Lockdown Budget Meals

BUDGET MEALS

By Joanna Dalene

Lockdown has been quite an emotional experience for me, because I love being outdoors and creating new experiences. It also had an impact on my finances which meant I had to cut down on my grocery list. I was faced with the challenge to make a little go a long way. Budget cooking has always been a part of me, however during the lockdown I was forced to go even beyond that. A lady close to me always told me “before you cook, pray over your pot”. And that is the secret ingredient in my kitchen. I hope that these two simple meals bless you and your family as much as it did mine. I challenge you to add your favourite lockdown recipe to my list and send it to family and friends.

BEAN CURRY (6 HAPPY TUMMIES)

Ingredients

• 2 tins Koo Sugar beans in brine • 1 Onion • 1 Tomato, grated • 1/2 Tsp ginger and garlic • Breyani mix (2 bay leaves, 1 cinnamon stick, pinch of jeera seeds) • 4 Tsp chilli powder • 1/2 Tsp Jeera powder or garaam masala • 3 Potatoes • Cut coriander

Method

Heat oil in a pot; add onion, ginger and garlic. Fry until onion is translucent. Add

in breyani mix whole spices. Add Jeera or Garam Masala and fry for 1 minute. Add grated tomato. Allow to fry for 1 minute. Add chilli powder. (I have catered for a mild to medium curry flavour, you can add more to taste.) Add a little water to form a paste. Allow to cook for a minute. Add washed canned beans (no brine should be used), salt to taste and a little boiling water. Add potatoes and coriander and boiling water to cover potatoes so that the beans and potatoes cook through. Cook until potatoes are soft. Serve with naan bread or rice as you prefer. We all love something sweet for tea after supper. And let’s be honest, dessert is very expensive these days. I love peppermint tart and needed to find a way to make it using budget items

Peppermint FRIDGE TART

Ingredients

• 1 Packet of tennis biscuits (any brand as you prefer) • Custard (I use a box of Ultra Mel) • 1 Slab of peppermint chocolate

Method

Break tennis biscuits into fine pieces into a casserole dish. Add custard. Crush chocolate and sprinkle over. Allow tart to settle for at least 12 hours so biscuit gets soft. And bon appetite! (Goes best with a cup of tea.)

I pray that these recipes will bless you and your family as you create the aroma of love in your kitchen and many more memories are made over a meal. Eat. Pray. Love!