Potato pancakes AKA kartoffle puffer, Hanno's favourite.
Judi asked the following question on Monday so I've racked my brain to come up with this. I hope it helps Judi and many, many others. Readers, if you can think of other Australian food ideas that fit this frugal category, please add your thoughts in the comments.
"I am now 63 and living on my own, I have been wife, mother, stay at home Mum, and now a carer, my income is now very low and after having been used to raising all our own meat and vegetables and really eating quite well, I am struggling to feed myself. Having to purchase food is one of my biggest expenses and I am wondering if you could please put your thinking cap on and give those of us struggling financially with a good weeks menu plan please. I have all your books and I do love the menu plan in the Down To Earth book but I can not afford to eat that well anymore. Help, please.
"I am in Australia, I have noticed over the last month a big increase in the cost of fresh produce here, thanks to the drought and bushfires, I really like to eat fresh but have given up having things like avocado on my salad as they are $4 each, I am looking for ideas from the 1950s when we ate a little bit more simply but most of the information you find on the internet is American and we eat differently to them. It is quite frustrating and I am struggling with brain fog, that does not help."
Vegetable casserole made with homemade beef broth
Judi, here are some of the meals I grew up eating and still cook to this day.
- Tuna bake - is a mornay sauce with canned tuna, pasta and vegetables.
- Zucchini slice - you can use any vegetable for this. Caramelised onion slice is delicious.
- Salmon patties - the cheaper canned pink salmon is good for this.
- Boiled eggs and salad.
- Corned beef, cabbage and potatoes.
- Next day - corned beef hash with eggs. My recipe here.
- Potato pancakes- my recipe is here
- Pumpkin or sweet potato or pea or grean bean risotto.
- Meatloaf - and lentil or chickpea version of meatloaf. Spicy meatloaf recipe is here.
- Curried vegetables with poached eggs. - I bake the vegetables in the oven with a little oil, curry powder or paste, then poach eggs in another pan.
- Pea and ham soup.
- Vegetable soup with herb dumplings, made with beef bone broth. When you make the broth, boil them a second time and add salt and pepper for a lovely beef tea.
- Lamb stew - using one lamb chop for flavour - and lots of vegies is very tasty and nutritious
- Spinach or silverbeet pie in filo pastry. Recipe here.
- Homemade bread - search "bread" in my sidebar for recipes
- Rice pudding - ½ cup white rice with 2 ½ cups of milk, 1 tablespoon sugar and vanilla. Cook slowly - excellent for breakfast.
- Bread and butter pudding to use up bread or old hot cross buns. Recipe here.
- Porridge.
Don't forget to buy generic groceries when they're available. I've been buying frozen AUSTRALIAN vegetables from Woolworths and they're been very good. And look around for bagged or loose fruit on special. Last week I got 2kg of Granny Smith apples for $4.
And here are some other ideas for general savings and staying out of the shops while we live with the threat of the coronavirus.
I've started using cloth wipes for #1s and will save the toilet paper for #2s. Sorry is that's too much info but we live in trying times, my friends. Yesterday I cut up a very old (circa 1965) pillowcase for my first wipes. I want to make about 30 and wash them every two days. One pillowcase makes 18 good size wipes so this afternoon I'll cut up another old pillowcase and that should do me for a while. I have to say, they're much nicer than using TP! Wish I'd done it years ago.
The cleaning and washing aisle at the supermarket is one of the most expensive. Here is a link for alternative cleaning methods as well as the ever-excellent laundry liquid recipe. That laundry liquid alone will save you hundreds of dollars over a couple of years.
Homemade bread is cheaper and more nutritious than supermarket bread.
Lamb stew - using one lamb chop for flavour - and lots of veggies is very tasty and nutritious.
I also wanted to pass on this email from Vicki, one of our readers. "I just wanted to pass on what I think. ....home brand porridge for breakfast, home brand wholemeal or grain loaf if she can’t make her own bread, home brand mixed veg are only $1.59 in the supermarkets...and finally lentils and beans and potatoes... I think along with some fruit and other fresh veg that would be a sustainable, if boring, diet. I’m sorry but I have never been able to comment on your blog, hence my email." Thanks Vicki.
That's all I have time for now. I hope it helps you. Stay in touch, Judi and everyone. If there's a problem, let's solve it together. We'll be in this situation for a long time, sharing problems and joy will make that easier for all of us to deal with. 💕
