THE cost-of-living crisis has the nation by its grip, with millions of families struggling to make ends meet.
As inflation hits 9.4 per cent making food prices skyrocket, family budgets are squeezed all across the nation – and experts have warned inflation will only keep rising, as the Bank of England said inflation could hit 11% this year.
The dire situation has left many worried – and amongst those is Becky Excell, The Sunday Times best-selling author and a cooking whizz, whose book, Quick + Easy Gluten-free, is set to hit the shelves later this week, August 25th.
''Creating delicious food on a budget is something I've always had to do as a gluten-free person; after all when the cost of a loaf of gluten-free bread can cost upwards of £3.50, you have no choice!''
The London/Essex-based whizz has also become somewhat of an internet sensation on TikTok, where she shares numerous nutritious and mouth-watering recipes to her 138k fans.
The best part? Not only are they easy, quick and delicious, but Becky's dishes are also affordable, feeding a family for just a fiver a meal.
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Offering a helping hand to those struggling in the current climate – as well as those who want to try something new – Becky spoke to Fabulous and offered five hearty meals that won't cost a fortune.
Super quick veggie curry
Fry 400g of butternut squash in a tablespoon of garlic infused oil. Then add your spices – paprika, cumin, garam masala, ginger and cinnamon and mix to coat the squash – and cook for a minute.
Pour a tin of coconut milk and mix in a tablespoon of tomato puree, before chucking in a can of chickpeas.
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Cook for about ten minutes throwing in to handfuls of chopped spinach and lemon juice if you fancy.
You can also add 200g of plain yogurt – this will make the curry more thick and filling.
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Serve with rice. The whizz also recommended adding other veggies, such as sweet potato and kale.
Cheesy bacon pasta
Cook 300g of pasta (gluten-free if necessary) in salted water and make sure to save 100ml of the pasta water for later.
Fry 200g of chopped bacon in a tablespoon of garlic oil and let it cook for around five minutes until it's become crispy.
Chuck in 200g of cream cheese, 50g of grated parmesan and the leftover pasta water – mix until you reach desired sauce-like consistency.
Add the pasta and two handfuls of spinach, before seasoning with salt and pepper – this is according to personal preference.
To make it vegetarian-friendly, opt for a dairy-free cheese and mushrooms.
Gardeners pie
Boil four potatoes – peeled and chopped – for 20 minutes, so they're ready to be mashed.
Fry 80g of leek greens, one sliced courgette and two sliced carrots in a tablespoon of garlic infused oil.
Add half a tablespoon of paprika, a tablespoon cornflour and 1.5 tablespoons of mixed herbs; ensure to coat the veggies.
Pour in a tin of chopped tomatoes, 400ml of stock (gluten-free and/or veggie if necessary) and chuck in a can of butter beans, letting it simmer for a bit.
Transfer the pie filling to a large roasting dish, top with the mash and cover with a large handful of cheese.
Bake in a 200C fan preheated oven for around 30 minutes or until the veg is cooked to your liking and the top is golden.
Cajun sausage dirty rice
Fry 400g of chopped sausages in a tablespoon of garlic inflused oil until the chunks have browned slightly.
Chuck in a diced carrot, two chopped peppers and cook for a few minutes.
Mix in the following – 2 tsp smoked paprika, 1 tsp cumin, 1 tsp oregano, 0.5 tsp dried chilli flakes, 0.5 tsp ground coriander and pinch of allspice.
Pour in 260ml of stock and let it simmer for five or so minutes.
Add in 600g of cooked rice (around 200g of dry rice makes this amount), followed by a can of butterbeans.
Cook on a high heat so the rice starts to dry out and become a little crisp in places – it shouldn't be wet at all – and garnish with chopped spring onion greens.
Slow cooker peppercorn chicken and mash
Sear both sides of a kg of chicken until golden brown (Becky used drumsticks and thigh).
Place everything – 80g of finely chopped leek greens, 250g of sliced mushrooms, one teaspoon of whole peppercorns, 700ml of stock and 1.5 tablespoons of dijon mustard – in the slow cooker.
Pop the lid on and cook on low for around 4 hours, high for 2 hours.
Around 30 minutes before it’s done, cream cheese and cornflour mixture (3 tbsp cream cheese with 2 tbsp cornflour mixed with 5 tbsp water).
Leave the lid off for the remaining time to allow the sauce to thicken to your liking.
Serve up with creamy mashed potatoes (the whizz used 3 – four potatoes).
Becky added: ''Using cuts of chicken like drumsticks is a great way to save money compared to using chicken breast and you can use the bones to make homemade stock too.''
Becky’s food shopping tips to save money
- Hunt down reduced to clear items.
Going to the supermarket later in the day not only increases your chances of finding those yellow ticket items, but also the selection you'll find there.
Most things will be suitable to freeze too so don't be put off if it's something you might not use on the day. Which brings me onto my next point…
2. Freezer is your friend.
Not only is it good for freezing yellow ticket items, but it's perfect for preventing leftovers from turning into food waste.
Just make sure you label everything that goes in there to avoid those 'what on Earth is this?' moments.
3. All about meal planning.
Going to the supermarket without a shopping list or specific meals in mind can often mean you're more likely to buy things you may not even end up using, which end up wasted.
Planning your meals also greatly reduces the likelihood that you'll turn towards the more expensive takeaway apps too
4. Cook from scratch.
Ready meals, pre-prepared veg and fruit, pasta sauces etc. all fall under that category and can often be easily achieved at a reduced cost by making/preparing them yourself.
Having a good selection of dried herbs and spices and a good sharp knife means you can turn those basic, cheaper ingredients into whatever you need them to be.
5. Eat more veggie meals.
The veggie meals ate the cheapest per portion by far.
Tinned chickpeas, butter beans, cannellini beans, kidney beans etc. are not only full of protein, but always very affordable.
6. Shop around to find the cheapest options.
Though your nearest supermarket may be convenient, it might be wise to check out other nearby options to see how the average price of your weekly shop differs – especially on items you buy regularly.
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