Yesterday I bought a kilo of carrots for 45p in Tesco. A bargain? Well, only if we eat them all and a kilo takes quite a bit of using up. In many ways it’s better to buy exactly the amount you need so there’s no chance of wasting them but many smaller supermarkets only sell them pre-packed. Here's how to get through a bumper bag . . .

Cook them as a vegetable
Well, that’s the most obvious use and what I bought them for. Try my favourite way of cooking carrots which is not to boil them but to put them in a pan (having peeled and sliced them first) with a little sunflower or vegetable oil together with half a teaspoon of vegetable bouillon powder (I use Marigold) and a teaspoon of ground coriander or cumin. Add a splash (about 2-3 tbsp) of water put a lid on the pan and cook over a low heat, shaking the pan occasionally until the carrots are cooked (about 15 minutes)

Make a big tray of roasted veggies
Carrots roast well along with other root veg like onions, parsnips and potatoes.  Just slice them all up drizzle over a bit of oil, season them and cook them in a hot oven (200°C/400°F/Gas 6) for about 50 minutes. (You could add a few smashed garlic cloves and sprigs of rosemary half way through for extra flavour)

Add them to a stew
Like the Scrummy Beef and Carrot Stew  I posted yesterday

Or to a stir-fry
Cut into fine strips so they cook in the same time as the other veg

Add one to a bolognese sauce
That's what the Italians do. Cut it up really finely and fry over a low heat with some finely chopped onion and celery. Adds flavour to your sauce and makes it go further.

Make a salad
Carrots make great winter salads. Simply grate them and toss them with a light salad dressing (try adding a little orange juice and sweetening it with half a teaspoon of honey) You could also add some grated or chopped apple, finely sliced celery and some crunchy seeds or give this simple salad a go

Add some to a slaw
If you’ve got some ordinary coleslaw add some freshly grated carrot and apple to liven it up (and make it quite a bit healthier!)

Dunk them in a dip
Cut the carrots into batons and dunk into houmus for a healthy snack

Make carrot soup
Carrots make great soup either blended with other root veg or added to a chunky vegetable soup like the Sad, Unloved Vegetable Soup I posted the other day.  My favourite though is Carrot and Coriander soup

Make a carrot cake or carrot muffins
OK it’s a bit indulgent but when I saw this recipe on Sig’s blog Scandilicious the other day I thought I’ve got to give it a go. And if you’re using up your carrots why not?

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