Or as the Americans call it Mac and Cheese!
Over the last 3 months, I’ve slashed my weekly grocery bill by 60-70% (£60 a week down to £15-£18 a week), so sharing how I eat and what I eat may help others do so too!
One reason I was hesitant at first to share recipes was because I think everyone defines portions differently. I will simply write what I do for myself and let you adjust the amounts accordingly!
Ingredients based on 1 person:
- Small fussily pasta – 1 hand size portion per person
- Grated Cheddar Cheese – approx 4 large/overflowing tbsp per person (based on my portion size of pasta)
- 1/3 of a courgette/zucchini per person
- 5 cherry tomatoes cut in half, or 1 small regular size tomato per person
What to do:
- Boil pasta until almost ready (as per cooking directions on package)
- Last 2 minutes add in very small cut up pieces of courgette/zucchini
- Drain and shake water out, place in the bowl you are going to serve in
- add in the tablespoons of grated cheese, stir through and stop when cheesy enough!
- add in cut up cherry tomatoes
Serve with:
I serve with either 1/2 an orange per person or a spinach salad!
Health Factor:
The Grown Up Veggie Macaroni Cheese gives me dairy and 2 servings of veg, not including anything I have on the side.
Total time to make (including prep and cooking):
12 minutes
Cost:
I’ve averaged my cost out several times (and remember everything I buy is organic) but it works out for me at approx: £0.55 = $1.10 per person! For a meal that’s healthy, filling and homemade, that’s pretty good!
*I once made this for a group of 4 and was able to do it for approx £2 = $4 for us all, everyone loved it*
Well, I sure like recipes! I’d love to be able to buy nothing but organic, but it’s almost prohibitive here, although I do buy it when I can for some certain things. A single “normal” red pepper is verging on almost $5 (I live in Northern Canada)! What I need to do to cut down – more importantly in my case than comparing prices – is start planning my weekly meals, so I can really stretch the food out.
I will be checking back for more of your tasty veggie recipes though! YUM!
I seem to spend quite a bit of time weighing up the organic/local option. Organic is better for us but not always for the environment if it’s a choice between organic produce that has a large footprint behind it and local produce that doesn’t. I certainly can’t get organic ‘everythings’ and generally end up choosing a local version over an organic version that’s been flown in from Africa, New Zealand etc.
I really like the idea of serving pasta with half an orange on the side so will be taking that with me. Thanks for the idea
Sharon, I agree completely. This is why I was thrilled to find this shop, about 90% is organic and local (well as local as it can be in London). I know where I used to live I so trusted our local supplier that I used them even if technically not organic!
Yes, oranges go great with pasta!
Thanks Annie!
I’ve always wanted to go to Northern Canada! Those prices are outrageous!! Can you grow your own?
I wouldn’t worry about portion sizes most people will adjust accordingly. As well the biggest issue I think most people face is coming up with new ideas, this is were blogs can be a big help.
came accross this post over at the msn money boards, since it’s a post I can’t simply link to it. Also reason for so many comments we’re in a hotel room without much to do and I’m not a tv watcher but I do have the Wife’s computer and free (paid for by the company) internet
appreciated your article so much. My husband and I have been on a $90.00 food budget per week for over a year; we learned about this in a budgeting program that we participated in. What is crazy, is that we are actually able to eat very well–quite gormet even–off of $30.00 a week a couple times a month (as a family of 5!!) with much preparation and forethought. I must tell you that because I am a mother of three (6 1/2 5, 1 1/2) my time is precious to me–that said, I do spend a good deal of time in the kitchen–with my kids helping me. But, like you, I do not shop at a grocery outlet, cut coupons, run to more than one or two stores (which would take money out of our grocery budget). My time is spent with the food or knowing how to use it. Before I tell you some of my secrets, I must state that we eat very well. Let me give you a sample meal plan:
Monday: Aisian Chicken lettuce wraps–with orange glazed chicken, mung beans, sugar snap peas, chopped almonds (mock P.F. Changs), dessert: white chocolate filled phylo tarts with amaretto ganache and amarretto whip cream
Tuesday: Sloppy Joes (made with pureed turnip and apple–it tasted “normal”), dessert: same as previous night (with personally canned cherries)
Wednesday: Shredded beef enchiladas, dessert: homemade “dulce de leche” ice cream
THursday: Italian glazed chicken tenders, lemon chicken potatoes, green beans, peas, sweet vinigrette carrot/cucumber salad, dessert: previous
Friday: Homemade peperoni pizza, dessert: fruit with whipped cream
Saturday: Raspberry/beet filled pancakes, bacon, omlett, fruit compote (cherry with raspberry usually)
Sunday: leftovers and finger foods
We actually don’t eat that much “beans and rice” as I find that boring. Also, we don’t eat potatoes 36 different ways–though that would be a good trick. 7. everyone finishes their meal before they get desserts–try to waste nothing. I buy flour and other items in bulk so that I can have enough of them for next week’s usage. 8. buy a roast for lunch meat. Last night, I cooked the roast with layers of watercress, mozzarella cheese, chopped spinach, salt/pepper–it makes the meat stretch while adding amazingly gormet flavor.
Here is my last grocery bill: unbleached flour: 6 lbs for 1.92, seafood combo 3.78, cheese 4.81, bacon 1.68, spinach bunch 1.28, round tip roast, 5.40, refried beans 2 for .70, mung bean sprouts .98, 2 cucumbers for .96, 1 lb plums for .96, 1.11 lbs nectarines 1.19, celery .98, watercress .48, lemons ,48, pears 1 lbs 1. 45, mushrooms, .80, corn meal .80 @ 1 lb for .75 equals 28.91.
BTW I average 70 euros a week shopping for the wife and I, less when she´s on the road.
Hi Frugal Trenches: I unfortunately can’t grow my own veggies, not yet at least (no garden). Shipping costs are going up and up with the gas prices, and during winter sometimes the trucks can’t even get through so there is no fresh produce to be had for several days. But there’s no point complaining; it is what it is and you have to eat, right? And besides, I wouldn’t trade where I live for anything!
No, I just need to make the food stretch a lot further than I currently do, as I spend FAR too much on groceries and don’t always eat everything I buy…