Easy Dumplings for Chinese New Year 2025

Love Chinese Dumplings but can't afford to visit a restaurant this year?  Making them at home is easier than you think and easy on the wallet.  

True, the prep process is definitely helped with 'sous chef' helpers but then, making dumplings makes a great excuse for a party. 

Dumplings come in many forms and are perfect for a crowd of mixed carnivores, vegetarians and vegans.  Some on offer here are classic, some modern, some created by the Blogger with western tastes in mind.  With 67goingon50 modifications, all are healthier than most.

Try glossy pillowy Triple Duty steamed dumplings, crispy low-fat oven-baked vegan rice paper parcels or an adventurous pastry/gluten-free vegetarian dumpling.  Plus one or all stunning sauces.  And a delicious sparkling Pomelo & Lemongrass Fizz.  They're designed for western tastes. (more below)

RECIPES

DELICATELY CRISPY VEGAN DUPLINGS: baked not fried with sensational low-sugar 67 Sweet Chilli Dipping Sauce.  Part prep-ahead.

The pastry is beautifuly crisp though not brown in the usual way,  
and doesn't  shatter into shards down your chest!  

NO-PASTRY TOFU DUMPLING/FRITTERS

vegetarian, pastry/gluten-free, healthier, prep in advance

Great change from the usual with unusual - in a good way - flavours

TRIPLE DUTY JAOTZE 

A blog favourite: common meeting ground for vegans & non-vegans

67 recalibrated a traditional recipe to take account of end-of-January budgets and worries about fat and salt.  Techniques were modified to make prep easier.  

PORKUPINES 

(with Chicken/Beef option)

Minced pork/chicken with exotic spicing & crunchy water chestnuts rolled in rice are an intriguing Chinese canape re very Chinese-ey and easy to love

                          POMELO & LEMONGRASS FIZZ

easy, low-sugar with 

Champers, prosecco or alochol-free sparkling water, your choice;

 Pomelo & Lemongrass is an enticing blend, unpretentious and nicely balanced. Mixed with champagne, it is ambrosial; even in fizzy water, it's delightful.  

Please leave a Comment in the box below

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This recipe has been developed by B M Lee/ Bright Sun Enterprises.  It may not be reproduced without the author's written permission 

Making the filling in advance is usually a one person job (though help will be welcome for chopping).  Then arrange the ingredients on a clean table covered with a single bowl of filling and piles of pastry wrappers covered with a fresh damp j-cloth or piece of muslin.  One bowl will usually be enough but if you have quite a few helpers you might need to divide the pastry into two bowls.  Hand wipes nearby  will be helpful. 

Then it goes like this:  one person places the filling in the relevant container; one folds it, and one steams or bakes it.  The dumplings can be a teensy bit fiddly so women with their nimble fingers might be better at filling and folding.

Put the guys to work setting the table with small plates & chopsticks or spoons, sauces (soy, oyster (opt) hoisin, chilli crisp), serving implements (tongs, serving spoons) and lots of serviettes.  They can also arrange the drink (any or all of): Chinese beer,

Pork is a favourite meat in Chinese cuisine but replacing it with chicken or beef mince is no problem.

 

Chinese New Year 2025: Jan 29: celebrate with easy make-at-home Chinese dishes: lower fat/ salt, wallet-friendly

Don't forget WELCOME TO THE BLOG (nav bar, above)

for the latest food news and bargains.

Courtesy of iStock licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence

The qualities of the Year of the Snake (starting January 29) are Challenge and Opportunity for growth, we're told.  Adapatability, learning and patience are needed but unexpectedly there is a biological dimension!  Males apparently find the year exciting while females are urged to develop collaborative abilities with supportive colleagues.  

None of that applies to the Chinese food found in many Chinese homes during the two week celebration, and year-round.  Most of the recipes here are easy-peasy, wallet friendly and lower calorie.

                                 Un-fried Rice

Cleaner', 'skinnier', gorgeously plumped-up version of Fried Rice

Better for your health: all the ingredients without the fat; soft, easily digested base for Oriental dishes 

           

HOT CHOW MEIN NOODLES

Think Chow Mein is boring?  Think again. This recipe is absolutely moreishly delicious.  It's also budget-friendly and easy, and especially for those not used to Cooking Chinese, includes lots of pictures!

As good as Chinese take-away but much much healthier & cheaper

  

Chinese Ramen Noodles:

Quick, frugal & healthy, a bowl of noodles, protein, veg and rich broth is hard to beat...Triple Duty; suits carnivores and vegetarians/vegans 

With rising food prices, this delicious and satisfying budget bowl doesn't sacrifice flavour or good health 

Chicken Thighs in Simple Sherry & Soy Sauce  

Easy Chinese comfort food for nutritionally deficient pensioners that pleases the rest of the family, too; wallet-friendly,

Almost-Instant Crispy Noodles with protein, chilli, veg & gravy 

(the chinese equivalent of Sunday lunch?)  Just Wow! Restaurant quality but cooked frugally at home.

Salmon & Chinese Cabbage with Garlic Honey Sauce

Sensationally delicious easy meal for frigid weather::

  low-fat, health giving & satisfying; from pot to table, 15 mins 

Seriously good one-pot dinner is great for singletons or families, especially in cold, damp weather 

                          Vegan Tofu with Chillis & Broccoli 
               Colourful and appetising with chicken option

If you like a little heat, you'll love this!

                        Jasmine Mint Tea 

Restorative, cleansing, sugar-free, possibly fat-busting 

Oriental tea with Mid-Eastern twist

 

These recipes have been developed by B  Lee/ Bright Sun Enterprises.  They may not be reproduced, in any form, without the author's written permission.  

Sugar-free Chinese meat rub for that charred spicy sweet rib taste: lo-fat, dairy free

This recipe is worth its weight in gold for easy, tasty week-night meals...
                                                                                                                    updated 1/2025; original 2015

Healthier Chinese Spicy Belly Pork Strips/Ribs ' 

(option for beef/lamb ribs, chicken thighs/wings and other cuts of meat )

' ...lovely and juicy; I usually avoid ribs because they're so messy!' Taster

                                                                                      

Here's a spiced marinade that will give any cut of pork, beef or chicken the quintessential flavour of  Chinese Spare Rib. 

Post Christmas - or anytime - the great thing about the rub is that it's almost-no-sugar.  And because the meat is barbecued, roasted, or grilled on a rack, excess fat is released and drains away.   

There's no gloopiness; the meat becomes tender, exotically flavoured and covered with crunchy burnished bits. The sauce is much healthier than take-aways or supermarket offerings.  

Winter or summer, prep the meat the night before and it'll be ready by dinnertime.  

Some less expensive cuts may need poaching beforehand which will tenderise the meat so that is is nearly falling off the bone.  Poaching also reduces fat. 

The recipe has been in 67's cookbook for ages but may have been adapted from the (London) Times.

Feeds: 6-8 (as part if a 3-4 course meal) 
Cost: depends on the meat; £5-10'ish?? (Jan 24) Recipe halves nicely

Ingred:
1 kilo/2 pounds meat (pork ribs, chops, tenderloin, belly, shoulder or pork butt; beef ribs, flank or other from-the-belly steak; strips of rump steak; chicken breasts, legs, wings) 

4 tbsp dry sherry or white wine or grape juice
4 tbsp reduced-salt (not low-salt) soy sauce (if there are blood-pressure issues, replace half the soy sauce with good stock)
1 tbsp sugar (opt)
4 cloves garlic, grated or minced (opt)
1/2 tsp each dried cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves
1/2 tsp salt
2 rounded tbsp Dijon or other mild mustard

Method: 

Crispy Noodles with Protein, Chilli, Veg & Gravy : protein leftovers, wallet friendly,

Easily create this rich crunchy Chinese restaurant favourite at home... 

updated jan 25; original 2015  

 The Chinese Sunday lunch?? Crispy Noodles with protein, veg & lots of gravy

What's your favourite comfort/indulgence food at your family Chinese restaurant?  Before we all became so cholesterol concscious, the Blogger's was Crispy Fried Noodles with Chicken Veg and Gravy.

It isn't possible to produce a low-fat version but 67's offering is definitely lower in fat. It is also wallet-friendly, using up leftover proteins (especially after Christmas and Easter), and has plenty of fibre rich veg.

Cost: min £1-2.50 depnding on leftovers (jan '25)

Feeds:1 but multiplies easily 

Ingreds per person:

1 nest noodles

50-100g cooked meat

min 80 gm easy cook veg: green beans, mange route, tender stem broccoli, small cauliflower florets or carrot sticks OR frozen veg

scant 2/3 cup gravy either (i) leftover meat gravy OR (ii)leftover or freshly made mushroom gravy OR (iii) if you must, Bisto granules 

Method:

How to.. Chinese Cabbage/Leaves :low fat & carb, vegan wallet friendly, easy, high fibre

Both  Photos from Stock

Chinese Lettuce (also known as Napa Cabbage) is a lettuce-like leaf with a hard base and core which keeps well in cold temperatures.  It's like a cross between lettuce and celery, and adds plenty of fresh healthy fibre to your winter diet. 

The leaves are pale and tightly wrapped; they have crisp, broad, white ribs lined with frilly tops and edges that reduce in size as you get closer to the centre. Both ribs and frills are succulent with a delicate, mild, sweet flavour and they are equally tood stir-fried or raw in a salad.

They're highly recommended.

Chinese Leaves are about the same price as romaine lettuce but go much further.  Chinatowns are the freshest source; the price of a large Chinese Cabbage will come in at about £3 -- it keeps well but not forever.  If your household is small, 67 recommends going halvsies with another singleton or couple.  

UK supermarkets M&S, Waitrose and Sainsbury's stock Chinese Leaves but their offerings are smaller and lower priced. 

  

Prep is easy peasy.  Remove bottom 1.5 inches; separate leaves; blanche in a 9:1 solution of water and vinegar 20 mins.  Drain.  Keep refrigerated wrapped in paper towels in a plastic bag until ready to use.

Shred the frilly bits and finely slice the white core.  To cook, add to a hot lightly oiled pan and stir fry OR try the recently updated Salmon, Chinese Leaf, Chilli & Sweet Garlic Sauce.  

In summer, Chinese cabbage is ideal for make-ahead salads -- no sorry-looking wilted specimens here.  Prep as for cooked leaves;  add cucumber and a simple vinaigrette or a creamy yoghurt-y dressing for a tasty side, OR use as a base for something more complicated.  Nuts, seeds and fruit (fresh or reconstituted dried) provide something texturally stunning. 

Please leave a comment in the box below

This recipe has been developed by B  Lee/ Bright Sun Enterprises and may not be reproduced, in any form, without the author's written permission. 

 

BURGER SOUP: FAMILIES & PENSIONERS: dairy-free, lower fat/cholesterol, high fibre, easy, wallet-friendly

Pleasing, satisfying North American Classic, cousin of the Beef Stew...for families or pensioners: 

1. Family

updated nov 2022

A hearty bowlful of beefy deliciousness 

This is one for the  favourites' list -- especially since Waitrose & M&S contiue to sell 500gm 20% fat beef mince at around £3 (1/25).  But if you want to use a higher grade beef or kosher beef, that's fine, too;same methods apply but obviously costs rise.

Two recipes are available,one for families and one for pensioners.

Don't be afraid of 20% fat beef; the fat released is usually good quality.  The flavour of the beef is excellent and in 67's past experience, a bargain.

67's method for cooking the mince removes as much fat as possible (making it more suitable for cholesterol-phobes).  

Like many American supper dishes, 'Burger' Soup is hearty, easy to make, and reheats well.  There is an element of 'kidult' food here - it's a soupy version of the hamburger - but everyone who's eaten it (including the Blogger) loves it. 

As for the chief cook and bottle washer, the soup is a godsend one-pan wonder: you only need some warm bread/buns to go with, find a bit of salad and throw-together a dessert for a great, satisfying meal.  

To continue the American theme, 67 defrosted some recently baked banana cupcakes and topped them with peanut butter frosting. But quick, easy and more-ish brownies would also work.  

If beef is not in your food plan, turkey or chicken mince is an even lower-fat/cholesterol alternative. 

The vegetables can be chopped and changed without affecting its deliciousness; the soup freezes well. 

The slow-cooker method is recommended for best flavour but a stove-top version is included. 

1.  FAMILY VERSION 

Cost:  min £5'50'ish (1/25)

Feeds:  4-6

Ingreds: 

500gm/17.5oz ground beef

olive oil 

 

1 onion or half a fennel, (tough outer leaves removed, inner leaves soaked in a mixture of 9:1 water & white vinegar 20 mins; in small dice

2 sticks celery, in chunks (bite-size for slow cookers; smaller for quick version)

2 carrots, in chunks (bite-size for slow cookers; smaller for quick version)

bell pepper, topped, tailed, de-seeded and de-membraned, in bite-size chunks

2 cloves garlic, grated (opt)

2-3 med potatoes, in bite-size chunks, or a combo of potatoes, parsnips, swede or other root veg (2'ish cups)

1 can tomatoes 

1.5c beef broth (granules will be fine)

1.5 tsp tomato paste

2 tsp Worcestershire sauce

1/4 tsp salt 

1/4tsp pepper

1/2 tsp oregano

1/8tsp cayenne    

          

       

After soup base is cooked:       

       1 can (any old) tomato soup (67 used M&S @ 50p a tin) 

       1 cup frozen peas or frozen diced mixed veg (if you can find them)

       Garnish: 1tbsp fresh or 1 tsp dried parsley flakes 

Method:

Luxurious Swede & Bacon Soup for budget-conscious January: vegan option, dairy free option, make ahead,

Take advantage of a glut of swedes for a thick unctuous soup...

...ooriginally posted 2015

Jewel bright Potage of Swede and bacon with hand-held chilli & corn pancakes

photo:  3/11/16

This amber coloured, intensely savoury soup has always prompted deep murmurs of appreciation on cold nights or when the weather is bone-chilling.  

Inexpensive to make, especially when swedes are so cheap (60p at M&S) it's thick.  lovely and subtly flavoured.  It makes a substantiall meal with flaky cheese biscuits, cheese bread or croutons, a simple salad & a dessert. 

There is some chopping involved but much of the prep involves waiting for the vegetables to sweat into a sweet carmellised mass.  Good stock and a blitz with a stick blender guarantees compliments.

This recipe, sourced so long ago that its been lost in the midst of time, is a favourite meal though more often than not now, the vegetarian version is produced.  

Note: The secret of luxurious soups is sweating the vegetables for at least 20 minutes.  (See below)

Cost: £2.75 (less for veggie versions in Tips below) (10/23)
Serves: 4-6

Ingred:
2-3 rashers back bacon, fat removed, or turkey bacon (with as few e-numbers as possible) in 1 cm/ 1/2 inch slices (veggies omit)
1-2 oz/25-50 gm dairy or plant butter which gives a richer flavour OR olive oil OR mixture of the two

1 med yellow onion, diced OR equiv fodmap friendly green of spring onions, finely sliced

1 1/4 lb/1/2 k peeled, swede in med dice (ie one largeish)
1 stick peeled, cleaned celery, sliced 
1 medium potato and 1 med carrot, peeled & chopped 

2 pts/1 litre stock or water
1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley or 1 tsp dried
cracked black pepper

Method:

Quick& Easy Skinny Hotbread soup dippers/baps: dairy-free, higher fibre, frugal

Wonderful hotbreads take minutes from bowl to table; they're perfect soup dippers or Baps...(posted 2018 as Skinny Almost Instant Biscuits/Baps)

1st posted 2018; updated 4/24

Wholemeal flour & yoghurt make these a healthier gorgeously tender Instant Breakfast Biscuits and easily morph into soup dippers or Baps (photo below)

These, like the originals are simple in the the extreme,quickly mxed, dropped by spoon or handsful onto a tray and baked in under 15 minutes.  

The originals are relatively high in butter but this skinnier version replaces some of the butter with yoghurt and some white flour with wholemel, making it a better optoin for dieters and the cholesterol-phobic. 

The hotbreads still have the crunchy outside and wonderfully tender inside but with a nutty lighter taste.

Serve warm with soup, turn into Baps for fresh sandwiches or serve warm with boiled eggs for breakfast.  

Cost: £2.25'ish (1/25), nore for dairy-free
Makes: 12-15 biscuits or 4 good-sized sandwich baps

Ingreds: 
     
    170g/6oz white flour
     85g/3oz wholemeal  flour       
      2 tsp baking powder       
      1/2 tsp baking soda       
      1/2 tsp salt
      1 tsp sugar (opt)
      
     1 cup dairy buttermilk, stirred OR dairy or plant milk that's gone off or has had a tablespoon of vinegar stirred in OR 75% dairy or plant yoghurt, 25% water  

       85gm/scant 3oz unsalted dairy or plant butter, melted & slightly cooled

       30g/1 generous oz dairy or plant yoghurt 

Method:

1. Preheat oven or air fryer to 220C non fan or 425F 
2. Line baking tray with greaseproof paper
3. Mix buttermilk, melted butter & yoghurt
4. Mix flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt & sugar 
5. Add liquid to dry; stir just until completely blended
6. Rest for a few minutes to thicken 
7. Using an ice cream scoop, dessert spoons or clean hands drop the dough onto baking trays; aim for rustic/shaggy   
8. Bake in the centre of the oven 12-15 mins or until golden
9. Cool on a baking rack

Comments: 'I so love these; they're so quick and tasty.' Retired writer

Tips:

Sandwich baps from Breakfast biscuit dough:

utterly wonderful 

• The dough makes lovely sandwich baps: scrape the dough onto the lined baking tray in a rough square; roughly smooth it out and even the edges until it is about 1.5 inches /3.8 cm high; divide equally into 4; separate slightly and bake as normal 
• Vegan option: dairy-free milk, yoghurt & plant butter

          yeast-free breads, go toNav Bar Recipes II/ bottom page

Please make a comment

This recipe has been developed by B M Lee/ Bright Sun Enterprises.  It may not be reproduced without the author's written permission

Frugal Croutons: use up stale bread

It's the ratio of oil to bread that makes a memorable crouton...

Garlic Croutons
'When I eat these I don't regret any single calorie; they're that good!'

Too much and the cubes are heavy with oil; too little and they're disappointing.  But the bread and the seasoning are also important.

These crusty little morsels of toasted, seasoned bread have been around since the 1500's.  They're thought to have originated in France.

The formula for croutons is simple, as is the method.

Cost: £1.50 (1/25)
Makes: 3 cups

Ingred: 
   3 cups bread, in generous one inch cubes, but any will do
   3 tbsp olive oil
   salt
   1 garlic clove, grated (opt)

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 350F, 180c/ gas 4
2. Mix olive oil with salt and garlic if using; pour over bread cubes, toss well
3. Spread out in in a single layer on a baking sheet (with low sides); bake 7-10 mins, stirring at least once, or until golden and crisp -- keep an eye out, they burn easily
4. Cool 
5. store in an airtight tin for up to 4 days

Variations:

• finely chopped herbs
• cheese
• siracha

Comments:
'When I encountered these, I didn't regret a single calorie; they're the good!' Retired writer.

Tips:

• this recipe will also work with smaller croutons
• dessert croutons make great garnishes for ice cream or puddings; use dairy or plant butter instead of olive oil; roll in cinnamon and sugar or icing sugar
• replace bread with a dense cake like pound  or 'bread' cake.  
• also dip plain (no garlic or salt) croutons in white or dark chocolate or alcohol flavoured thin icing 

                           More sides on NavBar: Recipes II

Please leave a Comment in the box below 

This recipe  has been developed by B  Lee/ Bright Sun Enterprises and may not be reproduced, in any form, without the author's written permission.   

KEEPING WARM IN A BIG FREEZE (Jan 2025)

 KEEPING WARM

LEARN TO DRESS IN LAYERS

 

Layering - not turning up the central heating - is the key to keeping warm and comfy;  think in terms of background heating and putting on another layer!  Here's a rough guide.

Bottoms: 

• Tights/leggings/pyjama bottoms/thermals beneath trousers/skirts/jogging pants
• Thermal socks or two pairs of socks, 1 thick, 1 thin (reasonably priced thermal socks: 3 pair-packs at Mountain Warehouse & Amazon £15'ish )

Tops (as needed):

• Dig out summer vests and use as a first layer, then..
• A close-fitting thermal polo/turtle neck then...
• Shirt or blouse, then...
• Jumper, wool, if poss, then...
• Shawl/Wrap/Blanket

Note: The retired, worried about heating bills, might want to spend the entire day dressed like this

Venturing Out: 

• Head: hats prevent heat loss (baclavas are in style this winter!)
• Neck: Long scarves wrapped twice around the neck and chin make the cold more bearable
• Coats: ideally should offer plenty of room for layers of warm clothing without constricting movement (or be made with Heat technology, see below), have a hood and a collar that fastens up to the chin, protecting sides as well as back of the neck.  Windproofing and some level of waterproofing is helpful; sleeves should cover wrists generously or be elasticated or adjustable to prevent the intrusion of cold air.  Pockets should be big enough to hold gloves and angled or zip or button together to prevent theft)
• Feet. Thermal socks can be found at reasonable prices (eg £15 for 3 pairs) at outdoor shops like Mountain Warehouse. Available in various thicknesses.  Also Uniqlo. 
• Snow Boots: Mountain Warehouse (& occasionally Blacks) stock wallet-friendly wellies & similar thrifty options.  Jogging shoes with a deep ridged rubber sole may be sufficient if the snow is not too deep.  Catering shoes designed to prevent slipping have a deep ridged rubber sole and sturdy uppers. (Catering shoes £35 upwards at Denny's Hospitality, Berman Street, Fitzrovia - between Oxford Circus & Tottenham Court Road, London -  also phone orders 01372 377904).  

STOCKISTS:

• 67goingon50 recommends Uniqlo, M&S & John Lewis Heattech products for coats, turtle necks, sweatshirts; special technology traps warm air inside thin layers which keeps heat in without bulk.  
• Find thermal polo necks & Jumpers (turtle neck & other designs), leggings, long johns, gloves, hats & scarves in pretty colours/designs and in various weights
• Prices are reasonable bearing in mind they're easily hand-washed and last years 
• For Serviceable budget-friendly outer winter woolies including thermal gloves, thermal socks, scarves, hats & thick jogging trousers are found at  Mountain Warehouse (& occasionally Blacks), £7-8 upwards depending on item but certain styles are often on sale.  Kids' snow boots, too.  Join Mountain Warehouse's app for special offers.
• Supermarkets sometimes sell really cute kids' mittens and gloves.  
• Draft-blocking High-pile Ultra Warm Hooded Dressing Gowns: most department stores £40'ish.  Or try the super enveloping over-sized ponchos, hooded or not, online. 
• FASHIONABLE reasonably priced full-length and short Thermal coats: Uniqlo; also try H&M and Revolut.  For the up-market, John Lewis has a good selection of must-have brands including previous seasons' Barbour.   M&S usually offers at least one ladies' fashion winner per year.  

BEDS:

• Prevent hypothermia: if spare blankets/duvets/sleeping bags are already in use, a winter coat spread on top of covers will add another layer of warmth 
• Though 67 has not tested Emergency Foil Blankets (EFBs) - the kind given out during Marathons and in driving/hiking/mountainside emergencies - they are said to be excellent at retaining heat when placed on top of bedcovers or on windows.  EFB's are cheap (£1-4, the least expensive in tidy packets of say 6 or 12), take up little space and can be used more than once.   
• If you can afford it, brushed cotton bedding (the modern equivalent of flannel sheets) is a joy to slide into at bedtime and adds extra warmth.  Prices at John Lewis are £10-£40 for basic singles.  
• Presuming you have power, electric blankets/underblankets can be helpful to some but dangerous to others, even with an automatic cut-off switch.  
• Hot water bottles can be lovely if there's no danger of spillage while filling the bottle or warming the bed 
• The classic solution still applies: share the body heat of a loved one! Have young children share a bed; they'll love it.

HEATING

Reduce Heating Costs by using background heating only.???

• to have or not have heating on overnight?  Decision time.  If the  background heating's been on all day, overnight heating may be a luxury. But be careful, in cold damp conditions, ear and throat infections can develop
• see ideal home temperatures, including WHO recommendations, for well dressed people, including for sleeping.  (Produced by British Gas)
• 1s it worth investing/creating makeshift 4 poster beds from which curtains can be hung to enclose heat and keep out draughts?

• the kitchen is often the warmest place in the house; find a space on the floor for toddler playtime and/or use the kitchen table for homework (unless it's exam time; in which case, solitary work in the bedroom may be more suitable; add a small heater)
• watch telly huddled under a shared duvet (or emergency Foil Blanket??)
• if you have a fireplace and the cold spell is extreme, move in beds/mattresses, sleeping bags -- but not long-term due to possible air pollution
• warm the kids' clothes on radiators for half an hour to make getting dressed more comfortable 
• an elderly retired but eccentric friend recommended staying in bed all day, wearing a hat, to keep heating to a minimum  

STORAGE HEATERS :

 

If you live in a block of pre-21st century flats with storage heating, consider investing in (a) heater/s that provides background heating only.  Many storage heaters belt out so much heat in the morning, windows have to be opened, but little heat is available as it gets dark.  It's a shocking waste, especially since rooms warm up at mid-morning as outdoor temperatures rise.

Consider investing in a tube heater similar to those heating greenhouses.   A friend bought a model which didn't have a thermostat and turns on only when needed. It has an easy-to-use programmable timer that turns heat on and off at times of your choice.  The model heated up quickly and provided a gentle, cosy heat.  (Note: new models with thermostat are on sale but may need more development; read customer comments closely)  The tubes are wall mounted or protected with an optional heater guard.

All went well.  The heater was turned on at 5 am for a minimum hour, turned off as the room warmed up with outside temperatures, and then turned on again as temperatures dropped in the evening for a couple of hours. Lap blankets or duvets made work or telly more comfy.

A storage heater or a supplementary heater was used only 3-4 times in a London studio flat in the winter during extremely cold weather (which in London usually lasts only a week or two).  

The friend's annual heating bill for autumn-winter 2021/2 showed the amount of energy expended was 500 (whatever-units-are-used) less than the previous year. 

Stockist: Mylek: tube heaters, various lengths, heat guards, approx £70 for both

Remember North London's Primrose Hill in 2017?!!

CUTTING FUEL COSTS WHEN  COOKING

• whatever cooking equipment you have, investing in a cheap and reliable microwave might be an idea; they cook fastest and use up less electricity
• slow cookers use less energy than stovetop or oven AND provide background heat; double up -- in the last hour of cooking place baking potatoes wrapped in greaseproof paper on the surface of the foods in the slow cooker; when done, remove flesh & serve as mash 
• reports say some brands of air fryers reduce cooking time much more than expected 
• never use the oven for just one thing; plan ahead - make granola or bake potatoes while making a cake or cooking a roast 

Note: If you're in an area which could experience Electricity blackouts, here are a few tips:

COPING WITH A BLACKOUT

KEEPING YOUR COOL 

Note: Older family members living independently might be encouraged to move in or closer by if a blackout is likely.  

WHAT TO BUY/ RUMMAGE IN THE CUPBOARDS FOR 

• Torches with spare batteries; maybe a head torch?
• Proper candles - not just tea-lights - in sturdy candle holders which are not easily knocked over PLUS a generous box Matches
• Batteries of different sizes
• First Aid Kit
• Cash (could be very important!)
• Cool Box
• EFB's:Emergency Foil Blankets - the kind given out during Marathons and in driving/hiking/mountainside emergencies; they're £2 for 2, folded in tidy packets (taking up little space) and can be used more than once. Buy on the net.
• Power Bank - for phones & iPads but not laptops; reasonably priced but must be charged ahead of time unless battery operated. (If you're flush; a portable power station will set you back over £1,000)
• Thermoses: fill with boiling water, not coffee or tea, for a hot cuppa of choice; the thermoses come in individual or family sizes, priced accordingly.  A separate large thermos of hot chocolate, accompanied or not, with marshmallows will probably send the household into raptures
• Food jars: double insulated, they keep food warm 12-36 hours, depending on size and brand; great not just for soups, also for a layer of rice with vegetables or stew; perfect for elderly relatives 
• Battery-operated radio?
• Battery operated clip-on lamp for book lovers ? 
• Night lights for finding your way around 

GETTING READY: 

• fill up car with petrol
• write down important phone numbers and passwords
• just before blackout starts or if you wake up in one,  turn off all electric appliances, especially pcs which can be damaged by power surges.  Leave one light on so you'll know when it's all over!

TECH TIPS: if blackouts are likely, make a habit of 

• Closing down unnecessary programs & apps which drain batteries 
• Switching off location service on your phone (regular pinging of satellites sucks power), NFC (for payments) and Bluetooth, which often aren’t used
• Using the power-saving mode (on most smart phones), which stops asking apps if there are any notifications and dims your screen. 

FOOD STORAGE TIPS

Fridges:

• Just before Blackout, if you can, take what you need out of the fridge and place in a cool box; during Blackout leave fridge doors shut; UK Power Networks say if doors are not continually opened & closed, food should keep 4-5 hours
• But if Blackout goes on longer than 4 hours, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) says all fridge contents should be thrown out

Freezer

• FSA says food in a closed freezer will stay frozen for 24 hours or more...the fuller the freezer, the better
• One freezer manufacturer said a full large freezer will keep food frozen 48 hours; it recommended ice blocks to slow down defrosting 
• Blogger: remember raw meats can be frozen twice, once in their natural state, once after defrosting and cooking. If raw meat is unintentionally defrosted, cook into casseroles or roasts and re-freeze  

EATING IN BLACKOUT 

Obviously if you have a barbecue or a fireplace, you'll be fine. 67goingon50's Preparing for Winter in a Cost of Living Crisis: has plenty of tips for frugal emergency food.  Otherwise:

• if budget allows, check out the nearest area that isn't in blackdown and, if possible, plan a meal out -- that way, we help boost the economy, too!
• make a blackout meal a fun occasion - eat picnic style, on a blanket; maybe haul out the tent; dress up like North American Indians around a real/fake fire wrapped in Emergency Foil Blankets (bonus: it will also help pass the time!)
• get organised; if there's time...

1. dig out your some of your freezer stores of 67goingon50's frozen chocolate chip or other Cookie dough; bake (or have someone else bake) a platter-full, ready for a blackout treat
2. use frozen or tinned fruit to make a quick crumble 
3. re-heat a frozen stew or casserole (or quickly make), store in a slow cooker on low till the electricity goes off; the contents will stay warm for at least an hour  
4. blackout dessert: brush pre-baked pastry cases with melted chocolate; add drained chopped tinned fruit (stored in juice, not syrup) and top with clotted or whipped dairy or plant cream with a dribble of chocolate sauce.  (tinned pie filling can also be used but is usually high in sugar)

Sources:

BBC News
Sky News
How long does food last in fridge/freezer:Rebecca Miller, Daily Express
How to Prepare Your Home for Blackout: Guy Kelly, Daily Telegraph
Could I survive a Blackout?: Chris Stokel-Walker, The Times
How long does food last in fridge/freezer:Rebecca Miller, Daily Express
National Grid
Protected Sites List

67goingon50's Preparing for Winter in a Cost of Living Crisis: 

 

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