Our Extra Frugal Meal Plan for this week 20/01/2014 - £40

I've tried to make our Meal Plan as cheap as possible this week.  Our washing machine was condemned on Tuesday last week and we're waiting for the Property Management Company that looks after the house we rent to provide a new one.  So far I spent £10 on washing and drying our washing at the local laundrette on Friday and spent another £21 doing the same today. Taxi fare there and back today was £11.20.  That's a grand total of £42.20 we didn't budget for, hence the need for a very cheap Meal Plan.

Breakfasts will be porridge, with a little homemade jam for sweetness, during the week and perhaps pancakes or Floating Bread on the weekend.

Lunches

Weekend lunches will probable be Vegetable Pasties, Omelettes or Crustless Quiche using up any vegetables we have left.  Weekday packed lunches for my younger two will be Versatile Scone Swirls made with Vegemite and Cheese with vegetable sticks, a piece of fruit and a baked treat.  Packed lunches for myself, husband and eldest (accompanied by a cheese scone) will be:

Carrot and Coriander Soup

Slow Cooker Spicy Root Vegetable Soup

1 large onion, diced

2 cloves garlic, crushed

2 Tblsp oil

2 large carrots, peeled and sliced

2 potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks

2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks

3 Tblsp plain flour

2 tsp mild curry powder

1 pinch ground chilli (optional)

2 tsp paprika

1 litre vegetable stock

Heat the oil in a large pan over a moderate heat.  Add the onion and garlic then cook until softened.  Add the prepared vegetables and the flour and stir to coat the vegetables in the flour.

Pour the vegetables into the slow cooker.  Add the spices, stock and seasoning to taste.  Cook on high for 4 hours or on low for 6 hours.

When the vegetables are tender, blend the soup until smooth.  I remove the soup from the slow cooker to blend it with a stick blender.  You can do this in batches in a blender or use a stick blender.  Add more liquid if you wish until the soup is the consistency you like.  Serve.

Dinners

Salmon Pasta Bake

500g pasta

300g mixed vegetables

425g tin salmon, drained

2 x 400g tins chopped tomatoes

1 tsp dried mixed herbs

Handful or two of breadcrumbs

100g grated cheese

Preheat oven to 180°C/160C Fan.

Bring a large saucepan of water to the boil. Cook according to packet instructions.  When the pasta has 3 minutes of cooking left, add the frozen mixed vegetables and cook for the final 3 minutes. Drain pasta and vegetables.

Add the drained salmon, tomatoes and mixed herbs to the pasta and vegetables. Stir to mix.  Pour the mixture into a large baking dish,  sprinkle over the breadcrumbs and cheese. Bake for 15 minutes or until the topping is crispy and golden.

Mince and Lentil Onepot (using kidney beans instead of lentils)

Vegetable Bake

400g frozen vegetables

150g grated cheese

4 free range eggs

180ml milk

75g self-raising flour

2 tsp dried mixed herbs

Salt and pepper, to taste

Put the vegetables and cheese in a greased baking dish.  Lightly beat the eggs and milk together in a bowl.  Sprinkle over the self-raising flour and herbs, then add some salt and pepper.  Mix well until you have a lump free mixture.  Pour the egg mixture over the vegetables and cheese.  Bake at 200C/180C Fan for 30 - 35 minutes or until golden brown and set.  Serve either hot or cold with a salad or steamed greens.

Egg and Vegetable Fried Rice

Bean Patties with Potato Wedges and Vegetables

2 cups cooked mixed beans, I'm using a tin of kidney beans and a tin of pinto beans

1 onion, finely diced

1 tsp dried mixed herbs

100g fresh wholemeal breadcrumbs

Sauté the onion and pepper in a little oil for a couple of minutes until it softens then leave to cool for a bit. Mash the mixed beans with a potato masher, leave it a little lumpy – not too smooth. Add the cooled sautéed onion along with the breadcrumbs to the mixed beans and mix everything together thoroughly. Shape into 5 burgers and fry in a little oil for a couple of minutes on each side, until they’re golden brown. Then put them in the oven at 180C for about 10 minutes until completely cooked through. Serve with homemade potato wedges and cooked frozen spinach or a salad.

Macaroni Cheese with Mixed Vegetables

Shopping List

23 items: £40.06

Packets and Cereals

1x Mornflake Superfast Oats (2Kg)                                  £2.18

1x ASDA Smartprice Self Raising Flour (1.5Kg)                45p

1x ASDA Smartprice Long Grain Rice (1Kg)                     40p

2x ASDA Smartprice Pasta Shapes (500g)                       58p

Tins, Jars and Cooking

2x Princes Wild Pink Salmon (213g)                                 £2.50

4x ASDA Smartprice Chopped Tomatoes (400g)              £1.36

3x ASDA Smartprice Red Kidney Beans in Water (400g)   81p

1x ASDA Pinto Beans in Water (300g)                              48p

Frozen

3x ASDA Smartprice Mixed Vegetables (1Kg)                  £2.25

Dairy and Eggs

4x ASDA British Semi Skimmed Milk 4 Pints (2.27L)          £4.00

1x ASDA Smartprice Salted Butter (250g)                         98p

1x ASDA Free Range Mixed Weight Eggs (15)                 £2.00

2x ASDA English White Mature Cheddar (450g)                £5.00

Meat, Fish and Poultry

1x ASDA Butcher's Selection British Beef Mince (500g)    £2.00

Fruit and Vegetables

12 ASDA Bananas (Approx 170g)                                    £1.39

2x ASDA White Potatoes (2.5Kg)                                     £3.00

2kg ASDA Sweet Potatoes                                              £2.36

3x ASDA Whole Cucumber                                              £1.50

2x ASDA Celery                                                              £1.60

1x ASDA Garlic Loose                                                    25p

1x ASDA Smartprice Brown Onions (2Kg)                        98p

2x ASDA Carrots (1.2Kg)                                                 £2.00

2x ASDA British Apples (650g)                                        £2.00

Our groceries cost £40.06 from Asda on 18/01/14. I compared the cost of our shopping had I shopped elsewhere using My Supermarket, had I shopped at Sainsbury's my groceries would've cost £44.91 and had I shopped at Tesco my groceries would've cost £45.39.  If we had a car and I could get to Aldi our shopping would've cost £38.99.

Don't forget to check out all the other fab Meal Plans over on 

At Home With Mrs M.