thriftyideas – Thrifty Tastebuds

Dinner for 1.14

Posted on May 27, 2022 by thriftytastebuds

Hi everyone,

Sorry it’s been so long, I had to stop blogging when I became a teacher but I’ve now left my job. It’s a long story.

I wanted to jump on today and tell you about a quick and easy dinner that’s budget-friendly and healthy at less than 500 calories. The meal in question is stuffed tomatoes, if you don’t like tomatoes or don’t have any beef tomatoes at home you can have stuffed peppers instead. It’s really simple to make. (price and calories is based on shopping at aldi)

What you need:

Beef tomatoes – 1 per person (or peppers)

Savory rice- 1 packet serves 2

(I used Everyday Essentials Golden Vegetable Savoury Rice 120g)

Couscous- 1 packet of instant couscous serves 4 –

(I used Make In Minutes Cous Cous – Sundried Tomato 100g)

Cheese- no more than 40g

Method:

Make up your couscous according to packet instructions.

Cut the top off your tomato or pepper and take out the inside. Add the couscous to the tomato or pepper and bake with the top on for 10 minutes.

At the same time boil your rice according to the packet instructions

After the 10 minutes in the oven, take the tomato or pepper out of the oven take the top off and add cheese to the top of the couscous, put it back in the oven for 5 minutes.

After the 5 minutes serve with the rice.

It’s super easy and extra delicious. Hope these ideas help, Thanks for joining me on this journey and I hope to see you soon.

Hannah x

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Save as you shop.

Posted on May 11, 2020May 11, 2020 by thriftytastebuds

Today’s tip is really handy when shopping at big supermarkets like Tesco or Asda but I also have an alternative method for shops like Aldi or Lidl.

Have you ever used scan as you shop? Recently its been the main method I use when shopping, it allows you to see exactly how much your spending and lets you remove items if you think its getting too pricey, rather than receiving a big shock at the checkout and checking your receipt to see how you spent that much.

For Tesco all you need is a clubcard and scan it in store to get started .

For Asda there is two methods either you use their in-store touchscreen or register online by setting up an Asda.com and account to add your phone number before you go then simply login when you arrive and grab a handset and start scanning or you can use their scan as you go app and do it all from your phone.

Then when you’ve finished you go to the scan as you go checkout and follow the instructions there, there will always be someone on hand to help you with any query you might have.

The alternative method for shopping at Aldi or Lidl is simple.

You can use the calculator on your phone and add up as you go along, but be mindful of whether or not you need it when your shopping, try to avoid special-buys unless you need them because they can increase your spend quickly.

Thank you for joining me on this journey. Hope to see you soon.

Hannah x

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Lovely lunches

Posted on May 10, 2020May 11, 2020 by thriftytastebuds

With the most recent announcement encouraging people to go back to work, I thought it was appropriate to do a lunch special. Some people might be due back in the morning so here are some quick lunch box ideas from your store-cupboard saviours that are quick to make and stop you from having to buy those money making meal deals.

The first idea is a simple tuna and sweetcorn pasta.

You will need:

-Tinned tuna

-Tinned sweetcorn

-Pasta

-Maybe mayo

-salt and pepper

Method:

Boil some pasta with salt and pepper (I recommend you portion it out with the lunch box you intend to use filling it up just under half way)

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Whilst your pasta boils you want to mix your tuna and sweetcorn you can also add some mayo if you want it to be a more together mixture (I would usually do this in the lunchbox too, because I don’t like washing up.)

(You can also add more salad food if you have some going spare like tomatoes or cucumber as it just adds some more colour, texture and overall makes it healthy.)

Drain your pasta and leave it to cool.

Once cool mix your tuna mix into the saucepan and then transfer to your lunch box

The second quick idea is a crunchy chicken salad. Ideal for leftover roast meat. (Might not be a store-cupboard saviour but definitely good for leftovers)

All you will need is:

-Chicken

-Pesto

-Kale

-Green beans

-Tomatoes

-Wrap.

(You can swap any of the veggies or salad for whatever you may have at the end of the week)

Firstly put a wrap in the oven with some salt and pepper, use baking parchment to prevent it sticking. Put this in the oven for 10 min on gas mark 5 / 375 f / 190c

In the meantime take some leftover chicken and mix it with some form of marinade I tend to use pesto, but you could use mayo, tomato puree or even just some salt and pepper.

Prepare a salad, this can be made up by some of the veggies you think you might be binning soon. I usually use Kale and some green beans (if so boil these for 5 min and then cool) I then add some tomatoes to the cooled veggies (but you could just have some tomatoes, cucumber, lettuce, beetroot and grated carrot).

add the chicken and toss to mix it together then transfer it into your lunchbox

take the wrap out the oven and break into small pieces sprinkling it over your salad for extra crunch.

(you could also add grilled halloumi or even use halloumi instead of meat for a meat free option.)

The third and final idea is Tomato chickpea pasta salad

You will need:

-chickpeas

-chopped tomatoes

-garlic

-basil (dried or fresh)

– onion

-pasta.

For measuring your pasta use the earlier method

boil your measured pasta.

In a frying pan add chopped onion, and chickpeas season and stir fry for 2 minutes.
Add the chopped tomatoes, some garlic and the basil (if dried) and stir.

Add the boiled pasta to the sauce and mix together. (if using fresh basil add it here)

Allow the dish to cool then transfer it to a lunchbox.

Hope these ideas help, Thanks for joining me on this journey and I hope to see you soon.

Hannah x

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Ready for Reduced!

Posted on May 5, 2020 by thriftytastebuds

Reduced food is more available than you think especially in difficult times like this, the photos above are taken in Tesco today whilst I did my essential food shop. Supermarkets often reduce when the stock’s best before date is that same day or sometimes even the next day depending on when you go.

I would always recommend only buying what you need nothing more or less but sometimes reduced produce is freezable so its ideal to have some cheap goodies in the freezer for a later date.

Buying your bread reduced for example can last a week further than its sell by date as long as you keep it in a dark dry place away from any heat and make sure you keep a watchful eye on it. You can also freeze it in portions based on how much you would use in one day and simply defrost it the night before.

However, even though it may be reduced remember to only buy reduced as a tool and not to over shop.

Thanks for joining me on this saving journey, hope to see you again soon!

Hannah x