I know asking for recipes bugs some readers so, sorry, but I have looked on loads of websites - I'm sure chickies have better ideas!

I'm really down to the bare store cupboard ingredients and need to spin them out as long as. Don't feel sorry for me, I've had a vacation in Spain, I'm going to Paris in October, God willing. Apart from the fact that cooking frugally and veggielly helps me concentrate on weightloss too, I Do need to draw in my financial horns a bit. I've also had a lot of vet's bills for the dogs this past few weeks, and that's even with insurance.

If I tell you what I've got in my cupboard, I'd really appreciate any suggestions as to how to make it last as long as possible, while buying as little extra as possible.

I'm just eating a Quick Beans and Rice recipe from Frugal Abundance, which is delicious, may have overdone the chili flakes a bit, it's giving me a hot flush!

I have

Dry
brown basmati rice, about a cup
a pound of dried kidney beans
half a pound of red lentils
a small slab pack of readymade polenta
a ready made sweet pastry case
white sugar
brown sugar
self-raising flour
bread flour
yeast (I only let myself have one small loaf a week, bready carbs aren't good for my mood)
loads of herbs and spices

Canned
chestnut puree (it was on special a few weeks ago!)
2 cans of tomatoes
a can of butter beans - is that the same as lima?
a little honey
some blackcurrant jam

Frozen
peas
sweetcorn
filo pastry

Fresh
milk, about 2 litres for some reason
apples
onions
garlic

(yes, I know I need a big fruit and veg injection!)

What spices do you have?

I'd probably recommend cooking some lentils and a can of tomatoes with garlic and onions along with some spices (Indian spices would be my preference) and serve over your basmati rice. Peas also go good with indian spices so you could add those as well.

Another idea is to maybe make a chili with your kidney beans, corn, tomatoes and spices and serve on top of sauteed polenta slices? (or warmed up at least)

Thanks already.
Mostly indian spices, got cardamom and nutmeg too.
I don't know quite what to do with the polenta.

You can use the polenta instead of rice in recipes. Or form into patties and saute it & then top with a bean/tomato mixture.

For the chili, I'd use spices like cumin, ground chilies, paprika, oregano and a little cayenne. It would be good and you can taste as you go to adjust.

I would drain the beans and make hummus burgers. Mash them up and put in garlic, egg whites (if you have them), diced onion, salt and pepper. Sprinkle them with a small amount flour and cook them stove top. If you want to, you can add in a slice of whole wheat bread or cracker crumbs but no need if you don't want to. If you happen to have tihini on hand, you can add it. I don't because of fat content.

For dessert, I would dice your apples and a little honey and cinnamon. You can even bake them if you want it hot.

Seeing as all you have is peas for veggies really, I would eat those. Pea salad would be YUM with the burgers.

burgers sound good.Have never thought of hummus burgers!

Snoop around over in The South Beach Forum and you may find some ideas.

mm, like the sound of the burgers, thankyou!

yes, I've got 3 eggs.

found 2 tomatoes
dried fruit
pine nuts
pistachio nuts
sesame seeds
poppy seeds
macaroni

Thanks, Ruth, I'll go check.

If you have indian spices and don't mind cooking, you can make Rajma from Red kidney beans and have it with Basmati rice.
Recipe for rajma :-
www(dot)sanjeevkapoor(dot)com/Recipe.aspx?RecipeId=2128&Header=Searched%20Recipe &MenuId=0

Change the (dot) in url to . and just reduce the oil to may be 1 tablespoon (or less) in above recipe.

You are very welcome. If you have a food processor, you might want to use it. Otherwise, just mash and dice as you are able.

Ohh hummus burgers do sound good! Also if you have eggs you could always make pasta. I swear it's less scary than it sounds. Likewise egg (or even just egg yolk if you use the whites in the burgers) +rice+lima beans and frozen veggies makes a good stirfried rice. I think that peeled apple with cinnamon and a little butter or honey in the middle wrapped in filo dough and baked sounds divine but probably not diet friendly.

The Food section under
Food talk and Fabulous finds under salads and sides has
curried egg salad, and 3 bean salad and other recipes. Also WW has vegetarian recipes.
You could make a pasta salad out of macaroni, chopped tomato, thawed cold peas, nuts and seasonings and some kind of dressing.

Some great ideas here, I may have to steal some of em