Budget, week 10

Another week where we have pretty much stuck to the budget so feeling rather smug. I think because the weather has turned colder, it's easier and cheaper to fill up on stews and curries and these have the benefit of providing enough for lunch the following day and for some to be frozen for future meals. The menu this week will feature braised ox cheek stew (trying a new Ottolenghi recipe), rustic tomato soup (using the last of our home grown), vegetable chilli and spaghetti bolognese (using a sauce made a previous week and stored in the freezer). Lunches will be a combination of leftovers or simple salads using some tinned pulses and breakfasts will be the usual yoghurt and fruit. As yet we have not put the heating on and are resorting to sitting curled up under blankets in the evenings, I think we have definitely seen the last of summer weather.