Last night I cooked 12 bowls of curry for friends and strangers, for the first of what will hopefully be many many fundraising food nights to come! I’ll blog the recipes later today, but just wanted to say a massive thanks to Jim and Juliet for lending me their house and kitchen, and a huge Thankyou also to everyone who […]
Brothers and sisters, comrades and friends: You have 1,440 minutes in your day, every single day. Please take just one of those to sign the War On Welfare petition. This petition has just two weeks to get another 4,000 signatures, to grant it a debate in Parliament. Please sign this and share it on all available networks: Facebook, Twitter, Email, […]
The last few Christmases have been a little all over the place for my little family; and this is the first year I feel able to establish my own small traditions, that will hopefully carry on over the next few years. The first thing that sprang to mind was tree biscuits – although I don’t have a tree to hang […]
VIDEO: The coalition’s cruellest cut? Mary Laver, a former RAF servicewoman, campaigner, and friend, has severe rheumatoid arthritis. She can’t stand, she can’t move her arms, she hasn’t fed herself in over fifteen years. Mary relies on a team of carers to help her complete everyday tasks, like eating, drinking, and going to the toilet, but the coalition Government is […]
Just a very quick post to say – if you want to order my book, it’s currently £9.45 on The Hive, and will be delivered to a local independent book shop. I’ll be going back through my blog over the next few days to change all of the book-order links to this one – so bear with me, but I […]
For the full article, click here: Bedroom tax is cruel and not fit for purpose, but our taxes pay for spare rooms for MPs who voted to keep it. Daily Mirror, 21 Nov 2013, by Jack Monroe. Twitter: @MsJackMonroe Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/agirlcalledjack
For the full article, click here: Shameless MPs who voted to keep the bedroom tax claimed £3.2million for their own spare bedrooms, Jack Monroe for the Daily Mirror, 21 November 2013. Jack Monroe. Twitter: @MsJackMonroe. Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/agirlcalledjack
Chorizo is one of those ingredients that I buy rarely, but a little goes a long way. For a cheaper or vegetarian burger, you can omit it completely and just add the garlic and paprika for a similar smoky, spicy taste. Ingredients (makes 4 generous burgers): 3 tbsp oil 1 onion, finely chopped 2 cloves garlic, crushed 1 red chilli, […]
I had some finely sliced apple left over from my pancakes this morning, so decided to make some apple crisps for Small Boy to have later in the day as a snack. I only have a mini fridge at the moment, so fridge space is at a premium – thought these were something I could pop in a bag and […]
Serves around 3, depending on age, appetite, and how much of a pancake fiend you are… Ingredients: 100g flour (SR for light fluffy pancakes, but plain is fine too) 100ml milk 1 egg 1 apple, very finely sliced Handful of sultanas (50g approx) 2 tbsp oil Finely slice the apple, I used a vegetable peeler, and pop to one side. […]
For the full article, click here: MPs bedroom tax hypocrisy – a sensible solution at last? The Guardian, 19 Nov 2013, by Jack Monroe. Twitter: @MsJackMonroe Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/agirlcalledjack
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/welfare-scandal-subject-to-the-bedroom-tax–even-if-the-room-is-used-for-a-kidney-dialysis-machine-8947883.html For everyone that still doesn’t realise how evil and twisted this is. I don’t care what you call it, ‘bedroom tax’ or ‘spare room subsidy’ or ‘the machinations of a psychopath’, read this article. And this one: http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/bedroom-tax-sting-kidney-patient-2513203 And this one: http://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/10601794.My___50_a_month_bedroom_tax___for_my_DIY_dialysis_machine/ And this one: http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/10634947.My_bedroom_tax_fight_goes_to_UN/?ref=rc There are dozens more examples I could link to – this is not […]
I MADE POP TARTS! Makes 6-8, mine are bigger and thicker than the originals, but still reckon on two per person ;-). Obviously these aren’t an everyday breakfast, but they’re a ‘what the hell why not’ breakfast… Ingredients (makes 6-8). 200g flour 100g butter 5 tbsp cold water 6 tbsp jam 6 tbsp icing sugar (60g approx) Another tbsp water […]
Apologies to my readers that don’t have a lavender bush: I have a tiny one, and I adore it. I have a small garden, but before that relied on my window ledge to grow herbs and other edibles. Now I have that small garden, my motto is I’m not going to grow anything that I can’t eat! So, lavender. Simple, […]
I received this recipe from Linda this morning, and it sounds absolutely delicious. If you don’t have curry powder, a teaspoon of cumin would be a good substitute. It’s that time of year when curried soup is a most welcome thing! Thanks Linda! Linda’s Curried Soup 1 tbsp cooking oil 1 onion 1 large parsnip 3 or 4 large carrots 1 green pepper 1.5 litres boiling water + 1 or 2 veggie stock cubes 1 tsp mild curry powder Dice onion and sauté in oil till onion is soft but not browned. Stir in curry powder and then all the rest of the veggies (small dice). Add the stock and bring to the boil. Simmer until the veggies are soft. This probably takes about half an hour, but I didn’t time it! As the veggies are cut up into small dice the soup cooks quite quickly. Blend with a stick blender and serve. It is a tasty soup and a useful and thrifty way of using up those odd veggies. The first time I made it I used a wrinkly green pepper which would have been thrown out in many households but it made a good addition to the soup. The soup has a good butternut squash colour and a lovely creamy consistency. My husband loved the first batch and was delighted when he saw me making it again yesterday!” If you have a favourite thrifty recipe you would like […]
BY JACK MONROE. 177 of the MPs that voted YES to the Bedroom Tax on Tuesday evening, claimed up to £25k EACH in their own “spare bedroom” expenses. One of the highest claims, Nigel Adams whopping £25k in 2012-13, could pay the Bedroom Tax for up to 30 families in his constituency for a whole year. Richard Bacon’s constituency is […]
I’ve had a lot of posts and questions from people recently asking about keeping warm in the winter, and having just dug out my annual (what I call my) ‘survival kit’, I thought I’d do a quick post about it in case anyone finds it helpful. As with the nature of these posts, I’m sure there will be lots of […]
I haven’t had a washing machine for almost two weeks, and having a household with a Small Boy in and a limited wardrobe, this morning was what I might call Crisis Point. A quick Internet search of local launderettes showed that my nearest is a 20 minute walk away – not ideal for carrying bags of washing and walking with […]
As published in the Guardian, 13th Nov 2013 and G2 magazine, 14th Nov 2013. Leftover berries and yoghurt can be used to make berry Bircher, and cream cheese could be stirred into that kale pesto… Jack Monroe. Twitter: @MsJackMonroe Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/agirlcalledjack
They say you should never meet your heroes. But I’m honoured to have met mine, and it is an experience I will never forget. I shared a panel with Hetty Bower at Labour Party conference this year, and came away from the weekend feeling deeply moved and challenged, as a woman, as a campaigner, as a Labour member, as an […]
I had this lovely email yesterday, with a delicious soup recipe that sounds perfect for winter lunches or light suppers… If I was making it with what was in the cupboard, i’d use a veg stock cube instead of bouillon and trusty chopped tomatoes, but only because I usually have them kicking around! Thanks Andrew for sharing, I hope you all enjoy this one. Love your website and what you do for budget cooking and food poverty awareness. I made this the other day and it was lovely (and cheap): Spicy Tomato and Lentil Soup One small onion One leek One small carrot Tsp olive/sunflower oil 6 medium fresh tomatoes 1 tsp dried organo Tablespoon tomato puree Half tsp cayenne pepper Tablespoon veg bouillon powder (low salt) 200g Red lentils Method Put tomatoes in boiling water. Gently fry finely chopped onion, leek and grated carrot until soft but not brown. Use water from tomatoes to make up veg stock, skin and chop toms. Add toms, oregano, cayenne pepper and puree to pan and fry the mix until soft but not sticking to the pan (about 5 mins). Mash down and bit with potato masher (you can blend if you like smooth soup, I don’t). Add veg stock and bring to the boil. Wash lentils until water is clear and then add to soup. Cook gently until lentils are soft but still intact, add more water, seasoning as necessary. Great with […]
Stephanie walked out in front of a lorry on the M6. Charles took his own life. Donna wishes she was dead. The Tories fall asleep in the Opposition Day debate, laugh, jeer, and accuse campaigners of ‘shouting’ too loudly about it. Here’s a few reasons why I hate, oppose and challenge the bedroom tax. Those that quibble about what it’s […]
I had this email and recipe from Gill earlier this week, and it’s my kind of recipe – with no strict quantities or weighing or measuring! I have all of these ingredients at home so after what promises to be a busy day today, here’s what I’m having for my dinner… Hi Jack, love your blog and your tips! Here’s a great recipe, it’s cheap, filling, and everybody loves it! You need (in whatever quantities will suit your needs) Potatoes Cheese One tin of tomatoes (chopped, if cheaper, or chop own) Onion Salt & Pepper Slice the potatoes and the onions thinly. Layer in a lidded dish, interspersing with the cheese (can be grated, cheese that has gone a bit hard, even blue cheese works, so just whatever cheese you have, in whatever quantities you have). Season each layer. Half way through tip half of the tinned tomatoes in. Continue layering and seasoning. Finish with the rest of the tinned tomatoes. Bake for a couple of hours or so on a medium (about 170/180) heat. Or can be microwaved if you are in a rush. This dish is very forgiving in terms of how you cook it. Tasty enough to serve alone or have as an accompaniment to sausages, chicken thighs, etc., It’s a great standby ‘store cupboard’ dish! Hope it’s useful! Gill If you have a favourite frugal recipe or tip to share, email it to jackmonroe@live.co.uk Jack Monroe. […]
My ‘berry bircher breakfast pot’ (foreground) costs a sixth of the price of its coffee shop counterpart (background), even with the pumpkin seed and cranberry adornment – which I included to try to be as consistent with the original as possible – they’re nice but by no means essential! And to be accurate with costs, I counted the pumpkin seeds […]
This week’s Guardian recipe was one o my home favourites, fish tagine. I make this in a big batch and freeze it in portions, the flavours develop beautifully when frozen. For the full recipe, click here. And here’s what you’re saying about it: Jack Monroe. Twitter: @MsJackMonroe Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/agirlcalledjack
I was sent this recipe by a lovely reader, Charlotte, so thought I would share it here. If you have a recipe you would like to share, email it to me on jackmonroe@live.co.uk I am trying to be really thrifty at the moment as I’m on a postgraduate student living allowance which is being squeezed from every direction. I was making dinner last night and needed to use up some beetroot so I made a vague approximation of borscht, I don’t know if it’s the sort of thing you or your readers might like. Ingredients: Pack of four cooked (not pickled) beetroot, in small cubes 1 tbsp sunflower oil Diced small onion Vegetable stock cube in about 700mL water Pinch of paprika Tablespoon plain yogurt Black pepper Mixed herbs I browned the onion and then added the beetroot and the juice from the packet. In next was the stock, the pepper and the herbs. I simmered this for about 10 minutes and then mashed the bits of beetroot with a potato masher. Normally I’d use a stick blender to get it really smooth but mine gave up a couple of months back. I then added the yogurt, followed by a pinch of paprika. I served this with cous cous but it would also go well with bread. This served four adults so I think this works out at about 50p a portion (I shop at Aldi). All the very best, […]
This is my take on a banana curry I had in the Isle of Wight after the literary festival. It’s not a traditional Kashmir curry, as I used what I had in the cupboard, but it is utterly delicious. The tea is the twist, but trust me, it works, lending a slightly smoky, sweet flavour. I love tea, I must […]
By ARCHIE BLAND Richard Littlejohn is a journalist and occasional writer of fiction, apparently spends quite a lot of his time in Florida, gets paid in the region of £800,000 a year and, to judge by the byline picture I’m squinting at, is a bit fat. There are some descriptive conclusions that we could draw from these points; I’m not […]
Dear Richard Littlejohn, I’ve read your trash non-journalism ‘comment’ piece about me in the Daily Mail this morning – not because it is a newspaper I read, but because a friend forwarded it to me. Firstly, I have to commend you for managing to get so many facts completely wrong in a comparatively short article. But that’s your style isn’t […]
COOKING ON A BOOTSTRAP 