There was recently a competition exclusively on the Facebook Group. The competition was to create a 3 course celebration meal for 2 people at 80p a head. This proved to be even more challenging than I anticipated, even for our very talented membership, as only 3 people put an entry in. So a loud round of applause for those people, each of whom have created a very nice sounding menu.
I’ve added a couple of options from the archives too. This all means we now have several choices for a special meal, for whatever reason, without breaking the bank, and even being able to stay in £1 a day budget. I say that’s pretty much a Result!
by Ana-Maria Dumitriv
Starter – Butternut squash soup with crispy onion topping
Butternut squash roughly £1
half an onion 5p
chilli flakes 2p
smoked paprika 2p
basil 5p
veg stock cube and 600ml water 3p
black pepper 2p.
£1.20 total makes 4 portions at 30p each
Main – Spaghetti carbonara
1/4 pack spaghetti 5p
3 egg yolks 12p
chunk of cooking bacon 10p
handful baby spinach 10p
oil 2p
Makes 2 portions at 20.5p each
Pudding – Chocolate mousse
3 egg whites 12p 50g
(1/2 pack) dark chocolate 15p
Tsp lemon juice 5p
2 heaped tbsp Sugar 5p
Makes 2 portions at 16.5p each
3 meal course for 67p a head. All prices are Asda online
by Karen Thomas – the Winning entry
Starter – Roasted squash and feta
Aldi Squash 49p for 1.2 kg 12p @ Aldi
Feta @ 95p 15p @ 15g
Seasoning and pomegranate molasses drizzle @ 2p
Main – Leek and pea risotto with Basa
Tesco Leek 250g for 50p 50g @ 10p
Risotto rice 1.19 for 500g 24p @ 100g
Basa @ 2.00 32p per 50g
Frozen peas 62p per 900g 80g @ 6p
Veg stock homemade 0
Oil and seasonings 2p
Dessert – Berried Meringues
Aldi Meringue nest 89p for 8 2 @ 23p
Double cream 300ml 89p 50ml @ 14p
Frozen fruit 1 49p 500g 50g @15 p
Starter 32p Main 74p Dessert 52p Total £1.58p plus 2p for other seasonings, 80p per person
by Mary Gardner
Starter – Pate & Crackers
Sardines, 0.34 used 2/3
lemon juice 0.22
Black pepper 0.02
Crackers 0.06 0.30
Main – Gammon, Pineapple, Egg and Veg
Gammon 0.40
Pineapple 0.20
Potato 250g 0.10
Peas 100g 0.06
Tomato 0.10
Eggs 0.16
Seasoning 0.02 1.04
Pudding, Peaches, Berries & Cream
Peaches 33p div 6 0.11
Cream Tin blitzed rice pudding 20p used quarter 0.05
Berries picked out of kg bag. 0.08 0.24
Total £1.58, 79p per person
From the Archives
I decided to have a look too as the challenge had proved difficult and I’ve found this menu using items from the archives. It comes in at around 78p. Would probably be cheaper as you wouldn’t want the full dauphinoise with the other 2 courses
Starter – mixed vegetable hummus with little breads
A tablespoon each of Pea hummus, Sweetcorn hummus and Parsnip hummus with a penny wrap made into small rounds the size of wine glass tops, or made into heart shapes. 11p each
Another Trio of Vegetable Hummus – Beetroot, Parsnip and Swede
Flowers blooming in the garden and wraps made with dough that’s been in the fridge for several days
Mains – a mixed vegetable dauphinoise
this is a large main course, so you probably won’t need this much in a 3 course menu
Pudding – self saucing chocolate pudding
And here’s a 2nd one from the archives
Starter – Cipolline in Sweet & Sour Sauce
Onions in a sweet and sour sauce, with some fresh crusty bread to mop up the sauce
Mains – Cabbage, Sultana & Nut Pasta Bake
This pasta bake is very filling, so to fit in with our 80p budget, I’d serve just a little less of it than usual
Pudding – A Warm Chocolate Brownie, with a trickle of Double Cream
So there we have it, several options for a really nice 3 course dinner with someone special, without spending masses. I do hope you like these special menus, and if you come up with one, let us know!
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