Roslyn Regan saving bucks with inventive budget meals as prices soar

Roslyn Regan, from Corrimal in NSW, is using her 30 years of kitchen mastery to come up with affordable meals, all the while reminding everyone that spending less doesn't mean you have to compromise on taste.

The mum-of-three is calling on other community members to share their recipes.

"The cost of food is ridiculous and our kids are grown up now and two have moved out but I can't imagine what it must be like to feed young kids," Mrs Regan said.

"I know lots of people are looking into budget meals right now."

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Mrs Regan said the average meal for her family costs about $10 provided "nothing too fancy is cooked. Anything you like to eat can be turned into a meal if you have some imagination," she said.

"Most of my recipes can be cooked using things you already have in your pantry rather than having to buy ingredients.

"From my experience, all the cook books I've ever bought have meals that are not something the average person eats, especially kids, so I don't use them."

There are a few pantry staples she swears by which can be incorporated in any dish.

"Tinned tomatoes are amazing, you can use it in lasagne, in spaghetti Bolognese and so many other recipes, it's just a great base," she said.

"Frozen veggies too, they're cheap and they last longer."

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Mrs Regan believes in utilising every last bit of food, which she does by getting inventive with the leftovers.

"I'm trying not to have a lot of leftovers because the simple fact is it goes in the fridge and you never see it again but if you do have leftovers you can use them again but make them a different recipe," she said, adding that leftover leg lamb can be turned it into a curry so you don't feel like you are eating the same thing.

Mrs Regan's culinary skills are not just limited to food for humans, she also treats her dogs with handmade dog delights.

"My dogs don't have good teeth, they are old and can't have the treats from the shops as they're quite hard," Mrs Regan said.

"It is also much healthier than tinned food and by making my own treats I know what is exactly in them."