economical cooking tips

Make yourself a cup of tea, sit down, and think of the best tips for creating economical, tasty, ethical food…..what can you add?

1. free food: what’s in your hedgerow? Right now the whinberries and raspberries are out, the blackberries will be there for the picking come the weekend… then its mushrooms, elderberries, crab apples, sloe berries etc etc
2. shop local, shop seasonal: You know the stuff, use your local butcher, they (should) know where the meat is from, and give you tips on the most economical cuts of meat… for example right now, my favourite neck of lamb or lambs liver…..
3. buy in bulk: that is for goods that have a good shelf life, like tins, some cereals etc. Have you anywhere you can buy without all the packaging?
4. make it yourself! Yep home cooked food often is cheaper… and you can always make double, freeze half and have a ‘fast food’ meal another day
5. enjoy pulses: those beans, lentils, dried peas, so healthy, so tasty, so cheap..
6. use those leftovers: bubble and squeak anyone?
7. grow your own: hopefully you’ll be having more sun in your back yard than we did this year…
8. swaps: made too much blackberry jam, maybe there’s someone out there whose made too much tomato chutney? One of my neighbours came round last month with a handful of rhubarb… exchanges ensued.
9. use specialist shops: if you can access them use your local Chinese/Afro Caribbean/Indian…shop, for herbs and spices, for all the specialist ingredients… I’m off to China Town tomorrow.
10. use the co-op: the most ethically friendly supermarket around, and very well priced to. Check out their fantastic range of Fairtrade goods.
11. invest in a three tiered steamer: it’s a healthy way of cooking, and saves on the gas/electric to!