:wink:
I am retired -through injury, and live on benefits.
Thanks to Norfolk Market for meat - fish - and vegetables.
A pressure cooker for cheap cuts of meat.
A slow cooker for casseroles.
An inventive mind, and time to search for bargains in Sainsburies and Iceland, two fridges - two freezers - and TIME, I live and eat well.
Any one else out there with tips and recipes?

You tend to get cheaper food if you shop near the end of supermarkets opening hours, after the rush. There's usually something they want to get rid of before they have to chuck it any way. Netto is good for bread, rice, pasta and curry sauces, and beans of course. I would avoid their meats, especially the one in hillsborough, Im sure some of it looks off because it's not far enough inside the fridge. frsh meat and vegetables are good from Castle market.

When I was a student, some of my friends would have a go at me for shopping in the market urging me not to trust the meat. The same people usually had parents with 6-figure incomes and so had a different view of money than me, but thats beyond the point slightly. I would always point out that old people would shop at Castle Market and if delicate systems like theirs can handle the food then so can mine. And they've had years of shopping around to come decide to go to Castle Market rather than somerfield. I tend to trust that judgement.

Hi Richard
I meant Castle Market, It was the Norfolk market hall years ago. - I'm getting on you see.
I got six pheasants today, the last of the local shoot, £1.00 each.
One in the slow cooker now, with carrots onion bayleaves etc.
Will get two dinners and four pies from it, + a pint of consumme or stock.
Monday is a good day for supermarket shopping.
Don't worry about dodgy meat, you should have seen what we ate in Pakistan!
Just don't eat it rare, and make sure re-heats are simmering hot.

i've never had pheasant. I remember a story my Mum told about when her and my father were courting.

Well, your dad never liked eating dark meat, and he certainly didn't like eating rabbits. So one night he was invited to eat with our family. Your Nan was making rabbit pie and so I told her that should your Dad ask, just say it was chicken.

The meal was going well, "How's the pie Alan?"

"Oh very nice thank you."

Thats when your Dad started frowing, he'd found something in his pie. Your Grandad started smirking when your Dad asked;

"Ooh, what's this" as he took something out of his mouth.

Your Grandad, laughing, said "Oh thats lead shot from when I shot the rabbit."

Your Dad didn't eat any more pie.

I quite liked the last rabbit I had, it was a gift from a taxi driver I used to work with.

Rabbit
The Maltese national dish ( Fankarta).
Clay type pot or casserole.
Portions of rabbit, heavy cheap red wine. chopped carrots and peas herbs, and and long slow cooking.
Eaten with ash baked crusty bread, fingers style.
Loads more heavy cheap red wine.

Right then. Whats so special about ash baked bread, and where can you get it (near town center or hillsborough). I've never heard of it. I did see some rabbit at Castle Market once so Im sure Ill be able to get some when I pop down tommorrow.

I did two years on Income Support and had the time to visit the various supermarkets who posted their special offer leaflets through my door. I stocked up on the things we used and managed to resist the 'bargains' my kids would never eat. Going to the market late on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons netted some real goodies as the stall holders would almost give fruit and veg away as they were closed the following days. My kids called Mondays 'wait and see' day because, as the day before my benefit was paid, it was tea using the leftovers.

Richard
I lived on Malta for a few years in the 70's - like living in Sheffield in the 50's.
They baked bread in old style ovens, and it was sold from a van in the street - daily. - What used to be called a "Cob" - today "Farmhouse" loaf had white ash on the bottom from the ovens. It seemed to add to the taste.
The "Fankata" used to be cooked in the back of the local bar, depending on how many people had contributed their £1.00.
Then placed in a large bowl in the centre of the table, loads of bread - loads of Maltese wine and a plate each.
The bowl was topped up as the evening went on, as was the wine.
Fingers to serve, bread to dip and use as finger napkins.
Headaches in the morning.
Maybe another 50 cents chipped in for more wine.
Happy days :lol:

Sheffco
sorry to hear you have to live on benefits, how did you pay for you computer ?

I suspect he may have paid it off by now.. Since the thread is over 18 months old :P

plenty of disabled people work for a living and pay their own way in life

I cant get my breath has this thread been brought back from months ago just so the nit pickers can have a field day.
all the poor chap wanted was some recipes.

thrify's one thing, pheasants and rabbit pie, what's for dessert sewet rat pudding..!? (sewer - suet), i'll stick to my dayjob thanks
(sobeit if this offends; there are some offensive comments in this thread)

Originally posted by sheffco
..Don't worry about dodgy meat, you should have seen what we ate in Pakistan!

I wasn't nit picking, I just merely commented in my usual way on why a 18+ month old thread was dug up.. :suspect:

I was refering to kirky and poppins, having a go because sheffco was out of work.

I don't think Kirky was having a pop at anyone.. He just said plenty of disabled people work and pay their own way in life.. I think he was commenting on a previous post.

DeeJ :)

see http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/ for lots of advice, how to make your pennies go further.

As well as the articles, the chat forum is a mine of info.
-

I wasn't nic picking either, i was serious, don't you think a pc is a luxury item for some people, it is for me.

Originally posted by poppins
Sheffco
sorry to hear you have to live on benefits, how did you pay for you computer ?
At least he bought a cpu!. Not like all the chavs spending their hard earned dole money on tracksuits and cheap gold!.
He probably saved a fortune on all the bargain food he bought anyway!.
By the way sheffco, can i come round for tea :thumbsup:

Originally posted by poppins
I wasn't nic picking either, i was serious, don't you think a pc is a luxury item for some people, it is for me.

I hope I'm not nit picking when I say it's not nic picking!

Originally posted by mojoworking
I hope I'm not nit picking when I say it's not nic picking! :hihi: :hihi: :hihi: :hihi: :hihi: :hihi:

Hi Everyone - - Its Sheff er co.
Thanks for all the comments - - my computer is over six years old - was purchased in South Africa - When I was living in Umhlanga Rocks (Millionaires row) if you care to look it up, it is about fifteen Kilometers north of Durban.
If you were to bother to read my website
www.the-doodlebugger.co.uk - you would realise that I am not an ordinary scrounger. I worked and lived Hard for most of my life.
I have through some episodes of my career often had to eat what was available - - as there were no supermarkets in the Sahara desert - - Plenty of snakes and lizards and would you believe Rabbits.
Forced out of work through injury, I found it necessary to call on my former resourcefulness and culinary skills to prepare meals from what was cheap and available. Aided by memories of many meals cooked and enjoyed in some very hostile conditions - - I can remember some very dubious casseroles.
There is not much call for a "Party Chief" in the UK. I tried believe you me - I tried.
But then - - Doodlebuggers are a rare breed - - I smile to myself when I imagine some of the Nicker Pickers having to live off the land in a strange area with no shops - no vegetation - and no mother to prepare their TV dinners.
Cheers
from the-doodlebugger

Sorry to ask this but why to people who say thier on benefits
have to justify to everyone else, where they got the cash for the dearer items they possess, eg computors, cars ect


Do you better off people always assume that everyone on benefits is a scrounger, who's never done a days work in thier life ?

I hope that you better offs don't find yourselves unemployed, and having to claim benefits

oh the shame
:o

Originally posted by jan2002
Sorry to ask this but why to people who say thier on benefits
have to justify to everyone else, where they got the cash for the dearer items they possess, eg computors, cars ect


Do you better off people always assume that everyone on benefits is a scrounger, who's never done a days work in thier life ?

I hope that you better offs don't find yourselves unemployed, and having to claim benefits

oh the shame
:o

Here here!

My father has a PC and is now disabled and has a small amount of money. Perhaps these people have not always been on benefits.

I had a peroid of 3 months when I recieved benefits due to an illness. It didn't mean I had to sell my house, pc, car etc.

Some people just need to open their minds.

Sheff again
Not a bit of shame Jan (Thanks for the support) I also worked in England for a while, as an engineer, not to mention a nine year stint in the armed forces.
Projects I was involved in - - Hastings sea defences - The Sun Alliance main headquarters - a couple of shopping malls - a couple of water treatment plants - - up to £25.00 per hour for myself and an assistant for up to 100 paid hours per week.
Easy come easy go, but imagine the tax and NI contributions?
I contributed more than most, at no cost to the state - Company medical schemes - Company help with school fees - I lived overseas and came home broke.
A couple of wives - A few lady friends - A couple of divorces - and finally a shamefull let down by a French/Saudi Company. And here I am back to my roots.
My computer is so old that solitaire runs slow.:clap: :clap: :clap:
Cheers
Sheff
Still proud to be British and of where I have been and what I have done.

the chap said he's retired through injury. To me this says he's a hard working man who was forced into not working. he deserves any money he can get. this is why i pay my tax, so he can have the life he deserves. my hat's off to him. Nick.

Jesus...talk about threads going a miss. A couple of sarcy comments and it all snowballs. I think we were talking recipes...

Doodlebugger, have you tried pork belly? i don't know if you'd class it as cheap but it's less than a pound a pound. The trick, as you've pointed out, is to cook it really slowly.

Score it through the fat about an inch apart. Rub salt over the fat and stick it meat side down in a baking tray about 80 - 90 centigrade. Leave it for about 8 hours and then turn it up to 200 for 10 minutes or so. You get the sweetest meat and crunchiest crackling.

Enjoy and good luck with the game eating. Probably the healthiest unintensively reared meat there is.

Sheff agin
Thanks for the recipe Jim - - Thats all I intended the thread to be about in the first place - - - sounds deelish.
Once a long time ago -- - in Algeria (Atlas mountain Foothills) we shot a boar (Wild One) Weighed about 700 Lbs. Skinned it Gutted it Butchered it. Definitely good version of pork.
I don't mind the sarcastic comments - - In Africa, there are always pi dogs yapping around - - Timid but viscious in packs. Ready to pounce on anything or anyone they think is vunerable.
Lower than Jackals and Hyenas really, but they like to make a noise.
Cheers
Sheff :clap: :rolleyes:

Originally posted by jan2002
Sorry to ask this but why to people who say thier on benefits
have to justify to everyone else, where they got the cash for the dearer items they possess, eg computors, cars ect


Do you better off people always assume that everyone on benefits is a scrounger, who's never done a days work in thier life ?

I hope that you better offs don't find yourselves unemployed, and having to claim benefits

oh the shame
:o 100% behind you,how many presumptious folk on here have ever done a real days work ? judge not less ye be judged.bet sheffco dont go clubbing,drug taking and whinging that his grants to low...hes paid his bit in and should be allowed to take it out without "some never done a days work in my life" trying to impose a means test on him some times people forget that its the working class type of bloke thats paid for their education,and their "right" to be able to comment on some one who has eventually reached the age that means working life is over...and i certainly dont mean past their sell buy date..presumptious baxxxxxxs

Glad to see there are some supporters out there.

My computer you see - is my main contact with intelligent conversation. I don't go to pubs, never mind clubs, I don't really follow football, so I find I have little in common with most people in my area. To try and explain what I used to do for a living gets complicated.
Work mates from all over the world - I keep in touch through my website and email.
I do indulge in a bottle of Sainsbury's cheap scotch now and again - part of my grocery budget. (Large Part).

Today's recipe - - - Will make four meals for me (Frozen)

2 Lb of shin beef - - approx £2.00
1 medium onion - sliced small - pennies
handfull of sliced peppers - grown in my window
1 diced chilli - grown in my window
Pressure Cooker - - soften onions etc in vegetable oil (Cheap)
Beef in seasoned flour (Salt and Black pepper) brown and seal.
Cover with water - pressure for 20 mins - seson to taste.
Should be very tender with smooth sauce from beef fat +flour seasoning.
2 Lb potato's - - 40p
small turnip 10p
Peel - Chop - boil in salted water then mash together.
Tastes like "sweet Potato" but much cheaper.
Carrots (baton) Green beans (Sliced) Optional on veg?
Yorkshire puddings - My mother taught me 50 years ago!
This will produce up to six "Bloody good" Sunday lunch type meals for well under £1.00 each
Of course - I am not including my time - which is a pleasure.

Cheers for now
Lemon Chicken next
Sheff

Originally posted by sheffco
Glad to see there are some supporters out there.

My computer you see - is my main contact with intelligent conversation. I don't go to pubs, never mind clubs, I don't really follow football, so I find I have little in common with most people in my area. To try and explain what I used to do for a living gets complicated.
Work mates from all over the world - I keep in touch through my website and email.
I do indulge in a bottle of Sainsbury's cheap scotch now and again - part of my grocery budget. (Large Part).

Today's recipe - - - Will make four meals for me (Frozen)

2 Lb of shin beef - - approx £2.00
1 medium onion - sliced small - pennies
handfull of sliced peppers - grown in my window
1 diced chilli - grown in my window
Pressure Cooker - - soften onions etc in vegetable oil (Cheap)
Beef in seasoned flour (Salt and Black pepper) brown and seal.
Cover with water - pressure for 20 mins - seson to taste.
Should be very tender with smooth sauce from beef fat +flour seasoning.
2 Lb potato's - - 40p
small turnip 10p
Peel - Chop - boil in salted water then mash together.
Tastes like "sweet Potato" but much cheaper.
Carrots (baton) Green beans (Sliced) Optional on veg?
Yorkshire puddings - My mother taught me 50 years ago!
This will produce up to six "Bloody good" Sunday lunch type meals for well under £1.00 each
Of course - I am not including my time - which is a pleasure.

Cheers for now
Lemon Chicken next
Sheff

thats sounds aweful mate..if you want my recipe for chicken or meat madras ask away....

Er....I am somewhat out of touch with Social Security benefits these days. I signed on after leaving school in 1982 and seem to recall I got sent a green girocheque for £19.27. That was for standard Unemployment benefit and adjusted for todays prices would probably equal about £80 a week? Well, beer was 45 p a pint which is what I measure things against.......I remember being able to just about live on it whilst being heavily subsidised by parental funding. I had to sign on at West Street which was then a horrible dark and clammy linoleum floored hell-hole......I wonder if its changed.......

The top song at the time was DHSS rap by WHAM...remember that? AKA Wham Rap I think......"the benefit gang are gonna pay" and all those lyrics...."wham bam I am a man, job or no job you cant tell me that Im not" CRINGE

What is the 2004 rate of Unemployment Benefit or Supplementary benefit the other one was I think. Do they still do the little green grocheque things or have they gone to bank transfer yet?

Sorry, probably sounds dated, it was 1982 after all and I think everything might have changed a bit.....but have no idea what Dept of Health and SOcial Security supplementary benefit rates are these days.....I imagine they have increased in line with inflation which they claim they did in the early 80's......

cheers sheffco my kinda recipes.
wholesome hot and filling.
dont suppose youd care to give away any secret tips on yokshires.
Ive been doing them for years and no matter what recipe i follow they never seem to rise properly.
as for curries well only me and one of my lads will eat em the others prefer meat and two veg etc.

Hi Tara, the main cause of the Yorkshires not rising is that the fat in the tin isn't hot enough. You need to get it smoking hot before adding the mixture, and then it should rise.

Also, whisk the mixture up and put it in the fridge while the fat heats till smoking. Then make sure you whisk it again just before you pour into the tin. My puddings are always lovely and light and perfectly risen!!

Originally posted by tara
cheers sheffco my kinda recipes.
wholesome hot and filling.
dont suppose youd care to give away any secret tips on yokshires.
Ive been doing them for years and no matter what recipe i follow they never seem to rise properly.
as for curries well only me and one of my lads will eat em the others prefer meat and two veg etc. make sure your oven door is tight fitting,once there in dont open the door or allow cold air to hit them for twenty minutes,your tin should have the oil smoking before putting the batter in.and place tin in top shelf of oven, good luck...

thanks everyone i'll have another go this sunday .
for years ive cooked and done home baking for the kids but have never been able to quite get it right with the yorkshires.
I'll try ALL the tips together.

Sheff again
Plenty of tips there Tara - - All perfectly correct.
Always use dripping - I keep a bowl in the fridge - adds to the flavour.
I'm not a busy housewife, so I wisk and fridge the mixture two or three times.
I make two dozen at a time - - they keep in the fridge for a few days, or freeze well.
My Mix? ?

Five heaped tblsp PLAIN flour
1/2 tsp salt - - pepper if wished
Two eggs.
3/4 of 1/2 pint coffee mug milk and water added 1/2 at a time.
I sit watching the news (Early) while wisking. So can take my time
Hot smoking fat
top shelf
20 mins
Is perfectly right.
I picked up a tip from Brian Turner (TV Cheff)
Wisk in 1/2 teaspoon of vinegar just before cooking,
It seems work.
Good luck
Sheff

Hiya sheffco, an added twist can be given by adding the herbs of your choice, sage is my favourite, and maybe a bit of onion.