Budget shopping has become the norm these days. Prices are soaring as inflation has risen to 11% here in the UK, it's at the highest rate for food it's ever been and it's also currently higher here, than anywhere else in the world.
This is bad news for those of us who live on a budget here in the UK. I've made cut backs in all areas of my life. I don't shop brands anymore, or rarely do anyway, and I've lowered my supermarket shopping costs by shopping at places like Heron, Lidl and Aldi.
Still. even with these precautions, I'm still noticing the inflation and increased rates. It's starting to get a little overwhelming.
Something strange that I noticed the other day, which I thought was interesting, was the cost of 2 pints of strawberry flavoured milk is actually lower than the cost of 2 pints of whole milk. While I'm not suggesting adding strawberry milk to coffee, I don't suppose that would be good, times are getting a little desperate. Who knows, strawberries and coffee might get popular at this rate? Although I highly doubt it.
Out of interest, and with the thought of that strange flavour combo still in my mind, I decided to set myself a budget and go shopping in this clown reality I seem to be living in. I'd go into a supermarket and spend £5 on ingredients, and £5 on ready meals, just to see what I could get for that budget and to compare them.
I went to ASDA for a change, I always remember them having cheap ready meals years ago, so I thought it was an average place to shop.
In terms of my budget, I was pretty disappointed. They did have a reduced chilli concarne for £0.80 from their budget range but it looked pretty disappointing, so I kept looking. Then I found these curry bowls in the readymade fresh section bit.
Two exotic rice bowls, reduced to £2.50 each. While it's more than I'd normally spend, they looked quite nice. They were also reduced from £5.95 and £6.70 and that I found interesting.
Even with inflation those original prices seemed steep. I mean do people pay that for ready meals? I find that almost shocking.
Now I'm going to try and be nice here, because I was actually excited to try these, I got the spicy Korean chicken and a chicken Katsu curry. So here it is, my compliment, and don't blink because it's brief. I could taste lemongrass and tamarind.
If you're looking to spend over budget on some soggy chicken with a weird texture. Let me introduce the Katsu curry. A little bit of sour pickle thrown on top to complement the dish and some congealed curry on the side. Rice that clumped together in an overal bland unsalted dish.
I really find the price of this thing suprising for what it was. Even reduced these things were overpriced. I wasn't even full afterwards. I really think that if you eat ready meals in the coming months, there's a good chance you're going to starve, just a forewarning.
My ingredients shopping was much more successful. I came in under budget totalling at £4.65
I got a tray of chicken wings, a bottle of coke (unbranded) and a budget sweet and sour sauce jar. I did use some ingredients that I had at home I guess, but I still made a total of 4 decent sized meals altogether from this, so I think it was overall much tastier and more budget effective.
I came up with a pretty nice recipe which I decided was good enough to share on the blog. I made cola chicken wings. It was pretty easy to make, you just have to keep an eye on the sauce so it doesn't burn. Otherwise you'll end up with a sticky mess and a pan of regrets.
The next dish was sweet and sour sauce chicken wings with plain boiled rice.
Personally, I think these dishes are much better for you, cost less to make, they're pretty easy to do and they taste miles better than processed food! Unless you don't like flavour, I hope I'm converting you here and convincing you that ready meals simply, are not the way to go.
Live budget sassy, not bland and unhappy.
Cola Chicken Bad Boy Wings
Ingredients:
Chicken wings topped and tailed
1 bottle of cola (3/4)
1 smidge brown sauce
1 Onion
1 clove garlic
1 glug of soy sauce
Method:
Shallow fry the chicken to crisp it on the outside.
Then take it out, add the onion and garlic frying on a gentle heat.
Once done re-add that chicken to the pan. Pour in the cola. Drink the rest.
Cook chicken in the cola untill it dissolves and goes thick and it covers the chicken and makes it sticky
Add a dash of soy sauce and about 1 spoon of brown sauce.
Serve with a salad if you like. Dig in. You're welcome.
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