Baghrir - Moroccan Pancakes

I recently purchased the "Together" cookbook, proceeds from the sales of the book go to help the Hubb Community Kitchen which serves those affected by the Grenfell tower fire.  It is a beautiful book, with delicious recipes, a mouthwatering photo of each recipe, and lots of information about each dish.  I totally love this cookbook, and would thoroughly recommend buying a copy.

When I first read through the cookbook I wanted to cook everything.  I've been slowly working my way through the recipes, and each one has worked brilliantly and tasted delicious.  We decided to try making some Baghrir, Moroccan Pancakes, for breakfast one Saturday morning. They are kind of a cross between a pancake and a really thin crumpet.  Very easy to make, and delicious with honey/golden syrup, chocolate spread, or jam.  I made a double batch to freeze some for later in the week.  The pancakes are dairy free, egg free, and vegan.

Baghrir - Moroccan Pancakes

Recipe from the Together Cookbook

150g fine semolina

75g self raising flour

3.5g fast action yeast (half a 7g pack)

1/2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp caster sugar

pinch of salt

375g warm water

Put all the ingredients into a large bowl and mix until a smooth batter forms.  Leave to sit, covered with clingfilm for around 45 minutes.  The batter should have risen and plenty of bubbles should be visible in the batter. 

Heat a non-stick frying pan over a low-medium heat and add about 1/4 cup of batter to the pan.  Cook for 3 - 4 minutes, until the surface has lots of bubbles and has dried.  Don't flip the pancake.  Transfer to kitchen towel and continue making the other pancakes, this batter should make around 12.

Let the pancakes cool for a few minutes before you stack them up, otherwise they will stick together.  Serve warm.

Leave a Comment Breakfast, Dairy free, Review, Vegan

Nana's Fruit Loaf Cake

My Nana used to bake this if she knew we were coming to visit, and I bake it often for my family for after school snacks.  It's nice to be able to serve them something that I used to enjoy when I was their age.  This loaf cake is so quick and easy to make, filling because of added Weetabix, and delicious with a cuppa.

Nana's Fruit Loaf Cake

150g/1 cup dried fruit, I use either chopped dates or mixture of chopped dried apricots and raisins
215g/1 cup white sugar
50g butter or baking spread, melted
80g/4 Weetabix/wheat biscuit cereal, crushed finely
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda (bicarbonate of soda)
1 tsp cinnamon/vanilla bean paste (optional)
250ml/1 cup freshly boiled water
1 large free range egg
160g/1 cup plain flour

Preheat your oven to 18-C/160C Fan/350F/Gas Mark 4.  Grease and line a loaf tin, mine was a 900g/2lb loaf tin.  

Put the first 8 ingredients into a large bowl, give it a good stir to combine, then leave for 5 minutes.  

Once the mixture has cooled slightly sift in the flour and add the beaten egg.  Stir gently to until completely incorporated.  

Pour into greased and lined loaf tin then bake for 35 - 45 minutes or until a skewer inserted in the centre comes out free from crumbs.  I usually cook the loaf for 35 minutes then check it every 5 minutes after that.  

Leave to cool in the tin for around 15 minutes before turning out on to a wire rack to cool completely.  

1 comment Basics, Cakes, Kiwi Recipes, Snack, Snacks, Vegetarian

Honey, Lemon, and Ginger Drink, natural cold/flu soother

It's that time of year again, lots of colds and sniffles about, tickly sore throats too.  Having four children at three different schools, and a husband who travels to and from work on the bus, there's lots of potential for us all to catch the latest cold/flu/cough that is doing the rounds.

I've been making this drink for my family for years, so simple and tasty, yet so soothing for those with the lurgy.

You can chill the drink and have it cold, or drink it warm, whichever you prefer.  Don't pay for special cold/flu relief drinks, this mug of goodness costs pennies and contains only natural ingredients..

Honey, Lemon, and Ginger Drink

Makes 2 generous mugs

Juice of 1 lemon, or 4 Tblsp lemon juice

2 pinches of ground cinnamon (optional)

2 pinches of ground turmeric

1cm piece ginger, very thinly sliced or grated

2 Tblsp honey, or more to taste (substitute for vegan alternative, if necessary)

Boiling water, cooled for 5 minutes

A few fresh mint leaves (optional)

Divide the ingredients between two mugs, add enough hot water to fill each mug, then sip slowly to soothe. Alternatively leave the mixture to cool, chill in the fridge and drink chilled.

  

Leave a Comment Basics, Drink, Make it yourself, Vegan, Vegetarian

OUR FAMILY MEAL PLAN FOR WEEK OF 15/10/18 - £68

We've a busy week this week, with a birthday on Monday and a couple of evening activities.  This means we'll need lots of easy meals, as we're all knackered leading up to Half Term.  I've once again decided to use tasty recipes I found on the Internet for our Meal Plan.  We're really enjoying looking for new recipes to try.  I'm sure I'll blog more family dinners for our Meal Plans soon, but in the meantime it's great to be able to try out recipes from elsewhere. 

Breakfasts will be porridge, it's finally going to be cold enough for it after an unseasonably warm spell of weather.  I've made a couple of batches of Healthy Berry Breakfast Muffins for particularly busy mornings.  Weekend breakfasts will be pancakes and bacon butties.

Packed lunches will be Wholemeal Savoury Swirls, accompanied by crudites, a piece of fruit and a baked treat.  Weekend lunches will be Veggie Bread Parcels and Mini Fritattas 

Dinners

Baked Not Fried Chicken with oven baked potato wedges and steamed vegetables (Birthday dinner)

Banana Peel Dhal a delicious way to use up our banana peels

Tasty Tuna Rice Croquettes with sweet potato wedges and steamed greens

One Pot Chorizo and Pepper Pasta

Traditional Boil Up using free bones from our local butcher

Cowboy Beans and Potato Bake

Cauliflower and Potato Bake with Spinach

Shopping List

42 items: £67.95

Packets and Cereals

1x   ASDA Wholewheat Spaghetti (500g)                                  45p

1x   Silver Spoon Granulated Sugar (1Kg)                                 65p

1x   Allinson Wholemeal Plain Flour (1Kg)                                 £1.00

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

1x   ASDA Dried Red Lentils (500g)                                           £1.15

1x   Tropical Sun Popcorn (500g)                                              79p

2x   ASDA Scottish Porridge Oats (1Kg)                                    £1.78

Frozen

3x   ASDA Frozen for Freshness Mixed Vegetables (1Kg)        £2.85

1x   ASDA Scratch Cook Whole Leaf Spinach (1.3Kg)              £1.69

2x   ASDA Frozen for Freshness Berry Medley (1Kg)               £5.50

Tins, Jars and Cooking

3x   ASDA Smartprice Chopped Tomatoes in Tomato Juice (400g)    84p

1x   ASDA Smartprice Red Kidney Beans in Water (400g)        30p

1x   ASDA Sunflower Oil (1L)                                                     £1.09

1x   ASDA Pure Honey (454g)                                                   £1.25

1x   ASDA Double Concentrated Tomato Puree (200g)            37p

1x   Princes Sandwich Tuna in Spring Water (3x160g)              £2.50

1x   ASDA Cannellini Beans in Water (400g)                             42p

Dairy and Eggs

3x   ASDA British Whole Milk 6 Pints (3.41L)                             £4.44

1x   ASDA Best for Baking Cakes Spread (500g)                      81p

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

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

1x   ASDA Smartprice Mature White Cheddar (830g)                £3.68

Fruit and Vegetables

1x   ASDA Grower's Selection British Spring Greens (500g)     62p

2x   ASDA Grower's Selection Salad Tomatoes (750g)             £2.30

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

1x   ASDA Grower's Selection Carrots (1Kg)                             65p

1x   ASDA Grower's Selection Cauliflower Loose                      £1.00

1     ASDA Grower's Selection Butternut Squash by Weight (1.3Kg)   97.3p

4x   ASDA Grower's Selection Whole Cucumber                       £2.20

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

2x   ASDA Grower's Selection Satsumas (600g)                       £2.00

2x   ASDA Grower's Selection Apples (1.2Kg)                           £3.30

4x   ASDA Farm Stores Pears (500g)                                        £2.36

2x   ASDA Grower's Selection Plums (750g)                             £2.98

1x   ASDA Farm Stores Lemons (4)                                           84p

1x   ASDA Farm Stores Brown Onions (1Kg)                            65p

1x   ASDA Farm Stores White Potatoes (2.5Kg)                        £1.30

1x   ASDA Grower's Selection Cooking Peppers (700g)            £1.45

Meat, Fish and Poultry

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

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

1x   ASDA Butcher's Selection Chicken Thighs (1.1Kg)            £2.20

1x   ASDA Extra Special Pork Sausages (6 per pack - 400g)    £2.25

We purchased our shopping online from Asda, via My Supermarket and the cost of our groceries was £67.95. Had we shopped elsewhere our shopping list would've cost:

£71.68 from Tesco

£80.71 from Sainsburys

£91.53 from Waitrose

£95.41 from Ocado

My lovely blogging buddy Ciara from My Fussy Eater has created a fab Meal Planning Facebook Group so we can inspire each other. She also has a book out which you can order here. 

And Katykicker has a Meal Planning Linky full of fabulous Meal Planning posts with lots of tasty ideas.

3 comments Breakfast, Chicken, Dairy free, Dinners, Fish, Kiwi Recipes, Lunches, Meal Plan, Muffins, Vegan, Vegetarian

OUR FAMILY MEAL PLAN FOR WEEK OF 08/10/18 - £70

I struggled to write our meal plan this week.  Inspiration didn't strike me, and when I asked my family, they weren't really bothered what we had as long as it was tasty.  I've had a mooch about on the internet and found some new recipes to try with my lot along with some of my own recipes.   

Breakfasts will probably be more Pumpkin Spiced Granola as that went down well with everyone and it's not quite cold enough for porridge just yet.  Weekend breakfasts will probably be pancakes one morning and crumpets the other.  I'll make a double batch of crumpets so I can stash some in the freezer for later.

Packed lunches will be falafel wraps or mini frittatas with crudites, a piece of fruit and a baked treat for after.  Weekend lunches will be homemade pizzas and we're going out for lunch on Sunday.

Dinners

Meatfree Monday Red Lentil and Aubergine Moussaka served with steamed mixed vegetables and greens

Macaroni Cheese with mixed vegetables

Jollof Rice with Chicken served with steamed mixed vegetables and greens

Puy Lentil Bolognese with wholewheat spaghetti and steamed greens

Slow Cooker Beef Keema

2 large onions

8 cloves garlic

10cm/4 inches fresh ginger

4 tsp ground coriander

2 tsp ground tumeric

4 tsp ground cumin

4 green chillies

1kg beef mince

4 cardamom pods

1/2 tsp ground cloves

2 tsp ground cinnamon or 2 cinnamon sticks

6 Tblsp tomato puree

400ml water

2 Tblsp garam masala

Puree the onion, garlic, ginger, spices and chilli in a food processor or hand blender.  Stir through the beef mince and put everything into the slow cooker.  Add the rest of the ingredients, except for the garam masala.  Stir well and cook on low for 6 hours on high or 7 - 8 hours on low.  About an hour before you want to serve the curry, remove the slow cooker lid and stir through the garam masala.  Replace the lid then cook for the final hour.  Serve with cooked rice and/or Naan bread, steamed vegetables and greens.  

Spring Rolls with Fried Rice

Keema Naan with Speedy Vegetable Curry

Shopping List

49 items: £70.16

Packets and Cereals

1x      ASDA Wholewheat Spaghetti (500g)          45p

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

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

1x      ASDA Wholewheat Penne (500g)          45p

1x      Oz-Yufka Flat Type Filo Pastry (500g)          £1.95

1x      ASDA Good and Balanced Green Lentils (500g)          £1.15

1x      ASDA Quinoa (300g)          £1.14

1x      ASDA Dried Red Lentils (500g)          £1.15

1x      ASDA Cranberries (100g)          £1.00

1x      ASDA Great to Bake Golden Syrup (750g)          £1.34

1x      ASDA Scottish Porridge Oats (1Kg)          89p

1x      ASDA Four Seed Mix (150g)          90p

Frozen

3x      ASDA Frozen for Freshness Mixed Vegetables (1Kg)          £2.85

Tins, Jars and Cooking

3x      ASDA Smartprice Chopped Tomatoes in Tomato Juice (400g)          84p

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

4x      ASDA Chick Peas in Water (400g)          £1.32

1x      ASDA Double Concentrated Tomato Puree (200g)          37p

2x      ASDA Smartprice Passata (500g)          70p

1x      ASDA Curry Paste - Balti (200g)          £1.19

1x      KTC Coconut Milk (400ml)          59p

Dairy and Eggs

2x      ASDA British Whole Milk 6 Pints (3.41L)          £2.96

5x      ASDA Smartprice Low Fat Natural Yogurt (500g)          £2.25

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

1x      ASDA Ricotta Cheese (250g)          80p

1x      ASDA Mature Cheddar Cheese - Light (750g)          £3.65

Fruit and Vegetables

3x      ASDA Grower's Selection British Spring Greens (500g)          £1.86

2x      ASDA Grower's Selection Salad Tomatoes (750g)          £2.30

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

2x      ASDA Grower's Selection Carrots (1Kg)          £1.30

4x      ASDA Grower's Selection Whole Cucumber          £2.20

1x      ASDA Grower's Selection Celery          52p

1x      ASDA Grower's Selection Garlic (3)          50p

1x      ASDA Grower's Selection Spring Onions          55p

1x      ASDA Carving Pumpkin          75p

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

1x      ASDA Grower's Selection Satsumas (600g)          £1.00

2x      ASDA Grower's Selection Apples (1.2Kg)          £3.30

4x      ASDA Farm Stores Pears (500g)          £2.36

1x      ASDA Grower's Selection Mixed Hot Chilli (60g)          45p

1x      ASDA Farm Stores Brown Onions (1Kg)          65p

1x      ASDA Farm Stores White Potatoes (2.5Kg)          £1.30

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

2x      ASDA Aubergine          £1.40

2x      ASDA Farm Stores Round Lettuce          80p

1x      ASDA Ginger (500g)          £1.50

1x      ASDA Grower's Selection Cooking Peppers (700g)          £1.45

Meat, Fish and Poultry

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

1x      ASDA Butcher's Selection Beef Mince - 12% Fat (1Kg)          £4.50

1x      ASDA Butcher's Selection Boneless Chicken Thigh Fillets (750g)          £3.89

We purchased our shopping online from Asda, via My Supermarket and the cost of our groceries was £70.16. Had we shopped elsewhere our shopping list would've cost:

£78.00 from Tesco

£86.98 from Sainsburys

£97.49 from Waitrose

£98.08 from Ocado

My lovely blogging buddy Ciara from My Fussy Eater has created a fab Meal Planning Facebook Group so we can inspire each other. She also has a book out which you can order here. 

And Katykicker has 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, Pasta, Rice, Slow Cooker, Vegan, Vegetarian

OUR FAMILY MEAL PLAN FOR WEEK OF 01/10/18 - £69

We're back to almost normal this week, still thrifty but not in super frugal mode.  It's a busy week with a three evenings taken up with appointments and events so we'll need quick dinners on those nights.

I'm replenishing our spices this week so there's several packets of those on the shopping list.  They're on offer which is handy, and I'm also restocking our baking cupboard.  

Breakfasts will be Pumpkin Spiced Granola with yoghurt or wholemeal toast with spread.  On the weekend I'll make pancakes and we'll have bacon butties.

Packed Lunches will be Pasta Salad, a piece of fruit, and a baked treat for afters.  Weekend lunches will be homemade pizzas and Red Lentil Bake.

Dinners

Spicy Seven Vegetable Stew - Meatfree Monday

Quick and Easy Nachos

One Pot Chicken Casserole

Slow Cooker Beef Casserole

Leftover Beef Casserole Pasties

Chana Masala

Bacon and Egg Pie

Shopping List

57 items: £69.36

Frozen

3x   ASDA Frozen for Freshness Mixed Vegetables (1Kg)            £2.85

2x   ASDA Beef Diced (450g)                                                      £5.00

Tins, Jars and Cooking

1x   ASDA Chopped Tomatoes with Garlic (400g)                         55p

4x   ASDA Smartprice Peeled Plum Tomatoes (400g)                   £1.16

1x   ASDA Smartprice New Potatoes in Water (550g)                   34p

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

1x   ASDA Ground Mixed Spices (33g)                                        79p

1x   Rajah Paprika (100g)                                                            50p

1x   Rajah Jeera Ground Cumin (100g)                                        55p

4x   ASDA Chick Peas in Water (400g)                                        £1.32

1x   East End Ground Coriander (100g)                                        75p

1x   TRS Chilli Powder (100g)                                                     50p

1x   TRS Turmeric Powder - Haldi (100g)                                    50p

1x   TRS Whole Cumin Seeds - Jeera (100g)                               50p

1x   TRS Cinnamon Powder (100g)                                              50p

1x   TRS Garam Masala (100g)                                                   55p

1x   ASDA Chopped Tomatoes with Chilli and Peppers (400g)      55p

1x   ASDA Cannellini Beans in Water (400g)                                42p

2x   ASDA Chilli Beans in Chilli Sauce (390g)                               £1.30

Dairy and Eggs

2x   ASDA British Whole Milk 6 Pints (3.41L)                               £2.96

1x   ASDA Best for Baking Cakes Spread (500g)                         81p

5x   ASDA Smartprice Low Fat Natural Yogurt (500g)                   £2.25

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

1x   ASDA Smartprice Mature White Cheddar (830g)                    £3.68

Packets and Cereals

1x   Silver Spoon Granulated Sugar (1Kg)                                    65p

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

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

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

2x   ASDA Wholewheat Penne (500g)                                          90p

1x   Whitworths Little Jewel Cranberries (150g)                            £1.00

1x   Allinson Easy Bake Yeast (100g)                                          98p

1x   Whitworths Chopped Almonds (125g)                                    £1.00

1x   Whitworths Chopped Apricots (140g)                                    £1.00

1x   ASDA Great to Bake Golden Syrup (750g)                             £1.34

1x   Tropical Sun Popcorn (500g)                                                79p

1x   ASDA Scottish Porridge Oats (1Kg)                                      89p

1x   ASDA Four Seed Mix (150g)                                                 90p

1x   ASDA Ready to Roll Puff Pastry (500g)                                 £1.00

1x   ASDA Ready to Roll Shortcrust Pastry (500g)                       £1.00

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

Meat, Fish and Poultry

2x   ASDA Farm Stores Cooking Bacon (500g)                            £1.14

1x   ASDA Butcher's Selection Chicken Thighs (1.1Kg)                £2.20

Fruit and Vegetables

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

1x   ASDA Grower's Selection Carrots (1Kg)                                65p

1     ASDA Grower's Selection Butternut Squash (1.3Kg)              97.3p

1x   ASDA Grower's Selection Celery                                           52p

1x   ASDA Grower's Selection Trimmed Leeks (500g)                  £1.00

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

1x   ASDA Grower's Selection Spring Onions                               55p

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

2x   ASDA Grower's Selection Satsumas (600g)                           £2.00

2x   ASDA Grower's Selection Apples (1.2Kg)                              £3.30

2x   ASDA Grower's Selection Pears (1.2Kg)                               £3.30

1x   ASDA Farm Stores Brown Onions (1Kg)                                65p

1x   ASDA Farm Stores Cherry Tomatoes (250g)                         55p

1x   ASDA Farm Stores White Potatoes (2.5Kg)                           £1.30

1x   ASDA Grower's Selection Cooking Peppers (700g)                £1.45

Snacks and Sweets

1x   ASDA Smartprice Tortilla Chips - Lightly Salted (180g)          41p

We purchased our shopping online from Asda, via My Supermarket and the cost of our groceries was £69.36. Had we shopped elsewhere our shopping list would've cost:

£83.22 from Tesco

£87.24 from Sainsburys

£103.84 from Ocado

£110.38 from Waitrose

My lovely blogging buddy Ciara from My Fussy Eater has created a fab Meal Planning Facebook Group so we can inspire each other. She also has a book out which you can order here. 

And Katykicker has a Meal Planning Linky full of fabulous Meal Planning posts with lots of tasty ideas.

2 comments Beef, Breakfast, Chicken, Dinners, Lunches, Meal Plan, Meatfree Monday, Slow Cooker, Vegan, Vegetarian