Cheap meals for the warmer weather?

[mrspolkadotty]

Now that the weather is getting warmer i'm after a change from stew & dumplings and soups etc.

I have a DH thinks a meal isn't a meal unless it contains meat and it's a lot easier in winter to make meat go further in stews and casserole etc bulked out with veg but not so much in summer although quiche and fritattas are a good way. I'm after some new ideas and inspirations!

What are your favourite summer eats?

Hi there, I live with a meat monster as well so know where your coming from.
I like to make the summer food feel light. I make my usual recipes but serve them slightly different.
The curries go with hot savoury rice (like bachelor's but made fresh) plus salad of shredded cucumber/onion/carrot/colslaw. Mixed with mint yogurt. Add a pitta bread.
Pasta with chicken in creamy or tomato sauce.(1 chicken breast will do 2).
The casserole meals served with new potatoes and green beans without dumplings,dh likes gammon, joint or steak like this too.
Pork dice or chops cooked in dolmio type sauce, add peppers etc with rice/ veg most goes with this.
Is that any help. Its what I like.

You can buy ham/gammon joints and bake/slow cook them at home and then slice the meat when it's cold for ham.

It's much cheaper than ham they've cooked, sliced and put into little packs.

Bacon joints with baked potato n salad

Bolognese pasta bakes I make 3 at a time n freeze then defrost cook n serve with salad n garlic bread.

Ham egg n chips still works in summer

Sausages always good if not averse to cheaper ones marinate overnight in bbq sauce for different taste I did this for bonfire night with aldi 12 for 99p n were all eaten even by sausage snobs!!

Bbq pulled pork in baguettes (we use those part baked ones) n don't need much pork if added roasted onions n peppers too.

East what BBQ sauce did u use please ? Sounds good! We have one which is like tomatoes ketchup I. A squeeze bottle .do you mean that type ? Thanks!

A nice BBQ sauce & reasonable cost,for marinade
1 cup cheap ketchup, third cup balsamic vinegar(99p for big bottle/lidl & aldi) half cup sugar.garlic to taste. Simmer until reduced by one third. Salt and pepper.freezes and keeps in fridge for weeks.

Thanks for BBQ recipe! :)

You could try -

patatas bravas with some chopped chorizo in - you only need a very little to get a strong meaty flavour
quiche lorraine with salad
burgers with wedges and salad (you could even try spiced bean burgers, perhaps)
meatball subs
ham and egg pasta
pizza and salad
bean and chorizo chili with wraps rather than rice

We like pasta particularly 'white' sauce pasta with peas, bacon, broccoli and cream cheese (let down with milk) sauce. Pasta for my kids is always a winner and it seems somehow lighter then 'red' pasta.

annielostit am going to try your bbq sauce recipe, but rather than reduce it I'm going to do it in the slow cooker with the sausages.

CosIIsLazyInnitTiggaxx

Roast chicken drumsticks served with potato salad and a choice of mixed salads.

frittata/Spanish omelette.

fishcakes/rissoles served burger style with salad and wedges.

I made rissoles today (basically breaded mince, onion and potatoes) and got 16 out of a pound of mince. I've frozen most of them but we'll have one each for tea and it'll be more than enough with accompaniments.

Meatloaf served with salad, or new pots.
Can be taken cold for lunch next day.
Pasta salads with different ingredients
Spaghetti with peas and lemon
Stuffed peppers and couscous
Meatballs with Pitta's
Fish baked in parcels with veg
Pulled pork in subs.