Amandas Blog - Grub on a budget

Keeping the pounds off whilst saving pounds in the pocket

11/12/2017

As we lead up to Christmas everyone is trying to save money where they can and also keep the weight off in order to be able to properly indulge over the Christmas period.
I have founds some great ways to do both.
My first discovery was buttermilk it is a great alternative to yogurt, is cheaper and much easier to cook with. I have started to use it in my smoothies using all that luscious fruit I picked and froze during the summer months. It is a great way to start the day and full of vitamins to fight off those nasty colds everyone seems to be catching at the moment

Buttermilk also makes a great salad dressing and can be used as a main ingredient for sauces. Here are some I found online and use regularly
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/76937/creamy-buttermilk-dressing/
https://www.createdby-diane.com/2015/01/buttermilk-pasta-sauce.html
(The pasta sauce recipe is particularly easy and cheap to make)

Oats are another cheap and great way to feel fuller for longer. A bowl of porridge in the morning with a spot of honey (a natural antibiotic) will help keep that cholesterol down and stop you from snacking mid-morning keeping that waist trim and pockets fuller!!!

Also remember the packet of root vegetables you can buy for a £1 from most supermarkets that I mentioned in a previous blog
http://www.grubonabudget.com/amandasblog/the-root-to-feeding-two-teenagers-as-a-single-mum-living-on-a-budget
Well this is another great way to save pounds and also get rid of a few extra kilos before Christmas
By chopping up and roasting these vegetables in olive oil they make a great alternative to roast or mashed potatoes. They’re full of nutrients, you can roast everything in one dish and save on the washing up as well.
As always spinach is cheap, easy to cook and full of iron making it a great accompaniment to most meals!

The 'C' word again Spreading the Cost

10/28/2017

So I already have my sloe gin brewing, which will later be bottled to give away to friends and family over Christmas.

I am also starting to save and freeze breadcrumbs as I'll need these for my bread sauce and stuffing.

Each week I am buying a little something towards Christmas whether it be a special offer on chocolates, or some cheese I know will mature nicely ready for the big day. This helps me spread the cost so December doesn't hit my bank balance quite so hard.

I have already made and frozen my 'Repton Pudding' an alternative to Christmas pudding.

Repton Pudding
Ingredients:

Method:

Remove the crusts and using a rolling pin, roll out enough slices of bread to cover the inside of a round basin.
Spread some butter or put some clingfilm inside the basin (so the pudding can be easily removed), then gently place the flatten slices of bread inside, so the surface is covered.
Fill the bread lined bowl with a mixture of sliced cooked apples sweetened with some sugar and spiced with cinnamon plus a variety of other fruits of your choice (I usually use sultanas or blackberries, blueberries and raspberries).
Cover the bottom of the bowl with some more rolled out sliced bread.
Seal the bowl with clingfilm and weigh it down overnight with something heavy.
Remove the pudding from the basin and either freeze as it is until you want to defrost it, or sprinkle some brown sugar and cinnamon on top and pop it in the oven until golden brown.

The root to feeding two teenagers as a single mum living on a budget

10/22/2017

When I was a single mum of two teenagers, I loved this time of year as it meant root vegetables were cheap again. I'd buy a pack of mixed root vegetable for a £1 add some potatoes and make loads of root smash.

This meant I could get lots of goodness down them both and fill them up without spending a fortune. Any leftovers would be made into soup by adding some stock cubes mixed with hot water (as per instructed on the packet). This is still a great family favourite and both the mash and soup can be frozen and used at a later date.

Method:

Peel and chop all the vegetables and put them in a saucepan
Boil in water until they are nice and soft. Here I added some sweet potatoes but you can add any type of potato you prefer.
Mash or blend together.

This side can be served with a variety of mains and is filling as well as full of goodness.

Alternatively add some stock and make a great soup.

A Swiss twist to breakfast

10/22/2017

I used to travel to Switzerland a lot for work and I loved my Bircher Muesli. It gave me the energy to kick start my day as well as keeping me fuller for longer. What I didn’t realise was how easy and cheap it is to make. The ingredients can be varied depending on your taste and there are very healthy options if you want to keep the calories down.
To serve 4-6 people you will need:

2 cups of rolled oats
1 cup of milk (Skimmed, whole, almond, soy or whatever form of milk you prefer)
Grated apple (optional)
1 tsp of cinnamon (optional)
1 cup of fruit (I quite often use defrosted fruit I picked from the hedgerows earlier in the year
A handful of nuts (optional)
1 ½ cups of greek yogurt (or any yogurt you prefer)

The easiest way to make this is by soaking the oats in the milk overnight. In the morning add the fruit and yogurt (use fruit yoghurt if it is quicker and cheaper). Then any of the other optional ingredients you fancy.

If you prefer it a bit sweeter add some honey or natural syrups.

And voila - a great wholesome breakfast for all the family. A perfect way to make yoghurt go further and keep you fuller longer without breaking the bank.

I am using the dreaded C word, but being prepared can save you money!

10/15/2017

I started preparing for Christmas early the year my eldest was born. We knew there was going to be complications and as her due date was the 18th December I realised as early as September that I needed to get myself organised, especially when told that from November onwards I could be admitted into hospital. In those days there was no online shopping, so that tells you how long ago it was. Preparing early was a revelation in the amount of money I saved. So between now and Christmas I will be sharing with you some lessons I have learnt over the years.
For the last few weeks I have been saving glass jars for homemade Jams and Relishes. These are a great Christmas gift for friends and family as well teachers and neighbours. If these are the perfect gift for the Duchess of Cambridge to give to the Queen, I don’t see how anyone can complain.

Top tips

Whenever you have problems getting the old sticky labels off the glass, rub in a Steradent tablet (dissolved in water, these are also great for getting stubborn stains of mugs and vases). Then sterilise the jars using boiling water (putting a metal spoon in the jar first, will stop it from breaking).

Homemade jam: Making Jam is so easy if you buy Jam making sugar, you pour the sugar over the fruit of your choice (as recommended on the side of the packet) and boil for 4 minutes.

Homemade relish: Relishes are simple too! There are some fantastic recipes on the internet but the main ingredients are onions, sultanas, apples, vinegar and brown sugar. Today I made some with some blueberries which needed using up and the other ingredients mentioned.

I handful of blueberries
1 handful of sultanas
3 apples sliced
3 onions sliced
3 dessert spoons of brown sugar
1 cup of balsamic vinegar
2 dessert spoons of mixed spice

Boil everything together until soft.

Tip: If the relish isn’t sweet enough add some more sugar, if it becomes too dry add some more vinegar, if it is too runny add some more mixed spice. Relish is all about personal taste so don’t be afraid to experiment.

Mulled wine sachets: I quite often put together hampers for Christmas, within which I include homemade mulled wine sachets. I use netting bought from haberdashery shops such as Dunhelms, using remnants they sell off at a reduced prices. Cut it into squares, add some crushed cinnamon sticks, crushed nutmeg and some dried cloves.

Tied with some pretty ribbon they are easy to make and so much cheaper than anything you can buy but taste as good if not better!!!

When cooking and commuting don't mix

10/8/2017

When I am working in London which is at least three times a week, I have a two hour commute each way, which altogether takes up 4 hours of my day. So the last thing I feel like doing when I get home is a load of cooking and washing up. Nor do I want to be buying convenience food that is expensive and will blow my weekly budget. The only option I have is to create my own convenience food so I get some work life balance.

One of my favourite dishes at the moment is Miso soup. I buy the miso paste which a lot of supermarkets now sell.

I prepare a load of vegetables in bulk (usually bought from the best before shelf at any of my local supermarkets), tenderise them in the microwave then once cool pop them into small bags and freeze them. I do the same with chicken and other leftover cooked meat, chop it up into small pieces and pop it in the freezer.

Then when I need a quick and filling meal I put some Miso paste (as per instructions) in a large bowl adding boiling water, stirring well. I then add a handful of crystal noodles and put a plate on top to allow the noodles to soften. At the same time, I put the frozen vegetables and meat in the microwave to cook through. Once piping hot I add the meat and vegetables to my Miso Soup. This really is a quick and easy meal in a bowl with hardly any washing up!

I will also add the cooked vegetables and meat to couscous, pulses and grains and with some chilli sauce it also makes a hot nourishing meal on a cold winters evening.

These little packets of goodness can also be added to pasta and sauces to make quick and nutritious meals.

Click here for some more great meals in minutes from the BBC Good Food website:

Alternatively take a look at my A-Z of recipes for some more quick, easy and cheap meal ideas.

Using your loaf

10/1/2017

How many of us buy a loaf of bread as part of our weekly shop to only throw part of it away at the end of the week? I had a friend who lived with his sister and he used to threaten to throw the whole loaf away as soon as she unpacked the shopping because chances were it would still be in the bread bin mouldy when she bought the next one the following week.

Over the years I have come up with all sorts of ways to use leftover bread rather wasting it or giving most of it to the birds. There are some recipes as old as time where you can use old bread, for example Queens Pudding and Bread and Butter Pudding. However there are only so many times you can keep making these recipes without getting bored, so I have tried to be a bit more adventurous whilst sticking to a budget

Fruit pie with bread instead of pastry
In this recipe I rolled flat some left over bread and used it instead of making/buying pastry for my fruit pie.

Salmon on Brown Bread
These are a family favourite on Christmas day with a glass of bubbly. I quite often make them in advance and pop them in the freezer then take them out a couple hours before we are ready to eat.

Stuffed Garlic Mushrooms
Here I used left over breadcrumbs mixed with garlic, butter and cheese to create stuffed garlic mushrooms

Cheese and Cranberry Canapés
These are a fab way to use up leftover bread and cheese especially at the end of the festive season

Asparagus Rolls
These make great starters and canapés. If I ever have any left over brown bread I usually freeze it for this purpose or to use for other canapés

Another one to try is Bread Lasagne, substituting the pasta for bread. However I would toast the bread first or roll it flat to make it less absorbent for the sauce.

Croutons
These are always great in salads or can make soup a meal in itself. Just pop them in the freezer and pop them in oven to heat them through just before you need them.

Tomato Bruschetta's
If bread has begun to dry out there is nothing better than drizzling it with some olive oil and popping it in the oven to make a bruschetta for the topping add some fresh or tinned tomatoes with basil and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar. Another option is to add some onion and some chopped chillies if fancy something with a bit more zing.

Alternatively just spread some garlic butter on top before putting it in the oven to make garlic bread.

Posh Welsh Rabbit
Here is my posh Welsh Rabbit inspired from a trip to Switzerland with apple and melted cheese.

Quick and easy sides

9/24/2017

As a working mum I know that when you get home in the evening you just want to pop something in the oven or microwave whilst you sort out the kids, change into something more comfortable and then sit down and relax. So it's understandable that many people turn to ready made convenience food, I mean it's easy enough to shove a pizza in the oven with some garlic bread.

Yes, cooking some healthier options does cross your mind every now and again. Perhaps some fish or meat instead? But then you have to start thinking about a side to go with it and before you know it, cooking becomes a complicated part of the day. Well fear not, here are some really quick, easy and most importantly cheap sides to go along with your weekday evening meal.

Side dishes

These are home grown potatoes but it is really simple to cut a few new potatoes up, put them in a microwaveable bowl with some butter and mint (if you have it), then cook them until soft. You can always add a few frozen peas to make a great side dish to go with any meal.

Rice noodles are also a quick and easy to make and are really cheap. Just place them in a bowl and pour boiling water over them, leave until soft, then drain and toss them into a salad. This side tastes great sprinkled with sweet chilli sauce and is so filling it is all you need for a side and goes great with any meat or fish dish. If you are not a fan of rice noodles replace them with egg noodles or some left over pasta.

Lentils also make great side dishes, they are full of protein and fill you up. Supermarket own brand lentils are always good value and if you find them a bit bland add some spices or olive oil with some balsamic vinegar. Again, you can mix with some cooked peas (I always cook mine in the microware) or a tin of sweetcorn to give a bit of crunch, colour and taste.

Couscous is another favourite of mine, I usually add some raisons or sultanas, some peas, sweet corn or left over veg from a Sunday roast to make this side a feast in its own right.

Spinach is another cheap side dish and so simple to make as you can just microwave it in the bag. Don't worry if it's a bit bland, add some spices or nutmeg. With some microwaved new potatoes as described above you have made two healthy cheap sides without having to put the hob on or use a single saucepan! Result I'd say!!!!

Lady Marmalade

9/17/2017

A friend popped round this week with a late birthday present, as well as other goodies, she bought me a selection of marmalades. As much as I like marmalade on toast there are so many other uses for it. If you fancy duck a L’Orange, marmalade makes a quick and easy orange sauce. Alternatively as I do, replace the duck with chicken breast, spread some marmalade on it, then cover it in tin foil and cook as you normally would, only the result is a really nice chicken in orange sauce.

Chicken with marmalade

As I prefer fish I often smear it on my salmon steak before putting it in the oven.
My husband loves it on his bacon sandwich or gammon steak, it is a great alternative to pineapple.

Make Chilli Sauce with Marmalade: A quick way to make sweet chilli sauce is to blend a chilli pepper add it to some white wine vinegar and marmalade and boil until thickened.

Stir fry vegetables and noodles with marmalade: Last night I prepared enough stir fry vegetables and noodles for two then, on a medium heat I melted a desert spoon of coconut oil, added a couple of finely chopped chillies, a teaspoon of grated ginger and a teaspoon of garlic, added my stir fry vegetables and noodles, then once the vegetables began to soften I added a dessert spoon of soy sauce and heaped dessert spoon of marmalade. It tasted delicious as good as any meal I have bought in an Asian restaurant and cost a fraction of the price
Tip: As I didn’t have any fresh chillies I took some out of the freezer, I often do the same with ginger and garlic if it needs using up I pop it in the freezer rather than throwing it away. It always comes in useful when you need it the most and saves me a drive to my local supermarket.

Bread and butter pudding with marmalade: For those people who like bread and butter pudding but don’t like raisins or sultanas you can use marmalade instead. It is great with a sprinkling of cinnamon and or nutmeg.
I also add it to my Repton pudding a recipe I’ll be sharing with you later in the year as an alternative to Christmas pudding

Click here for 60 amazing ways to use marmalade and none of them involve toast.

The ice cube tray debate continues

9/8/2017

Whilst discussing last week's blog with my colleagues at work, a big debate began on what else you can freeze in ice cube trays (besides whipped cream that can be used at a later date as an alternative to being thrown away).

One colleague told me she freezes wine to add to casseroles and sauces, she also uses it to make Sangria during the summer or Mulled wine in the winter. I thought this was a great idea as my husband is not a big red wine fan so there is often some left over after our Sunday roast.

As mentioned in other posts I am already a great fan of freezing lemon juice with ginger and mint to create a healthy refreshing drink by popping the cubes into a glass of water or a jug to share with friends on a summers afternoon!

Another colleague told me his wife freezes herbs mixed with butter or olive oil and also freezes homemade stock this way. I too make up garlic butter mixed with parsley, or butter mixed with capers to add to any fresh fish I am cooking. In the past I have made pasta sauce and frozen it in ice cube trays as when my youngest was little, he was crazy for pasta but only ate small amounts. This is very similar to the way you freeze baby food which I also did.

Pesto: I also make homemade pesto which can go brown in the fridge when exposed to the air so I pop it into ice cube trays and freeze it. Again, pesto is one of those foods where you don't always need a lot of it in one serving. It's great added to chicken breasts before covering them in tin foil and popping them in the oven.

Buying in bulk is always cheaper so when I am making a Thai curry I prepare extra chillies, onions, lemon grass, ginger and garlic mixed with either olive oil or coconut oil pop it in the freezer in ice cube trays knowing it will save me a lot of time and money the next time I make a Thai curry.

Click here for more ideas on how to use ice cube trays.

Top Tip

To save space in the freezer, once frozen empty the cubes into plastic bags.