Australian Politics Forum - Eating well on a tight budget-recipes

mellie

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Re: Eating well on a tight budget-recipes
Reply #15 - Nov 25^th, 2010 at 4:33pm

Thanks equitist , and yep, I'm game and am going to give the apple a go in a few of them tonight.... why not.

I'll let you know how we go.

I have to shoot off and assemble them now. I cant say cook, because the cookings already been done for me. The shop cooked the tiger prawns!!lol

Great for a hot day, nothing worse than heating your kitchen up on days like these. It was about 30c here today I think.

And someone mentioned delivery?

Lol... this would defeat the purpose of my encouraging you all to cook and eat well cheaply for yourselves now wouldn't it.

I'm going to have to come up with some bachelor and speedy student meals I think... Cool

Cheers.

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Miss Anne Dryst

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Re: Eating well on a tight budget-recipes
Reply #16 - Nov 25^th, 2010 at 5:25pm

mellie wrote on Nov 25^th, 2010 at 4:33pm:

And someone mentioned delivery?

Lol... this would defeat the purpose of my encouraging you all to cook and eat well cheaply for yourselves now wouldn't it.

I'm going to have to come up with some bachelor and speedy student meals I think... Cool

Cheers.

The thread title was about eating.....nothing was mentioned about doing the cooking.
The food tastes much better when someone else does the cooking.
May explain why Maccas, KFC, Red Rooster and Hungry Jacks do so well.

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mellie

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Re: Eating well on a tight budget-recipes
Reply #17 - Nov 25^th, 2010 at 7:24pm

Miss Anne Dryst wrote on Nov 25^th, 2010 at 5:25pm:

mellie wrote on Nov 25^th, 2010 at 4:33pm:

And someone mentioned delivery?

Lol... this would defeat the purpose of my encouraging you all to cook and eat well cheaply for yourselves now wouldn't it.

I'm going to have to come up with some bachelor and speedy student meals I think... Cool

Cheers.

The thread title was about eating.....nothing was mentioned about doing the cooking.
The food tastes much better when someone else does the cooking.
May explain why Maccas, KFC, Red Rooster and Hungry Jacks do so well.

Tell this to your cardiologist when you next make an appointment for your cold clammy night sweats, Erithmia, shortness of breath and chest cramps.

Roll Eyes

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« Last Edit: Nov 25^th, 2010 at 7:31pm by mellie »

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mellie

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Re: Eating well on a tight budget-recipes
Reply #18 - Nov 25^th, 2010 at 7:29pm

Equitist wrote on Nov 25^th, 2010 at 12:29pm:

mellie wrote on Nov 25^th, 2010 at 9:43am:

Rice paper rolls.

http://floridaprivatechef.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/images/RicePaperRolls_B.37...

Now, these are so versatile you can deviate from the recipe that's always on the back of the rice paper wraps packet, ie, tonight I'm stuffing mine with large sweet chilly strips, mint, coriander, rice vermacilli noodles, 8 Australian tiger prawns which I have marinated in an oil-free Thai coconut dressing,(purchased from Asian section of supermarket where the rice papers are) spring onions, bean shoots, shredded carrot, ..and I'll be making 3 different dipping sauces to serve them with, and purchased 3 limes today for $1.

All this cost me $16, and this will serve at least 4....AT LEAST!

Grant it, I already had coriander and mint in my garden,but basically, you can stuff them with what you like, even cold shredded chicken if prawns aren't your thing.

To give you some idea as to how affordable they are...

Wai Wai rice vermicilli noodles 200g $1.20
Erawan rice papers 16 250g $2.27
Bean shoots 250g $1.90
Mae ploy salad dressing 280ml $2.37
8 Australian black tiger Prawns $5.72
pre-pack bag of carrots 1k $1.95
3 red Chilly (large red long ones) 78c
Spring onions (optional) $2.48

Now, I probably could have done this even cheaper had I gone to Woolworths, though I was on foot, so went to Coles.

Basically, a really healthy, yummy, cheap, simple, fast, low fat meal for under $20.

If you use chicken and omit some of the extra ingredients, this and just stuck to the recipe on the back of the rice papers packet, you could do it for even less.

http://ourkitchen.fisherpaykel.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/rice_paper_rolls_m...

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1259/683608189_c20cd548cb.jpg

I will toast some sesame seeds to add to the vege mix before rolling them up also.
This and I have a Lebanese cucumber in the fridge I will use up too.

For a vegetarian version, use avocado, omelet (egg) strips ...or just make vege ones if you like.

Basically, get creative, and stuff them with what you like.

My kids love them!

Ps:
This Thai coconut dressing $2.37 with lime in it is oil free, and is thickened with coconut syrup and doubles up as a marinade for your prawns or chicken meat and as a dipping sauce.

http://www.woolworths.co.nz/Content/ProductImages/big/8850367990443.jpg

Yum, Mellie...you've got my mouth watering...

I once had some fantastic rice paper nibbles at a trivia night - I was told that the taste secret was to include apple strips...

If you're game to try the apple addition to your own recipes, I'd be curious to know what you think...

You're a champion equ, the apple worked a treat.

Thank you muchly.

I used green granny smith strips for the sweet/sour effect, and the texture, crispness of the rolls really made a difference.

We may not share political views, but we definitely have a love of food in common.

Yummo!!

I'm now going out to the kitchen to be naughty, am going to make roasted sesame candy (chews) for the kids.

And for myself too of course... Wink

Thanks again for your tip,

Cheers.

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Miss Anne Dryst

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Re: Eating well on a tight budget-recipes
Reply #19 - Nov 25^th, 2010 at 7:33pm

mellie wrote on Nov 25^th, 2010 at 7:24pm:

Miss Anne Dryst wrote on Nov 25^th, 2010 at 5:25pm:

mellie wrote on Nov 25^th, 2010 at 4:33pm:

And someone mentioned delivery?

Lol... this would defeat the purpose of my encouraging you all to cook and eat well cheaply for yourselves now wouldn't it.

I'm going to have to come up with some bachelor and speedy student meals I think... Cool

Cheers.

The thread title was about eating.....nothing was mentioned about doing the cooking.
The food tastes much better when someone else does the cooking.
May explain why Maccas, KFC, Red Rooster and Hungry Jacks do so well.

Tell this to your cardiologist when you next make an appointment for your cold clammy night sweats, Erithmia, shortness of breath and chest cramps.

Roll Eyes

But the time I save in cooking I'm able to utilise in much more healthier lifetsyle aspects that would otherwise be omitted.

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mellie

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Re: Eating well on a tight budget-recipes
Reply #20 - Nov 25^th, 2010 at 7:36pm

And miss Ann, I certainly hope you don't truly eat take-away often, because much more than once every 6 weeks is what keeps Dr's in business.

Sorry, I was a nurse, so get a bit thingo about this sort of thing, force of habit I guess.

Have seen enough greedy obese patients recovering from O/H surgery to do me a lifetime.

Sorry if this sounds judgemental and heartless.

I don't mean to sound this way, it's just I think people need the wake-up call.

If you take good care of yourself, (and I hope you do)... ignore my above response.

Cheers.

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Miss Anne Dryst

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Re: Eating well on a tight budget-recipes
Reply #21 - Nov 25^th, 2010 at 7:39pm

mellie wrote on Nov 25^th, 2010 at 7:36pm:

And miss Ann, I certainly hope you don't truly eat take-away often, because much more than once every 6 weeks is what keeps Dr's in business.

Sorry, I was a nurse, so get a bit thingo about this sort of thing, force of habit I guess.

Have seen enough greedy obese patients recovering from O/H surgery to do me a lifetime.

Sorry if this sounds judgemental and heartless.

I don't mean to sound this way, it's just I think people need the wake-up call.

If you take good care of yourself, (and I hope you do)... ignore my above response.

Cheers.

Well Maccas, KFC etc are classed as restaurants.
Therefore if you eat there you aren't having take-a-way food are you.

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Equitist

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Re: Eating well on a tight budget-recipes
Reply #22 - Nov 25^th, 2010 at 11:13pm

mellie wrote on Nov 25^th, 2010 at 7:29pm:

You're a champion equ, the apple worked a treat.

Thank you muchly.

I used green granny smith strips for the sweet/sour effect, and the texture, crispness of the rolls really made a difference.

We may not share political views, but we definitely have a love of food in common.

Yummo!!

I'm now going out to the kitchen to be naughty, am going to make roasted sesame candy (chews) for the kids.

And for myself too of course... Wink

Thanks again for your tip,

Cheers.

Cheers, Mellie - glad you liked the suggestion!

Apple does seem to be an odd ingredient - and I still haven't figured out why it works so well...

That said, I still love apple sandwiches (without the added sprinkle of sugar from my childhood) - sometimes with tasty cheese and/or fruit chutney...

Oh, and apple and Vegemite works well too - sometimes I alternate bites from apples and Vegemite sandwiches...

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« Last Edit: Nov 25^th, 2010 at 11:18pm by Equitist »

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mellie

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Re: Eating well on a tight budget-recipes
Reply #23 - Nov 26^th, 2010 at 6:51am

Equitist wrote on Nov 25^th, 2010 at 11:13pm:

mellie wrote on Nov 25^th, 2010 at 7:29pm:

You're a champion equ, the apple worked a treat.

Thank you muchly.

I used green granny smith strips for the sweet/sour effect, and the texture, crispness of the rolls really made a difference.

We may not share political views, but we definitely have a love of food in common.

Yummo!!

I'm now going out to the kitchen to be naughty, am going to make roasted sesame candy (chews) for the kids.

And for myself too of course... Wink

Thanks again for your tip,

Cheers.

Cheers, Mellie - glad you liked the suggestion!

Apple does seem to be an odd ingredient - and I still haven't figured out why it works so well...

That said, I still love apple sandwiches (without the added sprinkle of sugar from my childhood) - sometimes with tasty cheese and/or fruit chutney...

Oh, and apple and Vegemite works well too - sometimes I alternate bites from apples and Vegemite sandwiches...

Why the apple worked such a treat is because it hit all 4 notes, when combined with the other ingredients in the rolls.

eg....Sweet, sour, hot and salty...(and texture is important too)

Think of your tongue as having 4 regions, clusters of receptors which receive the above four notes, information as to what it is you are tasting. Certain parts of our tongue contain receptors for certain things. Ie, sweet will be only tasted on some parts of you're tongue and not others. Likewise with sour, salty, hot.

When all the receptors on your tongue are tantalise at once, this combined with the textures, it's a winner.

This is why Asian foods are such a hit...you often have the big magic 4....hot,sour,salty,sweet...the challenge being to hit all you're receptors at once with each bite, and you're apple did just that.

See.. Apple (particularly Green) is sweet and sour, the chilly is hot and sweet, the soy sauce and seafood salty, and the crispness of the apple lends it texture, this is important.

Food has to feel good in the mouth this and hit as many receptors as possible at the same time.

This is why you're apple was such a huge hit Que.

I think adding crushed salted peanuts instead of the sesame seeds would make for a nice substitution also.

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Miss Anne Dryst Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 2296 Sydney Gender:	Re: Eating well on a tight budget-recipes Reply #24 - Nov 26^th, 2010 at 6:54am Apple is often neglected yet it appears to be in one of our most basic condiments - sauce, well BBQ anyway and probably also in tomato sauce. And for some reason an apple sauce compliments pork - why is that.
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mellie

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Re: Eating well on a tight budget-recipes
Reply #25 - Nov 26^th, 2010 at 6:56am

Miss Anne Dryst wrote on Nov 26^th, 2010 at 6:54am:

Apple is often neglected yet it appears to be in one of our most basic condiments - sauce, well BBQ anyway and probably also in tomato sauce.

And for some reason an apple sauce compliments pork - why is that.

Food is such a science, I could never get sick of it.

...Apple cuts through the porks sweet richness....it's sweet, and often salty, (especially when you salt the crackling)......The Chinese are clever, ie, think of sweet chilly pork, , sweet and sour pork...it's about hitting as many receptors as you can.

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Miss Anne Dryst

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Re: Eating well on a tight budget-recipes
Reply #26 - Nov 26^th, 2010 at 7:00am

mellie wrote on Nov 26^th, 2010 at 6:56am:

Miss Anne Dryst wrote on Nov 26^th, 2010 at 6:54am:

Apple is often neglected yet it appears to be in one of our most basic condiments - sauce, well BBQ anyway and probably also in tomato sauce.

And for some reason an apple sauce compliments pork - why is that.

Food is such a science, I could never get sick of it.

Well my philosophy is that if you use natural foods (including herbs and spices) and no canned stuff then you can't really go wrong.
Mix up a combination and discover something new, a new flavour etc.
Try a different means of preparing, cooking, even serving and it makes for a wider diversity of eating.

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Equitist Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 9632 NSW	Re: Eating well on a tight budget-recipes Reply #27 - Nov 26^th, 2010 at 7:39am mellie wrote on Nov 26^th, 2010 at 6:51am: I think adding crushed salted peanuts instead of the sesame seeds would make for a nice substitution also. I'm also thinking pine nuts or pepitas...
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mellie

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Re: Eating well on a tight budget-recipes
Reply #28 - Nov 26^th, 2010 at 7:41am

Rainbow Chicken

This is a more economical rendition of one of my classics, which I will be making tonight. It's colourful, fresh and flavoursome, and meets our check lists requirements nutrition and cost wise.

1 red onion 77c chopped finely

2 large, (about 500g) single chicken breast fillets or 500 g chicken tenderloins $5.00 -$6.00 Cut each breast into two, or prepare as tenderloins if desired.

I large calypso mango $3.48 or 1 200g tin of peaches containing 6 peach halves or 3 whole) in syrup chopped finely $1.60

One large red chilly chopped finely $30c

One small red capsicum chopped finely $2.00

Bunch mint chopped finely $1.98

Dressing

2 tablespoon sugar
3 tablespoons vinegar
clove of garlic crushed
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin (optional)
1 clove of garlic

Or

A splash of Thai oil free bought dressing sold in the Asian section of the supermarket $2.70 (approx) This is what I'll be using tonight.

Steps.

Make salsa first, by combining the above ingredients in a bowl, place glad wrap over the bowl then refrigerate for 30 mins.

While salsa is refrigerating, boil 2 cups of rice and spray griller/frypan or ordinary frying pan with olive oil spray, cook rice and char chicken tenderloins/breasts, until golden and the juices run clear when poked.

Serve chicken on a bed of rice then top with rainbow salsa, serve with asparagus or other veg optional.

I will now put a pic up of this dish I have made in the past which I took a photo of, though tonight, I will be serving it on a bed of rice as it's easier than serving it with potato bake, this and is more affordable also. And I will add diced avocado to my rainbow salsa mix tonight also...for something different, as I need to use up one I bough a few days ago before it gets too soft.

The cost of this dish is approximately $15 (serves 4 people) if you buy the dressing, even cheaper if you make you're own.

About $3.70 per person , if you add asparagus spears as a side like I will be doing again tonight. Ans I will serve with a wedge of lime as I have to use these up too.

Affordable, healthy, fast, and flavoursome.

I will put the pic up shortly...have to go through my pic files.

And please excuse my ugly old kitchen table, it could do with re-varnishing, it's an heirloom.

I'll try uploading the image again!!

Roll Eyes

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« Last Edit: Nov 26^th, 2010 at 8:20am by mellie »

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Equitist

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Re: Eating well on a tight budget-recipes
Reply #29 - Nov 26^th, 2010 at 7:43am

Have you ever tried that salad of shredded carrot, coconut, sultanas and orange juice!?

Yuuumm!

It's always a surprise hit novelty dish on 'pot luck' occasions - and I expect it would lend itself well to rice paper nibbles too...

Here's one such recipe: -

http://www.ifood.tv/recipe/carrot-and-sultana-salad

Quote:

Ingredients

6 carrots, grated

125g sultanas

60g chopped nuts

ORANGE DRESSING

1/4 cup/60ml orange juice

2 tblspn honey

How to make Carrot And Sultana Salad

Place carrots and sultanas in a serving bowl.
To make dressing, place orange juice and honey in a small bowl and whisk to combine.
Spoon dressing over carrot mixture and toss to combine.
Sprinkle with nuts, cover and refrigerate until required.

In the absence of an actual recipe, I've made it without the honey and nuts - and it was still scrumptious!

I wonder how fresh beetroot, red cabbage, red capsicum and/or red onion would go with it...

Perhaps some balsamic vinegar!?

Maybe a sweet potato variant!?

Hmmnnn....some shredded nori!?

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« Last Edit: Nov 26^th, 2010 at 7:50am by Equitist »

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