Cheap chickens - morally right for OS?

piglet6

Hi Kittykate

I agree with the majority here that its more OS to buy less of a better quality and stretch it as far as possible, although I would never criticise people for buying these cheaper versions of meat - each of us has to deal with our own food budget in the way that is best for us individually, and sometimes the cost aspect has to win out.

However, you asked about stretching mince - we always stretch ours by adding loads of veggies...onions, finely diced peppers, tinned beans (we tend to use baked, kidney, cannelini, black-eyed or borlotti - all pretty cheap in Asda and particularly good for a chilli, but we tend to add them into everything!). Similarly some chopped mushrooms and a can of sweetcorn can all help bulk it out. However, all of this does tend to "show" and your hubby will probably notice...:o

But, the one thing we always add which nobody ever seems to pick up on is grated carrots. Add them early and allow it all to simmer with the tinned tomatoes/gravy mixture and they "mush" down and seem to bulk the mince out beautifully without being able to tell what they are! :T We always add them (and we have excellent night vision, too!!!;) :rotfl:).

Re: chicken, its more difficult to stretch if you buy the breasts (although we will often share one in a rice/pasta dish and add something else to bulk it out - a chicken/spinach/chickpea curry is yummy!:D). However, using an "ethically correct" chicken and making it go further should be no different technically from stretching any other chicken (try searching for "rubber chicken") - it just means probably that you can only buy one every other week, rather than each week (or once a month, rather than fortnightly, or whatever...).

Either way, stick with what you feel most comfortable with - if you are buying the more expensive meat for "moral" reasons, but force yourself to buy the cheaper stuff, chances are that you won't enjoy it so much anyway because deep down you don't feel comfortable eating it - and what a waste that would be!!:p

Piglet

MRSMCAWBER

Hi there
I get my chicken from Morrisons-they have a WYE VALLEY -RSPCA monitored and slow grown for more succulence..Its £2.79 a kilo so an average chicken is about £4....and i must admit there are only 2 of us so imake the breasts do 3 roast dinnermeals-hubby takes a dinner to work, then one leg/thigh makes a pasta salad for 3 and the other either makes a chicken,mushroom and leek pie and the carcass and leftovers makes stunning chicken n sweetcorn soup - at least 4 portions!!! i adore chicken and i think that is a pretty good deal

When i use mince - especially for chilli/bolognaise etc i add loads of grated carrots..you'll be amazed how much difference it can make
I also use frozen relate veggie mince, minced soya, and minced quorn..

lil_me

I think this thread may have been better on the green/ethical board. OS is about making the most out of what you have IMO, rather than the ethical issues. Ok I do buy free range from my local farm shop, but I remember when I couldn't have afforded too. Also for some transport is an additional barrier with shopping aswell as local availability. If I didn't have a car Asda or Tesco would be my ONLY choice.

PS RSPCA don't continuosly monitor (as highlighted on a recent documentary where a complaint was made about conditions in a farm with RSPCA approval, some butcher lie (my nearest does!), some free range labels are lies, some farm shops/farmers market traders lie.

Anyway, soya, I use the flavoured dry soya from Holland and Barrett

Fizog

If I can't afford good quality chicken we eat veggie! Apart from being morally wrong and encourages bad production farming it just tastes foul....ho ho...
I always add roasted aubergines to mince to eke it out .....

gazza975526570

The chicken doesnt have much of a great life anyhow ending up on a sunday dinner plate.

Ive never quite got my head around people feelings on matters such as this

HappyIdiotTalk

I wouldn't touch the stuff if they were giving it away for free, but I wouldn't criticize anyone else for buying it either.

An alternative could be to cook Chinese meals. The Chinese use very little meat in their dishes and still come up trumps with delicious food.

Ytaya

I was going to say what SnowyOwl said! Intensively-farmed chickens are not in the least bit old style!

As for mince, you could try padding it out with some red lentils (the split ones that don't require pre-soaking). To ensure better quality mince, go to your local butcher. It'll probably be cheaper than the supermarket, and they often have "5lb for £X" deals on.

I think we all make choices depending on our budgets - eating this kind of meat is a choice some people can make, while others can't. I know I haven't been able to afford all of my principles this year, but I also know that will change in October when my income increases.

vixtress

KittyKate wrote: »

I never intended to start an argument!

To be honest I think you do have a choice - sticking your head in the sand is not the answer. I appreciate we all have a tight budget but I'd rather feed my family alternative cheaper cuts of meat than unethically reared chicken - for example, my local organic butcher does four pork chops, 2lb mince, 8 chicken drumsticks and tomato and pork sausages for £8 - surely that's far better value than a few cheap chickens - and far better for your family.

wow, thats sounds really good value, can i ask where the butcher is and do they have a website, im not too far from leeds and wouldnt mind giving that a go,
thanks, vix

Penelope_Penguin

During the war, a chicken was a real luxury, and eaten as a treat. Modern intensive farming has given us birds that have a miserable life, so that we can eat cheaply. I read recently that in the 1940s we spent around 25% of our disposable income on food; now it's nearer 15%.

I'd rather eat a relly good chicken occasionally, and eat delicious veggie based meals the rest of the time.

Penny. x

COOLTRIKERCHICK

when i hear the word old style.....and in relation to this board on mse....

i automatically think of my grandparents.......:heart2:

and the way that they used to do and buy things......

they never used a supermarket..... until very late on in life....and allways grew as much as they could in their little garden, and they allways used the local butchers....

so to me os is actly what is says .. old style........it doesnt neccessarily mean buying the cheapest you can find.......

to me its getting value for money..... and shopping and using things with out waste.....