Organic food in supermarkets

alfsmum

jenniewb wrote: »

Just on a side note (sorry, should explain: long time lurker to this thread!)

I stopped buying eggs a while back when the set-top hob I had broke. I've gone through about one every other year and have given up wasting more time on replacing it, so now don't have a hob, just a microwave.

I tried heating an egg up in one of those Lakeland egg-microwave things but the eggs just explode and the mess takes ages to peel from all corners of the microwave. As a result, I don't eat eggs now as I don't have a way to cook them.

Is there a way to cook eggs? Microwaves seem to explode them, I have considered leaving them inside the kettle but this seems like a very expensive way to cook an egg!

I worry slightly because my diet is already very limited.

Scrambled eggs are very successful in the microwave.

alfsmum

Tesco are doing 2 x Kallo organic rice cakes for £1.50, usually £1 a pack.

alfsmum

rufydoofyM wrote: »

Abel and Cole delivery came today. On the back of the last receipt there was a £5 off a £10 spend on ready made organic food so I added the following to my normal order,
1 x small pork pie £2.95
1 x individual steak and ale pie £3.65
1 x individual chicken and leek pie £3.65

Tried the steak and ale pie between us tonight but not impressed. The pastry was nice but the filling was dry and oh got a big bit of gristle in his half. Not sure about the taste either. We prefer a pie with gravy inside and considering the price we expected better. Will report on the others as and when.

Although we love A and C I have found that when I've had to call customer services regarding quality of veg a couple of times and broken eggs on another occasion they have not been as helpful as they appear to be when other customers post on their fb page. So any queries or complaints will be posted there in future.

Have found a code for 3rd box free and will be trying out Riverford soon. Spoke to them today and they assured me all their milk is unhomogenised even though it doesn't actually say this on their website for the acorn dairy.
With A and C on Tuesday, Riverford on Friday and Ocado once a fortnight we're are sorted

I'm trying to set up a similar system with Riverford (Wednesdays here), A&C on Friday, Ocado when needed plus local milkman Mon/Weds/Fri. We also have a Wholefoods a few miles away so get stuff there when on offer but find A&C cheaper on some things e.g. Pimhill oats.

Used to enjoy a saunter round Waitrose but it always seems so busy when I go these days and I don't like crowds Really don't miss the trek round other supermarkets and shopping online does make it easier to keep on eye on total spending and remove impulse buys from the virtual basket when I look at the total rather than going through the real checkout with them :rotfl: Don't miss the queues, wailing children, bad tempered adults, the shelves always seeming to be empty of the one thing I went for in the first place.....

I also try to buy local whenever possible from smaller shops but not always easy to get organic.

alfsmum

rufydoofyM wrote: »

Abel and Cole delivery came today. On the back of the last receipt there was a £5 off a £10 spend on ready made organic food so I added the following to my normal order,
1 x small pork pie £2.95
1 x individual steak and ale pie £3.65
1 x individual chicken and leek pie £3.65

Tried the steak and ale pie between us tonight but not impressed. The pastry was nice but the filling was dry and oh got a big bit of gristle in his half. Not sure about the taste either. We prefer a pie with gravy inside and considering the price we expected better. Will report on the others as and when.

Although we love A and C I have found that when I've had to call customer services regarding quality of veg a couple of times and broken eggs on another occasion they have not been as helpful as they appear to be when other customers post on their fb page. So any queries or complaints will be posted there in future.

Have found a code for 3rd box free and will be trying out Riverford soon. Spoke to them today and they assured me all their milk is unhomogenised even though it doesn't actually say this on their website for the acorn dairy.
With A and C on Tuesday, Riverford on Friday and Ocado once a fortnight we're are sorted

I was a bit apprehensive about starting deliveries with A&C after reading various reviews complaining about poor customer service. I haven't needed to comment or complain yet so it will be interesting to gauge their service if I do need do. I have noticed A&C apologising when people have tweeted their complaints so maybe that's the way to go?

Fire_Fox

jenniewb wrote: »

Just on a side note (sorry, should explain: long time lurker to this thread!)

I stopped buying eggs a while back when the set-top hob I had broke. I've gone through about one every other year and have given up wasting more time on replacing it, so now don't have a hob, just a microwave.

I tried heating an egg up in one of those Lakeland egg-microwave things but the eggs just explode and the mess takes ages to peel from all corners of the microwave. As a result, I don't eat eggs now as I don't have a way to cook them.

Is there a way to cook eggs? Microwaves seem to explode them, I have considered leaving them inside the kettle but this seems like a very expensive way to cook an egg!

I worry slightly because my diet is already very limited.

Do you mean you are trying to make boiled eggs in the microwave? Scrambled and poached and omelette-esque work OK in the microwave tho they are not as nice as on the hob, I've never had an explosion tho I do watch them carefully so it's a PITA.

Some people do mini crustless quiches/ mini frittata in the microwave I think, I think I've also seen recipes for large frittata/ crustless quiche in the slow cooker/ crock pot too. Some even do eggs in the well of a sandwich toaster!

Slow cooker might be an option if you don't already have one, there are cheapos under a tenner, I have a fancy one that is also a steamer (great for fish), rice cooker and porridge maker, others are combination slow cooker and roaster if you eat meat. When I had my old impossible-to-use solid electric plate hob I did almost all my cooking in the slow cooker, George Foreman type griddle and microwave.

HTH.

frugal_shopper_2

jenniewb wrote: »

Just on a side note (sorry, should explain: long time lurker to this thread!)

I stopped buying eggs a while back when the set-top hob I had broke. I've gone through about one every other year and have given up wasting more time on replacing it, so now don't have a hob, just a microwave.

I tried heating an egg up in one of those Lakeland egg-microwave things but the eggs just explode and the mess takes ages to peel from all corners of the microwave. As a result, I don't eat eggs now as I don't have a way to cook them.

Is there a way to cook eggs? Microwaves seem to explode them, I have considered leaving them inside the kettle but this seems like a very expensive way to cook an egg!

I worry slightly because my diet is already very limited.

Microwaves will cook reasonable scrambled or poached eggs & the microwave omelet makers available in most £shops work ok.
It sounds like you are interested in boiled eggs though which is not recommended as it is necessary to wrap the eggs in foil to prevent them exploding. Although the foil does not present a risk while it is fully submersed in water if you became distracted & it boiled over meaning the foil became exposed to the microwaves it is very likely to result in the microwave exploding possibly burning down your home which is obviously far too big a risk for the sake of making a boiled egg.

If you do cook eggs in the kettle then remember that all the water used should be discarded, do not use that water for any food or beverage you are going to consume.

katep23

jenniewb wrote: »

Is there a way to cook eggs? Microwaves seem to explode them, I have considered leaving them inside the kettle but this seems like a very expensive way to cook an egg!

I worry slightly because my diet is already very limited.

You can get electric egg steamers which do "boiled eggs", I picked mine up from a boot sale for £1 and it is fab.

You can cook from soft boiled to hard boiled and never have exploding eggs because you forgot them on the hob again :whistle:

Course that's never happened to me :cool:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=boiled+egg+machine&!!!!!mh0a9-21&index=aps&hvadid=32229182&ref=pd_sl_6649cs65kf_e

Edwardia

jenniewb welcome to the thread :wave:have you thought about an egg boiler ? Argos has them for 14.99, Amazon for 13.19 with free delivery. katep23 has the same thought

frugal_shopper having seen microwaves go bang several times, I would never ever recommend putting anything metallic in one, including metallic glazes on plates. :eek:

gailey I wouldn't say my local Lidl was big, and the organic MeadowFresh semi skimmed milk 2pints/1.136 ltrs is 99p. Week before last the MeadowFresh organic Farmhouse Cheddar was 2 for 1.50 but can't remember the normal price sorry cos just shredded receipts for recycling tomorrow.

alfsmum I get Abel & Cole Monday, Riverford Friday and Ocado generally on Saturdays or Sundays. I always let the companies I buy from know when I'm happy as well as when I've had things like spilt yoghurt and multi-surface cleaner. I have suggested to Abel & Cole that they add a review feature to products - I find Ocado's very useful. With Riverford you can always talk to or email/phone the local franchisee delivering.

Kirri - I'm a tad confused, why do you think Abel & Cole buys in and Riverford doesn't ? Riverford has a suppliers list on the website. The people delivering are franchisees who deliver from the farmers and I don't think all the farms are owned by Guy Watson. Abel & Cole is now owned by the parent company of Aunt Bessie's however.

almo - the more the merrier, feel free to jump in

rufydoofyM and Quasar thanks for sharing

blueyellowred we're using some Brue Valley organic butter from Riverford at the moment. Not bad, OH still prefers President though.

If you're an EDF Energy user like me then check out the Thank Yous on www.edfenergy.com and get 15% off Green & Black's.

rufydoofyM

Hope you all have had a good day.
I've been exploring Riverford today and have my first order coming on Friday. Feeling so excited :j:j:j Wanted to pay on delivery instead of entering card details on their website (not sure why exactly but just gut feeling) want to see how things go first. Had to call customer services who set up the account for me and both them and my delivery man whom I spoke to were lovely and helpful. Found a code for 3rd box free and have ordered to following,
2 x beef pasty
1 x Homity pie (2)
1 x ham and leek tart (2)
1 x 1ltr semi skimmed milk
1 x 1ltr full fat milk
1 x pineapple
1 x large veg box
contents, potatoes, carrots, onions, swede, parsnips, leeks, portabello mushrooms, ramiro peppers, celery, cherry tomatoes, salad pack and fennel.
Total £35.13

Have had so much fun shopping on line and trying stuff that have over spent a bit so far this year but now I am going to get more organised in this year of the box:D

Will let you know how I get on with Riverford.

Have discovered it does help to post dissatisfaction on Abels fb page. problem sorted apology given and credit applied very quickly.

Edwardia

rufydoofyM thanks for reminding me to get my Riverford order in for Friday

2 x 1 ltr Riverford whole milk @ 99p
1 x 2 Riverford ham and leek pies 2.95
1 x 2 Riverford Homity pies 2.95
1 x Flower Power City Bakery ciabatta 300g 1.75
1 x High Weald Halloumi 3.95
1 x Riverford hummus 200g 1.75
250g cherry tomatoes 1.95
1 x aubergine 1.35
750g leeks (20% extra free) 2.75

Total 21.38