Frugal, Economical, Quick And Easy Meals

[toggleswitch2]

(230ml = 1 cup. You do the math!)

Went through my pantry (to thin it out) wanting to make something with what was on-hand.

Made a chicken vegetable soup.

In 1/4 cup olive oil I sauteed quickly some dried chopped onion (bought in the spice section of the supermarket). Of course fresh is better, but I was being lazy and thinning the pantry.

I then sauteed 8oz. (one cup) tomato sauce. Just a bit till the color deepens.

Added were:

Can of sliced potatoes (oh hush! I TOLD you I was being lazy)
(I let them absorb the previous mixture for a minute).

Can of peas (drain all items)
Can of carrots
Can of corn
Large can of chicken broth.
Oh I added a bit of ready-made bagged (undressed) cole-slaw.
Add pepper, and parley and BAM! NO salt needed!

Bring to a boil.

I added some pasta "mal-fondano" According to Lydia that means badly-formed or mishshapen pasta. I took half a box [being a half pound (say quarter kilo)] of leftover lasagne noodles and broke it into pieces. Boiled it in the soup for 10 minutes.

Done. Quick, cheap, easy and no meat needed. Serve with home-made crusty, bread cheese and olives. maybe a salad and YUMMERS!

 

[toggleswitch2]

Elata na fame

Come and eat!

 

[toggleswitch2]

So come on guys, what are your ideas and recipes?

 

[paulc]

1 tub carbonera (? sorry I can't spell) sauce
1 packet smoked mixed fish
1 cup ( for the Americans ) frozen garden peas

Mix together, place in oven proof dish then top with 1 packet of ready made supermarket mash potato, grated cheese and crushes crips ( chips ) the latter optional

Bake at 200 c for 25 mins

Result.......lovely fish pie

 

[toggleswitch2]

That's about 400*F IIRC!

 

[j2400]

Well, the super easy, frugal solution might simply be dropping in at your place right about dinner time!

 

[toggleswitch2]

Momma always said backdoor guests are best...........



Come on down!

I wanna see what Rich and Chuck made/make. I drool just thinking of it!

 

[j2400]

On a more serious note

Usually, I try to calculate things so I use them up without having to "thin." It just works better for me. But a couple of ides: some soups are a good, forgiving way of using up stuff. My way of making any vegetable soup involves "inspiration of the moment." Which is partly influenced by "what is lurking in the pantry." Another idea that I haven't tried, but apparently works well, is the Italian Frittata.

 

[gadgetgary]

And I know Steve had a great bread to go with his soup

We just made it yesterday. It is a variation of corn bread made in a 2lb. Breadman Plus bread machine(found at the same thrift store as the toaster ovens in the other thread).

It has a great texture, unlike traditional corn bread. Here is the recipe:

1 egg + water to equal 1 cup
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup oil
1/3 cup sugar
2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup dry milk
4 cups flour(bread or regular)
2/3 cup cornmeal
2 tsp. yeast

 

[toggleswitch2]

Should we be re real *UNTS and tell them the machine cost $2.50?

Let's not. LOL

 

[toggleswitch2]

IIRC cornmeal is called "corn flour" in the UK.

 

[paulc]

Soup

My Mum used to make "yellow soup".....( no laughter please!!!!). Basically left over veg cooked up with carrots and stock and blended............fantastic warm your sole food.

My Mum taught me a lot about how to make the most of your food, when I was growning up we didn't have a lot of money but alway remember my Mum baking, making jam, chutney, pickles etc. These are skills that are being lost now........I know one girl who's parents went away for a week, first time she had to cook for herself ( she was 25) she phoned me and asked how long you boiled lettuce for, as she cooked it for 15mins and it tasted horrible!!

 

[toggleswitch2]

oh yeah and a teasponn = 5ml.
Tablespoon is 15ml.

 

[petek]

Come on now.. don't you have a vintage appliance of some sort you could cook that in.. like an Oster Super Pot or Sunbeam Versa Pot or something from West Bend or Presto even. One must always strive to make things using electricity as much as possible!!! I'll give credit for the bread machine usage.
I made meatloaf the other day and always hating to soil my hands I did the mixing in my Bosch. Just to the right of it you can make out my trusty old Moulinex food processor which was used to cream the onions, bread crumbs, celery and carrots. This machine was sold in the US as La Machine I think

 

[petek]

The finished product. I'd forgotten to take a picture until after I had started eating. The potatoes were whipped courtesy of my KA hand mixer.

 

[gadgetgary]

One must always strive to make things using electricity as m

Agreed. More gadgets!

Toggles is being a bit frugal. He pays for gas and hardly uses his stove. Same charge each month so there must be a minimum.

 

[toggleswitch2]

LOL.

I pay for the priviledge of gas service, and don't even use the minimum. That and the lack of adequate electricity, and I have gone back to gas cooking. *FEH*

 

[toggleswitch2]

NO MORE STUFF!

Toy chest....electrical cooking and gadgets.

Juicer
3qt/3L electric sauce pot
Electric iced-tea maker
Mini chopper
5qt/5L electric soup pot
Electric skillet/frying pan
Slow cooker
Rice cooker.

Oh and I have a toaster-oven! *LOL*
Other toys for entertaining are in storage!

Oh please child, I have WAY too many toys (and not enough electricity HUSH NOW!). I grew up in a house that did not have a tea pot or tea kettle, nor a soup turreen and honest-to-god I still dont see the need for them! *LOL*

Someone (special) in my life collects percolators. I have SIX already just here in my one-bedrorom apt. Never mind how many in storage.

NO MORE STUFF! LOL

 

[toggleswitch2]

WHOEVER DIES WITH THE MOST TOYS WINS!

LOL