5 Simple Student Meal Ideas #1

This post has been in the planning since I moved out in September and suddenly found out how hard it was to plan 14 meals a week for myself. After two month though I think I've mastered it and even have this weeks meal plan all written up. Since I've been at uni I've not had one ready meal or frozen pizza. I've also not had pasta every meal... not a typical student then! I thought I would show you some of the delicious things I've had to help inspire you.

Chicken Pie... My mums is amazing and feeling a little homesick on the first weekend I decided to give it ago myself. It is basically just lots of veg (carrots, potatoes, turnips and celery) cooked in chicken stock, add the fried chicken and season with salt, pepper and some spices (cayenne works well to give it a kick). Put it in a dish and cover with pastry. The beauty of it was being able to put two more portions in the freezer for later.

Sweet & Sour Chicken... Again another really simple dish to put together. I actually made the sauce at home and put it in the freezer but some from a packet would work equally well. I just friend the chicken and added the sauce and veg then served with noodles. This microwave steam vegetables came from lidl and has been prefect to get my five a day. 

Smoked Salmon... Bought in the freezer section of Tesco, covered with oil, wrapped in tin foil and looked in the over at 180 for about 20 minutes it is beautiful. I served it with rice and the same steamed veg from lidl as before. 

BBQ Pulled Pork Nachos... A new one for me but I thought they would go nicely together and they did. I bought the pork in Tesco and cooked it via the instructions on the box. Then pulled it apart and scattered it with the sauce (I actually missed this bit out and it was very dry and I couldn't work out why), top with cheese and melt it under the grill.

Chorizo & Bean Stew on Baked Potatoes... I actually posted this recipe on my blog last september (you can see it here). It is deliciously easy and doesn't just go with baked potatoes - I've has it with cous cous too. Like the chicken pie receipe this made plenty and I was able to freeze another two portions.

I'm slowly managing to empty my freezer again so I would love to know what easy recipes you love too. Tonight I'm going to have chicken pie again but with chorizo and leeks in a more creamy sauce. I got home from uni today at 2pm and fell asleep because staying awake was torture... that really isn't like me I hope I'm not coming down with anything.