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Grocery prices are very high in Canada right now. Even the Canadian government is concerned and investigating the dramatic rise. This coupled with the current recession may have left you not looking forward to the holidays this year as festive food and gifts can rack up a big bill fast. If you want to dig into an epic holiday feast on a budget this year, these recipes will come in handy.

Grocery shopping tips

Before we dive into the recipes we've chosen, we wanted to share a few general tips for saving money on groceries. Check your local grocery store(s) for flyers and discount specials, soon-to-expire sale items and loyalty club cards to try to save money on your purchases. You'd be amazed at how much you can save! If you have a smartphone, apps like Flashfood can help you save on groceries and reduce food waste.

Budget-friendly holiday recipes

The recipes we are about to share are vegetarian or veg-forward because of the current rise in prices for meat and dairy products. There is also a rise in prices for packaged food and cereals so we suggest buying any ingredients you need in bulk whenever possible. 

Mushroom wellington

The cost of meat in Canada is on the rise this year, so skip it and opt for a vegetarian main course like this delicious Mushroom Wellington. Meals don't have to revolve around meat to be filling or memorable. In this dish, a savoury mushroom filling is encased by crispy, buttery puff pastry (store bought) for one seriously delectable bite. This dish feeds a crowd and is pretty impressive to slice and serve.

Vegan gravy

You'll want some rich and hearty gravy for that delicious entree, so save time and money with this easy vegan gravy recipe. You might have all the ingredients already.

All you need is vegetable stock or bouillon, spices and pantry staples like flour and soy sauce. Want to save even more on this recipe? Make the stock from food scraps.

Crispy roast potatoes 

Potatoes are a classic budget-friendly food staple that fills you up and warms your soul. These delicious crispy roast potatoes take potatoes to new heights. They are crunchy on the outside, soft and fluffy on the inside. This recipe provides options for the type of potato and type of cooking fat you use. You can make them vegetarian with olive oil, or use animal fat like duck fat or beef fat to make them if you prefer. They're a perfect holiday side dish when drizzled with gravy.

Roasted broccoli 

You may not love boiled or steamed broccoli, but have you tried roasted broccoli? It transforms into something crispy and slightly sweet as it caramelises in the oven. This recipe pairs broccoli with garlic for an absolutely delicious and pretty affordable side dish.

Apple crumble

Apple crumble is a warm, spiced, festive dessert that works well on a holiday table -- without breaking the bank. You probably have most (or all) of the ingredients for this recipe in your fridge or pantry already. All you need is oats, flour, sugar, cinnamon, lemon juice, butter and apples -- saving you from having to buy a bunch of special ingredients you may never use again. Don't have apples and don't have the budget to buy them? Pretty much any fruit you have on hand can be used in a crumble -- from berries to bananas.

Gingerbread cookies

No dessert evokes Christmas quite like Gingerbread cookies! Luckily they're quite easy and affordable to make with pantry staples you probably already have like flour, butter, sugar and spices like ginger, cinnamon and nutmeg. 

Vegan eggnog

You'll want a festive drink for your feast no doubt. Before you head out to purchase eggnog, consider making your own vegan eggnog instead! It's pretty cheap and easy to make with ingredients you may already have at home like coconut milk, maple syrup and spices, and it tastes just as good as the real thing.

You may be short on cash but this affordable meal is not short on flavour! Happy holidays from our family to yours!

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