Cheap Chicken Fajitas

We love a Mexican night in our house. It certainly helps with the decision of what to have for tea. As with my Banging Bargain Burritos, I wanted to show you with the same few spices you can make the fajitas without buying the kits. Don't forget to buy the wraps from the bread aisle, not the section near the Mexican food kits they do cost more. These are so tasty and can be altered to almost anybody's liking. Like B.B.Q fajitas? Use half B.B.Q sauce and half passata. Like them hot? Throw in some jalapenos or up the heat of the chilli powder. Play around with food and make it your own, experiment with flavours and involve the family. Have a themed night each week to help with tea ideas, we tried Mexican Monday, Meat free Wednesday and Fish Friday!

For the fajitas:

3 chicken fillets cut into strips

3 peppers sliced

2 red onions sliced

300ml passata 

3 tsp cumin

3 tsp garlic powder

3 tsp paprika

3 tsp mild chilli powder

Tbsp oil

Wraps

After you cut the chicken shake all the spices onto the meat to marinate for 30 minutes or more covered in the fridge.

In a frying pan with the oil fry off the chicken for 15 minutes.

Add the peppers, onions and passata and cook for a further 15 minutes until the sauce reduces.

Spoon the mixture into a warm serving dish and take to the table with the wraps, salad and trimmings for everyone to make their own.

Barbeque bean bake that won't break the bank

Try saying that after a few...Okay so this one is thanks to the fantastic Jamie Oliver and his money saving meals however I have tweaked it slightly and you are welcome to do the same. That's the secret to cooking, there is no right or wrong, just somebody else's way and yours! I also did this with Jamie's cheesy croutons (ciabatta torn into chunks, cheese grated over the top and oven for 20 minutes at 180) however, with the jacket potato as well, it was a bit too much for me. I would suggest these deliciously smoky, sweet beans with either the jacket potato and some salad, maybe as a spicy version of beans on toast with the ciabatta halved and grilled or throw in some sausages! Have fun with it, throw in the remains of the tomato pasta sauce that's been sitting in the fridge all week (I did) Also the best part, it's good for you! I used good old baked beans for this but you could use kidney, cannellini, mixed beans, any you like.

2 tins baked beans

2 carrots chopped

2 red onions sliced

500ml passata (It's just tomato sauce, use chopped tomatoes if you like)

100ml bbq sauce (I'm intrigued to know how brown sauce would taste with this too!)

Tsp cumin powder (Leave it out if you haven't got it)

Tsp chilli powder/flakes

1 and half tsp paprika

Rosemary

4 large potatoes 

Preheat the oven to 180

Pierce the potatoes, rub the skins in oil, sprinkle on some salt and place in the oven on a baking tray

Place the chopped carrots, onions, rosemary, spices and a drizzle of oil in a roasting tray and put in the oven for 20 minutes

They should be nice and sticky and soft

Pour on the beans, tomato and bbq sauce and give it all a stir before returning to the oven for 40 minutes

It should be reducing nicely now, stir it again (if you are having the croutons stick them in now) and return for 20 minutes when everything should be ready together. 

Don't blame me for the aftermath....you know what they say.....beans, beans good for the heart...

Posh nosh for less dosh!

Firstly, let me take this opportunity to thank you all for taking the time to read my posts and wish you all a very merry Christmas and a happy new year! I hope none of you are planning on rushing out and buying the latest exercise gimmicks for the new year, new you con, as I will be doing healthy lifestyle for less posts in January. As promised on my Facebook page, I'm going to share my goats cheese tart with you, definitely not for slimming this one. It's not the cheapest as the goats cheese was £1.70 per person however the end result is nothing short of spectacular (if you like goats cheese that is, otherwise it will be gross!) A child could put it together it's very simple. The onion relish is the perfect accompaniment. Another fancy looking meal that's easy to throw together for a special occasion costing very roughly £2.00 per person it's a cheap alternative to eating out!

4 circles of goats cheese
Block of puff pastry
4 small/med red onions
2 tbsp sugar (I use brown but white will work to)
2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
20g butter
Salad to serve

Preheat the oven to 200 and place a handful of salad on each plate

Stand the goats cheese on the rolled out puff pastry and cut a circle an inch wider than the cheese, as you can see I did a cheddar and tomato one for my son Chase
Scrunch (it's a technical term) the pastry around the sides of the cheese so it's surrounded
Season with pepper
Place in the oven for 30 minutes or until the cheese is golden
While the tarts are cooking slice your red onions and place them in a frying pan with the butter on a med/high heat

Add the sugar and balsamic and cook until sticky and soft

All that's left is to plate up make pretty and enjoy!

Toad out of the hole

If you enjoy toad in the hole but need to make it go that little bit further, then I have got just the thing for you! By simply slicing the sausages and serving them in gravy and adding some fried red onions to your Yorkshire pudding batter you can feed a few more with the same amount of sausages. We have literally just had this for tea and it was delicious!

2 red onions

200g plain flour
3 eggs
200ml milk

Preheat oven to 220
Place a large oven proof dish with 2 tbsp oil in the oven to heat
Fry red onions and leave to cool
In a bowl whisk the flour, eggs and milk
Mix the onions into the batter
Remove the dish from the oven and pour in the mixture
Leave for 25 minutes do NOT open the oven door to check it will sink
While this cooks grill your sausages and when the Yorkshire pudding has 5 minutes to go make your gravy (I just did bisto best) and slice your cooked sausage
Serve with the gravy on the onion pudding and whatever vegetables or potatoes you like.

Bonfire bangers 'n' mash with a twist

So we've got Halloween over with I hope you all had an amazing time now for bonfire night. I usually do chilli and jackets but you could give this a try if you have guests to feed, just have a load of creamy mash made up ready and keeping warm in the oven and cook your sausages as you need them. Who doesn't love sausage and mash! Well I will tell you how to make it even more tasty with the help of a red onion and some red wine. I know, I know...not many of us have leftover wine to cook with. I actually don't drink red so I buy the little bottles for £1 in Asda, or if my dad's been round and left some of his I steal that (sorry dad!). It really doesn't have to be expensive wine I've tried it with the cheapest and it was still as tasty. So here's my recipe for caramelised red onion gravy the perfect partner for bonfire bangers and mash! The quantities will make enough gravy for 4 so adjust accordingly. Enjoy!

2 large red onions sliced
Butter and oil for frying
Sugar white/brown if you have it tbsp
Flour heaped tbsp
1 small bottle red wine (or however much/little you fancy/is left)
1 pint beef stock (couple of oxos)

In a frying pan on a medium heat melt a knob of butter with a drizzle of oil and place sliced onions in pan with the sugar.
Cook for 15 mins until soft.
Add flour and stir in coating the onions.
Pour in your red wine and stock gradually stirring constantly and turn the heat up slightly so it bubbles.
Let it simmer for 5 mins until reduced slightly  and then serve when it's ready!