Cheapest meals for family of 4

[Mrsando]

Hey everyone! Ok so I'm a brand newbie to posting in the forum but have been using it for a few yrs (had my TMX for almost 3yrs now)
So I've had a really bad habit of heading to the supermarket almost everyday to get bit and pieces for dinner etc and now I'm determined to stay away for the rest of the week and use what I have in the freezer... I really need some inspiration though :-/
Here's a list of what I have in my freezer/fridge and pantry... Cn you give me some good recipes to feed my two daughters and my hubby???
FREEZER-
Bacon
Sausages
2 pieces of scotch fillet steak
Lamb steaks
Peas and beans
Frozen lemon juice

FRIDGE-
Milk
Cheese
Cream cheese
Margarine
Eggs
Veggies (cabbage, broccoli, tomatoes, pumpkin, zucchini, carrots, potatoes, onions)
Lots of condiments

PANTRY
this list if too big, but I have lots of canned stuff (heaps of Campbell's concentrated soups)
Truffle oil, vanilla bean pastes, lots of different mustards and glazes, flour, oats, millions of spices and herbs,
Black rice, freekah, etc etc

Can anyone give me some ideas? Also open to sweet treats too for school lunches and snack  

[judydawn]

Hi and welcome to the forum Mrsando.

I'm away from my computer at the moment and it's harder to link on the iPad, so for a starter using the sausages, if you google 'Bangers and Mash in a tasty gravy' or curried sausages  or devilled sausages with apple or filled sausages (all with forumthermomix after rhe name of the recipe or just thermomix if nothing comes up) you will find some nice recipes there.  

There's a nice stir fried cabbage recipe in the vegetarian section and plenty of soup recipes to use up the other vegetables listed.  You can have a little browse around by adding your ingredient into the search bar of the forum as well but make sure you're on the home page when you do so.

 

[Mrsando]

That's wonderful thankyou Judy!

[astarra]

Hello and welcome Mrsando 

[Bedlam]

Welcome Mrsando, sounds like a quiche in there!

[Cornish Cream]

Welcome to the forum Mrsando.
Try the Cream Cheese Pastry it's foolproof.

[Jamberie]

Welcome!
Custard for dessert

[EmeraldSue]

Welcome.
There are so many options for dinner with your ingredients. Tonight we had Chelsea's tuna strudels  which were easy and really popular with the kids  or what about a pasta carbonara or a risotto? If you have some chicken I recommend Jo's chicken and brown rice soup which is what we had for dinner last night with some crusty rolls ready in under an hour. I always find inspiration from the What's for dinner or What are you cooking today threads, particularly when people include photos.

[cookie1]

Welcome to the forum mrsando. I see a quiche there too. Lots of soup. Have you tried doing bread to have with your soup. Chookie's No Fuss Recipe is a very good one to start with.

I think someone suggested a risotto. You could use the bacon and zucchini. What about Amy's mini quiches, they are lovely.
Do let us know how you go.

[Kimmyh]

Hi mrsando and welcome. Carrot cake, frittata, fried rice, muffins, beef/lamb stir fry, mac and cheese, lemon curd, astarras filled sausages.

[achookwoman]

Sweet lamb curry, (lamb steaks and veggies, rice),
Lemon delicious,  (lemon juice, eggs )
Stir fry, ( steak, veggies rice )
Fish cakes, ( mashed pots, tinned salmon)
Soups,  good value.
Pasta bake.
Spaghetti sauces.
Crumbles with what ever fruit is cheap.
Impossible pie, savory and sweet.

Hope this helps. 

[judydawn]

The hardest thing to get rid of will be the canned soups Mrsando. If you google 'recipes using canned soup' you will find plenty of recipes (not TMX) to use up all those cans. When you've used up all your canned soups, check out this Quirky Jo thread for making your own canned soup alternatives.

For children's lunchboxes and snacks, check out this thread or browse the starters & snacks thread.