What everyday goods do you now consider a treat?

orangesmartie

anguk wrote: »

The problem with my local Tesco is the more people are buying the reduced stuff the less they're knocking off the price. I've seen big joints of meat 15 minutes before closing only reduced by 50p, nobody will buy it so it'll get thrown out.

I think my Tesco would rather see the food chucked out than reduce it by a reasonable amount. :mad:

I think this is the new thing in supermarkets - they know we're looking for the reduced stuff and so the reductions are far less.

I often see things 'reduced' and think i wouldn't buy it at that price, never mind full price. So bargains are getting harder and harder to come by. Don't know the way round it, but I am finding my meal choices are becoming much more reduced.

orangesmartie

tiff wrote: »

Porridge is also very cheap but its getting those fussy kids/teenagers to eat it. My two only like porridge in the winter and neither of them like corn flakes. They may have to like them if things get worse!

hmm, can't help there cos I love porridge, but I must admit at the moment I'm cheating with the oat-so-simple sachets, which i buy whenever they are on offer (and buy loads of boxes) because they're handy to chuck in my handbag and have at work.

Perhaps try to liven porridge up with a few cheap choc-chips or jam or cream?

Weetabix equivelant in Lidl is cheap too.

spike7451

Quick question,
I've just defroested & cooked a batch of beef stew,now the is some still left over,if I let it cool & bung it in the fridge,will it still be safe to eat in,say, a couple days...???

GreyQueen

spike7451 wrote: »

Quick question,
I've just defroested & cooked a batch of beef stew,now the is some still left over,if I let it cool & bung it in the fridge,will it still be safe to eat in,say, a couple days...???

It's the sort of thing I'd do, Spike, and I've never taken any harm by it. So long as you cover the dish in the fridge; I use some small Pyrex casserole dishes for leftovers but if they're all in action I put things in a bowl with a plate over the top. Or on a plate with a bowl over the top, if it's a pie-type thingy.

If you wanted to be extra-careful, you could try speeding up the cooling process by stirring the stew frequently (helps the heat out) or by putting it in a bowl of cold water, in another bowl of course, to cool it more rapidly.

Most food poisonings seem to be caused by people failing to wash their hands after using the loo, not by having something in the fridge for 2-3 days before eating it. HTH.

Elisheba

scottishminnie wrote: »

I think there is either an Aldi or a Lidl in Kilsyth which is quite close to me - I'll venture in there soon I think (I really should find out which one it is first though I think) to see about the fruit. I've bought my fruit from a local greengrocer rather then the supermarkets but even they are having to pass on price increases.

Sorry, this is a bit of a late response but if you haven't checked yet, its a Lidl in Kilsyth. My family live there and mum swears by it!

rozmister

Going for meals!! My boyfriend & I have been together for 9 months but have only been out for one meal in that time (using kindly donated tesco clubcard vouchers from my mum). We never did that courtship stage of going out lots because we've never been able to afford it. We spend a lot of time sitting in and eating a treat from the treat tin (chocolate mainly - still got some from Easter) and chatting. I'd love to be able to go out to bars & restaurants & on spontaneous trips but neither of us have the pennies!

Supermarket wise I see cereal, chicken breasts, berry fruit & puddings as a luxury. I do have them but when on offer only or Basic strawberries. The one luxury I always afford myself is Ribena (wasn't allowed it as a child because we couldn't afford it) but I buy in bulk and shop around using mysupermarket. Luckily I live in a city and go past all the major supermarkets as part of my weekly routine so I pop in wherever they have it on offer!

The thing that really amazes me is the price of basic foodstuffs. When I left home 6 years ago I used to buy tinned tomatoes for 7 or 8p and pasta for under 50p and make a tomato pasta dish. Now they cost so much more! I can't believe how much things have rocketed in 6 years and being only 22 it doesn't fill me with hope for the future!

something-witty_2

Last week it was my OH's birthday so we had a pizza for the first time in months. When I was a student I wouldn't think twice about ordering takeaway!

MaggieBaking

This probably sounds a bit daft but we used to buy the big bags of Doritos on a semi-regular basis, when watching a good movie... Not any more! I only buy them when we're going round someone's house (for a chilled out evening if you know what I mean!) and I always think "how much?!".

3v3

tiff wrote: »

Porridge is also very cheap but its getting those fussy kids/teenagers to eat it. My two only like porridge in the winter and neither of them like corn flakes. They may have to like them if things get worse!

Try them with Misers Muesli - porridge oats (dry/uncooked) with a sprinkle of currants or raisins or sultanas and just add milk. Perfect for hot weather breakfasts instead of hot porridge. (Courtesy of "The Benefit Book" )

rozmister wrote:

Supermarket wise I see cereal, chicken breasts, berry fruit & puddings as a luxury. I do have them but when on offer only

Supermarkets often have the 3 for £10 small chickens. If you learn how to joint a chicken, you would get 6 chicken breasts, 6 drumsticks, 6 thighs and 6 wings. Plus, 3 carcasses to make stock/soup with. When you look at pre-packed chicken pieces and compare that to the price of a chicken the £ per Kg is sooo much dearer!! More cost effective to buy the whole birds and joint them yourself.

Likewise, if you buy sliced meats (ham, beef, pork) the price per kilo is astronimical and it works out cheaper to buy a joint, cook it, let it go cold then carve it very thinly. This can then be frozen and used as required.

Berry fruit can be harvested in the Autumn (free) - think brambles! - and you can freeze them for future use.

Puddings are much cheaper to make yourself; but, do think "satiation point" when you want to make a pudding. A crumble is very filling compared to a portion of ice-cream; using up leftovers can make great desserts, as in bread and butter pudding (either from stale - as in a couple of days old bread - or, bread bought at the reduced counter) or bread pudding. A steamed sponge pudding (with either fruit added = spotty !!!!!!, or treacle added = treacle sponge pudding) has a higher satiation point then chocolate mousse.

Crumble toppings can be made ahead, frozen then used straight from the freezer.

Sponge pudding mix can be made ahead, just add the "wet" ingredients when you are ready to make your dish.

Breadcrumbs/ends can be frozen until needed.

LittleLauz

MaggieBaking wrote: »

This probably sounds a bit daft but we used to buy the big bags of Doritos on a semi-regular basis, when watching a good movie... Not any more! I only buy them when we're going round someone's house (for a chilled out evening if you know what I mean!) and I always think "how much?!".

If you have a home bargains store near you, pop in there. They have the huge bags for 79p!!