Trying to start over

Fire_Fox

BubblesandPop wrote: »

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The vegetarian foods are for one of our children, though I tend to cook it for all of them sometimes.
We don't usually take a list when we go shopping, we just go and buy what we see.

I know we can't do that anymore, and I'm finding it quite stressful with the little budget we have. I don't know how we'll be able to do it.

(((Hugs))) If the lovely Old Style regulars say you can do it, you can.

The expensive part of a meal is generally animal protein (meat/ fish/ cheese/ eggs) OR processed alternatives. You have plenty of that!

You are doing GREAT at helping yourself by doing the inventory, for example, and taking ideas on board.

Keep breathing and keep posting! :A

suki1964

BubblesandPop wrote: »

Brambling - Thank you, I feel like I have too:) Most of the ideas were from you guys though.

Suki - Thank you for the lasagne recipe - I'll be prepping that tomorrow morning for us all.

Fire Fox - Lots of information there, thank you.
The vegetarian foods are for one of our children, though I tend to cook it for all of them sometimes.
We don't usually take a list when we go shopping, we just go and buy what we see.

I know we can't do that anymore, and I'm finding it quite stressful with the little budget we have. I don't know how we'll be able to do it.

Stop stressing

Seriously I mean stop stressing, you have loads of food in the freezer and Im sure you have enough skills to get you through this month. and learn how to move forward and if you have a blip, we ( all the wonderful posters on this forum) will help with ideas and support

As I said earlier, we aren't born with cooking skills, we learn, usually by our mistakes


If I were you with so many dietary restrictions, I would always go to the lowest denominator - the vegetarian, with a child who. hates veggies. Which means hiding them, or serving a side dish of veg to those that eat them

Looking at the kids favourites, there are a few cross overs, they all seem to like noodles, which is pasta, they all seem to like a pasta bake ( not sure which type cos I can easily fo a broccoli and cauliflower or a tuna)

So look at the lowest common denominator you all as a family eat and start their. As posted above, a sausage casserole is so easy, make the sauce and split it between the veggie ones and the meat ones. Make the bolognese , mince and patties and spaghetti Bol with the quart but throw in a handful of red lentils to make it stretch it out

Tinned fish is also another great cash saver. Its really good for you and buying it somewhere like B&M or the pound shops makes it so much cheaper. Mash a tin with cold left over mash, some tarter sauce ( or mayo, a bit of lemon if you have it, a few chopped capers or gherkins ) make into patties, coat in egg and breadcrumbs ( use dried crust of a loaf, either process or grate, doesnt need to look pretty ) and shallow fry, serve with say salad and boiled spuds or chips

Seriously, at the end of the day, cooking from scratch is not only healthier for you and your wallet, it will if you allow them. get the kids involved, You don't need high tech recipes , you just need recipes that the kids agree to try, and those that they will help with

Working_Mum

Hey Bubblesandpop I hope you have found you can do this!!!

I have a magnetic shopping list notepad stuck on my fridge - which I add to as I spot something we are getting low on our something I know I need to buy. If you have your shopping list somewhere close by as you run out of items it helps when you next shop.

How are your spices and herbs stacking up?? These are very good value in L!dl/ Ald! etc and can transform dishes - I found my spices and herbs stash grew as I tried new dishes.

I triage my fridge and freezer once a month or so - this helps keep me focussed on using up stuff I already have and don't end up duplicate buying and I reduce waste.

I also "challenge google" when I have a few random things which I cannot raise any enthusiasm for - it is amazing what recipes I have found and I have eaten some lovely stuff too!

I have two children who cook for themselves more than not nowadays - I always ask them what they want for the coming week as this helps them understand the importance of planning etc and not wasting food.

I have also started to make some stables with a vegan vibe - I have found great recipes for shepherd's pie, chilli etc and as I batch cook these I can freeze them for when I need them. My children love the vegan shepherds pie but are less enamoured with the chilli!! It's all about having a go!

Good luck with your adventure

AlextheFly

I had a rummage through your list and came up with a couple of ideas:

1) Tagine. (You need a few spices for this so it depends what you've already got as to whether this'll work for you.)
Fry onions and garlic, add tinned toms, sweet potatoes, peppers and stock, plus 2tsp paprika, 2tsp turmeric, 1tsp cumin, 2tsp cinnamon, salt to taste. Simmer for 20 mins. Add haricot beans for pescatarian, blend for the veggiphobe, and put it with the lamb chops for any meat eaters. Serve with quinoa + dried apricots on the side.

2) Lemon pepper chicken wings/halloumi.
Mix flour, lemon zest, black pepper, finely chopped garlic and a little salt in a plastic food bag (or tupperware box). Add halloumi in chunks and shake it about until coated. Then remove and do the same with the wings. Fry and serve with salad or chips.

3) Baked mushrooms with stilton and nuts:
I'm not allowed to post links, but just Google "Nigel Slater stilton mushrooms walnuts". It's fabulous and super-easy. You can use whatever nuts you have in place of walnuts (pecans would be good). If your mushrooms are small, just cube them and cook it as a jumble rather than whole. Serve with bread and butter or salad.

monnagran

B&P, I've just wandered through this thread and realised that your real problem seems to be a lack of confidence in your own cooking ability.

I suggest that you look out for some cheap student cook books. You can sometimes pick them up for pennies in Charity shops. They are pretty basic. When you have a little more money to spare, please invest in Delia Smith's How to Cook books. Honestly, she starts with how to boil an egg and works up from there. She is the one cook whose recipes seldom fail.

Above all, don't be afraid to try something. There will be failures, (I'll never forget my early attempts at sponge cakes that emerged like biscuits) but smile bravely and turn them into something else - soup and trifle hid quite a lot of my early disasters.

Have fun.

LittleAnn

A good student cookbook.
Cooking for blokes
Delia Smith basics

janb5

BubblesandPop wrote: »

janb5 - the list of favourites from the kids, as promised!

Child 1:
Lasagne
Chicken and pepperoni spaghetti
Pasta bake
Gammon, egg and chips
Swedish meatballs with mash

Child 2:
Noodles
Macaroni cheese
Pizza
Hot dogs
Fish and chips

Child 3:
Spaghetti
Noodles
Pizza
Pasta bake
Jacket potatoes

Hi B & P just popping in to say hello. You`ve really got into this after only a short time. And the family are helping which makes all the difference.

I`d suggest saving any plastic tubs to freeze left overs for a snack/another meal. I try to use a freezer pen otherwise I forget what I have. Once this is established, challenge the kids to make a meal one night together or whoever cooks doesn`t wash up?

It doesn`t have to be tricky-even baked potatoes and fillings for example.

Would that work?

BubblesandPop

Hey - I've just got back online.
We have a rolling contract and so decided that we could do without it for a while.
Back on now, so will go back through the thread to see if I missed anything.

PipneyJane

BubblesandPop wrote: »

Hey - I've just got back online.
We have a rolling contract and so decided that we could do without it for a while.
Back on now, so will go back through the thread to see if I missed anything.

Hi BubblesandPop. How about joining us on the monthly Grocery Challenge Thread? (The challenge is to stick to whatever budget you set yourself.) In the first few posts, there are lots of links to recipes and budgetting ideas. You're welcome to lurk or to ask questions if there's anything we can help with.

Each month's Grocery Challenge gets stuck to the top of the Old Style Board.

- Pip