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Tip Store: Cooking: Dinner

​Portion Control is Saving Money at Meal Time

Approximate $ Savings: $365 +

I was forever throwing away perfectly good food that the children left on their plates. I found that I would save food and money by serving them smaller serves of each food. I learnt that for adults and older children that the serving I gave them was way too much. Give slightly less of each thing. They will not even notice. This not only helps in cost but in health too as it aides in not putiting on wieght. I also try to not have left overs so seconds can not be had. When cooking things like peas I have worked out that one spoonful per person was the amount I wanted to serve so I would measure out the peas to the appropriate amounts of spoonfuls so there was no wastage. I also have stopped cooking the last two in the packet just because they are left over. I place them in the freezer and use them next time we have that for our meal and some out of a new box to make up enough. Just makes them last longer and therefore cost less. Over a year, even if you save only $1 per day then that's $365. Chances are you will save more.
​- Contributed by Fiona Holloway, 21st March 2013

​Healthy, Light MOO Pizzas

For a cheaper pizza, we use mountain bread, cover with tomato paste, cheese, any cold meat you have or mince also works, then any other left over things you have hanging about in the fridge that would normally get tossed out at the end of the week. We have this quite often, and can be served with a salad if you wish.
​Contributed by Colleen Thompson, 30 July 2009

Editors Note: Buy your Mountain Bread direct and save 30%, postage is free. Minimum order is 8 packets, but don't forget Mountain Bread has a very long shelf life (simply because it's properly sealed and has so few ingredients). There is a new style made from Spelt flour too - another great addition to the Mountain Bread range. Cath

​Save Over-Cooked Silverside

Approximate $ Savings: $10

I recently put a silverside in the slow cooker and well, I forgot it and over cooked it! It completely fell apart so rather than try and get it out, I drained the liquid, which I kept as a rich dark stock, then turned out the meat into a bowl. I peeled 2kg of royal blue (my fave!) potatoes and put them in the slow cooker on high, just covered with water and some chicken stock. Once they were falling apart I put the meat back in and stirred, breaking up the meat and potato, added some peas and seasoned with salt and pepper and voila! Saved dinner - Corned Beef Hash! Real comfort food, pride still in tact!!! To top it off, I now have a jar full of rich dark beef stock too!
​Contributed by Sharima Atkinson, 10th January 2013

​Really Crisp Chips at Home

Really busy with the houseful of Christmas visitors. I have always soaked homemade chips overnight - works somehow on the starch and gives really crisp chips. One lot just couldn't make it to being cooked so I changed the water two days running then back into the fridge. They were the best chips ever.
​-Contributed by Carol Ryan, 17th January 2011

​We Moved the Kitchen Outdoors

Approximate $ Savings: $200+

​ When we first moved into our rental property we could not find our cooking pots and such so we used the BBQ to cook on for a short time. Well we got use to cooking outside, even boiling the kettle that way. We have a BBQ with a hood and an element so you can cook anything on it, even roasts. Now we do not even use the toaster to make toast. You can even steam the vegetables out there. Our food actually tastes a lot better cooked on the BBQ. When we received our first electricity bill we could not believe the difference in the price. We were receiving bills for $300+ and our first bill was $60 just by not using the stove, oven or kettle inside. You also spend a lot more time outside and with each other because while hubby was cooking I always went outside to keep him company. Less time in front of the TV or computer (so saving power there as well). We could not believe the difference. Just by using the BBQ, turning all switches of at the wall (not on standby), buying a front loader washing machine instead of upright and paying the power bill each fortnight instead of just waiting for the bill to arrive we no longer have a heart attack each month.
- Contributed by Patti Telfer, 31st July 2010

​Pre-Cooked No Brainer Side Dishes- Yum!

Approximate $ Savings: At least $2.00 per meal

My partner loves to have pasta or rice side dishes with dinner and even makes them just to eat on their own. I decided that seen as we have pasta or rice about three times a week, why not put a handful extra in each time and then keep this aside in the fridge or freezer and then when making the next meal, I can simply heat and place the pasta or rice on the side and I no longer pay $2.00 per small packet of store bought side dishes. These home made side dishes taste so much nicer the next day with a juicy steak or stuffed chicken breast and some fresh veg! I don't know how I've never thought of this earlier! I've spent hundreds of dollars on packet side dishes over time. Thanks for the awesome website, I've learnt many handy money/time saving ideas.
- Contributed by Alana-Maree Scaricamazza, 12th July 2010

​ Editors Note: The packet side dishes are convenient - but very expensive and they don't save you any time at all! For under $1 you can make the equivalent of four packets of the bought product, saving at least $6.61. If you like to calculate the per hour value, it takes less than two minutes to make up a batch so the hourly savings rate would be at least $183! Go to the Recipe File Mixes page to find the ingredients and instructions to make your own side dishes. Cath

​No Mess Pasta

When boiling spaghetti or lentils add a tablespoon of cooking oil to prevent it from boiling over and making a mess of the stove.
​-Contributed by Maureen, Noble Park, 30th June 2009

​From Six Burgers to Seventeen And Just $2 Per Serve

In these times of making the most of every dollar I spend when I shop, I have had to make some changes to my family's eating habits. My family love rissoles/hamburgers for dinner but to buy them from the supermarket costs me $4.00 for 6 burgers. Also the kids are fussy about eating veggies and burgers on their own just aren't enough for growing bones. So I came up with an idea that has added a heap of 'healthy' hidden ingredients and increased the size of my meal by more than double. I have just made my 6 burgers into 17 by following these really simple and extra healthy steps. My youngest still eats mashed veggies, so I mashed up the 6 ready made burgers back into a mince, mixed in an egg, some wholemeal flour and wholegrain breadcrumbs, a couple of cups of grated cheese and 4 generous scoops of the mashed veggie mix then seasoned to taste. I then re-rolled the mixture into burgers coating them lightly with the breadcrumbs and cooking them off in the pan. Now my girls have a burger with some sauce in a wholemeal bun, but hidden within the burger is up to 8 different veggies, eggs, cheese and of course lots of fibre. The added bonus to this recipe is that all the family can enjoy burgers because now there are 17 to share rather than 6! My husband loves them with just in some bread (he is a self confessed meataholic - never, ever eats veggies!) I enjoy them with some sautéed veggies on the side and gravy. All in all, I have increased the amount of food on the table, increased the nutritional value and fed a family of four with no leftovers! My meal just cost us approximately $2 per person and we are all stuffed full.
​- Contributed by Charisa, Pooraka, 5th May 2009

​MOOing is so Much Better for Us

Amen Cath! Especially in this age where people's health actually doesn't matter to the food manufacturers, making your own is so much better tasting and rewarding. I was very proud of myself tonight for putting together rice and lentil one pot when it was very tempting to go get take out noodles, especially given I didn't get to do my regular fruit and veg shopping today - the crisper was very bare! Dinner was late to be started, kids were getting frenetic! Anyway, I did it, and managed to find an eggplant the neighbour had given me, a zucchini, garlic and pumpkin from the garden and some corn in the fridge that needed to be used. It really paid to look around and was so much cheaper and better for us! Oh, and I kept the kids busy making chocolate and coconut Weetbix balls while the pot simmered away on the stove. It was all right in the end! Thanks for all the great tips and the motivation to keep saving and making my own stuff. My family appreciates you too!
​- Contributed by Sarah McLachlan, 23rd March 2010

​Adding to the Taco Mix Saves Some Money

Approximate $ Savings: $5 per taco meal

I tried an experiment last night. Not having enough mince to make the tacos go around I thought I would add a can of refried beans to the mince along with the usual kidney beans which I add. Having 4 children two who are teenagers and eating more everyday sometimes I get caught out with their increasing appetites. I had 500g mince, 2 tacos seasoning mixes, 1 can of kidney beans and 1 can of refried beans. I cooked it in the usual way and it was such a hit the family actually prefer it to 'normal tacos' - mince and kidney beans. I plan on adding refried beans to other dishes like spag bol and maybe even shepherds pie to make it go around. A huge saving can be made here if instead of using 1kg mince use 500g and one can of refried beans which is about $1.80 per can - much cheaper than mince and good for you too.
​- Contributed by Julie, Tanah Merah, 11th February 2010

​Family Dinner Club

Forming a dinner club with friends is a great time saver. Just find four friends or family members with approximately the same size as your own family. One day a week each friend has a turn to cook a dinner entree and deliver to everyone else in the group, which means four days a week somebody else cooks for you! Get together and plan for a month so that you know in advance what you are getting e.g. lasagne or chicken casserole etc. You just supply your own sides if needed. It can be a bit tricky at first to cook for so many people but it is fantastic at times when you just don't have time to cook dinner, like Christmas!
​- Contributed by Lisa, Kurri Kurri, 8th December 2009

​Cooking Corned Beef

Place your piece of corned beef in a large pot with your other ingredients you normally use. Fill with water to cover meat well and bring to boil. Boil really well for 10minutes. While it is boiling lay out a doona, blanket and then a sheet on top flat on your bed. Once your meat has boiled for the 10minutes take the pot off the heat and place it in the centre of the sheet. Wrap the sheet firmly around the pot, then the blanket and then the doona so they are firmly wrapped around the pot. Then you leave it for the day. You have a beautiful tender and hot piece of corned beef for dinner that night. I have had plenty of strange looks when I tell people of this method but I have been doing it for years, always successfully, and it saves using your gas/electricity for hours cooking.
- Contributed by Clare, Hunter Springs, 19th November 2009
​ Editors Note: This is a modern version of a hay-box cooker. This method will also cook rice, pasta and some vegetables, eggs (boiled style of course), even porridge. Cath

​Eggy Bread

Approximate $ Savings: $20 per week

​ Instead of grabbing takeaway on the way home from swimming lessons I make 'eggy bread' for the kids and myself.... I save the ends/crusts from each loaf of bread & store them in a bread bag in the freezer. Mix together 1/2 cup light milk and two eggs. Dip/soak the crusts in the mixture & lightly fry both sides in a greased frypan. This mix will do 6 - 8 slices of bread. Pour any left over mix on the upper side of the bread while the first side is cooking so it creates a thicker egg coating when turned over. Serve with tomato sauce or any leftover cold meats in the fridge. It would normally cost around $20 for a takeaway meal for the three of us - the kids do swimming lessons one afternoon every week so that's a saving of approx $1040 per year.
- Contributed by Deb, Glenmore Park, 10th September 2009

​Bases Save the Dinner-time Takeaway Dilemma

Approximate $ Savings: For me up to $100 a week

I struggle to save money, especially on buying meals, I tend to get home very tired and order in, and buy cafe made sandwiches at work for lunch - I guess I am really just lazy. However recently I have started cooking a whole five days worth of "bases" on Sunday, individual containers of plain pasta, rice, and vegetarian noodle stir-fry's. Its massively cheap and every night I just add what ever I feel like to it - such as tofu, or pasta sauce and tuna. Quick and Cheap! Time saving too!
​- Contributed by Marisa-Clare Berzins, 6th October 2009

​Make Meatless Meals a Regular Menu Item

Approximate $ Savings: $10 a week

I am very health conscious, and I find that many "budget" family recipes use very poor cuts of meat, and often lack adequate amounts of fresh vegetables. It is important for children to be presented with as many opportunities as possible to eat vegetables - for this reason, my family now has two vegetarian meals a week. It's simple - I just replace whichever meat is required in the meal with a tin of beans - red kidney beans, 5 bean mix, refried beans, even baked beans. I then use whatever seasonal vegetables I have on hand. For example, tonight we are having vegetarian burritos - with red kidney beans and refried beans instead of chicken or mince. Another favourite is spaghetti bolognaise - I use 2 tins of baked beans and soaked dried lentils to make the sauce. Tins of beans are very cheap - between 79c and 1.75 depending on the beans - and unlike meat this is not for the high fat cheap cuts. Beans are low GI, low fat, high fibre "superfoods" - and kids love them! Other options include vegetable and bean soup, bean and veggie pot pies, pasta bake.... get creative!
- Contributed by Marissa, Sutherland, 13th August 2009
​ Editors Note: If you are looking for vegetarian and vegan recipes, look in the Recipe File where you'll find lots of great meal ideas. Cath

​Cooling Down the Taco Mix

This week I used the Taco Powder Mixture that was recently in your newsletter. I added a bit too much and it made the meat mixture too chilli. I added a small amount of honey to the mixture until it toned down. I just drizzled a bit and taste tested it, until I got it tasting nice, wasn't that much. My family loved it.
​-Contributed by Justine, Roxby Downs, 5th March 2009

​Grated Veggies Stretch the Mince

Approximate $ Savings: up to $4 per meal for a family

I have found that rather than extending mince dishes with TVP (as delicious as it may be) if you use grated carrot, zucchini, or even beetroot, you can extend mince when making Bolognese or meatballs or patties. This is especially good for people like me who are allergic to soy products. Cheaper too.
​- Contributed by Anne, Broadview, 16th November 2008

​Cheap and Healthy Lentils Stretches the Grocery Budget

I have learned to make mince stretch twice as far in most recipes by substituting half of it with cheap and healthy lentils. They can be soaked overnight to save time pre-boiling them. In recipes with beef mince I use red lentils, with lamb mince i use green lentils, and with pork or chicken mince I use yellow split peas. In our family favourite dishes such as spaghetti bolognaise, shepherds pie, chicken and sweet corn patties, or even in chilli mince for tacos, my meat-lover husband hasn't even noticed the difference!
​- Contributed by Sarah-Lynne, Endeavour Hills, 8th September 2008

​Stretching Dinner

​As I'm a new mother I'm always on the look out for ideas to save money here and there. When cooking pastas you can stretch your ingredients out a lot further by adding the pasta sauce a little at a time to a big bowl of pasta, while stirring it together instead of serving the pasta and topping it with sauce. By doing this I have added a nights worth of food. One night less of cooking also and because looking after a new baby is very time consuming sometimes I don't have the time to make my lunch, so when making dinner, I fill a small container with it and pop it in the freezer. I can quickly grab it, shove it in the microwave and I have a lunch in 2minutes. By doing this every time you make dinner, you will save money on lunch items, time and at dinner time you won't notice that small amount gone. - Contributed by Jenna, Albury, 25th July 2008

​Tasty, Healthy and Cheap Meal

Small packet of mince $4, large jar of tomato puree with onion and garlic $1.49, 1 packet frozen spinach $1.39, 1 tin red kidney beans $1, white sauce (used flour etc already at home), packet of pasta shells .79 cents, grated cheese (grated from existing block) around $1. Cook all, combine, place in baking dish, cover with white sauce and grated cheese, bake in oven to melt cheese. Works out around 6 to 8 serves so only costs $1.21 to $1.61 per serve. Yummy.
​- Contributed by Rachael, Rivervale, 25th April 2008

​Are They Refried Beans?

Approximate $ Savings: $90 per year

​ Almost once a week we eat vegetarian tacos with varying salad. But we always used refried beans as the base filler. We need two cans per meal to feed four. The beans cost about $2.30 a can. So $4.60 in beans per meal. One night, discovering I only had one can, I secretly rinsed and mashed a can of baked beans and added that to my refried beans. No-one noticed a thing. Now of course I do it on purpose. Coles savings brand baked beans are usually 57 cents a can so I now save $1.73 per meal on beans. Nearly $90 a year in savings. I guess next I could brag about making my own refried beans from scratch and brag about the savings. Yes, yes, when I get the time!
- Contributed by Natalie, Loftus, 26th February 2008

​Whisk the Mince

Approximate $ Savings: $3.00 - $4.00 per use

​ With growing teenagers and growing appetites, we use lot of mince and really needed to increase the quantity. Instead, now when cooking it prior to adding any other ingredients, I mash it with an egg whisk to cut out all the lumps and make it go that little bit further, This creates a smoother sauce etc with less lumps of mince enabling a meal that did feed 4 now feed 6. Great winner in our house, appetites have increased but we still get by with 500 grams of mince a meal.
- Contributed by Cath, Morrabbin, 29th January 2008

​Pork Meatballs

Approximate $ Savings : $4 each week x 52 = $208pa

I tend to use mince regularly and was looking for something different to jazz up the usual meatball recipes. This recipe increases your cooked amount by one third.

​Pork Meatballs 200g minced pork 1 garlic clove/tsp if minced 1 tsp basil 100g almond meal (enough to bind ) 1 tsp tomato paste or1 processed tomato salt a good pinch of shaved parmesan

Roll up and microwave 7 mins. If serving with braised cabbage and sliced apple microwave 14mins.
​- Contributed by Carol, Glenroy, 8th February 2008

​Simple Sausage

Approximate $ Savings: $20.00

Back in the 1950's I used to buy one pound of sausage mince and grate a potato, carrot, a beaten egg, cup of breadcrumbs into the mince and mix well, this would then make sausages, meat loaf, mock cutlets (by shaping and covering with egg and breadcrumbs) and last us a whole week in meat dishes - not too bad as it had the vegetables, egg etc. to help with nutrition. It is marvellous what you can do with very little money.
​- Contributed by Ruth, Cooma, 13th January 2008

​How to Live on Nothing

My husband and I have lived on a boat for the last 9 years and have lived on virtually nothing. Sometimes we couldn't visit shops for weeks on end and surviving was easy (we had no fridge or running hot water!) Now we are on land I have transferred some of these skills . Firstly I used to make my own bread, I still do the same but with a breadmaker (bear with me on this!). I create fabulous lentil burgers which men (huge meat eating men) absolutely love (the recipe has been tweaked over years and is pretty good, even if I say so myself!) . . . keep with me . . . I grow easy vegies and lettuce and store my fruit in a basket (also buy some unripened fruit), which keeps for weeks on end.

My husband and I have digestive problems, eat heaps of bread and have a 20 minute drive to town (we have a local shop for emergencies, but they are quite expensive). We avoid going into town for weeks on end because I can create everything we need (providing I have lentils in the cupboard, which incidentally, the burgers cost next to nothing to make). Therefore we save a fortune on petrol - we mostly work from home, so it helps us. Also carrying every drop of water we needed for 9 years makes us use very little - try washing up in an inch in the bottom of your sink - it is easy. We also always tear paper tissues in half, peel a cabbage instead of cutting (it lasts an inordinate amount of time) make our own salad dressing with olive oil and vinegar (equal parts or to taste)and add Homebrand seeded mustard (or herbs) for a kick.

Here is the lentil burger recipe, follow all the tips - it really works (and be patient when cooking): Green lentils are better roughage, but you can use red. If you don't have much roughage in your diet, I suggest you start with red and then progress to green. The red cook quicker, follow packet instructions for cooking (soaking over night lessons cooking time).

1. Cook the lentils, drain excess water (if you can – if you can't don't worry)
2. Decide what vegies you want to include, I use left overs – frozen vegies are fine – use whatever you like (see list below).
3. Fry the vegetables, get them lovely and crispy – this makes such a difference. For 1 kg of lentils I fry up one medium size fry pan of vegies (as much as I can fit in without spilling!)
4. Add vegies to lentils, I add some sauces – sweet chilly and hoi sin – (to taste.) You can use anything you like.
5. Don't worry about adding an egg – just add bread crumbs until mixture becomes sticky- (sometimes you cannot drain the lentils and they are still quite wet – just keep adding Homebrand or homemade breadcrumbs)
6. Fire up the fry pan again (I have two on the go for speed), get it nice and hot and spoon out (using two spoons) dollops of burger into the fry pan.
7. With your spatula (keep it in a bowl of water) once the lentils are in the pan use the wet spatula to flatten out and make roundish. Don't make the burgers too thick – about a cm (or to taste), the thinner they are the more lovely fried flavour you get.
8. Cook both sides until very brown and crunchy (almost black) – allow to cool and then place in fridge – this will get them firm (they won't get firm until you put them in fridge.
9. Keep dunking the spatula in the water, to stop it sticking to the burgers.

You can use anything you like in the burgers, I use: onions, cabbage, garlic, beans, potatoes,herbs, carrots, parsnips (a real hit), swede, sweet corn, and I have been known to put left over sausages in.

​Tips: Make sure burgers are quite thin Get them very brown – crispy is good, helps flavour Put the spatula in water – helps the lentils not stick These can freeze easily (which is why I make up a big batch) – keep some handy in the fridge, great to grab for a quick snack. You can re-heat them or have them cold! (when you re-heat they can be put under the grill too). If you have left over rice (I always make more than I need), sprinkle on a salad, it really makes a difference. Happy Cheapskating,
- Contributed by Jackie, Greenwell Point, 18th January 2008

​Dead Easy Meatloaf

Approximate $ Savings: $4.00
Step 1 - save money by buying your mince when it's "reduced for quick sale" (we paid $8.00 for a kilo of lean mince instead of $12).Use what you want for a meal and freeze the rest. Step 2 - make a tasty but dead easy meatloaf by putting the mince and all the other ingredients needed straight into the food processor (onion, carrot, egg, breadcrumbs, seasoning, tomato sauce and other desired sauces to taste). No need to chop beforehand - makes a fine textured meatloaf. By following these two steps you save both money and time.
​-Contributed by Leonie, Watson, 20th January 2008

​Slow Cooker Leftover Lamb

I have a tip for leftover roast lamb: Cut your meat into chunks, slices - whatever you prefer. Use 1-2 tins Homebrand diced tinned tomatoes (depending on amount of meat used), mix juice with enough water and Homebrand gravy mix to just cover the meat. Season to taste - I use mixed herbs or rosemary with salt and pepper. Put in the slow cooker on your way to work/school and it's done for you when you get home. Or you can do it in a big saucepan if you like thicker gravy. I serve it with lots of mashed potato and onion. Yummy and very filling. And you can usually get another night's meal out of it.
​- Contributed by Maryann, 4th June 2005

​Inexpensive Adaptable Meal

Salmon and potato patties: -peel, boil and mash 4 large potatoes. Mix with 3 eggs and a 200g tin salmon - add any herbs/shallots/seasonings – and fry tablespoonfuls until brown on both sides and firm. Can be doubled for large families or guests. Can be made small for finger-food. Can be eaten cold for school lunches or picnics. Can insert a small piece of lemon inside for extra zing. Kids love them! Easy to make with things that are already in the pantry and they are healthy!
​- Contributed by Melanie, Lambton, 3rd September 2007

​Whiz the Mince

If you need to stretch your bolognaise sauce or any other mince dish, give the mince a whiz in the food processor, add a little water or stock and tomato sauce. I tried this and extended the sauce to feed 8 people instead of 4. It was a little thin but with pasta the bellies were full and everyone said it tasted great.
​- Contributed by Carole, Wiley Park, 31st May 2007

​Kangaroo Rissoles

Approximate $ Savings: $5 

Kangaroo mince rissoles that I have been making consist of 500gr kangaroo mince, 1 pkt Home Brand French Onion Soup, 1 Egg, 1 Tbls Unprocessed bran. Mix all together and let stand for a few hours before making rissoles. Cook them on the bbq, very tasty. My husband and I also eat the kangaroo sausages and marinated kangaroo steaks that can be found in the meat department at Coles. The meat is cheaper, tender and better for you than beef.
​- Contributed by Barbara, Palm Beach, 15th April 2007

​Instant Pastry Case

Approximate $ Savings: $2
For a quick and healthy alternative to pastry for quiches use a large round of pita bread
​- Contributed by Jan, Surrey Hills, 8th April 2007

​Breadrolls

Approximate $ Savings: 50%

I found when buying bread rolls my four year old daughter wanted to be like everyone else and have one too, but she would only eat half leaving the other half lying around to dry out, so next time I bought our rolls I also bought a six pack of small dinner rolls for her. Now she thinks she is so good having her own mini bread rolls and best of all is she can eat the whole roll with no more wastage.
​- Contributed by Sian, Mackay, 6th April 2007

​Twice the Sauce

Approximate Savings: $2.25 per pasta meal

​When using bottled commercial sauces (around 500g size) for a meal, I use half the jar, plus some cornflour mixed into around 1/2 - 1 cup water. This gives me the same amount and consistency, and in fact also reduces the total sugar/fat content of the meal, so it's healthy too. I just freeze the half jar of sauce to use at another time.
- Contributed by Emma, Thornlands, 18th January, 2007

​Budget Quick Meals and Snacks

With 5 children, I have learned over the years of ways to save money, especially with feeding a hungry brood of 5. For example, I could feed my kids on a 40 pack of fish fingers (IJ brand) costing about $5.80 - even cheaper the ALDI brand for $3.99! BUT this is accompanied with steamed rice (and lots of tomato sauce) and the kids love it. I just pop it in the oven, stress free cooking and it is ready in no time. Also, the 5 pack Maggi Noodles, with a little steamed rice on top makes it a complete meal for under $3! Now that is Cheapskate living!
​- Contributed by Linette, Berwick, May 17th 2005

​Mega Saving Menu

Mega savings can be made by buying discounted/reduced for quick sale items in meat, dairy, fresh produce, deli departments in local big name shops. Go early morning/late night for bargains, bulk buy, freeze, plan menu daily/weekly. Feed your family like royalty for peanuts! We never eat boring meals, steak, roasts etc with all the trimmings each day for a fraction of cost! Shop with a view to freezing/cooking meals monthly! I buy asparagus year round for $1 kilo, cook/freeze into soups, quiches. Pre-prepared salads for .80cents - $1. Potatoes in jackets for $1, zap in Micro! Coleslaw .50cents and add to baked spuds for quick meal or salad. Roasts at 50% off, chicken fillets at $4 kilo, freeze these into portions, cheese, cream, yoghurt, pasta and sauces, garlic bread, orange juices etc close to use by date, reduced, freeze, use later. Nightly specials are cooked chooks $2, rolls, bread .50cents, cakes .50 - $1, fresh pizzas $3. Shop about 9pm for these! Learn to spot the reduced/discounted sticker each supermarket uses and LOOK OUT for them! My fridge/freezer/pantry are FULL of these items. Gather recipes from friends, Internet etc and find new ways to use your bargain buys. Don't let your imagination go stale! Hundreds of ways to cook/use your ingredients, turn them into healthy, scrumptious meals/snacks everyone will rave over! No more boring cheap cuts, meals with flavour/variety for mere cents!! $100 week will feed 4-6 with top ingredients. Sample menu: Asparagus Cream soup cost $2. French Stick with butter cost .50cents. Chicken in Mustard Cream sauce with Garden Salad cost $8. Cheesecake topped with Black Cherry cost $2. That feeds 4- 6 hearty appetites and no complaints! Next night try Asparagus steamed, Creamy Mash Potato, Corn on Cob cost $2. Lamb chump chops cost $18 tray of 22, equals $9 for two meals! Baked Bread and Butter pudding cost $2. Quick meal night is Stir Fry, use up all odd fresh vegies, buy fresh Asian noodles, slice up 1 chicken fillet thinly, and make a sauce using honey, soy, garlic, onion and cook! Great value for few dollars. Handy for nights when family eat at different times. Cook and freeze for later use, add chicken stock to leftover stir fry and make noodle bowl soup Asian style! I could fill an entire page with money/time saving hints!!! Good Luck and Happy Buying.
​- Contributed by Pauline, Pakenham, April 30th 2005

​Discounted Chooks Feed the Family

We go through many cooked chooks a week with teens and their mates etc. I find if I go to Woolworths around 9 at night they mark the chickens down, depending on how many they have left to the price they charge, I bought 5 chickens the other night for $2 each normally $9.87 each. We then strip the chickens and I dice them up. The kids then use them in sandwiches, with pastas, and in many different meals like taco's etc. They also mark down their bakery sections very cheaply as well
​- Contributed by Lesley, Orange, April 25th 2005

​Surprise Casserole

When the fridge is looking empty at the end of the week instead of going shopping get out the crock pot or a casserole dish and start by putting in a chopped onion (if you have one) followed by any raw vegetables chopped or sliced and then any raw meat or chicken (cut into bite size pieces). Add a good slosh of tomato sauce and another of Worcestershire sauce. I then add any cooked left over vegetables and if needed a tin of tomatoes or a tin of sweet corn. Cook all day in a crockpot or for one and a half hours in a moderate oven in a casserole. Thicken when cooked and serve with rice, pasta or mashed potatoes. We call this surprise casserole as it has different flavours every time depending on what is in my fridge at the time.
​- Contributed by Sue, Baldivis, March 10th 2005

​Leftover Stew

On Sunday night I always chop up what is left over in the fridge and put into the crockpot. That way we have a nice hearty meal Monday night when you are still recovering from the weekend. You may even get left overs for Tuesday night! - Contributed by Julie, Wellington, October 3rd 2006 Discuss this tip Pasta Sauce I cook my pasta sauce once a week in a very large saucepan and then divide the sauce into 4 or 5 portions and then freeze them separately therefore saving on meat, tomato paste, onions and other ingredients etc.
​- Contributed by Luke, Liverpool, August 5th 2006

​Bulk Chickens

My local Action supermarket had whole cooked BBQ chickens on sale for $8.98 a twin pack. So because I have an upright freezer I bought 5 packs (10 chickens) and the girls were so grateful that I bought so many that they reduced them down to $6.98 a pack which makes each chicken only $3.49. I keep them for quick meals, sandwiches etc, then keep bones to make stock and then leftover bones go into dog food.
​- Contributed by Sian, Mackay, August 18th 2006

​White Sauce for Lasagne

Further to last week's tip for a budget and quick white sauce for lasagne, I use Low Fat Cottage Cheese (Generic if available) and find I am saving money, time and calories!
​- Contributed by Cathy, Berowra, September 7th 2006

​Homemade Pasta

I'm lucky enough to live in an area where I can have chooks. To make a meal cheap and affordable, I make my own homemade pasta. I use 3 eggs and 11/2 cups plain flour. If I'm short on flour, I would do some bartering with my neighbours say with a dozen fresh eggs for a kilo of plain flour or visa versa.
​- Contributed by Cheryl, Eudunda, September 7th 2006

​Fritters For Tea

Use left over cooked meat from the previous day and make fritters for tea. Gets rid of leftovers and saves on waste. Very easy and quick meal, batter costs nothing to make.
​- Contributed by Tara, Ararat

​Dress-up Pasta Sauce

​If you don't have the time or inclination to make your own spaghetti sauce try revamping prepared sauces by adding a few ingredients. Bilo pasta sauce is quite nice at only $1.45 a bottle and the Aldi pasta sauce is just as good and the same price. Here are a few suggestions for you to try: sliced olives sliced mushrooms small can champignons sliced or diced red or green capsicum artichoke hearts red pepper flakes parmesan cheese minced garlic hot salami browned minced beef or chicken tinned tomatoes grated carrot grated zucchini

​Chicken Tonight

​How long can a chicken feed your family? Roast on Sunday, chicken salad for sandwiches on Monday; use the carcass to make stock for soup on Tuesday. If you make enough soup, you'll get Tuesday's dinner and lunches for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday out of it. Makes a $7 chicken seem cheap, doesn't it?

​Spaghetti Sauce

​When making spaghetti or other Italian sauce: In a blender, grind up 2 large, peeled coarsely sliced carrots, and LESS of your usual seasonings (fresh garlic, ESPECIALLY LESS onion, Italian seasonings); use 1 1/2tsp of baking soda to cut the acidity of the tomato sauce or paste. Add just enough water to assist the blender in grinding. Pour this mixture into a saucepan, add enough water to your liking and cook over a low heat. Notice how rich the smell and taste is. This is an excellent, very thick, nutritious recipe. You need far less seasoning because the blender brings out the taste.