Being frugal in the kitchen

When I'm getting ready to cook, I always look what's left in the fridge and try to make a nice meal out of it. If you don't do this then you are probably one of those people always throwing stuff out. That's not how we roll. We like to eat everything we buy, instead of just throwing it out. For this reason I've compiled a list with a few tips on how you can be more frugal in the kitchen. Okay, okay. I'll be honest. When I first started to cook I used to throw out food all the time. I realise now that this is very wasteful behavior, and generally bad for your liquidity (money). When Veronique taught me the basics on how to cook, I was astonished by what you can still use. She's a professional of course, and I'm a measly home-cook. So she'll have to be frugal at work, otherwise budgets will explode and I envision a lot of garbage bags. So, what can you do to be more frugal? For that, check out this awesome compiled list of improvements. But what is frugal you might ask? Good question! Being frugal essentially means you do more with less. Less money of course, and who wouldn't want that? Without further ado, here's the list:

• Save vegetable scrapings, layers, peels etc. Even chicken bones or carcasses! You can make an absolute delicious home-made soup stock with that. Just don't wait for too long, otherwise the good stuff will be perished.
• Save money by making your own bread. You can do it too! We even have a delicious recipe put up for you for rosemary bread. Check it out by clicking on this link: Rosemary bread.
• Purchase fresh fruits and vegetables in bulk, if you have the space for it. Especially when they're in the season. Make your own jam and jellies, freeze strawberries to use them in the winter. They will taste much better than imported off-season stuff, plus it's way cheaper.
• Our house is in a semi-rural area, this means we can grow our own herbs and vegetables easily. Even if you think you don't have the space, there's always a solution! Go vertical! Stack pots and make your own vegetable garden on your balcony.
• Don't have a balcony or an outside? No problem! Did you know that you can grow green onions inside? And most herbs? Simply choose a sunny spot near a window and you'll have your own home-grown veggies and herbs in no-time.
• If you have too ripe bananas, you can freeze them and make banana bread out of them. Or use them in other baked goods such as banana cake or banana smoothies.
• One of the biggest money savers I can think of is to stop eating in restaurants. Use the money to buy fresh produce and cook your own home-made meals. Check out our categories for inspiration, it's not that hard!

Well, there they are. My tips on being more frugal in the kitchen. I chose not to make this an endless list, but rather put a few tips in there you can start using right now. I'd like to hear if you guys have frugal tips for others that you'd want to share. Use the comment box on this page and I'll add the best ones to the above list (with credits).