Showing posts with label Cheap Budget Meals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cheap Budget Meals. Show all posts

Thursday, 8 June 2017

One Pot Fish Stew on a Budget

Who does not love a good way to save money on meals? As the prices of our everyday food goes up I am constantly trying to find ways to make both the food and our money go further. Back in March The Guardian reported that there had been a 2.3% rise in the price of everyday produce that we buy from the supermarket. I am sure that we are not the only family that is feeling the pinch! Despite trying to save money I also want to ensure that we are eating healthily. One food that is full of goodness but always seems to be quite expensive is fish. When I go shopping I always check out the reduced section and when they have fish I get stocked up! 

Before I tell you all about my Fish Stew on a Budget recipe let me tell you how I save money on our meals...
  • Use less meat/fish and bulk dishes up with vegetables, beans or grains such a pearl barley or lentils
  • Always check out the reduced section in the supermarket
  • Freeze any leftovers as they can be added to future meals
  • Don't always go for the branded items, try the supermarket own brand and value brands
  • Check the price of loose fruit and vegetables and compare as they are often cheaper than the pre packaged ones
  • Visit the local independent greengrocer
  • Compare prices between the supermarkets
  • Visit bargain supermarkets such as Aldi or Lidl
  • Before buying household items and toiletries check out the prices at discount home stores such as Home Bargains and b&m
  • Take any money off vouchers with you
  • Meal plan before you shop and write a list of what you need

Thursday, 9 February 2017

#2PoundChallenge with Voucherbox and Zamcog

When I first heard about the #2PoundChallenge fundraiser I was intrigued to find out more. I love saving money on our weekly shop but being able to help raise money for a charity is even better.

Voucherbox are working with bloggers to raise money for Zamcog. Zamcog is a UK based charity that works with some of the most vulnerable children in Zambia. Zamcog support the Shitima School which has grown from being one class room teaching just 8 children to a fully functioning boarding and day school for over 446 children. To feed, clothe and educate a child in Zambia it cost £2 per day per child. To help us to change the way we view both food and how much we spend we were going to spend the day eating for just £2 per head. I could take the challenge in one of two ways, I could do the challenge myself or get my family involved and have the whole family eat meals for just £2 per head. I decided to do it as a family. I want my children to grow up knowing how lucky they are to live where we do. We have a constant supply of drinking water, they always have clothes and there is always food in the kitchen for them to eat.


Zamcog - Defying The Odds from Adam Dickens on Vimeo.

The day before the challenge I went shopping with £10 as we are a family of five. Before I went shopping I planned out all of our meals for the day so that I knew exactly what to buy and how much it would cost. The days shopping came to a total of £9.61.


Tuesday, 24 January 2017

Smoked Haddock Kedgeree - Cheap Budget Meal with Aldi

For many families sticking to a food budget is an essential part of life. However with the rising costs of foods and household products it can be hard. Each week I am delighted to be sharing with you a delicious, healthy meals, for the whole family, that can be made for under £5. Having three children and animals means that our weekly shopping bill can be high, but since I changed where I buy our food and household products from I have noticed a huge drop in our weekly expenses. Yesterday I shared my top money saving tips which include meal planning, writing a shopping list, using a calculator as you shop to name a few. But the one biggest influence on our shopping bill has to be switching to Aldi. Last week I posted a picture via my social media platforms showing what I had spent at Aldi for a weeks worth of shopping.


I was not surprised by the response. So many people also commented on how they had also switched to Aldi and were spending a lot less each week! I spent £55.92 and bought vegetables, cereals, free from milk, cows milk, a lot of fruit, cat food and even a box of dishwasher tablets that cost £5.99 so our food shopping actually came to under £50!

Today I am going to share with you a meal that was based on Aldi's Haddock and Kale Kedgeree. In usual Hijacked By Twins style I have taken the recipe and adapted it to taste and added extra vegetables.

This is what I did...

Tuesday, 17 January 2017

Smoked Salmon and Kale Pasta - An Aldi Recipe

Recently kale has become my favourite green vegetable to add to meals. When I serve it on it's own, as a side serving, the children are not keen but as soon as I add it to a sauce or mix it with other ingredients they all eat it with no questions asked. So any recipe that contains kale is an instant hit with me.

When I was looking at Aldi's Feed the Family for £5 recipes their Smoked Salmon Pasta immediately caught my eye. Smoked salmon is a fantastically versatile ingredient and thanks to Aldi it is a more affordable ingredient to use. The recipe is part of Aldi's latest campaign that is showing families that you can prepare healthy, tasty meals for under £5. Over the coming weeks I am going to be trying out some of their recipes and taking some inspiration from them to show you that it can be done. Sticking to a budget does not mean that you should compromise on healthy choices.

Today I am going to be telling you how I have taken inspiration from Aldi's Smoked Salmon Pasta recipe which is served with a spinach and walnut salad. I have not made the salad but have added kale and broccoli to the pasta and have even made it Slimming World friendly by making a few simple swaps.

This is what I did...

Tuesday, 10 January 2017

Butternut Spaghetti Stir Fry

Vegetable noodles are a great way to get added goodness into our diets. But when you want to make a quick meal they are not so great. Spiralising the vegetables can take time that is precious when you are living in a busy household. So when I saw pre prepared vegetable noodles in Aldi I could not wait to try them.


I have made my own courgetti in the past as well as carrot noodles, but I have not tried to spiralise any other vegetables. Aldi have brought out two delicious varieties of vegetable noodles, courgette noodles and butternut squash noodles. I love butternut squash but never thought about spiralising it. As soon as I saw it on the shelf it went straight in my trolley along with plenty of other vegetables for today's recipe.

Today's recipe is not only a super healthy meal but is also a great budget meal!

This is what I did...

Tuesday, 3 January 2017

Leftover Turkey with Pesto Kale and Mango Salsa - Aldi Recipe

As always when January arrives I am craving healthier meals. Don't get me wrong, we had healthy meals over Christmas but our meals were all out of routine and we all enjoyed some treats. As well as craving vegetables we are also feeling the pinch. Like most families we spent a lot both during the run up to Christmas and over the festive holiday so now it is all over we are having to tighten the belt a bit. This includes my shopping budget. I am looking for as many ways as possible to save some extra pennies. I am using our new chest freezer a lot and am freezing food so that it is not wasted but also gives us some more food options. Thankfully one shop that we can all depend on is Aldi!

Before Christmas their super 6 vegetables were down to just 19p each, so I stocked up! I got so many carrots I have even managed to blanch and freeze some. I was excited to see that their Super 6 offer this week included some of my favourite fruit and vegetables. While I was looking through their website before doing my shopping I also discovered a section that I had not seen before, Feed the Family for £5. This immediately caught my attention and needed further investigation! I found 3 different recipes that Aldi have created using the key products in the Super 6 deal over both fruit and vegetables and meats and fish. So I decided to give one of the recipes a go.

I finally decided to try the Roasted Gammon Joint with Kale and Mango Salsa. But as I had got a lot of turkey leftover from Sunday I replaced the gammon steaks with slices of turkey but did make the kale and the mango salsa.

This is what I did...

Wednesday, 14 December 2016

Chunky Root Veg and Bean Soup

At this time of year I love a good warming bowl of soup. I find it so comforting, on a cold day to sit inside, snug and warm with a big bowl of soup. Not only is it a great comfort food but it is also a great way to get plenty of goodness into our diets.

While shopping the other day I spotted a stew vegetables bundle reduced down to just 25p and I knew it would be ideal for a soup so popped it into my basket! The vegetables that are in this super chunky soup are cheap roots and full of flavour.

This is what I did...

Tuesday, 23 August 2016

Aldi's Quick and Easy Fajita Dinner Kit

As much as I love cooking all of our meals from scratch, sometimes I want to have a quick and easy meal that doesn't take too long. When I was shopping in Aldi the other week I spotted their Quick and Easy Fajita Dinner Kits. We love Mexican food and it really is a favourite meal of ours.


The Fajita Dinner Kit is priced at just £1.25 and each box contains:
  • 8 flour tortillas
  • 125g tomato salsa
  • 30g fajita seasoning
All that you need to add is 450g of beef or chicken and 300g of vegetables. 

Today I am going to tell you how I got on making beef enchiladas using this kit. This is what I did...

Tuesday, 2 August 2016

Supporting Team GB at Rio with Aldi

In a matter of days the 2016 Rio Olympics will begin and we will all be cheering for our national teams. Whether you are Team GB, Team USA or Team France, people all over the globe will be cheering on the pride athletes of their countries!


This year Aldi are proud to be the official Team GB supermarket sponsors and have asked me to share with you three deliciously nutritious recipes that have been working on in collaboration with the English Institute of Sport. The recipes are not just tasty but also have many benefits for athletes. Over the next three weeks I will be recreating the recipes myself and telling you all about how I got on and most importantly what we thought of the dish!

This week I am starting with Chilli Shredded Turkey Burger with healthy slaw and sweet potato wedges.

This is how I got on and what I did...

Tuesday, 26 July 2016

Soy, Chilli and Ginger Pork Loin Steaks

At this time of year we all prefer lighter meals. Today I am sharing with you a great and easy way to marinade and add flavour to your pork loin steaks. These can either be grilled or placed on a barbecue and have a real summer feel to them.

Aldi have a great selection of summer dressings which are a quick and easy way to flavour salads but also meats and fish. Three of their Specially Selected sauces caught my eye:
  • Bloody Mary Ketchup
  • Blue Cheese Dressing
  • Soy, Chilli and Ginger
This got me thinking about how I could incorporate the sauces into a meal and do something different with them. Now that it is summer we are enjoying being able to get in the garden, having barbecues and eating al fresco. Today's meal is perfect for that!


I decided to go for the spicy and fragrant Soy, Chilli and Ginger Dressing. This dressing is a warm combination of ginger and chilli in a dark soy sauce.

This is what I did...



Tuesday, 19 July 2016

Chicken and Kale Korma

We love a good curry. But as we are keeping our spending down we cannot afford a takeaway. The other week we decided to buy a ready made curry from an upmarket food chain and after we had eaten we really were not happy. The quality was not good and we really did not enjoy our meal after spending as much as we had. So to try and make up for that disaster I thought I'd make my own curry with the help of Aldi's Specially Selected Mild and Creamy Korma curry sauce. 


I have never used this sauce before but I loved how it came with a sachet of spices to add to the chicken before adding the sauce. This enabled the flavours to fully develop as the meat cooks. This sauce creates a deliciously creamy, fragrant and mildly spiced curry. The coconut, cream, yogurt and ground almonds give it a truly authentic finish. To give this curry some added goodness I have added some shredded kale. When it comes to leafy, green vegetables you just know that they are good for you. Kale is classed as a super food, it is an excellent source of vitamin K, C and A. But what not many people know is that kale is an great source of calcium which makes it a useful source for vegans or people who follow a dairy free diet. But the list does not stop there, kale also contains folate (folic acid), anti oxidants, manganese, copper and it virtually fat free and low in calories! If you struggle to get the kids to tuck into some kale at dinner time, then do what I do, add it to a meal that is sauce based and watch them eat it all up!

This is what I did...

Tuesday, 12 July 2016

Creamy Smoked Bacon Pasta

During the week life can be busy. Between school runs, doing my blogging, and looking after the house, as much as I love cooking, I want a quick and easy meal. But when I cook a quick and easy meal I do not want to compromise on flavour or quality.

Today's recipe is so simple and easy but so full of flavour. This is my new "go to" meal. Using just five ingredients this meal will leave everyone wanting seconds!


For this dish I chose to add Aldi's Specially Selected smoked streaky bacon. These flavoursome rashers are from outdoor bred, British pigs that have been both RSPCA assured and carry the trusty red tractor logo. The streaky bacon has been traditionally hand cured and gently smoked over oak and beechwood to give it a deliciously smoky, meaty flavour. These rashers do all the hard work of balancing the flavours for you.

Last week I attended Aldi's Christmas in July event and had the privilege of being able to personally speak to some of their head buyers. One that I was particularly keen to talk to was the meat and fish buyer. It was fantastic to hear that all of Aldi's meat, apart from New Zealand lamb, is British sourced and all carry the red tractor logo which tells you that the meat has been assured by the British food standards. I am planning to tell you more about what Aldi have got coming for Christmas, but I will do that nearer the time!

Back to this weeks recipe. This is what I did...

Tuesday, 14 June 2016

Leftover Pulled Pork Pasta Bake with Aldi

Two weeks ago I shared my easy Pulled Pork recipe. Today I am going to share with you my delicious leftover pulled pork pasta bake.

Pulled pork is such a great, budget meal. The pork shoulder joint cost just £3.83 for 1.562kg! and provided us with 12 meals!


Today's recipe is made using leftover pulled pork, but if you do not have any leftovers Aldi have got some British Pulled Pork on offer until Wednesday! The beauty of this meal is that you can bulk out your leftovers with delicious vegetables and pasta to create this pasta bake. Aldi's Everyday Essentials pasta is priced at just 29p for 500g, that makes this a super cheap meal! At the moment mushrooms and peppers are in the Super 6 offer, making them only 69p!

This is what I did...

Tuesday, 7 June 2016

Celebrate the Queen's 90th Birthday with Aldi

This weekend people all over the country will be celebrating the Queen's 90th birthday. What better way to celebrate than with a traditional street party! But this year why not make the street party even more exciting by having a barbecue street party!

Aldi have so many products that are ideal for a celebration that would be fit for her Majesty!

Today I am going to showcase my favourite products that I have found in Aldi which all have a true street party feel to them.


These Heartsease Farm drinks are deliciously sweet drinks made with spring water. They are perfect for children, as a refreshing drink or to use as a mixer with spirits. In other shops these drinks are priced at £2.29 so when I saw them in Aldi for just £1.59 I could not resist! They come in three truly British flavours, Raspberry Lemonade, Elderflower Presse and Traditional Lemonade.


Grove Manor British rose wine was a true bargain at just £2.59. This is a slightly sparkling fruity wine which has a sweetness from strawberries and cherries. Served chilled it is perfect as a summer wine.

Tuesday, 31 May 2016

Pulled Pork with Aldi

Pulled pork has to be one of the best summer meals. I know that usually pulled pork is smothered in a sweet barbecue sauce. But not in our house. Only our eldest likes the full on barbecue sauce. So here our pulled pork is sauce free but filled with herbs and spices.

Whilst shopping at Aldi I found some fantastic herb grinders that do all the work for you. Each grinder contains a perfectly balanced amount of flavours that marry together perfectly when cooked. For today's pulled pork recipe I decided to try the garlic, herb and tomato seasoning grinder.


Pulled pork is not only a really tasty meal but is also great budget meal. The piece of pork shoulder that I bought weighed 1.562kg and cost just £3.83! Out of this piece of meat, once cooked, I got the pulled pork main meal that I am telling you about today, some meat for a pork salad for the hubby and I the following day and even a second main the following day. That is an amazing 12 meals out of 1 piece of meat! That is a budgeting 32p per meal for the meat.

This week I am going to tell you how to prepare the pork shoulder for pulled pork. Then next week I am going to share with you a delicious way to use the leftovers the following day.

This is what I did...

Tuesday, 17 May 2016

Easy Mushroom Stroganoff with Aldi

We love mushrooms and one of my favourite mushroom meals has to be stroganoff. I prefer a mushroom stroganoff to a beef one and this meal is a great way to get extra vegetables into the children!

Mushrooms are a budgeting way to bulk out meals and add some extra flavours. For this recipe I have used closed cup mushrooms and button mushrooms. This week mushrooms are even cheaper at Aldi as they are in the Super 6 offer. For a pack of closed cup mushrooms, this week, you will pay just 49p instead of the usual 89p! That makes this week the perfect time to have a go at making my easy mushroom stroganoff.

When cooking this dish I find that the juices from the mushrooms do a lot of the work with regards to flavours. However by adding a little paprika you add an extra hint of spice to this delicious meal.

This is what I did...

Tuesday, 3 May 2016

Chicken Pesto Pasta

A couple of weeks I shared my Pesto, Mushroom and Pancetta Chicken that I made using ingredients from Aldi.


After I made the pesto, mushroom and pancetta I had some ingredients left so I thought that I would share with you what I did with them. Pesto is perfect for pasta so what better way to use leftover pesto and chicken breasts!

The chicken breasts from Aldi are fantastic value for money. I always by the large pack of chicken breasts that weigh 1kg and cost £5.59. This pack of chicken provides enough for two meals for my family. Unlike other cheap chicken breasts these do not shrink down during cooking, this is what makes them true value!

This recipe make enough for a family of four, or in our case a family of five.

This is what I did...


Tuesday, 26 April 2016

Root Veg and Bacon Hash

I love buying stew packs of vegetables. They are such good value and full of delicious root vegetables. There are so many different meals that you can make with one simple bag of vegetables. Today I am sharing one of our favourite meals. This dish can be made using any left over vegetables that you may have after a Sunday dinner or you can pop to Aldi spend just £1.39 on a stew bag and make a hearty meal that is well within budget!

This is what I did...


Wednesday, 27 January 2016

Sweet Root Vegetables and Bean Soup

At this time of year I love to eat soups. They are not only a warming dish on a cold day but they are a healthy meal and also super cheap to make. When buying tinned soups in a shop you can pay anything from 65p up to £2 depending on the brand. If you are going to buy a fresh soup you can expect to pay up to £4, again, depending on the brand. Why spend that when you can make your own, with fresh ingredients and know exactly what has been put in it. No added nasties such as preservatives or ingredients that you do not know what they are.

When I went to Aldi to pick up a few ingredients I saw one of their stew packs of root vegetables for just £1.29 for 1.5kg of vegetables I knew that I had my ingredients for a deliciously, warming soup.

This is what I did...

Wednesday, 27 August 2014

Cheap Budget Meals - My Favourites So Far.....

As I am away this week I thought it would be nice to share some of my favourite recipes so far.

I started the weekly Cheap Budget Meal recipes after taking part in the Great British Budget back in February. This is one of my favourite weekly features as it really does get me thinking and coming up with new ways to make delicious family meals that are within budget.

Here are my favourite recipes so far...




























Next week I will be back with a new Cheap Budget Meal recipe. Hope you have a good week x