36p tomato pasta with cheese

I apologise for neglecting the page recently, im sure you understnad that as students workload really does fluctuate.

Here is something extra easy, 36p tomato pasta with cheese:

8 ingedients, couldn't be simpler. makes 2 large servings

1 Tbsp oil
1 med Onion
1 dorot garlic cube
1 tsp mixed herbs
1 canned tomatoes
1 tsp of sugar (takes away acidity in canned tomatoes)
1 stock cube
1/2 bag pasta

1. Chop onion and place in the pan with oil, allow to cook slowly untill brown. 3-5 min

2. Add garlic, cook for a further 1-2 min (don't let it burn or it will taste bitter)

3. add canned tomatoes, mixed herbs, stock cube and suger. simmer without a lid for 10-15 min, till liquid is reduced and thickened sightly

4. once sauce is simmering put past into boiling water. cook till it isn't quite done, still a little hard.

5. drain pasta at this stage and add sauce, contue to cook together for a further 3-5 min. this finishes cooking the pasta and adheres the sause to it.

6. serve with a teaspoon of parmesan.


ENJOY!!!!

Ingredients list

Tate and lyle Granulated Sugar 1Kg Packet £0.88      > 1p
Tesco Everyday Value chicken stock cubes £0.10 £0.01
Dorot Crushed Garlic 80G          £1.00 £0.05
Tesco Everyday Value  Tomatoes 400G £0.31 £0.31
Tesco Pure Vegetable Oil 1 Litre         £1.39 £0.02
Tesco Everyday Value penne 500G £0.30 £0.15
Tesco Everyday Value Onions [12-15]Pack £0.69 £0.05
Tesco Everyday Value Mixed Herbs 30G       £0.99 £0.03
Sainsbury’s Basics Hard Cheese 250g   £2.78 £0.05

11p chocolate chunk cookies

makes 12 medium cookies.  (Please don't substitute any of these ingredients, or they don't work out. )

1/4 cup of fat (Vegetable trex or lard)

1/4 cup real butter

1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar

1/3 cup white sugar

1 1/2 cup plain flour

1 tsp vanilla

1 egg

disolved in 2 tsp hot water - 1/4 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp bicarb

1.Make dough

Cream fats and sugar togetheradd egg and vanillaadd flour add water mixture and combine to smooth doughstir in chocolate chips or other mix ins. 

2. roll dough

take 1/2 a 1/4 cup of mix and roll into tight balls, press till its about 1.5cm thick and resembles a puck. (at this staget the dough can be frozen flat on a tray and baked from frozen, increase cooking time to 10 min. )

Cook

no need to grease tray. Space evenly, leaving an inch space beteen. bake at 200C for 8 min.

Cool

When removed from oven drop tray onto side or bored, this removes air added by action of bicarb, but leaves the textrue it creats. JUST TRUST ME. leave on tray for 10 min before transfering to wire rack or eating. 

Cost is  for basic dough with chocolate chunks (other variation ideas are listed below)

Tesco Bicarb 170G  £0.99 £0.03

Tate and lyle Granulated Sugar 1Kg Packet  £0.88 £0.07

Tesco dark brown Sugar 500g £1.39 £0.35

Tesco Everyday Value Plain Flour 1.5Kg  £0.52 £0.12

Tesco Everyday Value Eggs Box Of 15  £1.50 £0.10

Tesco Everyday Value Lard 250G  £0.33 £0.08

Tesco Everyday Value butter   £0.89 £0.23

Tesco Value chocolate  £0.30 £0.30

Variations are endless, these are my favorites

 1. Double Chocolate - Replace 1/2 cup of flour with 1/3 cup coco and add 100g chopped white chocolate.

2. Snickerdoodle - Plain dough rolled in cinnamon sugar (2Tbsp cinamon, 1/4 cup sugar should do this batch.

3. Oatmeal - Replace 1/2 cup flour with 1/2 cup of rolled oats. then add either 100g of raisens and 1tsp of cinnamon,  OR 100g dark chocolate. 

4. Terry's - Add the zest of 1 orange to the sugar, use chocolate dough and 100g milk chocolate/ orange chocolate.

5. Reeses - Reduce the lard by 1Tbsp and add 2 Tbsp of crunchy peanut butter, add 50g milk chocolate and 1 packets reeses pieces (available at sainsbury and asda). also good with the chocolate dough. 

38p Lamb stew with mash and veg

This weeks recipe is another winter warmer: lamb stew and dumplings with mash.

Lamb is obviously more expensive than other strew/casarole meats such as beef or chicken, but it also has the most flavor. This recipe calls for breast of lamb, a very inexpensive, albeit fatty, cut. In cooking terms, fat is flavor, and other than the dumplings, no other fat is added to this recipe. 

£2.31 for 6 servings - 38p/serving

1. Brown 1/3 of a 0.5kg pack of lamb breast in a frying pan 
2. meanwhile add the folllowing to the slow cooker:

1/2 bag casarole veg
3 litres water
1/2 tsp each rosemary and thyme 
2 stock cubes
salt and pepper. 

3. add the rendered lamb to the liquid. 

4. slow cook on high for 2-3 hours.

5. when lamb is very tender make the dumplings:

combine the following and scoop out in spoonfulls placing on the surface of the stew. 

150g flour
50g margarine/butter/lard
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 black pepper
1/4 tsp mixed herbs
1 tsp baking powder
1/3 cup milk 

(all dry ingredients should be sieved together, then butter rubbed in with fingertips till there are pea sized pieces before adding the milk)

quantity of milk varies depending on flour. dough should be wet, but not liquid.  

6. replace slow cooker lid and alow stew with dumplings on top to steam for a further 30-45 min.

7. make mash

In a bowl, combine:

packet of instant potato flakes
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp gound black pepper
1 cup milk cold milk
1 cup water boiling water

whisk quickly and place in the microwave for 2 min

8. Vegetables:

I have green beans pictured, but normally i would do peas, i had just run out. Defrost  1/2 cup of peas per serving in boiling water, drain and place covered in the microwave for 1 min. 

8. the gravy should naturally thicken from the dumplings, but if its not thick enough for your taste stir a couple table spoons of gravy granuals. 

SERVE!

Shopping list

Tesco Everyday Value Lamb Breast         £2.70 £0.90
Tesco Everyday Value Garden Peas 900G         £1.00 £0.10
Tesco Baking Powder 170G                  £0.99 £0.03 
Tesco Everyday Value Plain Flour 1.5Kg         £0.52 £0.05 
Tesco Everyday Value chicken stock cubes £0.10 £0.02
Tesco dried thyme 16g                                  £0.75 £0.05
Tesco dried rosemary 16g                          £0.75 £0.05
Tesco Creamfield Semi Skim 4 Pint 2.272L £1.00 £0.25
Tesco Baking Fat 250G                         £0.55 £0.11 
Tesco Everyday Value Mash 120G                  £0.20 £0.20
Tesco Casserole Vegetables 1Kg                  £1.00 £0.50

31p cheesey broccolli soup

Hey, my greatest apologies for not posting for 2 weeks, but I GOT ENGAGED!!!!!!

Hope this recipe makes up for it, good for you and delicious, enjoy!


Makes 6 large servings. £1.88, 31p per serving

1. Defrost broccolli  (1/2 pack)in pan of hot water
2.Meanwhile fry off 1 onion and garlic dot in 2 Tbsp oil till

sofened
3.Add brocolli, 2 stock cubes and 1 litres water

4.Once brocolli is tender (10-15 min), remove from head and

blend before adding :

100g skimmed milk powder
60g Instant mash
50g Hard cheese

5. season to taste with salt and pepper and serve


Shopping list

Tesco Everyday  Stock Cubes £0.10 £0.02
Tesco Everyday Value Broccoli 907G £1.00 £0.50
Dorot 20 Cubes Crushed Garlic 80G £1.50 £0.07
Tesco Cooking Onions 1Kg £1.00 £0.10
Tesco Everyday Value  Oil £1.29 £0.04
Tesco Everyday Value Mash 120G £0.20 £0.10
Tesco Everyday Value Dried Milk 454G £1.15 £0.25
Sainsbury’s Basics Hard Cheese 250g £2.78 £0.55

16p large potato cakes

I don't often have bread in the house because i love toast, and honestly that's all i would eat given half a chance, but when i feel like a hearty breakfast, this is my go to item - quick, easy and cheap. Great with if you add a couple sausages (10p) an eggs (10p) and 1/2 a can of beans (13p). Super good, filling breakfast for 49p


Serves 2  16p each


1. In mixing bowl combine the following until evening incorporated

1 beaten egg
200 ml milk
1 stock cube (crumbled )

2. mix in the following and leave to stand for 1-2 min. 

it will look running to begin with. if its dry add a couple table spoons of water until it isn't. if it seems too wet add a little more potato. moisture content on products like this varies with storage, so i can't be 100% on the measurement. 

50g potato flakes (just less than half a packet)

3. form into 2 large or 4 small potato cakes (flattened balls with smooth edges) 

4. in a  non-stick pan heat 1 tbsp oil over LOW heat. cook cakes on first side for 2 min

5. add 1 more table oil and quickly turn, cook for 2 more min. 

6. turn frequently to prevent burning, but do not flatten.


* if you are having sausages with your meal, cook them in the pan first, and reserve the oil, that way you are saving the money you would have spent on the oil and reducing the over all cost by 3p. 

this is actually something i do whenever i cook fatty meat, its a bit old fashioned to save things like pan drippings, but often there is a lot of great flavor that can be used for other things. just store covered in the fridge or freezer. 



It's all about STARVING STUDENT SURVIVAL! - Mags, x


Nutritional information (Per Serving)

calories 254
carbs 16
fat 18
protein 7


shopping list

Tesco Everyday Value Mash 120G       £0.20 £0.08
Tesco Creamfield Semi Skim 4 Pint 2.272L £1.00 £0.11 
Tesco Everyday Value Eggs Box Of 15         £1.50 £0.10 
Tesco Everyday Value Vegetable Oil 1 Litre £1.29 £0.03

* if you are worried about the fat, just use less oil, smear it over the top and bottom and oven bake for 10 min. not quite as good, but VERY close*

50p Pineapple Jerk Chicken and Caribbean Rice

This one came just on  budget at 50p, few... didn't want to start eliminating ingredients. 

Decided i would make this one last week when i was looking for cinnamon for my banana cupcakes and nearly poured the jerk seasoning into the cinnamon cream cheese frosting instead. Which reminds me, i should really put that recipe up too sometime - so simple and uses up those bananas we all forget about.  

Anyways, so i came up with this recipe last year, but the addition of the Caribbean rice is new, it balances the spicy nature of the jerk seasoning really well. 

£2.98 :Serves 6 (50p per serving)

Pineapple Jerk Chicken

1. In a slow cooker, or oven proof dish combine the following. 

1 can pineapple (with juice)
1 can tomatoes
1 cube garlic
1 Tbsp jerk seasoning
4 frozen chicken pieces
1 stock cube
2 med sweet potatoes
1/2 cup red lentils (for thickening)

Slow cook on low for 6 hours 
Oven cook at 180 for 2 hours (make sure dish is tightly covered with foil and use defrosted chicken for oven variation)

* 30 min before the end of cooking put the rice on *

2. after cooking remove chicken from bone and add back to the 

sauce, along with:

1 yellow pepper (diced)
1 can corn


Caribbean Rice - 

1. add these ingredients together and bring to the boil. 

1 can of kidney beans (drained and rinsed)
1 garlic cubes
1/2 tsp chili flakes
1 sachet coconut cream
1 tsp of salt
1 tsp black pepper
2 tsp dried thyme 
7 cups water

2. add 3 cups of rice and simmer for 15 min, cover tightly (foil and a lid). turn off and leave to steam for 20 min. 

3. Enjoy! As always, freezes well and remember not to keep the rice in the fridge for more than a day. 

It's all about STARVING STUDENT SURVIVAL! - Mags, x



Nutritional information (per serving)

calories 534
carbs      89
fat         10
protein    23

Shopping list

Tesco Everyday Value Chicken Portions 2Kg £3.19     £0.64
Tesco Everyday Value Peppers                £1.07     £0.11  
Millstone Crushed Chillies 28G                £0.69     £0.03
Tesco Everyday Value Sweetcorn 325G         £0.33    £0.33
Tesco Wholefoods Red Split Lentils 1Kg         £1.80     £0.18
Pataks Creamed Coconut Sachets 200G         £1.20    £0.30
Tesco Everyday Value  Tomatoes 400G         £0.31    £0.31
Tesco Everyday Value Kidney Beans 400G £0.18    £0.18
Dorot Crushed Garlic 80G                         £1.00    £0.10
Tesco Everyday Value chicken stock cubes £0.10    £0.01
 Schwartz Jamaican jerk seasoning 51g        £1.76     £0.18
Tesco Everyday value tinned pineapple         £0.32   £0.32
Tesco sweet potatoes 1.25kg (2 for £2)        £1.00    £0.40
Tesco dried thyme 16g                                £0.75    £0.07

*  I like this best made with chicken, but sausages work great too, if you want a little bit more more meat for around the same amount of money. 

Tesco Everyday Value 20 Sausages 1Kg  £1.00,  2 per portion - 12 for  60p

19p easy macaroni chee

Firstly my apologies for not posting in a week, to say I've been busy would be an understatement. I had my first test of the year this week, i won't complain too much, but lets just say i needed a little comfort food when i was done. Macaroni cheese is a great option for this, and my version is quick, easy and reasonably healthy in comparison to most at only 300 calories. 

The basis for a macaroni cheese is the beshemel (white sauce).traditionally you would need to gently heat butter and flour together to make what is called a rue, and then gradually add milk whisking together to avoid lumps. This recipe for an all in one  sauce much simpler. it also conveniently takes about the same amount of time as pasta does to cook.

Serves 4

1. put the pasta on 200g dry pasta into a large pan of BOILING salted water. if the water is at a rolling boil and there is plenty of it, it won't stick. boil for 10 min or until tender.

2. in a large microwave safe bowl, combine:

2 Tbsp flour
4 Tbsp water
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp mustard powder (or English mustard)
1/4 tsp ground pepper

2. add 600ml milk gradually, stirring to avoid making lumps.

3. Heat in the microwave for 5-8 min,whisking about every 2 min.

4. once thickened add:

         2 Tbsp Parmesan Cheese
         Cooked pasta (well drained)

Check below the shopping list for another alternative - 16 p CARBONARA, and  go on and enjoy that comfort food,remember:

It's all about STARVING STUDENT SURVIVAL! - Mags, x



Nutritional info (Per Serving)

calories 307
carbs          13
fat           5
protein  10


Shopping list.

Tesco Everyday Value Penne 500G £0.30  £0.12
Tesco Everyday Value Plain Flour 1.5Kg £0.52  £0.01
Tesco Creamfield Semi Skim 4 Pint 2.272L £1.00  £0.25
Sainsbury’s Basics Hard Cheese 250g £2.78  £0.33
Colmans Mustard Powder 57G         £1.34  £0.06



There are hundreds of alternatives to this sauce, here's another of my favourites:

16p Carbonara. Leave out the cheese and mustard, fry off bacon and garlic  before adding the sauce to a pan to heat (rather than microwaving). the flavors will then permeate the sauce.

extras shopping list:

Dorot Crushed Garlic (20 for £1.00) -  1 cube -  £0.05
Sainsbury cooking bacon (1kg for £2.00) - 100g £0.20