A mum-of-two has shared three easy and simple recipes to feed families this winter – with portions costing less than 90p each.

Ailsa Gardiner first started her TikTok account in 2020 in a bid to share cheap cooking solutions for families after the cost of living crisis took a toll on her own spending.

Her husband Richard, 36, and their children Lucas, six, and Vanessa, four, get in on the fun too – sharing their thoughts on the family’s meals online.

With winter on the UK’s heels and the economic crisis pinching wallets during shopping trips the mum has shared three of her top viral dishes with three million views combined – including a garlic and cheese pasta, Hunter’s Chicken rice bowl and Dorito’s chicken wraps (@familymealswithalisa ).

She also shares her top money-saving trips, including which supermarket to use for deals.

“I started doing the videos to help and inspire others,” Ailsa, a stay-at-home mum from Inverness, Scotland, told http://NeedToKnow.co.uk .

“The cost of living has been really difficult for us.

“I was deemed unfit to work last year so we only have my husband's income to rely on so we’ve had our struggles.

“We get by each month, but I have found it extremely difficult.

“Seeing the cost in everything increase, food especially, is a necessity [for staying] alive… it is terrible.

“I haven’t had to use a food bank and I always try to donate food each week but the cost of our electric and gas in our house is more than our mortgage each month!”

Ailsa meal plans, always uses a list when shopping and makes a point to utilise what is left in the cupboard to save money.

She said: “I believe home-cooked meals are a great way of saving money!

“Don’t get me wrong; I don’t do it every day but 90% of the time it’s a home-cooked meal.

“I always create a list before I go and stick to it and I meal plan the night before.

“First thing I do is I look at what I have in the cupboards and see what meals I could make using what I already have, then add to the list what else I need to create the meals.

“I always meal plan seven dinners and get ingredients for that all in one shop.

“Then when I get home I have a weekly chart on my fridge and I work out according to the dates on the food what meal we have on what night.

“To save on money, if I have any leftovers I always use them the next day too.”

The mum does most of her food shopping in Tesco, where she can use her Clubcard to reduce prices and gain points.

She said: “I shop once a week and in Tesco because we like saving Clubcard points.

“If I was to give anyone any money saving tips when it comes to food it’s definitely meal plan, it’s key!

“And always make a shopping list of what you need to make those meals and don’t deter away from your list.”

As for Ailsa’s three meals, they are all very cheap to make with her home-made meals priced at Hunter’s Chicken £1.80, cheesy garlic pasta 85p and Dorito’s chicken wrap 82p (all prices are per person).

Alisa added: “I just want to help families out there have some different meal ideas for their family.

“Try something new, feed your family an inexpensive meal that’s healthy and also tastes amazing, cheap meals don’t have to taste rubbish!

“My channel is there for inspiration, positivity and encouragement.”

INGREDIENTS AND METHODS FOR ALL THREE DISHES

HUNTER'S CHICKEN

Ingredients:

250 grams cooked or uncooked chicken

Five rashers of bacon

One onions

One pepper

One packet microwave rice

50 grams cheddar cheese

BBQ sauce, add to your liking.

£1.80 per person

Method:

Cut onions and peppers and fry them off in a big pan.

While they’re cooking, cut up the bacon into small pieces, then add to the pan. Once the bacon is cooked add in the chicken and wait for that to cook. Add in BBQ sauce to pan and mix, as well as some cheese. Microwave your rice and add into the pan, along with a bit more BBQ sauce. Serve up and you’re done.

CHEESY GARLIC PASTA

Ingredients

One tub garlic and herb soft cream cheese

One finely chopped red pepper

One finely chopped orange pepper

One chopped red onion

One bag of cherry tomatoes

Salt and pepper

Rapeseed oil

500 grams farfelle pasta.

£0.85p per person.

Method:

Add whole tub of garlic and herb cheese to middle of oven proof dish. Then add the peppers, onion and cheery tomatoes to the dish, surrounding the cheese. Add salt and pepper and pop in the oven. Grab a bag of farfalle pasta put it in a pan to boil for 10 minutes. By the time your pasta is done, your cheese and veggies should also be. Pop in one big dish, mix together, and serve up.

DORITO CHICKEN WRAP

Pack of wraps

Bag of Doritos

Chicken

Cheese

Garlic mayonnaise

£0.82p per person

For this one, Alisa used chicken she had cooked the night before.

For the chicken, cut it into strips, coat in Dorito crumbs and pop in the air fryer on 180 for 10 minutes, they should come out golden, crispy, and cooked.

Then, grab a wrap and cover with mayonnaise, lettuce and cheese. When your chicken is done add to the wrap, and put in the air fryer for 2 minutes to warm up. Then enjoy.

ENDS