Cheap, quality, food

Apparently we poor people are not going to live as long as rich people. When I say poor, most of us are either monetary poor, have poor knowledge of how to cook, or mostly, time poor, to cook real food.

I suppose a whole generation has been educated without domestic science on the curriculum and the last 20 years has been the era of fast food and ready meals. It is all far to easy to get a take away or pop a ready meal in the microwave especially with so much clever marketing between favourite soap operas.

At the same time we also seem to have more TV programs about cooking than ever. What we really need is a reason to cook and knowledge to make live easier, cheaper and healthier.

So this is my attempt at a thrifty menu for 2 for a week (http:/www.bigbarn.co.uk/thriftmenu.pdf). These are the kind of meals I enjoy and you will notice reflect my taste for savoury rather than sweet. To find cheap seasonal food check your local food map and click on the icons with the '£' flag, that are cheaper than the supermarket. And please comment below with your cooking on a budget ideas/recipes.

Comments

Posted by Marion Fordy on 17th 2010f February, 2010 @ 10:43am:

In our house we always cook properly and sit down together for meals. No takeaways or ready meals eaten sitting in front of the telly. We all eat well with good manners and have a good chat as a family should!

Posted by James Hodges on 18th 2010f February, 2010 @ 5:16pm:

Great to see offal in your recipe list and cheap cuts like Skirt of lamb which id delicious if cooked slowly so all the fat comes out. It is amazing how cheap pigs liver is and so easy to make in to a pate. I am also very keen on devilled kidneys for breakfast, another thrifty high protein meal!

Posted by sam mandry on 19th 2010f February, 2010 @ 7:33pm:

love the menus - I find spending the time to plan meals is a real money saver. I would probably switch out the pate for mushrooms on toast(its a cholesterol thing!) and switch the lamb for a chicken - for the same reason, the bonus being I would make stock for the risotto. I would also love to know where you can still get chopped tomatoes for 15p a tin ;0)

Posted by Marian on 20th 2010f February, 2010 @ 3:30pm:

I dont have an oven, only a microwave and most recipes don't allow for this; I have no idea how to 'convert' ....?

Posted by sue on 22nd 2010f February, 2010 @ 11:58am:

can't get your thrift menu. it's unavailable

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