'Cereal'?Saver Shares His Super Secrets

The reason I don't want the 70s in my kitchen is probably because I don't want that decade in my life again. Three-day weeks, the Thatcher government, endemic sexism, crap telly, plus Jimmy Savile and Noddy Holder on Top of the Pops. Despite this I want to recreate the old classics without the millions of E-numbers and artificial flavours. But no one really wants an arm taken off with a vintage electric knife in the same way that we do not hanker for TV that shuts down at 11pm, or a choice between Country Manor or Bull's Blood to drink with a well-done steak and a Black Forest gateau. So for me it is out with the old, and onwards to the posh department store to buy the latest versions. Nostalgia is one thing, but a trip to A&E in the middle of a dinner party, quite another.

The breakfast cereal I like is one of the most expensive on the supermarket shelf. Here is how I cut the price without giving up my favorite: I purchased two plastic containers with lids at Wal-Mart. Then I buy one box of my favorite cereal and one of a cheaper version of it, mix them together and divide between the two containers. I get twice as much cereal for a reduced price. — Pat, California.We raise beef cattle, but because it is so valuable we don't butcher much for ourselves anymore. Instead, we butcher the deer. Iowa is overrun by deer, making it the No. 1 cause of automobile accidents. Deer are organic — raised on grass, with no added hormones. What more can you ask for? Butchered and prepared well, we cannot tell venison from beef. —Louise, Iowa

#'FRIDGE TUBS. I love to reuse the single-serve side dish plastic tubs from Kentucky Fried Chicken to store small portions of pet food or leftovers. They.e with a tight-fitting lid, and both are top-rack dishwasher safe. Even better, they're free.I buy 5 pounds of ground beef at a time, put all of it into a big pot, cover with water and set it over medium-high heat. As it cooks, I stir to break up the large chunks of meat, then continue until all the pink has disappeared. Next, I drain the beef in a colander. All the grease is in the hot water and goes down the drain with no problem. Easy! —Deidra, email