Packets and tins - fallback meal

Stephen_Leak

This one is really basic ...

ITALIAN TOMATO SAUCE

Enough for pasta for 2

INGREDIENTS

2 cloves of garlic
2 onions
2 tablespoons of olive oil
400g tin of plum tomatoes*
2 teaspoons of basil, oregano or mixed herbs
Salt and ground pepper to taste

METHOD

Peel the garlic and chop it into tiny pieces. Peel the onions and chop them into tiny pieces. Put the oil into the frying pan on a moderate heat. Add the garlic and onion. Fry the garlic and onion for about 2 minutes. Stir them every half a minute or so.

Open the tin of tomatoes. Pour the juice into the frying pan. Chop the tomatoes while they are still in the can (it’s easier than chasing them around the pan). Pour the chopped tomatoes into the pan. Continue to cook, stirring as the mixture boils. Add the herbs. Season with the salt and pepper. Cook for another 5 minutes or until the sauce has reduced.

ADDITIONS & ALTERNATIVES

Add 500g of minced beef and an OXO cube and you've got Bolognese Sauce. Omit the garlic and herbs and add 2 teaspoons of chilli powder and a tin of red kidney beans to this and you've got Chilli Con Carne.

* Plum tomatoes can be used either whole or chopped. It is difficult to stick chopped tomatoes back together again if you need to use them whole.

Lurkio

hmmmmmmm

may have to ban pasta/rice from this in order for you to REALLY get your thinking caps on.....

Stephen_Leak

Lurkio wrote: »

hmmmmmmm

may have to ban pasta/rice from this in order for you to REALLY get your thinking caps on.....

OK, so you want to play culinary hardball ...

SPANISH OMELETTE

Serves 2

INGREDIENTS

½ an onion
2 eggs
Ground pepper to taste
1 potato
100ml of water
1 tablespoon of olive oil

METHOD

Peel the onion and chop it into tiny pieces. Break the eggs into a bowl and pick out any bits of shell. Mix up the eggs. Season with the pepper.

Peel the potato and chop it into 1cm (½ inch) cubes. Boil in a saucepan with the water for about 5 minutes, checking that they do not fall apart. Drain the potato.

Put the oil in a frying pan on a moderate heat. Add the onion and potato. Fry the onion and potato, stirring to stop them sticking. When they are golden add the eggs.

Turn the heat down really low. Cover the pan. Leave it for at least 10 minutes*. Uncover the pan. Put it under a grill for a couple of minutes until the top is brown.

ADDITIONS & ALTERNATIVES

An authentic Spanish omelette uses just onion and potato. However, omelettes are a good way of using up leftovers. Bacon, cheese, cooked ham, mushrooms, peas, sweet peppers and tomatoes all work well.

* The low heat stops the egg sticking and the slow cooking makes the egg fluff up.

ashlea170706

thanks jules never thought of putting cucumber in it sounds lovely!

zzzLazyDaisy

Quick 'quiche' (adapted from slimming world, very yummy)

Packet savoury rice
sm tub cottage cheese
3 eggs

anything else you have hanging around such as herbs, grated cheese, onions, peppers, peas, leftover chicken, chopped cooked bacon etc

Make up the savoury rice as directed, press into a flan tin and smooth down.

Give eggs and cott cheese a good whisk with a fork, throw everything else in, stir and pour over flan base. Cook at gas mark 4 for 45 mins (or until egg mix feels firm to the touch)

Serve with baked beans and frozen chips. This really is easy and tasty.

(note I don't use mushrooms as they prevent the egg from setting)

Skint_Catt

can of tuna mixed with canned soup topped with mashed canned potatoes Bake. (add a packet of broken crisps for a crunchy topping)

Catt xx

Olliebeak

loving some of these recipes - thanks everybody.

Tibbie's_mum

Okay, no pasta, eh?

Right, I'm up for the challenge.

This is another one of the OH's favourites, Easy Kegeree. I always have a tin of mackerel in the cupboard, as the kiddiwinks like it. So I fry basmati rice in some tumeric, garam masala and cumin or whatever spices I have to hand, and then boil the rice as normal, I then add the flaked mackerel when the rice is cooked and add a couple of soft boiled eggs to garnish. Sometimes I add some frozen peas or a tin of sweetcorn, so at least we're getting a bit of veg. I actually prefer doing this with the peppered mackerel you get in the vacuum packs, I always have some in the freezer having bought them when they are heavily reduced in Sainsburys.

Tibbie's_mum

Lurkio wrote: »

hmmmmmmm

may have to ban pasta/rice from this in order for you to REALLY get your thinking caps on.....

Oh darn it, I didn't read your post correctly. I don't think I can come up with something that doesn't involve pasta OR rice!!

I really will have to get my thinking cap on.

Olliebeak

How about a tin of mixed veg drained and mixed with a tin of minced beef and onion in gravy. Add some fresh herbs, if you have them for extra flavour and a small splodge of brown sauce. Top with mash (made with powdered mash) with the addition of a knob of butter. Into the oven for around 30 mins to brown. Instant cottage pie!