One-Pot Penny Pinching

I try to minimize energy use any way I can, not just for the sake of my budget, but also because of environmental concerns. One small step I’ve recently taken in this direction is that I now try to avoid using more appliances than necessary when cooking.

For instance, on Saturday I made a pasta dish with broccoli in it. Rather than preparing the noodles and the vegetable separately, I just dumped both into the same pot of boiling water and cooked them together. If I’m roasting meat in the oven, I make a baked rice or potato side dish, and heat the vegetables in an oven-safe pan right beside the main course. I prepare casseroles using uncooked (or cold leftover) ingredients, rather than warming everything up before assembly and baking. When making soup, I cook my starch right in the broth, rather than preparing a separate pot of rice or noodles to be added to the main dish.

This approach isn’t going to save Donnie and me thousands of dollars a year (or the environment). But even the smallest savings add up over time. Every positive financial change we make is a step in the right direction.

Have you made any small changes that add up over time? Please share your stories in the comments!