I think Saint Hugh of RiverCottage is going to save me £120 this month!

[deaconblue]

Last week we had 4 veggie meals, 2 fish and a braising steak stew on Sunday, I made 2 soups from his veg book too. The week's shop was £94 (previous weeks had been £130 and £140, we average £130). This week I've planned 5 veggie meals, 1 fish and sausages on Sunday and another 2 soups and the week's shop comes to £93ish! I've also decided to cut out buying processed snacks so haven't bought mini cheddars or biscuits and have made home made cheese and ham muffins, and pitta with hummus for kids' snacks instead. At this rate we will be £120 better off at the end of this month.

Dh is finding he is more farty than usual though

The squash & chickpea stew reheats beautifully with a little water - DD and I had it for lunch with eggy bread, I made patties out of the leftover dhal and DD had those with fishfingers and veg for her tea.

So out of a half portion of both dishes I managed the bulk of 3xadult meals 4x toddler meals and 2x toddler portions in the freezer.

Am now off to bed with the book and a notepad :)

I'm going to try the squash and chickpea stew because I have all the ingredients except the red lentils, it'll just have to be green lentils instead.

I thought the dahl recipe looked as if it might be a bit bland. Is it?

Has anyone tried any of his salads at all??

I'm waiting for summer to try the salads, not tempting until the sun is blazing!

Tahini dressed courgette salad was delicious. We also loved the squash, fennel and spelt salad ( we used pearl barley) was really lovely, bit risotto-esque

Dahl was lovely but I cooked it slowly and for some time, just exquisite. We cooked the squash stew in the tagine (a brilliant utensil).

Cooking pinto bean chilli for tonight, the frittata last night was nice but I didn't have enough eggs so it was a bit dry. I think I need to combo, so we have a protein meal and then one of the salads on the side.

I have agreed with DH (who is a carnivore) that we will have 4 vege meals a week, with him having 3 meat evenings, and DD and I having meat/fish. I used to be vegetarian (or pescetarian?) and I do feel my love of cooking returning this week with Hugh's cookbook. The colour and the smell, the spices and the flavour! Sorry, waxing lyrical but this is fast becoming my favourite cookbook ever, and DD really really loves the food too. We're trying the vegetable biryani on Saturday, and I will hopefully get a chance to make flatbreads too.

The chickpea and squash stew was tasting nice until I added the pasta, what a mistake, it has to be a misprint! I might make it again in the futur but without the pasta, and I think I'd roast the squash first to get a nicer texture and flavour.

I just wanted to say a big thank you to the op for starting this thread as I purchased this book and I love it! And we are big meat eaters in this house. This evening I made the cauliflower and chickpea curry which was gorgeous! I did make some additions though, I added a little curry powder and a little byriani paste. I also finished it off with spinach.
I was so impressed with how good it tasted! Both of my boys who are 1 and 3 also ate it. My dp had to add some chicken to his though lol :-)

Tonight we tried the kale speltotto with goat's cheese but without the kale (!) and using pearl barley. It was really nice although I'm not sure I'll use goat's cheese next time, I think Parmesan would be nicer.

We had it with the caramelised carrots with gremola, also yummy, but next time I'll be popping them back in the oven for five minutes with the gremola mixture on them as the raw garlic was just a bite too strong.

DH also did a nice juicy steak which went beautifully with the two dishes!

Have just down the macaroni peas and they were delicious, DD ate huge amounts and kept saying yum (she only has three words and that ones new) DH a bit more unsure but he is a die hard carnivore and desperately hoping this vege book is a phase!

Question. The spinish and thyme pasties, one cooked how long do you think they would keep? Ty

Did the fennel and squash lasagna again last night, substituted half the fennel for onions (prepared in the same way) for DH's half and he loved it. I also infused the milk with a couple of leeks cut up into chunks. When I assembled the dish I mixed the onion and leeks from the milk with the fennel and it was delicious.

Kale and mushroom lasange last night - it was truly scrumptious!!! I'll definitely be cooking that again.

However, I think I agree with some people on here who have suggested that the portion sizes are a bit small. The recipe said it served 6 and there were only 4 of us (all adults) and DH and my dad were still a little hungry. I advise bread, salad or maybe a dessert if serving to guests.

Really yummy though and I througherly recommend it!

I've made the spicy merguez potatoes, the dressed lentils, roast squash foldovers and honey roast tomatoes. All delicious, though I ended up mixing some of the roast tomatoes into the lentils for an extra flavour boost.

DH has been away with two of the dc for the past week, so when he gets back I'm dying to try some more.

Was going to make the pistachio dukka tonight, but forgot to buy the bloody sesame seeds. Spouffle and kale lasagne next on the list to make.

I absolutely love the book, I think it will transform the way I cook (and I am a trained chef and committed carnivore).

Oooh, also made the patatas bravas, yummy, though I added smoked paprika rather than sweet to the sauce.

I made another frittata last night and it worked brilliantly, DH had leftover African stew with his and I had some caponata. I made the stew Monday night but chopped the squash very small and halved the amunt adding in courgettes to make up the veg quota.

When I made the caponata I blended half the cooked aubergines and that thickened the sauce beautifully. However it seems I am the only one who will eat it! Yum yum

Not from book but river cottage website- have just made his simnel cakelets......not sure they will get iced as they may not live long enough- delicious!!!! And great fun with the kids! A lovely Easter recipe. But do love his book!! What a lovely thread!

deaconblue Fri 17-Feb-12 17:17:11
Every now and then my dc persuade me to make pancakes on a school morning. I unfailingly regret it and turn into shouty, rushed mother. Really need to make a pancakes only on weekends rule and stick to it.

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You know, you could make the mixture the night before and leave in the fridge. Just give it a good stir in the morning before you use it

Chard/spinach and potato curry- has anyone tried? I've got it on this weeks menu plan along with pasta and greens and also chachouka. Mmmmm.

Haven't made the curry, but have just made the carrot hummus for lunch, which was delicious.

Have also made the mushroom risionotto thingy, divine. Wasn't crazy about the spouffle, found it a little stodgy and bland.

We've had the carrot hummous too, with the parsnip and ginger soup and some homemade flatbreads.
I did the new potato, tomato and hard boiled egg salad the other night, except I left out the eggs. We had it as a side for asian roast salmon so I didn't think they were needed.
We enjoyed it, the dressing was lovely.

Netto, you need to try the tahini dressed salad - bloody delicious!

I have honey cherry tomatoes roasting the oven right now, going to serve on crostini for a light dinner.

I really must Shoppingbags.
I've a Simon Hopkinson recipe for tahini dressed aubergines I want to try too.
I love tahini and always have some in the cupboard.

As much as I find HFW annoying, I love this book, along with his meat one and am planning on ordering his fish one too. tomorrow