Fully Loaded Savoury Scones

It feels like a very long time since I've blogged in my little corner of the internet.  We had a brilliant summer with my Mum visiting for 5 weeks from NZ, and celebrating GCSE exams being over for 16yo.  Everything else was set aside so we could just enjoy the school holidays and spend as much time as possible together as an extended family.

We're now back into the rhythm of normality.  Schools are back, our youngest has just started Reception so I now have more time each day to work and get back into blogging.  I'm easing myself back into things gently, despite having quite a large backlog of recipes that I really want to share.  

I baked these Savoury Scones for packed lunches this week.  They are delicious with a hot flask of soup, or with crudites, and freeze well too.  This recipe makes 6 - 8 large scones, I doubled the recipe so I had enough to stash in the freezer for later.

You could use finely diced ham instead of bacon or chorizo, diced pepper instead of sweetcorn, or make a vegetarian version.  These scones are easily adapted for different tastes or to use up what you have in your fridge or cupboards.

Fully Loaded Savoury Scones

150g bacon or chorizo, finely diced and cooked until crispy

3 spring onions, finely sliced

2 cups self raising flour

50g butter

75g grated cheese, plus 75g more for topping

200g sweetcorn, tinned or frozen (defrosted)

a pinch of dried mixed herbs

1/2 cup (125ml) milk

1/2 cup (125ml) water

Preheat your oven to 200C/180C Fan/Gas Mark/400F/Gas Mark 6.  Line an oven tray with foil or baking paper.

Put the flour and butter in to a large bowl and rub the butter into the flour with your fingertips until it resembles fine breadcrumbs.  Mix in the bacon, spring onion, grated cheese, sweetcorn, and herbs.  Add the liquids and mix until a soft dough forms.  Divide the dough into 8 and place on the prepared baking tray.  Top with grated cheese.

Bake in the preheated oven for around 20 minutes until golden and cooked through.  These are best eaten within 24 hours, otherwise freeze and defrost when required.

7 comments Basics, Bread, Lunches, Snack, Snacks

5 Cup Fruit Loaf

I love this recipe, and have used it for years but have never gotten around to blogging it.  Perfect for school lunchboxes, picnics, or just a quick bake for an afternoon tea treat, this recipe is SO easy.  My family love it, and it's great for filling a gap when there are hungry teens seeking a snack.

You could use dairy free milk to make this loaf vegan, use whatever dried fruit you have in your store cupboard. I've added a little vanilla bean paste or ground cinnamon/ginger on occasion, to give it a different flavour.  

5 Cup Fruit Loaf

1 cup rolled oats or dessicated coconut

1 cup sultanas/raisins or finely chopped dried apricots

1 cup light soft brown sugar

1 cup self raising flour

1 cup milk, I used full fat whole milk

Preheat your oven to 180C/Gas Mark 4/350F.  Grease and line a loaf tin, I used a 2lb/900g loaf tin.  In a large bowl, mix the dry ingredients together then make a well in the centre.  Pour in the milk then mix until completely combined. Pour mixture into your prepared loaf tin and bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes to 1 hour, until a skewer inserted into the middle comes out free from crumbs or mixture.

Leave a Comment Basics, Cakes, Dairy free, Snack, Snacks, 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

OUR FAMILY MEAL PLAN FOR WEEK OF 24/09/18 - £45

We're still in super frugal mode this week leading up to payday. Hopefully things with our tax credits will be sorted out soon so our meal plans can be slightly more adventurous and varied again.  I'm trying to get our groceries as cheaply as I can this week whilst still having tasty, filling and nutritionally sound meals.

Breakfasts will be porridge with foraged blackberries from the freezer, there's leftover plum and apple compote from last week that we can use too.

Lunches will either be egg and mayo/homemade hummus, with grated carrot and sliced cucumber.  There will be a piece of fruit and baked treat for afters.  Weekend lunches will be Twice Baked Potatoes and End of the Week Frittata.

Snacks will be popcorn, scones, and a cup of soup with a homemade bread roll.  I've made two batches of Tomato Soup and Basic Vegetable Soup and frozen them in portions for after school snacks.

Dinners

Slow Cooker Red Lentil Bolognese, with pasta one night and on baked potatoes later in week

Slow Cooker Hoppin' John with rice and steamed greens

Pearl Barley Risotto (two nights)

Slow Cooker Black Eye Bean Chilli with rice and mixed vegetables

2 tsp ground cumin
2 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp chilli powder (use more or less to taste)
200g black eyed beans
1 bay leaf
2 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp dried oregano
1 Tblsp marmite/vegemite
1 Tblsp tomatoe paste
400g tin chopped tomatoes
500ml water

Put all the ingredients in your slow cooker, stir well to combine.  Cook on low for 8 hours.  We serve ours with a dollop of natural yoghurt or soured cream, cooked rice, and mixed vegetables.

Vegetable Stew with Dumplings

Shopping List

33 items: £45.27

Packets and Cereals

2x     ASDA Smartprice Porridge Oats (1Kg)         £1.50

1x     ASDA Wholewheat Spaghetti (500g)         45p

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

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

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

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

1x     ASDA Baking Powder (170g)         69p

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

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

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

Frozen

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

Tins, Jars and Cooking

4x     ASDA Smartprice Chopped Tomatoes in Tomato Juice (400g)         £1.16

1x     ASDA Smartprice Mayonnaise (500g)         41p

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

Dairy and Eggs

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

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

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

Meat, Fish and Poultry

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

Fruit and Vegetables

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

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

3x     ASDA Grower's Selection Whole Cucumber         £1.65

1x     ASDA Grower's Selection Celery         52p

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

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

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

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

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

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

2x     ASDA Grower's Selection Swede         £1.00

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

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

1x     ASDA Farm Stores White Mushrooms (300g)         68p

1x     ASDA Grower's Selection Cooking Peppers (700g)         £1.35

We purchased our shopping online from Asda, via My Supermarket and the cost of our groceries was £45.27. Had we shopped elsewhere our shopping list would've cost:

£46.51 from Tesco

£52.55 from Sainsburys

£60.45 from Waitrose

£65.85 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 Basics, Budgeting Tips, Dairy free, Dinners, Gluten-free, Live Below the Line., Meal Plan, Meatfree Monday, Pasta, Pork, Rice, Slow Cooker, Snack, Snacks, Soup, Vegan, Vegetarian

OUR FAMILY MEAL PLAN FOR WEEK OF 06/08/18 - £72

It's the third week of the holidays and I'm looking forward to a couple of hours by myself this week.  It's been 15 days since I had any 'me time' apart from time spent working.  My husband is working a half day from home so he can spend time with 3yo in the morning and I'll be taking our middle two to a pottery taster class, which will give me 2 hours to myself whilst they have fun.  Our eldest will be helping in a local coffee shop as she does most mornings, and some afternoons.

We'll probably go to the local park a few times this week, especially as there's cooler weather forecast, and also visit the library and perhaps a free museum workshop.  We're very lucky that there are so many fab museums in town, many offering free holiday workshops.

Our garden is still providing us with salad greens, chard, spinach, fresh herbs, strawberries, raspberries and apples.  I'm going to have to use up lots of apples in baking and we'll be eating plenty as snacks because the tree is fully laden at the moment.  I'll also be giving apples to any friends and neighbours who fancy some. 

I'll of course be baking.  There will probably be a batch or two of scones, some flapjacks, muffins, and perhaps some biscuits/cookies.  Snacks will be homemade vegetable chips, popcorn, fresh fruit, and baking.

Breakfasts will be cereal or granola with fruit and milk, or toast and spread with a piece of fruit for afters.  Weekend breakfasts will be pancakes and crumpets.

Lunches will be accompanied by crudites and dip (hummus, herbed yoghurt, salsa).  We'll be having Cheese and Vegetable Puffs, Super Quick Couscous and Chickpea Salad, Versatile and Thrifty Flatbreads, Salmon and Couscous Salad, Chickpea Patties on homemade rolls with salad.  We'll have the flatbreads and couscous and chickpea salad twice.

Salmon and Couscous Salad

350ml vegetable stock, boiling hot

300g couscous

juice of a lemon

1 Tblsp oil

400g tin salmon, drained

1 chilli, deseeded and very finely diced (optional)

500g frozen mixed vegetables, cooked

large handful of parsley, finely chopped

handfuls of salad greens, to serve

Add the stock and couscous to a large bowl, mix until combined then cover with a plate or cling film and leave to sit for 10 minutes.  Use a fork to fluff up the couscous then mix through all the other ingredients.  Serve atop a handful of salad greens.

Chickpea and Sweetcorn Patties

400g tin chickpeas, drained
325g tin sweetcorn, drained
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp smoked paprika
1 Tblsp lemon juice
2 Tblsp gram flour or cornflour
2 Tblsp rapeseed oil

Tip the chickpeas into a bowl and crush to a thick paste with a potato masher. Stir in the sweetcorn, onion powder, smoked paprika, lemon juice and plenty of salt and black pepper.

Add the gram/corn flour and mix well until everything starts to stick together. Divide the mixture into four, then form each quarter into a burger shape.

Brush the burgers lightly with oil and place on the barbecue or griddle. Cook on each side for 2 minutes, until crisp and hot through. Serve in buns or on sandwiches with salad fillings and sauces of your choice.

Dinners

Veggie Curry Filo Parcels

1 small sweet potato, diced

1 tsp canola oil

1 onion, finely diced

1 Tbsp curry powder

2 cloves garlic, crushed

1 can lentils, drained and rinsed

2 Tbsp sultanas

1 Tbsp lemon juice

1 tsp sugar

12 filo sheets

1 egg, lightly beaten

1 Tbsp sesame seeds

Preheat your oven to 200°C.  Put the sweet potato into a saucepan, cover with water, bring to the boil then simmer until the sweet potato is tender.  Drain and set aside.

Over a medium heat, in a large frying, gently soften the diced onion in the oil.  Add the curry powder and garlic and cook for a minute or two.  Add the lentils, cooked sweet potato, sultanas, ¼ cup/60ml/4 Tblsp water, lemon juice and sugar.  Cook gently until most of the water has evaporated then take off the heat and allow to cool to room temperature.

Lay one sheet of filo on your bench. Place ¼ cup/4 tablespoons of filling towards the short edge of the filo rectangle.  Spread out a little. Fold the long edges toward the middle, covering some of the filling.  Roll the filo into a cylinder shape like a spring roll.   Repeat until all the filo and filling have been used.

Place on a baking tray lined with foil or baking paper.   Brush with oil then bake, or brush with beaten egg and sprinkle with sesame seeds then bake.  Bake the filo parcels in your preheated oven for approximately 25 minutes or until golden brown and crispy.

Roast chicken with roast vegetables

Chicken Fried Rice

2 cups long grain rice

600ml water

4 eggs, lightly beaten

1 Tblsp/15ml oil

1 onion, finely diced

1kg mixed frozen vegetables

500g leftover cooked chicken, shredded

3 Tblsp/45ml soy sauce

Rinse the rice under cold running water until the water runs clear.  In a saucepan cover the rice with the water and bring to the boil with the lid on.  Reduce the heat to the lowest setting and cook for 20 minutes or until the water has been absorbed and the rice is cooked. Remove the saucepan from the heat and allow the rice to cool.

Put a wok or large frying pan over a moderately high heat and add the oil.  Add the onion and vegetables. Stir-fry until nearly cooked then add the cooked rice and chicken.  Make sure the rice and chicken are heated through and piping hot.  Move the rice and vegetable mixture to one side of the wok or pan and tip in the beaten eggs, cooking until scrambled.  Mix the scrambled egg through the rice mixture.  Stir through the soy sauce then serve.

Bacon and Egg Pie

Quick and Easy Nachos

Fish Burgers with sweet potato wedges and salads

Easy Orzo Bake

Shopping List

53 items: £72.14

Packets and Cereals

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

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

1x   ASDA Smartprice Sultanas (500g)                                                      97p

1x   ASDA Lemon Juice (250ml)                                                                39p

1x   ASDA Easy Cook Long Grain White Rice (1Kg)                                   £1.04

1x   ASDA Cous Cous (1Kg)                                                                      £1.35

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

1x   ASDA Orzo (500g)                                                                              65p

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

1x   ASDA Ready Rolled Filo Pastry (200g)                                                £1.30

1x   Tropical Sun Popcorn (500g)                                                              79p

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

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

Tins, Jars and Cooking

1x   ASDA Smartprice Bolognese Sauce (440g)                                         39p

1x   ASDA Wild Pacific Pink Salmon (418g)                                               £2.19

2x   ASDA Smartprice Sweetcorn in Water (326g)                                      70p

5x   ASDA Chick Peas in Water (400g)                                                      £1.65

1x   Merchant Gourmet Ready to Eat Puy Lentils (250g)                             £2.00

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

Frozen

2x   ASDA Smartprice Mixed Vegetables (1Kg)                                          £1.64

1x   ASDA Battered White Fish Fillets (6 per pack - 600g)                          £2.70

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 Best for Baking Cakes Spread (500g)                                       85p

2x   ASDA Smartprice Low Fat Natural Yogurt (500g)                                 90p

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

1x   ASDA Butter - Unsalted (250g)                                                           £1.49

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

1x   Island Sun Sweetened Condensed Milk (397g)                                     £1.00

Fruit and Vegetables

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

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

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

5x   ASDA Grower's Selection Whole Cucumber                                         £2.50

2x   ASDA Grower's Selection Celery                                                         £1.04

1x   ASDA Grower's Selection Garlic Loose                                               20p

1x   ASDA Grower's Selection Courgettes (3)                                             95p

1x   ASDA Grower's Selection Spring Onions                                             50p

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

1x   ASDA Grower's Selection Giant Watermelon                                       £2.50

2x   ASDA Grower's Selection Apricots (320g)                                           £1.58

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

2x   ASDA Farm Stores Cherry Tomatoes (250g)                                       £1.10

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

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

1     ASDA Grower's Selection Red Cabbage by Weight (1.1Kg)                  72p

1     ASDA Grower's Selection White Cabbage by Weight (Approx 1.2Kg)   78p

2x   ASDA Grower's Selection Nectarines (6)                                             £2.00

Meat, Fish and Poultry

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

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

Snacks and Sweets

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

Prices and special offers reflect those of the online grocery website MySupermarket, and are correct as of 4th August 2018. Prices may vary in different in-store locations

We purchased our shopping list from Asda on 04/08/2018, via MySupermarket and our items cost £72.14, had we shopped elsewhere our groceries would've cost:

£80.93 from Tesco
8£1.39 from Sainsbury's
£89.01 from Morrisons
£102.99 from Waitrose
£103.45 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, and Naomi from The Organised Life Project have a Meal Planning Linky full of fabulous Meal Planning posts with lots of tasty ideas.

4 comments Biscuits, Chicken, Dairy free, Dinners, Fish, Lunches, Meal Plan, Meatfree Monday, Muffins, Pasta, Rice, Salad, Snack, Snacks, Vegan, Vegetarian

3 Ingredient Banana, Oat, and Raisin Cookies

These delicious morsels are vegan, refined sugar free, and gluten free if you use gluten free rolled oats.  Very quick and easy to bake, brilliant for children to help with too.  I make these often to beat the late afternoon energy slump, or as a short notice breakfast on the go.

The key to a good flavour is using over-ripe bananas as they provide the sweetness for the cookies, and you can use other dried fruits should you prefer such as finely chopped dried apricots or dried cranberries.  I've added chopped nuts in the past too, such as walnuts or almonds for more protein and extra flavour.  However if I am planning on putting these in school lunches I leave out the nuts as our primary school is nut-free.

The recipe is easy doubled or tripled should you want to make a large batch, they keep well for a couple of days in an airtight container.   

Banana, Oat, and Raisin Cookies

80g mashed banana, I used one medium sized over-ripe banana

70g rolled oats

50g raisins

Preheat your oven to 180C/160C Fan/350F/Gas Mark 4.  Line an oven tray with non stick baking paper.

Peel the banana and mash with a fork until you have a smooth paste.  Add the oats and dried fruit, mix until totally combined.  Divide the mixture in half then each half into four so you have 8 small portions.

Roll the portions of mixture into balls then put onto the oven tray, leaving about an inch between them to allow for spreading. Bake for 10 - 15 minutes until the cookies start turning golden brown.  Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely on the trays.  Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Leave a Comment Basics, Biscuits, Dairy free, Gestational Diabetes, Gluten-free, Snack, Snacks, Vegan, Vegetarian

OUR FAMILY MEAL PLAN FOR WEEK OF 28/05/18 - £74

It's half term week for us this week.  On Monday my husband is taking our 3 older girls to see the new Star Wars movie and I'll be taking our 3yo son to the park for some play time.  Tuesday there's a forest trip for our 11yo, Wednesday is messy playgroup morning for 3yo, and Friday there's an event on at our local museum which will suit all ages.  Planning half term activities for everyone, that are low cost and suit vastly different ages, is a real challenge.

We've got some delicious lettuces and salad greens ready to pick from our back garden, as well as fresh herbs so we'll definitely be using some of them this week.  I've harvested more rhubarb and baked it so that will be used for breakfasts.

Breakfasts will be fairly relaxed most days. Granola with yoghurt and fruit or wholemeal toast and spread with a piece of fruit for afters.  There will of course be pancakes or waffles over the weekend.

Lunches

I've deliberately made lunches really filling and substantial to cut down on snacking.  All of the lunches are suitable for eating at home or putting in a packed lunch for my husband to take to work or for us to take on an outing.

Traffic Light Rice and Beans

2 Tblsp vegetable oil
4 spring onions, finely sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 ½ cups long grain rice

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp cumin
3 cups/750ml water, ideally from a freshly boiled kettle
400ml coconut milk
Several stalks of fresh thyme
1 pepper, any colour will do
2 carrots, peeled, grated
400g can borlotti beans, drained and rinsed
200g frozen peas, defrosted

Heat a saucepan over medium/high heat. Add your oil and saute the spring onion and garlic for a minute, stirring constantly.  Add the rice and spices, and stir well to make sure the rice is coated in the oil.  Cook for a couple of minutes until the spices are fragrant.

Carefully tip in the coconut milk and water, stir until combined before adding the sprigs of thyme.  Reduce the heat under the saucepan to low and cover with a tight fitting lid.  Leave the rice alone, covered and cooking for 15 minutes.

After 15 minutes remove the lid, quickly stir through the prepared vegetables and beans.  Cover and turn the heat off under the saucepan.  Leave for 5 - 10 minutes for the vegetables and beans to warm through.  Find and discard the thyme stalks before serving.

Bacon and Egg Pasta Salad

500g pasta

¼ cup mayonnaise

200g cooked bacon, finely diced

3 spring onions, finely sliced

1 clove garlic

1 cup frozen peas, defrosted

1 cup frozen sweetcorn, defrosted

4 hard boiled free range eggs

Cook the pasta according to packet instructions and drain well.  Mix through the mayo, cooked bacon, spring onions and peas until thoroughly combined.  Slice the hard boiled eggs and top each serving with the sliced egg. 

Tuna Fritters

250ml/½ cup milk
2 free range eggs
1 cup self-raising flour
400g tuna in water, well drained
150g frozen sweetcorn or peas, defrosted
1 courgette, grated and moisture squeezed out
1 carrot, grated
1 pepper, finely diced
½ cup cheddar cheese, grated
1 Tblsp chopped fresh herbs, I usually use parsley or chives

Put the eggs and milk into a large bowl.  Whisk until combined, then gently mix in the other ingredients until a batter forms.  Put a frying pan over a moderate heat and grease with a little butter or oil.  Pour ¼ cup portions of mixture into the frying pan and cook until bubbles appear on the surface of the batter.  Flip the fritters over then cook on the other side for a few minutes.  This mixture usually makes around 15 fritters depending on size.

Egg Salad Sandwiches

5 hard boiled free range eggs
3 tbsp low-fat mayonnaise
1 tor 2 Tblsp lemon juice
150g frozen sweetcorn, defrosted
1 tsp fresh chives, finely chopped

Using a fork, mash the egg and mayonnaise together until you get the texture you would like.  We have ours slightly chunky but you can mash it until smoother if you prefer.  Add lemon juice to taste then stir through the chives and sweetcorn.  I like to add some freshly ground black pepper too.

Rice and Bean Bites

200g cooked white rice

400g can mixed beans, drained and rinsed

2 carrots, grated

3 Tblsp tomato salsa

½ cup grated cheese

1 free range egg

1 cup wholemeal breadcrumbs

Preheat your oven to 200C and line a baking tray with non stick baking paper.  Put all the ingredients except for the breadcrumbs into a food processor.  Blend until combined.  Alternatively put all the ingredients into a bowl and blend with a stick blender until smooth.  

Roll tablespoonfuls of the mixture in the breadcrumbs then put on to the prepared trays.  Spray balls lightly with cooking spray and bake for 15 minutes. Carefully take the trays out of the oven, turn the balls over and spray again with a little cooking spray.  Put back in the oven and cook for another 10-15 minutes until the outside is golden.  Serve with salsa or your dip of choice.

Bacon and Potato Salad

1 kg baby potatoes, boiled or baked until tender
300g cooked bacon, diced
2 carrots, peeled and grated
250g frozen peas, defrosted

Dressing
5 Tblsp mayonnaise
1 - 2 tsp English mustard
1 Tblsp lemon juice (or more to taste)

Combine the potatoes, bacon, peas and grated carrot in a large bowl.  Add the dressing and mix until evenly coated.  Serve or refrigerate until required.


Couscous Salad

2 cups couscous
500ml/2 cups vegetable stock, made with freshly boiled water
2 carrots, grated
300g cherry tomatoes, quartered
1 or 2 peppers, finely diced
250g frozen sweetcorn, defrosted
4 spring onions, finely sliced

Put the couscous into a large heatproof bowl, stir through the hot stock.  Cover with clingfilm or a large plate and leave for 5 - 10 minutes.  Uncover the couscous then stir through all the other ingredients.  Serve sprinkled with fresh parsley to garnish.

Dinners

Homemade Pizzas

Slow cooker roast chicken with roast vegetable salad and greens

Chicken Noodle Bowls

Root Vegetable and Meatball Bake

Quick Butternut Squash and Lentil Curry with Onion Bhajis and Naan Breads

Meatball wraps with wilted spring greens

Homemade Fish and Chips

Shopping List

49 items: £74.08

Tins, Jars and Cooking

1x     ASDA Smartprice Bolognese Sauce (440g)                                               42p

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

1x     ASDA Mild Salsa Dip (300g)                                                                        79p

1x     ASDA Smartprice Mayonnaise (500g)                                                        40p

1x     ASDA Organic Mixed Beans (400g)                                                            70p

1x     Merchant Gourmet Ready to Eat Puy Lentils (250g)                                  £2.00

1x     KTC Coconut Milk (400ml)                                                                          50p

3x     ASDA Tuna Chunks in Spring Water (160g)                                               £2.67

1x     ASDA Borlotti Beans in Water (400g)                                                          55p

Frozen

1x     ASDA Frozen for Freshness Mixed Vegetables (1Kg)                                85p

1x     ASDA Smartprice Peas (1Kg)                                                                     76p

1x     ASDA Frozen for Freshness Sweetcorn (1Kg)                                           85p

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

1x     ASDA Beef Meatballs (640g)                                                                       £2.50

1x     ASDA White Fish Fillets (540g)                                                                    £2.50

Dairy and Eggs

3x     ASDA Semi Skimmed Milk 6 Pints (3.41L)                                                 £4.44

1x     ASDA Best for Baking Cakes Spread (500g)                                              85p

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

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

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

Packets and Cereals

1x     Silver Spoon Granulated Sugar (1Kg)                                                         64p

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

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

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

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

1x     ASDA Cous Cous (500g)                                                                             65p

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

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

Fruit and Vegetables

1x     ASDA Grower's Selection British Spring Greens (500g)                             68p

1x     ASDA Grower's Selection Baby Potatoes (1Kg)                                         80p

25     ASDA Grower's Selection Bananas                                                            £2.70

25     ASDA Grower's Selection Royal Gala Apples                                            £5.28

1x     ASDA Grower's Selection Carrots (1Kg)                                                     50p

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

4x     ASDA Grower's Selection Whole Cucumber                                              £2.00

1x     ASDA Grower's Selection Celery                                                                55p

1x     ASDA Grower's Selection Garlic Loose                                                      25p

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

2x     ASDA Grower's Selection Spring Onions                                                    £1.10

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

3x     ASDA Grower's Selection Satsumas (600g)                                               £3.00

4x     ASDA Farm Stores Pears (500g)                                                                £3.20

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

1x     ASDA Farm Stores Brown Onions (1Kg)                                                    55p

4x     ASDA Farm Stores Cherry Tomatoes (250g)                                             £2.00

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

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

Meat, Fish and Poultry

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

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

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

We purchased our items from Asda via My Supermarket on 27th May 2018, had we shopped elsewhere our shopping would've cost:

£83.82 from Sainsburys

£87.69 from Morrisons

£88.76 from Tesco

£102.65 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, I have a copy and it is fab. You can order a copy for yourself here. 

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.

Leave a Comment Bread, Chicken, Dinners, Fish, Gluten-free, Lunches, Meal Plan, Meatfree Monday, Pasta, Rice, Salad, Snack, Snacks, Vegan, Vegetarian