Thrifty mum’s
Mother-of-six Krechelle Carter shares her savvy festive budgeting tips with Woman’s Day
Yuletide feast for just $6
‘I’ve made this for the past FIVEYEARS’
Nobody wants Christmas to break the bank, but a lunch for 10 can do just t that, so Adelaide mum Krechelle Carter has come up with some tricks to help nail a mouth-watering feast for the family without going over the top...
The meat
Nothing says Christmas like a beautiful roast chicken and turkey breast roll at the table. But cheap doesn’t mean poor quality. Watch out for half-price specials now, and keep an eye on the raw meats section!
COST $16
Roast vegies
A robust tray of roast vegies laden with beautiful fresh herbs and olive oil looks and tastes very impressive. The best bit? They’re cheap! A bag of carrots, half a pumpkin, a couple of onions, broccoli and a bunch of rosemary can be mixed together and baked in the oven for 45 minutes. Add some vegetable stock to the bottom of the oven tray so they don’t dry up.
COST $7
Loaded potatoes
Wrap your roast potatoes in foil after they’ve been sprayed with oil, or drizzle them with some oil and a pinch of salt and pepper. Bake for about an hour at 180°C before topping with butter, onions and sour cream, which typically comes in at just $1.50 – a great way to top a cheap vegie.
COST $6
Warm bread rolls
Buy the “bake your own in 5 minutes” bread rolls, which cost about $3 for 12 – bloomin’ amazing! They’re deliciously golden and crunchy, too.
COST $3
Homemade gravy
Mix together all the delicious juices from your other trays of cooking food, and then just top the liquid up with some water, butter, fresh herbs, a little garlic and some flour. You’ll probably find most of these items in your pantry, and in no time have a delicious sauce for your meal.
COST $0
Spinach, walnut & feta salad
I love fresh greens to break up a hot roast. Grab some baby spinach, Danish feta and walnuts and drizzle lemon juice or balsamic vinegar over the top for zest.
COST $10
Summer pavlova
You can’t have a beautiful roast dinner without a treat! I love the pre-made pav bases, and when they go half-price they’re approximately $8 each. Whip up some cream to top the base and add the cheapest berries you can find – frozen blueberries work well. Drizzle with the pulp of a fresh passionfruit (or two, if they’re cheap).
COST $18
Total spend $60
This Christmas feast is affordable, filling and quick to make. It takes about 30 minutes to prepare and up to three hours to cook. Once you’ve got all your trays full of vegies and meats, cover them in olive oil and herbs of your choice. Chuck your roasts on first to make sure they’re cooking away. The chicken and turkey can take two to three hours combined, so pop on the vegies in the last hour of roasting. Another tip: the broccoli can be added to your vegie tray in the last 15 minutes – it doesn’t take very long.
The best part about this meal is you can prep a lot of it beforehand so you have time to enjoy your Christmas festivities! I’ve made this for the past five years and it’s an absolute hit. Nothing says festive like a table heaped with gorgeous food!
‘This feast is affordable, filling and quick to make’