WHAT DID YOU HAVE FOR DINNER!!

[degrassi]

Thought i'd bring this thread back

Tonight I made Split pea soup. We had a ham on sunday so I thought i'd use up the bone and make some yummy soup. Turned out delicious except it wasn't quite thick enough.

 

[JimD]

Nothing exciting or different...

Tonight we're having meatloaf, and mac & cheese.

We're on a very tight budget, and could use some low cost ideas for "dinner-for-four".
:help

 

[SnowyShiloh]

Jim, cutting out (or really limiting) meat is one of the easiest ways to make meals cheaper. I suggest making a lot of pasta and rice dishes, and cooking lots of beans and lentils. Eggs are another cheap source of protein. Yummy.

 

[irishbunny]

JimD wrote:

Nothing exciting or different...

Tonight we're having meatloaf, and mac & cheese.

We're on a very tight budget, and could use some low cost ideas for "dinner-for-four".
:help

Ok, here is my perfect opportunity to ask what is meatloaf and mac and cheese? I always hear it on TV and could never figure out what they are :blushan:

 

[Bunnymom,K]

JimD wrote

We're on a very tight budget, and could use some low cost ideas for "dinner-for-four".
:help

I understand feeding a family on a tight budget. We have gone to eating a lot of chicken- it's cheaper than beef or pork and as much as we love fish- it's just too pricey this year. If you pm me I'd be happy to share some recipes.

 

[JimD]

irishbunny wrote:

Ok, here is my perfect opportunity to ask what is meatloaf and mac and cheese? I always hear it on TV and could never figure out what they are :blushan:

Meatloaf is a concoction of ground meat, bread crumbs, egg, and secret seasoning (like salt & pepper, etc).
Mix it all up and form it into a loaf (like bread), or plop it into a loaf pan....and then bake it.

It's kind of like a big ol' hamburger.
We use a similar recipe for burgers and meatballs.

Meatloaf is sliced and served up with what ever sides are desired...smashed taters, rice, veggies, brown gravy, ....and bestest of all .... mac & cheese.

Kraft mac and cheese is the call in this house.
Comes in a blue box....really healthy I'm sure.
It's basically elbow macaroni with a creamy cheese sauce.

Comfort food! :biggrin2: (sorry...no pic of the mac & cheese)

 

[NorthernAutumn]

Hey Jim

I'm also looking for cheap things... I've been picking up a lot of my food half-expired, and been cooking on the last day of sale. Takes a few more trips to the store, but I'm going by there on the way to work anyway...

I would suggest buying whole chickens, and the more unappetizing meat that fewer folks will buy. A slow cooker really helps to give those portions a decent taste. However, I do vegetables (usually frozen/canned) separate from the meat, as they tend to taste a bit off when simmered in meat broth.

As others already said, pasta and rice (even that's becoming precious ) More lentils are good.
Try shopping at the bulk barn; a bit of tupperware will help the dried pulses and pasta stay intact.

 

[PepnFluff]

Ooh cheap things! go to the supermarket late in the evening, everythings being put on half price, bread, yoghurts and all the real expensive stuff gets really cheap also fruit like they're clearing them out for new stuff so its nice n cheap haha. And like bulk things out so if your doing a soup or stew lotsa yummy lentils and pulses put in.Tonight I'm going to make chicken risotto and a nice salad (I most prob need to see if we have chicken though, seems its like the main thing haha) If we don't I might do a nice thai green stirfry

 

[BethM]

I haven't posted in this thread in forever. I've been having really boring things.

This past week has been better. Jason fired up the new grill, and used it Sunday and Monday. (We weren't allowed to have a grill in our apartment, so his mom got us one for a housewarming gift.) Sunday was burgers, on buns with sliced tomatoes, red onion, and lettuce, with grilled corn on the cob.

Monday, Jason grilled some chicken breasts. I didn't have one, as I needed to use up some stuff. I had him grill some chicken with basil and feta sausages that had been hanging around in the freezer for months. Had those with some fried potatoes, chopped; and a scrambled egg.

Tonight, I made my favorite pasta ever: Penne with Rosemary Cream Sauce. I made a double batch, so there was a lot to go around. We had the pasta with leftover grilled chicken breasts, and some toasted French bread with butter. Yum!

 

[BethM]

JimD wrote:

We're on a very tight budget, and could use some low cost ideas for "dinner-for-four".
:help

I'd second the idea of reducing meat as to help lower costs. I am perfectly happy to have several meals a week that are meat-less, so that works well for me. I do know some people think a meal isn't complete without a piece of meat, though. If that's the case, you could just try to have smaller portions of meat, and larger sides.

Potatoes are still fairly inexpensive, and there are tons of ways to make them.
Pasta, as well. I watch sales and stock up when pasta is cheap (less than a dollar a pound), so I always have it on hand. Pasta sauce can be inexpensive, as well. Frozen veggies are on sale quite often here, as well. They're usually better than canned. If you like fresh veggies, just get whatever's in season. It'll be less expensive than out-of season stuff that was shipped a long way.

I eat a lot of rice, which isn't too high. I love it plain, however.

Beans, lentils, eggs, are all great for low-cost protein. Where I am, beef is king, so chicken is actually more expensive. Most places, though, it's the other way around. Especially if you get the whole chicken, or thighs.

 

[hartleybun]

Bunnymom,K wrote:

JimD wrote

We're on a very tight budget, and could use some low cost ideas for "dinner-for-four".
:help

I understand feeding a family on a tight budget. We have gone to eating a lot of chicken- it's cheaper than beef or pork and as much as we love fish- it's just too pricey this year. If you pm me I'd be happy to share some recipes.

im so glad im not the only one eating lots of chicken. i was worried my posts were very repetive meal wise - chicken practically every time. i did see mention of less popular cuts of meat. have always been a fan of these - was raised by grandparents. did notice in my local supermarket that neck of lamb had gotten more expensive then lamb chops. used to be one of the cheapest tastiest cuts going if you slow cook it as a stew.

oh well, am bucking my trend and having pasta in stilton sauce - daughters fave.

 

[mouse_chalk]

Hooray! I was going to bump this up!

I'm going to be needing this thread now that my diet is so strict.... Will welcome any dairy/citrus free recipes!

Last night I made a prawn and courgette curry- really yummy and simple. Sprinkle some salt over courgette/zucchini half-rounds and drain in a sieve. Fry some ginger, garlic and green chilli in a bit of vegetable oil, then add teaspoon turmeric, teaspoon of cumin powder and a tiny pinch of cayenne pepper, some salt, then a tin of chopped tomatoes and the courgettes. Cooked that for about 5-10 mins until the courgettes are almost done, then add the prawns for another couple of minutes. Had that with some rice and soya yoghurt. Yum!

Tonight I'm going to have chicken cooked somehow (not decided yet) and some asparagus that I got the other day, and possibly either some new potatoes or some green beans... healthy stuff!

Chicken is never a cheap meal for me because I will only ever buy free-range, which tends to be more expensive, so I don't have it all that often- when I do, it's normally thighs or legs, but tonight I'm having breast as a special treat

If anyone has any suggestions on how to cook it without using it's best friend the lemon I'd love to hear! :expressionless

 

[NorthernAutumn]

Here's some good ones that I"ve made before, Jen (citrus and dairy free):

Teriyaki chicken stirfry: http://food.chatelaine.com/Recipes/View/Orange_teriyaki_broccoli_toss
^ Just knock out the 2 tbsp frozen orange juice... It will still be great!

Carribean chicken: http://food.chatelaine.com/Recipes/View/Caribbean_chicken_with_pineapple_lime_salsa
^^^ You can just grill up the chicken, and top with grilled mango (nevermind the salsa)

Mint Chicken curry (coconut milk, not cow)
http://food.chatelaine.com/Recipes/View/Mint_chicken_curry

Finally, you can cut chicken into stribs, coat in cajun seasoning, fry it up on the stove, and pop it in tortillas with lettuce/mayo/tomato/cucumber/whatever!

The Chatelaine Recipe file is pretty awesome. I haven't had too many crappy recipies out of there

http://www.chatelaine.com



* Question: does dairy for you include goat's milk? Is it just cow's milk that's an issue?
Soy milk and coconut milk are going to be your best buds

 

[mouse_chalk]

NorthernAutumn wrote:

* Question: does dairy for you include goat's milk? Is it just cow's milk that's an issue?
Soy milk and coconut milk are going to be your best buds

Thanks for all those recipes Autumn! I'll definitely have to try the chicken mint curry one... Yum!

I can have small amounts of milk, but only small. Not sure if it's just cows milk or goat's milk that it applys to, but I wouldn't normally have goat's milk..

The dairy that I can't have is anything else, basically- cheese, cream, sour cream (OMG! Chilli will never be the same!), creme fraiche, buttermilk, etc...

I'm going to try soya milk! Steve wouldn't let me buy it the other day because it tastes awful lol, but I'll just sneak some in when he's not looking

 

[NorthernAutumn]

Chocolate soy milk is pretty awesome

I was actually thinking about chevre/goat cheese..

Are you now lactose intolerant, or is it a milk allergy?
Was just reading this message board and thinking of you: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/348259

 

[mouse_chalk]

NorthernAutumn wrote:

Chocolate soy milk is pretty awesome

I was actually thinking about chevre/goat cheese..

Are you now lactose intolerant, or is it a milk allergy?
Was just reading this message board and thinking of you: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/348259

Nope, I got a diagnosis for my vertigo! I apparently have Migraine Associated Vertigo (thread here http://rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=47502&forum_id=5) and my doctor told me to cut out all possible 'trigger foods' for the time being- so dairy, citrus, caffiene, chocolate, red wine, MSG, high levels of yeast. He didn't mention goat's cheese, but he did say ALL cheese, so I would presume that included goat's cheese too...

 

[NorthernAutumn]

WONDERFUL NEWS!!!!
inkbouce:inkelepht:inkbouce::thumbupinkbouce:inkelepht:inkbouce:

* shall now start posting all the cheese recipes I can think of...":biggrin2:

Well then, best not to tempt fate.
Sounds like you'll be eating a lot of asian inspired cuisine
Lots of indian, vietnamese and thai dishes

 

[mouse_chalk]

NorthernAutumn wrote:

WONDERFUL NEWS!!!!
inkbouce:inkelepht:inkbouce::thumbupinkbouce:inkelepht:inkbouce:

* shall now start posting all the cheese recipes I can think of...":biggrin2:

Well then, best not to tempt fate.
Sounds like you'll be eating a lot of asian inspired cuisine
Lots of indian, vietnamese and thai dishes

Thank you!

I was thinking asian-inspired as well lol... Except I LOVE Vietnamese food and had been making a lot of it, but so many sauces/dressings etc use lime juice/zest! :cry1:


Seriously though, I'll get through it. It'll be tough but oh so worth it if it turns out that I could actually get better!

 

[NorthernAutumn]

This is the other site I particularly adore: http://sundaynitedinner.com/category/sauces/

Maybe this is a good time to branch out into sushi, Jen?
I made some last night, and it was WICKED!
California rolls would probably be best to start with if you're not too keen on the idea

 

[hartleybun]

mouse_chalk wrote:

Chicken is never a cheap meal for me because I will only ever buy free-range, which tends to be more expensive, so I don't have it all that often- when I do, it's normally thighs or legs, but tonight I'm having breast as a special treat

If anyone has any suggestions on how to cook it without using it's best friend the lemon I'd love to hear! :expressionless

know what you mean! im a free ranger too. at the moment im buying the £2.89 pack from tesco of corn fed free range thighs and drumsticks. if i buy two it gives enough for the main meal and something for the children to nibble on the following day - they love a cold chicken drumstick. it works out better value for me to buy chicken this way - a whole chicken doesnt go very far in this household.

im sure im not the only one who finds it a nightmare working out which is the best value for money these days:rollseyes