Showing posts with label students. Show all posts
Showing posts with label students. Show all posts

Monday, 16 September 2024

Cooking for Yourself as a New Student: A Guide to Easy, Tasty, and Affordable Meals

As a new student, cooking for yourself can be both exciting and daunting. While it's tempting to live off instant noodles and takeaways, learning to cook simple, nutritious meals is not only healthier but also kinder to your wallet. 

Here's a guide to help you navigate your kitchen and whip up meals that will fuel your studies and keep you satisfied.

1. Stock Up on Essentials

Before you start cooking, it’s crucial to have a well-stocked pantry. Here’s a list of essential ingredients that will serve as the backbone of many meals:

Pasta and Rice: These are versatile, filling, and can be paired with a variety of sauces and ingredients.

Tinned Tomatoes and Beans: Perfect for making sauces, stews, and soups.

Spices and Herbs: A basic selection of salt, pepper, mixed herbs, and spices like paprika, cumin, and garlic powder can transform a dish.

Oil: Olive oil for cooking and dressing, and a bottle of vegetable oil for frying.

Onions and Garlic: These add flavour to almost any dish.

Bread: Useful for quick sandwiches, toast, and budget-friendly meals like beans on toast.

2. Invest in Basic Cooking Equipment

You don’t need a kitchen full of gadgets, but a few basic tools will make cooking much easier:

A sharp knife and chopping board

A couple of saucepans and a frying pan

A baking tray

Wooden spoon and spatula

A sieve or colander for draining pasta and vegetables

Measuring jug and scales (for accuracy in recipes)

3. Simple Meal Ideas

Here are a few easy recipes that are perfect for beginners:

Pasta with Tomato Sauce

Ingredients: Pasta, tinned tomatoes, garlic, onion, olive oil, salt, pepper, and mixed herbs.

Method: Cook the pasta according to the packet instructions. Meanwhile, sauté chopped onions and garlic in olive oil until soft. Add the tinned tomatoes, season with salt, pepper, and mixed herbs, and let it simmer. Combine with the cooked pasta, and you’ve got a delicious meal in under 20 minutes.

Stir-Fried Veg and Rice

Ingredients: Rice, mixed vegetables (fresh or frozen), soy sauce, garlic, and a bit of oil.

Method: Cook the rice as per the instructions. In a frying pan, heat some oil, add chopped garlic and mixed vegetables, and stir-fry for a few minutes. Add the cooked rice and soy sauce, and stir everything together. This dish is quick, healthy, and can be made in large batches.

Omelette

Ingredients: Eggs, vegetables (like peppers, onions, and spinach), cheese (optional), salt, and pepper.

Method: Beat the eggs in a bowl with salt and pepper. In a frying pan, sauté the vegetables in a bit of oil until soft. Pour in the eggs and cook until set, flipping once if you’re feeling confident. Add cheese before folding the omelette in half for a bit of extra indulgence.

4. Plan Your Meals

Meal planning might sound tedious, but it saves time and money. Take some time each week to plan your meals and create a shopping list. This way, you’ll avoid the temptation of expensive takeaways and make sure you use up all the ingredients you buy.

5. Batch Cooking

Cooking in bulk is a lifesaver during busy times. Make a large batch of food, like a stew or curry, and freeze individual portions. This way, you’ll always have something homemade on hand, even when you’re too tired to cook.

6. Healthy Snacking

Keep healthy snacks on hand to avoid the lure of vending machines and corner shops. Fruit, nuts, yoghurt, and homemade snacks like granola bars are great for keeping you going between meals.

7. Stay Safe in the Kitchen

Finally, always prioritise safety when cooking:

Keep an eye on the hob and oven to prevent fires.

Use oven gloves when handling hot dishes.

Be careful with knives—always cut away from your body and keep your fingers tucked in.

Store food correctly to avoid food poisoning. Perishables like meat, dairy, and cooked food should be kept in the fridge.

Avoid cooking if you are drunk.

8. Enjoy the Process

Cooking is not just about feeding yourself; it’s a creative outlet and a way to relax. Don’t be afraid to experiment with recipes and make them your own. You’ll quickly find that cooking becomes less of a chore and more of a rewarding, enjoyable part of your day.

By following these tips, you’ll not only survive your first year as a student but thrive, armed with the skills to cook up tasty, budget-friendly meals that keep you energised and healthy. Happy cooking!


Sunday, 14 July 2024

Budget-Friendly Meals for Students and Others on a Tight Budget

Being a student often means juggling studies, social life, and finances. When money is tight, eating well can seem like a challenge. 

However, with a bit of planning and creativity, you can enjoy nutritious and delicious meals without breaking the bank. 

Here are some budget-friendly meal ideas and tips to help you eat well on a student budget or a tight budget if you are just starting out in your career.

1. Plan Your Meals

Planning is key to saving money. Spend some time each week planning your meals and writing a shopping list. This helps you avoid impulse buys and ensures you use what you purchase, reducing waste.

2. Shop Smart

Buy in Bulk: Items like pasta, rice, and tinned goods are cheaper when bought in larger quantities. Look for deals and stock up on essentials.

Seasonal Produce: Fruits and vegetables are more affordable when in season. Check out local markets for fresh, cheap produce.

Own Brand Products: Supermarket own brands are often just as good as more expensive labels and can save you a significant amount.

3. Essential Pantry Staples

Keep a well-stocked pantry with versatile staples like:

Pasta and Rice: Inexpensive and filling, these form the base of many meals.

Tinned Tomatoes: Perfect for sauces, stews, and soups.

Beans and Lentils: Great sources of protein and fibre. Tinned or dried are both economical options.

Herbs and Spices: Essential for adding flavour to your dishes without extra cost.

4. Simple and Cheap Meal Ideas

Breakfast

Porridge: Oats are incredibly cheap and filling. Cook with milk or water and top with fruit, honey, or a sprinkle of cinnamon.

Eggs on Toast: Quick, nutritious, and versatile. Scramble, boil, or poach them.

Lunch

Homemade Soup: Use leftover vegetables and add lentils or beans for protein. Make a big batch and freeze portions.

Wraps and Sandwiches: Fill with hummus, salad, and whatever protein you have (like tinned tuna or leftover chicken).

Dinner

Stir-fry: Use whatever vegetables you have, add some soy sauce, garlic, and ginger, and serve with rice or noodles.

Spaghetti Bolognese: A classic that can be made cheaply with tinned tomatoes, mince, and some basic seasoning.

Vegetable Curry: Use chickpeas or lentils with vegetables, curry powder, and coconut milk for a hearty, warming dish.

Snacks

Homemade Popcorn: Cheap and easy to make, just pop kernels in a pot with a little oil.

Fruit and Veg Sticks: Carrots, celery, and apples are affordable and healthy snack options.

5. Cooking Tips to Save Time and Money

Batch Cooking: Prepare large quantities of meals and freeze portions. This saves time and ensures you have homemade food available.

Leftovers: Don’t throw away leftovers. Use them for next day’s lunch or reinvent them into a new dish.

One-Pot Meals: Save on washing up and energy by cooking everything in one pot. Stews, curries, and casseroles are great options.

6. Explore New Recipes

Don’t be afraid to try new recipes and cuisines. The internet is a treasure trove of budget-friendly recipes. Websites like BBC Good Food and student recipe blogs offer a variety of ideas that won’t break the bank.

7. Cooking with Friends

Cooking with friends can be fun and economical. Pool resources to make larger, cheaper meals and enjoy a communal dining experience.

Conclusion

Eating on a budget doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice flavour or nutrition. With some smart shopping, meal planning, and a bit of creativity, you can enjoy delicious and healthy meals without overspending. 

Wednesday, 20 September 2023

Frankie & Benny's does it again for Freshers Week Students!

Top Italian American restaurant Frankie & Benny’s is giving away FREE pizza and Coke, plus limited edition branded sliders to celebrate Freshers week.

The restaurant, famous for its delicious burgers, pasta and pizzas will also be giving students celebrating the start of university life some truly amazing discounts on food, drinks, sides and indulgent desserts! (EDITOR: Students of today are really blessed with Frankie & Benny having their back! Not that I'm jealous, or anything!)

As thousands of students up and down the entire country take their next steps inot further education and put their best foot forward what better way to do it than in cool Frankie & Benny’s funky footwear?

Students will be the envy of campus when they get their hands on the specially commissioned sliders, which are limited edition collectors items.

The cool footwear has been created in vibrant red and green colour choices, decorated with mini burger, meatballs and Frankie & Benny’s jibbitz.

As well as the amazing sliders, students can also sign up to the Frankie & Benny’s newsletter and get a code which gives them a FREE Margherita pizza and Coke during the month of October. Just sign up and it's totally 100% free. All students need do is just sign up at one of the Fresher’s pop ups with the pop-up team.

The very special offer entitles all guests who present a valid voucher code to a free Margarita Pizza (vegan & gluten free also available) and a regular Coke (Coke Zero, Regular Coke, Diet Coke). The offer is valid in the following restaurants from October 1– 31st October 31, 2023: Aberdeen, Manchester Printworks, Liverpool Edge Lane, Sheffield Arena / Meadowhall, Leicester, St Davids Cardiff, Bristol - Cabot Circus, Portsmouth, Gunwharf Quay.

All additional toppings or upgrades will be charged for separately. To redeem the offer, please let your server know at the point of ordering and present the voucher card when you’re ready to pay.

The Frankie & Benny’s Freshers team will be travelling up and down the country to launch pop up events at a number of universities to give away the sliders and show students how to get unmissable discounts at Frankie & Benny’s.

The merch and freebie roadshow will travel to the following universities, Aberdeen (25/9), Manchester/Metropolitan (27/9), Liverpool/John Moores (28/9), Sheffield (29/9), Leicester/De Montfort (2/10), Cardiff (3/10), Bristol (4/10) and Portsmouth (5/10).

Students will also be able to get 30% off food (limited to pizza, pasta and burgers), FREE Cookie Dough Dessert (with a purchase of a main meal), FREE Regular Soft Drink & FREE Garlic Bread, (with purchase of main meal) and FREE Loaded Fries for one Year, voucher (one per month for twelve months). Please check with the Frankie & Benny restaurant concerned to ensure they are taking part.

Says Frankie & Benny’s Head of Brand, Sasha Storey: “Here at Frankie & Benny's we know how exciting starting university can be, but it's also a huge challenge for most students, too. Managing household chores, filling the fridge up with food, and staying up to date with the university workload, the list goes on, doesn't it?

"But our comfort food offering is the ideal post-lecture haven for students, with big flavours, filling portions and most importantly, at a great price. This year we're excited to showcase the first Frankie & Benny's footwear for freshers, creating legacy showstoppers for student’s wardrobes!”

For full terms and conditions please see: https://www.frankieandbennys.com/terms