ok credit crunch general help and advic wanted, i.e where to shop what to buy what to cook ect.

[mothersmilk]

my dh has gone into panic mode what with the overly publised "resession" we have our own small buissness so on some levels i can understand on others i wish he would shut up!
anyway a food budget (along with 100 others) has been introduced im not over the top when it comes to food spending but i like my food and i like to cook does anyone have any advice on shops cook books recipes ect. to get me away from mince and dumplings as my chidren are starting to dislike this also i always cook too much and although most of the time leftovers get eaten sometimes they do go to waste any tips on getting outof this habbit iv tried many times

TIA

We've managed to cut our food bills without actually reducing the quality of what we eat at all.

• plan better. think about meals ahead of time and where possible, buy something that you plan to eat over two meals - eg butternut risotto one day, butternut soup the next (simple version)
• buy less meat. If you eat stews and curries you need less meat and can bulk up with tomatoes, rice, pasta, vegetables and lentils (in theory - I'm still working on the lentils part myself).
• If you do want idividual meat portions, make the portion relatively small and bulk up with vegetables. One smallish chicken breast grilled is plenty for an adult if served with a large portion of fresh vegetables
• portion control. It's key
• Cut back on expensive snacks - biscuits, sweets, cheese etc all are expensive (and fattening) as snacks. Buy more fresh fruit and vegetables with the odd dip for snacks between meals
• make less complicated meals. Pasta can be served with a simple bit of fried mushrooms, garlic and some olive oil/butter - it doesn't need a complex sauce.

These are just some of the things we've done. Hope it helps.

Shop locally - avoid supermarkets.

Fresh faggots wrapped in bacon at butchers this morning 50p each with some onion, gravy and mash a really cheap meal.

I visited the fishmongers this week and for £8 got tuna/cod/salmon mix to do a huge fish pie,bag of prawns and scallops.
I have made this last 2 meals.

The greengrocer is defintely cheaper than the supermarket and I spent £7 today when in the supermarket it would have cost me about £11!!!!!

Bread is my other gripe - it costs well over a £1 for anything that seems half decent so I have been making my own at half the cost.

markets also cheap. and lidl - seriously the veg and the cheese, meat, dairy things etc are great.

yes, also if you shop at markets, you tend to buy local seasonal vegetables which are cheaper. I buy piles of carrots and whatever the guy at the farmers' market has on weekends.

We have stared to use pulses and lentils more (mixing with rice helps with lentils) Cheaper cuts of meat - every other week we buy a whole chicken and it sees us for 3 meals - Roast, risotto and then soup/stock..... One really simple spagetti dish is just with butter garlic and black pepper and some salad. We have been doing Kegeree dish - smoked mackrel,spring onions,basmati rice,curry powder, bit of stock and singe cream (optional or to taste).

Porridge for breakfast. A bag of ats (not even smartprice ones is 25p in Asda. Branded cereals are such poor value for money

OATS!!!!

I make a batch of soup on a saturday, DH and I have it for lunch saturday and sunday then I have it for lunches all week- costs next to nothing and is lovely if I say so myself- red lentils are your friend

I make a batch of soup on a saturday, DH and I have it for lunch saturday and sunday then I have it for lunches all week- costs next to nothing and is lovely if I say so myself- red lentils are your friend

Whoever mentioned Lidl, we went there last week and spent £82.00 The only different things from teh week before at Aldi was a bottle of whisky (£12.00) and 4 tins of mackerel(approx 69p each). The shopping at Aldi had been £45 and £47 on 2 consecutvie weeks, so i find them cheaper.

Yes, yes, yes to soup.

Leek and potato is mega-cheap and easy.

But my favoourite is a whole load of root vege, some spices, red lentils, coconut milk - blended.

ahh we don't have aldi near us. or do we.... is the quality the same? i say quality with caution.

Asian supermarkets are great for bulk buying rice, tins, and things like spices and coriander (if you are going to be making lots of soups)

Oats are great! - forgot that one.

have made a very large batch of veggie soup how long will it keep in the fridge? it does have butter in it will this make a difference? iv made enough to last a week, after all the great advice from you guys on my credit crunch thread
tia
also anyone else finding it hard to get there head around the naw layout?

Layout! dont talk to me about it. Its totally thrown me this morning!!!!!

I wouldnt want to keep that soup for a week in the fridge. I would say 3 - 4 days. Soup freezes really well.