As our weekly food shopping bill seems to be on an ever-increasing trajectory, I've been trying to find new ways of putting cheap but tasty nosh on the table every evening. We don't like compromising on the quality of the meat we eat - preferably organic but free-range at the very least - so we've been cutting down on the amount of meat we consume and I've turned my attention to a lot more vegetarian options.
I had a lucky find of Granose Soya Mince reduced to 25p per box in Sainsbury's a while ago, I foolishly only bought one box for me and one for Mum (I was a bit wary in case it provoked a serious flatulence issue - but it was totally fine). I really wish now that I'd bought a lot more as it turned out to be rather tasty. I cooked up the whole box and it made two evening meals for the both of us. The first meal was spaghetti bolognaise with mushrooms, grated carrot, onion, garlic and a tin of tomatoes all tickled up with some Marmite, Lea & Perrins and a beef stockcube. What was left-over from the bolognaise bit I used to stuff a couple of peppers, which made a lovely meal the next day served up with stuffed tomatoes. Stuffed tomatoes have featured quite heavily on the menu here lately, especially as Aldi have some really tasty on-the-vine British beef tomatoes at the moment. Simply stuffed with cooked onion, breadcrumbs, basil and the flesh of the tomato, and topped off with a teeny bit of grated parmesan and some olive oil they make a really tasty, quick accompaniment to all sorts of meals.
I've also been experimenting with potato cakes - not something I'd ever made before but P said his Mum used to make them quite often, so I gave it a go. Left-over mash with a couple of diced spring onions and a bit of tinned sweetcorn is very tasty when coated in breadcrumbs and warmed through in the frying pan. I'm sure they'd be lovely with all sorts of left over veggies mixed up with the mash and next time I make them I'll just use up whatever's lurking in the fridge.
Finally, we've also been having a good old-fashioned lentil loaf on a pretty regular basis. I use an ancient Rose Elliot recipe. As I can buy a two tins of lentils for £1.00 in the local farm shop (the recipe only calls for one tin) it makes a tasty, nutritious and incredibly cheap evening meal. It goes very nicely with the stuffed tomatoes or, to ring the changes, we sometimes have it with grilled courgettes and a white sauce. I also like it cold the next day with a dollop of Hoi Sin sauce!!
We too are eating more vegetarian meals, in a bid to save on the grocery bill and because the husband and I really love vegetarian food. The stuffed tomatoes is a good idea which I'll make in the summer, I have just been grocery shopping and tomatoes are $16.00 @ kilo, but to be fair it's winter, so I don't buy them anyway.
I always have tins of lentils and on the weekend I'll be making some vege and lentil pies for the freezer. It's nice when something delicious is also good for you, don't you think.
Posted by: Barbara Simpson | 07/12/2012 at 06:41 AM
It all sounds delicious. Lidl and Aldi are great for cheap fruit and veg.
Posted by: fiona | 07/12/2012 at 05:42 PM
What fabulous tasty thrifty meals. Very inspirational.
Posted by: Jean | 07/12/2012 at 08:20 PM