What's the most overpriced food product that you could make yourself?

dolly_day_dream

I suspect that one reason the grated cheese is cheaper than the block cheese is that it contains more than just cheese. I bought a big bag of grated cheese a few years ago to put in the freezer and use as I needed it. It did not taste as I expected and when I checked there were lots of additives to 'help' it flow - so check that you are comparing like for like.

kittyscarlett

dolly_day_dream wrote: »

I suspect that one reason the grated cheese is cheaper than the block cheese is that it contains more than just cheese. I bought a big bag of grated cheese a few years ago to put in the freezer and use as I needed it. It did not taste as I expected and when I checked there were lots of additives to 'help' it flow - so check that you are comparing like for like.

Exactly. There are times when cheaper does not equal more economical. I really don't care if something is 1.50 a kilo less than I would pay for unprepared if it is something I could not or would not eat. The ready grated cheeses I have tried are disgusting. I would far rather buy a decent cheese and eat less of it.

MrsE_2

lka200 wrote: »

Just to let you all know that if it doesnt say free range on the label..then the chicken will be intensively reared.
Happy chicken...higher welfare...higher living stardards... is a total myth.
The same for battery eggs..they are in so many foods..if it doesnt say free range then its poor ole battery.

Why did Jamie & Hugh say that Waitrose "select" & M&S "oakham" were happy chickens then & OK to buy?????

Darlingtonian

MrsE wrote: »

Why did Jamie & Hugh say that Waitrose "select" & M&S "oakham" were happy chickens then & OK to buy?????

I'm not sure that's exactly what they said. "Happiness" is a relative term here (as everywhere I suppose). Most of the chickens sold in this country are "standard birds". The next level "up" are birds reared to RSPCA’s Freedom Food standards. This gives "the birds 25% more space, brighter indoor light and a slower growth - around 50 days from hatching to slaughter. Sheds include straw bales and pecking objects to play with". It's slightly more complicated, because there are Freedom Food standards for free-range and organic as well.

Waitrose Select and Oakham birds are reared to the Freedom Food standard. From the above description, they are probably "happier" than standard chickens, but as I said it's all relative.

Jamie's and Hugh would like the standard bird to disappear and be replaced by the Freedom Food bird - so that this becomes the new "standard bird". As far as I remember, their recommendation was to avoid the standard chickens and buy the best "welfare bird" that you can afford. By doing so, you reduce the demand for the standard chicken and make the "happier" birds more widely available.

Hope this has helped, rather than confused!

PasturesNew

I tried grated cheese some time back, that's because I shop by the price per Kg and it seemed cheaper. But it was peculiar, it had an odd feel to it, it wasn't like cheese at all. So I've not bothered since. I've got one of those grater boxes where you get a grater lid then you get a proper lid to pop on when you've finished.

I did see another easy grater (ideal for singles) advertised just before Xmas. It's about a mug size and you pop the cheese in the top then just twist it to grate "just enough", you then put the whole pot in the fridge ready for next time. Ideal as a present for singles and older people.

Caroline73_2

kippers wrote: »

I can't believe i've never thought of that!...I even grow my own veg at my allotment but never grow garlic (i should be ashamed of myself)!.....I suppose you would call this my 'garlic lightbulb moment'!

Thank you

or just a garlic bulb moment? Is it easy to grow? I have a tiny garden so only grow my own herbs but I could fit Garlic in easily somewhere. My dad grows loads of veg so I just use his surplus.

skint-student-nurse

getting back to the subject, me and DD have just made about 12 cakes with chocolate and smarties on top which are bigger than the ready-made ones and cost about 2/3rds less. yummy!

pandora205

I buy big blocks of mature cheddar from Cosco and grate most of it, put it into bags and freeze it. It's then read to defrost or to use directly (such as on pizzas). This stops my gang eating huge chunks and saves time.

I do have a jar of lazy garlic but I don't really like the taste (as it seems quite vinegary). I use 'fresh' garlic, which I bought in a long string last time I went to France. I've tried planting cloves but they don't seem to thrive so I've not had much success on the home grown front yet.

Debt_Free_Chick

Darlingtonian wrote: »

Jamie's and Hugh would like the standard bird to disappear and be replaced by the Freedom Food bird - so that this becomes the new "standard bird".

I'm not so sure that they do .... birds raised to the RSPCA Freedom Food standard are not necessarily Free Range. The RSPCA FF standard applies to battery chickens too and simply means that they get enough lighting, space etc ....it doesn't mean that they are free-range, which I think is the minimum that J & HF-W are aiming for.

amanda40

I do buy ready mashed potatoes and sometimes frozen ready mash too, but suffer from Rheumatoid Arthritis and not worth the pain for peeling etc. Do get my mum to do my onions , carrots, peppers etc for me then put them all in the freezer ready for adding to dinners later. The girls I work beside used to all buy the ready made Jellys - but managed to convert them all to doing their own!