Herbs

Growing your own herbs is amazing, it's rewarding (with minimal effort!) and they are delicious.
Setting up your own herb station is easy peasy no matter where you are living. It's totally worth it because buying fresh herbs aren't worth the price.

I started off with herbs in little pots just hanging out on my windowsill. Doing this is great if you are flatting or in an apartment.

What you need to get your windowsill herbs started:

• The window needs to get at least 6 hours of sunlight. 
• Choose your herbs. Think about what you are going to use often and whats in season. I currently have basil, rosemary, mint, sage, thyme, oregano and paisley.  
• Buy the herbs, seeds are definitely cheaper but more timely. If your like me and can't be bothered with seeds buy small herb plants. 
• Buy the pot, at least 12cm deep pot.
• A small bag of potting mix 

Setting up:

1. Fill in your pot until it's a quarter of the way up and then place your herbs in,
2. Fill the rest of the pot up with dirt.
3. Water and place on your window. 

Seasonal Foods

This is very important when it come to cooking on a budget. So many times I've brought things that aren't in season without realizing it and come out with a large food bill :(
If your in New Zealand then this website is great for letting you know whats in season. If your anywhere else in the world I'd check out whats in season around you.

Pappa al pomodoro

This is seriously amazing. So amazing in fact that I had to give it a fancy name. It's actually just bread and tomato soup. Whats so amazing about this you might ask? It's cheap. Like crazy cheap. I can make 1 portion for $2.00! This recipe is the basic one but feel free to change it up. I probably eat this once every week to every fortnight.

Ingredients:

• 1 can of diced tomatoes (only 80c at countdown).
• Garlic - the ammount depends on how much you like garlic, for me I add 3 cloves. . .  but you can always just start with 1
• 5 big leaves of Basil - I grow my own or use some that I've frozen in ice cubes. you could always use the basil that comes in a tube also. Don't use dried, trust me this isn't a time to use dried. 
• 1 teaspoon of sugar 
• Salt and Pepper.
• A few slices of bread - I would recommend ciabatta or sourdough but when I'm poor, it's more likely going to be the $1 bread loaf from countdown. 

This can me made either in the microwave or on the stove top. I prefer the microwave because it's a zillion times faster. 

1. Thinly slice the desired amount of garlic and place in bowel 
2. Microwave for 30 seconds, or until the garlic is soft aromatic.  
3. Add chopped tomatoes and microwave for 5 mins, while cooking chop basil and toast bread. The tomatoes are done when they have reached a porridgey  constancy. 
4. Add salt, pepper, sugar and basil. 
5. You can either eat it with the bread or chop the bread up and stir it in and eat it with a spoon.