Cheap cheese..

Another make at home option - but it is so easy, cheap, quick and a great party piece.
Let me make it simple...

1 Pour a litre of milk into a saucepan, heat until it starts to smoke
2 add a dash or two of white vinegar and stir
3 pour into a sieve

Thats it folks!!

Beautifully delicious on some sliced tomatoes and onions, add pepper and salt with a splash of balsamic vinegar.

Shopping tips

You know those leaflets that come through the door constantly that you throw away instantly. Next time keep them, look through them and find some bargins. Make it work for you. You'll be surprised at what they are practically giving away.

Get the supermarket loyalty cards, all those little bits do add up - put the small thing on your keyring its the only sure way of not forgetting your card.

Don't assume that the cheapest fish, meat, diary products are in the aisle - quite often its cheaper at the counter.

Check your local market for fruit and meat - not always a good option but rather be informed.

Apparently we spend the most money after our mortgage or rent on shopping. Since we've probably done all we can to get that down, shopping (that is food shopping) is where I come in. Admittedly I live in France and use most of my references involve French supermarkets but the essentials are there. Since being slightly tight on the budget side of things I have discovered many many ways that I can cut my shopping bill down yet still eat well. Did you know that it is actually cheaper to make your own cereals, your own pesto, your own pretty much everything? It doesn't seem so when they make pre-made so cheap and whole ingrediants so expensive but it is. As always there is nothing for free but.. if your time is free then this is for free. Cutting the bills down takes time. Generally though we have time if we don't have money so this isn't a bad thing.

Yogurt

I know this sounds a bit earthy.. but I am really not. It is so ridiculously easy there is no need to buy yogurt at the supermarket even if you don't have any time. If you have a oven dish, an oven, milk and one plain yogurt then you're almost there. This is just one simple way of saving a little bit of money each week and making sure you get the best quality food at the same time.

Okay here goes, blink and you miss it:

1 Turn oven on to 100 deg C, turn it off when it reaches 100 deg C.
2 Pour a litre of fresh milk into your oven dish.
3 add a plain yogurt pot.
4 mix well and place in oven.
5 Leave overnight then place in the fridge.

It really couldn't be much easier, its also a very tasty yogurt.