Eating Well on a Shoestring

These days most of us are conscious of the need to save pennies, even as prices are rising all around us due to the economic problems most countries are experiencing. Fortunately for me I have always been unwilling to pay more than I need to for anything (stingy, scrooge-like perchance lol). Quite a conundrum really because I also hate shopping around for things, can't abide bargain hunting per se and yet I have always had an eye for a bargain when I come across it by chance and love the thrill of making something special out of the bits and bobs left over in the refrigerator or cupboard as it comes time to shop again :)

I was brought up to make sure that there was always food on the table and that most of it was from fresh ingredients rather than take out and over the years since we have been married, I have worked hard to vary our diet and make it as interesting as possible even when saving money. It's been a source of pride to be able to provide most of our meals for way under £5 for the two of us and my hubby got so impressed when he realised that he has been nagging at me for some time to write an ebook filled with recipes and meal suggestions. So.. I finally started working on it, it's surprising how difficult it is to sit down and think up the various recipes and meal suggestions that I use daily so I thin kit will take a while as I am tending to add to it each time I plan our menu for a particular day.

One of the ways that I have been able to produce special looking meals for such a reasonable price is because I tend to use core ingredients and then just vary a few in each recipe so that I always have the staples available and I can buy them in bulk to save money. I also buy supermarket own brand produce a lot of the time as I have found it just as good and because I am including it in a recipe rather than serving it alone, it really is difficult to tell the difference from top of the range stuff.

Actually it gives me a secret smile to have my hubby so convinced that people will be interested to learn my secrets because I was always the daughter who hated cooking at home with my folks, and there was a time when we both had very stressful jobs working long hours when we wouldn't have survived if it wasn't for M&S food hall and ready meals, so this is definitely a skill that I have learned over the past 6 years or so since I have gotten older and wiser. Most of the meals I cook, apart from being very reasonable cost wise are also quick to prepare and cook. My hubby hates me spending hours in the kitchen, so the only things I cook that take longer than 20 - 45 minutes are soups which you don't have to watch continuously. That can be a boon for when you are working long hours as well cos after all who wants to come home and spend a couple of hours preparing and cooking food after a hard day at work?

Granted some people find it relaxing but I suspect that the majority of people are more like me and wanting something that looks and tastes good in minimal time..

So if you are interested in  learning more, leave me a comment because I am going to be looking for people to test out my book and give me feedback before I think about selling it and I would be glad to let you be a guinea pig for me when the time comes :)

I am hoping to finish the book in the next couple of weeks (rough draft which will be fine for feedback purposes)..

Some of my secrets include:

Using a core range of ingredients so I can buy in bulk to save money

Using supermarket own brand produce and products

Using seasonal ingredients and looking at the on offer range of products that are coming close to sell by dates