August 2012 Grocery Challenge

Update re. How our OHs sometime sabotage us in our OS efforts: I talked to DH with facts and figures, told him that for various reasons in the last few months we have spent double the amount we have saved. Explained that the money to cover this extra spend has come out of our "retirement pot" and that I would like to bring the savings back to their healthy state. Explained the GC and asked him whether he would like to try a NSW/end when the twins go to the festival (promised him lovely and naughty free activities LOL). He is on board!

NickJW I've added your Root Veg + Potato rostis to the recipe list (in post #7 for the moment) :beer:

KatyReed+5 wrote: »

Not sure what to do for dinner today, might have a root in the freezer to see what i've got. Know i have 2 packs of YS mince in there, any idea on some bulk cooking ideas i could make with that? Must be dairy free and not spicy.

KatyReed+5 - There are several bolognaise recipes on page 1 of the thread under main meals in Rosieben's list and at least four or five other mince recipes under "m" in post 4.

Here's my own suggestion. I used to cook teas for mixed hockey matches (that I was playing in - so they had to be things we could leave) and a favourite was a variation on Pasticcio - others call this pasta bake or bitsa lasagne (because it's made with bits of pasta and not sheets).

I used to make it for under £10 for 24 plus subs (2 teams of 11 and umpires). You basically make your padded out meat-trace bolognaise* a bit wetter than normal by adding water and layer it with pasta shapes (makes dishing it up easier than the sheets in lasagne) and top with a white sauce with strong grated or crumbled cheese sprinkled on top (strong cheddar or italian hard cheese) and then slam it in a hot oven until the cheese goes brown (20 minutes if the pasta is pre-cooked and 45-50 if it isn't).

*meat-trace bolognaise uses half the mince and double the veg.
If you want a more detailed recipe -
Pasticcio
I would fry the following finely chopped items -
2 med onions
2 fat garlic cloves
4 carrots
4 sticks of celery
with 50-100g (depends how meaty you like it) minced beef
sprinkle with
> ready mix herbs (I mix oregano, thyme, basil and mint and keep them in a jam jar),
> worcester sauce,
> tabasco (you can't taste the spice)
> a crumbled oxo beef cube.
Then add two tins of chopped tomatoes
and a good dollop of tomato puree (I use the tins and would use a whole one).
Season with salt and pepper and add about a can or 2 of water (rinsing the last bits of tomato out!)
a good handful of red lentils - lid on and bubble for a few minutes
while you make the sauce (and I pre-cook the pasta shapes -whatever you have - fusili or penne work especially well)

If the kids don't like veg you can process all of it to a puree instead of chopping it and they won't notice. If you want to get them tolerant to spicy food you can use tabasco instead of chilli in chilli and gradually increase it.

Sometimes I add baked beans but this makes it very filling.

The easiest white sauce is to heat a mixture of milk and water (a lotal of just over half a pint) and mix a heaped tablespoon of cornflour with cold water so the cornflour is all mixed in. then pour the hot milk into the cornflour mix and return to the pan untl it thickens. I season with salt otherwise it is bland tasting.

I mix the drained pasta and meat mix together and then into a big dish and cover with the sauce and sprinkle on a good handful of cheese. 200 degree middle of the oven for 20 minutes until the cheese is brown and bubbling.

I always take it out for about 5-10 minutes before I serve it and it thickens as the pasta absorbs any liquid.

It reheats and freezes well and DS eats it cold for lunches when he's at college
HTH
SL

Sorry KR+5 - ignore the sauce and cheese if you need to be dairy free

Suffolk lass, I've added your Pasticcio recipe to the temp post #7 :beer:

Hi everyone. :hello:

This is my first post :T although I have been lurking for a while lol.

Can I please join the grocery challenge from today until 31/08 at £300?

Things are really tight with only 1 wage coming in and 3 kids to support so we need to start cutting back.

I hope to speak to you all again in other threads.

:kisses3: