Cheaper/homemade snacking foods

JodyBPM

DH and I have taken to curling up in bed with some snacks and a movie as a midweek treat.

We were popping down the corner shop and picking up a selection of crisps & dip/Hagaan Das style ice-cream/sharing chocolate bars etc.

We need to cut back and have realised that these impromptu supermarket shops need to go, as its a double whammy - expensive corner shop snack items, plus we tend to pick up other stuff we "need" whilst we're there sending the careful shopping budget all over the place.

So I'm looking for replacement ideas that are cheap and cheerful, and we can have in stock in the house. I'm not too worried about the unhealthiness of the snacks - we realise it's not healthy stuff, but it's only once a week.

So far we come up with home popped popcorn with various seasonings or prawn crackers from the Asian Supermarket (sold in big bags, cheap as chips!) deep fried at home served with sweet chilli sauce etc.

Has anyone else got any suggestions? Particularity for sweet treats? Ideally something for sharing rather than individual biscuits etc.

rach_k

Mary Berry's Hokey Pokey icecream hits the spot for me! When it's first made, you get the crunch of the honeycomb but when you've had it in the freezer for a few months the honeycomb dissolves a bit into gooey, almost caramelly goodness. It's very easy to make and not as expensive as fancy shop bought icecream, I don't think.

VfM4meplse

Flapjacks! Easy to make in bulk, and also can be cheap as chips. Pick your favourite flavours: I like orange, sultana and almond.

I also make a much drier version with less sugar and butter, a melted bar of dark chocolate and rice crispies as well as oats. It's crunchy rather than sticky, and addictive! You could also crumble it down once cooled into a granola.

Linda32

In the title you asked for cheaper? Those sort of things are always on offer at the supermarket. Stackers or shops own, kettle chips, onion rings etc. If you only do it once a week. I would get them with ordinery shopping and set a limit of say £3.00

Primrose

Save up your loaf crusts in the freezer or use a yellow stickered sliced loaf and make garlic croutons.
Cut bread up into small cubes the size of an Oxo.
Finely chop as many garlic cloves as you like garlic and mix with some vegetable oil in a bowl.
Put in the bread cubes and stir around until they're all coated
Bake in a hot oven for about 10-15 minutes until crispy golden.

Tiddlywinks

My go-to snack is HM popcorn - but made in the pan rather than the microwave. Or cereal with hazelnut milk.

Salsa - easy to make with a tin or chopped tomatoes, jalapenos, onion, chilli sauce and seasoning.

Hummus - many easy recipes online using tinned chickpeas.

Quartered raw mushrooms, sliced peppers, celery and carrot sticks for dipping.

Nutella (or own brand) / peanut butter on crackers.

HM frozen yogurt or sorbet.

Beenie

For a sweet treat to share, get a punnet of strawberries and a bar of chocolate.

Melt the chocolate and dip the strawberries into the gloop.

Allow them to dry individually, then put on a fancy plate.

Callie22

It's not cheaper initially, but if you invest in an ice-cream maker then you can make really gorgeous ice cream for a fraction of the price of Haagen Daaz/Ben & Jerry's, and you can make it a bit healthier too.

katkin

What about nachos with salsa, jalapeños, sour cream, grated cheese. Or even leftover chilli with it?

Double baked filled potato wedges with dips.

If you can get uncooked prawn crackers have a look for uncooked popodoms. They can be microwaved or fried, lovely with mango chutney to dip.

An unhealthy treat is something made with bought puff pastry. Either mini sausage rolls, haggis puffs, vol-au-vents, pizza tartlet bites, bacon sun dried tomato wraps, cheese straws etc All small finger food.

For a sweet treat I'd be tempted to bake, portion and freeze so you can bring a few things out for your film night to defrost and still have a stash in the freezer. Things like mini cupcakes, brownies, carrot cake, something with chocolate. If you make small portions if would make a lovely choice of nibbles.

Towser

Melt down any leftover Easter eggs and pour over rice crispies and mini marshmallows.

Any leftover chocolate especially Mars Bars.

Making your own chocolate Victoria sponge would even be cheaper than buying it.

Livelongandprosper

Am I just the only one who really doesn't get this need for snack treats if having an early night ?:)

Not only that, but where do you fit it all after brekkie, lunch and supper?