The ultimate in refined eating

[Nick Armstrong]

MAYBE a little onion!?

Keep yer hair on, chief!

It's de rigeuer (pardon the German)

Well it certainly ain't French...

And yes - only ever a parm-pec mix... failing that just parm, I agree.

But Anna is right. For cheap pasta I love aglio e olio - just warmed oil with a crushed garlic clove or two fried gently, and then the pasta doused in it with plenty of black pepper. About 40p - £1 a helping?

[amateur51]

Keep yer hair on, chief!


Well i certainly ain't French...

And yes - only ever a parm-pec mix... failing that just parm, I agree.

But Anna is right. For cheap pasta I love aglio e olio - just warmed oil with a crushed garlic clove or two fried gently, and then the pasta doused in it with plenty of black pepper. About 60p a helping?

Depends on the size of your portions

[Nick Armstrong]

Depends on the size of your portions

And the quality of your pasta, I suppose!

Suitable amendment made!

[french frank]

Depends on the size of your portions

Indeed. I pay 60p a pkt at my local deli and I reckon on a cupful per portion. Expensive oil and garlic chez Caliban? (Or did you mean you could consume 2 pkts of pasta, am51?)

[Nick Armstrong]

Indeed. I pay 60p a pkt at my local deli and I reckon on a cupful per portion. Expensive oil and garlic chez Caliban? (Or did you mean you could consume 2 pkts of pasta, am51?)

He just gets swanky North London hand-made pasta, rolled on the thighs of organic virgins, ff

[amateur51]

He just gets swanky North London hand-made pasta, rolled on the thighs of organic virgins, ff

Methinks m'Lord Caliban has been misled by the 'N' in 'NW2' as Willesden is not swanky and as to the availability of virgins (organic or otherwise) I am unprepared to comment

The only thing that's hand-rolled round here is those funny ciggies - anyone else fancy ordering pizza?

[amateur51]

Indeed. I pay 60p a pkt at my local deli and I reckon on a cupful per portion. Expensive oil and garlic chez Caliban? (Or did you mean you could consume 2 pkts of pasta, am51?)

I know Denise's pasta portions are renowned, french frank, but as a gentleman I could not possible comment

[french frank]

He just gets swanky North London hand-made pasta, rolled on the thighs of organic virgins, ff

Oh, well ...

Interesting thing about what we call 'macaroni' (from It. maccheroni). Our Italian deli has I don't know how many different kinds of pasta (getting on for 20). Having been brought up on Quick Quaker macaroni (for macaroni cheese), I asked why they didn't actually have any 'macaroni'. An expansive wave of the arm, and I was told: "Is all maccheroni." I have lumachine for short ones, linguine for the long ones.

[teamsaint]

He just gets swanky North London hand-made pasta, rolled on the thighs of organic virgins, ff

that is really quite a lot of unusual concepts in remarkably few words.

[Nick Armstrong]

that is really quite a lot of unusual concepts in remarkably few words.

[Ferretfancy]

Wild garlic is becoming increasingly rare in this country, because the middle classes are being encouraged by the glossies to help themselves wherever they can find it.
When this plant becomes extinct, the next fad will be dreamed up to replace it. Let's not forget that it isn't just pandas or tigers which are at risk in this world.

[Barbirollians]

He just gets swanky North London hand-made pasta, rolled on the thighs of organic virgins, ff

That would make an interesting opening for a new production of Carmen .

" Carmen seated in a Willesden delicatessen is rolling pasta on her thighs " ... I am sure Willesden could do a chorus of urchins , and maybe even some lazy soldiers not so sure about Escamillo though .

[Anna]

I've just had another look at Jack Monroe's blog. This week for the Living below the Line campaign to live on £1 a day she's done her shopping for the week and will live for the next five days on what she can buy for £5, no falling back on storecupboard items, herbs or spices. Looking at her till receipt (although she has 60p in hand) and what she's bought I'm intrigued what she'll come up with.

http://agirlcalledjack.com/2013/04/28/my-live-below-the-line-challenge-2013/

It struck me this morning that families on a tight budget may just head to Iceland or Asda where for £3 you can purchase a 1.5kg frozen lasagne/chicken hotpot/cottage pie, etc., which feeds 4. At 75p per portion it has to be a tempting alternative to faffing about with lentils and cooking doesn't it? Or, for 2 people 800g roast dinner/steak pie etc., for £2 or for singletons 500g hotpot/sausage & mash, etc., for £1. Unfortunately neither Iceland nor Asda website listed ingredients or nutritional information (although it will be on the packs)

[Sir Velo]

It struck me this morning that families on a tight budget may just head to Iceland or Asda where for £3 you can purchase a 1.5kg frozen lasagne/chicken hotpot/cottage pie, etc., which feeds 4. At 75p per portion it has to be a tempting alternative to faffing about with lentils and cooking doesn't it? Or, for 2 people 800g roast dinner/steak pie etc., for £2 or for singletons 500g hotpot/sausage & mash, etc., for £1. Unfortunately neither Iceland nor Asda website listed ingredients or nutritional information (although it will be on the packs)

Somehow I don't think the nutritional content will be that high. Personally, if on a budget, I would stick to lapin a la rue.