Loyalty Lunches (#midweekmunchies 4)

As much a I believe in packed lunches there are occasions when I am running late or feeling lazy or don't have much in and fancy something from a shop. This is absolutely fine, it's totally allowed to buy a lunch every now and then. I just personally can't afford to do it everyday and, to be honest, I like my packed lunches. But, when I do buy out, I like to get something extra if I can.

I have what some people have described as a slight obsession with loyalty cards. At the moment I have a total in my bag I currently have about 20ish (that doesn't include my two library cards).

A small sample of my loyalty collection.

 

I also, am not loyal to any of these places. Today's lunch was kindly supplied by Subway, but that doesn't mean that I exclusively buy my lunches out at Subway in order to earn those points. That is ludicrous. According to Subway's website if you have registered your card you get 10 points per £1 and a 'free' 6" sub costs 500 points. Doing the maths that means you would have to spend £50 to get that sandwich. It's not really free is it?

One 'free-at-point-of-purchase' Subway.

Spiced Italian. Mmmm.

 

But... I like an occasional Subway, and while I would never go there deliberately with the idea of earning enough points to get a free sandwich, I might as well get the points when I do go. I was going to spend that £3 anyway so it might as well be earning me something!

 

 

I know people who struggle to use a voucher or loyalty scheme because it makes them feel embarrassed and to these people I say 'Get Over It'. Recently I was able to use my nectar points to have a meal out for two for a grand total of £4.85. I don't earn a fortune and the restaurant will be able to claim the money back from Sainsburys (I assume this is how the offer works) anyway so why should I feel embarrassed. And, bonus off the back of this I got two vouchers for 2for1 on main courses plus a free portion of dough balls because I did a survey on the receipt. 5 minutes work for a free starter. It's a no brainer to me!

I appreciate that Sainsburys is not the cheapest supermarket but it the nearest to both my home and office so I earn my points by scanning it every time I buy even a small thing such as a punnet of tomatoes or box of crackers. They all add up. It might take a while but while I don't exclusively shop at Sainsburys (as this would go against my earlier policy of not actually being loyal for the sake of points) quite often it is the only choice available to me so as before, I might as well get something out of the transaction.

 

So, to summarise. Yes to loyalty cards. No to shopping exclusives in those places. Just shop as you normally would and if you happen to earn a freebie enjoy it!

 

Pip pip for points!

Charlotte x

 

 

Homemade Jam Sandwich (#midweekmunchies 3)

Sometimes you just want an old school home comfort and for me, that's a jam sandwich.

 

Jam sandwiches feel like being a child. And they feel like a fun sandwich. One that I think we move away from as adults... But why? Why must we be mature and have fancy sandwiches that have things like avacado in them or boring things like plain cheese? Why can't we have fun? Why can't we have a treat? Let's face it, a jam sandwich is the closest thing to a pudding you can have as a main course!

 

However... If the guilt just keeps eating away at you, I think an excellent way to justify such a scrumptious sandwich is to use homemade jam. But don't despair! I am not suggesting you slave for hours over a pan and nor am I suggesting you cheat and just buy a fancy jar (although if either are your preference please feel free). No... I am talking about my recent discovery of Microwave Jam!

Yes... I have found out that you can make jam in the microwave and it is so simple! It is a revelation!

At this time of year as well, soft fruits can be picked up at markets or Pick Your Own farms for pretty cheap and you can stock up your cupboards for months to come. Yes, we're going a bit traditional but in the modern age, I think that's quite nice.

 

Step 1. Weigh out equal measures of fruit and sugar. I used raspberries. If using a chunkier fruit like strawberries chop them up into bite size pieces first. If you like a firmer jam, get jam sugar. The added pectin will give it a much more set texture. I like a runnier jam so I just used regular old granulated. (Also that was all I had)!

Step 2. Add the juice of a lemon.

Step 3. Microwave for 15 minutes.

You will need to stir it every few minutes and towards the end you need to keep a very close eye as it will try and bubble over. Just hit stop and let it settle down before starting again.

 

Then just let it cool a bit before popping into sterilised jars. I ran mine through the dishwasher but you can put them in the oven or use a sterilising tablet if that's easier for you.

 

And there you go! For less than 30 minutes work you have JAM!

 

All that is left to do is spread it on some bread and you have a highly satisfying lunch!

 

I'm going to have a go at blackberry jam once they are ready too. Then who knows!? Marmalade? What other kinds of jam are there? What are your favourites?

 

Call back next week for more ideas from my lunchbox!

 

Pip pip,

Charlotte x

 

 

 

 

 

 

Poorman's Lunch (#midweekmunchies 2)

It's that time again. Lunchtime.

Or... Maybe it's that time where you start worrying about what you're going to have tomorrow.

 

I had this very feeling last night. So I went for a fail-safe option. 'The Poorman's Lunch'.

Dining Al-Desko

Random bits of food on a plate has always been a lunch option in my family but when I tried to explain this to a friend she couldn't understand the concept. Until I compared it to the English pub classic... The Ploughman's. All of a sudden she got it, but promptly dubbed my cheap lazy version The Poorman's.

 

If you don't know, The Ploughman's lunch is basically some cheese, chutney and bread all washed down with a beer. Sometimes there's some cold meat chucked in. For a better explanation the ever reliable Wikipedia explains it here.

 

As you can see, my version today included: cheese, lettuce, a tomato, a boiled egg and some crackers but you could include anything you wanted. I also like to chuck in a carrot sometimes and a cold sausage would be amazing! I do like a splodge of salad cream too but I didn't have an appropriate tub to put any in this morning. I must pinch some sachets next time I'm at a pub for the future! But you could take a whole range of dips and things if you had some little containers.

It's a good way to use up fridge left overs and is really easy to chuck together at the last minute. The only thing I do that is a teeny tiny bit if effort is wrap my crackers in foil... Just try avoid them going soft.

 

Let me know if you think this is a weird one or if you think it's a good idea. Think of it as a salad you couldn't be bothered to chop up if that helps you get on board! I promise it's pretty darn tasty.

 

See you next Wednesday for another lunch box idea.

Pip pip

Charlotte x

 

Make Your Own Mug Shot (#midweekmunchies)

As much as I hate to admit it it, I like instant-just-add-water foods. Soups, noodles, porridge, the instant food market share really blowup in recent times and there is more variety than ever. They are convenient, tasty, relatively filling and depending on your retailer (and brand loyalty) reasonably priced. What I don't think they are is healthy and this is what needs to change.

 

I was first introduced to the idea of the DIY pot noodle from an old episode of River Cottage. I never managed to successfully create something that was actually tasty. It was always something that was a bit meh. So I shelved the idea, somewhere I the back of my mind.

And then for Chritsmas my mum got me this book:

I haven't really tried any of the recipes from them yet but I have adapted one to become my DIY mugshot.

First you will need the following ingredients and equipment.

• Small pasta, orzo or similar
• A variety of vegetable you like. Raw ones. Frozen is also fine. Jars too!
• Pesto
• Salt and pepper
• A spoon
• A chopping knife and chopping board
• A microwaveable tube of some kind (I use a microwaveable mug)
• A small tub for if you are taking this on the go, to keep the pesto separate
• A kettle
• A microwave (not 100% necessary)
• A fork (to eat it with)!

 

First of all, we are going to prepare, cook and eat all from the same tub, I dislike washing up.

 

Preparation

So let's start by putting some pasta in the bottom of the cup. About 3ish table spoons will be enough but you can adjust for how hungry you are.

I personally prefer orzo, but at the moment this funny little star pasta is what I have in.

 

Then, chop up your veggies. I have gone for Brocolli, cabbage, carrot, peppers,onion and onion.You need to chop them up pretty darn small as they have to cook very quickly.

 

I also added some jarred roasted pepper and some sun dried tomatoes. Becuase I could. Other things I've used in the past include things like frozen peas, sweet corn and green beans.

 

Then, add a twist of salt and pepper. Put the lid on and shake shake shake it up to season and mix.

 

Finally, put a teaspoon of pesto in your little tub, pop it in with all the other stuff and go off on your day.

(I had to buy my pesto on my way to work becuase when I opened the jar it was a total mould fest... Urgh... Sorry for that image but I'm being honest).

 

Cooking

This is super easy. Take out the pesto pot and boil the kettle.

 

Once it has boiled pour enough water in to cover the pasta layer at the bottom. Yes I know we shook it up but if your pasta hasn't fallen back down, just think of it as an imaginary fill line.

 

Then, pop the lid back on, flip the steam flap (or don't seal the lid all the way) and wait. If you like crunchy veg, this is where you stop. If you prefer a slightly softer vegetable then you can pop it in the microwave. Please only do this for a few seconds at s time though as it may try and boil over.

I didn't bother and went for the crunch option.

 

Let it sit for about 5 minutes and then stir in the pesto to thicken it up a bit.

 

EAT.

 

Also, a nice extra addition is to put some cherry tomatoes in at the end with the pesto, they warm through beautifully but I wouldn't want to cook them with everything else or I think they might go a bit mushy.

 

I would love to know if you try this and any variations you have a go at. Let me know if you do.

 

Happy munching,

Charlotte x

 

 

The Lunch Box Challenge: The Reboot

That's what cool stuff is called these days right? Reboot?

I have no idea. I'm not cool.

 

I am however, embarking on a series of posts about lunch boxes. And especially, what to put in them.

I have always been a packed lunch sort of girl. At school I took a packed lunch rather than have school dinners and even at college and university I would take food in rather than buy it when I got there. There is no point pretending this isn't because I am a but of a cheapskate.

Lunch costs.

A lot.

A modest lunch bought out will be somewhere in the region of £2 - £3.

A more exciting lunch will be nearer £5 - £7

 

Let's say you work a standard 5 day week, buy lunch every day at an average of £5 (I am allowing for a drink and a snack aswell here).

You get about 6 weeks off so that's 46 weeks of the year at £25 a week spend.

That is a massive £1150! Even if you just took one packed lunch a week you would get that down to under a grand at £920.

Which, frankly I still think is awful but then I'm not paid the mega bucks.

That is a holiday! A lovely holiday!

 

Last year I spent a month having a different thing for lunch everyday. It was tough but I did it. I tried doing that again this year in January but found that my goal to save money meant I wasn't willing to buy a lunch out when I ran out ideas at home. And I think ideas are a major part of the issue with a lunch box. Thinking of ideas is hard. And time is the other massive factor. The morning is a rush and nobody wants to have to spend loads of time preparing a lunch when they can just pop out of the office and grab something.

 

So I am going to try and put together a bank of ideas for us all to use. Ideas that are quick, easy, possibly ideas that can be made ahead of time or in bulk and above all tasty! No one wants a boring lunch after all.

 

I am planning to post a new lunch-related post each Wednesday. Sometimes it will be a recipe. Sometimes it will be snack focused. I might do lunch box reviews or what I had today type posts. We will see but keep your eyes peeled for some Mid-Week Munchies coming very soon.

 

Let's do lunch soon,

Pip pip, Charlotte xx