Back to it!

Frugal Friday

The months of December and January are probably our most expensive months of the year. Christmas, followed by numerous birthdays, in addition to some large yearly bills mean our account is drained alarmingly quickly at this time of year. Thanks goodness for budgeting and planning ahead!

So January is a month for getting back to it.

Not only do our finances take a battering, but my freezer supplies were depleted over the Christmas holidays to the point where I have nothing left in reserve other than a pot of beef stock and some breadcrumbs.  

So as soon as the children were back at school this week it was back to batch baking each time I cooked a meal. As I have said before I could not cope with the busy lives the children lead without having meals in the freezer that I can defrost and use. The thought of having to cook from scratch everyday, for me, would be overwhelming.

So I made Mammoth Meatballs on Wednesday (with the addition of chopped apple) and have two meals in the freezer. Friday is lasagne and I will make an extra one for the freezer. So already with not much effort I have 3 meals done for the next few weeks , waiting in the freezer. 

The meals I batch bake are simple, hearty, family meals. Nothing particularly fancy about them, but they fill the family up and are healthy and inexpensive to make.

Here is my two week menu plan ( starting from last weekend). I always plan my meals as it keeps my shopping budget to a minimum.

Day	Week One	Week two
Sunday	Carvary out as a family	Brisket, Roast Pots,veg  SC
Monday	Chorizo Pasta and salad	Beef, mash pots, carrots and peas
Tuesday	Roast Chicken and Mash pots, brocoli and carrots	Homemade pesto/ tagliatelle and salad
Wednesday	Mammoth meatballs,* rice and peas	Spaghetti Bolognaise *
Thursday	Sausage Casserole and pots SC	Homemade Beefburgers in rolls F
Friday	Lasagne and salad and homemade garlic rolls **	Loaded Baked Potatoes - tuna, cheese and beans
Saturday	Chilli and Rice *	Chicken Curry * and rice

SC = slow cooker

F = a meal from the freezer 

* = make an extra meal to put in the freezer

I do change days around if needed, but generally I do stick to a menu plan once I have it written . I'm too lazy  busy to rethink it!

Another of our favourite, quick and easy meals is a good old fashioned Steak Pie. I usually serve this with mash, peas and gravy and the family fight over the last slice of pie! I do spend a little more on the meat for a pie as I find if you serve up a pie with chewy, stringy meat, no one will touch it! However, most meat, if simmered slowly in a good gravy in the slow cooker for 5- 6 hours will be tender and delicious.

Steak Pie ( the quick way)

I usually make 2 or 3 pies in one go, but these are the quantities for one. It seems pointless to make one at a time - the slow cooker will be almost empty - give it a go, making an extra one for the freezer if you haven't tried it before!

Filling.

1- 1 1/121b of good quality braising steak chopped. ( Amount depends on the size of your pie dish and family.)

one large onion

flour

beef stock - 1 - 1/2 pints

Knorr liquid stock - a couple of glugs! 

herbs - what takes your fancy.

seasoning

• Soften the onion , then add the meat and brown gently ( I do all this in the slow cooker dish).
• Mix in a couple of tablespoons of plain flour  and cook through .
• Add about a pint to a pint and a half of beef stock and stir in to thicken the sauce.
• Add herbs, knorr stock ( if you have it) and seasoning.
• Put on slow cooker and cook for 5 - 6 hours until tender and gravy has reduced.

I use pre made shortcrust pastry sheets from the supermarket which I buy when they are on offer. I cannot make it this cheap then! Also my homemade pastry is not my best asset. (shhhhhh) . Later in the day when the meat is ready in the slow cooker : 

• Place meat into a pie dish ( or similar) and cover the top with pastry. Keep any spare gravy to pour over the pie when serving. 
• Seal the edges and trim.
• Cook for about 30 mins at 180 degrees.

NB: I freeze these pies before cooking the pie, as the pastry tends to change it's consistency when it is frozen if cooked. 

Rough and ready looking, but absolutely gorgeous.(This is actually my homemade pastry!)

I have now been given two fluted, proper pie dishes as well. I can't wait to use them. I feel like a proper grown up now I have pie dishes!

A couple of pasta dishes next week, with a delicious homemade pesto!

Happy Baking.

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