Eating on the cheap?

Does the following photograph make your mouth water? Well it should.

I mentioned a pet peeve of mine was food wastage. I love cooking in bulk and freezing portions to cook ahead. It is also quite easy for me as I'm a vegetarian. Vegetarian meals are easier to freeze long term and easier to defrost... there are alot of factors that you would need to consider with meat; like, how long it lasts when cooked in bulk and the dangers of re-heating it. And not to mention the cost! eek!



Hence I have never had an issue being a vegetarian at all.



And did I mention it is alot cheaper too!?



The following few recipes are a couple of my favourites and very very light on the budget - Later on I will blog on how to shop for a family of 3 or 4 on the cheap and vegetarian of course... surely you'd love to eat 3 healthy meals a day and not starve and not be broke either! Well that blog will come soon!



Anyhow, now for the recipes of my choice!


Lentil Mash Up


2 Tablespoons of vegetable oil
1 brown onion chopped finely
1 large carrot cut up in pieces
2 stalks of celery chopped into small pieces
1 can of tomatoes (safeway/coles price circa 89c per can)
150gram tin of red lentils (safeway/coles price circa 98c per can)



Heat oil in saucepan and cook the onion until softened, add remaining ingredients except for the lentils.
Simmer for a few minutes and then throw in 1 and a half cups of water and simmer for 45 minutes or so until everything is cooked and softened.
Keep the heat on simmering low. And then add the lentil and simmer for a further 10 minutes until everything is cooked.

Brilliantly yummy.

Serve with coucous or rice... or throw it all in a delicious wrap.


Linda's Baked Apple Dessert


1 Granny Smith Apple
1 teaspoon tapioca
1 Tablespoon of chopped nuts
1 Tablespoon of sultanas
Half a cup of apple juice
Pinch of cinnamon


Core apple and score the skin lightly to prevent it from bursting later on whislt baking.
Place the apple in a pan or in a dish large enough to hold it.
Sprinkle tapioca around the base of the apple (and not in the core).
Spoon all the nuts and sultanas into the cavity of the apple.
Any leftover fruit can be put into the bottom of the pan.
Pour juice over the apple and sprinkle with cinnamon.

Bake at 180 Celcius or at 160 Celcius if your oven is fan forced for 45 to 60 minutes.

Serve warm or cool topped with the fruits bits. MMMMmmmm

Can you guess how much those recipes cost to make??

The lentil mash up serves 3-4 portions and the total cost set me back a mere $2.97c AUD.

The apple dessert serves 1 person (or 2 if you love to share or don't eat alot!).

It cost a total of $1.89c to produce.

The rice wasn't included in that price but surely rice isn't all that expensive these days.

Can you see the slight example on what I am trying to show you? A quest to save money and live more all boils down to whether you use your resources well. Food is wholesome and most of it grows on this planet .. we pay for the packaging and the brand names that comes with it. We pay for the transport of the foods and the taxes on it...

TAXES on something that grows from the earth... We won't be able to avoid taxes however we can be smart with our foods, our left overs and what we choose to eat.

We can stop waste, save money and eat like royalty.

What is your meal for less than $3 AUD?