It was such a beautiful day on campus today…
Being rewarded with such beautiful weather and scenery really made up for being stuck in a lecture theatre invigilating an exam where every other student seemed to be spluttering, coughing and sneezing. Bless them, Fresher’s flu is never good but I did have a little giggle when it almost sounded like they were all trying to harmonize with each other. With exam invigilation, teaching, my thesis and the Cosmo Awards it really has been a busy week so I am really happy that the weekend has come around again.
This weeks moves:
Monday: 30 minutes of intervals on the machines, strength workout 1, 5 minutes cool down.
Tuesday: Yoga Download.com podcast, 10 minute warm-up intervals and a 1 hour Body Pump class
Wednesday: 5.6 mile run in 54 minutes and abs and core workouts
Thursday: 15 minute warm-up intervals, strength workout 2, 5 minutes cool down
Friday: 30 minutes of high intensity intervals on the treadmill and 30 minutes of intervals on the step machine, bike and cross trainer.
Recent tastiest eats:
Simple banana oats made with water topped with jam and crunch peanut butter
Cherry Bakewell Granola with a chopped persimmon and soya milk
Carrot and sweet potato soup with plain soya yoghurt and maple syrup
A Buddha Bowl made using peal barley, green lentils, raw chestnut mushrooms, kabocha squash, brussel sprouts in coconut oil, green pepper, courgette, cos lettuce and mixed nuts and raisins. I made a lovely sauce from tahini, lemon, apple cider vinegar, ginger and fresh basil…yum!
Chocolate Cookie Dough Chia Seed Pudding with a chopped apple and pear and dried cranberries. Although I had to add some oats to thicken it a little as I added way too much soya milk. It was still fab! 🙂
Most of this week for dinner I have been eating a curry that I made at the weekend to stock up my freezer. It was so delicious and so easy and cheap to make I’m going to make it part of my Budget Busting Meals challenge, you can catch up in my previous post here.
*Sweet Potato and Chickpea Curry*
Ingredients (vegetarian, serves 4)
- 1 medium sized sweet potato cubed
- 400g of prepared or tinned chick peas
- handfuls of spinach
- 1 onion chopped
- 1 green chilli chopped (optional)
- 1 can on light coconut milk
- 1 inch of grated ginger
- 1 clove of grated garlic
- 2 tsps of hot madras powder
- 1 tbsp of tomato puree
- 1/2 tsp turmeric
- 1 tsp of dried coriander
- 1 tsp of mustard seeds
In a pan heat some oil and fry the onions on a low heat until they become soft. Add the spices and tomato puree and cook for a few minutes until the spice become aromatic. Next stir in the garlic and ginger cooking for a further 2 minutes and then add the sweet potato. Pour in the coconut milk and stir in with the other ingredients and allow to simmer for 10 minutes until the the sweet potato becomes tender. Add the chick peas to warm through and then stir in the spinach and the heat from the curry will wilt the leaves.
I served mine with brussel sprouts stir fried in coconut oil, wild rice and mango chutney.
Enjoy! 🙂
I’m off to for a little mini break to Bath this weekend, but keeping the Big Budget Challenge in mind I’ve printed off a huge pile of discount vouchers for restaurants that are in the are to save money. Also, this week to keep my budget in check:
- I’ve been making the most of my leftover and freezer stash so I have only had to shop for fresh produce
- Lidl is still my favourite best friend!
- Huge pans of soups have been made to make use of any vegetables that need using up, meaning no waste
- selling unwanted items on eBay
- I’ve gone back to Asda instead of Sainsbury’s and Tesco to pick up additional items for Alfie as it is much cheaper.
It’s just been pretty much of the same to be fair, but it seems to be working. Hopefully our trip to Bath won’t hit my bank balance too hard, I’m going to try and keep it in check, but I think it’s going to be tough.
I’ve now got the next two Saturday’s off from work and I have some lovely things planned. I’m going to use tomorrow to visit my family and friends and generally just chill. Next Saturday I have a wedding to go to in London and the fact that it is on Bonfire night is making me so excited for it- it’s going to be lovely!
I hope you all have a lovely weekend!
How is your budget keeping up this week?
What is your favourite curry EVER?!
Are you up to anything nice this weekend?
Crockpot soup has been the best budget buster of my week! I’ve had lunch everyday now for only a sliver of change! Loving the soups – my next ‘bulk’ meal is going to be some type of quinoa/veggie salad for next week!
Have a lovely weekend!
My paps and my sister make the best curries I ever tasted : )
I have never eaten curry! My sensitive tummy can’t handle spices, sadly. Thai curries always look the yummiest of all to me though – the scent of the spices and coconut milk is so enticing.
I have to invigilate at the summer exams in May/June – hopefully there will be fewer colds going around by then.
Have a brill week-end 🙂
xxx
Your budget busting meals look good! 🙂
Sounds like you had a really tough weekend. Enjoy your well-deserved rest in Bath, I have heard only good things about that place 🙂
Have a great time in Bath! I was actually planning to go there tomorrow, but I think I am going another weekend instead now…I am eager to try out Demuth’s restaurant, it’s supposed to be fantastic!
Have a lovely time in Bath 🙂 I never liked curry I am afraid.
🙂
Hope you have an fun time in Bath, it’s such a beautiful city. Well done with sticking to your budget, I’ve been pretty good this week although that’s been down to working long hours and not having time to spend money rather than any particular effort on my part! x
I’m so jealous of your weather! Ours is gross here 🙁 rainy and cold!
I need to work on my food budget!
The photo from your campus is beautiful!
And this curry look so yum, especially with the brussels on the side 😉 The best curry I have made was one with chickpeas, seet potato and zucchini, and the sauce was made by mixing a roasted eggplant (made the best flavor in the world) with spices, garlic, ginger and coconut milk. Definentelly need to make that again!
This weekend is all about relaxing, food prep, exercise, and homework – the usual.
I just made a sweet potato & chickpea curry too 🙂
i’ve never made a curry! I might have to try making yours…I just don’t know how to deal with Indian spices. My family never ate Indian at all as I grew up. I’ve only ever had 3 curries in my life!
I’ve just made a pumpkin curry which is pretty good but I have to say my fave is Thai Green Curry with soya beans and lots of veggies! Hope you have a great time in Bath!
Pumpkin in a curry is fab! I hope you enjoy it. 🙂
Do you think you’d be able to give your measurements in metric? I’m a fellow Brit and I don’t follow the whole cups thing… Your recipes always look wonderful though!
I use cups as I find it easier. Is there a particular recipe that you wanted metric measurements for?
The soup and the chickpea curry look delicious. I’m going to have to give that curry a try…Love chickpeas!
Ooooh, the carrot soup looks tasty! My favourite EVER curry has to be a jalfrezi, with equal parts chicken, chickpeas/lentils & potato. Just divine! That with rice & a chapati & some raita would do me nicely anytime.
No specific recipe, I’ve just never used cups before! Do you just literally use a set of measuring cups?