Do I really spend to much on food?

se999

Hi Crux,
Instead of the value sausages it could be worth trying the Nuremburg sausages (Nuremburger Bratwurst), I've seen them in Tesco's, Aldi & Lidl. They are a high percentage meat, and definitely not value in taste. But they're very small sausages, so sometimes appeal more to children due to the size. Because they're so small you can keep them in the freezer and defrost relatively quickly the number you need.

I think there's a low fat version now, but not tried them.

thriftlady_2

Crux, like Pinkwinged I freeze my homemade bread. I find it to be absolutely fine and easier to slice than fresh bread.

I freeze it after baking and when it is completely cooled. I put it a large plastic bag with a clip and just sling it in the freezer.

misskool

continental type items, parma ham, feta cheese, salami are very good value in lidl. I can't remember if you can't get to one or if it's far away but it's worth stocking up when you can get there. We get smoked salmon from there 200g for £2.59 and they have excellent smoked trout and smoked mackerel.

I've fed the Lidl items to so-called food snobs and none of them ever asked if it wasn't waitrose or fortnum's

oh, and their bananas are nice. They also do free range chicken (sometimes) so it's worth picking those up while you're there

jinky67

Another vote for Lidl's meats and cheese here

You also stated to eat a lot of porridge, do you buy Smartprice or Value range of that? Because I find NO difference in taste or texture

CCP

I find Lidl's deli selection quite dangerous - I go in to get some mozzarella (or whatever) and come out with a basket full of stuff because it looks so good and their prices are so cheap. Their Black Forest ham is particularly good, imo - :drool: is all I can say!

I wouldn't worry too much about your daughter's fondness for value sausages, crux - I was the same when I was a kid and thought 'proper' sausages (i.e. ones with actual meat in them!) were yucky and would only eat what my poor, long-suffering father referred to as 'plastic sausages'. :rotfl: I grew out of it after a while and now can't imagine how or why I ever ate them.

weezl74

crux, I've been thinking a bit about your original post, and I wondered if one way to tackle it might be to look at those recipes from each culture which are quite low cost and simple in them selves anyway, and then make them with as high quality ingredients as you can afford.

In Italy, panzanella is a rustic bread salad with tomatoes red onions and olive oil, and is beautiful made with HM bread that has gone a bit crusty.

Also home made egg pasta tossed with butter, ground black pepper, garlic and a little balsamic is hugely yummy and very low cost even made with finest brand level ingredients.

Then maybe Dahl from india, done again with all fresh spices

French onion soup served with enormous pieces of bread with melted gruyere on top...

Am I hitting the mark at all?

jackieglasgow

weezl74 wrote: »

Also home made egg pasta tossed with butter, ground black pepper, garlic and a little balsamic is hugely yummy and very low cost even made with finest brand level ingredients.


Am I hitting the mark at all?

Ooh weezl I am having this for dinner tonight, well we are having the butter oil garlic and chilli version as DS doesn't like balsamic, but it's one of my favourites. I really want to go to anniestar's for dinner but it'll be breakfast time by the time I travel down though.

se999

On the bread front, when in the UK we rent in a small village, we do support the village shop but it's mega expensive, also miles to the nearest supermarket. Also tiny kitchen. Freezer space is limited. So we've ended up buying the partbaked baguettes and ciabatta's from the bakery sections. Check the shelf life before you buy, but normally you can find one's with at least a month on the pack. You just finish off in the oven. It does make it so that you at least get the fresh crisp roll taste. It's handy as a store cupboard basic for people in similar situation.

Visitors are also very impressed to get fresh warm rolls for breakfast, even if they aren't homemade.

se999

weezl74 wrote: »

crux, I've been thinking a bit about your original post, and I wondered if one way to tackle it might be to look at those recipes from each culture which are quite low cost and simple in them selves anyway, and then make them with as high quality ingredients as you can afford.

In Italy, panzanella is a rustic bread salad with tomatoes red onions and olive oil, and is beautiful made with HM bread that has gone a bit crusty.

Also home made egg pasta tossed with butter, ground black pepper, garlic and a little balsamic is hugely yummy and very low cost even made with finest brand level ingredients.

Then maybe Dahl from india, done again with all fresh spices

French onion soup served with enormous pieces of bread with melted gruyere on top...

Am I hitting the mark at all?

I just spotted that everything is vegetarian. Which is one way we save on our shopping. Admittedly with indian food especially we prefer the vegetarian dishes.

Crux, you should have a look at Gingham Ribbons Vegetarian threads, they were seasonal threads based around her veg box deliveries. Lots of super recipe ideas there.

thriftlady_2

weezl74 wrote: »

crux, I've been thinking a bit about your original post, and I wondered if one way to tackle it might be to look at those recipes from each culture which are quite low cost and simple in them selves anyway, and then make them with as high quality ingredients as you can afford.

In Italy, panzanella is a rustic bread salad with tomatoes red onions and olive oil, and is beautiful made with HM bread that has gone a bit crusty.

Also home made egg pasta tossed with butter, ground black pepper, garlic and a little balsamic is hugely yummy and very low cost even made with finest brand level ingredients.

Then maybe Dahl from india, done again with all fresh spices

French onion soup served with enormous pieces of bread with melted gruyere on top...

Am I hitting the mark at all?

Peasant food!Excellent ideas Weezl;) Each culture has its peasant food and they are often the cheapest and tastiest dishes. Fried breadcrumbs with herbs, garlic and pasta is a Sicilian dish where the breadcrumbs are a frugal stand in for Parmesan.

I could come up with some more examples if I weren't in the middle of cooking my asparagus.