Keep calm and curry on.......

The media in Wales love a good weather story! In case you haven't heard the headlines -South Wales is on a 'RARE' red snow warning! We're being told to travel only if necessary and the country is out in force panic buying food and shovels! I went to tesco tonight on the way home from work and I've never seen such empty shelves - as busy as Christmas week! There was no veg, no bread and no milk! I bought some UHT milk and figured that it was better than nothing because during the last spell of bad weather in 2010, I ended up using baileys when the milk ran dry. Only in my coffee I hasten to add - not my porridge! While it tasted delicious - it wasn't great for the old waist line!

During that spell of bad weather, myself and the now hubby were snowed in for a few days. But we weren't bothered because we knew we had a well stocked press with all the basics! The basics include lots of spices - cumin, turmeric, coriander, paprika, chilli powder, curry powder, stock cubes, soy sauce, lazy ginger, rice, couscous, pasta, tinned tomatoes, beans - butter, kidney and chick peas. The freezer always has spinach, green beans, corn, bacon and frozen fresh herbs and the fridge - low fat cream cheese (philly extra light has a very long shelf life!)and tomato puree. There is also always fresh chilli, garlic and spuds in the press too!

I cooked two scrumptious curry dishes last weekend and the only ingredients on the shopping list for both recipies were sweet potato and cauliflower.... so my advice - stock up on your store cupboard and if your takeaway delivery can't make it to you this weekend because of the weather - this will keep you going! Enjoy

Sweet Potato Balti

(From an ancient cookboook Spicy and Speedy

27pp per recipe

Serves 3

500g sweet potato, cut into half moon slices

low fat spray

1 can chopped tomatoes

1 garlic clove

2 tbls balti curry powder (or any curry powder)

150ml veg stock

1 can butter beans (410g), rinsed

1 red chilli

75g frozen chopped spinach (or a bag of fresh spinach)

1. put the sweet potato on a plate and microwave on high for 5 minutes

2. heat a wide non stick frying pan and spray with low fat cooking spary. Transfer the sweet potato to the pan and cook for 20 minutes, turning over about halfway through when starting to carmelise.

3. meanwhile put the chopped tomatoes, garlic, curry powder, stock, butterbeans, chilli and frozen spinach into a saucepan. (if using fresh, put the spinach in about 5 minutes towards the end)

4. bring to the boil and simmer for 5-10 minutes, add the sweet potato and serve

Aloo Gobi

To accompany this I made Aloo Gobi - from Cook Smart nice 'n' spicy

8 pp per recipe

Serves 4

low fat spray

3 onions, chopped

1 cauliflour, cut into florets

300g potatoes, peeled and chopped

2 tsps grated root ginger

half tin tomatoes

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

1/2 tsp turmeric

1 1/2 tsp ground coriander

1/2 tsp garam masala

1/2 tsp cumin seeds

1 1/2 tsp salt

1. heat a large, lidded, non stick saucepan, spray with the cooking spray and saute the onions for about 10 minutes until reduced down

2. add the cauli, potatoes, ginger, tomatoes, cayenne pepper, turmeric, ground coriander and salt and mix really well to coat the vegetables in the spices

3. pour in 100ml water, bring to a simmer and then cover and simmer gently for 15 minutes

4. add the garam masala and cumin seeds, mix well and then cover again and cook for a further 15 minutes until the potatoes are tender. Serve