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Video: Jack Monroe on cheap substitutes for fancy-pants ingredients

37 replies

KateMumsnet · 07/03/2014 13:20

On Wednesday cook, poverty campaigner and MN blogger Jack Monroe came into the Towers for a rather cracking webchat. While she was here, she shared a few tips on how to cut costs by replacing expensive ingredients with less pricey ones. Have a look at the video (and share far and wide if you like it!) - and do leave your own frugal food tips on this thread.

OP posts:
Mignonette · 08/03/2014 16:56

How long will it be until they discover the string of Polo ponies she kept in a nearby field?

And she fed them on straw spun from pure gold.

Dappydongle · 08/03/2014 15:35

Can we have a transcript of this?

working3jobs · 08/03/2014 14:58

i second the peanut butter/tahini switch.:)

LoveBeingCantThinkOfAName · 08/03/2014 14:54

TheZeeTeam it gets worst sometimes she used to buy a bottle of wine to add to her cooking Shock

Mignonette · 08/03/2014 13:51

Gigantes Plaki for us plus Scampi Roes.

Maybe you'd like her to sell a kidney or her teeth or body so she can claim to be authentically poor.

MrsPennyapple · 08/03/2014 12:02

I bought the book too, the tomato and bean soup is lovely, looking forward to trying some more recipes.

As for frugal tips, adding a handful of oats bulks out a mince-based meal without changing the flavour or texture.

Zee JM used to earn lots of cash. Now she doesn't. She sold everything she could to make ends meet, but dental work can't easily be sold.

ShoeWhore · 08/03/2014 07:13

Pitta bread makes a good alternative to naan with a curry and is loads cheaper.

TheZeeTeam · 08/03/2014 00:55

I'm confused. I get the cheap food bit, but where does the $5000 dentistry come in?! Because those implants are not cheap.

CuttedUpPear · 07/03/2014 22:54

Great Smile

HectorVector · 07/03/2014 20:18

You can also use long grain rice for rice pudding, you don't have to buy little pudding rice.... Although I don't really think that saves you any money.

hannahem · 07/03/2014 18:28

Great video, love the tips about using peanut butter instead of tahini. I haven't got any frugal tips to add really, other than trying to catch the good reductions in a supermarket on an evening. Had some great finds but it's usually a case of luck and having some room in my freezer more than anything!

Love Jack's book too, bought it this week and can't wait to try some recipes out! Smile

JiminyCricket · 07/03/2014 14:12

I just bought the cookbook and I love it. I plan to use one or two of the recipes every week - the lentil bolognaise went down well even with dd2 who commented (not being a fan of lentils and vegetables) 'I didn't like the look of it but when I closed my eyes it actually tastes really nice'. And I love the idea of adding the oil from tins of fish to various things - I already make a bean casserole thing that would be more fish stew-esque with this added. So thanks for the inspiration.

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