OUR FAMILY MEAL PLAN FOR WEEK OF 31/12/18 - £62

I took an unintentional blogging break.  Eldest was poorly, then GCSE mocks happened for 15yo, we had a plumbing issue, house inspection, our younger two were poorly, 15yo was tripped up and badly hurt her knee, and I'm into week 7 of my cold, then Christmas happened.

The Christmas holidays were such a relief!  All our children were absolutely exhausted and in need of a good break from routine.  The last week or so of term was a real slog.  It's been a much needed restful time, with several PJ days, and intermittent hibernation.

It's back to routine this week, from midweek onwards, so that means packed lunches and dinners to fit around after school and evening events.

Breakfasts will be cereal and milk or porridge with fruit compote, depending on the morning, and I'll make wholemeal no knead fruit bread at the weekend for toast and probably a batch of pancakes.

Lunches before work and school start midweek will be Broccoli and Potato Soup, and Spiced Carrot and Parsnip Soup both from the freezer.  Packed lunches will be Quick Vegetable Tagine, using mixed beans instead of chickpeas, served warm in flasks accompanied by Caramelised Onion and Cheddar Swirls instead of couscous, with a baked treat and piece of fruit for afters.  Weekend lunches will be Slow Cooker French Onion Soup and Mixed Vegetable Soup with homemade wholemeal bread rolls.

Snacks will be popcorn, vegetable peeling crisps, fresh fruit and homemade yoghurt.

Dinners

Chana Masala

Slow Cooker Hoppin' John

Roast Chicken with Roast Vegetables and steamed greens

Chicken Noodle Bowls

Roast Vegetable Frittata

Homemade Pizzas

Hot Dogs with Sweet Potato Wedges

Shopping List

42 items: £62.28

Packets and Cereals

1x   ASDA Smartprice Wheat Bisks (24x18g)                                             74p

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

2x   ASDA Wholemeal Bread Flour (1.5Kg)                                                 £1.38

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

1x   Silver Spoon Granulated Sugar (500g)                                                 54p

1x   ASDA Smartprice Sultanas (500g)                                                       £1.00

1x   ASDA Easy Cook Long Grain Brown Rice (1Kg)                                  £1.09

1x   ASDA Egg Noodles Medium (250g)                                                     59p

1x   TRS Black Eye Beans (500g)                                                              £1.19

1x   Tropical Sun Popcorn (500g)                                                               69p

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

Tins, Jars and Cooking

5x   ASDA Smartprice Chopped Tomatoes in Tomato Juice (400g)              £1.40

2x   ASDA Chick Peas in Water (400g)                                                      66p

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

2x   ASDA Mexican Style Bean Mix in Water (400g)                                   £1.30

Dairy and Eggs

2x   ASDA Semi Skimmed Milk 6 Pints (3.41L)                                           £2.96

1x   ASDA British Whole Milk 6 Pints (3.41L)                                              £1.48

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

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

Fruit and Vegetables

2x   ASDA Grower's Selection British Spring Greens (500g)                        £1.24

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

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

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

2x   ASDA Grower's Selection Courgettes (3)                                             £2.40

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

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

1x   ASDA Grower's Selection Ginger (125g)                                              45p

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

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

1x   ASDA Grower's Selection British Parsnips (500g)                                54p

2x   ASDA Grower's Selection Plums (750g)                                               £3.30

2x   ASDA Farm Stores Kiwis (6)                                                               £1.80

2x   ASDA Farm Stores Brown Onions (1Kg)                                              £1.50

1x   ASDA Farm Stores White Potatoes (2.5Kg)                                         £1.25

3x   ASDA Farm Stores Mixed Peppers (3)                                                 £2.97

2x   ASDA Grower's Selection Sweetclems (800g)                                      £2.00

Frozen

1x   ASDA Smartprice Broccoli (1Kg)                                                         90p

1x   ASDA Smartprice Peas (1Kg)                                                              72p

1x   ASDA Frozen for Freshness Sweetcorn (1Kg)                                      95p

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

Meat, Fish and Poultry

1x   ASDA Butcher's Selection Whole Chicken (1.6Kg)                               £3.28

1x   ASDA Farm Stores Cooking Bacon (600g)                                           67p

Prices and special offers reflect those of the online grocery website, My Supermarket, and are correct as of 30th December 2018. Prices may vary in different in-store locations. 

We purchased our shopping online from Asda, via My Supermarket and the cost of our groceries was £62.28. Had we shopped elsewhere our shopping list would've cost:

£76.35 from Tesco

£77.27 from Sainsburys

£88.53 from Waitrose

£92.72 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.

Leave a Comment Bread, Breakfast, Chicken, Dinners, Lunches, Meal Plan, Meatfree Monday, Slow Cooker, Snacks, Soup, Vegan, Vegetarian

Broccoli and Potato Soup

Another soup recipe using cheap and free vegetables from our local supermarket. Broccoli was discounted to 20p per head for Christmas, and we were able to get 3 bags of free potatoes from the same supermarket which they were giving away to cut food waste. I've used both the florets and stalks from the broccoli so nothing is wasted.  We also made Vegetable Peelings Crisps from the potato peelings, and the carrot and parsnip peelings from Boxing Day.  I made two delicious batches of this soup, one for lunch today, and the other has been packed up and frozen. 

Broccoli and Potato Soup 

1 Tblsp oil 

1 onion, diced 

3 garlic cloves, minced 

1 tsp dried mixed herbs 

3 large potatoes, peeled and diced 

2 heads of broccoli, florets removed and chopped, stems finely chopped 

1 litre vegetable stock 

salt and pepper to taste 

Heat the oil in a large saucepan then add the onion. Cook until softened and translucent. Add the garlic and cook for another couple of minutes. 

Add the dried mixed herbs, potatoes, diced broccoli stems, and stock, bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and simmer for about 15 minutes until potatoes and stems are tender. 

Add broccoli florets and cook until broccoli is tender and bright green, about 10 minutes. Puree using a stick/immersion blender then season to taste and serve. 

Leave a Comment Basics, Dairy free, Gluten-free, Live Below the Line., Lunches, Meatfree Monday, Soup, Vegan, Vegetarian

Spiced Parsnip and Carrot Soup

On Boxing Day we took a walk to get some fresh air. After a wander on the local common I received a text from a friend telling me that a local supermarket was giving away bags of Christmas vegetables. It was about 10 minutes walk away so we checked it out. Sure enough, huge crates and trolleys full of bags of parsnips, carrots, sprouts and potatoes with a use by date of today.

We took home 3 bags of potatoes, 3 bags of carrots, and 2 bags of parsnips. I'm sure hauling the extra weight home helped burn off some Christmas calories I baked one bag of potatoes so that we can have Twice Baked Potatoes for quick lunches or dinners once the holiday are over. The second bag was peeled, chopped and par boiled then roughed up sprayed with a little oil and cooked for 15 minutes. I then let the potatoes cool and packed them up for freezing. We've now got ready frozen roasties for the next couple of weeks. 

I made two batches of this delicious soup with the parsnips and some carrots. One batch of soup for lunch today, and one for the freezer. 

Spiced Parsnip and Carrot Soup 

2 tsp oil 

1 onion, sliced 

2 garlic cloves, sliced 

2cm piece fresh root ginger, peeled and thinly sliced 

4 large parsnips, peeled and chopped 

3 large carrots, peeled and chopped

½ tsp cumin seed 

½ tsp coriander seed 

1 Tblsp garam masala 

1.2L vegetable stock 

Heat the oil in a large saucepan. Add the onion and cook for a few minutes until softened and translucent. Add the garlic and ginger, cook for a couple of minutes then add the parsnips, carrots, and spices. Cook for a minute or two, stirring, until the spices are fragrant. Pour over the stock and gently simmer for 20 - 30 minutes until the vegetables are very tender. Using a stick/immersion blender, blitz the soup until completely smooth. Serve immediately or chill then pack into containers for freezing. This soup can be frozen for up to 3 months.

1 comment Basics, Dairy free, Dinners, Gluten-free, Live Below the Line., Lunches, Meatfree Monday, Soup, Vegan, Vegetarian

OUR FAMILY MEAL PLAN FOR WEEK OF 05/11/18

Sorry for the lack of Meal Plans.  I've been busy getting our citizenship process done, which is thankfully sorted now because it very nearly broke me.  I also had a really bad head cold and cough for a couple of weeks that took ages to shake off. 

It's GCSE mock exam time for us so this week and next so that will be a challenge.  Add in a couple of school trips this week, one that leaves at 4am, and you get an idea of the 'fun' times in our household at the moment. 

Breakfasts will be porridge as it's a filling breakfast to see will set us up for the day.  On the weekend we'll have pancakes and homemade crumpets.

Packed lunches will be Wholemeal Savoury Swirls with crudites, a piece of fruit and a baked treat for afters.  Weekend lunches will be soups from the freezer.  I cooked three large batches of soup using the vegetables from a couple of yellow sticker Wonky Vegetable Boxes.  I was able to buy 6 kg of mixed vegetables for £1.  The soup was frozen in silicone muffin cases then put into containers so we can use however much or little we need.  The rest of the vegetables are being used in dinners this week.

Dinners 

Cauliflower Macaroni Cheese

Slow Cooker Chicken Casserole

Tomato and Aubergine Gnocchi Bake

Toad in the Hole

Slow Cooker Potato and Haricot Bean Stew

Fish and Chips

Slow Cooker Bolognese

There's no shopping list this week as I went to the supermarket with my friend. Due to an online shopping issue I couldn't use my usual method of grocery shopping.  I'll be back with another Meal Plan, complete with shopping list next week.  

1 comment Meal Plan, Meatfree Monday, Slow Cooker, Vegan, Vegetarian

Reverse Advent Calendar #FoodbankAdvent

We're one of the millions of JAM (just about managing) families in the UK.  There's not a lot to spare each month and we have to be really careful with our money.  There's been times in the past when we've relied on the Food Bank.  My husband lost his job and had to retrain when our eldest was 6 weeks old, we were without regular income for a year and the Food Bank was a godsend.  We also turned to the Food Bank when my husband had a brain haemorrhage 7 days before our youngest daughter was born and was off work for 5 months. 

I make sure that we regularly donate items to our local food bank, even when times are tight for us.  They were brilliant when we needed help so I donate a few items each week.  We increase our contributions this time of year because there's so much extra demand. 

To encourage our children to get involved, and make our contribution more festive, we've been taking part in the Reverse Advent campaign for several years.  During November we put one item per day into large reusable grocery bags, then donate the items to our local Food Bank in early December.

With a normal Advent Calendar, you take something out each day, with a Reverse Advent Calendar you put something in each day.  Our children really enjoy picking out items to put in and we make sure to include non food items such as toiletries, etc.

Why regularly donate to the foodbank? Because over 90% of the food that foodbanks provide is donated by the public.  The Trussell Trust Foodbank network provided 1,332,952 three day food supplies to people in crisis between 1st April 2017 and 31st March 2018, a 13% increase from the previous year. And the Trussell Trust typically sees a 45% spike in referrals for the three-day emergency food parcels in the two weeks before Christmas.

There are many reasons for the increase in demand for Food Bank parcels at this time of year such as higher energy bills as temperatures drop, the cost of extra meals when the kids aren’t at school during Half Term and the Christmas holidays, and November is a 5 week month which means wages are stretched further than usual.  For many families there's just not enough money coming in to cope with the cost of living let alone Christmas.

We gather our items in November so that the Food Bank has time to process them in early December before peak demand hits.  If you want to take part in the campaign contact your local Food Bank to see which items are most needed, and also if they are making up Christmas hampers comprised of a specific list of items.

As well as canned and dried food, consider donating toiletries, nappies, baby milk, baby food, sanitary products, and pet food.  Our local Food Bank prefers 500g packs and 1 litre cartons, and currently has a list of urgently needed items. as well as asking people to register to fill a Christmas Hamper with specific items. 

If a whole Reverse Advent Calendar seems daunting, put a couple of items in the donation trolley at your local supermarket when you do your shopping. Every donation helps, for the cost of a takeaway coffee you could purchase items which will really help those in need.

I hope you'll join in the #FoodbankAdvent campaign and help make Christmas a bit more bearable for those in need.  Start a new family tradition, get workmates involved, give what you can because it all makes a difference.

 

1 comment Charity

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