Soup.
Soup is cheap. You can throw pretty much anything into a pot with a stock cube, boil it for a bit, and you have soup. Start with an onion, then use up whatever manky vegetables are hiding in the bottom of your fridge. Don't have any manky vegetables? Buy whatever is in the 50p remnant bags down the greengrocer's. Chop 'em up and add the stock. Simmer til the veg is soft. Add something to bulk it up a bit: lentils, noodles, pearl barley, pasta, whatever. Eat. Serves several people for the grand total of well under a quid.
( crackhouseceilidhband Fuck off back to Mumsnet, Thu 10 Nov 2011, 19:27, 10 replies)

if you hit it with the blender
you can't even see any skanky veg bits
( Smash Monkey lowering the tone of the whole internet, Thu 10 Nov 2011, 19:32, closed)

Most true.
And you can invest in a blender for a mere 4 quid from the Tesco Value range.
( crackhouseceilidhband Fuck off back to Mumsnet, Thu 10 Nov 2011, 19:34, closed)

you can also ask for one as a christmas present
that's why i've got 2
( Smash Monkey lowering the tone of the whole internet, Thu 10 Nov 2011, 19:40, closed)

Even better with half a teaspoon of dried chopped chili.

(Juan Quar is clinging to her front teeth on, Thu 10 Nov 2011, 23:18, closed)

Chicken bones!!
I buy ready cooked chickens from Tesco, don't have to spend the 'leccy cooking it, and they're always so juicy.
If I have one 2 nights in a row, I chuck the carcass, whole, into a bit pan with a couple litres of water and boil, then simmer with the lid on for a bit. Strain, the lumps out and you have the most gorgeous chicken stock. If you buy the second one especially for soup then you can stip the meat before you boil, shred it and add it back in after. Chicken and veg soup.
Mmmm, I know what I'm having tomorrow :)
( user_names_suck, Fri 11 Nov 2011, 16:14, closed)

Yep, chicken carcasses in the slow cooker.
Lovely, lovely stock.
( crackhouseceilidhband Fuck off back to Mumsnet, Fri 11 Nov 2011, 17:19, closed)

I love making soups over the winter.
And it's amazing what you can make with the same ingredients.
Broths with chunky veg, thick blended soups, spicy ones, etc.

I made an amazing Spicy sweet potato soup last year.
Sweated carrot, onion and leek in a pan in a dot of butter.
Added turmeric, ginger, cumin and chilli powder.
Added chunks of sweet potato.
Add stock.
Simmer until soft.
Blitz and season.
I dare say it didn't cost £2 and there was enough for about 4/5 of those deep kellogs bowls.
( Maffers I flow kinda strange like Spina Bifida footprints, Fri 11 Nov 2011, 19:18, closed)

Sounds good, I'll try that.
I did a tomato and red lentil one last week, with chilli, onion, garlic, cumin seeds and chicken stock. It was fantastic, even nicer than my carrot and coconut milk usual favourite.
( crackhouseceilidhband Fuck off back to Mumsnet, Fri 11 Nov 2011, 20:21, closed)

i shall be having pea and ham soup tonight
1 large pork shank = £2.20
3 tins of carrots = £0.27p each
1 bag red split lentils = £0.88p
stick it all in a very big pan, top up with water, bring to the boil, then simmer for 1 hour.
remove skin and fat from pork, cut into chunks and add back to the soup.
blend to desired consistency.
easy! makes about 14 portions for £3.35
( Smash Monkey lowering the tone of the whole internet, Fri 11 Nov 2011, 20:27, closed)

My mouth is watering
SOUP - I NEED SOUP

And yes: lentils are ace, dead cheap and they add body and bite to any soup. Can also add spuds for last 30 mins or so, some will be nice spuddy lumps, the rest goes to thicken it up.

Mmmmmm

And don't forget the garlic, and if you've got a bay tree/bush, add a couple of bay leaves.
(Che Grimsdale Best before:, Mon 14 Nov 2011, 14:37, closed)