After making lasagne yesterday I still have half a slow cooker filled with bolognaise so I thought I might turn that into a nice pot of winter warming chilli.I added 1tsp of chilli, 1tsp of paprika and 1tsp of cumin along with a tin of baked beans (my family hate kidney beans) and cooked it all in the slow cooker again for a few hours.Result - Gorgeous.I think we'll have this instead of curry tomorrow night.UPDATE - This was gorgeous with some reduced pilau rice (10p from Asda) and a reduced naan bread each (5p each). Gorgeous and a bargain! … [Read more...]
Homemade Macaroni Cheese….
I have just made macaroni cheese from scratch for the first time and everyone (even Master Frugal) loved it! That doesn't happen often in this house.I am feeling like a real Domestic Goddess at the moment, although I'm sure that won't last long as I have loads of jobs to do before the kids go to bed.Here's my recipe:300g (ish) Macaroni800ml Milk50g Butter50g Plain flour300g Grated CheeseHamWhile you are cooking the macaroni in one pan, melt the butter in another. When the butter has melted, mix in the flour and stir it for a few minutes. Gradually mix in the milk and keep stirring until it … [Read more...]
The First Frugal Meal Plan….
Welcome to week one in the new and improved Frugal household.... (I am starting early as I need to do my shopping tomorrow)My weekly budget is £50 but I think I am well within that for this week.Thursday Lunch - Soup Tea - Home made macaroni cheese with gammonFriday Lunch - Roast chicken, yorkshire puddings, roasties and veg Tea - Picky buffet teaSaturday Lunch - Beans on toast Tea - Jambalaya for the grown ups and home made pizza and garlic bread for the kidsSunday Lunch - Crumpets Tea - Home made lasagneMonday Lunch - Home made quiche Tea - Toad in the … [Read more...]
Meal 2 – Stretching the Ham Joint….
Here's meal 2 that I have made out of the ham joint. I used the water that I boiled the ham in and added a chopped onion, 4 carrots and 2 biggish potatoes. I cooked it for about 45 minutes and then added some dumplings and cooked for another 25 minutes or so. It tasted lovely and even Mr Frugal ate it which makes a change. … [Read more...]
Healthy Lunches for Work….
Now that I am back at work and on Slimming world, I need to sort out my lunches. The canteen at work is ridiculously priced and there is nothing else near to where I work so I have spent a fortune in there in the past. I now need to make and take frugal lunches that are yummy, filling, frugal and slimming....I regularly don't get away from my desk to eat and as I work with a computer I have been suffering from eye strain and headaches - to the point where I thought I needed glasses. The optician told me that I didn't need glasses but I needed to take more regular breaks so I am going to do … [Read more...]
Whats cooking today…. Updated with the finished tea….
In anticipation of my freezer clear out this week I am making some bolognaise sauce to be frozen for some quick dinners when I am back at work next week.I haven't bought anything in especially to make this, I have just used what was already in the freezer and I am trying to make it without the help of a bolognaise sauce packet mix!To save on time, I have just thrown all the ingredients in the slow cooker and now it's going to quietly bubble away all day without any help from me. When its done, will let it cool and portion it up for the freezer.Super Quick and Easy Spaghetti Bolognaise … [Read more...]
