How to save money on food bill (& energy)

[NewMamma21]

Sparked by reading a few other threads I’m wondering how you save money on the food shop / cheap meal ideas & how you save money cooking?

Things like egg & chips (what else would you put with this?), beans on toast, padding meals out with lentils.

Another thread also got me thinking about the energy used to make meals. We love a hot baked roll in this house (the kind you buy pre packaged part baked) but that means turning the oven on just to cook 2 small rolls to go with soup.

I have no idea if it’s more economical to steam veg in the microwave, bake in the oven or steam/boil on the gas hob.

What are you doing to save money cooking?

We like a pudding in this house & totally agree that it makes you feel more full so you don’t snack later.

What are your favourite puddings / recipes?

We use this for apple crumble although I replace a bit of the caster sugar with brown sugar & we don’t do the oat topping
www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/best-apple-crumble/amp

I’d love a good flapjack recipe if anyone has one?

I add Lidl extra nutty granola to the crumble topping to give it an extra crunch.

Favourite puddings here include…
Eve pudding
Queen of puddings
Lemon surprise pudding ~ this makes its own lemon sauce as it cooks
Poor Knights of Windsor
Crêpes Suzette ~ for a bit of a cheat at a family meal, make a batch of pancakes, when cool spread with buttercream made with the juice & grated rind of an orange. Fold each pancake so it looks like a quarter of a circle, arrange in a circle on a large piece of strong kitchen foil and wrap well. Put the foil parcel in the oven to warm while you eat your main course. Serve with a dusting of icing sugar.
Clafoutis with cherries or plums or rhubarb

In the summer, fruit fools with well mashed fruits swirled through 50/50 custard/yoghurt mixture is quick & easy, serve with little biscuits if liked.