Innehållsförteckning för March 2016 från Easy Cook

We know how expensive food can be and how much pressure it puts on your family budget. But here at Easy Cook we truly believe you can eat cheaply without compromising on taste and nutrition. That’s why we’re devoting this issue to being thrifty, with oodles of ideas to help you save money on your supermarket shopping bill (p22) and inspiration for delicious dishes all your family and friends will enjoy. We have meals for less than £1 a head (p8), tips to make the most of your freezer (p32), suggestions for moreish microwave dishes (p42) and recipes to double-up the value of ingredients. Of course, some things are simply worth splashing out on, and that’s why we have plenty of ways to treat mum this Mother’s Day. So why…

$GCPU›CTG›C›OWUV›JCXG›EWRDQCTF›KPITGFKGPV››6JG[’TG› good for you, cheap to buy and will keep for ages Better-than-baked beans with spicy wedges • Serves 2 • Prep 10 mins • Cook 35 mins • 96p a portion • 399 kcals, 11g fat, 2g sat. fat, 15g sugar 1 tsp oil1 onion, halved and thinly sliced2 rashers streaky bacon, chopped1 tsp sugar, brown if you have it400g can chopped tomatoes200ml stock from a cube410g can cannellini beans, butter orharicot beans in water FOR THE WEDGES 1 tbsp white flour (plain or self-raising)½ tsp cayenne pepper, paprika or mildchilli powder1 tsp dried mixed herb (optional)2 baking potatoes, each cut into 8 wedges2 tsp oil 1 Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. For the wedges, mix the flour, cayenne and herbs (if using), add some salt and pepper,…

SHOPPING Before you head out •› /CMG C NKUV – it does take time but › › › will cut down on unnecessary buys. •› 2NCP›[QWT›RCEMGF›NWPEJGU for the week when doing a big shop – it’ll save you money in the long run. • &Q›OQPVJN[›UJQRU and buy basics like pasta, rice, cereal and frozen goods, then each week you’ll just need to pick up a few fresh ingredients. When you get home •› 4GOQXG›HQQF›HTQO›RNCUVKE›YTCRRKPI›› It keeps much longer when stored on a plate V›ÛiÀi ›Ü›Ì››V››o}›w››°›7À>«››iÀLÛ›o› >›«› kitchen paper and keep them in the fridge. •› $G›UOCTV›YKVJ›UVQTCIG›7›Ì››£È¯››v›>››› vegetables and salad being thrown away, correct storage is key. Veg that’s hidden at the bottom of the fridge can be easily forgotten. Make sure you can see it and use up old stuff…

Tortillas will freeze for up to 2 months if VJG[’TG›YGNN›YTCRRGF Chicken & bean enchiladas • Serves 10 • Prep 20 mins • Cook 50 mins • £1.33 a portion • 490 kcals, 21g fat, 9g sat. fat, 10g sugar 3 tbsp olive oil2 red onions, sliced2 red peppers, sliced3 red chillies, 2 deseeded and chopped,1 slicedsmall bunch coriander, stalks finelychopped, leaves roughly chopped –plus extra to serve (optional)2 garlic cloves, crushed1 tbsp ground coriander1 tbsp cumin seeds6 skinless chicken breasts, cut into smallchunks415g can refried beans198g can sweetcorn, drained700ml bottle passata1 tsp golden caster sugar10 tortillas2 x 142ml pots soured cream200g cheddar, grated 1 Heat 2 tbsp of the oil in your largest pan, then fry the onions, peppers, chopped chilli and coriander stalks with half the garlic for 10…

Bacon & bean casserole • Serves 1 • Prep 15 mins plus standing • Cook 3 mins • 80p a portion • 444 kcals, 26g fat, 6g sat. fat, 17g sugar 1 fat garlic clove, crushed50g onions, chopped1 tbsp olive oil50g streaky bacon, diced½ carrot, finely sliced or grated¼ tsp mixed dried herbs, or a littlefresh thyme or rosemary100g baked beans1 tbsp tomato purée¼ chicken stock cube 1 In a microwaveable bowl, toss together the garlic and onion in the oil with a small pinch of salt. Add the bacon and microwave on High for 30-40 secs to soften the onion and garlic, and gently crisp the bacon. Tip in the carrot, herbs, baked beans and tomato purée, 1 tbsp water and stock cube. 2 Cover with cling film and…

Based in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, Donald Russell specialise in the very best naturally reared, premium grass-fed beef. It is hung to mature for up to 35 days to allow the rich natural y>ÛoÕÀÛÌo› iÛi›o«›>› ›voÀ›Ì›i› meat to become incredibly juicy and tender. Then their butchers expertly cut and trim it by hand ››Ìo›Ì›i›w›iÃÌ›VÕÌÛov›}oÕÀ›iÌ› steak you've ever tasted. Finally, each cut is vacuum packed and professionally frozen to lock in the y>ÛoÕÀ]›LivoÀi›Li››}› i››ÛiÀi › to your door on a day to suit you. The Traditional Steak Selection • 2 Sirloin Steaks 190g each • 2 Ribeye Steaks 190g each • 1 Pavé Rump Steak 150g • 4 Pavé Rump Medallions in pack of 4, pack weight 240g • 6 Mini Steak Burgers in pack of 6, pack weight 270g • 4 Pork…

Flourless dark chocolate cake • Serves 10 • Prep 25 mins • Cook 40-45 mins • 46p a portion 250g butter, diced, plus extra forgreasing375g dark chocolate (70% cocoa solids),broken into small pieces7 eggs, plus 1 extra egg yolk375g caster sugarwhipped cream or crème fraîche,raspberries, toasted nuts and/orgrated chocolate, to serve (optional) 1 Heat oven to 140C/120C fan/gas 1. Lightly grease a 23cm springform cake tin with butter and line the base and sides with non-stick baking parchment. Set the tin aside while you make the cake. 2 Put the butter and chocolate into a heatproof bowl and place over a saucepan of barely simmering water, making sure the bottom of the bowl is not touching the water. Allow to melt, then stir until smooth. Remove the bowl from the…

‘I don't know anyone who doesn’t love this pudding!’ Gregg Bread & butter pudding • Serves 4 • Prep 15 mins plus soaking • Cook 1 hr 10 mins • 99p a portion • 713 kcals, 31g fat, 18g sat. fat, 35g sugar 50g soft butter, plus extra for greasing12 slices slightly stale white bread,crusts removed4 tbsp sultanas1 tsp ground cinnamon400ml whole milk100ml double cream4 tbsp caster sugar2 beaten eggs› tsp freshly grated nutmegdouble cream or ice cream, to serve 1 Grease a large ovenproof dish. Butter the bread and cut each slice into 4 small triangles. Place a layer on the bottom of the dish, then sprinkle over some of the sultanas and cinnamon. Repeat the layers this way until you run out of bread. 2 Put the milk…

Want to get ahead? Make the soup the day before and reheat just before serving. You can also make the dumplings a day in advance Watercress soup with bacon dumplings • Serves 6 • Prep 30 mins • Cook 30 mins • £1.15 a portion • 306 kcals, 12g fat, 5g sat. fat, 6g sugar 25g butter2 garlic cloves, crushed2 onions, finely chopped4 large floury potatoes (about 800g),chopped into small cubes200g watercress, leaves picked andstalks chopped2 tbsp fresh horseradish, grated (about25g unpeeled weight)1½ litres vegetable stockolive oil, for drizzling (optional) FOR THE DUMPLINGS 8 streaky bacon rashers, finely chopped3 tbsp fresh breadcrumbssmall pack flat-leaf parsley, finelychopped 1 To make the dumplings, mix the bacon with the breadcrumbs and parsley. Shape into 18 balls – the bacon fat will hold the…

6JG›URKE[› VWTMG[›OKPEG› OKZVWTG KP › › VJKU TGEKRG› › ECP DG › ›› HTQ\GP›KH›[QW› JCXG›UQOG› NGHV›QXGT› Seasonal food ideas News snippets Kitchen must-haves +PITGFKGPV›QH›VJG›OQPVJ› Celeriac It’s the round veg with knobbly skin. To prepare it, you need to peel away the very thick skin, so buy quite a large one so you end up with a decent amount of yiÛ›Ìo›ÕÃi°›"›Vi›«ii›i ]›Ì›i›Ü››Ìi›yiÛ› will brown quickly, so if you’re not using it straight away be sure to place it in water. Try it in this tasty recipe... 6CPI[›VWTMG[›UNQRR[›LQGU›YKVJ›EGNGTKCE›UNCY› Heat 1 tbsp QKN in a large frying pan. Add 1 TGF›QPKQP, chopped, and 2 ICTNKE› ENQXGU, chopped. Season and cook for 5 mins. Add 500g VWTMG[›OKPEG›and cook until browned. Add 1 tsp each of› ITQWPF›EWOKP›and JQV›RCRTKMC, 2 tbsp DTQYP›UWICT and 125ml EKFGT›XKPGICT, and…

Pork & bulghar stuffed peppers • Serves 4 • Prep 10 mins • Cook 30 mins • £1.11 a portion • 185 kcals, 6g fat, 2g sat. fat, 9g sugar 4 peppers, halved and cores removed200g minced pork1 garlic clove, crushed2 tsp ground cumin1 tsp paprika50g bulghar wheat250ml vegetable stock½ small bunch parsley, chopped(keep a couple of tbsp for the dip, left) 1 Put the peppers, cut-side down, on a plate and microwave on High for 4 mins until cooked through (but not so soft they collapse). If they need longer, microwave for 1 min more and repeat until done. 2 Put the pork in a cold frying pan and turn on the heat. Fry, breaking up any lumps, until it starts to brown. Stir in the garlic and spices…

Roast chicken soup • Serves 4 • Prep 15 mins • Cook 35 mins • £1.04 a portion • 339 kcals, 13g fat, 3g sat. fat, 11g sugar soup only 1 tbsp olive oil2 onions, chopped3 medium carrots, chopped1 tbsp thyme leaves, roughly chopped1.4 litres chicken stock300g leftover roast chicken, shreddedand skin removed200g frozen peas3 tbsp Greek yogurt1 garlic clove, crushedsqueeze lemon juice 1 Heat oil in a large heavy-based pan. Add onions, carrots and thyme, then gently fry for 15 mins. Stir in stock, bring to a boil, cover, then simmer for 10 mins. 2 Add the chicken, remove half the mixture, then purée with a stick blender. Tip back into the pan with the rest of the soup, peas and seasoning, then simmer for 5 mins. Mix the…

RICE My top storecupboard ingredient would Li›ÀoVi°››Ì½Ã››ÕV››››Ài›ÛiÀÃ>Ìo›i›Ì›>››«i›«›i›Ì›o››› q›Þ›Õ›V>›››>›i›>›ÀoÛÌÌ›]›«>i››>]›>›«o›>v››À›ÀoVi› «Õ o›}°››Ì½Ã›V›i>«›>Ì›{ä«›«iÀ››o››] too. People might say you should Li›i>Ìo›}›LÀ›Ü›]›LỠ̛iÀi›>Ài› plenty of worse things out there. CHOPPED TOMATOES ››}››o›Ì››>›LoÌ››v›>›«>›oV›ov››› ››½Ì››>Ûi› chopped tomatoes to hand. You can L›oÌâ›Ì›i››Õ«›o›Ì››>›Ã›Õ«]››>›i›>›«>ÃÌ>› Ã>ÕVi]›VÕÀÀÞ››À›>›Ì>}o›i°›-››ov››½Ûi›}›Ì›>› V>›››v›Ì››>Ì›iÛo››Ì›i›››ÕÃi››½››}›› › Ì›››>›i› o››iÀ°››››››>̛̛i›«ÀoVi]›Ì››°› 30p for a good quality tin of tomatoes q›››Ü›Ì›>̽Û>›L>À}>o›° DARK CHOCOLATE You only need a couple of squares to get a really }›› ›Õ› iÀ›Þo›}›Ì>ÃÌi›o››V›o››oiÃ]› stews or cakes. You can also dice it up and spread it onto some white toast in the morning – lovely. BOOZE You can get cooking wine from supermarkets for around £1 – it'll add depth to your cooking. Four cans of beer are a quid from most ÃÕ«iÀ›>À›iÌ›Û>›Õi›À>›}ið››Ì½Ã››>ÃÌÞ› stuff to drink but great in a casserole. WOODY HERBS I always have a woody herb on…

Teriyaki wings • Serves 6 • Prep 10 mins plus marinating • Cook 1 hr • £1.55 per portion 350ml soy sauce300g sugar175ml pineapple juice120ml vegetable oil2 garlic cloves, finely chopped1½ tbsp finely chopped fresh ginger1.8kg chicken wings, halved at thejoints, tips removed wings and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 4 hrs. Preheat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 5. 2 Remove the chicken from the marinade and arrange on 2 baking sheets lined with foil. Bake for about 1 hr, or until the juices run clear when the thickest part is pierced to the bone. Dip in… Green onion–ranch dipping sauce In a blender, mix 225ml soured cream, 225g mayonnaise, 35g spring onions, 1 tbsp parsley, 1 garlic clove and 1 tsp Dijon mustard and serve. Buttermilk-crumbed wings…

Egg-in-the-hole smoked salmon & avocado toastie • Serves 1 • Prep 10 mins • Cook 10 mins • £2.68 a portion • 415 kcals, 24g fat, 7g sat. fat, 2g sugarknob of butter2 slices white bread› ripe avocado› lemon, plus a wedge to servehandful watercress1 large eggfew slices smoked salmon 1 Heat a large frying pan over a medium heat. Butter both sides of each slice of bread, then cut a large heart (or circle) out of the centre of one slice using a knife or biscuit cutter. Place the slices of bread, including the cut-out piece, into the frying pan and cook for 2 mins until golden. While the bread is cooking, slice the avocado and squeeze over the lemon juice. Toss the watercress in a little lemon juice,…

‘Don’t be put off by the anchovies – they’re good for seasoning lamb and YQPoV›VCUVG›CV›CNN››UJ[o Slow-roast shoulder of lamb with anchovy & rosemary • Serves 6 • Prep 10 mins • Cook 4 hrs • £1.83 a portion • 535 kcals, 41g fat, 19g sat. fat, 3g sugar 4 rosemary sprigs, leaves removed4 garlic cloves, crushed1 tbsp capers, finely chopped3 anchovy fillets in oil, drained andfinely chopped2 tbsp olive oil2 whole lemons1› kg shoulder of lamb, on the bone2 red onions, cut into wedgessmall glass white wine 1 Heat oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3. Finely chop the rosemary, then mix with the garlic, capers, anchovies, olive oil and zest and juice of 1 lemon, reserving the used lemon halves. Make 3-4 slashes across the top of the shoulder, then rub…

Minced beef Wellington • Serves 8 • Prep 20 mins • Cook 1 hr 20 mins • £1.71 a portion • 640 kcals, 45g fat, 20g sat. fat, 7g sugar uncooked 1kg minced beef100g tomato ketchup4 eggs3 onions, finely chopped3 garlic cloves, finely choppedsmall handful sage, choppedhandful parsley, chopped25g butter200g mushrooms, finely chopped500g pack puff pastry 1 Mix the beef with the ketchup, 3 eggs, seasoning and 100ml water in a table-top mixer for 5 mins – or squeeze and squelch with your hands in a bowl. Mix in the onions, half the garlic and herbs. Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/ gas 6. Press the meat into a sausage shape about 30cm x 10cm on a baking tray. Cook for 20 mins. 2 Heat the butter in a frying pan…

Banana, walnut & chocolate chip loaf • Serves 8 • Prep 15 mins • Cook 1 hr 5 mins • 61p a portion • 578 kcals, 28g fat, 13g sat. fat, 50g sugar 4 ripe banana, peeled250g caster sugar2 egg140g softened butter250g plain flour2 tsp baking powder100g walnut pieces100g chocolate chips 1 Heat oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. Line a 900g/2lb loaf tin with baking parchment. In a large bowl, mash together the bananas and the sugar with the back of a fork. Add the eggs and mix well with an electric hand whisk until fully incorporated, then add the butter and mix for a couple mins more to blend everything together. Sieve in the flour and baking powder and fold together with a spatula, then add the walnuts and…

We love the affordable bakes and sweet treats busy blogger Sophie ("UQRJKGAAIKDDQPU›› makes›for her family. Family food writer Katie›› ›"EQQMKPIMV› is a good source of inspiration if you want to make everyday meals more exciting. Gerry on Facebook loved the Mushroom & basil omelette from our September issue. 9G›F›NQXG›VQ›UGG›[QWT›RKEU› Find us on (CEGDQQM (BBC Easy Cook), or +PUVCITCO (@easycookmag)…

Italians lightly coat their pasta instead of drowning it with sauce. This way, the dish has fewer calories and less fat Spaghetti carbonara • Serves 4 • Prep 10 mins • Cook 20 mins • £2.25 a portion 2 tbsp butter100g pancetta or thick-cut bacon, diced1 clove garlic350g spaghetti2 eggs, beaten40g freshly grated Parmesan40g freshly grated pecorino 1 Melt the butter in a large saucepan, add the pancetta and garlic, and cook for 5 mins, or until the garlic turns brown. Remove and discard the garlic. Continue to cook the pancetta for another 5 mins. 2 Meanwhile, cook the spaghetti in a large saucepan of salted, boiling water until al dente, then drain and add to the pancetta. 3 Remove the pan from the heat, pour in the eggs, add…

Lemon & hazelnut biscuits • Makes 35 • Prep 10 mins plus chilling • Cook 15 mins • 9p a biscuit • 113 kcals, 6.9g fat, 3.8g sat. fat, 7g sugar 250g butter, at room temperature240g icing sugar2 tbsp grated lemon rind150g plain flour75g self-raising flour50g ground hazelnuts2-3 tsp lemon juice20g candied lemon, to decorate(optional) 1 Heat oven to 150C/130C fan/gas 3. Line three baking trays with baking paper. 2 Using an electric mixer, beat butter and 140g icing sugar until light and fluffy. Stir in lemon rind. Work in flours and hazelnut meal gradually, until a dough forms. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill for 1 hr. 3 Pinch off › tbsps of dough and roll into balls. Place on prepared trays about 5cm apart and flatten slightly with…

School holiday pizzas • Makes 6 x 20cm, or 10-12 smaller pizzas • Prep 30 mins • Cook 15 mins • £1.63 per 20cm pizza • 341 kcals, 5g fat, 1g sat. fat, 3g sugar per 20cm pizza (without topping) uncooked WHAT YOU NEED Scales2-3 large mixing bowlsWooden spoonCling filmBox grater or garlic crusherMeasuring spoonsMeasuring jugFlour dredger (not essential)Rolling pinBaking traysSmall bowls for toppingsPastry brushScissorsChopping board FOR THE DOUGH 500g strong white bread flour,plus extra for dustingsmall pinch of sugar7g sachet fast-action dried yeast2 tbsp olive oil, plus extra forgreasing300ml warm water FOR THE SAUCE 1 garlic clove400ml chunky passata1 tbsp tomato purée1 tsp dried oreganohandful basil leaves, snippedsmall pinch of sugar1 tsp red wine vinegar FOR THE TOPPINGS ham, red peppers, black olives,salami, mozzarella, cherrytomatoes, cheddar, tuna,sweetcornhoumous & green…