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Justine Pattison

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Reduce your food waste

Whatever your budget, the smart money is on staying on top of your grocery bill

justine's recipes
sealed bags ready to freeze

Seasonal eating

  • Eat with the seasons. When there’s plenty of something around, the price goes down; if it has to be flown in, you’ll be paying the airfare.
  • Processing and packaging add cost, too; a plain round lettuce will be cheaper than bagged salad, for example.

Shop right

  • Go for the biggest bags of staples like rice, pasta, flour and sugar that you’ve got room to store. The price per 100g will usually be less but the initial outlay will be higher. Do it if your budget allows but otherwise simply buy the best value pack in a particular range. See my extra shopping advice here
  • Check your cupboards– right to the back – before you go shopping. This will stop you buying duplicates of things you already have in, and may provide the makings of another meal. If you’ve got a tin of tomatoes, an onion and some smoked paprika, you’ve got smoky tomato soup.

Batch cooking

  • Batch cooking saves money and time, or you can buy lots of one thing and use it in several recipes. A big hunk of smoked haddock will do kedgeree for tonight, and provide some chunks to freeze and add to a fish pie. Bear in mind that, once again, the initial outlay will be higher but, over 2-3 weeks, things will balance out, so try to budget accordingly.

Meat-free

  • Think about going meat-free at least one day a week (lots of people favour Mondays) and try cooking dishes that use small amounts of meat as a garnish rather than the bulk of the meal; many Asian dishes work this way, but pack a delicious punch with warm spices or chillies.

Grains and pulses

  • Grains and pulses will naturally make a meal go further. Dry beans are cheaper than canned but you’ll need to factor in the energy costs too. If you have a slow cooker, beans can be prepared easily after boiling first. Look out for value rice – it tends to be a bit starchier, so rinse well first and don’t be surprised to find a few broken grains in the pack. They won’t affect the flavour but you’ll need to cook the rice in plenty of water so it doesn’t become stodgy.

Freezing

  • Look deep into the freezer. The quality of frozen shellfish, fruit, veg, meat and fish can be just as good as fresh, and having it on standby cuts the likelihood of a trip to the takeaway. And “make one, freeze one” is a good habit to get into, especially if you are trying to use your oven less. Fill it up when you use it to make the most of the energy you are consuming.

One for all

  • Get everyone to eat the same meal, if you can, even if it means taking one portion of pasta out before the sauce goes on, or serving the bits that not everyone likes separately at the table. Eating the same basic meal at the same sitting makes the best use of your time, fuel costs and food budget.

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Slow cooker pulled pork makes an easy meal for ove Slow cooker pulled pork makes an easy meal for over the weekend. My version is rich and spicy - perfect for piling into warmed wraps with pink pickled onions, avocado, soured cream and shredded lettuce. ⁠
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You can find the recipe by clicking on the link in my bio. ⁠
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#slowcookerpulledpork #justinepattisonrecipes #weekendcooking⁠
#easyrecipes #spicypulledpork⁠
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Thinking you’d like something different for breakf Thinking you'd like something different for breakfast? These fruity layered yoghurt pots can be made with fresh or frozen berries and prepped ahead. Add a small handful of nuts or some granola for extra crunch.⁠
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Click on the link in my bio for the recipe.⁠
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#healthybreakfast #crushedberryyoghurt #justinepattisonrecipe #yoghurtbreakfast #mealprep
Using a few ingredients you can create an easy war Using a few ingredients you can create an easy warm salad that's just right for this in-between weather.  Toss chickpeas, cubes of squash and cauliflower with a little olive oil and spices (I use a combination of cumin, coriander and chilli), scatter onto a tray and bake in a hot oven until lightly roasted. Toss with baby spinach and roasted peppers from a jar, before drizzling with a simple yoghurt dressing.⁠
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#vegetariansalad  #lunchidea  #quickhealthyrecipe #justinepattison #justinepattisonrecipes
Make the most of fresh, spring rhubarb with one of Make the most of fresh, spring rhubarb with one of my favourite cakes. You can bake it in a brownie tin, or even a roasting tin, and you don't need any special kitchen equipment to knock it together. ⁠
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You can click on the link in my bio for the recipe.⁠
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#rhubarbcake #justinepattisonrecipes #homebaking #rhubarb  #rhubarbseason⁠  #seasonalrecipe
I love making this quick yoghurt pancake recipe fr I love making this quick yoghurt pancake recipe from my book ‘Quick and Easy’ because I don't need any scales – just a small yoghurt pot for all my measuring. They’re deliciously light and very simple to make – the key is to have your pan nice and hot before adding the batter. (You can swipe for the recipe – I’ve included the weights and measures in case you are using a larger 500g pot of yoghurt.)

#pancakes #shrovetuesday #withoutthecalories #pancakeday2023 #yoghurtpancakes #pancakerecipe #easyrecipes
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