Food of the Month
Potatoes
Potatoes must be one of the most versatile of vegetables. This hearty and wholesome staple is in a class of its own when it comes to super-saver family fare from soups, salads and stews, to roasts and bakes or served as an accompaniment or topping for a pie. Great as part of a traditional meat and 3 veg meal, you can also enjoy them in massaman curries, gnocchi, tortillas, patatas bravas, moussaka and skordalia (potato and garlic sauce).
Eggplant
Eggplant (also known as aubergine, melongene or brinjal) is a very versatile fruit that's eaten as a vegetable in signature dishes around the world from moussaka and baba ghanoush to ratatouille, eggplant parmigiana and 'brinjal' curries and pickles and more.
Sausages
Sausages - a much loved food that's popular the world over - are great for cheap eats at home whether it's just family or friends have dropped by. They are also cheap and easy to prepare. Great to keep a few in the freezer for a quick barbecue or grill served with sweet potato mash or polenta, caramelised onions and a salad or tucked into a crispy roll with home-made chutney and rocket or to add to pasta, pilaf or risotto.
Antipasto
Keep jars of your favourite antipasto vegetables in the pantry - artichokes, sundried tomatoes, char-grilled capsicum and olives - for fabulous, frugal flavour in pastas, frittatas, salads and sandwiches. If you have them on hand you can whip up cheap eats at home in an instant with pasta or canned tuna or some beans.
Mushrooms
Mushrooms are one of our very favourite fabulously frugal ingredients. They are a mighty tasty option for meatless meals such as stuffed mushrooms with a pesto crumb topping or a mushroom soup, salad or risotto. They are also a great extender in casseroles and stews because they have such a ‘meaty’ taste and texture with a rich, deep, savoury flavour.
Eggs
As well as being inexpensive, convenient and delicious, eggs pack a nutritional punch. We simply can't put it better than Camille, who told us: ‘I always keep eggs in the fridge for those desperate times I can't be bothered cooking. You can whip up some scrambled eggs, use whatever you have in the fridge to make an omelette, have them sunny side up with toast, or just boiled on their own! They are always yummy, and most of all, they are very filling!' All we can add (apart from ‘Hear! Hear!') is that eggs are the most nourishing food. Period.
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