PENSIONERS' £5 DELIGHT: SAUSAGE BEAN & BEER STEW with salad and Apple Hand Pies; veggie option

Multiplies easily for family-sized parties but also great for couples & singletons...

Sausage, Beer and Bean Casserole; frugal, tasty, healthy, boozy.
'Loved it - tangy & much more interesting than usual stews.' 
20+ Fijian Australian Taster

updated June 2022; photo 9/8/16

Sausages are still holding their own in the UK despite scare stories linking them to an 18% higher risk of cancer.

The truth is: those figures are linked to a daily dose of fatty, poor quality sausages.  If that's you, think again.  

For most people, eating sausages infrequently and then only free-range high-meat, or lower-fat versions like beef, venison or wild boar won't bring you any closer to death's door.  

Independent or artisan butchers stock sausages from farmers specialising in small production.  They will be a little more expensive but vastly superior in quality.  More importantly the flavour is so good, just a couple of sausages treated well, go far and become good value. 

Some supermarkets stock packaged sausages that are a good compromise between high-quality and junk.  But 67 urges you to at least try high quality sausages if budget permits.  

This recipe calls for two good-quality sausages (though more can be added) and will feed two people quite happily as part of a three course meal.  

The beer gives a pleasing flavour (even for non beer drinkers) but feel free to replace with wine, grape or apple juice or good stock.

Note: 67 has not tested vegetarian sausages in this recipe but sees no reason why they wouldn't work 

Cost: (of sausage dish) £4.50'ish, incl beer (9/2025)
Feeds: 2 (or 1 extremely hungry-possibly hung-over-chap...)

Ingred:
    min 2 beef, venison or wild boar sausages or equiv 
    1 tsp olive or vegetable oil
    1 med onion or equivalent fennel or celery, diced
    1 full coffee mug of pale ale OR equiv
    1-2 tsp muscovado (black/molasses) sugar    
    1 tbsp tomato puree
    dash of Worcestershire sauce

    1 tin butter beans (recommended) or other white beans, rinsed & drained
    
    juice of half a lime or lemon
    1 generous tsp wholegrain mustard
    1 tsp sweet paprika

Garnish: 1 tomato, deseeded, and diced
              olive oil
              salt
              1-2 tsp minced fresh parsley

Method:

1. Bring a small pot of water to the boil; prick sausages all over with a fork; drop into boiling water (releasing some fat).  
2. Turn off heat; rest 10 mins; cool.  These steps are not necessary for vegetarian sausages.
3. Slice sausages thickly; heat olive oil in a deep frying pan over med-high heat; brown sausage slices on both sides (a few mins), remove & set aside  on greaseproof paper
4. Reduce heat to medium; add onion to pan; fry until soft & translucent without browning - about 10 mins
5. Add ale; then tom puree, sugar, Worcestershire & thyme; scrape bottom of pan to remove crusty bits
6. Bring to a boil; reduce to a simmer; leave until half the liquid is gone (mybe 5 minutes)
7. Turn up heat to med: add sausages, drained butter beans, paprika, mustard & lime juice; stir 
8. Heat through 5-10 mins
9. Check seasoning; add more pepper and salt if necessary or a bit more ale or stock if too dry
10. For garnish: generously spray tomato dice with olive oil; add salt & pepper; stir through finely chopped parsley
11. Served scattered with tomato & parsley, alongside half a large baguette and half a recipe of Lettuce with Green Herb dressing
12. Dessert? Easy Apple Hand Pies provides a beautiful ending, with or without ice cream

Comments:

'I wish I'd had this recipe at uni; it's amazing how one can turn two sausages into such a tasty dish!'  Holder of 2 honours degrees.

'Loved the flavour: it was tangy & much more interesting than usual stews.' 

20+ Fijian Australian Taster

Tips:

• Toulouse sausages, twice the size of normal ones, are also great in this recipe
• Don't have molasses sugar? Sub with dark brown sugar.
• Replace beer with wine, grape or apple juice or good stock
• When poaching sausages, do several at a time; cool, refrigerate then freeze in pairs

Please leave a Comment in the box below

  
This recipe has been developed by B  Lee/ Bright Sun Enterprises and may not be reproduced, in any form, without the author's written permission.  

 

BUDGET FRIENDLY FABULOUS TREATS FOR DAD

Vanilla Sheetcake with Fresh Cherries: American-style sheetcake is a terrific showcase for fat, ripe English cherries ...

Buffet/picnic dessert/treat in guilt-free('ish) portions
'Absolutely magnificent: moist, gorgeous & the cherries are perfectly ripe!' 

Mini Brandied Cherry Cheesecakes: Very pretty, very tasty, very satisfying...

Sweet (in all senses) little Cherry Cheesecake pots pack a flavour punch,
  'Gorgeous! Perfectly proportioned.'

Plum, Nectarine & Brandy Tart: fit for a special occasion...or just a bang-up Sunday lunch

A fresh fruit tart with brandy & ginger syrup -- a magnificent mouthful,
here with drizzle icing but could come with toasted flaked almonds or ice cream 

'Sensational!' 'The brandy was just right' not too much and not too little.' Tasters

Iced 'Man Magnet' Spicy Ginger Cookies: There is something about darkly spicy ginger cookies that act like men magnets...

Spicy Ginger Cookies with white chocolate drizzle & crystallised ginger
'Oh yeah! This is a real cookie!' 'Very More-ish.' (tasters)

Nectarine Blueberry Hand Pies:  Wallet-friendly ripen-at-home nectarines and a few handfuls of berries make an easy, winning dessert...

Hand pastries with nectarines, blueberries & ginger
(plus cinnamon sticks from leftover pastry)

'The combo of generous fruit, icing & melt-in-the-mouth pastry is wonderful!'  

Peach & Strawberry Trifle  Perfect for a heat wave and cooks looking for help from supermarket friends... 

Peaches & Strawberries make a fine trifle combo

Cherry Garica Ice Cream: just 5 ingredients. One of the nicest, tastiest, healthiest ice creams; and ideal for older Dads ...

Sensational creamy soft ice containing just cherries, banana & chocolate 
'No-fat and healthy.  Unbelievable!' 'Absolutely brilliant & utterly delicious!'

And one for a splurge: Irish coffee Cheesecake.  Dads will adore this indulgent ravishing adult dessert especially since it's a little healthier than usual... 

Please leave a Comment in the Box below

These recipes have been developed by B M Lee/ Bright Sun Enterprises and may not be reproduced, in any form, without the author's written permission

PENSIONERS' DELIGHT: £4 COUPLE'S MEAL, 3-COURSE SPICY CHINESE PORK SHOULDER , prepare ahead

£4 Easy tasty meal for 2: main course, carb & salad 

Couple's spicy, succulent Asian spiced pork steaks with potatoes & salad
'Hurrah!  Meat & two veg and no gloopy teeth jarring sauce.' 

These low-fat, low-sugar pork shoulder steaks are perfect for pensioners, a small household or cost-conscious family.  

They're easily prepped ahead, then slipped onto the barbie or in an oven or air fryer. 

67 only had new potatoes to hand; they were cooked al dente and fried till golden in a pan generously sprayed with oil (as in photo above).  Lower-fat options are ultra-crispy, steaming Uber baked potatoes (baked with the meat) OR super-easy 5-minute Asian noodles.   

A simple frugal salad refreshes and satisfies.  

Poaching the meat beforehand helps tenderise the meat and reduces fat.  After marinading, it's succulent, subtly flavoured with Asian spices but without a gloopy, teeth-jarring sauce.  

Note: The pork steaks in the packet* were almost like fillet steaks,  well over an inch thick.  Most pork steaks are about a third that size and will likely require less baking time.

 
Feeds: 2, easily multiplied
Cost:  £4 for 3 courses  (2xPork shoulder steaks £1.50; 2 x baked potatoes £1 - or less; sauce 50p; salad 50p)

Ingred:

2 pork steaks  

1.5 tbsp dry sherry/white wine/grape juice

1.5 tbsp reduced-salt (not low-salt) soy sauce (if there are salt or blood-pressure issues, replace half the soy sauce with water or stock)

pinch sugar

med clove garlic, grated or minced

generous pinch each dried cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves OR rounded 1/4 tsp 5-spice powder

rounded 1/8 tsp salt

1 generous tsp Dijon or other mild mustard

Method: 

67GOINGON50 CONDIMENTS CUPBOARD

During a time like this when grocery prices are rising and shortages of foods are a worry, it's important to be clever with your cooking.

A few 67goingon50's favourite Asian condiments that pack a punch of flavour

Yes, we need to economise with our grocery lists but cutting back on flavour enhancers like condiments can be a false economy.  Because - just as it is important to include in your weekly shop one treat meal when pleasure can overcome frugality (or one might lost the will to live!) - so it is important to have a selection of sauces on hand that add flavour, colour and excitement to a dish. 

They can make a real difference between so-so tired ingredients and something special, at very little cost.

This post includes a list of what 67 considers to be essential condiments in the 67goingon50 cupboard.  

The list was compiled over a number of years, and it's likely you won't want to get them all in one go.  Just start with the ones you fancy and take it from there. 

Own-brand condiments in supermarkets like M&S (67's local) & Waitrose are great; they taste good, don''t include too much vinegar and are well priced.  But if you can afford the best, go for it!

What's in the 67goingon50 Fridge:

 

M&S Dijon mustard
M&S wholegrain mustard
Suma salt-free tomato paste (tube)

Anchovy Paste

M&S Piccalilly (cauliflower based mixed veg in mustard sauce, exceptional )

M&S Sliced Dill Pickles

Ketchup (any lower sugar)

         Seggiano Basil Pesto, when 67 can afford it (full of expensive ingredients - olive - not lesser vegetable - oil, fresh basil, parmesan instead of a parmesan-subsitute - and probably cost less than buying all the ingredients yourself; a little goes a long way!)

SPICE MIXES
Middle Eastern Spice Rub: aromas and flavours of the Souk 

The 67 Cupboard: a dribble of one of these - photo above - perks up meat, vegetables and rice

 

   

Oyster Sauce

Hoisin Sauce

Chiu Chow Chilli Oil (very hot; only for the adventurous!)

Tahini - invaluable for make-your-own hummous for half the price of shop-bought 

Bottled lemon juice  - because 60p for a single lemon is a little outrageous and bags of lemons/limes go to waste in a small/single household

          

LUXURY CONDIMENTS/TOAST TOPPERS: when you're feeling flush OR it's treat of the week time.  They are home-made, will last only 3-4 days (if that) in the fridge but what days!!

Artichoke & Olive Tapenade toast topper:  delicately pale, lightly salted but wonderful flavour & texture  

Bacon Jam with Brandy: outrageous, sophisticated oniony toast spread stuffed with bacon bits and hinting of coffee; salty, sweet, tangy, you'll go mad for it

Lemon Curd: On bog standard supermarket bread or artisan loaves, will make you think you've died and gone to heaven; Americans adore this and Lower sugar Chocolate Hazelnut Spread.  Team either with a layer of cream cheese

Tomato Onion Jam: Sassy, savoury, low-salt; elevates bog-standard cheese 

.

And remember, you can make your own pickled vegetables at very little cost 

Ready in 10 minutes

Also see Fuss-Free Simple Dill Pickles: low-sugar/salt, Vegan

Please leave a Comment in the box below 

These recipes have been developed by B M Lee/ Bright Sun Enterprises.  It may not be reproduced without the author's written permission