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Dinner With Crayons

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Foodies100 Index of UK Food Blogs

February 14, 2014

Leftover rocket pesto with stilton and walnut

Leftover rocket walnut and blue cheese pesto

Shortly after New Year, I stumbled across one of my all time favourite bargains ever. Half moons of blue stilton marked down to £1 when they’re originally been £8 each at full price.

I bought three, cut them into wedges, wrapped these in paper and put them in the freezer. Possibly freezing Stilton isn’t the best way to preserve its flavour but at this price I didn’t care. Probably I won’t need to buy any more blue cheese this year!

The price of everyday cheese as gone up by stealth. A couple of years ago, if you shopped around you could buy cheddar for £5 per kilo but today it’s nearer double that.

Worse still is the insidious size reduction of pre-packed products. Cheese, now commonly sold in 350g packs rather than 400g (and before that 440g and prior to that 500g!!) is not unique here. Everything from bottles of cola to bags of bagels has had pack sizes shaved down whilst prices remain static hoping the consumer won’t notice.

stilton-bargain.jpg

I regularly comment to my husband that it’s
a) my mental arithmetic
b) a knowledge how to cook from scratch
c) flexibility to bulk buy when items are genuinely on offer
… that keeps our shopping bills down.

If you weren’t so great at maths, not an experienced cook and on a very rigid budget it would be very different.

So I was delirious almost to find this blue Stilton priced at the equivalent of around £2 per kilo. Cheese hasn’t been that cheap this century probably.

My other thrifty habit recently has been to buy pairs of bags of rocket when they’re on offer (or indeed marked down miserable basil plants) and what doesn’t get eaten in salads or sandwiches gets whizzed up my own pesto before it turns floppy. Generally a small tub of home made pesto will stay in my fridge for up to a week and sometimes I freeze portions too.

Ways to use homemade pesto

Tossed with pasta
Spread it on toasted bread such as bruschetta or ciabatta
As a pizza sauce instead of tomato
Spread on tortilla wraps
Mixed into salad dressings
Mixed into cheese sauces
Stuff chicken breasts
Coat grilled fish fillets

Traditionally pesto would be made from basil, parmesan, garlic, pine nuts and olive oil however recently I have ringed the changes with the left over rocket leaves, used different oils, nuts and cheese. You can also make pesto mixes using roasted peppers, aubergines or sundried tomatoes rather than green leaves and herbs.

Hence this particular mix today:

Leftover rocket pesto with walnut and stilton

Half a bag of rocket
A handful of walnuts
Some chunks of blue Stilton
Olive oil
and of course garlic.

I’m not specifying exact quantities because these aren’t rigid. Simply blitz the lot in a handheld blender until you’re happy with the texture. Use it immediately or store in the fridge or freezer.

Do you ever make your own pesto?

I’m sharing this pesto with these events:

201402061706.jpg Credit-Crunch-Munch speedy-suppers-veg-imp.jpg

To Fiona hosting Elizabeth’s No Waste Food Challenge (using up rocket),  Helen & Camilla’s Credit Crunch Munch (bargain cheese) this month hosted by My Golden Pear, and finally mine and Katie’s new Speedy Suppers event for 30 minute meals.

 

 

Filed Under: Eating In Tagged With: cheese, Italian, pesto, rocket, Stilton, walnuts

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Angela says

    February 14, 2014 at 5:19 pm

    I agree – cheese is becoming a real luxury item. I have got to the stage now where I have to hide the cheese and ration it out to my little ones. It is always a great feeling when you come across a real bargain like the stilton. Thanks for another great entry to Credit Crunch Munch.

    Reply
  2. Susan says

    February 14, 2014 at 8:12 pm

    You make so many valid points here about the cost of food in this country, and how sizes are being reduced…its a scandal that its cheaper to feed a family on sweets rather than good basic food. I love homemade pesto (makes a great pasta dressing and thats another cheap meal)…love your recipe!

    Reply
  3. Morgan @ Peaches, Please says

    February 15, 2014 at 4:42 am

    Oh my goodness. This sounds so amazing. I want to eat it slathered over pretty much everything.

    Reply
  4. Jan Bennett says

    February 15, 2014 at 8:01 am

    We love cheese and eat far too much of it! Love the idea of walnut and Stilton pesto.

    Reply
  5. Choclette says

    February 15, 2014 at 6:09 pm

    What an absolute bargain Sarah. Love pesto in pretty much any form. Sage and walnut can be good if the leaves are young and it’s used sparingly.

    Reply
  6. Jacqueline Meldrum says

    February 16, 2014 at 12:15 pm

    You are a genius! Rocket and walnuts in pesto with BLUE STILTON!!! Just pass me a spoon. I’ll just eat it as it is. No need for pasta or anything like that!

    Reply
  7. Sylvia says

    February 16, 2014 at 5:29 pm

    Oh yes please! Such a great way to use leftovers 😉

    Reply
  8. Janie says

    February 16, 2014 at 10:31 pm

    Delicious! I adore home made pesto (sadly without the cheese for me) in bacon butties. Yum!
    Janie x

    Reply
  9. Fiona Maclean says

    February 17, 2014 at 9:49 am

    I have to admit, I make a pasta sauce using rocket, cheese (I use whatever is in the fridge – laterly gorgonzola) and walnuts. I’m too lazy to blitz it though, I just chop the walnuts and cheese up and stir the lot through cooked pasta till the cheese melts and the rocket wilts. It’s a great flavour combination;)

    Reply
  10. Karen says

    February 17, 2014 at 3:33 pm

    As you know, we had bought the very same cheese at full price, and so I was rather envious that you got yours for such a bargain price! This recipe has my name all over it too, all my favourite ingredients and so easy to whip up! Fab idea! Karen

    Reply
  11. ManjiriK says

    February 17, 2014 at 5:19 pm

    Sarah this is a fab post !what a mind blowing bargain this cheese is at! I would bulk buy too . I love walnuts and ur pesto recipe sounds fab!

    Reply
  12. Nayna Kanabar (@SIMPLYF00D) says

    February 18, 2014 at 3:25 pm

    Delicious home made pesto , I love the vibrant colour.

    Reply
  13. Helen @ Fuss Free Flavours says

    February 19, 2014 at 1:46 pm

    Lovely recipe Sarah, everything is considerably better with (reduced)price blue cheese!

    Thank you for sending to Credit Crunch Munch.

    Reply
  14. Janice Pattie (@FarmersgirlCook) says

    February 19, 2014 at 7:27 pm

    Great pesto, I’m all for buying up baragains and freezing them.

    Reply
  15. Tina @ The Spicy Pear says

    February 21, 2014 at 12:25 pm

    Love homemade pesto and yours looks delicious! And what a fab find in the supermarket.

    Reply
  16. Emma says

    March 11, 2014 at 10:01 am

    Morning! Just wanted to let you know that your pesto recipe features in this month’s Foodie Round up! Best wishes. Emma

    Reply

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