cheap and cheerful meals

[Martin2011]

I think Mrs Torch's recipe sounds great.....wondering now how she'd approach preparation of a chicken pie though.....

Ricey mince is a fave here.... have to use decent mince, but just mix with rice, tin of toms and add just about any seasoning and flavour to hand for a relatively cheap and very filling meal.... grated cheese on the top (obviously only during the first two weeks of the month) is an added bonus....

Martin

[kallis3]

That sounds good Martin. Will have to get hubbie to it after payday!

Hubbie also makes a mean stew (wrong time of the year at the moment but who cares!). He makes a huge amount and it feeds us for ages (plus a portion or two for my aged parents!)

[Martin2011]

Do like a good stew, but agree, at this time of year it doesn't have quite the same appeal....

Whilst the suns shining, salads are easy and cheap if you stick with the basics, cheese, eggs, tinned pilchards (yummy!)... and of course a big hunk of decent bread helps a lot and doesn't cost too much either....

Mrs M would find my contributions to this debate quite amusing I think as she'd have little confidence I could even find our kitchen!!

Martin

[kallis3]

We have dug out our breadmaker (bought years ago). Asda are doing an offer on Hovis breadmix (white or granary) two for £1. It is lovely bread and so much cheaper than normal (I must confess that we have been buying farmhouse as I don't like prepacked sliced bread). It makes a really cheap tasty loaf.

Don't agree with pilchards though - all those bones! Tuna is good on a salad though.

My OH would be amused as well. He always likes to remind me of the time I made Eccles cakes and forgot to put the currants in!!!!!!!!

[Martin2011]

Loving the thought of currentless eccles.... yummy....

Agree pilchards are an acquired taste, tuna is better for sure.... Good idea re breadmaker...sure we have one somewhere, will have to go hunt it down.....

Martin

[kallis3]

The air was blue and he hasn't touched them since!!!! I do make a mean Christmas cake and Christmas pudding though! Trouble is, as OH is at home all day I very rarely get the chance to do any cooking now so lord knows what anything would come out like!

[Martin2011]

That's the def advantage of a salad.... in the main, no cooking required!!

Still thinking that eccles without currants is not a bad idea though....could start the development of a whole new cake there....

and no worries, we're all round to yours at Christmas for a slice!!

Martin

[angela18]

we're having mince and dumplings for tea!! can't wait.. bit chilly in the north east today so.. salad not an issue[:)]

been to Lidl today to try.. not to impressed and didn't think was much cheaper than Asda.. don't think i'll bother again. Like Aldi though[:)]

[kallis3]

Martin, my old man says Eccles cakes without currants do not work!!!
You are more than welcome for slice of Christmas cake!

[chris.g]

Chicken, chips, peas and gravy....that's what we are having....I can't cook with the operation on my hand so the hubby and No.1 son cooking.... another 5 weeks of this, then another 6 weeks when I get my other hand done....lol
xx

[kallis3]

Chicken and chips sounds like heaven! Haven't had that for ages!

[Skippy]

We've got chops for dinner, from the last food parcel from my mum! I've no idea whether they are pork or lamb, so it'll be a nice surprise!

I love chilli and it's the one thing I can cook! I buy frozen vegetables now as once they're in with the mince you can't tell the difference. When I buy the mince Dave separates it into portions and we freeze it and get it out the night before we need it. I prefer doing it that way as I refuse to reheat anything!

[angela18]

I've just got some whoopsie cumberland sausages from Asda.. going to have bangers and mash tomorrow for tea!! love a whoopsie bargain!!

[kallis3]

We love those bargains as well. We have managed to get some of their curry, not just one portion but the whole carton that they portion up on the deli counter - got it really cheap as well! Doesn't happen often but when it does we get as much as we can and portion it and freeze it at home - bargain!

As for spices, we go to a fairly local asian supermarket - much larger quantities and loads cheaper than the supermarkets!

[Martin2011]

Do like an ASDA curry, any curry in all honesty....but never heard of a whoopsie one, sounds hotter than a vindaloo!!!

No worries, might take you up on that slice of cake Kallis, I'll provide the crackers....

Martin