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I Heart Cookbooks. A Girl Called Jack Review

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Most of you will know that I’m a little obsessed with cookbooks. I will sit down with a cookbook and devour it as if it were a novel. My shelves are creaking slightly with the weight of my obsession.

I have books from all sorts of celebrity chefs..as well as all old classics such as the Good Housekeeping Cookery Book which is around 30yrs old and some of Mary Berrys first books. I’m going to review all of my favourite ones on here.

Quite often I will receive a book as a present and I will read it from front to back, drooling over pics and marvelling at the ideas but I may not actually cook from it for quite some time. Last week I bought a book and I had quite the opposite reaction.

Well I say I bought the book but I actually bought the Kindle version.. Which I kinda regret now. I’ve had the book about 10 days and I’ve made 4 recipes from it. One of those recipes I’ve made 4 times. So obviously I love the book. Which I didn’t expect to. I expected it to be good and for it help me create cheap meals but I didn’t really think I would love the food itself and the simplicity of the recipes.

Now of course I want to buy the paperback book as well…

Anyway..the book is A Girl Called Jack written of course by Jack Monroe the author of the blog of the same name. It boasts 100 delicious budget recipes and from what I’ve read and created so far that’s about right.

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I bought mine for the bargain £6 on Amazon but I would happily have paid double that as its worth it.

So far we have made:

The Famous 9p burger which consists of carrots,kidney beans and cumin – maybe you wouldn’t look at that combo and think yum but try it and you will certainly be surprised.

The Soda Bread – now the fact that I’ve made this 4 times in 10 days will tell you how much I like this easy peasy bread recipe. Incredibly simple and light on ingredients but delicious when fresh and lovely toasted the day after. 5 stars from me!

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The Tomato Soup – this was so popular with my toddler that she demanded seconds on the two occasions I made it. On my second attempt I made double the amount and it was equally good the next day.

The Chickpea and Peach Curry – this is incredibly good. Fruity, spicy and cheap 😀 I wasn’t sure how good it would be but I will definitely be making it again.

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It went down a storm with myself, Andrew and Izzy who loved the chunks of peach.

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Recipes I’m looking forward to trying:

Garlic, herb and lemon bread
White chocolate tea loaf
Chicken satay
Sausage and Beam Cassoulet
Diet Coke Chicken..

I could go on…..

If you are looking for a new cookbook I recommend this. If you need to save money on your meals or if you just like good food then you need this in your kitchen.

Love Your Eggs

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I didn’t used to like eggs much, I only really ever ate them in cakes and it was only when I was pregnant that I missed having them.. I know you can still eat them but having to cook them into submission didn’t really appeal.
In the last few months I have developed a real addiction to poached eggs and recently I have started trying eggs in new recipes..not just cakes!

One of my favourites is Frittata I was going to share this recipe soon as part of one of my eating on a budget blog posts but here it is sooner than planned.
The best thing about this dish is you can throw anything in, leftover boiled potatoes, peppers, meats,spinach, onions.. I could go on. Let me know if you have any special combos that you use.

This is what I used in my last frittata recipe so adapt however you like:

You will need:

1 large cazuela or pan you can use in hob or in oven
Olive oil
Chopped boiled potatoes
Chopped ham
Chopped peppers
Chopped onions
Chopped spinach
6-8 eggs beaten (dependant on size of pan)
3 or 4 tablespoons of cheese. I use pilgrims choice. Yum.

Preheat oven to 190C/fan 170C/gas 5.
Warm a little olive oil in a pan and add all ingredients apart from the eggs and cheese, sauté for 5 minutes then add your beaten eggs and cook until the mixture has set on bottom and is starting to set on top,sprinkle with your cheese and some cracked black pepper & herbs of choice and put in oven for 10-15 minutes until completely set.

When this has cooled slightly you can cut like you would a pizza or quiche and serve with a nice big salad for a healthy, budget friendly lunch. This is also great chilled and taken on picnics.

Another eggcelent (sorry I had to put it in somewhere) recipe I have recently made is spaghetti carbonara.

You will need:

1 large saucepan and 1 frying pan or cazuela
Olive oil
250g bacon, diced or roughly chopped ( I used lardons)
300mL single cream
3 tablespoons Parmesan cheese ( I have substituted other cheeses and its just as good)
3 egg yolks
Salt and pepper, to taste
350g spaghetti or tagliatelle ( I used Lidl egg spaghetti last time and it was tremendous)
Seasoning

Start to cook your pasta by the packet instructions whilst frying your bacon in a little olive oil until golden, add your cream and cheese and remove from heat to stir through. Return to heat for 2 mins before adding your egg yolks and again removing from heat to stir through.
Remove from heat, drain pasta and combine. Serve immediately with fresh grated Parmesan and black pepper.

Its so good.. This serves 2 with leftovers.

After the carbonara recipe I had 3 egg whites leftover which I didn’t want to waste so I made a quick Baileys chocolate mousse which I’d never made before but it worked really well. I adapted this from a weight watchers recipe and simple to make but very tasty.

You will need:

1 microwaveable bowl and 1 mixing bowl
Electric whisk
100g of good quality dark chocolate (70% cocoa)
3 egg whites
2 tsp of Baileys

Break your chocolate into pieces and melt in the microwave I do in 30 second bursts to make sure it doesn’t burn. Leave your chocolate to cool slightly and whisk your eggs until stiff ( the peaks should stay up when you pull the whisk out). Put a tablespoon of the egg whites into the chocolate to loosen and mix well. Gradually mix the rest of the whites in, not too fast as you lose too much air. Once it’s all mixed in add your baileys, mix once more and spoon into 4 ramekins or glasses. Refrigerate until set, mine took an hour or so to set but I left them there until the following day.

These taste so scrumptiously naughty it’s hard to believe its a low fat recipe. One is more than enough to satisfy a sweet tooth and you don’t feel overly full afterwards.

If any of you have any more egg recipes to share please do!

This should go without saying but please only use free range 😀

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Lazy leftover pasta

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Sometimes it gets to that point in the week when I should really have done my weekly shop but for one reason or another I haven’t got around to it so I scrabble around in the fridge and cupboards to pull together a meal – usually pasta.

My leftover pasta dishes are very adaptable, I make a different version most weeks but this weeks was super tasty so thought I would share it with you:

Lazy Leftover Pasta

You will need:

2 sausages ( cooked and chopped or roughly chopped and cooked from raw)
1/4 of a large courgette cubed
4 shallots diced
3 overripe tomatoes chopped roughly
1-2 garlic cloves diced
1/2 teaspoon of dried chilli flakes or half a fresh red chilli diced
Crushed black peppercorns
Fresh herbs ( I used basil as needed to use it up but any you have or dried would be fine)
150ml of single cream ( to make a healthier version swap with tin of chopped tomatoes)
Olive oil
Leftover cheese (whatever you have – I had cheddar)
300g pasta ( anything you have – I used twists)

* You could add in peppers/vegetables but I only used what as in my fridge or you could use chorizo instead of sausage – I had run out and needed to use up my sausage.

Put your pasta on to cook according to packet instructions.
Fry your chopped sausages with a little olive oil over a medium heat along with your onions and garlic, when browned add your courgette,tomatoes and herbs as well as chilli flakes and pepper. Slowly cook over a medium heat until meat is cooked and everything else has softened. Reduce the heat and add your cream. Within a few seconds your cream will turn a light pinky colour. Drain your pasta and add to your pan stirring well.

Serve immediately topped with a little grated cheese and I also threw on some (slightly limp)rocket and a little more pepper. Yum.

It was delicious, slightly naughty and indulgent due to the cream and with a kick from the chilli flakes.

This served two very hungry adults ( one pregnant) and with leftovers for my OH to take to work. If you were making for children you may want to leave out the chilli flakes or reduce slightly depending on their taste buds.

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Link up your recipe of the week

Cheese and Potato Bake

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After a few days away last week I returned home to a sack of potatoes which I really needed to use up and it just so happens I’ve had such a craving for cheese and potato pie. I really didn’t fancy the fuss of making pastry tonight and also I am currently on strict orders to take it easy so I made something quick and simple which my mum made a lot when I was growing up – cheese and potato bake. I adapted it from the basic recipe my mum passed on and it was delicious.

Cheese and Potato Bake

8/9 medium sized potatoes (peeled and diced)
1 red onion (diced)
200g mature cheddar (grated)
75ml of milk
25ml of single cream
1tsp of crushed peppercorns
2 tbsp of butter
1tbsp of herbs (your choice – I used rosemary & thyme)

Preheat your oven to gas mark 4.
Put your potatoes in a pan of boiling water and simmer for 15-20 minutes until cooked through and drain.
Sauté your onions in a tbsp of butter until soft. Heat your milk in a small pan or microwave and add to your potatoes, butter, pepper and cream and mash thoroughly. Mix in your onions and 150g of cheddar along with your herbs and spoon it in to a cazuela or large ovenproof dish, top with remaining grated cheese, some sliced tomato and a few basil leaves for decoration and bake for 25-30 minutes.

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Cheese and Potato Bake

This was a really comforting, tasty meal. Fairly cheap to make and really quick and easy.

I served this with tinned chopped tomatoes and bacon – yum.

This fed 1 hungry pregnant lady, 1 hungry 6ft man and 1 hungry energetic toddler with a chunk leftover for someone’s (mine) lunch tomorrow.

Izzy enjoyed 🙂

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Let me know if you try it 😉

How to spend less – part 4. Cheat.

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By cheat I don’t mean steal. I mean there are many easy ways you can legitimately spend less on items you want/need. I’ll explain about a few of the ways we save money everyday:

1. Supermarket reward points – take advantage of these. There is no point in shopping in Tescos or Sainburys without signing up for a clubcard/nectar card. You get points without doing anything other than swiping your card at the till. With a nectar card you can even collect points via eBay, homebase and about a hundred other online stores. You can spend Nectar points in a lot of places such as Argos, Vue, Bella Italia or even easyjet so your points could be paying towards your next holiday. I’m not as clued up on clubcard points as some people but we do collect them and use them normally when we need to make a big purchase.

2. Price guarantee – both Asda and Sainsburys do a price guarantee. Asda give you a code on your receipt for you to check online, if there is a price difference you get a voucher off your next shop. Sainsburys simple give you a coupon at the till if you could have saved elsewhere. Bargain.

3. Find the secret spots. All stores have them and if you are thorough in your first few shops at your local supermarket you will find them. Always remember to check. I’m not talking about the short date reduced to clear sections although these are also great. Let me explain in our local Asda ( I’m not telling you which one) there is a section where there are always reduced goods normally with between 6months to a year left on the use by date. I was told that these products are usually end of line goods or simply a change of packaging by the manufacturer means they will no longer be able to sell it. I cannot tell you how many bargains I have found in this section. I have had boxes of Hershey’s cocoa powder ( amazing in cupcakes/ chocolate icing or just hot cocoa) for around 50p (rrp £3) jars of Gefen BBQ sauce for the same price (rrp £2.50) stir fry sauces for 10p etc. There are often ciders/wines etc too. These sections are never displayed prominently not do they have big yellow stickers but they are always there. Look.

4. Use your apps.

Voucher cloud – if you are out shopping or looking for somewhere to have lunch you will more than likely find a suitable voucher on this app. Just recently we had £10 off a meal for two in Chiquitos. You simply click on the voucher and show the code. It uses your location details to find the best local deals so make sure you have location services turned on.

Groupon – ok this is maybe not one for every day use but definitely worth checking out. We have purchased driving lessons, solar lights and meals using this app and all have saved us at least 50% off the actual price.

Priority moments – this is specific to O2 but its a huge selling point if you are looking to change networks. There are discounts and freebies listed every day on this app, ranging from a free coffee or chocolate orange to free cinema tickets as well as hugely discounted public transport ( £1 for an all day ticket in my area as opposed to £4.20) The freebies can be slightly random – a large bag of free Halloween Haribo sweets from Accesorize?! But heck it’s free. In December alone I used my app to get reduced entrance (45% off) at Odeon, at least 3 all day tickets with Firstbus, a free Chocolate Orange, 20% off at Debenhams and probably more. There was an advent calendar leading up to Christmas with something different every day. I really hope this is here to stay.

If you know of any more money saving apps please let me know.

5. If you aren’t fussy about having something second hand ( depending on what the item is of course and sometimes they are in fact new) it’s always worth checking eBay or your local Gumtree. We bought a gorgeous mamas & papas changing unit before Izzy was born which would have cost over £600 brand new for just £70 and it was in impeccable condition. We would have never have paid £600 for one. Ebay can be fun too just make sure you don’t get too carried away with the bargains you can find on there. We recently bought a Tommee Tippee sensor monitor which if new would have cost around £90 and we had it for just £20 in great condition. If using eBay always make sure you use PayPal for added protection, we found the customer service to be great when having a dispute over another monitor we purchased which was quickly resolved.

6.Money Saving Expert- If you aren’t already signed up to the mailing list of this pretty marvellous website then do it. You only get one email per week and its normally full of great bargains. There are a lot of great sections on the MSE website but my favourite part is the Forum. I don’t tend to post on it ( rather unfair of me) but I check the Grabbit forum most days and there are superb bargains to be had. Again the key is to not buy things you don’t actually need as this defeats the object. About 6/7 months ago there was a thread/discussion on the forum about a major clear out one big supermarket was having, it seemed they were clearing a lot of their lines of stock but not showing the reductions very clearly. Some of the regular posters had meticulously listed every reduced item in store which helped the rest of us thrifty ones massively. I went shopping with my sister and between us we found most of the items and they were huge bargains such as bottles of olive oil for 40p or bags of dried garlic & basil linguine for 20p etc. I have only just run out of oil and pasta after all this time and probably only about £10 spent. It’s worth checking the forum when you get a spare few minutes.

7. Discount/Promo codes – everytime you go to purchase something online firstly run a google search to see if there is a code. Simply type in Topshop (for example) discount code and more often than not you will get something, be it free delivery or 10% off. Be wary of the ones that are £5 off if you spend £50 etc.. If you were only planning to spend £20 this is not really money saving.

8. Avoid travel agents – sorry if you are a travel agent but it is so overpriced. I am at my worst for bargain hunting when it comes to holidays. My holidays are precious to me as I’m sure they are to everyone so I want them to be the absolute best I can get for the money I spend. I have used various websites over the years but most recently I have found that LowCost holidays tend to come out on top – plus there is always a discount code to be found meaning bigger savings. Always trip advisor your hotel before you book as the most expensive ones are not always the best rated.
I also use Homelidays for searching for house/villa rentals.Airport car parking can be super expensive but a quick search online will find you some great alternatives normally within a few minute drive and they will drop you off and pick up at the airport. If going from Bristol airport I recommend Goblin Combe Farm.

A gorgeous house we stayed at in France 2012:

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9. Change your tv/broadband provider every time the contract expires. I always do this and it means I get the newest, up to date equipment and normally a voucher for M&S or similar for signing up. Also if your provider increases their charges mid contract you are normally able to cancel without any termination fee. Check your terms and conditions for more details.

10. BzzAgent – there are probably more than a few different types of review services out there but I am a bzzagent. You don’t have to write about it on your blog or write sponsored posts, it’s a simple procedure where you complete surveys occasionally ( very short and not very often) to determine what kind of consumer you are and then you will be invited to join campaigns. So far I have had free products from Tesco bakery, Toni & Guy and Dove colour radiance and all they ask if you for to create Bzz by talking to friends/family about the products, normally you have money off vouchers to share with them too. I have enjoyed being a part of it this year and it costs nothing to sign up so worth considering.

You probably think I’m a lot more frugal than I actuallynam but I really do like to get something for less. Don’t we all?

I would really love to hear about your money saving tips? Perhaps comment and I will share them in a future post.

Meal planning week 2

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A few blogs that I follow in America post a weekly meal plan, I always find it interesting to see what others are eating and I pick up a lot of good ideas as well as the idea for having a meal planning blackboard. I’ve decided to try posting mine weekly and hope some of you will join in perhaps commenting or even writing your own post. If you can link to any favourite recipes even better!

So here is this weeks plan:

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Monday Spaghetti aglio olio ( recipe here )
Tuesday Thai green curry ( this is a new creation including peanut butter – recipe to follow)
Wednesday Pulled pork ( recipe here )
Thursday Fishcakes with sweet chilli sauce
Friday Beef stew ( slowcooker stew – recipe to follow)
Saturday Fajitas ( Jamie Oliver style)
Sunday we are at a food festival so whatever treasures I find I will cook!

I’d love to hear what you are all eating this week or your thoughts/tips on meal planning.

Loving your leftovers

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Every time I make Spaghetti Bolognese I make too much sauce, sometimes it’s unintentional but mostly not as I do plan to freeze it etc etc. The only problem is that my plan goes awry most of the time and I end up wasting more than I use as I forget it dwindling away in the freezer or worse I forget to freeze it at all. I have now started to use up my leftover sauce a day or two after I make it but rather than have another Spag Bol I make a tasty bolognese bake. I got the idea for this from Izzys grandfather who makes something similar but I’ve created my own somewhere along the line.

I’m sure you all have a favourite Bolognese recipe but here is mine which I have made with some additions or substitutions for years now:

Beckys Bolognese

Minced beef- of a decent quality is best as you can taste the difference
1 onion – diced
Passata
Tomato purée
3 or 4 garlic cloves minced or diced
Fresh chopped tomatoes ( I like cherry tomatoes on the vine )
Aunt Bessie’s finely chopped frozen veg
Olive oil
Fresh herbs ( think oregano, basil, rosemary, sage, thyme ) chopped. Dried is fine but fresh makes it special.
Seasoning ( seasalt and freshly ground black pepper)

Sauté your onions in the olive oil before adding your mince until browned then I literally add everything and cook for as long as I want.. The longer the better. I use the frozen mixed veg purely out of laziness but it really is great as it includes carrots, celery, onion and leeks which are all things I like in my sauce anyway. I haven’t included quantities as I never measure when making this which is probably why I always make too much!

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If I have them I also like to throw in some sliced red and green peppers.

Serve with spaghetti.

**Special tip – to give your dish something extra whiz up some breadcrumbs mixed with herbs in a food processor and lightly toast in a pan with some olive oil and crushed garlic. When you have dished out sprinkle some breadcrumbs and parmesan over your dish. So good.**

And so onto my bolognese bake:

A day or two after I make my bolognese I use the leftover sauce to make a special pasta bake.

You will need:

A bag of pasta ( I tend to use penne for this)
50g plain flour
50g Butter
1 pint of Milk
175g Cheese
1/2-1tsp Mustard
Leftover Bolognese sauce
Seasoning

Cook your pasta as per packet instructions whilst slowly reheating your bolognese in a large ovenproof pan or cazuela, during this time make up a basic white sauce. To do this create a roux with your plain flour and butter then add your milk and whisk until smooth, let your sauce boil stirring continuously and then add 100g of grated cheese, seasoning and mustard. When cooked, drain your pasta and stir into your bolognese sauce. Top with your cheese sauce and sprinkle with grated cheese and season.

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Place in a hot oven for 20-25 minutes until golden and bubbling.

This tastes better than the original spaghetti bolognese. The flavours in the sauce have really come together and the cheese sauce on top is divine. It’s a cheats lasagne I guess and definitely good for those on a budget as you should have everything in your cupboard or fridge already.

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I serve this with a simple salad.

I love to hear your comments and I love it even more when you have tried a recipe out for yourself 🙂

* This post is part of the #FaveFamilyRecipes Competition with BritMums and Tilda Rice. Every pack sold will provide a meal to an expectant mum in Bangladesh.

Eating On A Smaller Budget

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Now that I am into my last 5 months of my year long maternity leave my pay has drastically reduced (aaargghhh) which means no (well less) luxuries and trying to keep to a shopping budget. I really love cooking so having less or cheaper ingredients to work with is not going to stop me. Here are a few tips on what to buy and eat on a smaller budget:

1. Firstly I changed the way I shop. Rather than buying everything at my local Asda or Sainsburys store I looked around and found the best places to buy certain products. I now try to buy all my fruit and vegetables in Lidl – there is a lot of snobbery about places like Lidl but I have found their produce to be better than any of the three major supermarkets. I buy most of my tinned/packaged goods at Asda and I try to buy my meat in Sainsburys as the quality there is the best and they do the same 3for £10 deal as their competitors. Sainsburys is no longer the expensive supermarket in my opinion,in fact they have fantastic offers and I get nectar points so it’s all good!
I also buy frozen vegetables from my local farmfoods store as well as my milk as they are the only shop in my area which sells 1%milk which is so much tastier than skimmed but healthier than semi. Finally I buy my herbs, peppercorns etc from a fruit&veg shop in my local market as she has the greatest variety for a very good price.

2. I buy a LOT more beans ( not baked) Mainly butter beans and chick peas which are so versatile and tasty. I will share some of these recipes further along.

3. I buy a lot of items on offer and freeze them.

4. I try to meal plan as much as possible. When I started doing this I didn’t like the idea of having to eat a certain meal on certain days so now I choose 7 or 8 meals and write them on my white board on my fridge then just pick which one I feel like.

5. I bake less. I love it so much 🙁 but I still do it around once a week so it’s not so bad.
Also helping my waistline I think.

6. I buy large packs of pasta, rice and lentils. They seem to last forever and the cost per meal is very low.

7. I make my own dips and sauces. I make my own hummus, sweet chilli sauce and various others. Buying a big pot of hellmans light mayo and making my own thousand island, curried mayo etc saves me a fortune and is extremely simple- also mayo lasts around a month refrigerated whereas the shelf life of a shop bought dip is 3-5 days.

8. I buy good quality ingredients to accompany cheaper ingredients. So buying cheap pasta is fine but some products well you need to spend a little more. I buy extra special Chorizo which costs more than others but it’s fantastic and I use it down to the last tiny piece as it is so versatile. This month I have used it in paella,frittata,carbonara and @mycuntrymanor special eggs to name just a few. I also buy a decent olive oil as it makes a big difference.

9. I replace chicken breasts with thighs for as many dishes as possible. I buy the skinless, boneless ones and they still work out cheaper. Thighs are tastier and freeze well.

10. Try not to shop when hungry. I am automatically driven to the confectionary/bakery aisles if I’m hungry so I avoid if possible.

11. I don’t waste as much. Love your leftovers is the slogan for one of Sainsburys campaigns. Leftover cooked potatoes go in my frittata as do peppers, any veggies or meats. Bolognese sauce goes in the freezer to make up lasagnes or a pasta bake. Chicken left from a roast can make a curry or a simple sandwich. Stale bread gets thrown in the food processor and mixed with garlic powder to freeze ready for homemade coated chicken or for recipe below.

Butter bean recipes:

Creamy butter beans with a crispy topping

You will need:

1 small saucepan & 1 baking dish or a cazuela to use both on hob and in grill.
2 x 400g cans butter beans , drained and rinsed
100g light soft cheese (garlic and herb one if possible, if not add garlic&herbs of choice)
2 tbsp snipped chives
4 tbsp breadcrumbs
1 tsp olive oil

Heat the butter beans in a small pan for 3-4 mins. Remove a quarter of them to a bowl and mash with a fork until smooth and creamy. Stir back into the rest of the beans in the pan with the soft cheese and chives, then heat for a few mins more until warmed through.
Transfer to a small baking dish and sprinkle with breadcrumbs. Drizzle over oil and flash under a hot grill for 1-2 mins until the crumbs are crunchy and golden.

Griddled butter beans (side dish)

You will need:

1 griddle pan or cazuela
1 tin of butter beans (usually 400g) drained
1 tbls Olive oil
2 Garlic cloves or equivalent purée/paste

Bring pan with olive oil slowly up to a medium heat and add garlic stirring ensuring it does not burn, add butter beans and cook until lightly bronzed.

* This is a simple dish but you can add many things to make it a bit more special. I’ve added asparagus, bacon and peppers previously and all worked well.

Jamie Olivers butter beans with Bacon ( from 30 minute meals)

You will need:

1 griddle pan or cazuela
50g Bacon ( sometimes I use chorizo)
2 tomatoes
1 x 400g tin of butter beans and liquid
olive oil
Splash of red wine vinegar
2 or 3 sprigs of fresh basil, leaves picked

Heat your pan over a medium to high heat and fry the bacon in olive oil.
Chop your tomatoes roughly into cubes.
Once the bacon has started to brown you can add the tomatoes to the pan, followed by the butter beans including the liquid from the tin.
Let the mixture simmer on the same medium to high heat until all the liquid has dissolved and the tomatoes have broken down, stirring it from time to time so it doesn’t stick to your pan.
Chop up your basil and add to the butter beans once the liquid has dissolved. Add a bit of olive oil, about a tablespoon of red wine vinegar, and season.

*This is so good. So so good.

Hope you enjoy, please share your tips/recipes.

Griddled butter beans with asparagus, served with sweet potato mash and fish cakes.

eating on a smaller budget