low budget cooking

So, what with this whole "economic downturn" thing going on, I was wondering if any of you had any ideas for low budget dinners that don't necessarily consist of fish fingers...   
Obviously, a pot of spaghetti goes a long way, and I have made tuna casseroles and things like that, but was looking for some more inventive ideas for how to cook on the cheap....
Thanks!!!   

My boyfriend made a veggie mousakka on Tuesday, which has lasted us through the week in lunches to bring to work, and is cheap to make AND low fat (yet still tasty!!!)


Vicky

Rubber chicken!

I made a HUGE batch of chili con carne yesterday (a large slow cooker pot full) for £3.00. My husband and I do 99% of the weekly shop at FarmFoods and other bits from Somerfield with their yellow label value range. For the 2 of us we spend about £15 a week on food.

The more protein in your meals, the less often you need to eat.

Beans, legumes, and rice (so many different types of rice)!  A million Middle Eastern, Indian, Mexican, Oriental, etc. things you could make with those things and they are cheap.  Also, like Vicky said, it can be very low-fat cooking as well.  If you are a meat eater you can stretch a meat recipe with beans and rice or just try doing some vegetarian meals as well.

Soups, basic chicken curries, daal (a lentil dish which is very yummy & veggie).  I do a ton of stews.  Roast chicken that can be turned into a few meals (roast one day, sandwhich another, soup from the bones & bits).

The more protein in your meals, the less often you need to eat.

I think it depends on the person.  I'm vegetarian (no eggs, very little dairy) and don't eat any more than meat eaters do as far as I know.  Just the normal light breakfast, snack at lunchtime, and dinner.

I made a lovely Orange chicken dish last night..... mmmmm. Probably cost me a total of £5? But I already had most of the spices for the dish, which is key.

When you try different recipes and accumulate loads of different spices and seasonings.. you'll find that you eat less jar-ed sauces and such because you can make things from scratch... last night all I had to buy for the meal was chicken, a few oriental veg and orange juice! And I only used 1/2 cup orange so I still have it to drink w/ breakfast. 

I basically just eat a vegetarian diet these days despite the fact i'm not a vegetarian, particularly Chinese/Vietnamese/Japanese food.  It's nutritious and cheap.  Protein is boosted by eggs (cheap) and the odd fish (whatever I can pick up cheap at the fishmongers).  I can hardly remember what meat tastes like.   

Soups, basic chicken curries, daal (a lentil dish which is very yummy & veggie). 

I accidentally bought a kilo bag of black lentils for about £2 the other day, thinking they were peppercorns!  I love daal, but have never tried making it.  Think I might get soaking tonight.

Vicky

I accidentally bought a kilo bag of black lentils for about £2 the other day, thinking they were peppercorns!  I love daal, but have never tried making it.  Think I might get soaking tonight.

Vicky

Most lentils don't even need soaking.

I tend to be pretty inventive in the kitchen, but sometimes not as resourceful with what we have available, if you know what I mean.  Like, we have had roast chicken so many times, and we only eat the breast and throw the rest away...  :\\\'(  I feel so wasteful!  I cook quite a bit and usually more than we can eat, but I never freeze anything.  I hear that good freezer bags and/or containers are hard to come by here in UK... is that true?  What brand does anyone suggest, or what is the best method of freezing leftovers?  I have never, ever done this... it's just sad!  There are only 2 of us, and we are spending between £70-100 per week!  No wonder we never get a weekend away, we are literally eating all of our money!
Thanks for the suggestions....

Leftover chicken I used to use the bones to make stock and the leftover bits of chicken to make chicken pie.

There are only 2 of us, and we are spending between £70-100 per week!  No wonder we never get a weekend away, we are literally eating all of our money!
Thanks for the suggestions....

When our daughter was born, my husband & I had to cut back as well, we were spending £50/week now we're only spending about £15.

I've found lots of plastic containers at Wilkinsons.

I just freezer mine in rubbermaid containers and that works just fine.  The things we freeze the most are lasagne, leftover indian takeaway (i know, weird, but a friend suggested it and it works!) & pizza dough because we purposely make double to freeze.  No secret to it really. Just put it in an airtight container when its room temperature and pop it in the freezer.  We are bargain hunters and we probably spend about £50 per week on shopping. Give or take.

.