Chocolate Chip Shortbread

Right, if you haven’t notice I’ve been rather busy of late! Law school is in full flow and I’m trying to keep down a job at the same time, as well as having a thriving social life. Oh yeah, I’m so cool I have a thriving social life! I think I’m actually going out even more than I did at uni; between hanging out with my boyfriend (yay no more long distance) being close to university friends, new friends and old friends, as well as all of Jon’s work friends, we have more than enough play dates to keep us occupied.

Nevertheless I HAVE still been cooking! It’s just taken me a little while to find the time to share the recipes with you.

But, as I’ve been super busy at law school, I thought it was appropriate to share one of my more student friendly recipes – Chocolate Shortbread. Super cheap it only requires 4 ingredients – 3 if you don’t fancy going all out and adding in the chocolate!

Brie and Tomato Home-made Gourmet Paninis!

The University of Nottingham's Library Cafe sells hot panini's for just under £3...thats right £3!!! What student in their right mind has £3 to spend on lunch?! Thats's before even factoring in a drink!

That's why...I decided to invest in my own panini baguettes.

My boyfriend's sister's husband...(I may eventually be able to say brother in law?), as far as I am concerned is the panini king, and he inspired me to start making my own (Thanks Russ :D)

So, I nipped to the shops this weekend to stock up on ingredients so that I could eat gourmet sandwhiches allonsgide all the rich students in the library knowing that my panini cost half the price!

One of these delicious sandwhiches will set you back just 93p!

Freshers Foodie Tips #6 - Friends who cook together buy a house together in 2nd year!

Suggest one night of the weak where your whole flat cooks together to spread the cost!

Freshers Foodie Tip #5 - Plan your meals!

We are half-way through my Top 10 Freshers Foodie Tips, and hopefully you're already feeling a bit more confident about heading off to uni!

Tip number 5 is to quite simply plan your meals.

This may sound boring, but there are a number of benefits!

Firstly, not only will this stop you going to the shops and buying EVERYTHING in sight because it all looks so yummy... (Supermarkets are cleverly designed to make you buy everything you don’t need)...but it will also prevent food waste! If you know you’re going to eat it, you know it’s not going to end up in the bin a month later once it’s gone mouldy at the back of the fridge!

For those of you who don't want to put on "The Freshers 7" (the number of lbs the average fresher puts on in their first term), then this will also stop you giving in an ordering take-aways. If you already have dinner planned, you can easily say no, when someone comes knocking with the pizza menu!!!

Fresher's Foodie Tip #4 - Economy Ranges

Economy/basics ranges are your friends!

Even as someone who LOVES food, and always tries to seek out the bets quality ingredients...in some instances, there is no reason why you shouldn't opt for economy! They really don’t taste any worse! It’s not the price it’s what you do with it that matters!!!

For example...

Freshers Food Tips - #1 Start collecting NOW!

Seeing as it’s coming up to that time of year again, where A-level results are in and there’s plenty of excited 18 year olds getting ready to say goodbye to mum and dad, I thought I would write a series of posts about how to eat like a king at uni but to shop on a student’s budget! I will do at least one post every two/three days starting from results day – so keep checking back for more advice! Good luck with your results and I hope you get the grades you need!

Enjoy!

Tip #1 – Start collecting NOW!

Start grabbing tins now...

You’ve got a month or so until you leave for uni...how many tins of baked beans/tuna/sweetcorn/alphabetti spaghetti can you sneak into the trolley at Sainsbury’s and out of the cupboards into your room until the big move up to uni?

Spread the cost (for your rents) now by buying a little and often.

Alternatively when people ask you if they can buy you a gift for uni...suggest a food hamper! For my birthday each year my sis buys me a food hamper of all the things I can’t afford at uni e.g. specialist oils, baking ingredients, popcorn etc! 6p noodles are nice(ish) but it’s good to have a few luxuries in your first term to remind you of home!