On a Practical Basis -Topping up on Ingredients

I was unexpectedly taken to the Butcher/Warehouse  we sometimes go to today and we ended up buying in a few items to keep us going moving forward.  The freezer is being emptied at a rate of knots and to get us through with meals for the interim.  I am hoping to go again shortly and really stock up on the meat front. There were some very good prices which I want to take advantage of and get the freezer stocked a little bit in advance of Christmas.  Not only for Christmas but meals moving forward as well.

I also came across Green's Cheesecake mixes.  Have not seen these for ages and so have bought one home.  This was something I always used to keep in the Pantry and when I go again I may top up so that we have a supply moving forward as this is something that we like.

A Box of Mixed Biscuits and a Box of Chocolate Biscuits, Marshmallow biscuits, a large jar of Hot Dogs, Hot Dog Buns, a tray of Lincolnshire Sausages, a tray of Mince, a tray of Stewing Steak, a tray of Chicken Breasts, Pigs Liver, a Pork Pie.

The Lincolnshire Sausages 1.3kg packaged into fours = 6 bags  £10.

1kg of Steak Mince = 4 small bags.  I ran out of larger bags so used what I have.  Mince cost £10

2kg of Large Chicken Breasts = 5 packets (4 packets of 2 and one on its own) These were Whoppers and the tray was £17.

Prices were good on Gammon I shall therefore snaffle a couple of those in readiness for Christmas and moving forward.  I have found that the price of Gammon does go up in the run up to Christmas unless there is an offer on. Prices were also very good on full Leg of Lamb £21 and this was fresh price.  I shall certainly stock up on some joints when we go again as well as do a further top up on Mince etc.  It is how I build up my stocks in the freezer, buying a little at a time, packaging it into portions and then not necessarily using it until I have a little stock of items to go at.  Then for a few months the money is diverted into other items that are needed once everything has attained a reasonable stock level.  If I had the Chest freezers again I would do things slightly differently, but then I have always been one to make stuff myself or prepare stuff from fresh myself.

Therefore a very useful little haul to start off the re-stocking of the Freezer.  Looking forward to squirrelling away items for Christmas as well as everyday eating.  I tend to focus on ingredients rather than turning them into meals with this upright Larder freezer that I have.  However that is a blessing compared to having no freezer at all.

This is the time of year where I check the Pantry for what I have and buy in those ingredients that I am lacking, and add any extras in.  Also it is preserving season and so a lot is going on, on that front as well.

Hopefully I will also get the opportunity to preserve some Charcuterie style meats as well.  Something I have wanted to have a go at for absolutely ages.  Have prepared Gravadlax and home which is absolutely delicious.  Have also made cured Bacon before but am quite keen to try Salami, Braesola and Pastrami.  Will see what happens.  I have one of the  boxes to hand that I bought as a curing box the other day. Although saying that I think as the boxes will need to go into the fridge to cure that I am going to go for smaller boxes and use this one for proving my bread in with the aid of a heating pad.  My kitchen gets very cold in the winter months and Sourdough starter just does not do well in there.  Whereas if it is in a box I can pop it into a warmer room to rise and so can get back into making bread.

I have plans on the ingredients front for next year and the garden.  I have plans to strip out the garden shortly and get it all tidied up.  Dig the garden, get manure in and then cover it with cardboard boxes to try and supress the weeds.  That is my plan, need to get this done before the real cold comes to set the garden up for next year.  The soil here is predominantly clay based and the soil really needs nursing and bringing along to try and make it more workable and free flowing so that the plants feed properly.  I certainly could not grow carrots in it as it is at the moment.

As a result of the little shop today we now have meals moving forward as follows:

A Chicken curry of some sort.  I bought proper Naan breads (the ones which I like for dunking).  There will then be Chicken breasts left over which can be used in a Stir Fry, my Chicken Peach, Sweet Pepper and Pineapple Hawaiian Chicken served with Rice, and homemade Kievs. 

A proper good old fashioned stew which should last us a couple of days.

Sausages for breakfasts and also a couple of Toad in the Holes.

Mince for Lasagna and also Cottage Pie.

Hot Dogs in a jar for an impromptu snack tea.  As I bought the really large jar we should get two lots of meals out of this as well.

G has Liver.

Oh and a Pork Pie to have with some Tomato Ketchup and Bread and Butter.

Am therefore quite pleased as there is some good eating there.  Yes I tend to stick to familiar dishes at this time of year on the grounds that it is good eating which I can budget reasonably for and which does not cost silly amounts.

I would also stipulate that we do not have meat based dishes every day.  My guiding philosophy is that we will have one hot cooked meal every day minimum in the Winter months and sometimes that is two as often I add in hot warming soups and warming snack meals.

Tonight for instance we are having homemade Fat chips and fried egg, served with bread and Butter.  Simple food that does the job.  I do not like bought chips or the chips that you get in food outlets or restaurants.  It is very rare that I will have them when I go out for a meal.

Tomorrow we are having stew the first of the season.  I do have some Beef Skirt to use up and so some homemade Cornish style pasties might be on the cards as well.

All good food at the end of the day which keeps the engine working.

Have a lovely evening.

Catch you soon.

Pattypan

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