This week's meal is based on my mum's butternut stacks with red cabbage and butter bean pesto recipe.  This meal does not only look good, but is also extremely tasty and healthy.  The cost for this meal is £7.90 for 4 portions.  For this recipe you will need:  1Butternut Squash (sliced into 16, 1 cm slices) (£1)  coconut oil  120g of  Red Cabbage (56p) 140g walnuts (£1.50) 2 garlic cloves  1 lemon (30p) Maple Syrup  200g of Kasha (toasted buckwheat) (this can be replaced with Quinoa) (£2) 250g Butter Beans (50p)  125g of Halloumi (divided into 8 equal slices) (£2) Directions : Preheat the oven to 200 degrees.  Step 1.  Lightly coat the butternut squash slices with coconut oil and bake them in the oven for 25 to 30 minutes or until tender.  Step 2.  Chop the Red Cabbage and place it in a food processor with the walnuts,garlic ,lemon zests, maple syrup, 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 1/2 a teaspoon of salt. Blend...

 Today's recipe is a Vegan Cottage Pie with a light Butter Bean Mash.  This recipe is inspired by the popular Instagram account Beat the budget's recipe, but with my own twist to the recipe.  It is not only perfect for these cold autumn nights, but it is also a lighter and healthier version than a meaty cottage pie and is full of protein thanks to the Butter Bean Mash. This recipe makes enough for  6 small portions or 4 large portions for only £3.46 excluding cupboard essentials.  Ingredients needed : 3 tins of butter beans (£1.55) 350g of Quorn mince (£1.59) 1 onion diced (10p) 3 Garlic cloves (10p)  3 carrots (12p)  2 tbsp of tomato puree 1/2 tbsp of  Henderson's Relish ( or Worcester sauce for a non vegan option) 2 vegetable stock cubes  1 tsp thyme  olive oil  Preparation time : 45 minutes  Method :  Preheat the oven to 180 degrees.   Step 1. Heat a tablespoon of olive oil in a frying pan on a medium heat and...

This weeks recipe is a classic and simple basil pesto.   I chose this meal as it's easy and filling and can be prepared in less than 15 minutes. The Best part of it is that it only requires 5 ingredients (without the pasta). This herby Italian-style sauce is great stirred through pasta for a quick meal, and the  cost for 4 portions is only £6, excluding cupboard essentials.  This sauce can be preserved for up to 5 days, if it is kept in an airtight container in the fridge, and can be consumed both warm and cold, so it is perfect for a quick lunch, or a fancy dinner, with a side of garlic bread or focaccia.   Share on facebo     Ingredients: 3 cups of fresh basil (£1.25)  5 garlic cloves (chopped) (25p) 1/4 cup of pine nuts  (£1.80) ( a substitute for pine nuts could be   walnuts, pecans or almonds) 3/4 cup of grated Parmesan cheese (£2.20) 1/2 cup of olive oil  Pasta (50p)  Method :   Preheat oven to 180 degrees....

  My first recipe is a butternut squash katsu curry.  This popular Japanese dish is one of my go-tos when I am craving some kind of comfort food. I based my recipe on Wagamama's recipe, but I included my own twist to it, which makes it both healthier and vegan friendly. This recipe costs £6 for 4 portions excluding cupboard essentials.  Preparation time : 45 minutes Ingredients needed : For the sauce :  4-6 tablespoons of vegetable oil   1 onion, finely chopped (10p) 1 carrot, finely chopped (10p) 4 garlic cloves, chopped  (20p) 3 cm of ginger, peeled and grated (£1) 2 teaspoons of turmeric 4 tablespoons of mild curry powder   2 tablespoons of plain flour  (60p) 500 ml of vegetable stock  (10p) 150g of reduced fat creme fraiche  (55p) (replace with coconut milk for vegan option) 2 teaspoons of light soy sauce  (£1.40) 1 teaspoon of sugar   For the dish :  1/2 a butternut squash (sliced into 8 0.5cm slices) (50p) A few tabl...