Saturday 29 August 2015

Living on a budget - bulk cooking recipes and price breakdown - CUT YOUR FOOD BILL IN HALF EVERY MONTH!

So every week I would do the same thing, head to the supermarket and buy all the fresh produce I needed to cook a variety of home cooked meals.

To make a beef strognanoaff I would add the following to my basket:
350g of beef steak chunks
A large onion
Small punnet of mushrooms
Tin of evap milk
(assuming I have pepper, stock cube, paprika, splash of milk and tomato purree at home already)

This would come to around £4.40 and would make 2 portions (feed 2 adults). (S0 £2.20 each, plus rice or potatoes to go with)

Now what I do Is I add the following to my cart:
2 x 500g of frozen steak (1kg)
1/3 of a bag of cooking onions (4 small onions)
1 400g punnet of mushrooms
2 x tins of evap milk
(assuming I have pepper, stock cube, paprika, splash of milk and tomato purree at home already)

This costs me £7.90 and out of all this I got 10 portions (feed 10 adults) (So this costs just 80p each, plus rice or potatoes to go with)

Just but making a few changes and cooking in bulk I have found a way to save so much money and still feed my little family lovely home cooked meals with vegetables, quality meats and wonderful sauces. I do not use any value products to make these meals, I use own brand normally and shop between tesco, asda and iceland.







My recipe:
The Strognanoff

What do I need:
1kg of steak (If frozen defrost prior to cooking) (Icelands are ideal for the frozen bags)
4 small/medium cooking onions - chopped
400g punnet of mushrooms - sliced
2 tins of evaporated milk (I use an own brand)
Few pinches of pepper
Dash of paprika
2tbs of tomato purree
1 x beef stock cube (oxo is ideal)
200ml of milk (any)
1 x garlic glove
Splash of sunflow oil (or any oil really)
 Herbs to garnish, optional

Directions
Chop garlic and heat in a little oil. Add in the diced beef and allow to cook, stir every now and again.
While thats cooking, shop your veggies up and prep your stock.
Add in your chopped veg, tomato purree, pepper and paprika. Give it a a stir and allow the veg to mostly soften.
Next add in your stock, evaporated milks and milk. Stir round and allow to simmer for 10 mins.

Take it off the ring to cool. Once cold divide into 10 portions. I use large freezer bags.
Pop them in the freezer and take out as you like. Defrost over night before use. Re-heat on teh hob and add over rice, pasta or potatoes.


Thursday 27 August 2015

Mambi Happy Planner review Aug 2015

I recently purchaused the Me & My Big Ideas happy planner, in the "Life is Beauty Full" theme.
I have been using it for just over a month now and and I am really enjoying it. I feel like I am still getting used to it as its quite a change for me.
I would just like to review it and tell you all a little bit about the planner and help you decide if its the one for you.





View inside here:
http://www.meandmybigideas.com/create365-thehappyplanner/

 The Size
We will start with the size. Quite a large planner measuring at 7 x 9.25 inches. Its a lovely size to be able to hold all your stuff and you feel like you get good value for money with it.
Its a 18 month planner, which is lovely as you get a good year and a half to enjoy all the features.


The Arc System
As everybody knows the happy planner has an Arc discbound system. I know this causes a lot of worry with people, as they question how long this binding system will last.
Well, I have only had mine a month, but I can already tell you those pages are in very firmly and I have never had any looseness or rips.
The pages are super easy to take in and out and I havent found that had worn the pages down at all so far. 


The paper
The paper inside the planner is of very good quality! Not flimsy or cheap feeling. Nice decent sheets all in all.

Quality
Flawless! Totally flawless. No odd smudges or misprints anywhere at all. Colours and very bold and images sharp.

Little things I love

The little quotes along the bottom of the pages!
At the start of every month there are these cute overview pages where you can fill out events, plus a calender for the month.

Little things I dont love

Some of the pattern pages just arent for me
Not much note space BUT you can add these in from MAMBI

Cool Extras

They have freebies you can download on the website to enhance your planner
http://www.meandmybigideas.com/gallery-freeprintables

Planner stickers at my shop - FALL FREEBIES

Just a little update for you all :)
I have a little etsy shop that sells printable planner stickers!

Find me at www.etsy.com/uk/shop/StickersOfLondon

Here are some freebies for you all to save, print and enjoy <3