Cook what you have, not what you want!

by Ally Hunt on 19 August 2009  |  3 comments
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The food budgeting experiment is going well, with some serious savings being made. But can we do better?

So far we've managed to stick quite successfully to our experiment. If you recall, after watching Economy Gastronomy on BBC2 I became inspired to change my shopping habits - and save some cash.

I've listed the contents of our larder, fridge and freezer, written and stuck to a menu each week and planned to make at least one meal a week from store cupboard ingredients. Hence my new mantra of "cook what you have, not what you want".

So rather then buy some chicken when we ran out last week I made a butterbean and aubergine curry. Random tupperware containers in the freezer have been defrosted and contents made into meals. And future leftovers are frozen and now carefully labelled!

And although we blew the budget slightly by having friends over for Sunday lunch, pudding was apple crumble from some apples from our trees, and chicken stock made from the carcass formed the base of the most fantastic soup (which also used up some of the vast number of courgettes we're growing!).

So what's on the menu this week? Well as I already have chickpeas, kidney beans and coconut milk in the cupboard, "Mixed bean and coriander curry" features (still looking forward to the courgette recipe, Paul!). And by carefully planning meals and buying only what we need we're so far saving about 25% on our shopping bill. Not bad - but I think we can do better!

One of our extravagances seems to be having to buy wine and beer ("for guests", my husband claims!). However he is planning to try his hand at making wine which could be interesting.

And I'm planning to make some spiced apple chutney from some of the gazillion apples currently falling from the trees in our garden. What's more, as a friend has been making plum jam we're planning to trade.

Hmm, I wonder if I could trade for some wine?