Meal ideas under £1

LondonDreamer

MrsE wrote: »

The 10 minute carrot cake isn't the same as the one on the web site.

I stand in awe of your cake making if yours are like that:D
The 10 minute one is just throw everything in a mix & tip into a loaf tin (I buy those preliners so really easy & they prob work out cheaper than greaseproof paper, I get quite a few in a pack for under £2).
The topping is cream cheese, vanilla & icing sugar.

The topping is ok, I think chopped hazelnuts sprinkled on top would look nicer, but the cake is AMAZING for something so simple:D

I do love baking cakes, everyone I know says I should give up my day job and open a bakery.

But a throw everything in recipe is always appreciated! Sometimes I don't have any more time than that but want to get something out. That's usually when I use my go to chocolate cake from "Destitute Gourmet", it's super easy. Even my husband can make it. :rotfl:

MrsE_2

LondonDreamer wrote: »

I do love baking cakes, everyone I know says I should give up my day job and open a bakery.

But a throw everything in recipe is always appreciated! Sometimes I don't have any more time than that but want to get something out. That's usually when I use my go to chocolate cake from "Destitute Gourmet", it's super easy. Even my husband can make it. :rotfl:

If you PM me your email address I will send you the recipe (I will scan it).

Jane2112

MrsE,
Thanks for the link, but I got distracted away from recipies to the good to know sex tips section.....................:j
Now I will never have time to make carrot cake.:rotfl:

MrsE_2

Jane2112 wrote: »

MrsE,
Thanks for the link, but I got distracted away from recipies to the good to know sex tips section.....................:j
Now I will never have time to make carrot cake.:rotfl:

The carrot cake is good.

But its not that good;)

zippychick

Thanks MrsE

I'll add this to an existing thread later on - Meal ideas under £1

thanks
Zip

she_grinch

some great ideas here, I especially appreciate the veggie ones as I am the sole veggie in our household, so after making the family (meat stuffed) meal I feel the need sometimes for something quick to make for myself.

katieclampet

Some fab ideas here, especially for veggies!

katiex

DaisyMoo

Not so much an experienced MSE'r, still got my training wheels on :rotfl: I put this on another board yesterday, but thought someone here might like to try it x

This is something I cook regularly & it goes down a treat! We usually get 4 portions out of these measurements - 2 x Adult main meal & 2 x leftovers for lunch next day so I guess you could halve the ingredients again - even cheaper

Bacon Risotto - 97p (approx) obviously depending on where you shop!!

Arborio Rice - 300g = 28p
Streaky Bacon x 6 = 49p
1 Meduim Onion = 10p ? (not quite sure exact price, but taking an average from previous posts!)
100g Frozen peas = 8p
1 ltr Chicken or Vegetable stock (2 x stock cubes) = 2p
Pinch of Salt & Pepper - ? Personal Choice
Knob of butter - ? Wouldn't know how to calculate this!!

1. Finely chop the onion. Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil and a knob of butter in a pan, add the onions and fry until lightly browned (about 7 minutes). Add the chopped bacon and fry for a further 5 minutes, until it starts to crisp.
2. Add the rice and stock, and bring to the boil. Stir well, then reduce the heat and cook, covered, for 15-20 minutes until the rice is almost tender.
3. Stir in the peas, add a little salt and pepper and cook for a further 3 minutes, until the peas are cooked. Serve sprinkled with freshly grated parmesan and freshly ground black pepper.

I prefer to use smoked streaky bacon as it give the dish a lovely flavour, but this will cost extra pennies or you could ues leftovers. I did not calculate the parmesan as I never put it in (I don't like it!) but I left it in the recipe for the adventurous amongst you!!
Also, if you are feeling flush, you could throw in a handful of mushrooms and or frozen sweetcorn for the last 3 mins of cooking.

Bon Apetit :j

GreenNinja

super41 wrote: »

Tuna savoury pancakes

Make up batch of pancakes using a couple of eggs. Roll them up with tuna and place in an oven-proof dish. Make a white sauce, season and pour over. Grate cheese over and bake in a hot oven till cheese has melted.

We had this tonight and the kids love it.

Not sure on exact costings but I would think the whole lot would come in at under £2 for a family of four.

This sounds really delicious! cheap and easy as well, brilliant! :T

skintstudentbabe

skintstudentbabe wrote: »

cheapest lunch idea i cud come up with:
sainsbugs basics golden veg rice (24p)
basics full flavor cheese grated (approx 2oz price wil vary)
1 pkt cheese and onion crisps crushed (walkers r 46p a pack but ownlabel 17p)
cook rice in microwave for 16 mins on full power
wen cooked tip onto plate and top with the crushed crisps and grated cheese.....stil comes in at under £1

have since managed to expand my cooking skills.....
Rice and beans
100g brown rice (12p....sainsbugs brown rice was 1.24 a kg)
1 tin basics kidney beans drained and rinsed (19p i think)
1 onion chopped (9p!)
2 sticks of celery chopped (15p)
1.5tblsp oil
250ml veg stock (whole tub of oxo granules was on offer at 2 for £2)
1 fat garlic clove crushed
paprika or chilli sauce (optional)

fry off the onions celery and garlic in the oil for 5 mins. chuck in the rice and kidney beans, stir then pour in the stock. add a sprinkling of paprika or few drops of chilli sauce, stir once and bring to the boil. turn heat to lowest setting and simmer WITHOUT stirring for 40 mins. when cooked take off the heat and leave for 5 mins. fluff with a fork and serve. season with salt and pepper to taste.

Caz's cooked breakfast/brunch
2 frozen sausages (12p £1.30 pack of frozen ones Aldi)
2 rashers bacon (bout 30-50p dep on where u get the bacon from!)
cold boiled potatoes chopped (hard to cost this out)
2 pieces of bread (bout 30p ish dep on wat bread u buy...i get mine from co-op asda aldi or tesco and price varies from 47p to 75p a loaf!)
Add a tsp oil to a nonstick pan and fry the chopped potatoes til startin to brown and crisp, add the sausages and fry til browned, add the bacon towards end of cooking time and cook to preferred done-ness (i like my bacon browned round the edge) the bacon and sausages will release their own fat into the pan and help crisp off the potatoes. toast the bread and serve!

End of month pasta dish!
couple handfuls pasta (£1.10 a kg from aldi)
carton of basics chopped tomatoes (35p)
onion chopped
garlic crushed
any leftover veg u may hav
tinned tuna, kidney beans etc (all optional
Heat tblsp oil in pan, add chopped onion and fry for 5 mins, stir in garlic and chopped toms and simmer until reduced. divide into 3-4 portions, cool, pour into freezer bags and freeze! this is your basic pasta sauce! take frozen portion of sauce and heat through in small saucepan. add in any leftover veggies and pulses eg peas, sweetcorn, broccoli, cauliflower etc. simmer through gently while your pasta is boiling. (if usin cooked or frozen veg add towards the end of the cooking time). now u can add watever needs usin up from cupboard such as tinned tuna, tinned cubed ham etc. or u can leave it as it is!! season generously and serve over freshly boiled pasta! grate over some cheese if u like.

the rice and beans and the pasta sauce recipe are adapted from recipes i found in a student cook book. however the cooked breakfast/brunch recipe is one i made up myself!! all these should come in at £1 or less per portion. the rice recipe makes 2 servings but as im greedy i ate the whole lot in one go!!! the pasta sauce lends itself well to any leftovers u may have floating around (including those tiny bits of frozen veg left at the bottom of the bag!) if using tinned pulses add to sauce 5-10 mins b4 end of cooking time to ensure they are heated through.

hope these help!