Pizza Base

Pizza is a great way to use up the left overs in the fridge. Great toppings include baked dinner (meat, potato, pumpkin), sausages, burrito mince plus other veges lurking in the fridge (spinach, pinapple, mushrooms).

Making your own base is easy:

 INGREDIENTS:

• 3 cups SR flour(I use wholemeal)
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 dessertspoon olive oil
• 1 1/4 cups cold water

DIRECTIONS:

1. Mix it all in a box and knead until in a ball.
2. Divide into three or four pieces depending on size of pizzas
3. I find it better to cook the base only for 10-20min at 180deg to keep from going soggy.
4. Put on topping and cheese and cook for a further 20min or until cheese browns.
5. Enjoy

GENERAL BENEFITS: Much healthier that frozen or take away pizza.

TIGHTWAD BENEFITS:Cheaper than buying a base and using up left overs saves money too.

GREEN BENEFITS: Less packaging and food waste.

Zucchini Wholemeal Chocolate Cake

The hidden vege within.....


INGREDIENTS:

• 125g butter
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 1tsp vanilla
• 1/2 cup yogurt (any type)
• 2 1/2 cups plain flour
• 3 cups grated zucchini
• 1/4 cup cocoa
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 2 t sp cinnamon or mixed spice
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup choc chips

DIRECTIONS:

1. Heat oven to 180 degrees
2. Beat butter and sugar
3. Mix in eggs, vanilla, youghurt and 1 cup flour
4. Stir in Zucchini 
5. Stir in Flour and rest of ingredients
6. Put in muffin forms and bake for about 20 minutes or until firm.

GENERAL BENEFITS: Freezes well. I am also going to try replacing some of the butter with mashed carrot or pumpkin.

TIGHTWAD BENEFITS: Cheaper than buying processed snack food.

GREEN BENEFITS: Less packaging.

Taco Mix

INGREDIENTS:

• 1kg mince
• 2 chopped onions
• 2 cups of cooked red lentils
• a couple of cups of pureed vegetables - whatever is left in the fridge.
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cup tomato paste
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  
• 2 teaspoons ground coriander
• Chili if the kids will eat it
  

DIRECTIONS:

1. Brown mince and cook onion.
2. Add veges if not cooked.
3. Add everything else and simmer for a while (10 minutes)
4. Can serve on burrito wrap with salad (see previous recipe). Also good as meat on pizza.
   

 The lentil are undetectable if cooked enough before adding and actually give the mix a nice texture.

GENERAL BENEFITS: Much healthier than the packet mix and also tastier.

TIGHTWAD BENEFITS:Cost much less that packet mix.

GREEN BENEFITS: Not as much packaging.

Flour Tortillas / Flat Bread

Great for burritos or wraps. Makes 10-12

INGREDIENTS:

• 3 cups flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 3 tbsp oil
• about 1 cup water

DIRECTIONS:

1. Combine the dry ingredients in a bowl or food processor,
2. add the oil 
3. then gradually add enough warm water to form a soft dough.
4. Knead for a couple of minutes.
5. Allow dough to rest - this makes it much easier to roll out.
6. Cook in a dry pan until lightly brown on each side.

GENERAL BENEFITS:Wholemeal flour can be used which is much healthier.

TIGHTWAD BENEFITS: Much cheaper than buying pre-made.

GREEN BENEFITS: Not as much packaging.

Pumpkin Chocolate Cake - The Hidden Pumpkin - Egg and Dairy Free

PROBLEM: The kids like fruit but wont eat vegetables - at least they are normal. Being a diligent parent I have resorted to covert vegetable hiding in food. They won't outsmart me!

GENERAL BENEFITS: Substituting hidden pumpkin substituted for butter is healthier removing a lot of fat from the cake. Mashed carrot, sweet potato or pumpkin can be used. Freeze the mash in ice cubes for convenience. The cakes also freeze well saving time in the kitchen.


TIGHTWAD BENEFITS: Cakes made with pumpkin are cheaper than cakes made butter. Grow your own pumpkins and it is cheaper again.

GREEN BENEFITS: A cow has more environmental impact than a pumpkin patch.

WHOLEMEAL CHOCOLATE PUMPKIN CAKE

contains no eggs, no milk and no butter.

INGREDIENTS:

•  1 and half cups plain wholemeal flour 
• 1 cup sugar 
• 3 tablespoons cocoa 
• 1 tablespoon white vinegar 
• 6 tablespoons of mashed pumpkin, carrot or sweet potato   
• 1 teaspoon baking soda 
• half teaspoon salt (iodised is best)
  
• 1 teaspoon vanills
• 1 cup water
  

DIRECTIONS:

1. Turn oven to 180 degrees. 
2. Put it all in a bowl. 
3. Mix it. 
4. Put in muffin or cake tin. 
5. Bake at 180 deg for 15-20min if muffins or 35-40 minutes if cake (or get out of oven when top is springy). 
6. You can ice it but I don’t usually. 
7. Eat – yum!