Organic food in supermarkets

Kirri

I would find it hard giving up carbs.. though having diabetes in the family does make me wonder if I will get issues later. While searching for something the other day I saw a veggie low carb book, might see if the library has it just to have a nose what sort of things they include.

Didn't know YV made the Duchy yoghurts! I've had the fudge one I think it was. I loved the Nakd cocoa bars! and the cocoa/orange ones. Have fun in Waitrose!

Riverford do an interesting blog each week, I read to get ideas for my allotment but they have quite an effective weed control though it does sometimes involve burning things off (I'd be concerned about killing too many insects..). They do very little hand weeding which is what I do - it's a killer even on a small allotment.

SBR - isn't making the candid peel a bit of a faff? Since Crazy Jack stopped selling theirs I looked at recipes but seemed very long winded? (and I do cook mostly from scratch but still tempted to buy the Suma one!).

I really don't like Christmas Pudding though, tried it a few times and I still don't like it. Mince pie and brandy butter is much better!

I got some of the Daylesford biscuits for cheese the other week when on offer from Ocado, but will eat those way before Christmas..

I've won a voucher for Chalk Hills Bakery - been meaning to visit there for some time so really pleased, they do a mix of artisan, organic and additive free iirc breads etc based in Reigate just south of London.

Wholefoods Richmond opened today though thought might be too busy to look round today but will try and get there very soon.

I'm having Farmaround again this week, my order was slightly messed up last time in that I didn't get all that was ordered but they have made amends. Trying a couple of new items on the order.

Edwardia

Well done on the win Kirri :T

For those with myWaitrose cards, in my nearest Waitrose the Nakd cocoa orange bars are 10% off.

I used my Higgidy vouchers to get two free large Higgidy quiches for the freezer. Also got some Waitrose game casserole to stash in freezer for casserole/stew.

For dinner tonight, Duchy Originals organic Scottish salmon fillets, reduced price org tenderstem broccoli, org spinach for boranj esfanaj.

4 x Duchy Originals smallest milks for OH for work and two Nakd bars.

Taifun org basil tofu for me for salad with reduced price org spring onions.

Whole lot just over £23

My mother is dropping hints that she wants to go to Whole Foods and Fortnums. Thinking should go sooner rather than later before Christmas crowds get too bad !!

smallblueplanet

Kirri wrote: »

SBR - isn't making the candid peel a bit of a faff? Since Crazy Jack stopped selling theirs I looked at recipes but seemed very long winded? (and I do cook mostly from scratch but still tempted to buy the Suma one!)...

Not too much - we used a combo of recipes I found by googling, I think the main one was from Waitrose:
http://www.waitrose.com/home/recipes/recipe_directory/h/homemade_candied_peel.html

This looks good too:
http://www.pickleandpreserve.co.uk/index.php/blog/candied-peel.html

http://www.kitchenist.com/cooking/snacks/a-new-tradition-homemade-candied-peel/1879

There's lots of very similar recipes out there. But basically you boil the peel to remove the bitterness, we do several goes of shorter boilings, using clean water each go. Then after it's been in sugar syrup for as long as needed when it comes out we give it a quick rinse in boiling water to remove excess syrup. We don't dip it in sugar, just leave it to dry on a rack and then freeze it so it keeps longer.

It is very easy and not much of a faff - check out some of the posts, nearly every one has someone saying how they hate shop bought candied peel but love home-made and how fab it is. We put it into xmas puds and stollen that the OH makes. Yummy.

Edwardia

Tesco organic mixed nuts 200g 2.50
Tesco 2 organic salmon fillets 7.20
Tesco organic whole chicken 5.98 per kg
Tesco organic Medjool dates 200g £2
Tesco organic walnuts 100g 2.25
Tesco organic beef sirloin steak £20 per kg
Tesco organic hazelnuts 200g 2.50
Tesco organic cashew nuts 150g 2.75
Tesco organic beef rump steak £16 per kg
Tesco organic roasted pistachios 100g 2.25
Tesco organic wafer thin ham 85g £3
Cafedirect organic Machu Picchu coffee 227g 3.49, Tesco
Tesco organic mayonnaise 250ml 1.59
Westons Wyld Wood organic cider 3L was 7.15 now 5.65 to 22/10, Tesco
Taylors of Harrogate Fairtrade organic coffee 227g any 2 for £6 to 3.89, Tesco
Percol Fairtrade Americano organic coffee 227g save 94p 2.95 to 15/10, Tesco
Aspall organic Suffolk cyder 500ml 2.19, Tesco
Fullers organic Honeydew 500ml any 4 for £5 to 22/10, Tesco
Crazy Jack organic dried pitted dates 250g, 1.89, Tesco
Tesco Finest organic pear cider 500ml any 3 for £5 to 22/10
Emiliana organic Viognier white wine 75cl, 7.99, Tesco
Emiliana organic Shiraz red wine 75cl, 7.99, Tesco
Crazy Jack organic ready to eat dates 250g 2.99, Tesco
St. Peter's organic ale 500ml any 4 for £5 to 22/10, Tesco
Villanova organic Bresaola (air-dried beef) 80g, 4.99, Tesco
Villanova organic Prosciutto di Parma 80g, 4.99, Tesco
Villanova organic salame Milano 80g, 3.49, Tesco
Mrs Crimbles home bake gluten free sage and onion stuffing mix 170g (non-organic additive free), £2, Tesco
Cauldron organic marinated tofu pieces 160g, £2, Tesco
Tesco Fairtrade Brazil nuts 150g 2.50
Green & Black's Tasting Collection 395g £11, Tesco
Green & Black's Treat Collection 90g £3, Tesco
Green & Black's Dark Miniatures Collection 180g 5.50, Tesco
Tesco organic Fairtrade instant coffee 100g 2.99 (also available in decaffeinated)

Edwardia

smallblueplanet now you have me thinking about candied peel smell.. wonder if I can get candied peel scented candles !

OH made himself a salad in his new Sistema Klip It BPA-free lunch stuff.

Abel & Cole Perfect Potato Salad mixed with chopped organic cucumber, celery, spring onions and my mother's home-grown organic tomatoes plus small chunks of Green's of Glastonbury organic smoked Farmhouse Cheddar. He added organic walnut pieces, sunflower and pumpkin seeds. Then in another compartment he has organic Kalamata olives, in another there's some mini organic Cheddar portions and another, a Naked bar.

I think if the boxes encourage him to eat like that rather than sandwich, sandwich sandwich, roll, sandwich and Scotch egg, it would be worth the expense - although I did get them in sale at Sainsbury's and rollback at ASDA.

Anyone take organic/wild/additive free food to work ? Any tips ?

smallblueplanet

Edwardia wrote: »

...Green's of Glastonbury organic smoked Farmhouse Cheddar...
Anyone take organic/wild/additive free food to work ? Any tips ?

My lunch normally involves left-overs from previous dinners plus sourdough bread - yours sound v yummy!

Ocado seem to have stopped doing the Greens smoked cheddar - it is fab!

Ocado had Crazy Jack dried stuff on offer - think it maybe finishes today, sorry.

Kirri

Thanks for the recipe links, SBR, I like the look of the second one with the step by step pictures, am very tempted to try this to see how different it would taste - though initial outlay would be quite expensive just for me and wow the cooking/prep times are long so would test my patience!

Edwardia wrote: »

Anyone take organic/wild/additive free food to work ? Any tips ?

I probably can't help, when working I like something easy and quick to put together for lunches so nearly always a sandwich with salad and something in, crisps, yoghurt (in the baby food sized containers) then snacks for the morning of various fruit mainly apple, banana, grapes washed in a small pot and mid pm of cake etc.. occasionally I would take leftovers if I'm having something like couscous or puy lentil salad or quiche type things for dinner the night before but I couldn't face coming home from work knackered and then preparing stuff like that just for work.

smallblueplanet

Kirri wrote: »

Thanks for the recipe links, SBR, I like the look of the second one with the step by step pictures, am very tempted to try this to see how different it would taste - though initial outlay would be quite expensive just for me and wow the cooking/prep times are long so would test my patience!

It really is straight forward though, if time consuming. But it doesn't have to be watched much, maybe at the end if you've not got a lot of syrup left. If you do just one try orange peel. Plus it does keep for ages in the freezer, I think if its highly sugared it keeps in a jar, but one year after a few months ours went mouldy, so now it goes in the freezer.

Edwardia

smallblueplanet wrote: »

Ocado seem to have stopped doing the Greens smoked cheddar - it is fab!

Green's of Glastonbury smoked Cheddar
250g 2.99, Riverford
Green's of Glastonbury smoked Farmhouse Cheddar
250g 2.69 Abel & Cole

Green's of Glastonbury vintage Cheddar
350g 4.29 Abel & Cole
Green's of Glastonbury Farmhouse mature Cheddar
200g 2.19, Tesco
350g 3.79, Abel & Cole
Green's of Glastonbury Cheddar
300g 3.49, Riverford

Waitrose Green's of Glastonbury West Country Cheddar
cheese counter £14 per kg
Green's of Glastonbury Farmhouse Cheddar
90p - 4.50, cheese counter, Tesco

Green's of Glastonbury Farmhouse Double Gloucester
250g 2.59, Abel & Cole
Green's of Glastonbury Double Gloucester
300g 2.99, Riverford

https://www.greensofglastonbury.co.uk has an online shop but seems down when I tried. This link tells you which own brand cheeses are theirs but not all are organic. http://www.greensofglastonbury.co.uk/index_Links.htm

bornintoit

Kirri, whats your secret?!? You seem to win lots you lucky thing. I NEVER win squat!!!

I have been low carb for what will be 5 days today and the weight seems to be dropping off, there have been some digestive issues though if you get my drift :eek: