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By: Staff writer

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Watching the pennies, but need to cook a hearty meal?  In these credit crunch days, it is a good idea to look back at the concoctions of our peasant ancestors.   

Every ounce of imagination had to be employed to eat a varied and nutritious diet with so little money.  Peasant recipes have survived through generations for a reason: they are cheap, wholesome and healthful.   

Searching for vegan or vegetarian recipes should be the first port of call to find peasant fodder.  A warming vegetable and bean chilli can be made for a few pounds and can feed a whole family.  

Or if you are feeling adventurous, why not try to make some Portuguese peasant bread?  Ingredients are cheap and simple and the result is a very filling addition to any plate.  Delicious and inexpensive options can be found in Greek recipes too, from Greek peasant salads to hearty soups.   

Healthful need not be expensive.  Complex carbohydrates, which are good for digestion and help maintain healthy sugar levels, can be found in beans and grains – among the cheapest staples one can buy. 

 Dried beans are cheaper than canned (which are still very reasonable), so a little amount of planning to soak overnight can add more savings to your supermarket bill.  Food with a high fibre content like fruit and vegetables is also cheap or, even better, why not grow them at home?   

Pasta is a great choice if you are feeling the pinch but want a versatile dish that is both filling and simple to make.  Pasta recipes like Italy's 'pasta e fagioli' (pasta and beans) is a peasant dish still enjoyed now by even the flushest of foodies.   

Simply fry onions, garlic, chilli flakes and mixed herbs together, add whatever leftover vegetables you may have in the fridge, together with an assortment of beans (butter beans or kidney beans work well) and stir fry for a further 10-15 minutes.  Add vegetable stock and pasta and simmer until the pasta is cooked through.   

Cooking peasant dishes in bulk and freezing them as individually portioned meals is a cunning idea that will save you time and hassle in the future.  Fill your freezer up with vegetable chilli, Greek peasant soups and pasta combinations and simply remove the dish from the freezer the night before you want it for lunch the next day.   

Soon your cheeks (and bank balance) will look much rosier.