Step 1

ALDI asked me if I would make my 10 meals in 1 hour using ALDI UK products, I was actually astounded that I could make all these meals for so little money. In this video I show you what the cost of each ingredient was and what I substituted to allow me to get similar products all from ALDI, such as squeezy garlic instead of my usual frozen chopped etc. The total cost was £30.97, working out at £3.09 for a family homemade freezer meal for 4! I still had lots of herbs etc left for the next time, I worked out that minus the store cupboard ingredients that I bought this time, I could do it again for £27.00 so £2.70 for a homemade family freezer meal. Great for anyone trying to save or on a tight budget

Step 2

Lay out all your ingredients in the order you’ll be using them.Add a splash of oil to your large pan, heat and then add in6 cups of pre-chopped frozen onions3kg of lean mined beef.6 cups grated carrot – to be added laterStir and allow onions and mince to brown. (This is the start of your fajitas, Bolognese and chilli).While the meat is browning you can now make the home-made burgers. Remember to stir the browning meat occasionally.

Step 3

Ingredients:750g lean minced beef3 large squeezes of American mustard1 1/2 tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce1 egg.Mix all the above ingredients in a bowl.Once mixed well, divide the mixture into 4, then halve again, you should have 8 similar sized balls of meat that you can shape into burger paddies.Label 2 freezer bags and place 4 paddies in each bag. Your burgers are now ready for the freezer.Stir your browning pot of beef, add the 6 cups of grated carrot, stir again and move on to making your meatballs.

Step 4

These are made similarly to the burgers so just use the same bowl as before.Ingredients:750g of lean minced beef2 tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce2 tablespoons of dried rosemary, basil or oregano1 teaspoon of garlic, puree or frozen pre-chopped1 egg.Mix all the above ingredients in a bowl.Once mixed well, divide the mixture into 2 large balls, then divide each ball into 4 equal portions and divide each of the 8 portions into 4 again so that you end up with 32 similar sized meat balls.Label 2 freezer bags and place ½ the meatballs into one bag, and half into the other. Your meatballs are now ready for the freezer.By now your pot on the top of the stove will be ready and you can drain out any excess fat.Do a quick tidy away of anything not needed from the burger and meatball recipe.

Step 5

Ingredients:2 packets fajita / taco mix.Next make the fajitas!Label 2 small freezer bags and portion out 1 cup of cooked mince and carrot mix from the pot into each bag, add one packet of dry fajita or taco seasoning to each bag of mince, mix this through in the bag by gently shaking Leave bags open until fully cooled! Once cooled, seal and freeze flat.Optional- once cooled I often add a cup of frozen chopped peppers to each bag before putting directly back in freezer.

Step 6

Take the large pan of cooked minced beef, onions and carrots, and add:Ingredients:2 teaspoons of frozen chopped garlic6 tins of chopped tomatoes3 cartons of 500g passata4 teaspoons of Italian herbs, or oregano4 tablespoons of tomato puree1 punnet button mushrooms, rinsed and halved or quartered – to add later, once mixture has cooledStir and heat for 10 minutes until sauce is thickened- use this time to do a quick tidy up and to open and drain your kidney beans for the chilli section.Label 2 large freezer bags, add 4 cups of Bolognese to each bag.(1 cup = 1-person portion)Leave open to cool, now add half the fresh, chopped mushrooms to each bag and mix.Only seal and place in freezer once completely cool.

Step 7

Your large pot will have some mixture left, add the ingredients below to this to turn it into chilli.Ingredients3 teaspoons of mild chilli powder2 drained and rinsed cans of kidney beans.Label 2 large freezer bags and divide the mixture between the two bags, again the portion should be 1 cup= 1 person, so four cups in each bag. Leave to cool then seal flat and freeze.

Step 8

Allow to defrost overnight in the fridge.Bolognese sauce or Chilli – tip into a saucepan and stir over a medium heat or heat in a microwave oven until piping hot.Burgers – bake in oven at 180°C for 20-25 mins, turning once half way through cooking. Ensure piping hot all the way through.Meatballs – bake in oven at 180°C for 10-12 mins, turning half way through cooking. Alternatively, pan fry over a medium heat for 8-10 minutes.Fajitas – microwave for 3 minutes (or until piping hot) and serve on soft tortilla wraps, with ½ fat crème fraiche, lettuce, tomato and grated cheese.