Habits are the things that add most to the grocery bill. Chances are if you find a brand you like you stick with it rather than risk not liking a cheaper alternative. So it was with us and tinned tomatoes. Not a brand thing, more a habit.
Before we lived in Germany and the Netherlands I would buy chopped tinned tomatoes every week without fail. But since they can be kind of watery I would also throw in a tube of tomato puree to the trolley for good measure. When we moved to Stuttgart I inevitably tried to carry on this habit. BUT tins of tomatoes are not a German staple and they were very expensive. As an alternative I tried the cartons of passata and found to my surprise that they were actually a better product for (in Germany) half the price and they didn't need to tomato puree boost. Since we have moved back to the UK many of the supermarkets now sell basic passata in cartons. Usually it is the same price or even a few pennies cheaper than tins, but of course now I'm not buying puree alongside. Probably saves me 35p on my weekly spag bol or about £18 a year. Just goes to show trying something new can help if you are 1) brave enough to try (it's only one meal not a life sentence) and 2) not lazy and sticking to habit.
Sunday, 2 March 2014
Saturday, 1 March 2014
Jacket Potatoes with Leeks and Mackerel
Jacket Potatoes with Leeks and Mackerel
4 Baking Potatoes
2 Leeks sliced
2 tbsp creamed horseradish
4 smoked mackerel
lemon juice
50g butter
Bake the potatoes in oven.
Heat butter in pan and cook the leeks for about 5 minutes, add the horseradish, flaked fish and lemon juice. Season with pepper.
Halve the potatoes and mash the top with a fork, spread mixture on top and serve.
From Moneysavingexpert you could also use sliced spring onions in place of the leeks and tinned fish (NOT the kind in tom sauce!) in place of the mackerel or kippers in place of the mackerel.
4 Baking Potatoes
2 Leeks sliced
2 tbsp creamed horseradish
4 smoked mackerel
lemon juice
50g butter
Bake the potatoes in oven.
Heat butter in pan and cook the leeks for about 5 minutes, add the horseradish, flaked fish and lemon juice. Season with pepper.
Halve the potatoes and mash the top with a fork, spread mixture on top and serve.
From Moneysavingexpert you could also use sliced spring onions in place of the leeks and tinned fish (NOT the kind in tom sauce!) in place of the mackerel or kippers in place of the mackerel.
Sunday, 11 August 2013
Vegetable fritters
In an attempt to find some way of stretching the family food bill I found a recipe I saved a long time ago...
Courgette Fritters
450g grated courgette
50g grated cheese
2 eggs beaten
4 tbsp plain flour
salt and pepper to season
1)Squish courgettes in a clean dish towel to remove excess water,
2) combine squished courgettes with cheese, eggs, flour and seasoning and shape into pattie shapes
3) Fry in a little oil till each side is golden brown
4) drain and serve
Again it is from Moneysavingexpert I think - but it does strike me that it could be used for other veg as well - grated carrots or parsnips perhaps? Maybe without the cheese and with other flavouring such as curry powder - sort of like a bhaji? Results back as soon as I get some time to experiment....
Courgette Fritters
450g grated courgette
50g grated cheese
2 eggs beaten
4 tbsp plain flour
salt and pepper to season
1)Squish courgettes in a clean dish towel to remove excess water,
2) combine squished courgettes with cheese, eggs, flour and seasoning and shape into pattie shapes
3) Fry in a little oil till each side is golden brown
4) drain and serve
Again it is from Moneysavingexpert I think - but it does strike me that it could be used for other veg as well - grated carrots or parsnips perhaps? Maybe without the cheese and with other flavouring such as curry powder - sort of like a bhaji? Results back as soon as I get some time to experiment....
Saturday, 10 August 2013
Homemade Potato Wedges
Having exited the supermarket with a three figure trolley (again) I spent the afternoon searching both my hard drive and the Web for homemade versions of the processed goods in the trolley in the hopes of not going over budget at the end of the month. One thing that is always in my basket is oven chips and frozen hash browns or potato wedges. I found this recipe (I have a feeling it came from the OS forum board at Moneysavingexpert.com) and intend to give it a go as soon as I have space in the freezer. Home grown spuds should make these practically free!
"Home Made Potato Wedges
Wash and clean about 4 large potatoes, you can use baking ones but its entirely up to you.
Part boil potatoes till a bit soft in the middle.
Spicy:-
2tbsp of oil (any variety)
2 garlic cloves (less / more up to you)
salt + pepper
1 tsp of coriander
1 tbsp of paprika
Mix together and toss potatoes wedges in while still hot
Plain:-
2tbsp of oil (any variety)
2tbsp salt
2tbsp pepper
Mix together and toss potatoes wedges in while still hot
Now at this point after mixing you can wait till fully cooled down put in tub or food bags then freeze.
Or while still warm put into the oven on a baking tray, gas mark 6 for about 25 mins or till soft in the middle."
"Home Made Potato Wedges
Wash and clean about 4 large potatoes, you can use baking ones but its entirely up to you.
Part boil potatoes till a bit soft in the middle.
Spicy:-
2tbsp of oil (any variety)
2 garlic cloves (less / more up to you)
salt + pepper
1 tsp of coriander
1 tbsp of paprika
Mix together and toss potatoes wedges in while still hot
Plain:-
2tbsp of oil (any variety)
2tbsp salt
2tbsp pepper
Mix together and toss potatoes wedges in while still hot
Now at this point after mixing you can wait till fully cooled down put in tub or food bags then freeze.
Or while still warm put into the oven on a baking tray, gas mark 6 for about 25 mins or till soft in the middle."
Tuesday, 29 January 2013
Saving on Packed Lunches:meat slicer
My Christmas present to myself this year...
Andrew James Meat Slicer
This fearsome looking beast cost me around £50 (should have been £140) and has nearly paid for itself already in the month that I have had it. How? I buy boneless roasting joints when they are reduced for quick sale and pop them in the freezer. Then I take them and roast them in the oven and after they have cooled slice them up and package into 100 g packets. Normal cost, for roast pork for example, around £2 per 100g pack - the last joint I roasted this way cost me £6 and I got a meal for the family and 9 bags of sandwich meat - saved £12! I estimate that it should (even allowing for purchase price) save me about £100 on sandwich meat this year alone. It even slices bread so I can turn my own bread from the breadmaker into sliced bread for the freezer (saving around 60p per loaf after ingredients and power). One gadget that I am glad to have in my moneysaving kitchen.
Andrew James Meat Slicer
This fearsome looking beast cost me around £50 (should have been £140) and has nearly paid for itself already in the month that I have had it. How? I buy boneless roasting joints when they are reduced for quick sale and pop them in the freezer. Then I take them and roast them in the oven and after they have cooled slice them up and package into 100 g packets. Normal cost, for roast pork for example, around £2 per 100g pack - the last joint I roasted this way cost me £6 and I got a meal for the family and 9 bags of sandwich meat - saved £12! I estimate that it should (even allowing for purchase price) save me about £100 on sandwich meat this year alone. It even slices bread so I can turn my own bread from the breadmaker into sliced bread for the freezer (saving around 60p per loaf after ingredients and power). One gadget that I am glad to have in my moneysaving kitchen.
Thursday, 22 November 2012
Monday, 12 November 2012
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