Budget

Here in Thrift Street, finances are becoming rather stretched. A supposedly cheap holiday in the UK has caused rather a dent even though we self catered and entertained ourselves in the free outdoors on our own bikes. So, with going back to work on Monday I am going on a very strict budget of £50 per week for food for the two of us. I will be using our local supermarket (which happens to be Waitrose), independent shops and markets plus a little foraging from the garden when possible. Waitrose has the reputation of being an expensive supermarket but I think this is wrong for basic items. They do have a much better selection of food than the main big supermarkets and a far superior shopping experience. I may be trying to budget but I don't want to compromise on the quality of food (and would still like to consider the ethics too) and retain a healthy diet. Having a reasonably well stocked larder it should be a little easier this week. I still want to enjoy cooking so that the necessary budgeting doesn't become a chore, let's see how we go.

Menu for the week -

Saturday -
Breakfast: Sweet potato, broccoli and leek hash with a fried egg
Lunch: Cheese sandwich
Dinner: Homemade spinach & ricotta gnocchi with spicy tomato sauce

Sunday - 
Breakfast: Boiled egg and soldiers
Lunch: Cheese sandwich
Dinner: Roast chicken, crushed roast new potatoes, green beans and carrots

Monday - 
Breakfast: Natural yoghurt, fruit and homemade granola
Lunch: Courgette salad
Dinner: Chicken noodle soup (using leftover chicken from the roast and stock from the carcass)

Tuesday -
Breakfast: Natural yoghurt, fruit and homemade granola
Lunch: Leftover noodle soup for M, tinned sardines for me
Dinner: Lentil and carrot curry with wholemeal chapattis

Wednesday - 
Breakfast: Natural yoghurt, fruit and homemade granola
Lunch: leftover curry
Dinner: Brown rice, chicken (leftover from the roast), cannellini bean and bacon pilaff

Thursday - 
Breakfast: Natural yoghurt, fruit and homemade granola
Lunch: Beetroot hummus and crudites
Dinner: Soup (from whatever leftover veg there is in the fridge)

Friday - 
Breakfast: Natural yoghurt, fruit and homemade granola
Lunch: leftover soup
Dinner: Oven chips, peas and fish