Living on next to nought - is that the key?

Greying_Pilgrim

Can meat-eaters give this plant-based diet type personage a helping hand please?

If you were buying mince meat - beef, pork, lamb, turkey - specifically at a supermercado, what size would the pack usually be? I'm thinking of those blue styrofoam trays with cellophane wrap over them. I'm *guessing* that the 'normal' pack size would be 1lb or 500g?? (or have the pack-size shrinkers been at mince too?? :rotfl:) I know you can probably get smaller, and certainly 'family' or '241' packs, but I'm interested in the normal pack size.

And yes, of course, if you are lucky enough to have a good family butcher near by, you can have as much or as little as you need for your recipe, but the supermercados 'pack' is what I need to know about

TIA

Greying

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

Hi, I tend to buy in c@scto, so a mahoosive pack, but happened to stock DD freezer shelf yesterday and Sainsbobs had 500g packs. I didn't see anything smaller. I'm pretty sure Wrose have 400g packs.

Best wishes Tilly x

teapot2

Hi Greying, was in Mr A yesterday [our only smakt apart from much more expensive co-op] and gazed in perplexicity at said packs of beef mince which were various sizes and types :eek:. OH is a meat eater, I am not and was going to make one pot mince and tatties to do a few days including some for freezer.


They have mince packs in the following sizes;250g , 420g, 500g and 750g. Not all sizes come in all types - who knew there were types of beef mince? These are; reduced fat, lean, selection beef mince and selection BM reduced fat, organic. The prices vary quite widely and the most expensive is £9.52 per kg and the least is £3.97 per kg. Not sure I've answered your question :rotfl:but yes, 500g packs are available still at least in Mr A. Hope the above isn't TMI but you did ask!!!

supersaver1000

Hi folks I agree with teapot and Tilly. It seems to be the dearer the mince the smaller the package. I.e bog standard mince 500g, lamb 400g

X

Busymumofthreeplusdog

The package shrinkers have definitely been at the mince. Packs that I bought previously from Tesco or Asda were usually 500 or 750 grm but now are 420 smthing. Not sure about the bigger pack cos I don't seem to be able to find that very often. Again it does vary in price according to fat content... I think the supermaercados are just out to confuse us into spending more money......

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Evening :hello:

My! How wonderful are you all???? :D

Tilly, teapot2, supersaver and Busymumofthreeplusdog - thank you all so very much for your replies - mucho, mucho appreciated And teapot2 - you made me laugh out loud, erm, never one to shy away from asking questions, me :rotfl:

You have all made me be able to make sense of an ingredient in one of Leanne Brown's recipes, which, in turn, means that I can share that extra bit of knowledge correctly with any MSE'r that chooses to read it Thanks team!

Well, I can claim a NSD today - didn't leave the homestead. But I am hoping that this will not come back to bite me on the b*m when we've nowt to eat by Tuesday :rotfl: Still, i'm an adult, I'll take the consequences of my (in)action, and not try to blame anyone else..........;)

So the day has been positive, as we've achieved our aim :j I've had a kick up the b*m and lightbulb moment all rolled into one, in as much as just because everything hasn't fallen into place *just* like it was supposed to, doesn't mean that significant progress hasn't been made and doesn't mean that project 'move on' won't happen. We are still very much in control of our destiny, even if it is more our thoughts about it at the moment, rather than any actual removal firm booked, final meter readings taken and kettle packed where it can be found type scenarios........

So, onto us dinner

I sort of went off the planner again this evening, but I did stick with a Leanne recipe, so I'd like to tell you about it if I may.

I made up a batch of Black Bean Chilli from the recipe on pg 76 in From Scratch. I chose this as I had some black beans in the freezer (PC a 500g bag and froze in batches) and all of the other ingredients in the store cupboard - although I chose not to put the 'dark beer' into the dish. I actually thought that this was a wholly veggie recipe, until I came to make the dish.... What the h3ck was '1 package ground round'?????

Well, thanks to lovely g00gle, I have discovered that it is what we would call mince and I suppose in a chilli, is more likely to be beef, but of course, you could add in whatever meat you wanted And I think that the most likely size of the 'package' referred to in the recipe, given that the dish is to serve 4 - 6 would be 1lb or 500g. And, I have it on good authority :D:D that the average UK pack size of mince would be in the 400/420/500g range - so on a par with this recipe As this is not Leanne's $4 a day recipe booklet, I suppose that the meat quotient can be a little more generous As it was, for my version, I simply omitted the meat or any meat substitute. I have to say, 2 tins of black beans could work out quite pricey, so if you need to keep this dish frugal, I would look to substitute with either soaked and cooked dried black beans (aka turtle beans) or to substitute with red kidney beans, which are significantly less costly.



The chilli was OK, I used a little coffee, not too sure I'd use it again, I'm sure I've used coffee before, and it doesn't do anything for me, so I'd leave it out, but perhaps it works better with meat? In the picture, you can see that I have topped the chilli with some soured cream - actually the left over YS'd West Country stuff with a little lime juice added - sprinkled over a little lime zest and some fresh coriander. Served with 75g (dry weight) portion of basmati rice.

A dish that can be made relatively cheaply, or made more 'luxurious' and expensive. But definitely filling and a reasonable version. I'll probably not replace the version I have in my recipe card box, but I'm happy to try out Leanne's version - I think she sets a very high standard

Today I am grateful for these 3 things;

for human-scale political advocacy - Ron Finley* shows that it works and his neighbours and neighbourhood are healthier for it......

that it was too hot for soup and chilli today - we ate them, but it's nice that it wasn't the weather for them really

for, as ever, the wonderful support and good naturedness of the MSE community - Bless Ya

Thanks for popping in, reading and answering my endless stream of questions - but now you see why I asked, eh?

See y'all later.

Greying

* Ron Finley started 'Guerilla Gardening' by planting crops in his front garden in a neighbourhood in Los Angeles. The community was not affluent, and there was poor access to fresh fruit and vegetables. Whilst the neighbourhood decayed and folk took to flytipping couches etc into the empty lots/abandoned houses, the authorities threatened to prosecute Ron for 'growing crops' in his own garden......... He took them on, won and got the law changed so that anyone could garden freely - which has contributed to the improving health and well-being of his community The Food Programme on R4 told his story as part of the coverage of the 2014 MAD symposium on food in Denmark. The programme is available on the BBC R4 catch up page if you'd like to hear more

liltdiddylilt

Hi GP,

Whilst my comment was not throwaway in the slightest and meant as a partial compliment but mostly deeply rooted in the TRUTH; I am very happy that for once I could make you think! In my real world, I often discuss prices of food, meat etc and refer to you repeatedly in these conversations! So when your ears burn, it is most likely someone referring to you as they discuss the best way to make dinner

I am very intrigued by your story on the guerilla gardener. We have guerilla crochet in my lovely town. Especially during Poppy season. We have a road, named 'Remembrance' which has a steep hill, and a fence and handrail all the way down. Most of the year, it is covered in Poppies, but at certain points, you cannot see through the fence! And so many different kinds, you can tell that a lot of people go into the effort of making it! The crochet'ers take over empty shops for a few weeks, showcasing barmy artwork, like bicycles and telephones completely covered. Random posts to stop cars in the town centre get new coats for winter... It is fab!

Nice to see you so positive in the face of potential adversity GP. We all aspire to the simple things in life here, methinks. Good food, warm safe home, great company & small pleasures. Whilst you may not make your new home within a month, it is on the cards, and ever closer and that is the pleasure sometimes, the journey! Reading back, it seems like you and DP are a lot happier for your current lifestyle. And you count a lot of blessings.

Greying_Pilgrim

lilt - Thank you for such a lovely post, very, very thoughtful.

And on the subject of guerrilla crochet - I take it you know all about Lucy at Attic24? And the good news is that they are doing it all over again this year Talk about contributing to the community in which you live in a very positive way

Greying

Hopefuljoy

Hello Greying and chums!! I heard Ron Finley on R4 today as well. He was so inspiring as you say.... and very funny!! Well worth a listen.:rotfl:

Leanne's recipes seem so tasty and I have downloaded the PDF. Tonight I had a battered haddock and med veg with cous cous again. :T I seem to go through phases of eating the same meal often. Makes life easier. I tackled my bedroom today and now have a clear floor! However, the clean clothes mountain in the small room upstairs is still growing towards the ceiling.:eek:

I'm with you on the purging Greying. Amazing how much more you can bear a house you aren't too keen on when it is clear of clobber. You and DP have achieved a huge amount this year and if you hadn't set the target you would have been way behind where you are now and still fed up. The end is in sight!!!!:A

I love your thread, you are so thoughtful and kind to us all in sharing your wisdom and life. You've also attracted such a wonderful group of people. :T

Have a wonderful week everyone!! :A

Igamogam

[QUOTE=Greying Pilgrim;66560033

The chilli was OK, I used a little coffee, not too sure I'd use it again, I'm sure I've used coffee before, and it doesn't do anything for me, so I'd leave it out, but perhaps it works better with meat?
[/QUOTE]


I use dark chocolate in my chilli - both veggie and meat - does make a difference:)