Your Cheapest Tea?

halfmanhalfbiscuit · Post by **halfmanhalfbiscuit** » Thu Mar 15, 2018 6:56 pm

I cook a fair bit at home. Fifty-fifty between me and my wife. With the occasional meal thrown in by the kids.
My mum was a very traditional Northern housewife type cook. Home-made pies and stews etc. So I've sort of carried this on.
But as a kid I do remember having 'on toast' teas. Eggs, cheese, sardines.
And we do the same. Scrambled or poached egg on toast, is one of my all time favourites.
So what's your cheapest tea that you have at home?

Bertiebeehead · Post by **Bertiebeehead** » Thu Mar 15, 2018 6:57 pm

Typhoo

bfccrazy · Post by **bfccrazy** » Thu Mar 15, 2018 7:00 pm

There's a frozen mix of seafood in a tomato and basil sauce that is VERY nice with some spaghetti. (Sold in Iceland)

It's about £3.50 for the sauce which has all sorts of good seafood - and can easily serve 3/4 people.

So about £1 a portion and lovely.

morpheus2 · Post by **morpheus2** » Thu Mar 15, 2018 7:06 pm

I just made spag bol for three girls, two boys and me, probably approximately £6.36p. I know they're only small girls but they had good portions, just over £1.05p a portion and it was delicious.

halfmanhalfbiscuit · Post by **halfmanhalfbiscuit** » Thu Mar 15, 2018 7:11 pm

Bertiebeehead wrote:Typhoo

I recently moved from PG to Typhoo after I discovered that the monkeys in the ads from the 70's did no removal work whatsoever. It was purely a gimmick for the purpose of advertising.

tim_noone · Post by **tim_noone** » Thu Mar 15, 2018 7:14 pm

Something I haven't had for a while tonight...jam butties I just fancied a couple.query to you halfmanhalf biscuit..where's the user name from??

Quickenthetempo · Post by **Quickenthetempo** » Thu Mar 15, 2018 7:15 pm

Beans on toast has to be the cheapest but no doubt some student type will give some concoction for 3p a portion.

halfmanhalfbiscuit · Post by **halfmanhalfbiscuit** » Thu Mar 15, 2018 7:19 pm

Quickenthetempo wrote:Beans on toast has to be the cheapest but no doubt some student type will give some concoction for 3p a portion.

I had my girls at home last week and made them beans on toast for dinner.
Nowt wrong with it.

basil6345789 · Post by **basil6345789** » Thu Mar 15, 2018 7:21 pm

Cooking is nowt to do wi men - it's women's work. Men are for supping ale and doing the thinking.

halfmanhalfbiscuit · Post by **halfmanhalfbiscuit** » Thu Mar 15, 2018 7:22 pm

morpheus2 wrote:I just made spag bol for three girls, two boys and me, probably approximately £6.36p. I know they're only small girls but they had good portions, just over £1.05p a portion and it was delicious.

Not bad going that, just over six quid for six people.

halfmanhalfbiscuit · Post by **halfmanhalfbiscuit** » Thu Mar 15, 2018 7:25 pm

basil6345789 wrote:Cooking is nowt to do wi men - it's women's work. Men are for supping ale and doing the thinking.

Whilst I concur with the supping ale. Are you sure you're not eating dog food pies?

Jeffbfc · Post by **Jeffbfc** » Thu Mar 15, 2018 7:29 pm

basil6345789 wrote:Cooking is nowt to do wi men - it's women's work. Men are for supping ale and doing the thinking.

Not much thinking but plenty of supping ale I would suggest.

Beans on toast. Can't beat it. Brown sauce on also.

Rick_Muller · Post by **Rick_Muller** » Thu Mar 15, 2018 7:31 pm

I often make a hearty veg soup from bags of cheap (1p/bag when they’ve reduced them at the end of the day) root veg from the supermarket - with seasoning and a bit of stock comes in at about 5p/ portion - do a bulk cook and freeze portions. Can’t fault it

dermotdermot · Post by **dermotdermot** » Thu Mar 15, 2018 8:08 pm

Come on guys. Let's get this right. Tea is a brewed beverage. What you're all referring to is supper.

halfmanhalfbiscuit · Post by **halfmanhalfbiscuit** » Thu Mar 15, 2018 8:12 pm

Rick_Muller wrote:I often make a hearty veg soup from bags of cheap (1p/bag when they’ve reduced them at the end of the day) root veg from the supermarket - with seasoning and a bit of stock comes in at about 5p/ portion - do a bulk cook and freeze portions. Can’t fault it

Brilliant.
I often cook up all the root veg and put a pie crust on it.
Equal part flour and grated butter 150/200g touch of salt and cold water.
With roast potatoes.

halfmanhalfbiscuit · Post by **halfmanhalfbiscuit** » Thu Mar 15, 2018 8:18 pm

dermotdermot wrote:Come on guys. Let's get this right. Tea is a brewed beverage. What you're all referring to is supper.

Dinner - 12pm
Tea - 5pm
Supper - before bed
Lunch - no idea?

CharlieinNewMexico · Post by **CharlieinNewMexico** » Thu Mar 15, 2018 8:25 pm

Ramen noodles with 2 hard boiled eggs cut into quarters, discount leafy greens (procured as above) and tons of hot sauce.
Poor man's pho. About 30 cents.

bartons baggage · Post by **bartons baggage** » Thu Mar 15, 2018 8:39 pm

Well i'm skint this week,so tomorrow i will be taking the misses to KFC where we will lick other peoples fingers.

Guich · Post by **Guich** » Thu Mar 15, 2018 8:50 pm

If we have a Sunday roast - then Monday tea is:
Chicken pasta soup - or Lamb pasta soup etc.
It's just all the leftovers from Sunday including gravy, another stock cube, another onion, a chilli and whatever herbs you have - and 300gramms of dried pasta.
About £1 for four.
Absolutely mint in winter!

IanMcL · Post by **IanMcL** » Thu Mar 15, 2018 8:53 pm

Quickenthetempo wrote:Beans on toast has to be the cheapest but no doubt some student type will give some concoction for 3p a portion.

Just eaten that! I am a simple chap.

criminalclaret · Post by **criminalclaret** » Thu Mar 15, 2018 9:28 pm

Roast chicken (organic) Sunday lunch feeds me for a good few days and get great value from. Sunday evening strip all the meat off and boil the carcass. Great stock.. Monday chicken sandwiches for lunch. Then a chicken risotto or pasta dish for evening. That will yeild another two more lunches leftover. Might make a curry and rice for a few portions and freeze it for midweek. And a few portions of soup with the left roast veggies.

£10 for 10-12 meals of great variety and barely much effort. But I love cooking, hate waste and can make something from nothing so my £100 monthly food shop gets me some millage

Bin Ont Turf · Post by **Bin Ont Turf** » Thu Mar 15, 2018 9:32 pm

What do two slices of bread and a packet of Beef Space Raiders come in at price wise?

Holmeclaret · Post by **Holmeclaret** » Thu Mar 15, 2018 9:48 pm

Boil in the bag kippers. Toast optional but nowt with them for me. Always gorgeous.

JimmyMac'sMate · Post by **JimmyMac'sMate** » Thu Mar 15, 2018 9:49 pm

Sounds like 100 pound will do you for the year never mind the month criminalclaret utc

IanMcL · Post by **IanMcL** » Thu Mar 15, 2018 10:05 pm

criminalclaret wrote:Roast chicken (organic) Sunday lunch feeds me for a good few days and get great value from. Sunday evening strip all the meat off and boil the carcass. Great stock.. Monday chicken sandwiches for lunch. Then a chicken risotto or pasta dish for evening. That will yeild another two more lunches leftover. Might make a curry and rice for a few portions and freeze it for midweek. And a few portions of soup with the left roast veggies.

£10 for 10-12 meals of great variety and barely much effort. But I love cooking, hate waste and can make something from nothing so my £100 monthly food shop gets me some millage

Hats off to you.

IanMcL · Post by **IanMcL** » Thu Mar 15, 2018 10:06 pm

No one owning up to 2 pints of lager and a packet of crisps?

Shore claret · Post by **Shore claret** » Thu Mar 15, 2018 10:23 pm

Bin Ont Turf wrote:What do two slices of bread and a packet of Beef Space Raiders come in at price wise?

One pack of space raiders makes a measly crisp butty, splash out you tight sod and bang another packet on.

JohnMac · Post by **JohnMac** » Fri Mar 16, 2018 12:08 am

Breakfast - Kippers or Kedgeree
Lunch - Souffle or Omellette
Tea - Light scones/pastries and sandwiches (no crust obviously)
Dinner - only if wearing Black/White Tie and always 8 for 8.30 otherwise it's called Supper

Roosterbooster · Post by **Roosterbooster** » Fri Mar 16, 2018 7:03 am

halfmanhalfbiscuit wrote:Dinner - 12pm
Tea - 5pm
Supper - before bed
Lunch - no idea?

Exactly. That’s why they are called dinnerladies, and not lunchladies

Dom · Post by **Dom** » Fri Mar 16, 2018 7:36 am

Cheapest one that I enjoy making is probably Spaghetti with garlic and olive oil.

400g spaghetti
3 cloves of garlic minced
75ml of Olive Oil
Pinch of Chilli flakes
Parsley
Parmesan or Grana Padano.
Salt/Pepper

1. Boil pasta in well salted water.
2. Gently fry the garlic in the oil with the chilli flakes,
3. Drain pasta and reserve about 50ml of the cooking water.
4. Add pasta to the oil and then add the water, make sure to coat the pasta well in the oil
5. Add the parsley at the end with a generous amount of seasoning and dish up.
6. Finish with grated cheese.

You'll smell of garlic for days but it's delicious and probably costs about 60p a portion.

ants_g · Post by **ants_g** » Fri Mar 16, 2018 7:51 am

Cheese and beans on toast. I'm posh, I am.

Chobulous · Post by **Chobulous** » Fri Mar 16, 2018 8:04 am

Meals from growing up in the 60s:-

Chips with oxtail soup poured over the top. Best chip butties you will ever have.
Tinned tomatoes and bacon
Sausage and beans.
Toast and beans with crumbly lancashire cheese over the top and grilled.
Grilled cheese.
Corned beef hash.

piston broke · Post by **piston broke** » Fri Mar 16, 2018 9:45 am

2 Holland's puds, from a multipack, smothered in mushy peas. £1.20.

Mrs Broke says Tuna pasta bake comes cheap for four.
Tin of tuna, tin of toms, peppers, onions, pasta twists, herbs, chilli flakes cheese sauce to top.

AndrewJB · Post by **AndrewJB** » Fri Mar 16, 2018 10:15 am

Plenty of healthy meals for less than a pound, when you use rice, eggs, cabbage, onion, carrots, garlic, and swede.

iluva64 · Post by **iluva64** » Fri Mar 16, 2018 10:16 am

Cant stand tea if its not made in one of these.

People who make tea in the mug don't know how to make a decent cuppa. Don't care if its milk first or second as long as you can stand a spoon in it!

claretabroad · Post by **claretabroad** » Fri Mar 16, 2018 12:59 pm

The best we could manage was to suck on a piece of damp cloth. If we were lucky.

ŽižkovClaret · Post by **ŽižkovClaret** » Fri Mar 16, 2018 1:08 pm

eggy bread

cricketfieldclarets · Post by **cricketfieldclarets** » Fri Mar 16, 2018 2:34 pm

bartons baggage wrote:Well i'm skint this week,so tomorrow i will be taking the misses to KFC where we will lick other peoples fingers.

cricketfieldclarets · Post by **cricketfieldclarets** » Fri Mar 16, 2018 2:35 pm

If there is one thing I hate it is food waste. Can't beat leftover meals though. Soups, stews and curries are great.

Some of the best dishes in the world were invented this way. Pizza and bubble & Squeek 2 for starters!

JellyBaby · Post by **JellyBaby** » Fri Mar 16, 2018 2:51 pm

ants_g wrote:Cheese and beans on toast. I'm posh, I am.

Nothing beats this. Nothing.

ian · Post by **ian** » Fri Mar 16, 2018 5:38 pm

Quickenthetempo wrote:Beans on toast has to be the cheapest but no doubt some student type will give some concoction for 3p a portion.

Beans or toast is cheaper .

starting_11 · Post by **starting_11** » Fri Mar 16, 2018 6:21 pm

ZizkovClaret wrote:eggy bread

Egg on Toast = Pro

Egg Toast = most awful foul smelling sickly concoction ever made!

halfmanhalfbiscuit · Post by **halfmanhalfbiscuit** » Fri Mar 16, 2018 6:50 pm

claretabroad wrote:The best we could manage was to suck on a piece of damp cloth. If we were lucky.

You were lucky.
We used to dream of a damp cloth.

halfmanhalfbiscuit · Post by **halfmanhalfbiscuit** » Fri Mar 16, 2018 6:55 pm

cricketfieldclarets wrote:If there is one thing I hate it is food waste. Can't beat leftover meals though. Soups, stews and curries are great.

Some of the best dishes in the world were invented this way. Pizza and bubble & Squeek 2 for starters!

Me too.
A mate of mine spends a fortune of food and then throws so much of it away it's disgusting.

bfcjg · Post by **bfcjg** » Fri Mar 16, 2018 6:56 pm

Broth. Get a bag of broth mix from Cartmells in Padiham other shops sell it but theirs is the best. Home made dumplings and a cheap cut of beef from the butcher. Recipe dead simple cooking dead simple works out about fifty pence per head. Packed with flavour and goodness. Anyone who says my kids have to eat frozen processed food because they are in poverty is just lazy.

halfmanhalfbiscuit · Post by **halfmanhalfbiscuit** » Fri Mar 16, 2018 7:07 pm

bfcjg wrote:Broth. Get a bag of broth mix from Cartmells in Padiham other shops sell it but theirs is the best. Home made dumplings and a cheap cut of beef from the butcher. Recipe dead simple cooking dead simple works out about fifty pence per head. Packed with flavour and goodness. Anyone who says my kids have to eat frozen processed food because they are in poverty is just lazy.

I agree, however I think people sometimes have an issue with time. That said, I'm busy and I still find the time.
You probably can't carry a tenners worth of root veg out of the shop.

bfcjg · Post by **bfcjg** » Fri Mar 16, 2018 7:15 pm

halfmanhalfbiscuit wrote:I agree, however I think people sometimes have an issue with time. That said, I'm busy and I still find the time.
You probably can't carry a tenners worth of root veg out of the shop.

My mum worked full time and often our teas were prepared in the morning and cooked slowly over a slow heat stews soups puddings joints etc and when you came in from school the house was full of the most wonderful aromas and I still think of mum when I smell a stew or a broth. Food should envoke happy memories.

halfmanhalfbiscuit · Post by **halfmanhalfbiscuit** » Fri Mar 16, 2018 7:31 pm

bfcjg wrote:My mum worked full time and often our teas were prepared in the morning and cooked slowly over a slow heat stews soups puddings joints etc and when you came in from school the house was full of the most wonderful aromas and I still think of mum when I smell a stew or a broth. Food should envoke happy memories.

I also remember baking day at our house.

Diesel · Post by **Diesel** » Fri Mar 16, 2018 7:32 pm

Tin of chopped tomatoes - 25p

2 cloves of garlic - 10p?

1 chilli - 10p?

1/3 of a good quality chorizo ring - 80p

enough pasta for 3 - 50p

£1.75÷3=0.58333

So that's 58p a portion of restaurant quality food.

Herts Clarets · Post by **Herts Clarets** » Fri Mar 16, 2018 7:38 pm

I once did a runner with a couple of mates from Lancashire Tandoori in Nelson back in the late 80s so that curry was free. *

Do I win?

*I know it wasn't clever and was 30 years ago.