So this week is going to be frugal with a twist, as I am on a diet…cough… healthy eating plan.
Spring has just about sprung and although its hard to imagine now, there is a small glimmer of hope that in a couple of months I won’t be wearing my trusty “covers all me fat bits and flatters me a bit on the good bits, winter coat”.
So time to stop eating all the pies, and the butter and the cream and the wine and the chocolate!…and get down to some serious muffin top shrinking!
I’d love it if you join me, all the recipes as before are under a fiver for 5 people, all will be under 500 cals and have to taste really good!
So this is the first, I found the inspiration in a old copy of good house keeping ( circa 2007 ! ) at the dentists, but I have changed it quite a bit for our frugal diet needs. I was a bit worried about the strong flavour of the Marmite and ale for Milly (1) and Jack (9) at first ( don’t worry the alcohol cooks away ;D) but the flavours mellowed out to a lovely rich gravy and everyone really liked it.
Pan Fried Sticky Sausages and lentils 
( 420 cals per person, approx )
10 low fat sausages ( £1.60 from rainbow )
half a pack of mushrooms ( 50p )
250 ml of dark ale ( 50p, about 1.20 for a bottle)
250g ready cooked puy lentils (65p from Sainsbury’s )
a good handful (half a bag) of chantenay carrots, quartered lengthways (50p, £1.00 for a whole bag at Tesco’s)
2 parsnips, quartered lengthways ( 60p going off isle at rainbow )
1 red onion (10p)
French bread, optional, see notes.
From Store Cupboard
2 tsp Marmite
2 tbsp of runny honey
1 red onion
Heat a little oil in a big pan and fry the sausages on all sides until nicely brown. Set aside for a sec.
Add onion, carrots and parsnips to the pan and fry for about 10 mins until golden and softenened.
Then add the mushrooms and cook for a further 2 mins.
Ellie doing the stirring....
Return the sausages to the pan and add the marmite and honey. Then pour over the ale bring to a simmer and add the lentils.
Add a good pinch of salt and pepper.
Cook for about 20 mins or until the whole thing becomes reduced and sticky.
Cooks notes: The 2 men ( Jack and Big J ) and the baby (Milly) who have no muffin tops to worry themselves about had lots of crusty bread and butter with this. Me and Ellie, who do have aforementioned muffin tops abet small ones, had lots of extra veg from the freezer.
YUM!!!! 
Looks and sounds delicious, as well as deliciously frugal and healthy and everything else it should be. One question, though: what happens to the other half of the bottle?
(I was hoping you’d say that!)
lol! I will save it for u
x
I would never have thought of sausages as being part of a healthy eating plan, but I’m converted! Good luck. My failsafe is salmon fillets marinated in bought terriyaki sauce, and served on top of a stir fry of whatever is lying around in the bottom of the fridge, and brown rice. Fills you up for about a week!
Wow that sounds yum! will have to find some really good priced salmon and then could include it in frugal week
Sounds yummy will try that on my guys!
Oh you are so good at this frugal healthy malarky!
I’m taking notes. I’m going to be skinny *and* rich! YAY! xx
skinny and rich…double yay …..with a big fat (diet) cherry on top! xxxxx