Bread, butter, an onion and some milk should be a cheap combination, but Ocado’s bread sauce adds up if your family love this accompaniment. Instead buy a cheaper version and jazz it up by simmering with a clove-studded onion and add a handful of sourdough crumbs you may well have knocking about after breakfast.
Meanwhile shop-bought pigs in blankets are cheaper than homemade but they usually taste that way too. It’s worth buying high quality cocktail sausages (look for 90% pork content), cut them in two and wrap in organic smoked streaky bacon, such as at butchers HG Walter – avoiding watery, limp bangers will be your reward.
The wine
Our own Victoria Moore, as part of her big Christmas round-up of wines, recommends these three bargain fizzes, all from the high street. Tesco finest* Premier Cru Brut Champagne NV France (12.5%, £21) is a must-buy this year. Made by Union Champagne in Avize, it’s rich like buttered toast and creamy like lemon mousse. At just £6.75 until December 14, Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Pignoletto NV Italy is made from a different grape to prosecco but is a good alternative to prosecco: frothy with a clean taste of apple. If you want something French, the Crémant de Bordeaux Etoile de Timberlay NV France from M&S, (12%) is just £9 – it’s simple but good value, made from merlot and semillon with a dash of cabernet franc, and has a gently rounded feel with notes of red apple and lemon.
