Give me your best cheap meals!

[MollyBloomYes]

Unexpected bill, not much left for one more food shop this month. I need some cheap meals, to feed 5 plus a toddler. I'm pretty useless so usually do pots of stuff with rice or pasta. So far I've got a bean goulash, jacket potatoes and fillings, leek and bacon pasta bake, I need four more. No dietary requirements but one diner won't even eat cumin as it's 'too spicy' (yes this does make meal planning trickier!) Please inspire me lovely mumsnetters!

Thanks however put up the sausage pie recipe, made it last night and it was delicious!!!

YY to sausage and chickpea combination, I make a casserole of onions, garlic, tinned tomatoes, sausages of any kind and tinned chickpeas.
It's very quick to make, you can put in any left over things like a few mushrooms or a bit of chopped up bacon, or top it with sliced potato or cobbler. Always a favourite with children.

I regularly visit the supermarket early in the morning or after 5 pm and check for mark downs ... I get all sorts of veggies and fresh foods, as well as bread. There is always something suitable to make a meal for my 5 from.

Prime example last night I visited the supermarket at 5 pm ish .... I got a tub of mascarpone cheese, 2 fresh salmon fillets, 2 big packs of rice noodles and I made a lovely big pot of noodles in seasoned cheesy sauce with chunks of salmon.

Everyone was fit to bursting.

We finished off with a large piece of healthy flapjack each - made from overripe bananas and supermarket's own oats, with a grated apple and a few spoonfuls of honey. Again cheap to make, healthy and tastes delicious. I dribbled it with the remains of a bar of dark chocolate that had been kicking around in the cupboard for some time!

I always have a few staples in the cupboard - namely pasta, rice, potatoes and beans!!

I haven't read all suggestions so apologies if this is a duplicate, but tortilla style omelette is cheap and not spicy? eggs, onion, potato and whatever else you want to put in, bit of dried mixed herbs, salt, pepper...can use a can of new potatoes rather than fresh. chop everything, fry for a couple of mins, beat eggs and pour over top. fry gently until it's cooked but not burned, finish the top under the grill. slice up, serve with salad or bread. also very quick to make.

f you don't want really smooth dhal, you can make it with red lentils, then when it's done, add a tin of slightly smashed-up chickpeas for texture.

That is a GREAT idea ArcheryAnnie! I love dahl but DP doesn't like the babyfod consistancy.