| Everyone is looking for cheaper yet nutritious meals | | | | brown sugar, vinegar/orange juice and olive oil. |
| for their families. The economic crunch has left | | | | Refrigerate the salad for a couple of hours. |
| profound effects on our kitchens and the grocery | | | | To make rice, stir fry the mushrooms and put it |
| budget. The first step towards planning family meals | | | | aside. Heat 4 Table spoons oil in a large sauce pan. |
| on a budget is to opt for home cooking. Once having | | | | Fry onions until golden brown. Add green pepper and |
| done this, you can move on to the next step, which | | | | chilies. Stir and add 2 cups of soaked rice to the pan. |
| is buying local good quality chicken, beef, vegetables | | | | Add a thinly sliced tomato and 2 cups of chicken |
| and fruits. Imported food items are really expensive | | | | stock to the rice. Bring it to boil and then cover it |
| and they should be avoided as long as there is no | | | | with a lid. Cook until rice is tender. Serve with |
| other alternative. The third step is the key to an | | | | seasonal salad. |
| in-budget family meals- home grown vegetables and | | | | 3. Spaghetti with tomato and basil sauce |
| herbs (if you can afford to grow a kitchen garden). | | | | Boil 2 cups of pasta; macaroni, spaghetti or noodles in |
| Here are the top 5 budget-friendly family meals, | | | | salted water. To make tomato and basil sauce, fry |
| which can be flavored according to everyone's taste. | | | | onions, garlic cloves, and tomatoes in 1-teaspoon olive |
| 1. Tomato and basil soup, served with toast/French | | | | oil. Add chicken stock, basil and parsley to it and |
| bread sticks | | | | simmer for 15 minutes or until it thickens. Season it |
| This is an extremely delicious and nutritious full meal, | | | | with salt and pepper. Spoon this sauce over pasta, |
| when served with toast or French bread sticks. It is | | | | and sprinkle with grated cheese. |
| also very easy to prepare. In approx. 1 L water, boil | | | | 4. Potato gratin |
| 6-7 medium sized tomatoes. Cover it and let it | | | | Layer an ovenproof dish with potatoes, onions and |
| simmer for 1 hour. Set it aside to cool. Puree it in a | | | | chives. Beat yogurt and full cream and pour it over |
| food processor and return to the sauce pan. Season | | | | the dish. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and bake at |
| it with salt, white and black pepper. Add a handful of | | | | 180 C for 45 minutes, or until the potatoes are soft |
| chopped fresh basil leaves; sprinkle with grated | | | | and golden. |
| cheese and serve with toast/French bread sticks. | | | | 5. Left over chicken sandwich |
| 2. Seasonal vegetable and fruit salad with spicy | | | | You can fix utterly yummy sandwiches for your |
| mushroom rice | | | | family with a little creativity. Use the leftover chicken, |
| Take about 2 carrots/cucumber/cabbage/apple | | | | and beef, which you might have roasted the previous |
| grapes/pomegranate/pineapple or any other seasonal | | | | night. Lettuce leaves, mustard paste, cheese or |
| vegetable and fruit. Cut into cubes and add a pinch of | | | | mayonnaise will make a perfect meal for all of you. |