. 3 different types of veg steam packs) diced onion, corn on the cobs, butternut squash cubes, root veg mash, Brussels sprouts, sliced peppers,
Fruit: fruit salad, pineapple cubes, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries
Meat &fish: sausages, bass fillets, raw prawns, chicken breasts,
Convenience food: steam packs of rice, bake at home yorkshires, stuffing balls, puff pastry, tikka masala sauce, salmon fishcakes, puff pastry, few fries / onion rings / mini potato waffles, wedges

[Deleted User]

Puff Pastry Cheese and Tomato pie

sheet of puff pastry rolled out to fit a baking tray
pack of soft cheese (light is OK)
some tomato puree from a tube
a couple of fresh tomatoes (if you can get away with them)
squeezy garlic/garlic granules
dried basil
some grated cheddar
sprinkling of sugar for the tomatoes if used
salt and pepper


on your rolled out pastry on the baking tray spread some tomato puree to within 1/2 inch of the edges. season it with salt and pepper and them sprinkle on some dried basil. Spread the tub of soft cheese over this and season again and sprinkle with more basil and garlic granules or squeezy garlic. Lay the sliced tomato if using evenly on top of the cheese and sprinkle with a tiny bit of sugar which helps the flavour. Finish with a good covering of grated cheddar cheese and season that. Pop into a 200degC oven/180 decC Fan until the pastry is risen and golden on the edges and the cheese on top has started to be golden. Somewhere between 30 and 45 minutes depending on your oven. It's nice hot or cold and keeps a couple of days in the fridge. Might some of you like this? it tasted a bit pizzaish so if they like pizza they might just try it?

MartagonLilies

That sounds lovely MrsLurcher. I think even I can manage that, thank you. If I were to get the pastry out the freezer, how long does it take to defrost? What is good to serve with it?

The What s for dinner thread is a real eye opener to me! You're right suki, so many simple yet tasty meals. I saw lots of baked pot / burgers / sausage and bean style dinners.

[Deleted User]

If it's in a rolled sheet about half an hour to 45 minutes if you take it out of the packaging if it's a block probable 2 or 3 hours but it will defrost overnight in the fridge and be ready to use tomorrow.

I normally just serve it with a nice mixed salad but that probably wouldn't do for your 'pickies', it's nice with chips or new potatoes and peas too.

Hope you like it if you try it, hope ALL of you like it xxx.

If you find something you think you'd be able to manage to make on the What's for Dinner thread we'll always post you the recipe and help you with any glitches. This is the second thread of that title, the older one was packed with good ideas but sadly got auto deleted and couldn't be reinstated.

bouicca21

Sausages and yorkshires = toad in the hole, serve with onions in a beef stock gravy and maybe root veg mash.

Salmon fish cakes with rice and peppers

Bass fillets with steamed rice and mixed veg

Keep it simple!

suki1964

MartagonLilies wrote: »

That sounds lovely MrsLurcher. I think even I can manage that, thank you. If I were to get the pastry out the freezer, how long does it take to defrost? What is good to serve with it?

The What s for dinner thread is a real eye opener to me! You're right suki, so many simple yet tasty meals. I saw lots of baked pot / burgers / sausage and bean style dinners.

Keep it simple , we all do until it's a recipe we know off by heart and know how to simplify it even more ( Jamie's pie is my example )

And all women are busy, with or without kids, with or without jobs, with or without illness.

One thing I learned was it didn't matter what was served up, as long as something was. The only time my DH turns his nose up is if I serve a fry in the evening. He's a meat and spud man and is much happier with a plate of sausages and mash

Tonight it's roast chicken, rosemary potatoes and ratatouille. Sounds pretty posh but it's a roast in the bag chicken, roast spuds cut just that bit smaller and sprinkled with salt and dried rosemary, and the ratatouille is aubergine, onion and courgette stacked in a dish with a base of passata flavoured with onion and garlic granules

And best of all, whilst it takes 90 mins to cook, it's all cooked in the oven and once the veg is prepped, I've sat on me bum till I get up to serve. After dinner there's just two oven dishes to wash, and it's not me doing them


You can do this. Maybe not this week but by Christmas you will be confident cooking at least 7 different meals. It really just does need to be baby steps. Get confident with the basics and then start to jazz them up and go off piste

Well done for getting this far and still coming back for more. It's not easy asking for help which is why this board is my favourite hang out. No one judges and everyone wants to help and encourage

maddiemay

I had stuff I needed to do this afternoon, but was thinking how I might reply, delighted to see that you have had so many helpful posts and great ideas while I have been away.

A few more things that you might try as time goes on, some of them incorporating things you have mentioned as being available and/or OK with some of the household.

Sea Bass, new pots and salad.
chicken thighs/breast, wedges and roast veg. If you have it a splash of Balsamic Vinegar added to the veg is sublime.
mushroom & salami/chorizo pasta, side salad/selection of steamed frozen veg.
Pizza & salad. Home made base or basics pizza, pimped with sliced tomato/mushroom/ham/choriza (choose 2 or 3), extra grated cheese, cheddar and or mozzarella, salad bits, wedges/garlic bread if extra carbs needed.
Meatballs and spaghetti.
HM tandoori chicken legs, rice & salad
Sausage, new pots and corn on the cob/extra/other frozen veg
Sausage, egg, chips
Fish fingers, salad leaves, sliced peppers, tomatoes in a wrap.

Remember, baby steps, if you can on most days put a tasty meal on the table or have the makings for your OH to do, that is the most you need to think about, forget the inspirational recipes for now, they can come later when you have mastered the basics, if you want to experiment.

Mummy2cheekymonkeys

I've been using ready rolled puff pastry for years and only found out recently that you can cook it on the paper it's rolled on lol. I like to make a Mediterranean veg slice with it. Unroll the sheet and cover with pesto, leaving a border round the edges. Cover with chopped onion, courgette and peppers. Scatter over some grated cheese and cook until golden. If you check out the jus-rol website they have loads of recipes on there. Also this website is really good https://www.lovefoodhatewaste.com