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Sometimes you just have to be a bit thrifty!

4/23/2017

Ok so I am not embarrassed to admit that the first place I go when I get to a supermarket is the end of best before shelf – I love it.

The other day I just couldn’t decide what to make for tea the fridge was empty apart from a half-eaten meat pie from the butchers which I was planning on giving my husband.

I had just about blown my food budget for the week and was struggling. So I popped into my local supermarket and headed straight to the end of best before shelf. There I picked up and load of root vegetables for less than a pound.

There was enough there for at least two people and voila that was tea sorted. The husband had some veg to go with his pie and I had enough for a plate of veg which would easily fill me up. As a bonus, I felt good for being healthy after over indulging during the Easter break- result!!!

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Stir fry? coleslaw? who cares?

4/15/2017

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During the summer months if I have time at the weekends, I will chop up a cabbage, a few carrots and an onion (this might be whilst I am preparing Sunday lunch and busy chopping up vegetables in general). I then pop them in a plastic bag and shake them well.

I then use this to make some coleslaw during the week which is great with a jacket potato, or can be used to make a stir fry with a few noodles or some rice.

This creates two meals from one and is cheap and easy to make.

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Remember the Basil

4/15/2017

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At this time of year I always keep a Basil plant in my kitchen. Depending on where you are buying it from you can usually get a plant for about a £1.00 and every time you pick some leaves they just keep growing back, this is much cheaper than buying cut basil.

Chop some tomatoes, add some basil, a splash of olive oil and balsamic vinegar. On toast this makes a great light lunch or snack. It can also be used in homemade burgers or in a salad. I always use it in my ‘keep it simple pasta sauce’, wherever there is a tomato there is always some basil not far behind in my household!

Pesto
Pesto is also a great use for basil, the pine nuts and parmesan cheese can be a little expensive but it tastes far better than the bought pesto and served with pasta it doesn't amount to much for a whole meal! There is nothing quite like pasta with fresh pesto, yummy!

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Cheats Lasagne

4/8/2017

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I had this at work in the Students Canteen and thought what a great cheat’s lasagne this would make. This is great served with garlic bread and/or salad!

Great Italian flavours without all the fuss of creating lasagne.

Method:

Boil some premade ravioli (meat/ veg/ cheese, whichever you prefer) until soft
Put some full cream milk, cornflour (approximately a level desert spoon of cornflour for half a pint of milk) and cheese in a saucepan and stir on a low heat until the cheese has melted and the sauce has thickened *I used some leftover cheese from Christmas to make my sauce, if you have read my blog on Christmas leftovers you will know I never throw cheese away and freeze it for an occasion such as this.
Put the ravioli in an oven proof dish and throw in some cherry tomatoes and basil if you have any.
Pour over the cheese sauce.
Place in the oven for around 20 minutes at 180 degrees until golden brown.

For the Healthier Option
Use skimmed or semi-skimmed milk.

Quicker and Easier
The quicker and easier way of making this would be to buy the cheese sauce and add some extra cheese.

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Welsh Rarebit with a Swiss twist

4/3/2017

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Switzerland is far from the cheapest place to eat! They have such a strong economy and with the exchange rate from pound to Swiss Franc very much in their favour everything seems doubly expensive. However the Swiss do know how to make the most of their food, living up in the mountains food isn’t easily transportable and in the winter months, homes can get cut off for weeks at a time.

Whilst over there I had some Macaroni cheese with stewed apple (a first for me) and noticed the gentlemen opposite had Swiss Welsh Rarebit with a poach egg on top. I had been tempted by that dish on the menu and it did look really nice, but thought it might have been nice to have the apple with the Welsh Rarebit rather than the Macaroni cheese. So on arriving home I thought I’d give it a try.

Method:

Toast some thick sliced bread - you will need two rounds per person (more if they have a big appetite).
Put some sliced cheese in the middle with some sliced apple.
Place in an oven proof dish.
Put some full cream milk, cornflour (approximately a level dessert spoon of cornflour for half a pint of milk) and cheese in a saucepan and stir on a low heat until the cheese has melted and the sauce has thickened. I used some leftover cheese from Christmas to make my sauce. If you have read my blog on Christmas leftovers you will know I never throw cheese away and freeze it for an occasion such as this.
Add some Worcestershire Sauce and mustard to taste.
You can also add some stout or Guinness but this will make the sauce runnier.
Add another layer of apple over the toasted bread.
Pour on the sauce.
Pop in the oven on 180 degrees until golden brown.
Garnish as required.

Now lots of people say ‘oh I can’t cook’ but with this recipe if you can make a toasted cheese sandwich you can cook this!

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Amanda's Blog

Sometimes you just have to be a bit thrifty!

Stir fry? coleslaw? who cares?

Remember the Basil

Cheats Lasagne

Welsh Rarebit with a Swiss twist

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