.. and we say the Scottish people are " tight" with their money ?? ( Thank You Marie Christine for this idea to feed my teenagers !;)
Toast sandwich is UK's 'cheapest meal'
Britain's 'cheapest' lunchtime meal was unveiled by
scientists on Wednesday - the toast sandwich.
The Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) is reviving the
mid-Victorian dish, which, unsurprisingly, consists of two slices of bread
around a slice of toast.
The society is so confident in the repast, it will offer
£200 to anyone who can create a cheaper alternative.
The meal, costing 7.5 pence, was first promoted by
Victorian food writer Mrs Beeton.
It is taken from Mrs Beeton's Book of Household
Management which became a best-seller after its appearance 150 years ago next
month.
To celebrate that anniversary, the RSC decided to focus
on meals that reflected "stern days" to come in Britain, rather than
one of the book's many "table-groaning creations".
The meal was recreated by a chef at the RSC on Wednesday
and offered to people outside their London offices.
The RSC's Dr John Emsley said: "You simply put a
piece of dry toast between two slices of bread and butter, with salt and pepper
to taste.
I've tried it and it's surprisingly nice to eat and quite
filling.
"I would emphasise that toast sandwiches are also
good at saving you calories as well as money, provided you only have one toast
sandwich for lunch and nothing else."
The toast sandwich provides about 330 calories, and
consumers could opt for the healthier alternative of margarine instead of
butter - an ingredient not available to Mrs Beeton because she was writing her
book before it was invented.
"Of course, when we finally emerge from these dark
days we will seek something more celebratory from Mrs Beeton's pantheon of rich
recipes to welcome back the good times," Dr Emsley added.
Continue reading the main story
Mrs Beeton's toast sandwich
Toast sandwich being prepared
* Toast a thin
slice of bread
* Butter two
slices of bread and sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste
* Place the
toast between the two slices of bread-and-butter to form a sandwich
RSC employee Jon Edwards said: "In my student days I
thought a meal of '9p noodles' from Tesco was the epitome of thrift - but a
toast sandwich is tastier, quicker, has more calories and comes in at just
7.5p."
Mr Edwards added that the 21st Century version of the
toast sandwich is healthier than the one from Mrs Beeton's era because of the
vitamins and minerals - such as calcium - that are added to bread today.
British Dietetic Association spokeswoman Melissa Little
said there were ways to make the toast sandwich much better for not that much
more money.
Ms Little said: "You can add an egg for 8p, it's not
much and it would give you some protein and keep you fuller for longer - and it
would make it taste much better.
"Half a can of sardines for 19p would provide good
fats, you would get some fish, and again make you feel fuller for longer.
"Even adding some vegetables, such as cucumbers or
carrots - would give you some more nutrients."
She suggested the exercise did highlight that people are
struggling to pay for grocery bills and looking for alternatives.
The more people talk about making healthy meals for less
money, the better informed people would be, she said.
The first instalment of of Mrs Beeton's Book of Household
Management was published in 1861. It sold over 60,000 copies in its first year
of publication and nearly two million by 1868.
As well as recipes the book contained advice on household
management, childcare, etiquette, entertaining and the employment of servants.
in a very different style. If not You MUST first .. It was So British and Brilliant !..
