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We better set up a TV company!

I'm serious, I really do think its a good idea!

We should all write to the TV companies with the idea! Also suggestions of which chefs should present it and do the judging. Who do you think would do a good job?

I will talk to my 'meeja' pals and find out how to pitch it!

Go for it nan

I was struck by Jamie's 'economy' meal, which included cherry tomatoes, muscles and pastal. My experience is it's much cheaper and easier to eat good salad, vegetables and fruit in Italy/Greece/Spain than here in the UK. The cost of basic foodstuffs in the UK is high. "farmer's markets" are only for those of us with a reasonable level of disposable income, not for people existing on a basic state pension, or benefits.

We need proper cookery lessons back in schools for children whose parents don't/can't' cook. 10 years ago, my children's "food technology' lesson included "making a pizza". This involved the purchase of a ready made pizza base, a can of tomato puree and grating some cheese.

Nanaej and Moved - go for it. Did anyone else have a copy of the Pauper's Cookbook in the 60's and 70's. It was a badge of honour amongst my group of friends to produce meals for as little financial outlay as possible. Tomato sauce, with nuts and brown rice was a staple......

Yes, I remember this. There was also Katherine Whitehorn's Cooking in a Bedsit and Delia Smith's Frugal Food. Both excellent although somewhat dated now as some of the cheap cuts of meat recommended are now rather pricey.

I also remember an excellent television programme in the early 80s where Jane Grigson produced stunningly good meals on a very limited budget. These were all carefully costed and researched to find out where to buy the ingredients - even if access to a market wasn't possible. We could do with an updated version of these.

I have just googled -Paupers cookbook - came up on Amazon at a cost of £280!!

DS2 got a GCSE - B, I think - in food technology. He seemed to make pizzas at least once a month for two years. Thankfully, he is now an excellent veggie cook and bakes very yummy brownies. Even his own kids will eat what he cooks.

Bez! Oh B, I re-cycled mine last year when having a clear out. Mind you, it was very well used.

I agree with Iam's point that vegetables in Spain, Greece, etc., are much tastier than here. The tomatoes are delicious, with loads of flavour, whereas ours often seem to be tasteless.

Flickety I thought the "agirlcalled Jack" blog was brilliantly written and hit the nail right on the head.

Usually I'm a fan of Jamie Oliver but I think on this occasion his comments may be interpreted as jumping on the bandwagon of poor bashing. I'm hoping this wasn't his intention.