Forum Topic

Acton Dining Club

As there were so many good ideas to eat well and frugally, I thought I would start a new thread for these austere days.. Here we can post receipes, offers to split economy sized bags of products, tips on marketing, and any further thoughts on communal dining. I know such supper clubs already exist in Acton. Hello again Piano Girls! But perhaps there is room for more. The club is open to all with an interest in eating and a willingness to share ideas. Bring them on!

Maire Lowe ● 5048d8 Comments

So I will kick off. The other day I bought a piece of bacon at Morrison. Special price five pounds They often have them. On the same shopping expiditon I bought carrots for a pounds, a cabbage some pak choi and a small bag of organic potatoes. I am fussy about potatoes. Total cost ten pounds five five pence. I baked the bacon and two adults ate it with boiled potates and some cabbaga. The next day three adults had bacon toasted sandwiches for lunch. The rest of the piece will keep wrapped in the fridge for at least two weeks. I will use some of it to make a pasta sauce with tomatoes and basil, and have the pak choi on the side. a little of it to add flavour to a vegetable soup made from carrots, potatoes and the end of a head of celery tht is sitting in the fride. Thee rest of it will make a hash with the mashed potatoes and some cabbage. If it looks a bit skimpy or if there are more people for that supper I will add a fried egg. At a conservative estimate I will have fed seven adults from this piece of meat. Nothing difficult or requiring much thinking. Of course you have to like bacon. Not everyone will eat it.

Maire Lowe ● 5048d

take one cauliflowersaute some onions and add some potatoes - when onions nearly transparent add cauliflower florets and stock (made from chicken bones) - take out some florets before they are soft - add seasoning to tastewizz mixture until nice and thick.put in dish and pop on top florets, top with grated cheese and left over breadcrumbsput under grill - serve with crusty bread= a meal for 4

Dee Cook ● 5047d

Interesting change from cauliflower cheese Dee. Thank you.

Maire Lowe ● 5047d

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2237634/Feed-family-50-week-Top-cook-Prue-Leith-shows--wont-just-eating-baked-beans.htmlI am coping this link to Prue Leith's menus which will feed a family of four for a week for just over forty pounds. The link is also on the other posting about feeding famiies of four.  Well worth a look for anyone feeling frugal. Some excellent orange based puds which I intend to try. Good to hear from anyone who has tried one or more of these dishes.

Maire Lowe ● 5044d

A ham hock is usually a good buy.I use Pearce's butcher on South Ealing Rd sometimes and you can buy a decent sized hock for £2.50.Trim the fat off and put in water overnight to remove some of the saltiness and with a packet of marrowfat peas or whatever type of peas you like and stock and a few cardommon pods and cloves it makes the best pea and ham soup,especially if cooked in a slow cooker.This is real winter grub and lovely with a bit of crusty bread.About 50 or 60p a big bowl I would say.

Keith Iddon ● 5044d

Delicious! My favourite winter shoup. Hadn't thought of the cloves and cardommon thought. Will certainly try those flavours?

Maire Lowe ● 5044d

I usually grind the seeds from 3 cardammon pods and 2 or 3 cloves in a mortar and pestle before adding them.Liver and bacon or liver and onions is a good inexpensive meal.If you leave the liver in a little milk overnight in the fridge the slight bitterness that liver sometimes has is vastly reduced.Another good summer tip is to buy one of those baskets of live growing salad leaves (£1 last year)and with a little care you can keep it growing for weeks.We are fortunate that we have a small greenhouse so that helps.

Keith Iddon ● 5044d

Keith, Yes liver is pretty inexpensive and delicious cooked with a bit of bacon or something crunchy for those who don't eat pig. We ate lambs' liver as children but my English born husband ate pigs' liver. We both ate calves liver when it was affordable. Easy for any king of offal to sound disgusting these days, so worth using a reliable butcher and being sure it is fresh. A jug of gravy and a bit of mashed potato and another frugal but comforting and delicious dinner is right there for the hungry. Quick too.

Maire Lowe ● 5042d