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Your Cheapest Recipe (share please!)

95 replies

tryingmybest2012 · 26/08/2012 08:53

I have been reading threads on here and on Money Saving Expert with how people feed their families on small amounts of money per week. I have a family of 2 adults and 1 toddler and cannot get my grocery bill (including cleaning products - no toiletries) to less than £80 per week. I have a few must haves, organic milk, cheese and yoghurts, free range eggs and chicken and good quality British other meat. I still think I should be able to get my food bill down though as I have read other posters who manage to spend a lot less than I do. I am thinking the problem could be the lack of low cost recipes I have access to, and thought it would be nice to do a thread where we each share our one lowest cost recipe that we can make. It doesn't have to be anything fancy, it doesn't have to be cooked from scratch, it doesn't even have to be healthy, anything goes.....

I will start us off with pesto pasta and salad

Ingredients:
Teaspoon of pesto per person
50g pasta per person
Small side salad of lettuce, tomato and cucumber

Instructions:
Cook the pasta, stir in the pesto and done! (Serve with side salad to get one of your 5 a day)

I feel I have cheated slightly by doing such an easy recipe using shop bought pesto but as I said anything goes......

OP posts:
InMySpareTime · 27/08/2012 07:42

Falafel is cheap to make:
Tin of chickpeas, cooked and drained
Cumin
Garlic
Turmeric
Lemon juice
Spoon of plain flour

Blend it up, roll into balls, fry or bake until brown.

You can use rice (cooked in stock) instead of chickpeas to save more money.

Sunny rice:
Boil two eggs
Cook rice with a stock cube and some turmeric, add frozen sweetcorn for the last 3 minutes cooking time.
Chop the eggs in and serve.

To save money on your shopping, but fruit and veg at a market or greengrocers, try to get it in season.
Buy meat at a butchers, it saves on packaging and you can see it being prepared. Get bacon trimmings instead of rashers, it's much cheaper, likewise with whole chicken (I can get a large chicken at my butcher for the price of 3 chicken breasts).
You can make your own cheesecake for less than buying two (and it'll be healthier):
Plain flour
Marg
Sugar
Crumble together to make the base, press together at the base of a tin and leave to set.
Topping:
Tub of value soft cheese
Vanilla essence
Value Plain yoghurt
Icing sugar
Lemon juice

Mix it all together until it looks gooey and tastes like cheesecake, pour it on and leave it to set in the fridge.

Takver · 27/08/2012 08:42

2 large cartons of fresh orange juice from Aldi
12 mini cartons of apple juice from Aldi
2 bottles of apple/blackcurrant cordial from Sainsburys

I'd drop the juice and have it as a treat only - its a very recent thing having juice for 'everyday'. I'd keep the squash but again only for sometimes not regularly

Strawberrys from Aldi
I'd stick with apples/bananas for everyday and soft fruit only if its PYO or similar in season

Stir fry veg from Aldi
I'd expect (unless you're cooking for one) that it would be much cheaper to buy veg individually & make your own stir fry

2 packs organic chicken breasts from Sainsburys
pack of organic bacon from sainsburys
pack of organic sauasages from sainsburys
Fresh Tuna from Sainsburys
Organic steak mince from Sainsburys

I think you'll struggle to get your bill down massively without reducing the amount of meat that you're buying especially if you want to have organic (which I absolutely agree with - but we only eat meat once or twice a week). If you've got freezer space it is worth checking out if you can bulk buy direct from a farmer as that can be much cheaper - and if you've met the farmer you maybe happy to buy not organic registered but knowing that it is not factory farmed IYKWIM.

Agree with InMySpareTime's comments above about veg in season, etc.

NiceCupOfTeaAndASitDown · 27/08/2012 08:44

OP your shopping list includes a lot of what I'd class as 'treats' - here are my thoughts:

Weatabix and Meusli from Aldi - value weetabix is fine, don't shop at Aldi so not sure of prices but I'm sure it'll come in at under £1. You can make your own muesli - value oat and sultanas plus any fresh fruit you've got that day
8 pints of Organic milk from Sainsbury - why organic? This is pumping your prices up massively. You say because of your beliefs in animal welfare but I'm pretty sure organic means without chemicals rather than any better treatment for the animals. There was a thread on here recently about the amount you need to pay for milk to ensure farmers get enough but I don't think organic will make much of a difference personally
2 large cartons of fresh orange juice from Aldi - long life juice is much cheaper (check its juice and not juice drink) but I think you can live without this or get it less often
12 mini cartons of apple juice from Aldi - see above
2 bottles of apple/blackcurrant cordial from Sainsburys - do without or buy value squash - about 80p
3 loves of bread from Aldi - value
2 packs of organic butter from Sainsbury - switch to own brand (non organic)
2 bags of apples from aldi - check local market/greengrocers - will probably be cheaper
Bananahs from Aldi - as above
Strawberrys from Aldi - buy every fortnight as a treat
Homebake rolls x2 packs from Aldi - get value, these are 45p in morrisons
5 slices of fresh ham from the counter in Sainsburys - switch to pre packed
Lettuce x3, Cucumber x2, tomatoes x3, pack of peppers x2 from Aldi - try greengrocers
Pack of cakes from Aldi - make your own or buy less often
Joint of beef or a Whole Chicken from Aldi - ahh I don't know, ask a meat-eater!
New potatoes from Aldi - these are probably quite cheap but look for value
Celery from Aldi - greengrocers
Cheese cake x2 from Aldi - I agree with pp, make a crumble or ask a family member to contribute a dessert, or go without!
2 bottles of fizzy drink from Aldi - make a treat or buy value. Or you could mix value squash with value fizzy water, it's 17p in morrisons!
Various wraps, pitta bread etc from Aldi - check value range, there's often no difference in taste
Organic Cheese x 2 from Sainsburys - see milk above
Yeo Valley Yoghurt pots x 2 from Sainsbury - switch brands or make a treat
Kids organic yoghurts from Sainsburys - switch to a big tub of plain yogurt and add fruit or honey, I guarantee they're full of sugar anyway!
Free range eggs x 2 packs from Aldi - look for mixed size value box
Tin tuna from Sainsburys - go down a brand
Bake beans from Aldi - see above
Tin spagehetti from Aldi - see above
Fishfingers from Aldi - probably not worse scrimping on, the cheap ones are crap!
Peas from Aldi - as above
2 packs organic chicken breasts from Sainsburys - as beef
pack of organic bacon from sainsburys - as beef
pack of organic sauasages from sainsburys - as beef
Pasta from Aldi - get a 3kg bag, tesco and Asda do these for about £3 and they last ages
Fresh herbs from Sainsburys - grow your own or make do with dried
£10s worth of cat foor from Sainsburys (my cat wont eat the aldi one or anything apart from premium ones how ever long I leave it there!) - ditch the cat. Only joking, your cat will eat what it's given if it's hungry (or catch its own) I am an animal lover but I loathe fussiness
Crisps from Aldi - go down a brand
Pastry from Aldi - make your own or cheat with a packet mix, much cheaper than ready made
Cream from Aldi - see cheesecake above
Frozen fish from Aldi - try fish counter
Fresh Tuna from Sainsburys - check aldi
Couscous from Sainsburys - buy in bulk
Value vegetable stock cubes - yay value!
Stir fry veg from Aldi - source from greengrocers and not in a ready made pack
Rice from Aldi - buy in bulk
Organic steak mince from Sainsburys - see beef
Tin tomatoes from Aldi - value
Onions from Aldi - gg
OXO beef stock cubes - value
Frozen pizza from Aldi - make your own or do your own toppings on a cheap base
Pesto from Aldi - value (60p i morrisons) or make your own with cashew nuts and spinach
Chips from Aldi - value
Bleach, toilet cleaner, floor cleaner wash poweder, fabric conditinor, bin bags, toilet rolls, kitchen rolls, baby wipes x4, pull ups, sofa wipes (about every 2 weeks for the cleaning products) - use toilet cleaner only, use hot water with a bit of value washing up liquid to clean the floor, value baby wipes are about 50p,I use them for everything! Get washing powder on offer (I got a 2kg box of surf for about £3,it says 25 washes but I swear its done at least twice that and is still half full) fabric conditioner is a waste of time and money IMO

I am desperate to cut my food bill down from £80 a week to £40 a week, at the moment I am over budget by about £40 a week which is not good! - I don't honestly think you can cut this in half if you have to have organic everything, you pander to your fussy cat (sorry mog), must eat so much meat and insist on feeding 7 and paying for a full roast every week. But if you're willing to cut a few corners, ask for a contribution to dinner, go down a brand on a few things and make do with some things every couple of weeks I think you can easily cut it by £20 a week.

I will hunt some recipes out for you and be back!

CumberdickBendybatch · 27/08/2012 08:48

Probably been said, but get your meat from the butcher - it may well be cheaper!

NiceCupOfTeaAndASitDown · 27/08/2012 08:56

Tuna steaks with chilli & olives
you need tuna steaks (obviously)
olive oil
3 cloves garlic peeled and sliced
1 tsp chilli flakes
1 tsp dried oregano
zest and juice of a lemon
half tsp salt
15 black olives pitted and sliced
1 long red chilli (optional)

cook tuna according to pack instructions

pour olive oil over the top, add garlic, chilli flakes, oregano, lemon zest and juice

You can return to the oven or under the grill for a bit if you want. Serve with jacket potatoes or green veg.

wheredidiputit · 27/08/2012 09:01

Does it have to sunday lunch at your house can it be split between the different household so you all share the cost.

If not can those people coming either bring a dish or give you some money towards the cost. I for one would not dream of going to a relative house for lunch every weekend and not contribute.

You really shouldn't have to look for budget meals in the week so you can feed you relatives at the weekend.

CelticOlympian · 27/08/2012 09:12

Sainsbury's basics fish fingers are only 60p a pack, they're only cheap because they're made from pollock and they're MSC certified.

ValiumQueen · 27/08/2012 09:19

demented own brand slag! That nearly brought on labour! My 2yo was rolling on the floor with laughter watching me choking and spluttering and holding my bump! Grin

Scootergrrrl · 27/08/2012 09:27

Microwave treacle sponge is dead cheap and easy to make and rather yummy - plus stodge fills you up for longer! Just make a sponge mix to feed however many people. For seven people, I'd suggest maybe three eggs and 6 oz each of SR flour, butter or margerine and caster sugar (if you want a bigger one, increase the measurements of other ingredients by 2oz for every extra egg). Dollop a good layer of treacle into the bottom of a microwavable dish, then cover with cling film (pop a few holes in so it doesn't explode!) then microwave on high until the sponge is cooked through. The dangerous thing about this recipe is that you can make it with one egg (so 2oz each of the other ingredients), divide it between two mugs and you can have treacle pud every night!

ValiumQueen · 27/08/2012 09:29

I am amazed your family eat at yours every week on a Sunday without contributing something, unless they travel a long way and thus spend on petrol to save you doing the same.

I am very impressed by the effort folk have gone to on this thread to help cut your bill down. Makes me very proud to be a part of MN.

How about getting a bacon joint and making a meal around it, and saving a few slices of the ham for sandwiches etc.

Do a shop at approved foods and get enough couscous, rice, sauces etc of a good six months with very little outlay.

Eggrules · 27/08/2012 09:43

Cleaning products - I have started to use Tesco cream cleaner (Jif/Cif) which is 35p. It is amazing, on everything but especially in the bathroom and on stainless steel. I shine with a micro/e-cloth. For the floors I use water and bleach in a spray bottle.

Sunday dinner - If I was going to Sunday lunch every week, I would take dessert and drinks with me.

Drinks - Own brand apple and blackcurrant is 29p. Buy apple juice and decant into a bottle.

Buy peppers to make stir fry, mexican etc.

Cooking in bulk will save you loads:

Spaghetti /chili/bake
I grate garlic, onion, carrots and celery and fry with lean mince. I add passata (2 x 29p), oregano, sugar, seasoning, tomato puree and cook slowly for ages. I portion and put in the freezer. To make chili I fry more onion and green pepper and add to defrosted mix with paprika, chilli and kidney beans. I bake either one with sliced potatoes on top.

Soups and curries are also great.

lurkingaround · 27/08/2012 10:05

Like others have commented above, I really think you will have trouble reducing your bill with the amount of organic meat/chicken/milk /butter you buy.

Would you consider investing in a deep-freeze, and buy only on offer meat, or get to know a farm and buy half a butchered animal to freeze?

Your animal welfare stance is admirable, but would you consider free-range? I can no longer buy organic, but I do try and buy free range, budget allowing.

cashmere · 27/08/2012 10:38

I find gammon and pork joints to be a cheap way of eating meat. Especially if you plan several meals from one joint and then are tight with the portions!

Gammon joint (soaked to reduce salt in stock, then boiled. I then finish in the oven)
Night one- gammon, eggs, homemade wedges, beans/peas
Night two- pea and gammon pasta in a creamy sauce. Sauce may be from Boursin, cream and garlic, a White sauce with garlic, or garlic and onion dip (next to houmous, usually £1 often on special at 50p and surprisingly yummy
Night 3- special fried rice with gammon pieces, soy sauce and sesame oil (and eggs, onion, peas, peppers...whatever needs using)
Night 4- gammon soup using tiny leftover pieces and carrot, celery and onions. Add lentils or to make more stew like chickpeas are yummy. Serve with 'value' part baked baguettes which are v cheap.

Pork joint
Either roast or do in slow cooker if you want stock. I add apple juice and fennel seeds to flavour stock.
Night one- pork (again rationed!), sage and onion stuffing, frozen yorkshires, potatoes, ++ veg
Cut rest of pork into large cubes- add to the following dishes near end of cooking so don't disintegrate.
Night two- pork and bean casserole (tinned toms, various beans, onions, carrot, celery, garlic. Chorizo if lurking in fridge.Herbs- maybe
oregano and bay leave). Serve with cous cous, spuds, garlic bread or bread.
Night three- either pork with root veg apples cider/apple juice and
thyme as a casserole. With spuds/baguette OR
In a creamy sauce with onions, mushrooms, garlic and tarragon served with rice.
Night four- if used slow cooker use pork stock to make a Chinese noodle soup with whatever veg you have lurking. Add garlic, ginger, chilli, star anise, soy (again varies)

Then you just need a couple cheap meals per week.
This might be pasta or tortellini with tinned tom sauce
Beans on toast with poached eggs and cheese
Mushroom risotto
Baked potatoes
Veg curry
Macaroni cheese etc

I also eat this way with chicken (won't type any more but sure you get idea- 3 meals then soup!) A large free range chicken is £6.

Beef and Lamb joints tend to be more pricey, so I keep an eye out for reduced joints to freeze or special offers.

wheredidiputit · 27/08/2012 10:50

If you have a big enough freezer and can look out for special offers.

This week I bought a whole salmon from Asda for £7.50. Which by the time I had boned and filleted I manage to get 6 portions. I have been spending nearly £5 for 2 pieces.

I also have a meat slicer so I buy gammon, beef and pork joints which I cook and slice for sandwich/lunch and quick dinners.

CelticOlympian · 27/08/2012 11:34

Cooking and slicing a gammon joint works out cheaper than buying free rangeham fromthe deli counter.

whatinthewhatnow · 27/08/2012 12:08

tomato and veg pasta:

peel and chop onion, garlic if you want, and corgette. fry in oil until soft. add tin value tomato sauce and a bit of tom puree and whatever other veg you've got, except mushrooms. add whatever seasoning you like, I just wallop in some dry basil and oregano. allow to simmer for a while, then whizz up in the blender. serve with pasta, homemade garlic bread and salad. I make a load and freeze it, then there's a quick easy meal ready to go whenever. it's also a great way of getting some veg into my kids.

french bread pizzas or pitta pizzas. drizzle with a bit of oil, put tomato puree on thinly, top with whatever you've got then some cheese. grill.

I used to buy organic meat, and do still if it's on offer, but otherwise it's freedom food or if that's not available then free range. chicken breast is sooooo expensive! try and get into the habit of buying larger cuts and butchering it yourself.

Use eggs more! omelette, pancakes, spanish omelette, a big salad with hard boiled eggs, new potatoes, mozarella (get value), sweetcorn, carrots, french bread.

jacket potatoes are a great meal, and stuff on toast is underrated imo - scrambled eggs and cheese, beans, mushroom and tomato. or tuna sweethcorn mayo (all value) with sliced cucumber in a toast sandwich.

pasta and cheese sauce. make a roux with butter flour and milk, add cheese, some squashed brocolli. if you're tired or hate making roux then use creme fraiche and cheese, melt slowly in a bowl over the cooking pasta. easy mcpeasy.

go to the supermarket in the evening or sunday afternoon and get the stuff that's on offer that's about to go out of date, then freeze it straight away and eat it whenever. This is probably not recommended in terms of sell by dates but I've been doing it forever and we're all still breathing.

I don't go to aldi as there isn't one near us, so I don't know how cheap it is compared to value ranges. I find sainsbury's basics and tesco value absolutely fine for almost everything, except meat.

Don't buy crisps and treats. I just don't have that kind of stuff in the house and we don't miss it. You could make cheese straws or similar for snacks if you want. We quite often have bread and butter as a snack, which sounds a bit WWII but it works for us. If it's not in the house you can't eat it, and they're so full of crap. Make your own cakes or muffins - value flour and butter are fine for general cooking. you can put fruit in that's going off, ie bananas, apples to minimise waste.

Counter ham - really? it's so pricey! either buy packet ham or don't buy it at all. switch to cheese or cook your own cheap meat and use it. It's much cheaper to buy a ham, slow cook it and then slice that up.

Organic yoghurt seems an indulgence to me. just get supermarket own or even basics. we get basics fromage frais for the kids for a pudding, it's not got more sugar than the more expensive one, and only a little bit less fruit.

Sunday lunch: It's lovely that you have a big family lunch every week but I can imagine it's expensive! If you can't just tell them you're broke and can't afford to feed them every week, or don't want to, then how about:
lasagne
cottage pie
a roast chicken or even cheaper a slow cooked gammon but with sainsbury's basics onion chutney, basics mayo, basics coleslaw, basics pot salad (you get the idea) and basics baguettes - the part baked ones are great and about 40p for 2 I think, a big salad to fill them up made with value peppers, onions and lettuce and mozarella.

huge pasta dish (value salmon? i think sainsbury's is fairly ethical but cheap) and salad, garlic bread made with cheap part baked baguettes.

Home made pud (LOVE the sponge pudding recipe above!) Value fizzy drinks.

Buy value floor cleaner, it's fine, I use it. Or just get a big bottle of cheap bleach and use that for floors, toilets, surfaces, diluted as necessary. Or just washing up liquid (ditto value is absolutely fine), although I found this left the floor a bit sticky!

Buy value baby wipes - asda smart price are great, as are asda pull up nappies, much better than pampers and about £3 for 20 I think. Again I've heard aldi ones are good and cheap but I don't know about aldi.

sofa wipes? I don't know what these are, but I use baby wipes to get smoosh off our leather sofas and they're ok, although they are very old so I'm not too bothered about caring too much for them.

Fresh herbs are a real luxury! Either grow your own or use dried. I always use dried and they are absolutely fine.

You seem to use a lot of things for 'every day' that I would save for 'best'. ie nice meat, tuna steaks, fresh fruit juice. Try and get into the habit of eating more basic food day to day and then once a week having something posher.

fabric conditioner is a waste of money.

you could just try switching down. buy everything 1 level cheaper than you do now, ie switch from branded to supermarket own, or from supermarket own to value. you probably won't notice the difference.

To be honest you could solve a lot of your problems by changing your meat eating habits.

sorry I've gone on so much. good luck!

stressedHEmum · 28/08/2012 15:19

Last nights tea, quick, cheap and easy.

Butter 12 slices of bread and make 6 cheese sandwiches, butter side out. Cut into triangles and put i a greased baking dish, you need quite a big one, mine is 11 by 8, I think. Beat 6 eggs into 1ltre of milk, add salt, pepper and some mustard. Pour over bread and leave to soak for about half an hour. Sprinkle top with grated cheese and bake at 180 for 30-40 minutes or so until egg is set and puffed. Serve with green veg. Serves 6.

tonight's tea -

3lbs of potatoes, diced. 1 head of cabbage, shredded
2 onions, chopped, salt, pepper, curry powder to taste.

Par boil potatoes. Meanwhile, fry onions in a good bit of oil until soft. Add cabbage and stir around until cabbage is coated with oil. Add curry powder and cook, stirring until cabbage is wilted. Add potatoes, season well and cook, stirring all the time, until everything is cooked. You can add some chopped tomatoes with the potatoes if you like. Serve with either bread and butter or flatbreads. Serves 4 -6 depending on age etc.

danebury · 30/08/2012 09:56

Lots of advice to make your own pastry - make our own cakes too! We always have homemade cakes and bread in the go and I never begrudge anyone gorging on them. After a while, when you eat shop bought cakes they'll taste stodgy and full of preservatives. Once you've mastered pastry you can make tiny little pasties (my son loves doing this) and jam tarts.

I've been collecting loads of blackberries on my recent dog walks and made a gorgeous sorbet for dinner with friends on Saturday - it tastes amazing.

Upside down puddings, crumbles - all really easy and cheap puddings.

And, like everyone else says, ditch the organic. Whatever your beliefs are, if you want to cut costs then you may have to shelve them for a while!

Do you have a slow cooker? Amazing for makin stews etc and a big pot of tomato sauce to dip into during the week.

BelinaTheChicken · 31/08/2012 08:56

Lentil and tomato soup

500g lentils
tablespoon oil
tin of tomatoes
couple of carrots
onion (or leek, or celery, whatever needs using up)
stock

Brown the onion in the oil, then add grated carrot and lentils and saute for about 5 mins. Add stock and sufficient water to cover lentils with about 2 inches above. Simmer for around 45mins (keep stirring, and checking if you need to add water). It's done when you can squish a lentil to paste between your fingers. Add the tinned tomatoes and cook for another couple of minutes. Blend and serve. No idea how many portions this makes, but it's lots (depending how thick you like it, the DC have it thicker so it sticks easily to the spoon). Freezes really well, and really filling. Can do the same soup with split peas, just leave out tomato and cook for longer (and soak peas over night)

tryingmybest2012 · 02/09/2012 18:24

I did my weekly shop today and got it down to £62!! I am pleased and think I can keep shaving a bit more off it each week as I cut down more each time and find new ways to save. I am not sure I will manage to get it down to £40 but I will keep trying!! Although am happy with the roughly £18 saving this week.

OP posts:
Fluffycloudland77 · 02/09/2012 19:10

Well done, what did you economise on?

tryingmybest2012 · 02/09/2012 23:03

Meat!! The only meat I bought this week were 2 packs of RSPCA Freedom Food ham. Next week I will try and make some more changes on other items.

OP posts:
AdoraBell · 03/09/2012 03:23

Well done on cutting your costs so much. I can't add to the very good ideas already given, but could you lower the expectations of your weekend guests? The Shepherd's pie is a good idea, maybe the next week a pasta bake and basic fruit salad or yoghurts, then jacket spuds with baked beans. Obviously I don't know why you feed everyone every weekend, but if it's draining your resources then adjust and give them normal food rather than a full on 3 course meal.

TitsalinaBumSquash · 04/09/2012 08:47

We had the lentil and tomato soup last night with a swirl of pesto and brown bread, it was really nice, even my fussy DS proclaimed how good it was. Smile

woahwoah · 05/09/2012 20:56

Cheap but impressive banoffee flan for pud.

You need one large sponge flan case (Morrison's are cheapest I've found), spread with one tin of Carnation caramel stuff (it's amazing and you don't have to boil the tin for hours!), top with 2 sliced bananas and a small pot of whipped cream. Feeds 8 easily.