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

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