Living Below the Line

I have been rubbish at posting blogs. I don't know if my FT blog was put on the Fairtrade Foundation website but at least the fortnight kept me thinking about FT issues.

Now for Living Below the Line. http://www.livebelowtheline.org.uk/

This is a challenge to see if we can live on £1 per person per day for all food and drink. This means we can spend £10 for the 5 days. It is to get a better idea of the challenges faced by those living in extreme poverty. Plus it will raise some money for anti-poverty initiatives.

Here is my shopping list for the week, for the 2 of us.

4 tins tomatoes (B&M shop)                                   1.00
1/4 litre oil                                                           .36
2kg rice                                                                .98
1kg porridge oats                                                   .99
1 litre UHT milk                                                     .52
Tin of tomato puree                                               .25
500g dried yellow split peas (channa)                       .49
500g dried green split peas                                      .49
cabbage                                                                .50
1.5kg onions                                                         1.00
1.5kg carrots                                                          .57
8 small apples                                                        1.00 
8 free range eggs                                                   1.00
curry spice, salt, cinnamon 
(bought from store cupboard)                                  .50
15g fairtrade coffee                                                
(bought from store cupboard)                                  .25
                                           
                                                TOTAL                 £9.90
              
Now the meals and each serves 2 people.

Breakfast.
We began the day with porridge made with 3 parts water and 1 part milk. To serve it we added one apple cut small, a sprinkle of cinnamon and a little milk. One cup of coffee.

Lunch.   Coleslaw.
1 large carrot, shredded by potato peeler
1/2 onion , chopped small
1 apple, chopped small
Chunk of cabbage, shredded
salt
1tbsp oil
This was all mixed together and tasted surprisingly good and was filling.

Supper. Channa Curry - rice - wild garlic relish
220g yellow split peas, soaked
Tin of tomatoes
1 1/2 onions
oil
curry spice
salt
rice
large bunch wild garlic

Curry -
Cook soaked peas in water
Fry onions in 1tbsp oil until softened, add curry spice, and fry 1min more, add 3/4 tin of tomatoes, add cooked channa with some liquid and continue to cook until tender.
Relish -
Wash and cut up the wild garlic, cook with 1/4 tin of tomatoes, a little water, a little oil and salt, until it is very soft and liquid is absorbed.

Cook as much rice as you want or can afford!    

                                                           *************     

We found we had plenty to eat but it was a challenge not to join the cafe society in the sun whilst we were in Shrewsbury. John is missing coffee a lot.