Super cheap batch cooking with TVP

TVP (or textured vegetable protein) is about £2 for a big bag from Holland & Barratt. It replaces minced beef (or other meat) in cooking. £2 of minced beef will make about 2 portions. £2 of TVP makes 28!!!!

Basic recipe (for 4 portions):

TVP
1 onion
2 garlic cloves
Tinned tomatoes

extras:
carrots
celery
courgettes
kidney beans
lentils
spices
herbs


Soak 50g TVP in 150ml water for about 10 mins.

Chop and gently cook 1 onion & 2 cloves of garlic. with a bit of salt and pepper.  If you want to squeeze some veg in, now is the time to add a finely chopped carrot and 2 celery sticks. Then add the mince and a tin of chopped tomatoes.  It's that simple.

Now you can turn it into all sorts of things. To make it a bit 'meatier', add an OXO cube, a teaspoon of marmite or some dark sauce such as Worcestershire, Soy or Tamarind.

If you add a tin of red kidney beans, some chilli powder and serve it with rice, you have Chilli.

Add peas and carrots (or any other veg), cover in mashed potato and cook in the oven until golden, it's cottage pie.

Herb it up with some oregano and serve it with spaghetti and you have bolognese.

Layer your bolognese with white sauce, cheese and pasta sheets and it's suddenly a lasagna.

Cook it with diced potatoes, swedes or turnips and wrap it in pastry and it's a pasty.

You can add pretty much any spices or herbs to change the seasoning and then bulk it out with different veg or pulses and completely change the meal.

Instant ice cream

Suddenly got the urge for some ice cream? Easy. As long as you have a stash of frozen fruit! Whenever you have fruit that you are unlikely to eat before it goes weird (or just buy a bit extra for emergencies such as this!), chop it up and put it in a freezer bag. You'll be very pleased with yourself when you get the ice cream urge. There's no need for fancy ice cream makers or a big freezer- my freezer compartment of the fridge is tiny and regularly freezes up but there is always space for this since I've discovered it.

1 bag of frozen fruit

A dollop of yoghurt

A drizzle of honey

Bung it in a food processor and whizz it. Then eat it. Simples. And with a clear conscience as this recipe is actually good for you!

Fruit ideas:

Those juicy little flat peaches

Strawberries

Bananas

Mango

Tangerine segments

Plums

Pineapple

Try combinations and experiment with additions such as chopped nuts, a tiny bit of orange flower or rose water, lemon juice, smashed biscuits...the possibilities are endless. You can also make up bags of these things and put in a blender with some milk for a smoothie. 

P.s. soft fruit works better. Harder things like apples and pears don't really whizz up very smoothly.

P.p.s. A food processor may seem like an expensive gadget. I didn't have one for years but recently found a cheap one in Argos on special offer and totally wished I'd invested in one earlier. I have saved so much time and waste since. It basically cost the same as a night out. I used that night in to make homemade mayo, super fast pastry for a quiche and, of course, instant ice cream. Cunning.

Dhal and Rice

This is super easy.  And takes very little time. My recipe may not be wildly accurate or authentic but it does the job.


1 onion, sliced
2 cloves of garlic, minced
a thumb sized bit of fresh ginger, minced
2 mugfuls of red lentils
1 tsp turmeric
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp ground coriander
2 tomatoes, chopped
1 chilly, finely chopped (optional)

Rice


Cook the onions slowly in a bit of oil on a medium to low heat until really soft but not burnt.

Add the garlic and spices and stir well.  Add the tomatoes.

Rinse and add the lentils and cover with water so that the lentils are about an inch under the water.

Cook some rice (however you do it and depending on the type of rice)

Cook the dhal until the lentils have broken down and absorbed the water, stirring from time to time and adding more water if needed. It takes about 20 minutes. Add the chilli in near the end if you are using it.

Serve over the rice. It's really good with some yoghurt and chopped coriander if you have some.