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

Swede with onion sage becoming a house favourite. Had it again last night, absolutely fantastic. Even DC think so!

I luuuurve his new veg book - haven't actually cooked anything from it yet but have BIG plans

Seriously am planning to do mushroom risionotto this week, tho don't think Aldi stock a huge selection of mushrooms!

I made the Parsnip and Ginger soup yesterday because we had parsnips in the veg box and I can't abide them - it is absolutely delicious, even to someone who hates parsnips!

Can you link to the book please, as a the main cook and veggie I would love some new meals which everyone will eat.

here

we've just had the spanokopita.

sounds really interesting - I would love to find a few veggie recipes that won't leave dh rooting around int he fridge for 'just a little something' (ie ham, or bacon, or sausages ) after we've eaten.

is it all a real faff to make, though? time is limited, and can't be doing with poncey faffing recipes....

AngelDog I think you are spot on about the protein. A lot of veggie food is aimed at dieters I found. When I cook vegetarian at home, I always go either carbs or protein heavy, or I just don't feel like I've had a proper meal.

forward - I am going to make the parsnip and ginger soup tomorrow, as the parsnips I got for the weekend did not get used!!! So pleased to hear it is good.....

This week we are having Vegeree and Pasta with greens and chilli....

marvin - it really isn't faffy, I've turned away from a couple of the recipes that look a bit that way, but to be honest, I'd say i'm prepared to try about 80% of the book - to me, that's a pretty high hit rate! And I am a sworn carnivore....

Marvin I agree with AnonymousBird, lots of simple stuff. Yesterday made artichoke and bean dip (with cheapish tinned artichokes in water rather than expensive ones in oil) for lunch and pinto bean chilli for dinner and DH only jokingly asked for meat twice

I love this book too! Especially the magic bread recipe, its the only bread recipe I have made that actually works! Made some dough yesterday, popped it in airing cupboard to rise then forgot about it. Knocked it back this morning, popped it in fridge as off to work. Then have made a whole batch of breadsticks with it. How long do you think you could keep the dough in the fridge for? Was wondering if I could keep it in there a few days, bake a few rolls each day?

Also, the biryani- how 'saucy' is yours? I took the lid off the curry part as it seemed so watery but think I might have made it too dry?

Just had the spicy carrot and chickpea pittas.
Bloody brilliant. And quick and easy. Another one that is more than the sum of its parts. I'm haranguing dh for not making more.

Had the pizza with new potatoes, rosemary and blue cheese tonight - was a nice change - we usually had this style of pizza with mozzarella. As for the biryani the liquid from the curry sauce was absorbed by the rice - it was dry but not unpleasantly so.

plusone I've kept the dough for 4 days and it was fine, no idea if it's ok for longer but it still feels fine. Generally make it for pizza first so there's not enough to keep any longer anyway.

Biryani shouldn't have sauce floating around at the bottom anyway (DH's grandmother cooked this for him alot when he was a kid but he agrees with addition of yoghurt to sauce). Very good with chutney of onions tomatoes chilli coriander lemon and salt just chopped up and mixed if you don't make a wetter curry to accompany.

glad someone mentioned the biriani, I think that might be on for us next week.

I always thought biriani should be fairly dry?

Parsnip soup day for me!

sounds brilliant - I have bought it after seeing this thread. I normally do a stuffed squash recipe of his which uses feta and bacon which is beautiful.

am tempted.
am a lapsed vegetarian.

is it available cheaper in paper back, or should cookery books be in hardback?

I doubt it will be out in paperback yet as it is quite new - maybe at a later date though I guess? Or I wonder if it won't be. It is £9.99 on amazon, free delivery - good discount really.

I hope you enjoy the parsnip soup AnonymousBird I probably should admit to having used a teaspoon of ground ginger instead of the fresh he uses.

I've just purchased it. It should arrive tomorrow.I can't wait to try out the recipes.

I made porotos granados for lunch. Really really nice. I love butternut soup but the sweet smoked paprika made it delicious

The chilli, rosemary and garlic fried polenta wedges with tomato sauce are delicious. Loving this book :)

We're having the sweet potato and peanut gratin tonight, first one Dh has tried. Will let you know...

I much prefer his recipes when his chefs cook them! They use recipes from his books in his canteens. Very tasty! I have the Everyday book, waiting for Dh to get round to buying the Veg one, good to hear som great recipes being used.