[John]

We're looking for recipes that are wholesome but cheap. Could be vegetarian or utilising a cheap cut of meat or offal. Credit crunch beaters for the family

The best recipes will be put on the recipe pages of the site.

The prize is a copy of Carol Klein's latest book, Grow Your Own Fruit. There's an extract from the book on the web site: How to Grow Peaches & Nectarines

The competition is open to all members and you may enter more than one recipe. The winner will be chosen by Allotment Growing at the end of April

The Legal Stuff

By entering you agree to grant to the allotment growing website group including sub-domains and associated sites thereof a non-exclusive licence to publish and use your recipe and extracts from your recipe on the site.

The prize must be taken as stated and cannot be deferred. There will be no cash alternative. Prize(s) unclaimed after 28 days will be deemed to have been forfeited and Allotment Growing reserves the right to offer the prize to another entrant. The winner will need to provide their name and address in order to receive their prize.

Recipes should be in line with the theme of the competition. Entries that do not comply in the sole opinion of Allotment Growing will not be eligible. The decision of Allotment Growing to accept or reject an entry is final. No correspondence will be entered into.

[annie2006]

ok this is my huge batch bake recipe which i make every month without fail. it makes: 2 spag bol, 5 chilli con carne and one shepherds pie for a family of 5 ( 2 adults and 3 small children), so a total of 40 portions  :blink:
but only uses 1kg of mince

ingredients (looks long but thats because you are making 8 meals!)
1kg mince
3 onions
cpl cloves of garlic
2 oxos or if you are really good the left over juices from a previous beef joint
6 tins toms (or fresh/frozen if you have plenty)
tube of tom puree
any veg you need using up ie peppers, celery, carrots, courgette cut up small or grated
cpl handfuls of porridge (sounds rank but trust me!)
cpl handfuls red lentils
6 cans of beans - can use a mix of baked beans, chickpeas, kidney beans whatever you like / is on offer
chilli powder / fresh chillis to your taste.
some mashed potatoes
a bit of strong grated cheese (stronger it is the less you need to use)

in the biggest pan you can find, fry your mince with onions and garlic. add the oxos and chopped veg and cook until all nicely browned. add the lentils and porridge and a good amount of water for them to soak up. add the toms and cook for about 20 mins (just watch it has enough water).

now you can split into your meals.

put one portion into the bottom of a casserole dish and pile with your mashed potatoes and a bit of grated cheese. either freeze at this point or pop in oven for 40 mins at 180c.

add the tom puree and split the remaining mixture in half. one half should make you 2 nice sized family portions of bolognese sauce which you can pot up and freeze.

the other half of the mixture is gonna be your chilli. add all your beans and chilli and cook for another 15 mins until the beans are soft. split into 5 tubs.


i think it works out at around a £1 / £1.50 a meal

[mumofstig]

Think that's gonna be hard to beat!

[Ropster]

Bargain tastic,

But are you realy sure about the porridge ?, can you tell its there at the end ?

[annie2006]

you honestly cannot taste, see or smell the porridge its just there to make the meal stretch a bit further (and be even healthier), and if you have fussy easters in the family like me  , you needn't even mention to them its there.

[poultrygeist]

A nice one to hold your feet to the floor.

Potato and Leek Crunch
 
300g/10oz potatoes, scrubbed
150g/5oz leeks, washed
a sprig of rosemary
1x400g/14oz can chopped tomatoes, drained
a pinch of chilli powder
 
300ml/0.5pt cheese sauce *
 
75g/3oz breadcrumbs
25g/1oz butter or margarine, melted
50g/2oz sunflower seeds, browned under the grill
1 scant tbs chopped raw onion
 
Cut the potatoes and leeks into small dice. Cover with water, add the rosemary and simmer for 8-10 mins, or until the vegetables are tender but still slightly crisp. Drain thoroughly and remove the rosemary.
 
Mix the cooked vegetables with the drained tomatoes. Season to taste with a little chilli powder, then fold in the cheese sauce. Pour into an ovenproof dish.
 
For the topping, mix the breadcrumbs withthe melted butter or margarine and fold in the sunflower seeds and raw onion. Mix throughly.
 
Spread the toppping over the vegetables. Bake at 180C/350F/gas mark 4 for 25-30 mins or until golden brown and crisp on top.
 
* cheese sauce
40g/1.5oz plain flour
40g/1.5oz butter or margarine
450/5fl oz milk
50-75g/2-3oz grated cheese
bay leaf (optional)
salt and pepper
 
Put all the ingredients into a saucepan and whisk continuously with a wire whisk over a medium heat until the sauce comes to the boil and becomes smooth. Simmer for 5 mins to allow the flour to cook thoroughly,
stirring occassionally with a wooden spoon. Remove the bay leaf, add cheese,salt and pepper and stir until the cheese has melted.
 
You can also add different vegetables and increase the quantities. Sweet potato, squash and carrots work well.
 

[Elaine G]

Wow thanks Poultrygeist I was only wondering this afternoon what else to do with the leeks left on my plot!
 This sound very tasty, and economical too.

Cheers

Elaine

[poultrygeist]

believe me it's one of my favourites !   Thanks once again to Mrs PG. 

Rob

[mrs bouquet]

Take everyhting out of your pantry that is out of date.
Take everything out of your freezer that is out of date.

(Within reason !!!)

Then check them carefully, for anything untoward, and chuck it all into a big pot, and cook it   !!!!!!    Mrs Bouquet

[Ice]

Pasta and tomato sauce

1shallot or half a small onion
1tin chopped tomatoes
Olive oil, extra virgin if you have some
1tsp red wine vinegar
1tsp tomato puree, optional
1 tsp sugar
Any fresh or dried herbs.  Basil, thyme, oregano parsley etc
Salt and pepper
Creme fraiche, mascarpone or cream if you have some.
Cheese, whatever you have to hand

Soften shallot in oil.  Add red wine vinegar and reduce until it has practically all evaporated.  Add tomatoes, tom puree, sugar, s&p and dried herbs if using.  (Add fresh herbs at the end).  Mascarpone is best and if you are making this for more than one is well worth buying.  Stir in about a tablespoonful.

Enough pasta for one person or two at a stretch.  Sprinkle with cheese.

[Bombers]

Take everyhting out of your pantry that is out of date.
Take everything out of your freezer that is out of date.

(Within reason !!!)

Then check them carefully, for anything untoward, and chuck it all into a big pot, and cook it   !!!!!!    Mrs Bouquet

Leftovers night we call it!

[annie2006]

Take everyhting out of your pantry that is out of date.
Take everything out of your freezer that is out of date.

(Within reason !!!)

Then check them carefully, for anything untoward, and chuck it all into a big pot, and cook it   !!!!!!    Mrs Bouquet

LOVE it!!!

[hindy]

Heres my recipe for my version of Corned Beef Hash
Very cheap to make and yummy.

1 tin Corned Beef
1 Large Onion
2 Tomatoes
1 large tin Baked Beans
Worcestershire Sauce
2/3 LB Spuds
Cheese for topping

Take a large dish
Slice the Corned Beef making enough slices the cover the bottom of the dish.
pour on the tin of beans
add a splash of worcestershire sauce
soften the onions by lightly frying and add them to the dish.
Slice the tomotoes and layer them in the dish
peel and slice the spuds. boil until nearly cooked.
add the sliced and cooked spuds to the dish in layers.
grate the cheese and sprinkle on top of the sliced spuds.

Bake in the oven gas mark 5 for about 25 / 35 min or until the cheese is golden brown.
Serves about 8 people.
ENJOY.   Yummmm

[Elaine G]

Hi
Just like to say I enjoyed Poultrygeist's Potato and leek crunch tonight  - vey tasty.
Mmm now what next - corned beef hash sounds good.
I can't think of a frugal recipe to post at present, I am just hanging around here testing yours!!

Cheers

Elaine

[poultrygeist]

Glad you enjoyed it Elaine.
(I can't claim any credit for the recipes. All the work of my OH).

I might suggest the corned beef hash too. Makes you hungry reading this thread.

Rob