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Low carb cost and budget tips 2024

Saturday night fake a take away.
Earlier today I defrosted half a bag of large prawns
Then bought a prawn curry single portion from Cook. It had just 6 very large prawns in for £5.75 but adding the 24 defrosted for the last couple of minutes resting time to warm through gave 2 very tasty large protein filled portions.
Hubby had his on pilau rice, mine on courgette free from the garden
 
Reading about @Lakeslover's chicken and @Antje77 's guinea pig's aubergines - and perhaps not saving on my diet as such: but when I made bone broth I used all the left over bits of chicken includng the bones. I used to have two small dogs and they occasionally enjoyed some of my suitable leftovers, and one real favorite was the bones left from making the broth. If I cooked the chicken bones long enough they'd soften completely and could be mashed into a nice safe, tasty mush which the dogs really enjoyed. One of them knew my routine, and would run to my assisance when I was finishing preparing the broth and bones. and helped me by licking every last bit from the pan, sieve, etc, before they went into the dishwasher... and then waited eagerly for his next special mushy chicken bone dinner... So not a single morsel wasted!


ETA I buy exra (Kerrygold) butter when it's on offer and genrally freeze it, but I've found it also keeps well in the fridge. Tesco sometimes has very good reductions on my stevia sweetener and I stcock up on that too. And ever since I started low carb baking I've used the cheaper but slightly coarser ground almonds.
 
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When out for a meal and everyone else is having desserts (which seem to be anything from £7 to £12 these days) and cheese is even more and loaded with crackers, fruit and chutneys so even more a waste of money, I find ordering a Sctoch or brandy works out cheaper (and seems socially more acceptable than having nothing!). It even feels like a treat
 
Bargain of last week from Home Bargains was a large pack (900g) of bacon ends and mishapes. Think it was about £1.39
Some was rashers but most were chunks or chop sized pieces
I split it into roughly 100g portions and froze. Got a good 8 portions from it, most of which serve 2.

Tonight one was chopped into cubes and fried with home grown (ie free) courgettes then mixed into 5 eggs to make a frittata. Served 2 of us handsomely. Probably would have served 3 but we were hungry ! Less than £1.50 for a meal for 2 depending on what you pay for eggs
 
Today's budget dish was home made soup.
Always an onion chopped then whatever veg in fridge, especially the stems. Today was 1 large broccoli stem, 2 sticks celery and a leek, chopped
All cooked slowly in butter for 10 -15 minutes until starting to soften.
Then add a couple of teaspoons powered veg stock (Marigild brand us good) and just enough water to cover the veg.
Cook until soft
If you've cut the veg small can be served as it is, or put in blender and/or sieved.. add more water or milk to consistency desired
Today I put a spoonful of garlic and herb soft cheese in the serving bowls then poured hot soup over. Yum, and pennies of cost.
And enough for tomorrow's lunch for 2 as well.
 
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