Some time ago I wrote a couple of blog posts revolving around feeding a family on a budget.

I received more interest and comments about the recipes that I posted than any other blogging before or after. Even now, almost two years later, people still ask me about it and so I’ve decided to take the plunge and write an e-book.

If you would like to have one of your recipes included in the book,  you can email me at dalyandie@gmail.com

The recipes have to be cheap to produce and be vegetarian.

I look forward to reading all your ideas and suggestions.

OH and I were chatting last night about the impact of the credit crunch, in particular on families.

We were laughing about the different strategies we have used of the last 18months to see ourselves through the tough times. We are grateful for agencies such as the Consumer Credit Counselling Service (CCCS) who have given amazing advice and even thankful for payday advance companies who loan money out before payday.

But my big shout out goes to FLM loans who must be the most user friendly, helpful, genuine, funny, real and down to earth loan company I have ever come across.

Loans, and advancements on your pay cheque are not ideal, and I’m certainly not advocating them, but we’ve all been there when times are tough. If used correctly and sensibly they can be a life saver…they were for us.

Almost 20 years ago my Grandad gave me £250  to buy some new furniture for my first flat.

I decided to go with a bed. To be exact, it was a lovely, traditional style, white metal bed frame and comfy matress from habitat. Ever since it’s been a permanent bedroom fixture in all the various places that I’ve lived over the years.

Soon after he gave me the money, he passed away, but I often reflect back on how he gifted me money for my favourite piece of furntiture, my lovely bed.

Trouble is, 20 years later, my lovely bed is very old and very creaky. It’s had several new matresses but to be fair, it’s on it’s last legs. Whenever I turn over in bed it squeaks…loudly! I know it’s time to get a new one but it reminds me of my grandad…weird I know…but it does!

Also….I hate buying beds. Being a sufferer of a sore back and neck, it’s extra important that I get this absolutely right and I’ve been putting it off and off and off.

But no more! It’s time to start looking seriously at beds and more importantly budget!

After doing some searching I keep coming back to good old Tesco, mainly because of the price. I also think it’s time to get practical and buy a drawer divan, somewhere to shove all the junk that piles up in my bedroom. My only concern is that buying online means I can’t try the mattress!

Oh what to do!!!

But what I do know is this….I’ll be buying one of these leather sofas as I’m sick of trying to get snot, chocolate, yoghurt and at times, sick out of my lovely chenille sofa! Not mine, you understand, the kids who think nothing of wiping their faces and hands on MY SOFA!!!!

Can’t promise I’ll be posting a new recipe every day, but while I was in the mood I thought I’d make some of my kids favourite flapjacks and as you can see from the picture, they don’t last long!

They are very simple to make and are another recipe that can be thrown together anytime so long as you keep the essentials in the cupboard. What I also like about this recipe is that it’s eggless. If there is one thing we run out of it’s eggs…oh and cereal..and then there’s milk….and butter too…well you get the idea!

Frugal Flapjacks.

75g Butter

1tbsp Sunflower oil

100g Brown Sugar

2 tbsp Golden Syrup

Large banana mashed

50g Mixed Fruit (Sainsbury basic 65p)

275g Porridge Oats

Beat together butter, oil, sugar and syrup until smooth.

Stir in the remaining ingredients and press into a greased baking tin.

Bake at 180/gas mark 4 for 25 mins until golden

I cut mine into squares before it goes cold.

Easy Peasy, and look…I even managed to get a photo of the next batch I made before they were devoured!

Changing the subject back to supermarkets own and discounted brands. A few week ago I was chatting with  my cousin about saving money by buying own brands.

We both agreed that there are a number of products that just don’t taste the same as the real thing.

This is the list we came up with. Do you agree? Is there anything else you would add to the list?

Heinz Baked Beans

Heinz Tomato Ketchup

Baileys Original Irish Cream

Kellogs Cornflakes

Tate and Lyle Golden Syrup

Can you think of any others?

Since writing my blog post ‘How to feed a family of five on £20 a week‘, I’ve received some great comments as well as some emails asking me for regular tips and recipes.

So, I’ve decided to do just that. I want to stress though that I am a total amateur and didn’t really cook or bake properly until a few years ago! In fact it was my OH who encouraged me and I’m so pleased that he did because I thoroughly enjoy it.

These cookies are so easy to make and so long as you make sure you have the ingredients in your cupboard, you can rustle up sweet treats whenever you want them. I usually make them for the kids lunchboxes as well as for something us grown ups can have with our coffee.

They are incredibly cheap to make and if you master the basic recipe you can add all sorts of things to them. Our current favourite is dark chocolate and coconut. A bounty bar in a biscuit!

A few years ago I invested in a Kenwood Multi-Pro. That and my breadmaker are the two best kitchen things I have ever bought. I wouldn’t be without my Multi-Pro now, it makes things so easy. You can just throw all the ingredients in and in 30seconds it’s done!

Ok…so here we go. Next to the ingredients list, I’ll make a note as to whether it was from the Sainsbury’s basic range.

200g Butter (Sainsbury’ s basic. 75p each. Always buy 6 per week)

150g Self raising flour (Sainsbury’s basic. 43p. Buy one bag a month)

Half teaspoon baking powder

1 egg

75g Porridge oats (Sainsbury basic. 1kg around 75p)

125g light brown sugar

Mix together the butter, flour baking powder and porridge oats until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs.

Next add the egg and sugar and mix well.

Once everything is well mixed you can add some of the following:

Crumbled Dark Chocolate. (Sainsbury’s basic 150g bar. 27p Buy 2 per week)

Crumbled milk chocolate. (Sainsbury’s basic 150g bar. 27p Buy 2 per week)

Ground mixed nuts

Almonds

Dessicated coconuts

Mixed fruit

Raisins

Take a tablespoon of the cookie dough and place on a baking tray. Space well apart. Gentle press down on the dough with the back of a spoon.

You should get about 18 cookies out of the mixture.

Place in an oven at 180 degrees centigrade (gas mark 4) for 15-18 minutes or until golden on top.

Allow to cool and serve.

Brilliant!!!

Tomorrow……Frugal Flapjacks!

My kids enjoying their tea

I’ve recently been watching a new TV series on BBC2 called ‘Economy Gastronomy’. If you’ve not seen it before, the idea is that these two top chefs take a family who are spending stupid money on food each week and show them how to halve their bills. One family in particular was spending £400 per week for 7 of them and they managed to get it down to £200 by using up leftovers, shopping smart and cooking from scratch.

Not bad, but I can do better. (Not sure why the beeb didn’t ask me, to be honest!) I usually spend around £75 per week, though when things have been a little tight, I’ve got it down to £35.

Last week we discovered to our horror that we only had £20 available to spend on food for the coming week.

I immediately put my ‘Super Mum’ costume on and sprang into action, racing to the supermarket only to return 45minutes later with £20 worth of food and do you know what…it lasted us for the week. Not only that, but all the family agreed that they had eaten well and didn’t feel hard done by.

This is how I did it:

To make this work, it’s important that you do/have the following:

1. Be prepared to make your own bread/cakes/biscuits/scones. As I always say, if the kids get hungry I can lob a scone at them.

2. Have a moderately well stocked cupboard containing things like basic herbs, marmite, soya sauce and flour.

3. Grab yourself a copy of  by Carolyn Humphries. I saved even more money here as I picked mine up for 50p from the second hand shop.

4. You will have to eat veggie for a week. It’s not THAT bad and can help you lose weight.

5. You have to shop at Sainsbury’s and buy their basic range. I consider myself a bit of a supermarket bargain range connoisseur and Sainsbury’s is by far the best for quality and the range of products that they do.

6. Prepare a weekly meal planner, write a list and STICK TO IT!!! No matter what, do not stray. If you have to buy toiletries etc. put them on the list too.

7. Erm…that’s it!

So, where you can, buy from the basic range. Most of the stuff is fine and I’m sure you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference if it wasn’t for the packaging. You can get a big box of cornflakes for around 47p and OK, they may not be Kelloggs but hey, it’s only for a week.

This was my meal planner. I’ve only shown dinner, as breakfast was usually cornflakes or toast, lunch was toast and a scone or a biccy and then we filled up on dinner.

Monday: Pasta bake and garlic bread. (Here I buy basic half -baked baguettes, split them and spread home made garlic butter on them before baking)

Tuesday: Egg and Mushroom pie, with vegetables

Wednesday: Vegetable pie with mash

Thursday: Vegetable curry

Friday: Home made veggie burgers and salad

Saturday: Pete’s chilli with garlic bread and nachos.

Sunday: Nut roast, roast potatoes and roast veg with apple and blackberry crumble. (Blackberries from garden)

All for £20, that included nappies and baby wipes. Sainsbury’s  do value nappies for about £1.75. I may not use them on a newborn but they’re fine for my toddler.

We also have milk delivered which I haven’t included in the cost of the £20.

I’m sure that for some people this all sounds like hard work. The beauty of using this particular recipe book is that its designed for students who are notorious for having no money and no inclination to do anything. The book shows how to make cheap and easy meals. I’ve been so impressed that I may just throw my other recipe books away.

Also it helps to have kids who are willing to try new food and don’t mind veggies. My middle son is the worst and will turn his nose up without hesitation, but even he had a go and ate most of it. But I guess if you’re starving you’ll eat anything!

I’d love to know what other Mums and Dads do to save money in the kitchen as I’m always on the look out for new ideas.