Family Feast On a Budget

From your local Aldi

Preparation time: 25 minutes

Cooking time: 1 hour in total

Serves: 2 adults 2 kids

Seasonal Vegetable Broth

1 onion, peeled and roughly chopped
2 courgettes, roughly chopped
1 leek roughly chopped
2 carrots, peeled and roughly chopped
2 vegetable stock cubes
pepper
salt, optional
4 tbsp olive oil

Method

1. Place all the chopped vegetables into a saucepan; add double the amount of water and stock cubes.

2. Bring to the boil (add the 100g pasta if using at this point) and turn down the heat and simmer for 20 minutes.

3. Once cooked add the olive oil and check the seasoning.

Chunky Fish Pie

1 pint semi skimmed milk
1 onion, peeled and finely chopped
1 vegetable stock cube
1 x 500g bag of frozen haddock (minimum 4 portions)
3 potatoes, peeled and cubed
50g soft unsalted butter
50g plain flour
200g Aldi frozen peas
2 eggs
olive oil for the potatoes

Method

1. Pre heat the oven to 200°C gas 6.

2. Place the milk into a saucepan, then add the onion and bring to the boil.

3. Add the crumbled stock cube and 4 pieces of frozen haddock.

4. Then simmer for 2 minutes, then turn off the heat, leave for 10 minutes.

5. Boil the eggs for 10 minutes until hard boiled, then cool

6. Meanwhile, place the cubed potatoes into a large saucepan and bring to the boil, then simmer until the outside of the cubes start to break up, then strain in a colander.

7. Lift out the now cooked fish and reserve.

8. Place the pan back onto the stove and bring back to the boil.

9. Mix the softened butter and flour together to form a soft paste.

10. Once the milk is simmering whisk in the soft butter and flour mixture.

11. Bring back to the boil whisking or stirring all the time, the sauce will thicken nicely.

12. Remove from the stove and add the frozen peas mix well.

13. Break up the fish with a fork and carefully add to the white sauce.

14. Check the seasoning and adjust if needed.

15. Shell the boiled eggs and roughly chop, add to the white sauce also.

16. Carefully spoon into a 28cm x 8cm deep baking dish.

17. Mix the cooked potato with 2 tbsp olive oil and a little salt and pepper then spread onto the top of the fish sauce.

18. Bake in a pre heated oven for 20 minutes, to lightly brown the potatoes.

19. Serve piping hot.

Dessert

Aldi premium ice cream

Tips

1. A little olive oil and a couple of stock cubes make a great hearty soup, on a budget.

2. Add 100g dried Aldi pasta to the soup to make a main course, finished with a little Aldi pesto for extra kick.

3. This dish can be made well in advance, and then re heated when needed.

4. Serve with Aldi microwavable vegetables.

5. Any fish can be used try Aldi frozen cod also.