Learning to be frugal in the kitchen

[Deleted User]

Aldis were doing a 750gm gammon joint for £2.39 last week ,in the slow cooker with a dash of cola over it cooked for around 6ours on low then left to get cold will give you far more sliced ham than a packet of the plastic stuff and it tases nicer as well a sharp knife will streeetch it for either sandwiches or diced up in pasta any left over bits I bought one and cooked it and portioned it up for me and got around 4-5 portions plus the left over bits were thrown into an omelette for myself for lunch one day. I too menu plan and have done for well over 50 plus years even though there is only me to cook for I can still make things streetch out a bit .I agree if you buy the snacky things they will be eaten A box of 'melting moments ' biscuits cost pennies to make and can be done in half an hour .Once you start to make your own cookies and biscuits you will be surprised how easy and cheap they are to make also flapjacks etc, I make these for my DGS who are all strapping lads with hollow legs and my DD thinks like me that crisps are just over priced snack with no filler-up value at all. an awful lot of these snacky type things are really not only not very healthy they really don't fill kids up .Fruit is great and far better for them healthwise as you no doubt know .Carrot sticks wrapped in foil in a lunch box with a small pot of grated cheese my youngest DGS loved when he was at his primary school, he still likes it now and he is coming up to 14. I have looked after him and his three brothers and sister before and after school for the past 10 years whilst both of their parents worked full time, so I know a bit about packed lunches :0 In fact the lads all preferred packed lunches to school dinners as they said the school dinners weren't worth the money as they were always hungry afterwards. You don't have to be a delia in the kitchen ordinary rock cake with sultanas or fairy cakes with a dab of icing on top are easy enough to make and I don't know a child whho doesn't like a HM cake in their packed lunch box

JackieO xx

Hopeless_Case

I totally agree with getting others to help where they can and take responsibility for their own lunches, and also getting ahead on the cooking when you are able to by doubling up quantities. It's so great when you are exhausted and have something which you've already made which just needs heating

I often have leftovers for lunch too, I'm not that keen on sandwiches so a tub of leftovers is actually a treat for me

I think the frozen tinned veg idea is really good too

Molillie

You don't say how you shop, but ordering online often comes with a big discount for the first shop. It can be good if you aren't very well, and also means you can tinker with your order until it's within budget.

It does mean you miss the big reductions, but could be a help until you learn a few meal plans. e.g. yesterday I got a big bag of potatoes for 40p. I'll split them into size categories, and bake the big ones, freezing some of them once cooked. The little ones can be used boiled as an accompaniment to salads, etc. This is fine as I knew I'll use them, but if you aren't sure of what to do with bargains, just remove that stress for now.
Put the children on to Pinterest and Youtube to look at recipes and eating patterns, e.g. recipes aimed at healthy eating for students will probably have some options they would like. Encourage them to cook if they'd like to have a go.

pipkin71

MartagonLilies wrote: »

Hello:).
I'm hoping to learn a few tips from being in this forum. Our budgeting and money is a bit all over the place. We have debts to pay off, and are hoping to save for a deposit.

We are a family of 5, with my husband working, and me a SAHM. Our children are 16yrs, 9yrs and 5yrs. DC2 has ASD, and will only eat certain food. My other two eat pretty much everything, although the younger one isn't keen on meat and the older one isn't a veg eater, usually they will both eat most of it. They are both wanting snacks all day.
I'm not 100% well, and so sometimes struggle to cook from scratch, as I'm exhausted some days. If like to rectify this though, as Is like DH to come home to a nice dinner more often. I'm also trying to lose weight.

I wonder, even as I write this, if it's possible to achieve what I want, taking all the above into consideration?!
Thankyou , if you've stayed and read this essay! Any suggestions or tips would be greatly appreciated. I'd really like to get a grip on it all.

Welcome to the forum

I have found that batch cooking really helps us, as when I am too ill to cook and the others are busy, we can pull a home cooked meal from the freezer and I can save my limited energy on those days, for other things

pipkin71

These are definitely worth baking, for when the children want some biscuits:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=5392435&postcount=1

I have some in the oven at the minute and my girls love them

MartagonLilies

I haven't been able to get on here for a couple of days - thank you for all the lovely replies!
Lots of advice, thank you!!

MartagonLilies

:)Does anyone mind sharing any good recipes please? Or maybe some cookbook suggestions?

maman

MartagonLilies wrote: »

:)Does anyone mind sharing any good recipes please? Or maybe some cookbook suggestions?

I think most cookery books these days are bought for browsing or to back up television programmes. You can find a recipe for just about anything online.


You posted earlier that you've avoided batch cooking as you're unsure about defrosting etc. I'd suggest you start with Bolognese sauce. This is perfect for hiding veg.;) I freeze the sauce on its own in portions then it can be used with pasta or jacket potatoes or making up a lasagne or a light version of cottage pie. I freeze it in microwaveable containers so it can be defrosted easily while the pasta is cooking. If you're unsure you can always soften it in the microwave and finish it off on the hob.


Perhaps if you told us what sort of meals you and your family enjoy, ideally ones you can all share then it would be easier to make suggestions.:)

Pollycat

maman wrote: »

I think most cookery books these days are bought for browsing or to back up television programmes. You can find a recipe for just about anything online.


You posted earlier that you've avoided batch cooking as you're unsure about defrosting etc. I'd suggest you start with Bolognese sauce. This is perfect for hiding veg.;) I freeze the sauce on its own in portions then it can be used with pasta or jacket potatoes or making up a lasagne or a light version of cottage pie. I freeze it in microwaveable containers so it can be defrosted easily while the pasta is cooking. If you're unsure you can always soften it in the microwave and finish it off on the hob.


Perhaps if you told us what sort of meals you and your family enjoy, ideally ones you can all share then it would be easier to make suggestions.:)

And turned into a chilli with a tin of red kidney beans and a bit of chilli powder.

Tink_04

Anything mince based is great to start with for batch cooking - I make a huge spag Bol and portion it up to freeze - same with chilli - shep pie etc just take them out the night before - let it defrost in the fridge and make sure it's piping hot when you serve it.

Pots of rice pudding are expensive I buy a cheap tin and split it in to pots in the fridge and put a spider of jam in it - 20p tin of rice pudding or custard goes much further than the pots!
I also make Jelly in small pots and pot fruit in (tonne oranges / frozen raspberries) these are great snacks. Cucumber/ tomatoe/ ham and cheese on a plate does down well with mine -buy breadsticks and soft cheese if they like a dip. These are so much cheaper. Just try replacing one thing at a time. I found with kids presentation is everything lol if it looks pretty they will eat it!

Keep posting - if you have health issues we have a great thread on the OS board - OS ways and poor health - lots of advice and support on there too.

Tink