Budgeting and Insourcing...How to bake and make do...

 

I was getting ready to do the grocery shop the other day.

 

To prepare for a grocery shop, I always do a refrigerator cleanout and pantry stocktake. How else do I know what we really need? 

 

Do you do this too?

 

Well once I'd done that, I realised that if I made yoghurt, used up the bits and pieces I had in the fridge, and baked bread, I actually didn't need much at all!

 

THAT was a good feeling.

 

Granddaughter and I baked the cupcakes above.

 

I got a batch of coconut yoghurt going. You can find my recipe here.

 

 

I baked my Artisanal Gluten Free Bread, recipe for that one here.

I used a batch of normal dairy home made Greek Yoghurt to make some Labne (also known as Labna, Labneh or Middle Eastern Cheese). This now sells in a tiny tub for $6, so I swear I could make a killing marketing this one to the hipsters! Here are the instructions. I added cracked pepper and extra virgin olive oil and kept this batch as a spread, although it was thick enough to roll into balls. I love this so much, and it's absolutely gorgeous as a dip base, an accompaniment to rissoles or chicken, or as a spread.

I roasted some fresh beetroot that I'd forgotten about...

 



 

...and while they were roasting, I cut up a capsicum past it's prime and several carrots, so they'd roast and be used as snacks and salad additions...

 

Somebody in the household had opened both a can of tuna AND a can of salmon for sandwiches, so I used the combination of the two, to make yummy seafood mornays with crunchy gluten free breadcrumb and cheese topping. Just make a white sauce, add the tuna and salmon, season well and decant into ramekins or a casserole dish and top with a mixture of breadcrumbs and cheese. Absolutely delish!

 

Two knobs of sausage mince were discovered in the bottom freezer drawer. I'd grabbed these when they were marked down to 20c each. Yes...20c!

 

From those I made two giant sausage rolls...each will feed the three of us.

 

And a yummy meatloaf loaded with veges, and topped with the gluten free pastry that was also hiding in the bottom drawer. My sister had grabbed this for me when it was marked down too.

 

Meatloaf can be a combination of any mince, any leftover cooked or raw veges, a bit of binding substance such as flour or breadcrumbs and a couple of eggs. That's it. You can't go wrong.

 

Winning!

 

So in addition to an organic frozen chicken, some salmon fillets bought a few weeks ago, a couple of chicken breasts and a piece of corned beef, we were looking good for the week.

 

Having a well stocked range of spices and condiments really helps with a  flavour boost when the meals are plain too...

 

 

And I always have multiple tubs of butter, dark chocolate, and slabs of Haloumi on hand as they keep for EVER. So a treat, some baking, and a flash breakfast are always in the mix.

 

 

Tidy refrigerator, full of goodies...

 

 

...and all I needed to buy was greens, shallots (spring onions), eggs, milk, bread and fruit.

 

Happy me.

 

I rewarded myself with a DIY Jamberry manicure. Wraps from my own stash. Free.

 

 

With some imagination, a few basic cooking skills and some pantry staples, you too can slash your grocery bill.

 

You can do it.

 

What are your favourite grocery busting recipes?