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The latest tips from Amanda

Table sauces, easy peasy & save you money!

1/28/2017

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Do you ever have posh fish and chips in those rather smart restaurants and always think the tartar sauce tastes so much better than what you get in a jar, well the good news is that it's actually really easy to make and can save you money.

When you buy a jar of tartar sauce, quite often if not eaten within a couple of weeks it can go yellow around the edges and has to be thrown away.  Well if you invest in a small jar of capers, take a few out, mash them up with a fork and add them to some mayonnaise that is your posh tartar sauce. Just add more capers or mayonnaise depending on the consistency and taste you prefer.

If you want to add a bit more citrus, you can squeeze in some lemon juice or use some lemon mayonnaise if you have any.  If you are a bit of a pepper fan then add a pinch of freshly ground pepper as well.

It's the same for mint sauce, if you have any fresh mint chop it up and add it to some vinegar.  You can add a pinch of sugar if you like your mint sauce a bit sweeter.

If you have any fresh herbs left in the fridge that need using up pop them in the freezer and add them to sauces, curry’s, stews etc. as and when you need them. 

You can add frozen mint to vinegar and it will defrost virtually immediately to give you a lovely homemade sauce.
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Root vegetables helping with your five a day quickly, cheaply and easily

1/15/2017

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I don’t know about you but as a busy working parent I struggle to come up with ideas for evening meals which help towards your five a day. 

One trick is to buy those packs of casserole vegetables most supermarkets have.  You know the ones with some carrots, a swede, parsnips and an onion? Be sure to check the reduced section in the supermarket first, otherwise they are reasonably cheap in the normal section, and grab a bag of potatoes whilst you are there. 
I peel everything except the onion which I tend to keep for another time, but you could add it if you wanted to.  Cook all the vegetables in the same saucepan until soft, then mash them all together with some butter, milk and salt.  This is in fact the same as that posh mash potato you can buy at the supermarket.  I then use some of it for the evening meal with either fish, meat or pie and freeze the rest to use at a later date.

This is also a great way to use up vegetables in the fridge you could do the same with butternut squash, sweet potatoes. Any root vegetables can be cooked and mashed with potatoes it is a great way to make sure you are getting your five a day quickly and easily.
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Cut the waistline and the food bill at the same time!

1/13/2017

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OK so Christmas is well and truly over and it is time to reduce the waistline and the food bill. 

Before you do that though if you don’t already have a slow cooker now is a good time to buy one.  Preferably one with an inner casserole dish you can use on the hob that way you only need to wash one pan and it saves on time as well as money.  I love the George Home 5.5L Slow Cooker from Asda it is really large, has an inner dish that can be used on the hob (not induction) and is currently reduced in the New Year’s sale.

Slow cooked food always tastes great whether it be vegetables or the cheaper cuts of meat. You can put it on before you go out to work or when you have a busy day at home and you have a healthy and hearty meal waiting for you which won’t break the bank or hurt the waistline.

I often search the offers section with the 'use by date' bargains in the supermarkets.  I will quickly fry onions on the hob first, the same with meat to seal it before I add the vegetables and put the casserole dish back in the slow cooker.  Then add a tin or two of chopped tomatoes some chillies if I fancy a chilli or some curry powder if I prefer a curry.  For a more meaty dish add some chicken or beef stock cubes and hey presto a meal that often lasts more than one day and can be frozen for a later date.

Slow cookers are also great for cooking a joint of pork, flash fry it first on the hob, then place back in the slower cooker add some cornflour, ginger, brown sugar and cider. This makes a great meat dish for Sunday lunch.

For full details of the recipes mentioned please go to www.grubonabudget.com
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Building confidence in the kitchen

1/7/2017

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Building confidence in the Kitchen by keeping cooking simple!
Cooking is not a science I will never understand why it was called domestic science at school and neither is it an art, it is a basic skill needed to survive.  I was never artistic or scientific at school and I hated domestic science as it was far too regimented and prescribed. The only skills you need to be able to cook is taste and smell.
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When first starting to cook ‘keep it simple’.  For years food was cooked in one pot and it still can be.  I make some great meals using just one saucepan it also creates less washing up.
I look to recipes for guidance but remember everyone’s taste is difference and so is their oven.  Which is why timing and heat is for guidance only! If you know your oven takes longer to heat up, wait until it is fully hot before place your pie or cake in, otherwise it might still be undercooked even though you have had it in for the time specified.

Some very easy recipes I encourage first time cooks to try is soup, bread and jam. 
Soup can be made from leftovers or vegetables that have been reduced because they have reached their sell by date.  If you don’t fancy peeling them yourself, seek out the ones ready prepared.  You will always need a potato or two to help thicken the soup but otherwise it is as simple as putting a load of vegetables in a big saucepan, covering them with water and adding a couple of stock cubes.  Once all the vegetables are soft all the way through, blend with a hand held blender and add some cream or a spot of milk to help create a smooth texture. ​

Bread is easy to make but only if you have access to a bread maker.  Buy the readymade bread mixture, following the instructions which usually involve adding some water to the mixture in the bread maker.  Put the setting to ‘dough only’ this takes about an hour and half but you can leave it longer if you need to go out as it will just continue to rise.  Put the dough in a greased bread tin and place in the oven at 180 degrees for about half an hour or until golden brown.  Let the bread cool before removing it from the tin.  It is very simple to make but tastes delicious, is cheaper than bought bread and doesn’t leave you with that horrible bloated feeling afterwards.

Jam made using jam sugar again is very simple and quick to make. Buy the Jam sugar, then boil with the fruit for 4 minutes.  It is as simple as that!  If you have no fresh fruit buy some frozen fruit and use that instead.  It is usually quite cheap. You can use any fruit you like, I tend to use mixed fruit bags with raspberries, strawberries, black berries etc.  In the summer months I get the fruit from the garden or go around the hedge rows and pick it from there (when I have time).  I also make the jam and give it to my son’s teachers at Christmas and the end of term.
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There is nothing quite as nice has eating homemade soup with homemade bread or homemade bread and jam.  They really are meals to relish, cheap to make and good for you!
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What to do with leftover cheese from Christmas?!

1/7/2017

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Using Christmas leftover cheese to make great canapes
So Christmas is finally over and we start the New Year however the fridge is still full of all that left over Cheese.  Don’t despair not only can cheese be chopped up and frozen for use in soups and sauces at a later date it can also make great Canapes.
I like to use my leftover stilton and create a stilton pate:
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  • Break the stilton into small pieces
  • Add some crushed walnuts and some grated apple including the juice
  • Then add a spot of honey
  • Mix all the ingredients together
  • Taste to make sure you are happy with the consistency and strength of the cheese 
  • If it is too sweet add a bit more stilton, if the stilton is too strong or a bit too lumpy you can also add a splash of cream
This pate is great on bruschetta or used to stuffed mushrooms, pepper or butternut Squash. Other ways to enjoy left over cheese such as grated/crumbled cheddaror goats cheese is on a bruschetta. Alternatively you can always have brie or camembert topped with some homemade cranberry sauce or some grapes for lunch! 
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Made using cheese that has been frozen, please allow 24 hours to thoroughly defrost. 
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