So I'm off work at the moment, and am only getting statutory sick pay, so things need to be cheap. I invested in a pack of 50 plastic take-away containers on amazon for £5. I cook in bulk and freeze meals.
When cooking with mince, I do half mince, and half brown lentils/mung beans (I buy the biggest bags I can), which brings the cost right down. I buy foods like rice and pasta in bulk, and shop around for the best offers. The other day I bought 10kg rice for £7. Mushy pea curry with rice is really cheap. Sounds disgusting, but it is really just a pea and bean curry.
The other day I did a big batch of pea and ham soup - 750g gammon joint, simmered for about an hour and a half with onion, carrot, celery, thyme and parsley stalks (I saved the leaves to add at the end). Saved the stock, shredded the gammon. Fried onion, carrots, celery, added split peas and stock. Once the split peas were done, I used a hand blender to semi blend it, then added the gammon back in.
I like to make congee which is a rice porridge and completely free. 1 part rice to 8 parts water with a couple chicken stock cubes, a spring onion cut into 3/4 pieces, some crushed garlic, some ginger, a splash of soy sauce, and sometimes a frozen chicken breast (I find the halal ones are cheaper). Put on a low heat, and cook just under a simmer for about 2 hours, stirring every now and then.
Savoury mince and lentils is good. Fry onion, carrot, celery till soft, add mince, brown it. Add lentils and stock. Once nearly done, add some peas. Serve with potato and cauliflower mash.
Liver and onions is a really good, cheap dish. One of my comfort foods is homemade potato wedges with my hea of cheese and some gravy.
