INSIDE CHELLZ KITCHEN
Michelle Phetlhe | Tuesday July 29, 2025 16:23
I haven’t eaten it since childhood, but I remember that’s how simple mom kept it and we enjoyed it.
Now, with school holidays fast approaching and two rapidly growing boys at home (aged 13 and nine), I’ve been on a mission: to identify simple, budget-friendly foods I can stretch into multiple meals.
Let me tell you these boys eat a lot. I mean a lot. But those with sons assure me this is completely normal. Apparently, the kitchen becoming a bottomless pit is just part of the journey.
I have stocked up on some Bull Brand Corned Beef, determined to introduce this childhood staple to my own kids in fresh, modern ways. Surprisingly, they’ve never had it at home before. Maybe at Grandma’s? I’ll have to ask.
But since they’re opinionated (they’ll happily tell you what they’d rather snack on instead of eating a full meal), I’ve decided: no more requests—I’m creating meals that work. Meals that are: • Inexpensive • Easy to prepare • Stretchable • Kid-friendly • And ideally, ones they can safely make on their own
We kicked things off with corned beef sliders. The reviews were mixed, some thumbs up, some meh. But I’m not giving up. Corned beef is here to stay (at least for this month-long school break), and I’m experimenting with new ways to work it into their meal plan. In kitchens across the world whether by tradition, necessity, or creativity, cooks have always found ways to make meals go further.
This practice is commonly known as 'stretching a meal.' But what does that actually mean, and why is it such a valuable approach to cooking, especially for families?
To stretch a meal means to make a meal feed more people, last longer, or offer better value by using smart, resourceful methods.
It’s about maximising the impact of your ingredients and making sure every portion counts, especially when you're cooking on a budget or feeding hungry mouths that never seem to get full.
For us with growing children (especially boys with bottomless appetites), stretching a meal isn’t just practical it’s survival. Stretching meals is not just a 'budgeting trick'—it’s a mind-set. Mind Set Change, we have done it before. Let me see about in the kitchen. Resourcefulness over waste Nutrition over quantity alone Planning over panic Especially during long school holidays, this is going to help keep food costs manageable while ensuring everyone eats well. And perhaps best of all it teaches children the value of food and the joy of being creative in the kitchen.
In a world that often praises excess, there’s something quietly powerful about making the most of what you have. Stretching a meal doesn’t mean sacrificing flavour or satisfaction it means cooking smarter, with intention. Whether you’re feeding two people or ten, knowing how to stretch a meal is a skill worth mastering.
INGREDIENTS
Sliders Bull Brand Corned Beef B Well Oil B Well Mayonnaise Onion
INSTRUCTIONS
Toast Sliders on both sides. But corned beef out of can and cut into perfect round slices. On a hot pan fry both sides of the beef patties. Sauté onions in a little oil until translucent Spread some mayo on the Sliders and build, adding beef patties and topping with onions.