Peacocks

[Rolo Rabbit]

We've just bought a car on Ebay (very successfully but slightly unexpectedly) and now need to have an extremely cheap month foodwise. We're not exactly lavish usually but things are going to be very tight.

 

So... what are your favourite family-friendly meals on a shoe string. I'm planning lots of baked potatoes but don't want the children to hate them by June!

[Helly Welly]

Cheese on egg on beans on toast

 

My lot would eat it every day if they could

[little chickadee]

Pasta in a really simple homemade tomato based sauce. Dead easy and cheap. Bung in whatever veg you can find cheap on the market if you're lucky enough to have one near you.

 

Veg Chilli

 

Get a student cookbook out of the library, there is bound to be lots of cheap recipies in books like that

[Egluntyne]

Anything with lentils.

 

I love 'em.

[Rolo Rabbit]

Thank you so far. Egluntine, what do you make with lentils? I love them too but have only ever really used them in soup.

[chucknette]

Tin of tuna fish combined with mashed potatoe and season. Make into fishcake shape, dip in beaten egg and breadcrumbs made from a piece of bread and fry until golden.

 

My family love it when we go on economy month.

 

I also serve these with a cheap tin of tomatoes they really love it.

[jackiepoppies]

Lentil casserole [or slow cooker] with sausages..delicious..recipes on net.

 

What we had last night! make a basil and garlic pesto, add to some very small pasta with a piece of grilled/fried/roasted of chicken! Vary meat with whatever is going cheap.

[Leicester_H]

Cassoulet (spelling) - I Love.

Make with beans (or lentils), few sauages (fried first) and/or any other meat (use up left overs cut into chunks, if cooked just add in), tin tomatoes, tsp paprika, tsp ground cumin, can top with bread crumbs if desired. Put everything in suitable dish, bake in oven at 180 for 30 mins - really just to heat through (as meat almost cooked). Serve with bread

 

- makes a little meat go a long way and is delicious

 

Paella

Get mixed pack of seafood form Sainsbury's (or where-ever) - often have 2 for reduced price - can freeze second. Fry onion, pepper. Add paprika and saffron (if you have some) Add rice. fry for few mins. Add same quantity of water as rice. bring to simmer. Cover. Add steam tight lid. Set on LOWEST possible heat for 20/30 mins till rice cooked. Add peas, seafood. Serve with bread and lemon wedges.

 

- again rice makes little seafood go a long way and is good.

 

Use whatever meat and/or seafood you like.

 

Google for recipe variations. I like this sort of 'peasant' food - basically using any leftovers with a bulking ingredient like rice, beans, lentils to make really tasty, FILLING meals.

 

H

[gooner.girl]

Anything with eggs i would guess!

[Leicester_H]

Yes - eggs.

 

Try 'spanish' omlette.

 

Fry some veg - whatever you have - starting with those that take longest eg. onions, peppers, cooked potato, tomatoes. Add in beaten eggs. Cook gently until lower half set. Then gently grill top half, possibly sprinkled with cheese. Cut into wedges and serve like pizza.

Chorizo, suagage or ham also go well. As does feta cheese, or brie. Or olives - anything you like really.

Don't over do the content - it should be mostly egg, and will break up if not.

 

H

[Guest]

try going to the supermarket at around 8pmish, they have a lot of reduced/end of day stuff out at that time. Best time to get bread.

 

Try visiting www.moneysavingexpert.com as they have a lot of tips about eating on a budget.

[Helly Welly]

Cheesy ricey curry thing This was adapted from a filling for stuffed peppers when we were poor students and we never did come up with a proper name for it.

 

Add a mug of rice, a tin of chopped tomatoes, a good amount of frozen veg, 10ml of curry powder (or to taste), a sprinkling of paprika, a splash of worcestershire sauce and 1 1/4 pints of hot water to a saucepan. Cook until the rice is ready. Add a geerous sprinkling of grated cheese and stir until melted.

 

Lovely slop, as my DD would say

[chickencam]

Take a tin of corned beef, chop the beef into cubes add to a suitable dish with a chopped onion and some sliced carrots then top with mashed potato. Cook for about 50 minutes at 180/160 fan. serve with veg of choice usually frozen peas in our case. It is very tasty and filling.

[Rolo Rabbit]

Brilliant! Thanks everyone! Our economy month is going to be much tastier than I thought. Any more ideas gratefully received.

[Helly Welly]

This thread is making me hungry

[BarbaraJ]

home made pizza using, any sort of bread really french stick (often on offer at end of day), tomato sauce (jar) and anything basically on top, + cheese.

 

Bit hot for casseroles as they go a long way.

 

Pasta with tuna oinions and salad cream with salad

[hillfamily]

 

Pasta with tuna oinions and salad cream with salad

 

That's my DD favourite

 

Egg, homemade chips (roasted in the oven so healthier) and beans for tea - feeds 3 and costs less than £1

[theherd123]

Risotto, i love risotto

 

Throw in anything you like - the more veg the further it goes.

Mushrooms, onions - white &/or spring, green beans, courgette, peppers etc

 

Fry off the onions in some butter and add the risotto rice and make sure its all covered in the buttery onion. Season. Add a LARGE glass of white wine (taste first just to check you like it) Throw in all the veg and add a pint of stock a little at a time, add parmesan just before serving.

 

Its so easy to make this meal go further and when we make it we usually save some for the following days lunch/tea.

[Helly Welly]

oooh, chips egg and beans, my favourite

[chickencam]

Egg and chips fab convenience food, you can keep ready meals

[Olly]

Macaroni cheese! Very cheap, and yummy.

 

Carrot and lentil soup, with some chunky bread - lentil curry, lentil bolognese ... in fact anything with lentils! I use them in any dish where you might use mince. with lots of tinned tomatoes and some flavouring they are yummy.

 

Buy really strong cheese, it's more expensive but you need to use less of it. If you're cooking economy, flavourings are very important. Try making your own hummus (tinned chickpeas are quicker) for packed lunches, and use up any flabby old veg in the fridge for soup, I'm an expert at converting food that's slightly past its best! Try looking at love food, hate waste for ideas on using up leftovers.

[Mutrix Farmers]

most vegetarian food is cheaper because kilo for kilo veg is cheaper than meat. Replace protein with tins of beans and pulses.

 

try bbc website food section for loads of recipe ideas

 

Bon appetit

[Rolo Rabbit]

I'm so glad I asked! You lot are wonderful!!

[Fleur]

one of our faves when we were little was-

 

potatoes and onions thinly sliced and layered in a baking tray, with cheese (whatevers cheap) sprinkled between the layers, its yummy and filling, and if you're feeling lavish you can pop some chopped bacon or spring onion in as well!!

 

 

one i don't reccommend is pilchard pie my parents used to make it as it was cheap and we all hated it! put me off fish for years.

[Helly Welly]

Thanks Rolo Rabbit for starting this thread, i'll be borrowing a few of these ideas myself