Quick, Cheap and Easy Recipes

I have titled this post 'student cooking' but in fact it is great for anyone who is short on time and/or money, and is fed up of ready meals and frozen food. I have been living in uni accommodation and therefore cooking for myself for just over a year now so I have come up with a few delicious meals that don't break the bank, and can be cooked in less than half an hour.

Pasta Bake:

You could add more vegetables or perhaps some bacon to mix this up, if you wanted to.

Ingredients:

• 2 chicken breasts.
• Tomato sauce (approximately half a jar, but add more if your mix isn't well coated).
• Cheddar cheese (to taste).
• 1 pepper.
• Pasta (to taste).

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees.
2. Boil the pasta, and fry the chicken.
3. Mix the chicken, the pepper and the tomato sauce into the pasta.
4. Pour the mixture into a dish, top with cheese and put in the oven for 20 minutes.
5. Enjoy!

Spag Bol:

Obviously you can add more ingredients to make this fancier, or use a pre bought sauce to make it even quicker, but this is super healthy and delicious too.

Ingredients:

• 250g mince meat.
• 1 tin of chopped tomatoes.
• 1tsp tomato puree.
• Onion.
• 200ml beef stock.
• Spaghetti.
• Seasoning (oregano is my favourite).
• Choice veg.

Method:

1. In a frying pan, brown the mince meat before adding the onions and browning them too.
2. Put all of the ingredients except the spaghetti and seasoning in to a large pot, and simmer over a low heat on the hob.
3. For best results, leave simmering for around 40 minutes until the mixture has thickened. However it can be eaten sooner if you're in a hurry.
4. Cook the spaghetti, season and enjoy!

Pesto and Mozzarella Toast:

The fancier alternative to a toastie.

Ingredients:

• Sourdough (or any other choice loaf).
• Mozzarella.
• 1tsp pesto.
• Optional other toppings (I like chicken breast and basil).

Method:

1. Slice the sourdough and toast one side under the grill.
2. Spread a thin layer of pesto on the untoasted side and place mozzarella on top.
3. Add any additional toppings.
4. Place under the grill again until ready to serve.
5. Sprinkle with basil.

Egg Fried Pasta:

This recipe is honestly the easiest ever, and it's pretty good for you. It also works well with rice or noodles.

Ingredients:

• Pasta.
• 1 or 2 eggs.
• Seasoning.

Method:

1. Cook the pasta, rice or noodles.
2. Pour a little light olive oil into a pan. Add the pasta and the eggs.
3. Stir until the eggs are cooked.
4. Season to taste.

Porridge:

I know this may sound like an obvious thing, but honestly it's so easy and so filling! Not to mention delicious.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup of porridge oats.
• 1 cup of milk.
• Toppings.

Method:

• Put the milk and oats into a bowl and microwave for 4 minutes (this can be done on the hob but the microwave is quicker).
• Top as desired. My favourite is raspberries and golden syrup!

Salmon and Rice Salad:

You can make this really simple like I have, or add multiple vegetables for a larger, more complex dish.

Ingredients:

• 1 salmon fillet.
• Mange tout (to taste).
• Rice (1 portion).

Method:

1. Coat the salmon in a little melted butter or olive oil and cook for 15-20 mins at 180 degrees.
2. Cook the rice (I use boil in the bag but do what suits you best!).
3. Boil the mange tout for around 2 mins.
4. Stir together in a bowl!

Nachos:

I usually make these with chicken and vegetables, but chilli or salsa work well too.

Ingredients:

• Lightly salted tortilla chips.
• Half a red pepper.
• 2 chicken breasts.
• Grated cheddar cheese.
• Sweetcorn.
• Salsa.

Method:

1. Dice the chicken and then fry it so it is cooked through, but not yet brown on the outside.
2. In a pyrex dish (or other deep, oven safe tray) start to assemble the nachos. Create a layer of tortilla chips. Then add a layer of slices of pepper, chicken pieces and sweetcorn. Coat with a layer of grated cheese and salsa.
3. Repeat until the dish is full.
4. Pop into the oven at 180 for 20 minutes.

Prawn Curry:

This is a favourite of mine and my boyfriend's.

Ingredients:

• 200g prawns.
• 2 tbsp curry paste.
• 1 tin chopped tomatoes.
• 1 clove of garlic.
• Rice.
• Fresh coriander.

Method:

1. Fry the prawns in oil from the curry paste.
2. Add the curry paste, tomatoes and garlic.
3. Bring to boil and then simmer for around 5 minutes.
4. Cook the rice.
5. Add the coriander and serve.

A Colourful Smokey Eye

I've been experimenting with some bolder eye makeup recently and this look was one of my favourites! It's fun but also a little more subtle than the other looks I tried so it's more wearable. *Disclaimer: I am not advertising any of the products I used, I just like them!*

Step 1:

Draw a little triangle on the inside of your eye as pictured. I used the Collection Fast Stroke Eyeliner for this.

Step two: 

Blend a purple eyeshadow onto the lower lid, and the bottom half of the top lid. I used the shade 'Darkheart' from the Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette. Also colour the little triangle in in turquoise. I used the Sephora Colour Block Liner in 'Beachwalk' to do this.

Step 3:

Complete the line of your eyeliner, adding a wing. I again used the Collection Fast Stroke Eyeliner for this.

Step 4:

Using a turquoise kohl eyeliner, draw a line along the top of your eyelid and the wing of your eyeliner. I used the Lottie AM to PM in shade 'Mermaid' for this. Then simply add mascara and you're done!