for fabulously frugal food
This is a suggested week with approximate costs, and a few alternative ideas. I have plundered Thrifty Lesley archives for some of the cheaper recipes to bracket the more expensive provisions for Christmas Day itself. Suggested amounts are for 2 people, as usual. I have tried to put in as many festive flavours as I could, using seasonal spices, cranberry sauce, stuffing, sage and mince pies
A no-bake cheesecake, topped with a fruit compote, or what you will. Very moreish, so I only make it in small portions!
Any of the dahls could be used as a side dish with something else. They all freeze brilliantly and reheat well in the microwave, so great for work if you have a microwave there. This one is fragrant with lemon
Here is another dahl recipe, a coconutty one this time. I like to use brown basmati rice with most things, if you wanted to use value rice, it would reduce the cost to just 17p a portion. This is a very quick meal, from packet to table in 20 minutes, and most of that time is the lentils simmering, so you could get on with something else
I have had this a few times, I have a clipping in my little brown book from where I cut it out from somewhere. It is extremely tasty and amazingly quick, you need to prepare the nan in advance, otherwise it just takes a few minutes.
Had this for dinner this evening. Just pasta with soft cheese and tomato purée stirred through. Took 10 mins to make. It was thick and extremely tasty.
A simple combination made a little bit special by slicing and grilling to get crispy bits
Just been having a little experiment in the kitchen. Due to budgetry constraints on our plans I have been musing about baking without eggs. I used to do it years and years ago but had completely forgotten what I did, except that it involved a little vinegar.
250g flour mixed with yeast, water and a handful of something else makes four portions of lovely bread
This is a delicious soup. Mildly spicy and creamy, a lovely cold weather lunch, filling, warming and tasty. Serve with either herb bread or tomato scones.
This recipe is one I have had in my recipe book for a very long time. As is the case with many curries, it is very variable. You can change the vegetables around pretty much to whatever you want
Made some granola this evening. The whole place now smells of vanilla, a delicious smell. The granola is for the 4th meal plan and the entire huge box of it is available for use during the week if required.