Cheap evening meal ideas - basic food nothing fancy

[finalpunt]

Trying to reduce food shop and I know I can do it because some of the stuff DH and DSS have is costly and probably not necessary but one of the things that DSS is bringing up a bit now is our evening meal.

He (and DH tbf) love a basic meal of either scrambled egg on toast, waffles fish fingers egg and beans - that sort of thing.

We do eat a large variety of foods and usually have a meal like this once a week - DSS hates a roast but eats one every Sunday, helps out loads, can cook from scratch, not entitled - just in case it comes across that I left him dictate.

So I was thinking that I will bow down and try a week of cheap type teas - I just can't think of enough, with variety to see me through a week - hit me with your ideas please (DSS doesn't really do veg unless its in something like a samosa) DH not a fan of rice.

I’m not super clear whether you’re trying to save money or it’s that your DSS wants more basic food, but either way how about:

Jacket potatoes with baked beans (stuffed them with mushrooms / whatever veg your DSS will eat?)

Cheesy omelet on toast

Pasta bake

Potato hash with black beans (will they eat avocado or a stretch too far?!)

Sausages and mash?

Egg and chips? Ham, egg and chips?

Toad in the hole with mash and gravy
macaroni cheese
homemade pizza

Homemade soup, cheese, bread
Cheese toasties
Jacket pots
Omelette

Both I think, sorry didn't explain very well. I want to save money food shopping and DSS wanted more basic food more often so I am thinking it may be a way to combine. I have said that I am happy to get more but don't want to live off fishfingers, egg and chips all week.

We do and can cook from scratch as I say and I do have a larder of herbs and spices - its the beige food I think he craves.

Thanks for the ideas - yes will eat avocado in salads.

Love the ham, egg and chips idea, both of us love spam so may go get some now.

Do things like bolognaise count as simple?

If so-

• Jacket potatoes, bolognaise/chilli, cheese
• pesto pasta, salad bits
• pre-bought individual pies with peas
• sausages, chips/mash, peas/beans
• soup & crusty bread.

I think I would try not to concede to too much processed food more than once or twice a week, but that is just me! Just because it's high in salt and fat and not that nutritious.

occasionally I make a big pot of chilli type meal that can then be ‘multipurposed’

So for example, make a big pot of either meat based or veggie chilli. If meat based use at least 1kg of minced beef. For speed I use frozen onion. Add loads of stuff like passata (2 tins/packs). 2-3 tins of beans - kidney, mixed whatever. Garlic and fresh chill or chilli powder or chipotle paste. Maybe some grated carrot if you want more veg.

then get some large wraps and make burritos with the chilli. Top with grated cheese.

also buy large pack dried pasta and serve with the chilli.
or rice - a quick cook micro packs is handy.

cook extra pasta and use it in pasta salad or stir through a quick sauce another day.

I make a pasta sauce with frozen onion, few punnets of cherry tomatoes, olive oil, basil and oregano (dried is fine). Soften the onion then tip everything in on a low heat. Use different cheese for a change on the top - mozzarella, cheddar, Parmesan. I always keep a bag of grated cheddar handy.

add garlic bread if hungry. (32 p Morrisons)

any of the above can be served with or without salad leaves or other salad/veg.

other ideas - jacket potatoes. Start them off in the microwave and finish in oven. Make extra they are fine in the fridge for a few days and handy for lunches. Cheap toppings include tuna mayo, beans, cheese, chilli, coleslaw.

Also pizzas…
would dss be interested in learning to make the dough? My dd learnt how to do it.
if not maybe buy ready made bases and add own toppings might be marginally healthier than pre made?

Mince and mash (if you want no fuss use smash)
Salad
Fish fingers chips and beans
Macaroni on toast (macaroni out the tin)
sausage roll/pie chips and beans
Sausage casserole (in the slow cooker)

Corned beef hash?

I have 2 teens and if I add a beige element (!) such as garlic bread to a meal it makes it more appealing to them.
and/or a pudding! At the moment it’s mini magnums, but they will also eat fruit or fruit based.

Sausage pasta with red pesto and a tin of sweetcorn mixed through is a cheap and easy dinner here!

Also fried rice is easy.and cheap. Cook rice then cool quickly and refrigerate (I cook rice at lunch ready for dinner) then fry garlic and ginger in a.hot wok I use those easy tubes then add rice make sure it's piping hot, add I'm a few handfuls of frozen peas or any frozen veg, then crack a couple of eggs in and stir well and some soy sauce

Maybe he will be happy if I just a beige element like you.

He honestly is good, he is a great cook and can make roux to make home made sauces, pizza from scratch and lovely cheese spring roll things.

I just think he craves the beige

wraps with tomato sauce on (i home make mine but shop bought would do) cheddar cheese and wafer thin ham/chicken pepperoni on or literally whatever topping you like. 5 mins in the oven. If you have a George foreman you can make it into a calzone type thing by folding wrap over

Ham egg and chips
Cottage pie
Sausage and mash

macaroni cheese if he can make a roux sauce!
kedgeree using the ready to eat smoked mackeral and microwave rice is quick and easy.
falafel wraps - nice with beetroot (although he might turn his nose up at that!), salad and a minty yogurt dressing

Giant Yorkshire with sausages, mash, carrots and peas and onion gravy.

Huevos rancheros,
Caramelised onion pasta,
Sausage curry,
Volcanoes (mash made into a mountain, beans for lava, sausage chunks for rocks, broccoli for trees)
Macaroni cheese,
Fish finger sandwiches,
Tomato soup with cheese toasties,
Pasta with hotdogs, cheese and sweetcorn,
Cherry tomato pasta,
Tomato rice with a poached egg on top,
Poached eggs and cheese sauce on toast

Some cheap things we cook are:
-Risotto
-Dahl
-Curry
-Soups
-Chilli

It helps we are vegetarian.

Watching this with interest! We don’t eat meat at home but I always found a ham goes down so well. Buy a gammon from Aldi, Chuck it in the slow cooker.

first night - ham, chips and fried egg/pineapple/whatever.
second night - ham and gravy barms
third night - carbonara and garlic bread

I know I sound like the mumsnet ham but they’re less than a tenner for about 2kg! Stretch so far!

What about a BLT and wedges
Chicken fillet in a bun with cubes potatoes

Could always add garlic mayo or Cajun mayo (I put a teaspoon of it into mayo rather than buy expensive versions)

We have cheap sliced ham and expensive Swiss cheese slices every week on the order

Ham and cheese toasties,
ham egg, chips and peas
carbonara
ham salad

fish and chips, southern friend chicken steaks ( to go in a panini) or thighs and chips are our beige food.

Adding lentils to meals like spaghetti Bolognese or shepherds pie helps stretch meals further. I get a large pack of mince do spaghetti Bolognese one night add extra tinned tomatoes and lentils then either have the rest the next night or freeze. You can just use a tin of beans instead of kidney beans.

Mac and cheese with leeks and roasted tomatoes
Bean and cheese quesadillas
Lasagne with lentils and courgette instead of beef

We do have home made macaroni cheese and also a carbonara type dish.

He would turn his nose up at falafel wraps but I may now have to have that - i love beetroot