My Fussy Eater App Review

My fabulous blogging friend Ciara, who blogs over at My Fussy Eater, has developed an app which has been available on the Apple App Store for a while, and there's a newly released Android version available on Google Play. The app costs £3.99. 

The App contains over 160 recipes, 120 of which are her most popular blog recipes, and another 40 brand new recipes exclusive to the app. 

I was asked to test out the recently released Android version of the app and give my honest review. I think it's brilliant! Whether you want to encourage your family to eat a healthy balanced diet, or need ways to provide nutritious meals for fussy eaters, this app has so many delicious options.  It's a really well designed, user friendly app, easy to find the recipes you want, and with lots of handy features.

The 160 recipes include a selection of breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack ideas, with plenty of fruits, vegetables, pulses, and wholegrains. You can make weekly Meal Plans, which is really useful, and create shopping lists. There's also a favourites function for bookmarking your most liked recipes, and you can search by dietary need such as gluten free, dairy free, etc. 

I really like the fact that you can choose UK or US measurements in the settings. Being able to view the recipes in UK measurements (grams, millilitres, etc) or US measurements (cups, ounces, etc) is so useful, particularly as it makes it easy to prepare the delicious recipes no matter where in the world you are.

I'd recommend this app without hesitation to families wanting to change up their dinner recipes, and expand breakfast and lunch options.  The recipes are really handy for adding more nutrition to meal times, for kids and adults alike.  My children, and my husband, have enthusiastically devoured every recipe we've tried.  For less than the cost of a cuppa and muffin you could have 160 recipes at your fingertips. Give it a whirl!

** I was gifted the app but all opinions are my own, I was asked to give it a thorough testing and honest review **

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OUR FAMILY MEAL PLAN FOR WEEK OF 13/01/19 - £66

Our back to routine week last week didn't exactly go to plan.  Our 12yo was poorly all week, with what turned out to be flu, and I've got yet another cold.  Aside from more soups than planned, and some homemade Lemon, Honey and Ginger Drink we stuck to our Meal Plan fairly well.

Hopefully this week will be back to proper normal, and everyone will be well again.  We've a play date on Tuesday, as well as the usual evening/after school events so I've factored them all in to our Meal Plan for the week.

We're getting low on spices and stock cubes so I've added them to the list this week.  We've still got some plain and self raising flour in the cupboard so I'm not getting any this week.  I've added extra rice and some popping corn kernels so I can make rice pudding pots and popcorn for snacks.

Breakfasts will be cereal and hot milk or porridge, both with homemade fruit compote or sliced banana. Weekend breakfasts will be toast and pancakes.

Packed lunches will be 5 Ingredient Eggy Quinoa Cups twice, and Wholemeal Savoury Scone Swirls three times.  Packed lunches will include some Vegetable Crisps, a piece or two of fruit and a baked treat for afters.  Weekend Lunches will be soups from the freezer with homemade wholemeal bread rolls.  

Slow Cooker Bean Chilli

2 onions, peeled and finely diced
500g sweet potato, peeled and cut into roughly 2cm/¾in chunks
2 peppers, deseeded and finely diced
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground coriander
1 Tblsp sugar
200ml hot vegetable stock (made with 1 vegetable stock cube)
400g tin chopped tomatoes
2 x 390g tins red kidney beans in chilli sauce
400g tin mixed beans, drained and rinsed
1 tsp mixed dried herbs

Put all the ingredients into a slow cooker. Stir well then cover with the lid and cook on high for 3–4 hours or low for 8–10 hours until the sauce has thickened and the sweet potato is tender.

Mixed Vegetable and Egg Fried Rice

Simple Chicken Casserole

2 Tblsp plain flour
1kg chicken thighs, bone in and skin on
2 Tblsp oil
2 onions, finely sliced
4 - 6 carrots, sliced into thick batons
2 tsp dried mixed herbs
500ml chicken stock

Preheat your oven to 160C/Gas Mark 3.  Season the flour with a little salt and pepper then coat the chicken thighs in the seasoned flour.  Heat the oil in a large, heavy based casserole dish over a high heat then brown the chicken thighs on all sides.  Add the vegetables, herbs, and enough stock to just cover everything.

Bring to a simmer, cover with a lid and then put in the oven for one and a half to two hours until the chicken and vegetables are tender and soft.  We'll be serving ours with mashed potato and steamed greens.


Slow Cooker Vegetable Stew with Dumplings

500g sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped into chunks
2 onions, thinly sliced
4 carrots, cut into chunks
3 parsnips, cut into chunks
2 Tblsp plain flour
400g tin chopped tomatoes
2 Tblsp tomato paste
350ml hot vegetable stock (made with 1 stock cube)

Dumplings:
200g self-raising flour
75g vegetarian suet (I used Trex)
125ml cold water

Put the prepared vegetables into the slow cooker. Sprinkle over the flour and stir to coat the vegetables. Add the chopped tomatoes, tomato paste and stock. Stir well then cook on high for 4 hours.

Make the dumplings. Put the flour in a large mixing bowl and season with salt and pepper. Add the suet and rub into the flour until combined. Stir in enough cold water to bring the mixture together as a soft, dough. Divide into 12 equally sized pieces and roll each into a ball.

Remove the lid from the slow-cooker then arrange the dumplings gently on top. Replace the lid and continue to cook on high for a further 25-30 minutes, or until the dumplings are cooked through. We’ll be serving ours with steamed greens.

Homemade Fish and Chips

Homemade Pizzas

Toad in the Hole

Shopping List

47 items: £66.04

Packets and Cereals

2x       ASDA Smartprice Wheat Bisks (24x18g)          £1.48

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

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

2x       ASDA Smartprice Long Grain Rice (1Kg)          90p

1x       ASDA Quinoa (300g)          £1.14

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

1x       Tropical Sun Popcorn (500g)          79p

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

Frozen

2x       ASDA Frozen for Freshness Mixed Vegetables (1Kg)          £1.90

1x       Ibco Pangasius Fillets (800g)          £3.50

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

Tins, Jars and Cooking

2x       ASDA Smartprice Chopped Tomatoes in Tomato Juice (400g)          56p

1x       Rajah Haldi Ground Turmeric (100g)          67p

1x       Rajah Paprika (100g)          67p

1x       Rajah Jeera Ground Cumin (100g)          67p

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

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

1x       East End Ground Coriander (100g)          £1.15

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

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

1x       TRS Cinnamon Powder (100g)          65p

1x       TRS Garam Masala (100g)          65p

1x       Rajah Ground Ginger (100g)          75p

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

1x       ASDA Mexican Style Bean Mix in Water (400g)          65p

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 Butter - Unsalted (250g)          £1.49

1x       Trex Vegetable Fat (250g)          85p

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

Fruit and Vegetables

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

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

1x       ASDA Grower's Selection Beetroot Bunched (500g)          £1.60

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

5x       ASDA Farm Stores Pears (500g)          £2.95

6x       ASDA Farm Stores Apples (500g)          £3.54

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

1x       ASDA Farm Stores Brown Onions (1Kg)          75p

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

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

1x       ASDA Grower's Selection Sweetclems (1.2Kg)          £1.80

1x       ASDA Grower's Selection Black Seedless Grapes (400g)          £1.00

1x       ASDA Grower's Selection Seedless Red Grapes (400g)          £1.00

1x       ASDA Farm Stores White Mushrooms (250g)          54p

Meat, Fish and Poultry

1x       ASDA Butcher's Selection Chicken Thighs (1.1Kg)          £2.09

2x       ASDA Extra Special Pork Sausages (6 per pack - 400g)          £4.00

We purchased our groceries online from Asda, via My Supermarket on 12/01/2019 and out items cost £66.04. Had we shopped elsewhere our shopping list would've cost:

£76.59 from Tesco

£80.50 from Sainsbury's

£101.16 from Ocado

£102.58 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.

8 comments Bread, Chicken, Dairy free, Dinners, Fish, Gluten-free, Lunches, Meal Plan, Meatfree Monday, Vegan, Vegetarian

Spiced Chicken Traybake

I love low faff dinners that don't require much preparation, and pretty much cook themselves.  This chicken traybake is perfect for a busy weeknight, just prepare the vegetables and chicken in the morning, put them in the fridge, then into a preheated oven when you're ready to cook dinner.  You could use microwave pouches of rice, and cook the peas in the microwave too for extra speed and less fuss.

Spiced Chicken Traybake

3 tbsp olive oil

1 tsp cumin

1 tsp coriander

1 tsp garam masala

750g boneless and skinless chicken thigh fillets

3 large carrots, cut into quarters lengthwise then chopped into 2.5cm/inch lengths

1 pepper, deseeded and chopped into chunks

1 onion, peeled and cut into wedges

2 large handfuls frozen peas, defrosted in boiling water for a few minutes

1.5 cups rice

Chop the vegetables and put into a container in the fridge ready to cook later.  Mix the oil and spices together then pour over the chicken stir until evenly coated.  Cover and leave to marinate in the fridge all day, or just for half an hour or so whilst you have a well earned cuppa, and get the kids reading done or homework started before cooking dinner. 

Once you're ready to cook, preheat your oven to 200C.  Take the chicken out of the fridge, uncover it and stir through the prepared vegetables, except for the peas.  Bake for 30-35 minutes, until the carrot is tender and the chicken is cooked through. 

Meanwhile, cook the rice.  When the rice is cooked, drain the peas and stir them through the rice.  Serve alongside the cooked chicken and vegetables.  Garnish with some chopped spring onion or fresh coriander. 

   

1 comment Chicken, Dairy free, Dinners, Gluten-free

OUR FAMILY MEAL PLAN FOR WEEK OF 07/01/19 - £65

The week we're all properly back in routine, work and school as usual for everyone.  It makes Meal Planning easier, and there will be no children raiding the fridge and cupboards for random snacks throughout the day.

Breakfasts will be porridge or toast with fruit depending on the morning.  Weekend breakfasts will be pancakes and homemade crumpets or toasted teacakes.

Packed lunches will be Root Vegetable and Red Lentil Dhal and Butternut Squash and Lentil Curry alternated each day, served in flasks with homemade wholemeal bread rolls, a piece of fruit, and a baked treat for afters.

Weekend Lunches will be Twice Baked Potatoes, using already baked potatoes from the freezer, and Vegetable and Pearl Barley Soup with homemade bread rolls.

Dinners

Slow Cooker Black Eyed Bean Chilli

Pepper, Sausage and Gnocchi Traybake

4 peppers, any colour, deseeded and cut into chunks

2 onions, peeled and cut into eighths

300g cherry tomatoes

2 x 500g packs of gnocchi

2 Tblsp oil

12 pork sausages

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

Toss together the peppers, onion, tomatoes, gnocchi and olive oil and spread out on to a large foil lined baking tray.

Put the sausages on top of the vegetables then put the tray into the preheated oven. Bake for 30 minutes, or until the sausages are cooked through, the gnocchi are golden, and the vegetables are tender. Serve with steamed greens or mixed vegetables.

Macaroni Cheese

Bacon and Egg Pie

One Pot Chicken Casserole

Slow Cooker Beef Keema

Keema Naan with Speedy Vegetable Curry

Shopping List

37 items: £65.12

Frozen

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

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

Tins, Jars and Cooking

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

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

2x       Napolina Lentils in Water (400g)          £1.70

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

Packets and Cereals

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

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

1x       ASDA Easy Bake Yeast (6 per pack - 42g)          52p

1x       ASDA Wholewheat Penne (500g)          45p

2x       Il Pastaio Potato Gnocchi (500g)          £1.30

1x       Cypressa Red Split Lentils (500g)          £1.15

1x       ASDA Good and Balanced Pearl Barley (500g)          55p

1x       ASDA Quinoa (300g)          £1.14

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

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

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

Fruit and Vegetables

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

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

2        ASDA Grower's Selection Butternut Squash by Weight (1.3Kg)          £1.95

1x       ASDA Grower's Selection Celery          52p

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

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

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

3x       ASDA Chosen by Kids Easy Peasy Peelers (500g)          £2.37

2x       ASDA Grower's Selection Swede          £1.00

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

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

1x       ASDA Grower's Selection Cherry Tomatoes (325g)          75p

2x       ASDA Grower's Selection Cooking Peppers (700g)          £2.90

Meat, Fish and Poultry

1x       ASDA Butcher's Selection Chicken Thighs (1.1Kg)          £2.09

2x       ASDA Extra Special Pork Sausages (6 per pack - 400g)          £4.00

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

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

We purchased our groceries online from Asda, via My Supermarket on 05/01/2019 and out items cost £65.12.  Had we shopped elsewhere our shopping list would've cost:

£71.10 from Tesco

£82.59 from Sainsbury's

£88.30 from Ocado

£90.87 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.

5 comments Beef, Chicken, Dairy free, Dinners, Gluten-free, Lunches, Meal Plan, Meatfree Monday, Pasta, Slow Cooker, Vegan, Vegetarian

Koshari

This is a delicious and filling store cupboard supper, perfect for using up part packets of pasta and rice. Koshari is an Egyptian street food dish made from rice, lentils and macaroni, topped with crisp onions and spicy tomato sauce.  The ingredients use to make this scrumptious supper came to £1.42, excluding energy costs,  I served it with steamed greens from our garden (free), but you could serve it with 500g steamed mixed vegetables for an extra 47p.

It does take a long time to get the onions really caramelised and tasty, don't rush that step it's well worth taking the time.  The rice, lentils, and macaroni are all cooked separately which might seem a bit of a faff but you can have them all going at the same time, or use a tin of lentils to cut out a step.

Koshari  

3 large onions, diced (30p)

2 cloves of garlic (5p) 

400g tin of chopped tomatoes (28p) 

1 Tblsp tomato purée (2p) 

pinch of chilli flakes, pinch of chilli powder or dash of hot sauce (5p)

1 cup (150g) lentils, rinsed and drained (39p) 

1 cup (200g) rice, rinsed and drained (9p) 

1 tsp ground cumin (2p)

1 tsp ground cinnamon (2p)

1 cup (150g) macaroni (20p)

Heat the oil in a large pan and cook the onions until deep golden, this can take a good 30 - 40 minutes.  Don't rush this step, your dish will be so much more flavoursome if you take the time to get the onions right.  Once the onions are deliciously brown and sticky, put a sieve over a bowl and tip the onions into it, so the deliciously flavoured oil drains into the bowl. 

Heat one teaspoonful of the onion oil in a small pan and crush or mince in a garlic clove.  Cook for a few seconds before adding the tomatoes, tomato purée and chilli.  Fill up the empty tomato tin with water and add this too.  Cook, uncovered, until thickened to a rich sauce. 

Put the lentils in a pan and cover generously with water. Add the other garlic clove, bring to the boil and cook for 25 minutes or until tender. Drain well and set aside. 

Heat the remaining oil from the onions in a saucepan and add the spices. Cook for a few seconds until fragrant, then add the rice. Cook, stirring to coat the rice in the oil and spices, then add one and a half cups of water and a large pinch of salt. Bring to the boil, cover tightly, and cook for 10 minutes until cooked through and all the water has been absorbed.  Leave covered for a further 10 minutes whilst you quickly cook the macaroni according to packet instructions. 

Mix the rice with the lentils and macaroni, season to taste.  Top with the rich tomato sauce and the caramelised onions.

2 comments Budgeting Tips, Dairy free, Dinners, Live Below the Line., Meatfree Monday, Pasta, Rice, Vegan, Vegetarian