JANUARY'S TERRIFICALLY TASTY NO-SUGAR GRANOLA: easy, budget-friendly, vegan, high-protein & fibre,

Especially wonderful in cold, frugal January but terrific year round...

                        Nut & Seed Ultra Granola: No-added-sugar, High-Protein 

photo 15/6/16

(Updated 1/24)

This breakfast cereal is an exceptionally tasty, gently sweetened, lightly crunchy granola that is very healthy.  The mix of sunflower, sesame and pumpkin seeds is said to have the same protein value of steak.  And, plant lovers, it's Vegan.

The recipe was inspired by a 20-year-old No-Sugar cookbook which the Blogger no longer has.  Changes were made for maximum taste, texture and goodness. 

It's an easy-peasy recipe -- mix, slide into the oven and the aroma of toasting grains and nuts wafts tantalisingly through your home.   

Organic Irish oatmeal* is the Blgger's first choice but standard oats work equally well.  Either way, with the money saved compared to packged granola, berries to scatter on top become more affordable. 

The ultra-frugal can halve the amount of seeds and nuts and store the remainder in an air-tight container for next time.                                   

Cost: min £3.50'ish depending on oatmeal (8/25 )

Serves: many; recipe halves or doubles nicely

Ingred:

450gm/16oz oatmeal (not jumbo oats)

2 oz/57 gm dried, unsweetened coconut

2 oz/57 gm sunflower seeds

2 oz/57 gms sesame seeds (opt - sesame can cause an allergic reaction)

2 oz/56 gms pumpkin seeds

2-4 oz/ 57-112 oz nuts of your choice.

2 tablespoons sunflower or other veg oil (not olive)

few drops of vanilla

Method:

updated links for fabFrugal

 The “Fabulously Frugal” Cookbook

from

“67 Going on 50”

LULU BOOKSTORE

(IOS & ANDROID)

£6.99

FOR BEGINNERS AND EXPERIENCED COOKS

 EASY & QUICK DISHES 

`LOW FAT/SALT/SUGAR BUT FULL OF FLAVOUR

SIMPLE INSTRUCTIONS

STANDARD INGREDIENTS & EQUIPMENT

 

links:  

IOS: https://books.apple.com/us/book/fabulously-frugal-from-67goingon50/id6443309798

ANDROID:  https://www.lulu.com/shop/bonita-lee/fabulously-frugal-from-67goingon50/ebook/product-mjdmvk.html?page=1&pageSize=4

FABULOUS DESSERTS FOR THE FESTIVE SEASON, Indulgent & Frugal

Have a look at Welcome to the Blog

for pictures of our event, and tips for

last minute budget friendly gifts

OK, we can indulge during the Festive Season, and any of these terrific recipes is guaranteed to wow guests and family.  

Some are easy, some healthier than most; some 'never-mind-the-calories; just enjoy the sensation!'  

But all are mouthwatering and utterly delicious.

Many have not appeared in previous compilations.

1.  SPECIAL OCCASION -- Pure Indulgence

Luxury Pistachio Cheesecake: pale richly creamy fillling, studded with bright green chopped pistachios, slathered over a generous crumb crust

Singleton's Quick & Easy Chocolate Coconut Cream Torte; full size option:very much a special occasion in terms of calories but the ingredients are wallet-friendly; the prep takes just 15 minutes. Apologies for slightly blurry photo but tasters said: 'Restaurant quality; sublinme; light, airy and delicious.

Egg Nog Truffles: boozy, creamy rich indulgence, surprisingly easy to make

 

Choco-Mint Croissant Bread & Butter Pudding: Truly To die for.  Households have  been known to make one for Christmas Mass supper and another for Christmas Day.  Rich, light, gooey, with a crispy top, the intensity of chocolate sends guests into raptures.  Cook's Delight: it's made 3 days before it's needed and and forgotten until it's time to bake.

Triple Chocolate & Cointreau Shortbread, melts in the mouth, warms as it goes down!

Upside Down Cheesecake: Adapted from Heston Blumethal's mother, this sensational classic cheesecake doesn't take long to put together but the cooling/wait time is virtually all day!  It is so worth every minute -- it's skinnier and lower in fat, and the crust is served separately to accommodate gluten-phobics

Blackberry Whiskey Ginger Cheese-cake:sophisticated, with kid's version

2.  FABULOUSLY FRUGAL & WALLET-FRIENDLY FESTIVE TREATS

Creamy Pineapple Glazed Pudding, thrifty, easy

Boozy Orange Marmalade Bread & Butter Pudding: Inexpensive but yummy with an alcoholic twist 

 

3. TEA-TIME TREATS

Twisted Scone Wreath stuffed with Chocolate & Nuts, Orange & Cinnamon

Sensational Lemon-Mint Angel Food Cakes: tender fluffy interiors with unexpectedly deliciously crackly tops. Think they look a bit boring?  Take a bite; prepare to be blown away!  

Blueberry, Pineapple & Walnut Cake: rich, fine-crumbed Blueberry, Pineapple & Nut Cake is the perfect indulgence for visitors/guests. Tasters loved it.

 

Light Gingerbread Sheet Cake - gingerbread cake but not as we know it, Jim: it's lighter and less gummy but fine textured and 'scrummy' without losing its gingery-ness!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Fingers: vegan option, easy-peasy

4.  DIETERS' DELIGHTS

Skinny Chocolate Peppermint Mousse: No cream unless you want it as a topping - and the pudding's choolate flavours are still deep & dark  

Light & lovely but still intensely chocolatey; 
no-bake, butter-free, cream optional

Tiramisu Pudding: less fat and fewer calories: fabulous layers of creamy filling, coffee dipped ladyfingers & chocolate ganache; enlist the family to help

Luscious Lemon Pudding: gloriously gorgeous crowd-pleaser; yoghurt lightens & enhances creaminess and flavour; Foolproof lemon curd instead of shop-bought elevates the dish

4.  EASY-PEASY 

4-ingredient shortbread: first class melt-in-the-mouth Scottish treat, needs only butter, sugar, flour and flavouring. And you can leave out the flavouring!  Perfect for a cost of living crisis. 

1 Recipe=2 Delicious Treats: Cinnamon Breakfast Twists for breakfast & Blueberry Scones for Tea: mouthwatering contrast of flavours 

5.  VEGETARIAN/VEGAN

Special Occasion Vegan Lemon Drizzle Cake: Indulgent, fat & egg free.  Easily the best of the vegan cake recipes tested by 67goingon50.  Truly fabulous taste & texture but cake has a maddening tendency to sink in the middle; not a problem, just fill the dip with some fresh fruit!

Cherry Garcia Ice Cream: Vegan, easy-peasy; the nicest, tastiest, healthiest ice cream ever; no cream - just bananas...

'Irish Coffee' Chocolate Cake':  Vegan-glorious; Dark, rich and gorgeously chocolate, the cake is fine-crumbed and hints of whiskey.  The frothy topping is served on the side or turned into icing 

Orange Berry Plate: fresh, colourful, guilt-free, budget friendly

Pomelo (Chinese grapefrut) fruit platter with Cinnamon Vanilla Yoghurt Cream: wallet-friendly, low-fat 

6.  CHEATS' DELIGHTS

Cheat's Christmas Log: When the pressure's on, a good supermarket Swiss Roll, smothered in simple home-made chocolate ganache, makes a great impression.  

Cheat's Black Forest Trifle: Simple, light but ever-so-delicious, so yummy & quick

For more Christmas dishes, see How to...on the Nav Bar above; they're 2/3 of the way down the page

These recipes have been developed by B  Lee/ Bright Sun Enterprises and may not be reproduced without the author's written permission.

RECIPES & TIPS FOR LEFTOVERS

More than ever, we can't afford to waste food. With a little thought and plannning, though, Festive leftovers make scrumptious comforting  meals.  They can also form the basis of New Year's Eve canapes.

Nearly all of the recipes here are Budget friendly.

A note on Storage Tips:

• Never re-freeze something that has been frozen before UNLESS it was frozen raw, eg meat, and cooked
• 67goingon50 recommends a 2-3 day limit on food in the refrigerator before it is frozen or binned
• The post 'Freezing Matters' from 67goingon50 is highly recommended

  

TURKEY LEFTOVERS/POST-HOLIDAY SUPERMARKET BARGAINS are very popular.

1.  Cooked Turkey/Chicken

• Frontier Turkey in low-fat Creamy Sauce on buttermilk biscuits; 'the biscuit didn't turn soggy' 'Super creamy yet light and full of flavour.' 

One can see this being served from the back
of a chuckwagon in the American mid-west during the cowboy era

• Sliced turkey in hot yorkshire puddings with gravy & cranberry sauce

• Spicy Singapore Noodles with Turkey, Ham & Prawns: quick & feisty

• Almost Instant Crispy Noodles with turkey, chilli, broccoli & gravy: divine taste & textures 

• An accent in soups, stir fries, noodles

2.  Raw Turkey (from New Year supermarket bargains)

• Turkey in Curry Sauce (from raw or turkey leftovers): This classic turkey leftover recipe happens to be  extremely healthy with plenty of veg incorporated into the sauce.  It is also delicious, comforting andfull of body and flavour

• An accent in soups, stir fries, noodles
• Don't forget: turkey carcass makes fabulous stock.  Toss in a slow cooker with a couple of onions, carrots & sticks of celery, some peppercorns & a bay leaf.  Cook on low overnight or for 8 hours.  Strain, throw out veg but strip meat from the bones and save for sandwich fillings and pies.  Refrigerate overnight; remove fat

3.  Alcohol 
The obvious...but also flavouring coffees, icings (for adults), cheesecakes (for adults), homemade truffles

4.  Bread/Buns

• Sandwiches: See Christmas Sandwich Free for All, Toast Toppers (various, posted 2023), Hoisin Chicken/Turkey Baguette, Devilled Tuna Open Faced Sarnie, Fancy Make-Ahead Sandwiches,  
• Ultra Easy Double Dipped French Toast: frugal; so easy kids can make it 
• Bread & Butter Puddings: various on NavBar: Recipes I/Baked Goods  
• Fresh Breadcrumbs: process coarsely; freezable

5.  Cheese

• grate cheese ends; mix with a little cream and a touch of smoked paprika; pile onto toasted baguette slices & grill till melted
• spread leftover mixed cheeses over half a rolled out puff/shortcrust pastry, sprinkle with spice of choice, top with the rest of the pasty and press down with a rolling pin, cut into strips and twist into cheese straws; bake at 180c/350f until golden brown, about 10-15 min. (these always go down a storm!)
• layer bottom half of pre-made puff pastry with leftover salami or sausage, cover generously with grated cheese; top with rest of pastry, crimp edges, brush with egg; bake; cut into generous squares; serve warm
• Remember: Hard cheeses and soft ones like brie can be frozen but wrap first in grease-proof paper, then in cling film and store in an air tight freezer bag  

6.  Double Cream

• beat to a soft peak with vanilla and a bit of icing sugar for a superior topping for Irish Coffee & thick hot chocolate

• double cream transforms into butter when beaten continuously with electric beaters; the cream splits into butter and whey; use whey as a buttermilk substitute

7. Eggs

Raw: 

• frittatas & quiches - add cold or raw veg, cheese & shards of protein
•  Tortilla Espagnol (Spanish Potato & Onion Omelette): Cheat's Version, great for cold roasties
•  Tortilla Espagnol: Glamour Mode (check out the photo; it gives the wow factor to any buffet)

Raw Egg whites (fresh or pre-frozen & defrosted)

• Exquisite Emergency Almond Biscuits: delicious & delicate; gluten & dairy-free; fast & easy     
• Lower-Sugar Mini Pavlovas with Spicy fruit: deliciously crumbly, redolent with Christmas spices; ultra wallet-friendly
• Anything that will look good with a cloud of meringue, such as Lemon Meringue Surprise Pie or Chocolate Meringue Pie or Baked Alaska

Raw Egg Yolks (fresh or frozen, defrosted)

• Easier Fruit Curds: lemon or orange or a combination of citrus fruits

Hard Boiled Eggs: 

• Carnival Potato Salad, uses up raw pepper
• Skinnier Scotch Eggs: uses up leftover sausage meat, low-fat, high flavour, wallet-friendly 
• Avocado & Ham Devilled Eggs, frugal and fabulous

Mixed Fresh Fruit   

• Make healthy Exotic Fruit Salads: replace sugar syrup with unsweetened fruit juice, fresh or from a carton; flavour with mint or ginger syrup or alcohol; top up with tinned fruit if necessary

• Trifles (See Recipes 1: Baking)

• Crumbles (as above)

• Incorporate into waffles or pancakes (

• Bake any kind with fruit juice & flavouring of choice; process to a sauce; strain if necessary; pour over ice cream (fresh pineapples are super sweet and budget friendly, usually well under £2 for a large 1  ) see how to peel a pineapple)

Ham

• great if you have leftovers from a large joint of ham, but don't forget the much cheaper ham hocks (from butchers) which also provide great leftovers 
• shred and use as an accent in soups, salads or pasta

• breakfast croissants: stuff with ham & cheese; toast till cheese is melted OR stuff with ham, scrambled egg & chopped parsley

• Celeriac, Ham & Mustard salad or sandwich filling

Lemons

• Sprinkle juice & zest over lightly steamed or boiled veg & scatter over toasted sunflower seeds

• Lemon curd for spreading on toast or mixing with yoghurt OR added to whipped cream in Luscious Lemon Pudding

• Reduced fat Lemon Cheesecake: a complete knock-out dessert

Nuts

• Save for January and roast lightly for No-bake Granola Flapjacks: vegan, low sugar, high energy & protein

• Process and transform into lower-sugar Nut Chocolate Spread for Chocolatella Brownies in canapé sizes for New Year treats

Oranges

• Orange & Cointreau No-bake Cheesecake: Sensational, easy

• Sunshine Salad, uses up cooked poultry, ham & apples

Potatoes

• Leftover Roasties:  Replace chip-shop chips with chopped roast potatoes in Tortilla Espagnol: Cheat's Version 

• Leftover Mash: super easy Spiced Potato Cigarillos (Indian-style 'chip butty' canapes) or Easy-Peasy Smashed Potato Salad

• Raw Potatoes: Skinnier Stuffed Potato Skins (also uses up bacon & cheese) PLUS plenty of recipes for potato salads in Recipes II/Salads 

Salmon

• Salmon & Rice Leftover Salad: '...fresh bright taste; loved the chilli, the crisp yellow pepper and the lightness of the rice.' 

Vegetables

• Raw: Cook up an attractive, appealing and delicious low-carb vegetarian platter Stir-fry of Low-Carb Vegetables OR make quick & easy simple pickled vegetables

• uncooked sprouts: try Christmas Season Slaw: Sprout, Pear, Walnut & Cranberries

• Cooked: frittatas and quiches; also vegetarian sandwiches

• Salad Ingredients: Stocks and Fried Rice

DON'T FORGET THE HOMELESS:

Freeze or keep back some:

• sandwiches/rolls with nice fillings

• robust treats/desserts

When shops re-open, add  fresh fruit, bag up and leave with a cup of hot coffee.

These recipes have been developed by B  Lee/ Bright Sun Enterprises and may not be reproduced without the author's written permission.