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Making something out of nothing

Oct

OK, so how am I going to make two wrinkly courgettes, a couple of cooked chicken legs and some cheese into supper for tonight? This is the kind of question I end up asking myself every morning when I open the fridge. Should I close the door on the problem and hit the shops?

There must be loads of people who face the same dilemma every day – finding ways to make your budget stretch further means jazzing up your leftovers to feed a hungry family. Short of starving the kids, which I’m told is illegal, sometimes you are forced to create something out of nothing.

The well-stocked store cupboard…

This is where the essential store cupboard comes in. I try and keep it well-stocked with tinned and dry goods, so that it is relatively easy to throw together a meal without having to think too hard about it – because like most working mothers, my brain is addled by the end of the day. I always used to smile at my mother’s larder, overflowing with tins and bottles and jars and packets, but now I can see why she stockpiles things. By combining what’s in the fridge with the stuff on the shelves… and a dollop of creative imagination, there’s always something to feed the family. Just don’t forget to keep an eye on dates – we have found jars of homemade gooseberry jam dated 1986 in Mum’s cupboard!

Pasta tonight then…

There’s always pasta in the cupboard and it takes no time at all. If I cook some onion and a bit of garlic, chuck in a tin of tomatoes after a few moments, and simmer for a while with a spoonful of sugar and dried herbs – there’s my sauce. Then add the tired courgettes and chopped chicken. Stir it through the pasta, grate the cheese over. Phew. Crisis averted. Hungry kids fed.

Let me know your ideas – I’d love to hear them.