Fruit crumble

Any fruit works in a crumble, but I love tinned fruit as you don't need to stew it first. On this occasion I used peach and pineapple.

Ingredients (serves 4)
120g plain flour
80g butter
80g caster sugar
20g porridge oats
Ground nutmeg or other spice
1 tin sliced peaches, drained
150g pineapple chunks

* put the flour and 1/2 tsp of your choice of spice in a mixing bowl and add the butter, chopped into cubes.
* using your fingertips, rub the butter and flour together until the mixture resembles bread crumbs
* stir in the sugar and oats
* tip the fruit into an ovenproof dish and sprinkle over the crumble topping
* bake at 190C for 30 minutes
Best served with custard or cream

Sausages and Lentils

I came across this recipe in this month's Tesco magazine. It's quick, easy and satisfying.

Ingredients (serves 2)
4 sausages, any type but I used Cumberland
1 tin green lentils, drained and rinsed
1 tin chopped tomatoes
1/2 onion, chopped
1/2 red pepper, sliced
Herbs etc of choice - paprika, thyme, oregano, black pepper
1/2 tsp vegetable oil

* heat the oil in a pan, add the sausages and cook for around 10 minutes, turning regularly so they brown on all sides
* add the onion and pepper and cook for a further 5 minutes to soften
* tip in the lentils and tomatoes, add your choice of herbs and seasoning and cook for around 5 minutes or until the sauce thickens

Nutritional info:
Calories: 449, Carbs: 33g, Fat: 24g, Protein: 25g

Tarting up the basics 2

Another cheap and cheerful dinner option

Ingredients
1 tin meatballs in tomato sauce
2 mushrooms
1/2 onion
Clove of garlic, crushed
Tomato ketchup
Dried Herbs, eg basil, thyme

* heat a little oil and fry the chopped mushroom and onion for a minute or so
* add the garlic then the tin of meatballs
* Add a good squirt of ketchup and whatever herbs you fancy
* heat through for a few minutes then serve

Tarting up the basics

I'm a big fan of supermarket value ranges. Being on a fairly tight budget, they are an absolute life saver and 'basic' doesn't have to mean boring.

A fave easy dinner involves livening up a tin of value chicken in white sauce.

Ingredients (serves 2 or 3)
1 can value chicken in white sauce
1 small onion
1 clove garlic
5 mushrooms
1/2 tbsp wholegrain mustard
Slosh of white wine (optional)
Salt and pepper
Oil

* heat a little oil in a pan, and lightly fry the chopped onion and garlic for a couple of minutes
* Add the mushrooms, then slosh in some white wine, if using.
* Add the tin of chicken and heat through
* Add the mustard and season to taste.

We had it on tagliatelle. Really quick and easy, and much nicer than just heating up the tin on its own.

In praise of tinned fish

I always have tins of fish in my store cupboard as they are so useful for quick, easy meals.

Tuna is really versatile, as a sandwich filling, topping for a jacket potato, pasta sauce ingredient - the possibilities are endless!

I love anchovies, especially on pizza but they are also essential in a nicoise salad and work really well in bolognese sauce.

Sardines or pilchards in tomato sauce are my quickest lunch option. Warmed up, with a bit of sweetcorn and pepper, they are great on toast and that's what I had today.