When it's freezing and you can't put the heating on and breakfast is porridge made with water...

[UndertheCedartree]

AIBU to wish so hard the uplift was never taken away? We were doing so well with that extra amount! But now that has gone and utilities have gone up we are left with little for food and heat.

Sorry, this is just a vent! Nothing anyone can do but I'm just feeling a bit upset this morning.

@Whichcatthatcat

I can't offer any better suggestions than these, but the thread has inspired me to make a cash donation to the local food bank. I'm on a low income myself, but have a small amount to spare. I give food each week when I shop, but felt the need to do a little more. I think this government is disgusting that people can end up in OPs situation. Good luck OP.

That is so kind!

Thank you everyone - I'm still noting down all the amazing advice!

This might not be hugely helpful to you OP, but might be of interest to others: an easy, tasty and (relatively) low cost loaf: attic24.typepad.com/weblog/2014/01/artisan-bread.html - I often use normal table salt and it's very good

That recipe with cabbage, sausage meat, tomatoes sounds delicious, I have a tin of meatballs I often wonder what to do with so will try a variation. I would also second a shopping trolley for those who have to walk or use the bus to shop. Although it might not be suitable for Underthecedartree as they can get quite heavy when you do a big shop. TThat's the constant anxiety of trying to live on low rates, is it worth travelling further to a cheaper shop and getting a taxi or , as I have mentioned, finding online discount shops that will deliver for the price of a bus ticket? You have to consider so much to save a few pence and I think UndetheCedartree has remarkable patience and grace at a difficult time.

Did you say you have a freezer? You can freeze milk, either whole bottles or in an ice cube tray.

I'm lactose intolerant so I normally have some milk in the freezer for guests, a 'milk cube' can just be added to tea/coffee.

Re the shopping trolly, my carer 'borrowed' one of my 'roller crates' the things you see teachers using to get materials to class.

It has since become his and he uses it to transport groceries, he lives between an ASDA and an Iceland, both about 5 mins walk away, you could see if there are any on freecycle.

MNHQ could we have this pinned somewhere? Not classics but maybe a new help section, there is so much information on here that is valuable.

@tomorrowalready you can stuff the cabbage with just about anything.

Blanch the leaves first so they roll.

There are lots of eastern European recipes for filling but mince, sausage meat, rice and various leftovers can be used.Even things like chilli and mashed potato.

Biryaanis & risottos are a good way of using up leftover veg & meat. It can be as simple or fancy as you like, if you have basic spices in cupboards thatll do.

Basic Biryaani
Just fry off 2 onions, garlic, salt, pepper, curry powder & or garaam masaala.
Add ketchup, or tomato puree or a handful of tomatoes (ones going slightly manky or soft are good here)
Cook for 10 mins adding a little water to stop it catching at bottom.
After 10 mins add your leftover meat and veg, give it a good stir and fry off for 5 mins
Then add rice (normal or basmati will do)
Fry for 5 mins
Then add water to simmer until cooked.

Note: 1 mug of rice feeds 4 people
Add 2 not quite full mugs of water per mug of rice used. If using basmati rice, you need a bit less water.

If you have more slices then you can use those but this is a very basic recipe with still lots of flavour.

@tomorrowalready

That recipe with cabbage, sausage meat, tomatoes sounds delicious, I have a tin of meatballs I often wonder what to do with so will try a variation. I would also second a shopping trolley for those who have to walk or use the bus to shop. Although it might not be suitable for Underthecedartree as they can get quite heavy when you do a big shop. TThat's the constant anxiety of trying to live on low rates, is it worth travelling further to a cheaper shop and getting a taxi or , as I have mentioned, finding online discount shops that will deliver for the price of a bus ticket? You have to consider so much to save a few pence and I think UndetheCedartree has remarkable patience and grace at a difficult time.

Thank you for your kind words.

@sashh

Did you say you have a freezer? You can freeze milk, either whole bottles or in an ice cube tray.

I'm lactose intolerant so I normally have some milk in the freezer for guests, a 'milk cube' can just be added to tea/coffee.

Re the shopping trolly, my carer 'borrowed' one of my 'roller crates' the things you see teachers using to get materials to class.

It has since become his and he uses it to transport groceries, he lives between an ASDA and an Iceland, both about 5 mins walk away, you could see if there are any on freecycle.

MNHQ could we have this pinned somewhere? Not classics but maybe a new help section, there is so much information on here that is valuable.

Freezing milk in an ice cube tray is a great idea! I think a shopping trolley could work well as long as I'm not getting too much.

I agree there is so much useful information it would be great to make it easily available to others.

@Welcometothejingles - I often do a risotto when I've not got much food in but I've not tried a byriaani. Looks good and I'm sure my DS and I will really like it - thank you.

Korean (or Chinese, or Japanese, I think they all have their own versions) rice porridge is lovely. Very comforting, warming and filling. You use short grain rice for it. You don’t actually need to use the specific aromatics if you don’t tend to have them to hand, because essentially it’s just a very bland porridge/stew that people eat when they’re feeling under the weather so it has very little flavour and you can just add however much flavour you want to it. But you might want to have a look just for some inspiration for something new and different to cook. I like to make it with leftover chicken shredded into it and you really don’t need much.

It strikes me that supermarkets could have a request a ride scheme. I would happily drop someone like the op home if there was a waiting area where I could pick them up from rather than them having to pay for a taxi. As I type I suspect the risk potential would be too high on both sides. Such a shame so much trust has flown out of the window.

@RosesAndHellebores

That's an excellent idea, and I too would happily give someone a lift rather than having to pay for a taxi; sadly though, as you point out I can't see it happening.

@UndertheCedartree

I haven't read the last couple of pages, so apologies if it's been mentioned already, but do like pancakes? I've just cooked them for 3 people for brunch, they had 3 each (big appetites ) and I reckon the cost of 2 eggs, some plain flour, 200/300ml milk - I don't weigh things, sorry, I go on how the batter feels with a fork - £some grated cheese from Aldi, a couple of smears of Nutoka and a sliced banana wouldn't be more than £1.50. We eat pancakes a lot, they make a filling brunch or tea.

Other money saving tips: when I do my cottage pie for the homeless I buy the cheap as chips 20% fat beef Mince and fry off the fat. It's so much tastier I buy it for the family now for literally less than 1/2 the price (and twice the taste).

The other thing to try might be offal: lambs liver and bacon (so quick to make). Soften and colour an onion, quickly fry three rashers (or bacon bits), add scant 1/2lb, cut into strips, liver and cook through in the frying pan, sprinkle of flour (flat tbs) and absorb the fat, add 1/2 pint oxo, and stir to thicken. Serve with frozen mash and a frozen green veg. Pan to plate in 20 minutes.

Kidneys are nice too, devilled on crushed new potatoes and again with green veg.

Both above should come in at about 80p per head. Providing you like offal. My gran used to make me braised, stuffed lambs hearts, as a treat!

Not as good as lokshen but: £3.50 chicken, cover with cold water, add a quartered onion and 3 or 4 chopped Carrots- a chicken cube helps it along without a kosher chicken bring to boil and simmernfor 2 hours, add vermicelli (any small pasta will do). For one day serve the meat as a roast(ish) with roast potatoes and veg using the lokshen as gravy. For the next day (and this works well left overnight in a cold kitchen) lift off fat, remove skin and bones but keep the chicken in. Reheat as a hearty, healthy soup with crusty bread or perhaps followed by a baked potato.

Oxtail plus an onion, carrots, juice of an orange, brown everything on hob, add beef stock, transfer to oven on medium. For 1.5 hours then add pearl barley and/or butter beans and cook in a low oven for about 1.5 hours. Dumplings can be added for the last 1/2 hour. Seems like a lot of oven but will also warm the kitchen area whilst you do other jobs, dc do homework.

Except for the lokshen a desert spoon of red wine vinegar works wonders for the flavour if you can stretch to it.

Taste of christmas: 2 turkey steaks slice and fold stripe, pig in blanket, stuffing ball, and repeat until a skewer is full, brush with warmed cranberry jelly. Serve with roasties, cabbage and Carrots and as you have saved £20 on a fancy turkey or chicken, I'd splash out on a pot of poultry gravy, use the cranberry jelly and a packet bread sauce. Tastes exactly the same as a Christmas dinner.

@HollyandIvyandAllThingsYule - thanks for the ideas.
@RosesAndHellebores @Iamnotminterested - that's do kind of you but as you say I'm not sure of the practicalities.
Yes, we do like pancakes - I use one cup of flour, one cup of milk and one egg. I make them for breakfast but I'd forgotten you can make them savoury. And I'm pretty sure my fussy little one would love pancakes for dinner which is a bonus! Thank you for the idea. And all the other meal ideas, Roses - thank you.

?@UndertheCedartree

If you can make pancakes you can make Yorkshire pudding, which means you can use your sausages to make toad in the hole.

@sashh - nice idea, thank you.