This will be the last ‘budget meals’ post for a few weeks. Even though I’ve now gotten addicted to checking the prices of everything so I’ll pretty much keep cooking this way. I really think that most people can save quite a substantial amount every month if they just actually start looking at what they’re buying. And where they’re buying it. So many people buy from the same supermarket all the time without thinking twice about the possibilities at other shops. I won’t be naming any names, but there is a certain Supermarket brand that prides themselves in being much cheaper than others. 2 years ago I wouldn’t set foot…
Posts Tagged ‘budget cooking’
South Africans have a lot of culinary things to be proud of. Biltong, Koeksisters, Milktart and Bunny chows are just a few of the better known ones. One of my absolute favourite, proudly South African dishes, has to be Vetkoek. Directly translated Vetkoek is Fat Cake in Afrikaans. Quite ironic really, as too many of these will definitely make you look like a Fat Cake. However, if done right, the dough doesn’t absorb too much oil and the vetkoeks become crispy on the outside and beautifully light and fluffy on the inside. There are so many different ways to enjoy vetkoek. With savoury mince, cheese, syrup…really anything you can think…
Continuing with the budget theme, I thought, nothing is cheaper and more comforting than a good soup. Especially if you cut out the cream and you chop the veg yourself. I have a weakness for the already cut butternut in shops but this adds to the price and it’s unnecessary. If you have a good sharp knife and a good peeler, you can do it in no time yourself. Soup is also great because you can really use whatever you have in the house. Make a gorgeous and nutritious vegetable soup from left over carrots, celery, potatoes. tomatoes and a tin of beans. Add some chicken/beef if you have it….
Once again, I’m aware that lamb is not the cheapest cut of meat therefore a lot of people don’t buy it. But it sure is nice when you find some lamb on special and you can make something seriously delicious but still budget-friendly with it. I find curries and stews to be the best money-saver dishes out there as the meat is usually the cheapest of all the cuts. You can also use relatively little meat and just bulk the dish up with vegetables, which adds nutrition and flavour. That’s what I’ve done with this curry. You could use less meat if you please but with this amount it’s quite…
Image sourced from : nutricoach Always check your local paper for specials and compare prices of items on sale with other stores. Write a list of things you need, this way you are less likely to buy unnecessary items. Stick to the list! Plan your meals a week and even a month ahead. This way you know exactly what you’ll need for the week/month and you won’t spend unnecessarily. Don’t go shopping on an empty stomach A tip that’s both eco-friendly and will save you a little money, is to re-use your plastic bags. Or buy those sturdy material ones which are also re-usable. Buy “Store brand” Products. But be…
Now I know this doesn’t sound budget friendly AT ALL. Bacon is ridiculously expensive and mushrooms aren’t exactly the cheapest vegetable out there. But for 4, this is actually a really reasonable dish. And it helps that it tastes so good. This is the one dish that will debunk all the myths that budget cooking has to be boring and bland. The sauce has plenty of bacon and veg and it’s absolutely silky and creamy (without adding any cream!). Usually I would add 250ml (8.45 fluid ounces) cream and loads of cheese to this which obviously ups the calorie content as well as the price so this is a win-win…
Image sourced from Here. I’ve been thinking more and more about budget cooking lately. So many of my friends and family are cooking on a tighter budget lately (no thanx to the recession) and people have this idea that budget cooking has to be bland and boring. Therefore I have taken it upon myself to re-invent the way people think about ‘cheap cooking’. Not only can it still be utterly delish but it’s also healthier because you won’t be using as much cream, butter and cheese. So it saves you a few Rands and a few kg’s. It’s actually really easy to cook on a budget during winter because stewing…
