Relatively Cheap (and Easy) Meal Ideas and Recipes

thriftytracey

I thought it might be useful to start a thread for this.  For two people.  They don't qualify as 30p meals (!!!!!!?) or even Jack Monroe recipes - I guess an in between, now that meat is so expensive.

My input:-

Spam fritters, mash and veg (use Yorkshire Pudding batter - Delia - and layer it on.  With tomato sauce accompaniment we find them really tasty.

Cheese and ham pancakes (use pancake batter - Delia) and Lidl Gouda cheese slices and Dulano Roast Ham, two pancakes per person.  Microwave pancakes 2 minutes once cooked and assembled.

Tuna Pasta Bake - two small tins tuna, small tin of sweetcorn, some frozen peas, roux cheese sauce and pasta.  For deluxe version blitz some breadcrumbs mixed with grated parmesan.

Reduced Pizza and add mozzarella, olives and bits of ham, served with salad.

Reduced Fishcakes with salad/ or mash and baked beans.

Omelette (cheese and tomato or mushroom and cheese) and chips, with peas - using air fryer for chips.

Easy cottage/shepherds Pie recipe (I add a teaspoon of marmite for extra Unami) and add grated cheese on top, brown in worktop Halogen cooker.  Again, using reduced mince from freezer.

https://www.waitrose.com/content/waitrose/en/home/recipes/recipe_directory/e/essential_cottage_pie.html

I will batch cook a couple of pies, use slow cooker for cheaper cuts of beef, one Lidl shortcrust pastry will do 2 or 3 pies (top only) in smaller casserole dish for two people.  Chicken onions, carrots and leek/mushrooms in roux sauce.

I buy reduced items from Tesco which will be the basis of a meal, although I won't buy items that are reduced by 50p, they have to be half price or near on.  So this week I snaffled a large pork pie and some Wagyu burgers that were half price, and two blocks of mozzarella reduced to 70p each, useful for pizzas.

I will have the pork pie with salad, some rolls and cheese and a few prawns (reduced)

Had the Wagyu burgers last night with mash and veg - one each was sufficient as they are very thick.  They were delicious.

I don't buy reduced ready meals as they are Ultra Processed Foods.  I know Pizza is but it is an occasional treat.  

Hope this is helpful and look forward to more suggestions!  Particularly baked potatoes other than cheese/beans!

thriftytracey

I thought this thread would be better here rather than other money saving threads as it mentions where to buy ingredients.  Also, I guess more people look at this thread than other threads on MSE.

2childmum2

There are a number of cheap meal threads on the old style money saving board

Katiehound

Additions to mince? 
  tin tomatoes, tomato puree
dash of balsamic vinegar or Worcestershire sauce
tablespoonfuls of marmalade

reduced pork mince- made burgers with apple & chopped mint

Filled pancakes- as above- with cheese sauce, baked with extra grated cheese on top

sarah1972

2childmum2 said:

There are a number of cheap meal threads on the old style money saving board

Yep, pmd the team to move to OS board

thriftytracey

sarah1972 said:

2childmum2 said:

There are a number of cheap meal threads on the old style money saving board

Yep, pmd the team to move to OS board. 

Yes but I asked that this can stay.  Lots of people don't look at the OS board!  I don't for one.

dealyboy

What is the OS board? where is it?

weenancyinAmerica

I like my baked potatoes with broccoli and cheese on top or crumbled bacon and cheese. But I much prefer them just with butter and chives and a little sour cream on top. Cottage cheese on top is okay. Coleslaw is good too. During World War II, a study was done and it was said that three baked potatoes a day with a little butter would provide all of the vitamins and protein needed for a diet. Don't know if current studies support this, but our local Department of Agriculture used to put out a diet and it was based on potatoes for each meal with extra greens. Potatoes and 1 egg for breakfast; potato soup and toast for lunch, and baked potato with toppings for dinner and cooked greens on the side. 

dealyboy

@thriftytracey said:

sarah1972 said:

2childmum2 said:

There are a number of cheap meal threads on the old style money saving board

Yep, pmd the team to move to OS board. 

Yes but I asked that this can stay.  Lots of people don't look at the OS board!  I don't for one.

... well I've found it ... wow! it's like a parallel universe, old style, there are even threads that pre-date @HertsLad.  

sarah1972

thriftytracey said:

sarah1972 said:

2childmum2 said:

There are a number of cheap meal threads on the old style money saving board

Yep, pmd the team to move to OS board. 

Yes but I asked that this can stay.  Lots of people don't look at the OS board!  I don't for one.

It was moved as recipe & meal ideas are better suited and more relevant on this board. 

thriftytracey

Bumping this up in the hope of getting some meal ideas!