by Thrifty Lesley | Jan 2, 2014 | Saving Money
Had a good first dieting day yesterday and had what I had planned. Did some exercise, and have done some today too. I am doing the 5:2 type diet, but every day for a while, until I get fed up of it anyway. I had 50g porridge oats, made with water and 2 tsps muscovado...
by Thrifty Lesley | Jun 19, 2013 | All Recipes, Less than 500 calories, Lunches, Meal Plan 1, Meal Plan 4
This post was first written in June 2013 and updated in June 2021. Pea soup, a lovely quick and simple soup using frozen green peas and not a lot else. And at 16p a serving, a cheap family recipe. How To Make Green Pea Soup Simmer frozen green peas in 500ml water for...
by Thrifty Lesley | Jun 18, 2013 | All Recipes, Less than 500 calories, Lunches, Meal Plan 1
This post was first written in June 2013 and updated in June 2021. Carrots are extremely nutritious and we have been eating them for thousands of years. Worldwide, 40 million tonnes of carrots are grown, the majority in China. Making soup using carrots A delicious,...
by Thrifty Lesley | Nov 27, 2021 | All Recipes, Cakes and Bakes, Less than 500 calories, Meal Plan 2
Raisin Biscuits Post originally published October 2013, refreshed and updated November 2021 These little biscuits are fun to make, especially if you make tiny hearts or teeny squares. Spice them up with cinnamon or mixed spice at Christmas time. Or see the variations...
by Thrifty Lesley | Nov 27, 2021 | All Recipes, Less than 500 calories, Meal Plan 2, Sides
Caramelised Onions Post first written in January 2015, refreshed and updated November 2021 In Meal Plan 2, there are 750g of onions left after all the recipes have been made, so I thought I’d use them to make this very useful condiment to use as you wish...
by Thrifty Lesley | Oct 7, 2014 | My Diary
I haven’t posted for a few days, but I haven’t disappeared and I hope you don’t feel too neglected. I have been busy working on Thrifty Lesley in the background. I’ve been putting meal plans onto Pinterest and trying to get all the recipes onto...
by Thrifty Lesley | Nov 15, 2023 | All Meal Plans, Christmas, Vegetarian Christmas Meal Plan
If you are on a tight budget, Christmas food can be very difficult, causing stress, and maybe even debt too. No need to get into debt, when with a bit of extra planning, you can enjoy a delicious vegetarian Christmas festive meal, without spending a fortune. Re-Priced...
by Thrifty Lesley | Feb 22, 2023 | All Recipes, Breakfast, Less than 500 calories, Meal Plan 1, Meal Plan 10, Meal Plan 2, Meal Plan 7
Raisin Pancakes This is an idea I first came across on Cheap Family Recipes, I absolutely love them, especially with a strawberry compote with full flavoured summer strawberries The raisins contribute towards your need for a portion of purple each day. I think this is...
by Thrifty Lesley | Dec 14, 2022 | All Recipes, Breakfast, Dinners, Less than 500 calories, Lunches
Chicken and Sun Dried Tomato Sandwich Paste After yesterdays flavoured and potted cheeses, todays sandwich filler is a chicken and sun dried tomato paste. Simple and delicious. How to make chicken paste My sun dried tomatoes came from a big container of them with a...
by Thrifty Lesley | Nov 21, 2022 | Christmas, Saving Money
Home Made Christmas Hampers At this time of year, thoughts begin to turn to gifts for friends and family. Many people like to make a hamper, personally, I love to receive a hamper containing anything food related. Want to do a homemade Christmas hamper? What a...
by Thrifty Lesley | Nov 18, 2022 | Christmas, Saving Money
A budget Christmas? Christmas Season People are starting to talk about the Christmas season for 2022 now, maybe you are too. If you are struggling to make ends meet, November and December can be a very stressful time. Thoughts may turn to how the hell you are going to...
by Thrifty Lesley | Aug 6, 2022 | All Recipes, Lunches, Round Up Post
School packed lunches – the dreaded chore! Can you feed a hulking teenager for 30p a head? Ideas for school packed lunches – many people with school aged children need them. Packing up a lunch box for children or an adult packed lunch is bad enough. It can...
by Thrifty Lesley | Jul 21, 2022 | All Recipes, Dinners, Less than 500 calories, Lunches, Stretch A Chicken
Spicy red lentil soup- Stretch A Chicken (7) This spicy carrot and lentil soup uses chicken stock made when processing a roast chicken carcass. The stock brings a great deal of flavour to the soup. If you don’t have any home made stock, use a good quality stock...
by Thrifty Lesley | Jul 20, 2022 | All Recipes, Dinners, Stretch A Chicken
Spicy Chicken Pasta Bake – Stretch A Chicken (4) Got a little bit of chicken to use up? Try it in this spicy pasta bake- make it as hot and spicy as you like! How to make Spicy Chicken Pasta Chop the onion and sauté in a little oil until soft. Add garlic,...
