I love crystallised ginger in my baking but it is an expensive ingredient that I can not afford to buy very often. Sometimes my daughter buys it for me to thank me for helping her [...]

I will hold my hands up. My first 55 years never saw a chick pea pass my lips. Now they form a large part of our monthly meal plans.  The reason is they can be [...]

Twenty five years ago some of my frugal ways had people laughing at me. I would be called "stingy","mean", a scooge", "tight". One had to be frugal under the radar or else they were scorned [...]

As we are all acutely aware, there is a cost of living crisis in many countries. A large percentage of people are struggling to pay for accomodation, utilities, nutritious food, and just the basics in [...]

I always eat more healthily in Spring, summer and Autumn compared to winter. At the beginning of June my garden is already providing me with food full of vitamins, minerals, and protein. Wild food is [...]

We make these egg muffins as take away breakfasts, for picnics, or for lunches. They are quick and easy. They makes a few eggs go further and are tastier. Today I made them to add [...]

We have had lots of potatoes stored this year. I have therefore been making lots of luxury potato cakes. We eat them for lunch a couple of times a week as they are cheap and [...]

I had a message last night asking me what I am harvesting from my garden in May. The person wanted to plan for next year and to know what to sow now as they have [...]

Society taught me that life is a  competition, and that I had to strive to be the best. If I wasn't, then I was a failure. I was constantly compared to my peers as a [...]

On thing that I started growing about 5 years ago is Pak Choi. It has a lovely mild flavour, is easy to grow.  Pak choi is usually one of the first annuals that I harvest [...]

During the year we make condiments and other useful items for the larder, depending on what we can grow, forage, or purchase for a good price. I don't make everything each year as I would [...]

Growing food is not a hobby for me. Just as people planted ‘victory’ gardens during the war to stay healthy and fed, I do the same now. My income is not enough for me to [...]

My pantry and freezer are always full, despite my food budget being below £700 a year. I think that it is so important to have a stock of food as we never know what is [...]

I needed a quick dessert when my daughter and family came for a meal. I couldn't be bothered to bake as I wanted to spend the day in the garden. I therefore made this quick [...]

We are trying not to go to the supermarket, and stretch the ingredients that we already have to last another month. I love quiche during the summer but didn't have any wraps and didn't want [...]

Today is the 80th anniversary of VE day. Spending a lot of time with my grand parents as a child, I automatically picked up some of the war time habits and knowledge in my food [...]

In the UK at Easter and Christmas time. half price joints can often be found in the supermarkets.  Sometimes I buy beef ones and sometimes I buy pork ones.  My friend said to me that [...]

I apologise that I have not posted for a while but I have been sent a few curve balls recently, including my lap top packing in. I am attempting to write this on my phone [...]

Pickie lunches and teas are something that we like to do to use up all of our fridge gravel and bits and pieces.  It feels really decadent and we do it if friends are coming.  [...]

I don't buy lettuce. Instead I grow my own, inside in winter, and outside in summer.  I have always grown lettuce, even when I had a flat without a garden.  Lettuce seeds are so cheap [...]

We were having an Italian style meal this evening.  I wanted some garlic bread but we did not have any garlic.  I therefore made it with wild garlic.  I had been lucky in that we [...]

We have been away on a small break and I had brought back left over food. We were sell catering and cooked all of our own meals to save money. So many people tell me [...]

Ratatouille is one of the meals that we like to eat all summer.  It tastes so fresh, and I can make it from ingredients in my garden.  I am guessing that French would put their [...]

We use lots of different recipes for falafels, depending on what I have in the cupboards.  I have been asked for a recipe, and this is one that we made the other day.  Usually I [...]

It is Mother's Day here on Sunday in the UK.  I am hard to buy a gift for as being older, I no longer need more 'stuff'. In fact I am trying to declutter my [...]

Apparently, the potato came to Europe in the 16th century from South America.  It was once a food only eaten by the wealthy, but is now is a common staple in many households. I don't [...]

This week is food waste action week here in the UK. I pride myself in having no food waste in my house.  We use everything that we buy, get from the community fridge, or we [...]

My kitchen smelt gorgeous tonight as I made chicken Kievs for Mr S.  I had picked lots of wild garlic earlier to take to the community fridge, and wanted to use what was left up.  [...]

Stream lining anything makes it easier to manage.  This is why I like to keep my food simple.  If I was to make lots of difficult and sophisticated meals every week, it would cost a [...]

Here in the UK there is a distinct lack of plug or small vegetable plants.  Our local nursery usually has lots of peppers, tomatoes, beans, peas and sweet corn plants at this time of year.  [...]

This is a nice recipe if you have children or grandchildren.  We are big kids and so make it for ourselves as well.  It can accompany any meal, or be a quick breakfast with an [...]

All of my bills are rising.  As I get my annual statements I see that things like Council Tax have risen by 15%,  and my water bill is up by £120.  My insurances have risen, [...]

Mr S loves beetroot and it is full of nutrients.  We do grow 2 crops of beetroot but I don't have enough room to grow as much as I would like.  I do not like [...]

A number of weeks ago, I was just as I was starting to do well with my healthy eating. Mr S came home with a 10kg box of chocolate aero mint balls for £8.  He [...]

The wild garlic is already abundant here in an ancient, sheltered wood near where I live.  At this time of year I pick it a couple of times of week, incorporate it into my food, [...]

I love growing herbs in my garden.  They provide extra nutrition, add so much flavour to my food, make lovely teas, are medicine, and add beauty (think gorgeous pink chive flowers or mini blue rosemary [...]