Our Family Meal Plan for week of 29/01/18 - £60

Our week this week is a very busy one.  Monday and Tuesday nights we'll all be eating at different times, and the same on Wednesday and Friday.  This means the slow cooker will be very useful, dinner cooks itself with very little faffing, and as it's great for keeping food warm until we need it.  

Breakfasts this week will be toast with spread, or porridge/overnight oats and fruit for afters.  Our weekend breakfasts will include crumpets one morning and pancakes the next.

Packed lunches will be falafel wraps with fruit, and a small baked treat.  I'll make the wraps/flatbreads over the weekend then freeze half for later in the week.  After school snacks will be popcorn and small portions of rice pudding.  

Weekend lunches will be Spicy Roast Sweet Potato and Carrot Soup on Saturday, and Spicy Vegetable 'Noodle' Soup on Sunday.  We'll have homemade bread rolls with the soup both days.

Dinners

I'll be using the dinners from this Meal Plan which we used at roughly the same time last year.  It will be a vegetarian week for us this week, which will help us use up some store cupboard items, and it's always good to have a completely meat-free week occasionally. 

The dinners will be:

Slow Cooker Butternut Squash Dhal (Vegan)

Slow Cooker Vegetable and Bean Chilli

Slow Cooker Veggie Bolognese (Vegan)

Slow Cooker Root Vegetable Hotpot (Vegan)

Bean Burgers with Coleslaw and Potato Wedges (Vegetarian)

Macaroni Cheese

Mixed Vegetable Crustless Quiche with Coleslaw and Potato Wedges

Shopping List

42 items: £60.37

Tins, Jars and Cooking

3x   ASDA Smartprice Chopped Tomatoes (400g)                       87p

2x   ASDA Chilli Beans in Chilli Sauce (290g)                              80p

1x   ASDA Smartprice Mayonnaise (500g)                                  40p

1x   ASDA Smartprice Strawberry Jam (454g)                             28p

7x   ASDA Chick Peas in Water (400g)                                       £2.31

1x   Napolina Double Concentrate Tomato Puree (200g)              75p

1x   ASDA Stock Cubes - Vegetable (12x10g)                             39p

2x   ASDA Mixed Bean Salad (290g)                                           80p

1x   Sun-Pat Crunchy Peanut Butter No Added Sugar (454g)       £2.00

Dairy and Eggs

5x   ASDA British Whole Milk 4 Pints (2.27L)                              £5.45

1x   ASDA Free Range Large Eggs (12)                                     £1.85

3x   ASDA Smartprice Low Fat Natural Yogurt (500g)                  £1.35

1x   ASDA Smartprice Mature White Cheddar (830g)                   £3.69

Packets and Cereals

1x   ASDA Strong White Bread Flour (1.5Kg)                              69p

1x   ASDA Wholemeal Bread Flour (1.5Kg)                                 69p

1x   ASDA Easy Bake Yeast (6 per pack - 42g)                           59p

1x   ASDA Wholewheat Penne (500g)                                         55p

1x   ASDA Dried Red Lentils (500g)                                            75p

1x   ASDA Scottish Porridge Oats (1Kg)                                     99p

Fruit and Vegetables

3x   ASDA Kids Bananas (8)                                                       £3.45

1     ASDA Grower's Selection Red Cabbage by Weight (1.3Kg)   85p

1x   ASDA Grower's Selection Salad Tomatoes (750g)                £1.15

2x   ASDA Grower's Selection Carrots (1Kg)                               £1.00

1     ASDA Grower's Selection Butternut Squash (1.2Kg)             90p

2x   ASDA Grower's Selection Whole Cucumber                          £1.10

1x   ASDA Grower's Selection Celery                                          55p

1x   ASDA Grower's Selection Garlic (3)                                     60p

2x   ASDA Grower's Selection Sweet Potatoes (1Kg)                   £2.00

1x   ASDA Grower's Selection Ginger (125g)                              50p

2x   ASDA Grower's Selection Apples (1.2Kg)                             £3.00

4x   ASDA Farm Stores Pears (500g)                                         £2.80

1x   ASDA Grower's Selection British Parsnips (500g)                 65p

1x   ASDA Grower's Selection Vegetable Stir Fry (650g)             £1.50

1x   ASDA Grower's Selection Extra Trimmed Leeks (550g)        £1.00

1x   ASDA Farm Stores Brown Onions (1Kg)                               59p

1x   ASDA Farm Stores White Potatoes (2.5Kg)                          £1.15

4x   ASDA Farm Stores Plums (400g)                                         £2.00

3x   ASDA Farm Stores Round Lettuce                                       £1.20

2x   ASDA Farm Stores Mixed Peppers (3)                                 £1.98

1     ASDA Grower's Selection White Cabbage by Weight (1Kg)   65p

2x   ASDA Grower's Selection Sweetclems (1.2Kg)                     £3.80

Frozen

1x   ASDA Frozen for Freshness Berry Medley (1Kg)                  £2.75

Prices and special offers reflect those of the online grocery website My Supermarket, and are correct as of 28th January 2018.  Prices may vary in different in-store locations.

We shopped via Asda online for our groceries, had we purchased our items elsewhere our shopping would've cost:

£68.81 from Morrisons

£74.46 from Tesco

£74.51 from Sainsbury's

My lovely blogging buddy Ciara from My Fussy Eater has created a fab Meal Planning Facebook Group so we can inspire each other.

And Katykicker, and Naomi from The Organised Life Project have a Meal Planning Linky full of fabulous Meal Planning posts with lots of tasty ideas.

2 comments Breakfast, Dairy free, Dinners, Lunches, Meal Plan, Meatfree Monday, Slow Cooker, Soup, Vegan, Vegetarian

Speed Baking - Sweet Muffins

I bake a lot from scratch, and try to fit in baking batches of goodies around a busy family life.  Muffins are a favourite quick bake of mine because they're great for using up fruit, and sometimes vegetables, that are past their best.  I know my basic recipe off by heart, and can almost bake them in my sleep.  I'm so knackered sometimes it's almost like baking in my sleep. Not that I recommend baking when really tired, safety first chaps. 

My top tip is: Have an easy recipe that you know works well and bake it often. 

Coat warm muffins in melted butter then roll in cinnamon sugar

Handy hints

Always preheat your oven before you start gathering ingredients and making the muffins.

Measure out the ingredients accurately, either with measuring cups or scales.

Don't over-mix or beat the batter, this will result in heavy and tough muffins.

Once your mixture is in the tin, get it in the oven quickly.  Don't leave it hanging around or the muffins won't rise well.

Don't over-bake muffins as they will become dry. It's better to check them and put them in for a few minutes more than to over cook them to start with.

Muffins are best eaten on the day they're made, but will keep in an airtight container for a day or two.  You can freeze muffins easily, just thaw at room temperature for an hour or two before eating.

Split plain muffins in half, full and top them with cream or buttercream

Basic Sweet Muffin Recipe

280g/2 1/3 cups plain flour

1 Tblsp/3 tsp baking powder

110g/½ cup sugar

2 free range eggs

250ml/1 cup milk, can be non-dairy milk

90ml/6 Tblsp oil or 85g/ 1/3 cup butter, melted

Preheat your oven to 200C/180C Fan/Gas Mark 6.  

Line muffin trays with paper cases or grease the holes of a 12 hole muffin tin.  

Sift the flour and baking powder into a bowl then stir through the sugar until combined.

In a separate bowl or jug combine the wet ingredients.  Beat together the eggs, milk, and oil or melted butter until combined.

Make a well in the dry ingredients and pour in the wet ingredients.  Mix gently until just combined, don't beat the mixture.

Spoon the mixture evenly into your prepared muffin cases or tray and bake in the preheated oven for about 20 minutes.  The muffins should be well risen golden and firm to the touch.  A skewer inserted in to the centre should come our free from crumbs.

Leave the muffins to cool in the tin for 5 minutes then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Muffins are perfect for using up fruit, or for a fruity teatime treat

Additional flavourings

Spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, ground ginger are great - experiment to find your favourite combinations.

Citrus zest adds a delicious zing to muffins, 

Diced fresh fruit works well, as do berries and dried fruit such as raisins, dried apricots, cranberries.

When adding fresh fruit, it’s best to toss the diced fruit or whole berries in the dry ingredients, this helps stop the fruit from sinking when the muffins are baking.  It’s also important to mix very carefully if you’re adding delicate fruit (like raspberries), or they’ll break down a lot during mixing and turn your batter pink.

You can also add chocolate chips, chopped nuts, grated vegetables such as carrot or sweet potato.  If you're using courgette it pays to squeeze as much moisture out of it as you can because it can sometimes make muffins soggy.

Basic Chocolate Fudge Muffins

225g plain flour 1 3/4 cups plain flour

55g/½ cup cocoa powder

1 Tblsp baking powder

110g sugar/½ cup sugar

2 medium eggs

200g natural yoghurt, or non-dairy substitute

90ml/6 Tblsp oil or 85g/ 1/3 cup butter, melted and cooled

45ml/3 Tblsp golden syrup

Preheat your oven to 200C/180C Fan/Gas Mark 6.  

Line muffin trays with paper cases or grease the holes of a 12 hole muffin tin.  

Sift the flour, baking powder, and cocoa powder into a bowl then stir through the sugar until combined.

In a separate bowl or jug combine the wet ingredients.  Beat together the eggs, soured cream, oil or cooled melted butter, and golden syrup until combined.

Make a well in the dry ingredients and pour in the wet ingredients.  Mix gently until just combined, don't beat the mixture.

Spoon the mixture evenly into your prepared muffin cases or tray and bake in the preheated oven for about 20 minutes.  The muffins should be well risen golden and firm to the touch.  A skewer inserted in to the centre should come our free from crumbs.

Leave the muffins to cool in the tin for 5 minutes then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Who can resist a chocolate muffin?

2 comments Basics, Dairy free, Muffins, Snack, Snacks

OUR FAMILY MEAL PLAN FOR WEEK OF 22/01/2018 - £66

I need a low fuss Meal Plan this week as I'm completely knackered. Our 3yo was poorly late last week and all weekend, and now I've got yet another cold.  Thankfully everyone else seems in fine health, touch wood.  

We've got the usual busyness and activities, not sure if 3yo will be at Nursery every morning this week, he only attended 3 days last week as he was poorly.  I've got rather a lot of work to do around the house, and blogging work too, so hopefully he'll be well enough for me to have my 3 child-free hours each morning.

As I type there's a batch of Simmered Mince bubbling away in the slow cooker for 3 days worth of dinners this week.  I shall turn it into three different dinners to help get ahead, and save my energy.  

Breakfasts will be Weetabix with fruit compote, or Breakfast Muffins with yoghurt and fruit compote on the two very early mornings my middle two have midweek.  I'll be using up oats from last week in the Breakfast Muffins.  We'll have pancakes one day on the weekend and probably crumpets on the second day.

Packed lunches will be Calzone with crudites and fruit. I'll make a double batch of Calzone and freeze half for later in the week.  My lunches will be Root Vegetable and Lentil Dhal with homemade flatbreads, 3yo will either have what I am having or the packed lunch Calzone and crudites. The Dhal will help me use up Balti curry paste leftover from last week.

Weekend lunches will be Cheese and Vegetable Puffs on one day, and Red Lentil Bake served with a poached egg and steamed broccoli.

Dinners

Vegetable Stew with Dumplings

2 Tblsp oil25g butter
1 large onion, peeled and diced
2 potatoes, peeled and diced
1 parsnip, peeled and diced
2 large carrots carrots, peeled and diced
1 swede, peeled and diced
2 leeks, finely sliced
2 garlic cloves, crushed
4 sprigs of fresh thyme or 1 tsp dried
1 tsp mustard
2 Tblsp plain flour
1 heaped tsp vegemite (optional)
500ml vegetable stock
400g tin haricot or butter beans, drained and rinsed
salt and pepper

Dumplings:
250g plain flour
2 tsp baking powder
125g butter, diced
2 tsp diced mixed herbs
salt and pepper

Preheat your oven to 180C/Gas Mark 4.

Put the oil and butter in a large flameproof casserole dish over a moderate heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring, for couple of minutes. Add the potatoes, parsnip, carrot, Swede and leeks. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring, over a moderate heat until the vegetables start to turn golden and soften slightly. Reduce the heat slightly and ad the garlic, thyme and mustard. Add the flour and cook for a couple of minutes, ensure the vegetables are well coated in the flour. Add the vegetmite, stock and tinned pulses.

Bring the mixture to the boil, cover with a lid then put in the preheated oven. Bake for 40 - 50 miutes. Whilst the stew is cooking prepare the dumplings. Rub the butter into the flour until it resembles breadcrumbs. stir in the herbs and a little salt and pepper. Add a 1 or 2 tablespoons of water, just enough to form a stiff dough.

Divide the dough into walnut sized balls, cover with clingfilm and chill in the fridge until ready to use. When the stew has baked for 40 - 50 minutes in the oven, remove from the oven and add the dumplings. Ensure the dumplings are partially submerged in the stew. Cover the pot with a lid and cook on the stove top/hob, over a moderate heat, for around 20 minutes until the dumplings have risen and are golden on top. I usually serve this stew with steamed broccoli.

Baked Potatoes topped with simmered mince, served with steamed broccoli.

Chilli Con Carne, served with rice and mixed vegetables

Rice and Vegetable Bake

200g cooked white or brown rice

1 onion, finely diced

1 pepper, deseeded and finely diced

1 chilli, deseeded and finely diced (optional)

300g frozen mixed vegetables, cooked and cooled to room temperature

200g strong mature cheddar cheese, grated

6 free range eggs, lightly beaten

200g plain natural yoghurt

lots of freshly ground black pepper or a pinch or two of cayenne

Grease and line 23cm square cake tin. Preheat your oven to 190C/170C Fan.

Put the rice cooked rice in a large bowl with all the vegetables and mix well. Mix together the eggs, 3/4 of the cheese and yoghurt, pour over the vegetables and rice in the bowl then thoroughly mix until combined. Season well with lots of black pepper. Spoon the mixture into your prepared cake tin, sprinkle the leftover cheese on top, then bake for 40 minutes until the top is lightly golden and there is no wobble of the bake if you gently jiggle the tin. I'll be serving this with sweet potato wedges and steamed greens.

Homemade Pizzas 

Cottage Pie

Quick and Easy Butternut Squash and Lentil Curry

1 Tblsp oil

1 Tblsp curry paste, I used Balti curry paste leftover from last week

2 cloves garlic, crushed

500g butternut squash or sweet potato, cut into 1 inch chunks

400g can chopped tomatoes

400g can lentils, drained and rinsed

400g frozen mixed vegetables

fresh coriander, to serve

Heat oil in a large saucepan. Add curry paste and garlic and cook for a couple of minutes until the curry paste is fragrant. Stir in the butternut squash and/or sweet potato and tin of chopped tomatoes. Using the can of chopped tomatoes as a measure, add half a can of water to the saucepan. Stir to combine everything then cover and simmer for 10 minutes or until the butternut squash and/or sweet potato are almost soft. Add a little more water if needed. Add the drained and rinsed lentils, and frozen vegetables then cook for a further 5 - 10 minutes minutes. Spoon into bowls, sprinkle with fresh coriander and serve accompanied by homemade Vegetable Naan Bread and cooked rice.

Shopping List

45 items: £66.39 purchased from Asda

Packets and Cereals

3x   ASDA Smartprice Wheat Bisks (24x18g)                              £2.07

1x   ASDA Strong White Bread Flour (1.5Kg)                              75p

1x   Allinson Wholemeal Plain Flour (1Kg)                                   £1.75

1x   ASDA Smartprice Long Grain Rice (1Kg)                             45p

1x   ASDA Easy Bake Yeast (6 per pack - 42g)                           59p

1x   ASDA Dried Red Lentils (500g)                                            75p

1x   ASDA Scottish Porridge Oats (1Kg)                                     £1.20

Frozen

1x   ASDA Smartprice Mixed Vegetables (1Kg)                           82p

1x   ASDA Meat Free Mince (454g)                                             £1.50

1x   ASDA Frozen for Freshness Broccoli Florets (1Kg)               95p

1x   ASDA Scratch Cook Sliced Mixed Peppers (600g)                £1.00

1x   ASDA Frozen for Freshness Berry Medley (1Kg)                  £2.75

Tins, Jars and Cooking

3x   ASDA Smartprice Chopped Tomatoes (400g)                       87p

1x   ASDA Butter Beans in Water (400g)                                     49p

2x   ASDA Chilli Beans in Chilli Sauce (290g)                              80p

1x   ASDA Smartprice Sweetcorn in Water (326g)                       35p

1x   ASDA Green Lentils in Water (390g)                                    55p

1x   Napolina Double Concentrate Tomato Puree (200g)              75p

Dairy and Eggs

5x   ASDA British Whole Milk 4 Pints (2.27L)                              £5.45

1x   ASDA Greek Style Yogurt (500g)                                         80p

1x   ASDA Smartprice Low Fat Natural Yogurt (500g)                  45p

1x   ASDA Free Range Mixed Weight Eggs (15)                         £2.00

1x   ASDA Butter - Unsalted (250g)                                            £1.45

1x   ASDA Smartprice Mature White Cheddar (830g)                   £3.69

Fruit and Vegetables

3x   ASDA Kids Bananas (8)                                                       £3.45

1x   ASDA Grower's Selection Organic Garlic (3)                        80p

2x   ASDA Grower's Selection Carrots (1Kg)                               £1.00

1     ASDA Grower's Selection Butternut Squash (1.2Kg)             90p

3x   ASDA Grower's Selection Whole Cucumber                          £1.65

1x   ASDA Grower's Selection Celery                                          55p

2x   ASDA Grower's Selection Baking Potatoes (2.5Kg)               £3.00

1x   ASDA Grower's Selection Courgettes (3)                              £1.20

1x   ASDA Grower's Selection Spring Onions                              49p

1x   ASDA Grower's Selection Sweet Potatoes (1Kg)                   £1.00

2x   ASDA Grower's Selection Apples (1.2Kg)                             £3.00

3x   ASDA Farm Stores Pears (500g)                                         £2.10

1x   ASDA Grower's Selection British Parsnips (500g)                 65p

1x   ASDA Grower's Selection Swede                                         50p

1x   ASDA Grower's Selection Extra Trimmed Leeks (550g)        £1.00

3x   ASDA Farm Stores Kiwis (6)                                                £1.50

1x   ASDA Farm Stores Brown Onions (1Kg)                               59p

2x   ASDA Farm Stores Plums (400g)                                         £1.58

1x   ASDA Grower's Selection Sweetclems (1.2Kg)                     £1.75

Meat, Fish and Poultry

1x   ASDA Butcher's Selection Beef Steak Mince - 5% Fat (1Kg) £5.50

1x   ASDA Danish Pepperoni (150g)                                           £1.00

Prices and special offers reflect those of the online grocery website My Supermarket, and are correct as of 21st  January 2018.  Prices may vary in different in-store locations.

Our groceries were purchased from Asda, had we shopped elsewhere our shopping would've cost:

£71.63 from Morrisons

£73.72 from Tesco

£78.71 from Sainsbury's

My lovely blogging buddy Ciara from My Fussy Eater has created a fab Meal Planning Facebook Group so we can inspire each other.

And Katykicker, and Naomi from The Organised Life Project have a Meal Planning Linky full of fabulous Meal Planning posts with lots of tasty ideas.

3 comments Bread, Breakfast, Dinners, Lunches, Meal Plan, Meatfree Monday, Muffins, Slow Cooker, Vegan, Vegetarian

OUR FAMILY MEAL PLAN FOR WEEK OF 15/01/2018 - £70

I struggled to find my meal planning mojo this week, we've all got colds and it's been the first full week back to routine.  Our older three daughters were back to school/college which means before and after school clubs, and our 3yo had his first week of  three hour morning sessions at Nursery.  By Friday evening we were all completely knackered.

This week will still be tiring but hopefully less so as we've deliberately had a fairly quiet weekend to rest and recharge.  I've kept the meal plan simple, and full of our family favourites so at least dinners should be fairly stress free.  Lunches are easily made the night before, as there's two early morning starts midweek to content with.

Breakfasts will be porridge or overnight oats with homemade mixed berry and apple compote.  On the weekend I will probably make pancakes for a treat Saturday, and we'll probably have Cinnamon and Raisin Soda Bread on Sunday morning.

Packed lunches this week will be Wholemeal Savoury Swirls and crudites with herbed yoghurt dip and a piece of fruit for afters. I will probably make two large batches and flavour one with Vegemite and cheese and one the usual way.

Weekend lunches

Spicy Roast Sweet Potato and Carrot Soup

500g sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into batons

500g carrots, peeled and cut into batons

2 large onions, peeled and roughly diced

2 cloves garlic, peeled and finely diced

1 Tblsp curry paste, use mild or hot

1 litre vegetable stock

400g tin chickpeas, drained

Put the sweet potato and carrot batons on to a lined oven tray and spray with a little oil to coat. Roast at 220C/200C fan/ gas 7 for about 20 minutes until cooked though and tender.

In a saucepan over a moderate heat, spray a little oil and cool the onions until softened but not coloured. Add the garlic and curry paste, cook for a couple of minutes or until the curry paste is fragrant. Add the vegetable stock, chickpeas and cooked carrot and sweet potato. Simmer for about 10 minutes then take off the heat, cool slightly, and blend until smooth. Serve in bowls with a bread roll or naan bread on the side for a tasty lunch.

Quick and Easy Nachos

1 onion, finely diced

2 peppers, finely diced, any colour will do

325g tin sweetcorn, drained

2 tins chilli beans

300g cherry tomatoes, quartered

200g pack tortilla chips

150g grated mature cheddar cheese, or more if you fancy

Mix the onion, peppers, sweetcorn, chilli beans and tomatoes together in a bowl. Put half of the of tortilla chips, in a single layer, into the bottom of a large ovenproof dish. Dollop with around half the vegetable and bean mixture then top with a good handful of grated cheddar. Repeat the process until all the chips, vegetable mixture and cheese have been used up. Preheat your oven to 200C/180C Fan/400F/Gas Mark 6 and bake the nachos in the oven for 10 - 15 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbling and everything has heated through. I served ours with steamed mixed vegetables on the side.

Dinners

Meatfree Monday Chilli 

1 Tblsp oil 

1 large onion, finely diced 

2 garlic cloves, minced 

½ tsp ground cumin 

2 tsp paprika 

500g meatfree/soya mince 

400g tin chopped tomatoes 

500ml vegetable stock 

200g sliced peppers 

2 carrots, grated 

2 x 400g tins chilli beans 

Heat the oil in a large frying pan over a medium heat. Add the onion and peppers then cook for 4-5 minutes until softened. Add the garlic and spices, cook for a couple of minutes until the spices are fragrant. Add the meatfree mince and cook for 2-3 minutes more. Add the chopped tomatoes, vegetable stock, and grated carrot to the pan, bring to the boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the chilli beans and cook for 5 minutes. Should the chilli sauce need thickening, mix 1 - 2 tsp of cornflour with 1 - tablespoons of cold water, then add it to the pan and cook for a further 5 minutes. Serve the chilli with flatbreads, sour cream, and grated cheese.

Mixed Vegetable Pearl Barley Risotto - using 300g sliced frozen peppers instead of mushrooms.

Easy Orzo Bake 

200g chorizo, finely diced

300g diced onions

300g frozen sliced peppers

500g frozen mixed vegetables

500g orzo pasta

500g pasta sauce (store bought or homemade)

750ml vegetable or chicken stock

Put a large casserole pot or saucepan onto a medium-high heat. Add chorizo and cook, stirring until the oil is released and the chorizo is almost cooked through. Add the peppers and onion, cook until totally defrosted and starting to soften. Add the frozen vegetables and heat through. Add the orzo, pasta sauce, and stock. Stir to thoroughly combine everything.

Bring the mixture to the boil and stir frequently for 10 - 12 minutes or until the orzo is cooked. You need to keep an eye on it and stir ir frequently as it has a habit of sticking to the bottom of the pan if you don't. If the liquid has all been absorbed before the orzo is cooked, add another splash of water and give it a couple more minutes.

Bacon and Egg Pie 

500g puff pastry

300g - 500g cooking bacon

8 large free range eggs

200g frozen peas

Preheat oven to 200C/180C Fan/400F/Gas Mark 6. Lightly grease a 24 x 20cm (10 inches x 8 inches) oven-proof dish. Cut the pastry block in half and roll out each half to the thickness of a £1 coin. Use one half of the pastry to line the bottom of the dish. 

Layer the dish with half the bacon and break the eggs on top. Season well with freshly ground pepper then sprinkling over the peas and the remaining bacon.

Brush the edges where the pastry will join with milk. Lay the remaining pastry over the top and press well to seal the edges. Brush the pie top with extra milk and cut a few small slits in the pastry to allow steam to escape. Bake tin the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes.until golden and cooked through.  I usually serve this with mashed potato or sweet potato and steamed greens.

Baked Potatoes with Baked Beans and Cheese - quick Friday night supper

Homemade Fish and Chips with peas

Vegetable Stew with Dumplings 

2 Tblsp oil

25g butter

1 large onion, peeled and diced

2 potatoes, peeled and diced

1 parsnip, peeled and diced

2 large carrots carrots, peeled and diced

1 swede, peeled and diced

2 leeks, finely sliced

2 garlic cloves, crushed

4 sprigs of fresh thyme or 1 tsp dried

1 tsp mustard

2 Tblsp plain flour

1 heaped tsp vegemite (optional)

500ml vegetable stock

400g tin haricot or butter beans, drained and rinsed

salt and pepper

Dumplings:

250g plain flour

2 tsp baking powder

125g butter, diced

2 tsp diced mixed herbs

salt and pepper

Preheat your oven to 180C/Gas Mark 4.

Put the oil and butter in a large flameproof casserole dish over a moderate heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring, for couple of minutes. Add the potatoes, parsnip, carrot, sweede and leeks. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring, over a moderate heat until the vegetables start to turn golden and soften slightly. Reduce the heat slightly and ad the garlic, thyme and mustard. Add the flour and cook for a couple of minutes, ensure the vegetables are well coated in the flour. Add the vegetmite, stock and tinned pulses.

Bring the mixture to the boil, cover with a lid then put in the preheated oven. Bake for 40 - 50 miutes. Whilst the stew is cooking prepare the dumplings. Rub the butter into the flour until it resembles breadcrumbs. stir in the herbs and a little salt and pepper. Add a 1 or 2 tablespoons of water, just enough to form a stiff dough.

Divide the dough into walnut sized balls, cover with clingfilm and chill in the fridge until ready to use. When the stew has baked for 40 - 50 minutes in the oven, remove from the oven and add the dumplings. Ensure the dumplings are partially submerged in the stew. Cover the pot with a lid and cook on the stove top/hob, over a moderate heat, for around 20 minutes until the dumplings have risen and are golden on top. I usually serve this stew with steamed greens.

Shopping List

50 items: £70.11 purchased from Asda

Packets and Cereals

1x   Mornflake Superfast Oats (2Kg)                                              £2.22

1x   ASDA Smartprice Plain White Flour (1.5Kg)                             45p

1x   ASDA Smartprice Self Raising Flour (1.5Kg)                           45p

1x   Jus Rol Puff Pastry Block (500g)                                            £1.25

1x   ASDA Seedless Raisins (1Kg)                                                £2.98

1x   ASDA Brown Bread Flour (1.5Kg)                                            79p

1x   ASDA Orzo (500g)                                                                  65p

1x   ASDA Good and Balanced Pearl Barley (500g)                        50p

Tins, Jars and Cooking

1x   ASDA Baked Beans, Reduced Sugar and Salt (4x410g)           98p

1x   ASDA Smartprice Chopped Tomatoes in Tomato Juice (400g) 29p

4x   ASDA Chilli Beans in Chilli Sauce (290g)                                 £1.60

1x   ASDA Smartprice Sweetcorn in Water (326g)                          35p

1x   ASDA Chick Peas in Water (400g)                                          35p

1x   ASDA Stock Cubes - Vegetable (12x10g)                                43p

1x   ASDA Curry Paste - Balti (200g)                                             £1.00

1x   ASDA Bolognese Pasta Sauce (500g)                                     69p

1x   ASDA Haricot Beans in Water (300g)                                      40p

Frozen

1x   ASDA Smartprice Mixed Vegetables (1Kg)                              82p

1x   ASDA Meat Free Mince (454g)                                                £1.50

1x   ASDA Summer Berries and Banana Smoothie Mix (500g)         £1.75

1x   ASDA Smartprice Peas (1Kg)                                                 76p

1x   ASDA Scratch Cook Sliced Mixed Peppers (600g)                   £1.00

1x   ASDA White Fish Fillets (540g)                                               £3.30

Dairy and Eggs

5x   ASDA British Whole Milk 4 Pints (2.27L)                                  £5.45

2x   ASDA Greek Style Yogurt (500g)                                            £1.60

1x   ASDA Smartprice Low Fat Natural Yogurt (500g)                     45p

1x   ASDA Free Range Mixed Weight Eggs (15)                             £2.00

1x   ASDA Butter - Unsalted (250g)                                                £1.45

1x   ASDA Mature Cheddar Cheese (750g)                                     £3.75

Meat, Fish and Poultry

1x   ASDA Farm Stores Cooking Bacon (500g)                               57p

1x   ASDA Extra Special Chorizo Casero Sausage (225g)               £1.85

Fruit and Vegetables

25   ASDA Grower's Selection Bananas by Weight (200g)               £3.00

2x   ASDA Grower's Selection Carrots (1Kg)                                  £1.00

2     ASDA Grower's Selection Sweet Potatoes by Weight (500g)    £1.00

4x   ASDA Grower's Selection Whole Cucumber                             £2.00

1x   ASDA Grower's Selection Celery                                             55p

1x   ASDA Grower's Selection Garlic (3)                                        60p

2x   ASDA Grower's Selection Apples (1.2Kg)                                £3.00

4x   ASDA Farm Stores Pears (500g)                                             £2.80

1x   ASDA Grower's Selection British Parsnips (500g)                    59p

1x   ASDA Grower's Selection Swede                                             50p

1x   ASDA Grower's Selection Extra Trimmed Leeks (550g)           £1.00

3x   ASDA Farm Stores Kiwis (6)                                                   £1.50

1x   ASDA Farm Stores Brown Onions (1Kg)                                  59p

1x   ASDA Farm Stores Cherry Tomatoes (250g)                           53p

2x   ASDA Farm Stores White Potatoes (2.5Kg)                             £2.30

2x   ASDA Farm Stores Plums (400g)                                            £1.58

2x   ASDA Farm Stores Mixed Peppers (3)                                     £1.98

2x   ASDA Grower's Selection Sweetclems (1.2Kg)                        £3.50

Snacks and Sweets

1x   ASDA Smartprice Tortilla Chips - Lightly Salted (180g)            46p

Prices and special offers reflect those of the online grocery website My Supermarket, and are correct as of 14 January 2018.  Prices may vary in different in-store locations.

I purchased our shopping online from Asda, via My Supermarket, on 14/01/08, and our grocery items cost £70.11.  

Had I shopped elsewhere our grocery list would've cost:

£78.46 from Sainsbury's

£82.21 from Morrisons

£83.45 from Tesco


My lovely blogging buddy Ciara from My Fussy Eater has created a fab Meal Planning Facebook Group so we can inspire each other.

And Katykicker, and Naomi from The Organised Life Project have a Meal Planning Linky full of fabulous Meal Planning posts with lots of tasty ideas.

6 comments Dinners, Fish, Gluten-free, Lunches, Meal Plan, Meatfree Monday, Pasta, Soup, Vegan, Vegetarian