Bramley apple soda bread, 20p

Bramley apple soda bread (makes four generous portions at 20p each): 200g flour (any will do – plain, self raising, rye, whole meal…), 35p 1 rounded tsp bicarbonate of soda, 3p 2 tsp lemon juice, 2p 200ml milk, 5p*** 1 large Bramley apple (or other variety, but they do work incredibly well here!), 35p First, … Read more

Mackerel and spinach chowder

Ingredients (serves two generous portions): 1 tbsp oil 1 onion 1 tbsp flour 200ml milk 200ml water 50g frozen spinach 100g mackerel 200g sweetcorn 200g tinned potatoes First, heat the oil in a pan. Dice or slice the onion, add with the flour, stir well and cook on a medium heat for a few minutes … Read more

Banana pancakes

What do you make for breakfast when you have bananas, eggs, milk and flour? Banana pancakes of course! Ingredients (made 6 good sized pancakes. 100g flour 100ml milk 1 egg 1 banana, or 2 if you want to go wild 2 tbsp oil Handful of sultanas – I’d normally add these but I don’t have … Read more

A pretty good year: Reflections on 2013.

I started this year living – existing – on a £10 a week food budget topped up with five items of food from the Storehouse food bank once a week. I ended it with a recipe book deal, baking biscuits on Woman’s Hour, with a Guardian column, a debate in the House of Commons and … Read more

Love at Christmas, by Sharon Jaynes.

A friend posted this on her Facebook page this morning, and I thought I would share it. It’s based on the bible verses from the book of 1 Corinthians, verses 1 – 13. *If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights, and shiny glass balls but do not show love … Read more

#jackspetition foodbank and hunger petition – UPDATE.

On Tuesday morning, I handed the petition in to Parliament, along with the Daily Mirror, Unite and the Trussell Trust, with over 130,000 signatures on it – including yours. We got a debate! The debate will go ahead in a week’s time, on the Wednesday 18th of December, so the next week is crucial. Please … Read more

Have yourself a cheaper little Christmas: My Finnish-inspired budget Christmas dinner for The Guardian.

I’ve blogged each of the recipes individually – click the links below! Simple sprat starter: http://agirlcalledjack.com/2013/12/10/have-yourself-a-cheaper-little-christmas-simple-sprat-starter-37p/ Honey roasted ham with vegetables: http://agirlcalledjack.com/2013/12/10/have-yourself-a-cheaper-little-christmas-honey-roasted-ham-with-veg-1-53/ Liver and sultana casserole: http://agirlcalledjack.com/2013/12/10/have-yourself-a-cheaper-little-christmas-liver-and-sultana-casserole-30p/ Christmas pinwheels: http://agirlcalledjack.com/2013/12/10/have-yourself-a-cheaper-little-christmas-pinwheel-biscuits-8p/ First published in the Guardian and G2 magazine: Jack Monroe’s budget Christmas. As always, all prices based on Sainsburys and Sainsburys Basics range where available. … Read more