As I'm sure you're all aware moving house costs a pretty penny (or plenty dolla depending on your parlance). This is especially true if you have to hire movers because your foolish husband decides its more important to got to work and save lives for the full 9 days up to and including the move. Financial straits are further exacerbated by any dealing with THE MOST EVIL PEOPLE IN THE WORLD-a.k.a. estate agents-who make vampires seem like bestowers of vitality in comparison. If I sound bitter, I am.
In short moving = poverty and definite shoestring opportunities of a culinary nature.
This was basically the left-over contents of my fridge and freezer and served us well for a few days.
half large bag defrosted peas
half bag defrosted sweetcorn
half bag defrosted broad beans
2 tins tomatoes
the end of some tomato puree
1 ropey onion
2 carrots
1 pepper
3 old tomatoes
about 3-4 cloves of very pongy garlic
a few wilted sprigs of lavender and rosemary (crushed by the move)
1tsp dried oregano and or basil
the dregs of some red wine (as much as you can bear to spare)
Chop the carrots, onion, pepper and tomatoes and roast in the oven with olive oil, the fresh herbs, garlic (whole cloves, still in encasements) and a little balsamic or other vinegar for a good 20 mins to half an hour on 180-200 degrees C.
Meanwhile, heat up the tinned tomatoes slowly and add to this the defrosted vegetables, dried herbs and wine.
Add the roasted vegetables to the mix. As you do this you can squeeze the garlic out of its sheath straight into the stew. Alternatively, if you are very lazy and rather greedy then you can wait to squeeze it out and smash it on buttered bread when you eat the stew (as I do).
Et Voila.
Serve it all up and stuff in your exhausted face.
Note this recipe produces quite a bit of nosh, enough for a few days. In order to liven it up a bit on the third day I added chilli and some leftover barbequed pork, which went down well. You could also add cooked sausage or chorizo, some different herb/spices or vegetables and pulses if you wanted to. Whatever youhave that needs using, give it a whirl.
P.P.S. moving house is up there in terms of stress triggers, so ensure you have enough wine to accompany the meal and block out the memories, you'll need it.
