Save time & money

Cooking food can take time and costs money. The food pages offer you some ideas to help save you money by changing how you cook.

The cost of food is rising; but this does not mean that you can’t save money when shopping.

Remember-cheep food can be just as nutritious-it doesn’t have to be expensive to be healthy. But cheapest isn’t always the best with meat. It is often better to buy smaller amounts of lean meat.

Try not to shop when you are very hungry as you are more likely to buy extras.

Always plan meals in advance and make a shopping list-try to avoid impulse buying or shopping everyday.

Check ingredients for recipes before shopping. Popping to the corner shop for one item works out very expensive.

Buy “own” labels and make use of special offers-you could stock up the freezer with them. Try shopping with a friend-share a taxi home and even share “buy one get one free” offers. Avoid just using the supermarket for everything; butchers, fruit and vegetables shops and the local marker are often cheaper.

Stick to fruit and vegetables that are in season-also loose apples, carrots may be cheaper than packaged. Look out for bargains at the end of the day or week, but check they are still good quality. And remember a bargain is only a bargain if you need it

Try one pot cooking using a divided saucepan with a steamer or metal sieve
Use a small amount of water for vegetables and keep the lid on the saucepan
Use a toaster, microwave or pressure cooker to reduce cooking time
If you are boiling the kettle, only boil as much water as you need
Use the oven to the full e.g. cook a casserole, jacket potatoes and rice pudding all at the same time
Use more home cooked and less convenience food (especially for small children)
Try to cook one meal for all the family
Use leftovers of chicken, meat or fish the next day in jacket potatoes, stuffed pancakes or omelettes or use it to make soup. But don’t forget to reheat leftovers only once and heat through thoroughly
Cook jacket potatoes in the microwave or with a metal skewer through them in the oven, they will cook more quickly and save fuel
Use vegetables, beans and lentils to bulk up soups and casseroles. These add flavour as well as providing vitamins, minerals and fibre. You may need to add extra liquid
Use tinned soup instead of cook-in-sauces
Share meals with a neighbour, friend or family-take turns with the shopping and cooking
Not all meals have to be cooked-try sandwiches or cereal instead

Save money & time by becoming an expert in tasty left over cooking

Cooking food can take time, we have already pointed out how to save time and money by not cooking every single meal. In the winter hot food is fuel and comfort. Here are some serving suggestions for left over potatoes.

Potatoes cakes are an excellent way to use up left over spuds from the day before. They also have the benefit of use for any meal of the day. This suggestion is as part of a tasty vegetarian breakfast.

Irish Style Potato Cakes

To make Irish style potato cakes simply mash up the left over spuds with some butter, then add:

1 egg
Milk
Pepper

Mix this together until you have a nice creamy texture. Slow begin to add pain flour until the mixture is like dough. Make biscuit size cakes from the mixture and coat with flour.

To cook the cakes

Add flour to a frying pan

Place the cakes in a warm pan; turn each cake regularly until both sides are golden brown.

You can also warm the cakes in a hot oven.

Enjoy!

Transform stale bread

Croutons

If you have left over old bread you can transform it by cutting it in to squares, drizzle it with olive oil and toast in the over or under the grill for a few minutes. Take care though, the oil can make it burn really quickly.

Add the croutons to a salad or pasta dish, they add crunch and amazing flavor!

Enjoy!

Left overs

A wonderful breakfast

Golden brown potato cakes

Breakfast leftover ideas