Spicy mince meat and fried rice.

Put a tiny bit of oil in a wock/pan put mince meat in add a little salt and black pepper curry powder and a little chilly powder. Mix together till cooked. (If you put to much chilly in add a little brown sugar that will take the heat out off it) Wash rice untill water clean place in micawave on high for ten min. stur, then another 10min. It should be soft to the touch. Place a little oil in a wok/large pan place in the rice mix in soya sauce. Then stir in spicy mince. Serve hot or cold with curry sauce over the top or with salad. Goes a long way very tasty and filling. Teenagers love it. My 22yr old son stirs in tinned sweetcorn 20p a tin in Asda.
Cooking time approx 20/25mins.

How about good old fashioned Lancashire Meat and Tatoe pie, Dice some beef skirt a couple of onions a carrot and lots of sliced potatoes into a dish with some beef stock, cook covered till the meat is tender (In the oven) then make a nice slab of pastry and lay over the top cook untill golden brown and scoff with sliced brown bread and (Traditionally) pickled red cabbage!
Mmmm Yummmy!
I also sometimed do a liver stir fry with sliced liver, onions,  peppers etc and a thick gravy served on a bed of rice.
Aileen

If you go on to the Old Style board at Money Saving Expert, you'll find more cheap recipes - and other ways to save money - than you can shake a stick at.

Think some of the general principles already mentioned here are very useful, and I already follow some of them on health grounds as much as money - bulk meat out with veg, lentils or oats. Meat is obviously the most expensive ingredient - if I made my husband a vege chilli, he'd feel really cheated, and I have to say I also struggle with meals that don't include meat.

Howver, as long as it has a bit of meat in it, he doesn't seem to notice how little there is when most of the chilli is made up of assorted beans and veg - so I make up a big pot of that and freeze batches, always tastes better for the keeping anyway. Keep meaning to get my act together and try the dried beans rather than tinned ones, as they're even cheaper.

I really enjoyed MSE when we were scrimping and saving for the wedding. It becomes quite good sport really, and gives you quite a different attitude to the fact that we're all having to tighten those belts.

M.

>> dundee its definately stovies
> I'm fae Fife. :-) Don't live there any more tho. :-( Went to nursery school in Dundee - but don't recall ever having CBH. :-D

i lived in dundee and fife,still call it stovies now in wales! it reminds me of b-ferry market on freezing winter mornings,had to get some to warm you up!:-)

Anyone got any healthy Veggie options that are quick,cheap and easy?
My budget is always tight particularly as my o/h aint veggie and i have to cook 2 separate meals

Lea can you not claim working family tax credit?

I'm too a single mum but believe You are what you eat - Food is one thing I won't economise on. 

Hi Philly

My sister used to have the same trouble when she and her daughter were vege but her OH and son were not.  She would often cook a vegetarian base like savoury rice, lentil casserole or pasta then the boys could add their own meat portion.  Sometimes just a bit of chopped bacon will do the trick for them to feel it's not a pure vegetarian option.  At least that way you're not cooking 2 completely diff meals!!

She'd also do an amazing nut roast (yes a vege joke!) that they/we all liked.  She'd then cook a trad roast meal for all of them but with vegetarian gravy and the boys would eat her nut roast like it was stuffing but also get the roast chicken or turkey.

Another quickish cheap meal - a packet of stuffing, add part cooked softened mushrooms, onion and any other chopped leftover vegetables and or pulses.  Cook in a dish like stuffing and eat like a nut roast.  My neice developed this as her favourite diy meal.  She'd also slice it cold and put it in sandwiches with pickle for the next day - student food!!  She said she once used it to make vege scotch eggs too...

> It becomes quite good sport really, and gives you quite a different attitude to the fact that we're all having to tighten those belts.
>

I know what you mean. :-) You do get a good sense of satisfaction when you save money - especially when you manage to produce a healthy nutritious meal for pennies. Economising on food doesn't necessarily mean cutting down on quality or quantity.

> Grow your own fruit and veggies

There is so much satifaction in cooking food you have grown.

My children loved going in the local supermarket to see the "funny" straight carrots!!

One of my kids fav winter warmers.

Dry fry mince, drain off any fat, back to pan , add stock onions and peas. all sorts can be added bit of chilli etc.

Mash spuds, swedes and carrots. layer of mince,layer of spud,layer of mince, layer of carrot/swede,layer of mince top off with mash, a bit of cheese. throw in the oven to brown off.

A good gollop of thick onion gravy mmmmmmmmmm.

Yes I do get WTC and CTC
Unfortunatly, after economising everywhere else, food has to be as well :)
And actually, I am eating more healthily now THINKING about what I am cooking than just going to the shops and grabbing whats on the shelf LOL
At the moment I have dried broth mix soaking in the kitchen, Diced carrots and Shredded onion in the fridge ready to chuck in the slow cooker in the morning along with Dried coriander, Chicken Stock and salf and pepper so its ready for when I get back from cross country race tomorrow afternoon :)
Then the remainder will be blended and put in the fridge to go in my flask at work for the week :D :D :D
Oh and my dad has an allotment so I get quite a bit of veg from there!!!
Anyone know a recipe for beetroot soup????
Lea :)

> Anyone know a recipe for beetroot soup????

I do! And I love it! It is the most gorgeous coloured soup I've ever seen. It's lovely with a bit of feta cheese crumbled on the top.

beetroot & potato soup
Preparation Time: 5 - 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 40 - 50 minutes

Serves: 4

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 chopped onion
250g potatoes
300g raw beetroot, diced
1.5 litres vegetable stock
bouquet garni
1 tablespoon wine vinegar
1 tablespoon lemon juice
seasoning
sour cream (or feta!)

Instructions

1. Heat oil, add onions and potatoes, cook for 5 minutes.

2. Add the beetroot, water, bouquet garni, vinegar and lemon juice. Bring to the boil and simmer for 40-50 minutes. Blend until smooth.

3. Season and add the cream (or feta!)

Thank you.
That sound delicious. I have beets that need using.I could freeze this as well, do you think?

Woo hoo :)
I will try that :) :)
Will nick the beetroot from mums later and try it on wed :)
Lea :)

> Anyone know a recipe for beetroot soup????
> Lea :)

Barszcz is Polish beetroot soup and is basically  clear chicken broth, with beetroot's cooked and removed, lots of pepper, parsley and Lemon juice. 

It is usually served with met filled pasta ears or a small meat pasty.

> I could freeze this as well, do you think?

I've not frozen it myself before, but I can't see why it wouldn't be fine to freeze :-)

Blast, Dad threw the beetroot out as noone was using it LOL
Hopeing he has some more down the allotment :) :)
Will find out tomorrow :)
Lea :)

Is beetroot easy to grow, do you know?
I might have a go at growing my own next year. Would love to have my own supply of fresh beetroot :-)

I found it very easy to grow and nothing seems to eat it pest wise.

Thanks Brainless :-) I'll give it a try.