Cheap As Chips

After a quote for some work on the house which caused me to take a sharp intake of breath, I have comforted myself with some spice shopping online.  The very promise of the dishes I can produce with gumbo file, ancho chillies and galangal is soothing (much like fondling yarn in C&H, but that's food for another blog).  It feels like a cheap treat with the total order being cheaper than the round of drinks I'd have bought if I'd spent this evening down the local.

However, although I'm terribly good at making savings in other areas of my life, our food bills never go down.  Of course it isn't helped by a "few treats only" trip to Waitrose costing £100.  Then there's portion control.  I never fail to fall for the myth which claims a dish "serves 4" when it merely serves two greedy pigs with maybe a spoonful left over for lunch.  This weekend is "big shop" time and this month we avoid Waitrose.  In preparation I will spend some time compliling lists of cheap, seasonal ingredients and try to be more creative. 

For tonight supper is a cheap and shameful affair.  With Supperboy out with friends, I slice homemade bread thickly, add cheese and toast.  With a bottle of good British ale (St Peter's organic) there is no finer supper.