Chickpea and Chilli stir fry for 65p a portion

Hello Dear Reader,

It's very near the end of Austerity August and other than food, I haven't bought anything. Until today! I needed 505 spray adhesive to baste my quilts and more Hobbs Batting/wadding. I'm really lucky that we have a fantastic craft shop right here in Liskeard. I was able to pick up what I needed and four FQ that were on sale for £1 each. 

I took a photo of the outside of the shop below so you can see the name 'Painters' and their website address. It's always incredibly well stocked. If you are local, they have lots of stocking kits and toy kits so you can get making home made gifts in time for Christmas. They also run craft classes if anyone would like to go to any. They've not sponsored me in any way, but they are really helpful and have often ordered what I'm looking for. I could buy my supplies on line but I like to keep them open........in case you want anything - they have an on line shop.

I needed so little shopping this week that everything I needed was bought from the greengrocers and fit into my back pack. I bought a kilo of tomatoes for £1 and decided to make some Tomato Chutney.

• 500g red onions, finely sliced
• 1kg tomato, chopped
• 4 garlic cloves, sliced
• 1 red chilli, chopped (optional)
• 4 cm piece ginger, peeled and chopped - I had some left over from my Tesco free dinner.
• 250g brown sugar
• 150ml red wine vinegar
• 5 cardamom seeds - I didn't have any and omitted these. 
• ½ tsp paprika

Tip all the ingredients into a large heavy-based pan and bring to a gentle simmer, stirring frequently. Simmer for 1 hr, then bring to a gentle boil so that the mixture turns dark, jammy and shiny. Place into sterilised jars and allow to cool before covering.

Wherever you might use ketchup, use tomato chutney instead. In fact, you could blend this and then use it instead of ketchup.

Chickpea and Chilli Stir-fry - this makes 4 portions - we'll eat the same again tomorrow lunch time.

Ingredients

2 tbsp oil - 10p
1 tsp ground cumin
1 onion, sliced - 11p
1 pepper, sliced - optional - 33p
Cooked carrot batons - optional - I had some leftover and used them up. 10p
2 garlic cloves finely chopped - 2p
1 chilli seeded and finely chopped - 20p
2 X 400g cans of chickpeas drained and rinsed, 90p
1 tin of chopped tomatoes - 32p
A few 'chunks of frozen spinach - I used 6 'chunks' it soon defrosts. - 10p

£2.18 - 55p per portion + rice 65p each. 

1. Heat wok. Add the cumin and fry for 1 minute. Add the onions and peppers - stir fry for 5 minutes
2. Add the garlic and chilli and stir fry for 2 minutes
3. Add the chickpeas and tomatoes to the wok. Reduce the heat and simmer
4. Add the spinach - cook until defrosted.

Serve with rice.

I also finished the quilt. (No wonder I'm weary, shopping, cooking twice and finished a quilt). Not any quilt, but your quilt Dear Reader. Remember? Liz sent me her hand made blocks, hand stitched with the cardboard templates still intact. Liz sent me this almost a year ago and there were enough quilt blocks that I made three quilts. One went to DB's mum, one went to charity to raise money and now I've finished this one. This one is for me to remind me of your incredible kindness.  

I added blocks and a border (the border is dress from a charity shop that I unpicked) and the binding was also sent to me by you Dear Reader. The entire effect is scrappy and that's just how I like my quilts. I have a bit more quilting to do, but the quilt is now sound and with a bit of FMQ it's good to go.

The backing is four retro pillow cases from my local Salvation Army charity shop that I unpicked and opened out. I love the tiny roses on the binding.

As usual, and just for you, the obligatory close ups.

I love the dusky old colours. I'll treasure this as you made those blocks by hand.

Here, with a glimpse of doggy tail, is the other retro pillow case that backs the quilt. I love those 'groovy' flowers. We had wallpaper like that when I was a child.

Here's a close up of one of the blocks. If you look at the block above, you can see the tiny hand stitches around the black triangles.

The dogs love my quilts even though they really shouldn't be on the bed but they are such poseurs!

I'll call that a fruitful day. Shopping - done. Chutney - done. New recipe trialled and eaten favourably - done. Another UFO - done!

One more UFO to go and I can start an brand new quilt!!!!!!!!!

Time for a cup of tea and put my feet up with the Great British Bake off!

Until tomorrow,

Love Froogs xxxxxxxxxxxxx