Organic food in supermarkets

Kirri

alfsmum wrote: »

kirri did you try the vegan roast from WF in the end? We collect our 'individual dinner' at the weekend . Included two slices of the roast which were nice enough but not so good that I'd rush to order again. I will be doing our favourite cashew and mushroom layer for the festivities. The dinner also had some kale, which was rather chewy, a small pot of vegan gravy which was very good (but very small), a wild rice dish which was a bit dry, and a mixed fruit chutney. I'm going to send some feedback to the team member there who ran the vegan tour I attended.

Interesting to hear what it was like - I didn't try it as I went to find the roast and the only vegan nut roast I could find in the freezer was a pre-packaged one made in Ireland, I was hoping it would be a made on the premises WF type one like most of their other food, but if they just served up 2 slices I wonder if it was the one I saw? Don't suppose you took a pic?!

I think I will probably end up making my own now.

I really liked the sound of the vegan wild mushroom gravy, it's £4.99 to buy on its own to serve 4-6.

For anyone who hasn't been to WF yet they have an A3 sized sheet of all the Christmas specials food that can be ordered.



Rude Health oraganic granola £4.99 isn't as nice as the Honey & Nut non org granola was £2.99 now £3.99 Ocado (this variety has also recently changed packaging, is now in a yellowy box with a slight name change). The org one is smaller bits, not as nice a flavour and seems to have a few less grains etc in it. Though ideally I am more so swapping to vegan versions of things so will still try others.

[Deleted User]

I had to wait a long long time alfsmum but it was now or never. Costco online have the best deal with a dry jug.
http://www.costco.co.uk/view/product/uk_catalog/cos_10,cos_10.6,cos_2.5.1/142163

I never thought I would be using a dry jug but it is on order now as there are loads of raw recipes grinding things in more bulk than my tiny grinder could cope with, you basically grind them and press them into small cake tins to make bases and so on. Mine is the 500 pro as I wanted the pulse button and 3 pre-sets for dh to manage but they are not necessary. I got that one from lakeland in the end as it has a 7 year guarantee and LL are utterly reliable if anything goes faulty. Costco is also utterly reliable

edit just to say I just made some persimmon jam in a small blender. I got 3 persimmons yesterday for £1, not organic but heyho. One ripe persimmon, 1 tsp lemon zest and some agave. Whizzed and will keep 3 days in the fridge. It is soft and smells good, I have some ice cream in the freezer so it will be a topping for that. Asda for the fruit, I went in for spices and came out with lovely fruit and veg, ok not organic but it is more important to eat colourful veg than to worry about being 100% organic. You can only do what you can do anyway

another edit. I used to make granola in the days when we were struggling. I used sunflower oil not coconut oil and basic ingredients like oats and raisins and seeds. Look at packets and copy the main ingredients. I used the oven and turned the granola a few times. It was always very popular and great as a pudding layer with stewed apple and a dollop of cream or cashew nut cream. Much much cheaper than buying it

I have to say that I don`t use the thanks button, I like and appreciate all your posts but the thanks button, on the tough thread became a divisive weapon and several of us stopped using it. It isn`t necessary on a forum. So I am not being ignorant, its just me

Swans1912

Kittie I make my own granola too So much tastier when you make it yourself. I use Gordon Ramsay's recipe

Edwardia

kittie wrote: »

it is more important to eat colourful veg than to worry about being 100% organic

I have to disagree here somewhat, because although eating colourful veg is a good thing, it's pointless if it's heavily sprayed with pesticides or is some frankenGM <shudder>

Er people on this thread don't get divisive about the Thanks button <looks confused how does anyone do that ?? Seriously ? > and I can't ever remember there having been a serious disagreement here either ??

Definitely agree that venison is better wild, although NZ venison is grass-pastured and GM free and Lidl has lots at the moment.

If anyone is after a coffee machine, Kitchen Aid or Magimix there are freebies thrown in right now at Selfridges but 20% off lots of stuff starting tomorrow.

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/deals/selfridges?utm_source=MSE_Newsletter&utm_medium=oneliner-one&utm_term=26-Nov-13-lt&utm_campaign=deals&utm_content=2

John Lewis and Debenhams seem to have a price matching thang going on too ATM

Personally, as an ex chef I just go for a wicked set of knives and a liquidiser but OH may get a breadmaker for Christmas

We had a stir fry tonight using wild North Atlantic salmon, lots of organic veg all cleavered into julienne plus organic hoisin sauce. OH forgot his GF rice vermicelli noodles and I was running round looking for chopsticks but it was good In this house, scallions are either surplus or MIA and soo versatile, one of my fave organic veg so when I can find them I buy two bunches < realise that's why I end up with too many. Stir fry is a great way of using them up.

Kirri

^ I've seen people get weird over the thanks button on the comps board.. but then the net is full of weirdos and control freaks :rotfl:

I try and get organic where possible, I would rather have less and go for org versions as the amount that commercial crops get sprayed is just plain scary. (Did anyone see Nigel Slater and Adam's farm prog where they wouldn't even handle the seed without gloves due to the chemicals on it?). Tropical fruit is harder to get, depends where I'm shopping but I will prob get non org clementines tomorrow as I've totally run out and am eating them by the boxful = don't think in my town there are any for sale in organic. Same as with pineapple, another of my fave fruits.

I have gone back to ordering from A&C this week however, just min order for salad/veg, mostly for the pets but a couple of things for me as I wanted to make the A&C recipe for mushroom bolognaise. Didn't order a box as still have a fair few basics growing. They have the Ecover Zero on offer - I got a bottle of the fabric conditioner for the pet bedding..

Was going to get some balsamic for the recipe but lots I checked online seem to have sulphites in.

Did I post that G&B mini boxes are back on offer at Ocado? 2 for £8

Ecover dishwasher tablets on offer at Waitrose, 2 for £7 iirc (though think another shop, Tesco or Sains?? has them at half price).

Had another nut cutlet tonight (must say I do like the convenience..) with allotment potato wedges and allotment roasted beetroot slices (that I'd frozen the other week). Bit of a lazy stodge fest of a meal but I was in the middle of sorting stuff out so wanted something I could chuck in the oven.

For anyone wanting a Kitchen Aid (I do..) check out when they are featured on QVC as the price is really cheap. Holly Bell (Bake Off) is doing the demo day next Tuesday but they only had white last time.

Edwardia

Kirri if you eat any more G&B you're gonna turn into a bar .. Death By Chocolate

I didn't see the show but I did know that seeds are often steeped in a pesticide-fertiliser mix. Didn't know it was quite that toxic though !!

I've ordered a kilo of clementines from Riverford for 2.75 this week.

Saw the cutest long eared bunny at a nursery in Sussex and video'd it on my phone. His Nibs rolled eyes and told me it was cute but a rabbit would chew the wiring and he'd have to rabbit proof the house and garden.

If it had been a meerkat, however, he'd be asking why I hadn't bought it for him, he's just in lurve with meerkats. Seriously. :rotfl:

A few pages back I did a post on all the Ecover offers, there might be a few still around. I also worked out which stores were still cheaper when there weren't offers on, as well.

My ASDA doesn't stock the entire range but all the ASDA Chosen By You Eco-friendly products that Ive tried eg loo cleaner, washing-up liquid, kitchen spray, bathroom spray have been very good.

[Deleted User]

responding to edwardia re pesticides. What I was saying is that for the very many people who cannot afford organic food then it is much more important to make sure they eat colourful veg than be stressed about not being able to afford organic. I have had many patients who had to be guided to eat vegetables and organic prices would have put them right off. Half a glass is better than none

I have pretty well eaten organic for 50+ years and would not eat any other way by choice but I am lucky and many people are not so lucky.

I subscribe to wddty, have done since the 70s and there is an interesting article about how soya milk is made comercially. I am soaking almonds today as I am making almond milk this afternoon, easy recipe
http://vegetarian.about.com/od/rawfoodsrecipes/r/almondmilk.htm

I will slip the skins off after soaking. Commercially blanched almonds are steam blasted, even the organic ones and I want to stay raw ie with minimum heat and sproutable, even though I don`t go to that stage with nuts

Lots of soaked and very rinsed buckwheat groats are now in the dehydrator, this is a very useful food and handy to have in. I add it to my daily granola

renegade

I do not normally buy Organic foods, as I didn't think the taste could justify the price. However, I picked up Organic carrots at Tesco as I was in a hurry they cost £1 per pack.
I must say they were the sweetest carrots I ever tasted, certainly changed my mind about Organic foods.:)

[Deleted User]

I am currently waiting for abel and cole, I hope it is a box that makes me want more ie nice and fresh with no mank. I don`t mind soil. If I don`t like it then this will be my only box, so fingers crossed.

HM bread in the oven, lovely smell. I often make sourdough with my long time starter but I have to think ahead and wake him up as he is sleeping in the fridge. Sourdough is much better tolerated by some people, including me. I normally make a very large sd loaf and let mature for 2 days when cooked. I then slice and freeze but freezer is too full at the mo. Easy to make it takes about 36 hours, just gentle stretching and folding a few times

Kirri

Edwardia - I did well to resist the G&B Waitrose offer today, mini packs for £2.99 (I had 2 lots bought for me plus my previous stash so thought I'd wait..).

Waitrose didn't have the Ecover dw tablets that were supposed to be on offer :mad: They did have the washing up liquid at 2 for £2.

Moist toilet tissue, Waitrose own, although not eco friendly as such, is at least now biodegradeable if anyone uses it - on offer for £1.12.

Riverford clementines price actually very good compared to Waitrose, let me know what the taste is like. I would have ordered from Riverford this week but I can't stay in all day on that delivery day so had to use A&C for the veg, their clementines were bit more. Waitrose boxed clementines non org were £2.99 for 1kg! but they did have bags on BOGOF so 1.2kg for £2 but the smaller ones never seem that sweet. Did see organic lemons in Waitrose 4 for £1.79, looked nice ones and these were locally reduced to £1.49. Got organic tomato puree too, surprisingly the branch I was in had no non org tubes, normally the smaller branches cut the organic versions of things. Got org balsamic suitable for vegans and no sulphites in there too.

I'd love rabbits, have a thing for lionheads.. Do really need to keep rabbits in twos but I'd love them if I had the space. I'd probably rabbit proof the place myself and get them regardless..


Renegade - It's more the health benefits, less exposure to chemicals, preservatives, GM etc in organic food than the taste I would say. Or possibly that supermarkets grow more bland but long lasting varieties of veg etc or are picked way ahead of eating or grown at the wrong time of year. I couldn't believe the taste of seasonal home grown in relation to supermarket or even box scheme organic.


kittie - I really must learn how to make sourdough, it's the only bread I give in and buy these days.

As for the people not affording organic, I wouldn't fall into a typical category for eating that way (I'm more food bank eligible than organic consumer..) and it obviously is more expensive in some ways but there are lots of offers and deals or reduction, ways of eating, cooking, buying, trialling food for companies, or via comps or looking for additive free for those who are determined to get the best for what little they have, even if not able to get 100% organic but people have to want it themselves.