Frugal Friday

Welcome to my Friday post!  

This week I am going to share a couple of frugal recipes I have made this week. I have been away visiting my mum & dad and my sister and her family and so I haven't been able to do a full grocery shop this week. Therefore I have made do with what I have had in the pantry plus a couple of small purchases from the supermarket but I had most of the ingredients for the following recipes.

From some of these meals we have had leftovers which was great for lunch today. I love it when that happens, especially on a busy homeschool day. 

Peanut Chicken Rice

1 tablespoon oil

2 skinless, boneless chicken breasts, thinly sliced

1 onion, chopped

3 cloves garlic, crushed

1 400g can of chopped tomatoes

1/4 cup crunchy (or smooth) peanut butter

1 tablespoon curry powder

1 large pinch of thyme or oregano

3 cups of chicken or vegetable stock ( be extra frugal and use cooking liquid from vegetables )

1/2 tsp salt

1 1/2 cups basmati or jasmine rice

Heat the oil in a large saucepan. Cook the chicken slices until sealed, then set aside. Add the onion and garlic to the pan and cook until soft. Return the chicken to the pan and mix in the tomatoes, peanut butter, curry powder and thyme and mix well.

Add the chicken stock and bring to the boil. Stir in the salt and rice and return the mixture to the boil. Cover and reduce the heat. Stir regulary to prevent sticking on the bottom of the pan. Cook for approximately 20 minutes on low. Check the rice to see if it is cooked, add a little extra stock or water if needed.

Serve with a crisp green salad or steamed vegetables.

With three teenagers I need to expand this recipe a bit more so I add another 1/2 cup rice and extra stock. Sometimes I add in frozen vegetables to expand out as well. Add extra liquid as required.

This recipe is from Sophie Gray of Destitute Gourmet cookbooks.

Lentil and Sweet Potato Curry

2 tsp oil

1 onion, chopped

3 fat cloves of garlic, crushed

2 cups of brown or green lentils

2 tablespoons of curry powder

1/2 tablespoon of ground cumin

1 1/2 litres of chicken or vegetable stock 

2 cups sweet potato, peeled and cubed

salt and pepper to taste

chopped herbs to serve (mint, parsley or coriander)

Heat the oil in a large saucepan and add the onion and garlic. Fry gently until soft. Meanwhile, pick over the lentils, removing any funny pieces.

Add the spices to the pan and stir, then mix in the stock and lentils. Bring to a simmer and add the sweet potatoes. Simmer until the liquid is absorbed and the sweet potato is tender, about 25-30 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and garnish with chopped herbs and chopped toasted nuts if you have any. Serve with rice.  (To be even more frugal I heated up leftover rice from the fridge).

This was a super easy and cheap meal and all the family enjoyed it. You can also serve with a salad or steamed vegetables. It makes a large quantity.

A Sophie Gray recipe

Banana Loaf  (Banana Bread)

This is a classic kiwi recipe from The Edmonds Cookbook.

I came home to find several bananas looking past their best so I turned them into a yummy and relatively healthy snack and the first night 3/4 of the first loaf was demolished.

1 3/4 cups of self raising flour or plain flour plus 2 teaspoons of baking powder

1/4 cup baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 cup sugar ( I use raw )

2 eggs

1/4 cup milk ( plant based would work here if you need it )

75g butter, melted ( or oil or dairy free spread if required )

1 cup of mashed bananas 

Sift the flour, baking soda and baking powder if using and salt in a bowl. Mix in the sugar. In another bowl beat the eggs. Stir in the milk, butter and banana. Mix quickly into the dry ingredients, stirring until ingredients are just combined. 

Spoon into a greased and lined 22cm loaf tin. Bake at 180 degrees celsius for 45 to 55 minutes. Leave in tin for 10 minutes before turning out to cool on a wire rack. Enjoy!

Not only are these recipes frugal but they are also quite tasty and quick to make on busy days.

This week I was extra frugal and I trimmed my own hair! I used to be so fussy with my hair. I was even a hairdressers apprentice many years ago when I left high school but I decided that it wasn't for me. However, I was able to continue basic hair cutting and it has been extremely helpful with a family. I have regularly cut my husband's hair since we first got married nearly 19 years ago and I also do all three of our boys haircuts. They don't like going to the hairdresser or barber and it does save us a huge amount of money. Sometimes I have to go as it is quite awkward cutting my own hair and certainly when I had shorter shoulder length hair I would have to go on a regular basis to keep it styled. I find it hard to make time and mostly I just can't justify paying $85 to have my hair trimmed. So it is quite long now but I keep it tidy and I go at least once a year to get a couple of inches cut off and have it styled. So if I only go once a year I save $935! A lot can be done with that money. Plus the money saved by the whole family not going.

I would love to hear from you all with what you are doing frugally to save money in your household.

Have a great week, thank you for visiting.

Blessings, Fiona

"I lift up my eyes to the hills - where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip - he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord watches over you - the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.

The Lord will keep you from all harm - he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore." Psalm 121:1-8