Darina Allen: Old thrifty ways are key to beating budget blues

Here are some simple recipes for delicious comfort food that costs less to make

Beef and oxtail stew is another humble dish, which has recently been resurrected by trendy chefs who are capitalizing on their customer's nostalgic craving for their Gran’s cooking. Use the leftover stew as a sauce for pasta, sprinkle with lots of grated Parmesan cheese and chopped parsley.

For the past few years the ‘fear of God’ was struck into us by Covid and just as we thought life was coming back to normal at last, here comes the cost of living crisis, with predictions of unimaginable price hikes in electricity, oil and gas and, of course, food.

Thousands of families who have already tightened their belts to combat the ‘back to school and college’ expenses are now faced with a winter of struggle and discontent. Everyone is hoping for some support in the upcoming Budget but nonetheless, it’s going to be tough, all the more reason to focus on producing comforting, wholesome delicious food for the family to tuck into around the kitchen table. We may need to shop differently, learn or relearn thrifty ways, how to use cheaper cuts of meat and off cuts of fish, use leftovers and completely eliminate food waste.