Cherry Picking for the Pantry Shelf
Hello everyone, thank you for your good wishes. I am a lot better than I was and I am determined to look after myself this year and start to address some recurrent health issues. What I seem to be doing at the moment with the hemp powder into my breakfast cereal seems to be making a bit of a difference to me. I do not feel as heavy or as drained as a result. It is not the only thing am going to be doing. More on that at another time though.
At the moment, as we have a new shop to us around the corner (formerly the Co-Op now the Morrisons Daily) every so often I have been going in and browsing their shelves to see what goodies they do have. They have a different fuller range than their predecessors, and I have been cherry picking a few items in order to expand my cooking repertoire with some ingredients - and basically experimenting a little. I have found that they are having some good offers on their tinned and bottled goods - there seems to be some kind of offer every week. However, I am only trying those items that I am drawn towards at the moment. In some cases the prices are working out a little cheaper - in others they would appear to be dearer, however in practice it is sometimes a better quality product. I bought some Basmati rice the other day their own brand and only a small bag at £1.50 however it is some of the nicest Basmati rice I have had in a long time. Cooks up beautifully and fluffy. I normally buy it from our local Asian shop, however, they were closed when I realised I was out.
I have also bought in fresh dried Apricots, Hazelnuts, Almonds, Desiccated Coconut, Breadcrumbs (can buy them cheaper than can make them - specifically for making Bread sauce). Most of the items are for the baking box and I am building up a supply. However, I am trying to add in more nuts to my diet as they are good in respect of trace minerals. Brazil nuts are also very good for any kind of depression and keeping the serotonin levels where they need to be. I have taken to eating three or four a day. I like them anyways and they are delicious added to a good cookie mix. Some of the Nuts have been sourced from Morrisons but quite a lot have been sourced from Home Bargains. They have lots of interesting ingredients at very reasonable prices on their shelves and at very good prices. I managed to gather quite a few bits together from here in the run up to Christmas. We have been this year as well and still available, notably Whitworths are the providers of some of the items. I have bought dried Mango, Pecans, Apricots, Pistachios, Chia Seeds and Golden Linseed from here.
I have also bought in a couple of fresh Butternut Squash and intend to roast these and make some soup. I love a good homemade soup. This will more likely happen over the weekend, as I also want to make some bread in my new cast iron pan. I have a lot to do this week and possibly next week so will have to grab some time where I can.
We finished off the last of the half-moon Stilton on Sunday. That was a lovely bit of cheese. I still think Colston Bassett Stilton is the best; lovely creamy flavour and it melts beautifully on toast.
Tea tonight is simply going to be Pan fried Horseshoe Gammon with pineapple for a change. Neither of us are really "hungry" at the moment and are grateful for what we have available to us, but in reality do not need or want a lot to eat.
Tomorrow night, as I have a Barbecue sauce in the Pantry, I intend to make a "Hunters style Chicken" for tea and serve it with some mashed potato and other veggies. I will need to get another tray of eggs in any event, but I might make a Frittata with some of the veg that is in the fridge.
Right am off to potter. Hope everyone is keeping safe and warm in these colder conditions we have been experiencing.
Catch you soon.
Pattypan
x
Glad to read that you are feeling better and back in the swing of things. Winters are difficult here and we are encouraged to add extra Vitamin D (I take 2,000 IU per day as my levels are lower than they should be by a fair bit) and I do find that this really helps me both physically and mood wise so you may find adding this is also beneficial.
ReplyDeleteHaven't bought much so far this year beyond some salad fixings and a few other veggies - I've really been making an effort to use a lot of what I have.
Did have a wander through a supermarket that I don't often get to after my eye appointment last week and their produce was beautiful and not much more than my No Frills store so I intend to shop there a lot more often this year. I also picked up some lovely Canadian Blue Cheese that was on special after Christmas and have to say - it was wonderful and creamy. I've been having cheese and crackers for supper these past few nights as I made a big pot of stew and have had that as my main meal about mid-afternoon. I am almost through the special Christmas cheeses now.
I don't really need anything from the shops except a bit of bread and a dozen eggs so I'll get those at the end of the week and that should keep me going until PayDay on the 24th. It really makes you aware of how much you have when you do stay out of the shops for a bit!
Hi Margie, completely understand on the Vitamin D front I am low as well. Its a family thing - my Mum had to have the painful injections (I get my auto-immune conditions from her) as well as some from my Dad. Have to take 1200mg a day D3 supplement. I am noticing a difference on the energy levels since implementing the Hemp Seed powder into my breakfast. Seem to have more energy and do not feel as "heavy". This also seems to be addressing some of the digestive issues too. Fingers crossed that these small tweaks will help. However I am pacing myself as I know only too well. There is a Consultant called Dr Diane Gurnita of Rheumatologist on Call on You Tube who I have been following recently. Some very interesting articles on there including that stress can cause RA. That I found interesting, as with epilepsy in particular stress is a trigger. I tend to hold the stress inside - everyone thinks everything is okay, but am actually paddling ten to the dozen when an episode hits. I need to address this as enough is enough. However have learned so much about a lot of the other conditions too which had only minimal information on. The link on You Tube is here https://www.youtube.com/@rheumatologistoncall/videos. Did not know whether it would be of any interest to you. I am trying to be responsible for myself in the longer term - trying to help myself. Pushing forward as usual - my mentality. The other thing I do not cope with is the depression that comes with long-term conditions - for the best part I am reasonably happy go lucky until the mist descends! Am therefore taking a couple of Brazil nuts a day as they have trace elements that the body needs as well as helping with the serotonin levels. I have conditions not life-sentences! I too am still using up a lot of things bought before Christmas - have a good fridge and my veg keeps well in here. Have still only been topping up ingredients for the Pantry as technically the Pantry re-stock is still not quite complete although there is not an awful lot to go. I have a few things to get but for the best part on the kitchen budget not much has been spent this month which was what I was after. I hope your eye appointment went well. Glad you have found another store that suits your needs more as well - it does make a difference. I love cheese but have to be careful with it these days have to space it out a little bit. Glad you have enjoyed it. I will have to draw the horns in on the shopping to get back on budget but a lot of it has been for the re-stock and with a view to getting some more useful items on the Pantry shelves. Will not need much until the big restock later on in the year again. I have some steak in the freezer which I bought before Christmas specifically for making a Beef Bourguinion probably this weekend maybe next depends on time factors which I am very much looking forward to. Like you I need eggs, bread and milk as regulars to buy. I normally buy one or two trays (approx 30 eggs per tray) as we use them in eating and baking. G has a breakfast of some sort most days. Hopefully will get to the projects I want to Breadmaking, cheesemaking and meat preserves shortly. I have some stuff in the freezer to start with, just need to get a couple of more bits and bobs to experiment. Take care Tricia xx
DeleteGlad you are feeling brighter. I have had a chill the last couple of days and am taking it easy and coddling it in the hope that it will give up and go elsewhere!
ReplyDeleteWe are lucky enough to have a scoop and weigh shop in our local town. It is a family run business and is a real treasure trove of ingredients at reasonable prices. I buy things from Morrisons too, but had never thought of looking in Home Bargains. Thanks for the tip.
Hi Tracy, yes am feeling more with it (whatever that is). Oh no do not want a cold at this time of year. French Onion soup with lots of garlic usually helps me if I succumb! I have found that IIceland especially on a Tuesday when Pensioners get a discount if they have the app on their phones helps the budget an awful lot. They also have lots of offers on basics like bread, milk, cereals, crisps that sort of thing and the chicken breast boxes (different sizes) are also good value too. The tinned selection is also reasonable in price with a good selection of items. Sugar works out cheaper at Iceland as it is buy two bags for £2. They sell a 5kg bag but it works out cheaper to buy the individual bags on the offer for £2 i.e. £1 a bag. Equally Home Bargains we have found is good for the cheese spread Seriously Strong one is a lot cheaper here than anywhere else and Butter is often on offer. Bought tubs of Anchor spreadable the other day £2.75 a 400g pack - normally £3.75 upwards elsewhere. Their tinned selection is also good on prices. It is well worth taking the time to have a root about to see what they actually have. In the past I have found Coconut Cream here for about 75p a tin - everyone else charges the earth for it. It is often the little bits that cost the most money so I do try and shop around where I can and what I can save there often goes towards a decent bit of meat or a treat here and there. I use Iceland and Home Bargains a lot, between the two shops usually manage to get a load of the basics, plus of course there is the freezer stuff in Iceland. Not all to my taste but enough to make a bit of a difference. Sometimes it works out cheaper to buy frozen if you cannot afford to pay the prices asked for fresh. They frequently have leg of lamb on offer for £20 - which is still a price but cheaper than elsewhere and so every so often I do pop one in the freezer just to vary things up. I am already thinking of Easter! Take care Tricia xx
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