Easy and Delicious Menus on a weekly budget of €100

 Being organised is the key to eating well on a budget, as well doing just one weekly shop.
It is so worth investing  20 minutes of time, and making a menu plan, before you head to the supermarket.Then you won't get caught out, with your budget or running out of food!
Start the "cook out" on Sunday evening. Get your first soup made, as well as one or two evening  meals.
For lunches, packed is "De Rigeur".
Cooking a day ahead is a great help  and always knowing you have something on hand to quickly heat up,
eases the pressure!

Here are some tips for a family of four; as always the shop is done between Lidl, Aldi and the local butcher and on a budget of €100.

 Soups for the Week

Celery and potato soup
Saute 1 onion with 6 celery sticks for 15 minutes on a medium heat. 
Add 2 large chopped and peeled potato. Saute for 2 minutes.
Add 1 litre of chicken stock, bring to the boil and simmer unil potatoes are cooked.
Blend.

French onion soup 
Slice 4 onions into long strings and Carmelise  in some butter with a tablespoon of brown sugar, over  a low heat for 40 minutes. slow steady cooking is very important to help release the natural sugars in the onions, adding lots of flavour to your soup.
Add 1 litre of chicken stock with a beef stock cube, and bring to a high heat, then simmer for a further 15 minutes.

Packed lunches and School lunch boxes
Pitta Bread
Bread
Multigrain biscuits
Oatcakes
Cheese - Entre Mont Comte from Lidl is very good.
Bag of good coffee (savings are huge compared to spending 2.80 a day in a cafe!)j
Sandwich fillers
Tahini
 Roast  Chicken (buy a small chicken, roast it on Sunday and it will keep in the fridge)
Cheese  - Entre Mont Comte from Lidl is very good. Nice snack as well.
 Fresh fruit
Raisins

Monday
Slow Braised Beef
served with mashed potatoes and steamed veg
Toss cubes of beef in some flour and saute in a hot pan until browned. Set aside.
Saute 1 onion, 2 carrots, 1 celery stick and add garlic and thyme and sage after 10 minutes or so.
Add beef to casserole pot, with a tin of tomatoes, along with enough chicken stock to cover the contents and bring to a simmer, then adding a beef stock cube. Cover and slow cook in an oven of 150C for 2 hours.

 Tuesday
French Onion Quiche
served with grated  winter coleslaw (grated red cabbage and carrots)
Make quiche base on monday along with onions (a night in the fridge adds to the flavour of the onions.)
Saute 4 onions slowly for 35 minutes with a 2 teaspoons of brown sugar and fresh thyme.
Before cooking add 3 eggs to the onions with some cream and grated gruyere and cook in oven at 180c for
25 minutes.

 Wedneseday
Navarin of Lamb 
served with rice, and peas
Toss cubes of lamb in flour, and saute in a hot pan for several minutes. Set aside.
Saute 1 onion, 2 carrots , 1 celery stick and 1 leek, and after 10 mins add garlic and thyme sprigs.
Add lamb to casserole, add chicken stock and bring to a simmer.  Cover and slow cook for 2 hours at 150C.

 Thursday
French Omelete with baked chip potatoes and salad
The best free range eggs you can get your hands on with good grated cheddar cheese, and a sauted
onion and button mushrooms.

 Friday
Homemade curry sauce with chicken
serve with chinese noodles and green beans
Making your own curry sauce is the business and very quick and simple!
Saute one onion for 5 minutes, add 250g of sliced almonds, saute for a further 5 minutes.
Add 2 large cloves of chopped garlic, saute for 2 minutes. Then add a tablespoon of tomato paste,
and stir well, cooking for 1 minute. Finally add curry power according to your taste and cook for a further
minute or two. Finish with 250ml of chicken stock and 300ml of coconut milk or cream.
Add and then blend, and gently simmer adding cooked chicken for 10 to 15 minutes before serving.


Weekend Meals
Keep it simple is the motto! After a busy week, some R & R is in order.
Homemade pizzas are great for Saturday evenings,and will get all the family involved. Children love nothing more than making dough. Make the dough in the afternoon so it has ample time to rise.
For lunches pick up some baguette to have with charcuterie. Aldi do great antipasti from the Cucina range.