To enable you to have slow-cooking porridge oats in the morning, measure oats into a thermos flask the evening before. Pour on appropriate amount of boiling water and put on lid. Porridge is hot and ready to eat for breakfast.

Buy plain cereals rather than the "with fruit and nuts" variety. Add a handful of raisins, dried chopped apple, prunes, apricots, walnut chips, etc. to make a less costly mixture.

To keep dumplings light, prick them open when first taken from the kettle.

To defrost bread and rolls, Place in brown paper bag and put in 325° oven for 5 minutes to thaw completely.

You can crisp soggy cereal and crackers by putting them on a cookie sheet and heating for a few minutes in the oven.