Amandas Blog - Grub on a budget

Be brave mix it all up and see what you come up with.....

9/3/2017

My maternal grandmother was an amazing cook who taught me all I know, but she didn’t have a spice and herb rack quite like my dad’s mum. So whenever I went to stay with her I would be desperate to try out the different flavours and mix them together. I would nag my grandmother from the moment I arrived to be allowed to mix the different ingredients and see what I could come up with. She would often look horrified at what I mixed together but she always managed to nod her head and smile sweetly.

A lot of what I tried did truly taste disgusting and of course like any child I insisted everyone tasted it!! These days I am still not afraid to try new things especially if it is a case of throwing it away or trying to make something from it.

Last Friday I was sorting out my fridge before doing my weekly shop and realised I had some tomatoes, cream cheese, olives, spring onions, lemon grass and ginger that needed using up.

I chopped up the spring onions, lemon grass, green and black olives, and ginger and put them in a large saucepan with the tomatoes and cream cheese, then added a couple of tinned tomatoes from my cupboard store and some basil from the garden. Boiled them up until soft then once cool blended them with a hand blender and added some frozen cream cubes – see below hints and tips.

This type of sauce can be used as a rich soup but is also delicious on pasta, chicken, fish or beef. I usually end up freezing and using it at a later date when I have people round for dinner.

Hints and Tips
Whenever I have some double or whipping cream left over in the fridge that needs using up, I whisk it until firm then place it in an ice cube try and freeze. These frozen cream cubes can be added to sauces and soups to bind them and make them soft, creamy and silky.

Coconut Oil good for the body inside & out

8/28/2017

Coconut oil has come down in price you can now buy it at some stores for as little as £2.50 for 500g.

It is not only great and incredibly healthy to cook with I also use it mixed with some bicarbonate of soda as a face and body scrub.

I no longer have to pay over £10 for anything half decent and I have tried a few but this beats the lot! It keeps my face and body feeling moist and cleansed.

I usually use the Dr Oetker brand of bicarbonate of soda as it has slightly larger granules and makes a better scrub.
I also use a bit on my teeth after brushing to keep them white and conditioned and my breath fresh!
If your hair has dry ends pop some coconut oil on your hands and rub through the ends after washing.

I also love it for cooking it is lighter than a lot of oils and fantastic in a stir fry to add extra oriental flavours and texture to the noodles and vegetables.

Here is a long list of what you can do with coconut oil my new best friend now it has come down in price!!!

Coconut Oil Recipes

Don't be slow picking the sloes

8/19/2017

Sloes are early this year, are in abundance and ready to be picked. I know you should wait until the first frost but there won’t be any left by then so I have picked mine and popped them in the freezer. Once I have bought my gin I will get them out and defrost them. Sloes can be found in hedge rows not only in the country side but councils quite often plant them in urban areas along main roads. There are loads along the main road close to where I live.
For the Gin I buy the cheapest I can find, usually from Aldi or Asda. Sloe Gin makes great Christmas presents and taste so much better than the bought stuff which is incredibly expensive and well below par when compared to the homemade variety. The only thing you will need is a little patience whilst you wait a couple of months for the sloes to immerse into the gin.

You will need:

450g/1lb sloes
225g/8oz caster sugar
1 litre/1 ¾ pint of gin

To prepare the Sloe Gin:

Take the Sloes out of the freezer and place them in a large glass/plastic container with a lid
Before they are fully defrosted pour over the sugar and gin and shake well
Store in a cool dark place and shake every other day for a week, then once a week for the next two months
Drain the gin off and pour into sterilised bottles.

The Gin will then be a lovely dark red and ready to drink, although it does improve with age.

Spinach isn’t just for Popeye

8/13/2017

If you find it a bit bland when cooked add some grated nutmeg, or any other spices you are particularly fond of. When used as a salad, I find a bit of balsamic vinegar and olive oil sets it off perfectly, it is also great with chopped apple and/or sliced avocado.

If you read my blog about Sauerkraut and used it with some Spinach to make a salad you would be creating a really healthy and nutritious meal for the same price as a family sized packet of crisps

I used to work with a retired chef who had changed her career and moved into IT. I was always in awe of the lunches she made at home and bought into the office. Money was often tight but she always managed to eat amazing meals most restaurant goers would envy.

She was the person who introduced me to the versatility of Spinach. She explained that where possible, try and use it as a salad rather than buying lettuce. As with Spinach you can just pop it into the freezer when passed it's 'use by date'.

Not only is it great fresh out of the bag but when you need a quick vegetable to go with a hot meal you can pop it in microwave (even from frozen) and hey presto with a bit of salt and pepper a great quick and easy side dish.

Spinach is also really cheap to buy and can be added to casseroles, curries and chillies. It is one of the most versatile vegetables out there and has great nutritional value as well as being an incredible source of iron.

Sugar and Spice and all things nice

8/6/2017

I like to keep a small herb garden as it can save money and there is nothing like the smell of fresh herbs to brighten your day whilst you are hanging out the washing! I also like to grow my own chillies and peppers as they not only look pretty as plants but also have a powerful punch when added to a homemade chilli con carne.

My herb garden always contains pots of mint, lavender, rosemary, thyme, parsley and basil. I usually buy the plants from the local supermarket or garden centre transfer them to pots or boarders and water well.

Fresh herbs are not only great for cooking but they have loads of other health benefits. If I am having trouble sleeping I will put some fresh Lavender under my pillow or a few flowers in some water, leave it for a couple of hours and drink the water before going to bed – it is a great replacement for that glass of wine you sometimes need to relax you before you go off to sleep at night.

Mint is a great appetizer or palate cleanser, and it promotes digestion. It also soothes stomachs in cases of indigestion or inflammation. When you feel sick to your stomach, drinking a cup of fresh mint tea can give you relief. It also helps with fatigue and depression

Both Rosemary and Thyme are great for helping to boost memory, improve mood, reduce inflammation, relieve pain, protect the immune system and stimulate circulation. They help detoxify the body and protect it from bacterial infections, preventing premature aging, and healing skin conditions.

Basil leaves contain health benefiting essential oils such as eugenol, citronellol, linalool, citral, limonene, and terpineol. These compounds are known to have anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties.

Parsley has potent antioxidant capabilities. Its naturally occurring eugenol content may also help reduce blood glucose levels. It is incredibly rich in vitamin K as well as A, C, and several B vitamins.

Something else I am very fond of taking on a regular basis to improve my immune system and boost my general health is a blend of Turmeric, Honey and Ginger. I started taking this on a daily basis last Christmas and haven’t been ill since. Even when my whole family have come down with terrible colds and flu it hasn’t touched me.

Turmeric has incredibly health benefits due to Curcumin which is the active ingredient of turmeric. It is an anti-inflammatory molecule with anti-cancer properties. Other benefits include:

Helping to dramatically increase the antioxidant capacity of the body
Improve brain function and helps with depression
Lower the risk of heart disease

Honey contains flavonoids, antioxidants which help reduce the risk of some cancers and heart disease. It also helps reduce ulcers and other gastrointestinal disorders. All honey is said to be antibacterial, because the bees add an enzyme that makes hydrogen peroxide. It also reduces cough and throat irritation. As a child my mother insisted I have a spoonful of honey every day.

Ginger contains Gingerol, a substance with powerful medicinal properties including helping to treat nausea and muscle pain, it has anti-inflammatory properties which can also help with arthritis. It can help reduce blood sugar level and also help reduce the risk of heart disease. Gingerol, is also said to help lower the risk of infections.
For my little health elixir I mix the following together and take a spoonful each morning.

100 grams of fresh turmeric grated
50 grams of fresh ginger grated
100 grams of honey
1 tsp of black pepper (to help the absorption of the turmeric)

I blend all the ingredients together using a hand blender in a small plastic or glass bowl. Then store in the fridge in a sterile glass jar.
If the solution is too runny add some powdered turmeric to thicken it up a bit, if it is not runny enough add some more honey.
Please be warned turmeric stains anything you touch including your hands so I usually wear some plastic gloves whilst preparing this.

You can buy fresh turmeric from Sainsbury’s but not online or from Waitrose both online and in store.

Cheap and Crunchy Sauerkraut

7/30/2017

I used to eat a lot of Sauerkraut whilst working in Switzerland. It features in a lot of their salads. However it is only recently that I have come to appreciate how versatile it is. A great source of vitamins B and C, whilst the fermentation process increases, the nutrients make sauerkraut even more nutritious than the original cabbage. It is also low in calories and high in calcium and magnesium and a fantastic source of fibre. It is always best to make your own as it is much more nutritious and better value than shop bought.

If you don't fancy making it yourself, shop bought Sauerkraut is good value for money, I recently bought a 900 ml jar for a £1!!!

It is great mixed with rice or noodles to add some nutrition and as I am not a big fan of bean sprouts Sauerkraut is a great alternative. It can be used in coleslaw and across Europe it is used as a side dish for sausages, alternatively, add it to a casserole or a stir fry.

It is one of the cupboard essentials and when there is no fresh veg in the house, sauerkraut is a nutritious and healthy alternative!

It's the Summer holidays! Let's make eating cheap, fun and tasty

7/23/2017

Chopped raw vegetables and plenty of fruit
I usually have a variety of chopped raw vegetables such as carrot batons, cucumber, onions and plenty of fruit in the fridge to create vegetables for dipping into different sauces and fruit for desert and to make pre-pared smoothies

The great thing about all this pre- prepared food is that it is easy for the older children to get out of the fridge and make meals for themselves. It saves you time during the week and gives plenty of options when they all want something different. It saves you money by recreating their favourite restaurant food making eating in not only fun but also tasty and nutritious!

So the summer holidays have begun and the children all want to eat different food at different times of the day. They never like what you have prepared and they’d much prefer a McDonald’s. If like me you also work, by the middle of August you find yourself stressed, exhausted and the budget has gone out the window!!!
So for the last few years I have treated meal times over the summer holidays differently. I cook in batch and try and replicate some of my children’s favourite restaurant meals in order to save money and keep the little darlings happy.
My youngest like most children, loves pizza and pasta. He also loves eating at Subway and Nandos and the occasional treat at yes McDonalds. So every weekend I batch cook some of the following food.

Pasta
I make a large saucepan of pasta and pop it in microwaveable bowels. I make sure there is plenty of grated cheese, meatballs, cooked chicken, pasta sauce and sweet corn in the fridge. That way they the children can choose their own toppings.

Meat balls
Sausage meatballs – I either buy some sausage meat or if using sausages squeeze the sausage meat out of the skin and make small pork meat balls, cook them in the oven then when cool store them in the fridge.
Beef meatballs – Buy some minced beef sprinkle in some salt and pepper and roll into small balls dipping them into some plain flour to help them keep their shape. Again I cook them in the oven and when cool store them in the fridge.

Sausages
I cook some sausages and keep them in the fridge.
Great for quick and easy hot dogs or sausage baps similar to those bought at most café’s and coffee shops

Bacon
I make extra bacon if doing a cooked breakfast on a Sunday. Once cool I pop it in the fridge. Again great for bacon rolls or as part of a pasta bake

Chicken
Buy an extra-large chicken for Sunday lunch so there are plenty of leftovers
Great used in wraps and sandwiches as well as pizza and pasta toppings

Toasties
Earlier this year I invested in a toastie machine they were very popular in the 80’s and 90’s and a great way to get the children making their own meals and choose their own fillings. It makes the boring old sandwich a little less boring!

The New Superfood

7/16/2017

So grains and pulses are the new super food
Luckily for us they are also some of the cheapest food you can buy!!
Dried or tinned lentils, beans and pulses are incredibly cheap and what’s more, they are really good at filling you up. They go great with salads, chillies and wraps. This summer I have been using my left over Sunday lunch with some pulses and grains to make a great dinner on Monday which has continued in various forms until Wednesday.
I have also added some tomatoes, olives and avocados, sprinkled some balsamic vinegar and olive oil. If you want some extra protein, mix in some diced tuna or Salmon alternatively some diced chicken or cooked mince. Tastes delicious, keeps you fuller for longer and is as cheap as (and better for you than) chips!!!!

Tips
I have been eating this regularly for the last two weeks in preparation for my holiday and noticed that I am also losing weight as it is keeping me fuller for longer and replacing some of the carbs I’d usually be eating. Helping to save money and lose weight what could be better!!!

'I've broken the bread' creates a Summer Fruit Pudding

7/9/2017

The other Sunday I heard a lot of swearing and banging about in the kitchen. Whilst hubbie loves eating homemade food he doesn’t love cooking it. ‘The bread is broken’ I heard him shout.
‘How can you break the bread’? I ask
‘I couldn’t get it out of the bread tin and now it is in pieces all over the cooling rack’.
‘Did you grease the bread tin before you put in dough in’? I ask
‘Of course I bl**dy did’ is the response.
Not convinced I inspect the ‘broken bread’.
‘OK Summer Fruit Pudding for us this evening’ I tell him.
Having never had it before he looks both relieved and confused.
Luckily at this time of year there's plenty of fruit on special offer, we have an allotment so my freezer is spilling over with frozen raspberries, strawberries, blackberries etc.

I grease a basin with some butter (if you have any of those plastic basins you get your Christmas pudding in these are perfect), place strips of bread around the inside of the basin until all the sides are covered.
Sweeten some defrosted frozen fruits of the forest (better defrosted as there is more juice) with some sugar. Then place inside the basin and seal it with some more bread. Cover it with cling film and place in the fridge and weigh down with something heavy.

After 5 or 6 hours remove it from the fridge and turn it out on a plate using a knife to loosen it from the sides of the basin.
Sprinkle some icing sugar on top (optional) or great served with cream

Please note: As ours is homemade bread it is quite doughy, shop bought bread is more porous so the juice from the fruits will soak through and make it easier to get out of the basin.

Sponge made easy

7/2/2017

My grandmother always use to make this cake for my birthday every year, whilst still at primary school I persuaded her to teach me how to make the perfect light sponge and this year I decided to teach my youngest child.

Recipe for sponge:
6 Oz Self raising flour
6 Oz soft butter
6 Oz sugar
3 eggs

Always use the ratio of 2:1 i.e. double the amount of flour, butter and sugar to the number of eggs used for instance if you wanted to make a larger sponge you could use:
8 Oz Self raising flour
8 Oz soft butter
8 Oz sugar
4 eggs
Whisk the eggs, butter and sugar together then slowly sift in the self raising flourFor the extra light sponge now add:
1 tsp baking powder
1 desert spoon of hot water
Whisk again for another 15 seconds
Then:
Pour into two 7 inch greased round cake tins lined with grease proof paper (if you are making a larger sponge make sure the cake tins are deep enough)
Bake in the oven on 180 degrees until golden brown
To test the sponge is cooked thoroughly see if it bounces back when you press your finger on the centre
Once the cake tins are cool enough remove the sponges and place them on a wire rack until cold.
Then add whatever filling and topping you prefer