Organic food in supermarkets

Dozey_crow

Edwardia wrote: »

Still doing that myself dozey crow..

Yikes that stuff is in soo many shampoos etc must be really difficult for you.

Just been a real glutton.. roasted cauliflower florets (20 mins Gas 5 til golden with a bit of organic EV olive oil and freshly ground black pepper plus 2-3 slices chopped up prosciutto) and then swamped in unctuous salty sauce.. a 300ml pot of organic double heated on low heat so doesn't boil.. grated Mozzarella stirred in.. low carb wheat free and cooked to perfection by OH

Yes it is a bit tricky especially for things like washing up because I have to use gloves. It is even in most hand made soaps and so I have to very careful and make sure I read labels very carefully. But on the plus side one bar of decent soapl lasts about two months (I shower every day) whereas I was getting through a shower gel once a fortnight..

Oh and your dinner sounds absolutely gorgeous Edwardia...

Kirri wrote: »

My Gpigs totally agree they should have the best - my fussiest one doesn't even eat the middle of an organic lettuce leaf...


For any other G&B addicts, it's back on offer at Ocado, not quite as cheap as last time (the small bars were 3.66 per set last time and now it's £8 for two :eek: ) so I have £8 of chocolate in my basket now...


My choice of shampoo, and I've tried loads, is Jason Natural and my faves are either aloe or sea kelp. I buy from Essentials London as it's usually on offer but noticed that Ocado now stock some Jason stuff. They have 122 organic toiletries now I think it was including Avalon and Green People and I love both of these brands too.

Organic items on Ocado 1727
Organic veggie items on Ocado 1020
Organic gluten free items on Ocado 267

and I thought I had little choice!!


As it's winter I've had to start using moisturiser and my current 3 faves are:

Dr Hauschka - Melissa day cream
Bloom Remedies - Daily balance cream 77% org
Aubrey - blue green algae (think this has been discontinued )


Edwardia - as chief Higgidy buyer on here, with the buy 10 get 1 free tokens, can you mix and match items?

Thanks for all of this information Kirri. I will have a look at the links and see what I can find. It is good to get recommendations.

I love guinea pigs I used to have some years ago they are very entertaining! How many do you have? Or rabbit is lovely she had a really sweet tooth though.. Loves sweet corn, pears, banana and carrot and of course parsley. :rotfl:

Have to pretend I didn't see anything about GnB choc...:-)

smallblueplanet wrote: »

Don't forget that toothpaste often has SLS's in! We use Weleda or Green People. Green People's is probably closest to 'ordinary' toothpastes.

Yes I noticed that :-( many thanks for the recommendation. I will have a look at Green people

Just been to Asda and got 6 organic yoghurts for 26p..ys

Xxxx

Edwardia

Here's a fast sauce I came up with for the YS wild Alaskan salmon (which was a proper fillet not one of those strips and really nice).

Stir one heaped teaspoon of organic pesto into a 200g (small) pot of organic creme fraiche thoroughly but without whipping and dollop on salmon or boiled veg such as leeks or courgettes. Or you could transfer to microwaveable bowl/small saucepan and heat without boiling.

Reckon that quantity makes enough for four people or two people for two meals.

Thought I had organic tartare sauce in the fridge but er no it's arriving in the Ocado order Saturday

If you find tartare sauce a tad strong, you can always dollop mayonnaise into a small dish/ramekin and fold in some tartare sauce which will tone it down.

And while I'm on the subject.. Marie Rose sauce for seafood.. chef's trick this one, it's just equal quantities tomato ketchup and mayonnaise with optional couple of drops Worcestershire sauce.

Kirri

Edwardia wrote: »

Stir one heaped teaspoon of organic pesto into a 200g (small) pot of organic creme fraiche thoroughly but without whipping and dollop on salmon or boiled veg such as leeks or courgettes. Or you could transfer to microwaveable bowl/small saucepan and heat without boiling.

^ I will be borrowing that idea!

Dozey_crow wrote: »

Y

I love guinea pigs I used to have some years ago they are very entertaining! How many do you have? Or rabbit is lovely she had a really sweet tooth though.. Loves sweet corn, pears, banana and carrot and of course parsley. :rotfl:

Yep, as bad as humans in liking things they shouldn't have!

Only 3 rescues though 1 is seriously ill tonight, she went downhill since leaving the vets this evening, gut stasis.. currently syringe feeding inbetween coming on here for a rest and trying to tempt her with organic leaves and parsley. Very touch and go as you probably know..

Re the soap, I've noticed it causes much more soap scum if I use it in the shower.. I've gone back to it for my hands as it's less drying (Visionary soap has been the best for my hands though it's very soft, go through a bar in a week!).

Edwardia - I have the BM450, has a GF programme but never tried it - the book that comes with mine says most recommend xanthan or guar gum but the books that come with breadmakers aren't the best. Also says that guar gum can cause a laxative effect which is not good! Also says to get GF yeast (not sure I've seen any that state that, not that I've looked). I would now rather have a stand mixer than a breadmaker again, I only ever use mine for the dough and could do that and more with a stand mixer though not sure how it works with GF bread being more of a batter?

Kirri

Had to do an unscheduled trip to Morrisons today :eek: I hate shopping in shops... but urgently needed veg and wasn't planning on an Ocado delivery till at least the weekend.

Organic cucumbers £1.25
Organic little gem £1.49

Both seem quite nice, both from Spain.

Also saw organic courgettes (prepacked in 2), boxed carrots, various types of tomatoes, broccoli - the tomatoes looked very nice as did the mixed carrots. As for doing a whole organic shop there though, it would be a waste of time. I did sneak a look at the G&B offer (thanks) but they only had 3 types in stock, white, ginger and dark.

Edwardia, as I cut through to get to the tills, I went past the free from section and saw Warburtons do a GF loaf for £1.98 - didn't check but may have additives as I believe the normal loaves do.

New Ocado offers are up, not that much different to last month.
There's an Ecover deal but doesn't seem to be working... must be a new item, never heard of it.
Buy any Ecover Household, Laundry and Dishwashing products and add Ecover Gentle Touch Washing Up Liquid free. Order by 3/12/2013, offer subject to availability.
E - Slim pasta zero carb gf stuff is on BOGOF and G&B ice cream is half price
Bentley organic hand sanitizer is 20% off, been waiting to try this, I carry one if using public transport to try and avoid colds..

Edwardia

Kirri - hope the piggie pulls through (((Kirri)))

I bought the Morrisons organic courgettes twin pack - not bad at all. My local Morries didn't have any GF bread whatsoever

The Eat Water Slim Noodles at Ocado aren't organic whereas the Zero Noodles from Holland & Barrett which I ordered are organic as well as being low carb and gluten free - and cost 1.99 for 200g so cheaper than the Eat Water stuff.

I have a Kenwood Chef but only ever used it to liquidise. Mon oncle came over from France with a rather good French liquidiser for me which has a pretty motor so very speedy. May donate the Kenwood Chef to my mother for her to pass on to someone. I *know* OH doesn't have patience to make bread with a Kenwood :rotfl:

Totally unimpressed by Sainsbury's Taste The Difference wild Alaskan smoked salmon.. very greasy, really dark, looked like plastic, really difficult to separate slices and strange taste. 0/10 from me.

Still looking for smoked salmon for Christmas, got Morrisons Signature wild Alaskan smoked salmon to try next..

Fortnum & Mason has opened a branch at St Pancras International.. smart move to nab last minute Eurostar travellers and well-heeled commuters. Still cheaper for me to pay postage though

Dozey_crow

On dear Kirri. I do hope the little gp is OK. Its horrible when they are poorly. Yes you are right or little madam loves everything she shouldn't! We only give her a small treat each week though. We feel a bit sorry for her because she has "the weirdest teeth I'be ever seen" (as the vet said ) and she cannot eat many things like cabbage and hay... She tries but can't chew it.

Anyway my organic yogurts weren't much of a bargain the blimmen things had gone off and had mould on them already:eek:

Oh well onwards and upwards.

Edwardia

Dozey Crow if they were within date I'd take them back to ASDA cos that sounds like incorrect storage temperature to me. We've never had an organic yogurt go bad let alone mouldy eww.

Kirri

It's still touch and go here, got her gut going again but still not right. Seems to be a reaction to a (usually) safe and widely used prescribed med.. Dozey - not good re the teeth, good 'rodent type' dentistry is hard to find, I have a vet who does it without anaesthetic and I know of just a handful of other good vets around the country but I wouldn't go near any other vet for dentistry, most don't have a clue and do more damage than good.. Poor thing if she can't eat hay, there are some quite fine and short strand hays too that might be worth trying. Can she eat grass ok?

I'd take the yoghurts back or photograph and email the manufacturers (I got money back for off milk the other week that was in date).

Edwardia, it was the pasta not the noodles on Ocado under the organic section. I didn't look too close, was just surprised as they didn't sound like an organic product!

Re the breadmakers, the bread is definitely much better finished off in the oven in both the Kenwood and Panasonic hence why I just use it for dough now. Not sure how different the GF bread would be.

Ocado bananas have gone down 30p - I only put them in the basket this week and saw today they were cheaper so deleted and put them back in to get the saving.

rufydoofyM

Big thank you to Edwardia for this thread and others that post.
:T :beer: :A
Having never been a fan of processed food and grown up with an abundance of fruit and veg from grandad until we lost him I craved quality gm and chemical nasty free food.
First we went organic for milk and eggs, then chicken. Next butter and all dairy. then the horrors of homogenised milk became known and we only bought duchy or calon wen (until calon wen changed earlier this year).

Over the years we have gradually become more and more organic. This became so much easier when I discovered this thread a year ago and consequently (thanks to Edwardia) learnt about Abel and Cole and Riverford. I also started using Ocado regularly in part because of the choice and the offers, but also because of the convenience and reliable customer service. It's now been a year almost shopping with all three and topping up occasionally with Waitrose and Sainsburys if forced too. As for Tosco I haven't set foot in one for over a year. This has made OH exceptionally happy.

We have found Riverford best for bacon and sausages and slightly better value than Abel and Cole. Both have recently changed pack sizes and price per kilo. A and C bacon was good, but I find it tasteless now even if it is nitrate free.

We find the boxes with Riverford better value and quality over all. I still often buy individual items though. We ate so much more fruit and salads this year than before.

From Abel and Cole
So far Brown Cow yoghurts are favourite especially the blueberry. Tried the Christmas pudding one this week and although nice it needed more flavour imo. Yeo Valley are next on our list of preferred.

Most laverstoke pork cuts taste good but chop sizes aren't consistent.

Love the sizeable eggs and the milk, definitely the best.

Sticky ginger loaf cake is a favourite treat when I haven't the energy to cook, OH loves it and we're never disappointed. the same can't be said for the muffins. We've had good and bad so don't bother now. Tried the parkin the other week and it was ok but not great and under weight. I think Long Crichel bakery items are generally better.

Oak smoked pink peppered mackerel fillets are delicious.

Tried their pies savoury and sweet, but not impressed. The Brocklebys pies though are nice, but pricey so reserved for treats.

Jingle jam is lovely if a bit sweet. great on rice pudding or semolina. Going to try some in plain yoghurt next:)
Their marmalade is nice too.

Their coleslaw, potato salad and houmous are all good. Their scotch eggs were disappointing, but Dorset farm ham is lovely.

The Real Olive Company are the nicest olives and on offer at the moment.
Love the fact they stock Marriages flour as this seems to give the best results especially for bread making and OH who makes it by hand has tried so many different flours.

OH loves his ginger beer and really enjoyed the luscombe, too much of a punch for me though and we usually get the Belvoir one from Ocado.

Cocoa Loco dark chocolate buttons are yummy medicinal of course;) Going to try the cookies next. (for research purposes only you understand) Also Montezuma chocolate with chilli is good.

Our vote for best cuppa goes to Clipper everyday tea.

Will follow with more opinions on Riverford:)

rufydoofyM

So next is Riverford:)

I actually get to meet the delivery man and it all feels more personal and friendly compared to Abel and Cole (who deliver at 5.30 am !)

Their milk is homogenised in my area so won't buy.

Although the choice of fruit and veg is slightly smaller than A and C I often find the prices slightly better and the boxes better value and things seem fresher.

Finally our hunt for a good sausage is over as theirs are the nicest and we've been searching for a long time. their bacon is also our preferred. We've also enjoyed the beef brisket, beef steak mince, pork chops and pork medallions. The pork steaks however were fatty and very chewy so not impressed with those and we've not tried them again.

Have enjoyed Homity pies, ham and leek tarts, small and large pork pies and beef pasties. The Chocolate brownies and Apricot flapjack are addictive. Wasn't impressed with the treacle tart, but perhaps it was so soft and not so good because I hadn't realised it should have gone in the fridge.

Love the olive oil, Pimhill muesili, houmous, clotted cream fudge and Montezuma chocolate buttons.

So there are my likes, opinions and recommendations after almost a year of shopping and going as organic as we can food wise.

Other regulars in the general Ocado shopping are,
Yeo valley butter although we prefer Rachels when on offer.
Yeo valley cream
Caf! direct Machu Pichu coffee beans.
Lye Cross Farm organic mature cheddar. Always buy in bulk when on offer. We love our cheese:D Currently on offer 350g blocks two for £6
Mr organic baked beans. (Waitrose own come a close second.)
Green and Blacks cocoa.
Wyld Wood organic cider. Bottles will last me a couple of nts and have the fizz. The boxes are flat cider but just as scrummy and currently on offer.
I have the wyld Wood organic pear cider on next weeks order:)
Belvoir organic ginger beer and cordial
Whole earth organic cornflakes, much better than Sainsburys or Doves.
Doves fruity biscuits.
Waitrose organic frozen peas.
Mackies organic vanilla ice cream.

I'm open to recommendations on mayonnaise if someone can help.

Finally to those that read and are put off by the idea that to go organic is too expensive.
Please think and look again.
OH and I have a limited income, but with shopping around and taking advantage of offers along with concentrating on quality rather than quantity we have managed to switch without spending more.
Unlike other supermarkets Ocado charge the offer price based on the day you order and not the day of delivery. Consequently it's easier to spread the cost and take advantage of offers for at least 6 weeks at times and longer if you move your delivery date.

Sorry about the long posts, just wanted to share my experiences from the last year:) and delurk to put a bit back.