10/09/2013

Spaghetti with Pesto

Those of you that are keen eyed and read my weekly meal plan here will notice that this pesto was also supposed to include cherry tomatoes. They would have made a lovely addition to this pasta dish but unfortunately they were forgotten on this occasion, we will have to find another use for these!

This spaghetti was really easy and quick to make, something good to have on stand by for when you don't fancy spending too much time slaving over a hot stove. You can also alter the dish to your taste.



Serves 2

Ingredients:

  • 250g Gluten Free Spaghetti
  • 1 - 2 tablespoons of  Pesto *
  • 200 - 250 g cooking bacon, chopped (you can easily substitute this for back or streaky bacon)
  • Salt and Pepper
  • Approx 50 g of hard cheese, grated
  • Oil

Method:

  1. Cook the spaghetti according the instructions on the packet.
  2. While the spaghetti is cooking cook the bacon on a medium heat until cooked through and crispy. Add the pesto to the pan and stir through. 
  3. Drain the spaghetti.
  4. Add the bacon mixture to the pan with the spaghetti and toss through. Add the grated hard cheese and stir through. 
* There is pesto available in a jar, but you can make your own which is fairly easy to make. You can find an example recipe from the BBC Good Food Website here.



09/09/2013

Butterbean Pate


I've seen quite a few bean dips and pates on the internet before  and a few weeks ago I found some cheap tinned beans in B&M. They were 29 p a tin, so I decided to buy a few tins. As I was having a large dinner that day, I didn't want something overly filling for lunch. I decided to make a bean pate, as I also had some leftover gluten free crispbreads (which I absolutely love!). It was so quick and easy to make, as well as being tasty that it's definitely something I'll be making again.


Ingredients:

1 tin of butter beans, drained
15 g grated Parmesan (you can add this to your taste)
Juice of 1/2 lemon
1 pinch of garlic salt (easily substituted for minced garlic and salt)
Pepper

Method:
  1. Add all of the ingredients to a food processor (I actually used a mini chopper), add a little water if the mixture is too stiff.
  2. Once it is a nice smooth consistency (do not over mix), serve with crackers or crispbreads!

08/09/2013

Menu 08/09/13 - 14/09/13

I saw the Lamb shoulder when shopping last week and couldn't resist buying it, we don't often buy Lamb and thought it would be nice to have a Sunday roast with it. We'll be braising the meat, as it should make it nice, tender and flavoursome with the roast dinner later today.

 Since going gluten free, I've not really had stuffing much (apart from when I made chestnut stuffing at Christmas) and as Asda seem to have extended their free from range, I can now buy Mrs Crimbles free from stuffing so I will tell you what I think of this after I have used it. It may sound silly, but I'm really looking forward to trying this stuffing!

I also want to make the most of the leftovers so we have plans for these too but we will see how much we have left after we've had our dinner.


Menu 08/09/13 - 14/09/13

Lamb Roast with Roast Potatoes and vegetables

Bacon, Cherry Tomato and Pesto Spaghetti

Goats Cheese and Spinach Frittata

Jerk Chicken with Rice and Peas (Kidney Beans & Coconut milk), vegetables

Jacket Potatoes with Cheesy Beans & Bacon

Leftover Lamb and Potato Pie Served with Mixed Vegetables

Pork Stir Fry

Breakfast: Cereal, Fruit and Yoghurt, Banana, Toast, Bacon, Eggs, Pancakes
Lunch: Ham Salad, Egg & Bacon / Ham / Salad Sandwiches , Leftovers
Snacks: Bananas, Clementines
Leftovers:  Rice, Flour, Frozen Spinach, Jacket Potatoes, Tuna, Jerk Paste, Coconut Milk, Tinned Fruit, Yoghurt, Flour

Shopping List

Bananas 7 (approx 1.535 kg) £1.04
Clementines £1.75
Spring Onions £0.50
Cucumber £0.50
3 Mixed Peppers £1.00
Lettuce £1.00
Milk £1.00
2 kg Desiree Potatoes £2.00
Broccoli £0.60
Carrots x 2 £0.30
Free From Bread £1.75
Fine Beans 90 g £0.50
Free From Stuffing Mix £1.98
Green Pesto £1.00
Onions £1.00
Cherry Tomatoes £1.00
Cooking Bacon £0.81
15 Smart Price Eggs £1.35
Goats Cheese £1.28
Extra Mature Cheese £2.00
Baked Beans £0.56
Salad Meat £3.00
Stir Fry Vegetables £1.00
Pork Loin Steaks £2.00
Organic Corn Flakes £1.48
Cereal £2.00
Mayonnaise £1.18
Smart Price Orange Juice £0.65
Smart Price Chicken Portions £1.69
Lamb Stock Cubes £1.00
Kidney Bean £0.27
Total £37.19

Also, if anyone has any easy recipes for home made stuffing, please feel free to share them.