Family Meals on a Budget

The last couple of years have been a complete whirlwind; it feels longer. So much has happened in a couple of years. With our house on the market and now understanding my limits, dinner parties and big family dinners are on the back burner; however, I still have to cook for the family. So, I thought it might be quite fun to start sharing some of my favourite meals on a budget that all the family can enjoy.

Living in a neurodiverse household can make family meal times difficult. Over the years, we’ve built a solid foundation of dishes we all like (somewhat limited). However, even then, these usually have some modifications to ensure they are suitable for us to enjoy.

The other issue we have is that my ADHD means that I amn’t the best with money. Luckily, the autistic side of me can become very focused and organised when I need to be. So, I’m hoping that over the next few months, I can build on our foundation of dishes with some new dishes. As well as ensure that these family meals are within our monthly budget.

Chilli Con Carne – Serves 6-8

It’s taken a little while for this to become a family favourite as is with chopped tomatoes instead of passatta and chopped onions rather then ‘no’ veg – see my tip below…

Ingredients:

• 500g minced lamb or beef
• 2 large onions, chopped
• 2 tsp ground cumin
• 2 tsp chilli powder
• 2 tsp dried oregano
• 2 x 400g (large tins) passata or chopped tomatoes
• 2 x 425g (large tins) red kidney beans, drained
• 2 tbsp tomato puree/paste
• Salt & Pepper to taste
• 2 cups of long-grain rice

Instructions:

1️⃣ Prepare the Base
🔹 Heat a large pan over medium heat. Add a little oil, then cook the chopped onions until soft and golden (about 5 minutes).

2️⃣ Brown the Meat
🔹 Add the minced lamb or beef to the pan and cook until browned, breaking it up with a spoon.

3️⃣ Add the Spices
🔹 Stir in the ground cumin, chilli powder, and dried oregano. Cook for 1-2 minutes to release the flavors.

4️⃣ Simmer the Sauce
🔹 Pour in the passata or chopped tomatoes and stir in the tomato purée.
🔹 Season with salt & pepper to taste.
🔹 Lower the heat and simmer for 25-30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

5️⃣ Add the Kidney Beans
🔹 Stir in the drained kidney beans and cook for another 10 minutes until everything is heated through.

6️⃣ Cook the Rice
🔹 While the chilli is simmering, rinse the long-grain rice under cold water.
🔹 Bring a large pot of water to boil, add the rice, and cook how you prefer. I love this fail safe way to get fluffy rice every time from Jamie Oliver.
🔹 Drain and fluff the rice with a fork.

7️⃣ Serve & Enjoy!
🔹 Spoon the chilli con carne over a bed of fluffy rice and enjoy!
🔹 Optional: Top with sour cream, grated cheese, or crushed tortilla chips for extra flavor.

I will always make rice as the hubby and boys love, but it bloats me. So, I tend to have it with either grains and seeds or simply with more crushed tortilla chips.

Family Meals on a Budget

Now, down to the good bit: this chilli costs just £1.16 per person (based on serving 6 large portions!) and a paltry 26p on those optional extras. This is based on the spices, tomato puree and cheese being store cupboard basics.

So let me know if you try it and what optional extras you like with your chilli! Our favourite is to have any leftovers with shredded lettuce, grated cheese and sour cream in crunchy tacos.

Fay x