It's getting tough out there. Feeling the pinch?

YorksLass

Many years ago, one of our long-gone department stores used to sell different sized plain Easter eggs that could be iced with the child's name and a few flowers - a bit more personalised than today's offerings.  I can't remember how much they cost, maybe 2s (10p in today's money) but there was always a long queue!

Apparently my horoscope for the coming week says I'm "feeling restless and yearning for something out of the ordinary".  I only read it for a bit of fun but, if my mood yesterday was anything to go by, it sums it up perfectly.      Anyway, today hasn't been  "out of the ordinary" at all but, despite Storm Otto's best efforts, I slept well and have enjoyed today's walk to the Co-op - it certainly blew the cobwebs away!  I dropped off the bag of donations for the SA, did a little bit of shopping and spent £5.47.  No fresh produce I wanted from the ys section but I did get a Fray Bentos steak & kidney pie (bbe Dec 2024) for 42p from the clearance shelf.  No idea what it will be like as it seems to have mixed reviews - fingers crossed.

Is anyone making pancakes next Tuesday?  I used to make them when my children were little but don't bother nowadays.  That said, we're having battered cod tonight and I know there'll be some batter left over so I might just use it up that way.

Florenceem

I may make pancakes next week.
I have one of the Fray Bentos pies in a round flat tin - last time we had one - was a real job to open.

Fife_Flyer

Florenceem said:

I may make pancakes next week.
I have one of the Fray Bentos pies in a round flat tin - last time we had one - was a real job to open.

Last time I had one of the Fray Bentos steak & kidney pies, not only was it a challenge to open, it was hardly worth the effort once it was opened and cooked - lots of pastry and gravy but very little meat...

t14cy_t

fray bentos tinned pies are one of my DH guilty pleasures. i get them from the community bus, i however cant stand them!! xx

Bluegreen143

Yesterday when I was doing my top up Tesco shop (using the scan as you shop) I realised it was at over £20 even though I had a few items. I then realised that the pack of chicken breast plus two butters alone were over £10. These prices aren’t new, I just hadn’t really noticed before the impact they have on a small shop!

However, the chicken was to make a homemade KFC (and we didn’t use the whole tray so have a big breast left for another meal) - if we had gotten a takeaway it would have been £25 for the family. The butter is for my husband’s birthday cake. It would be cheaper just to buy the cake from Tesco but while we can afford it I’ll always make a homemade one. At least I’ve not paid to get a cake made as that is really pricey. 

YorksLass

@Bluegreen143 - I know exactly what you mean!  I do a fortnightly order for delivery and it always has on it 6 pts milk, 500g butter, 400g cheese, 500g tub of basics yogurt and a 2.5kg bag of potatoes that come to £11.35.  And that's before anything else gets added!      

Enjoy your fakeaway KFC.  We used to have an occasional takeaway as a treat but they went by the wayside a long time ago.  Tonight we're having a Jalfrezi curry (made in the SC with minced beef and lots of veg) and there'll be enough left over to fill a couple of pitta pockets for a lunch later in the week.  Cost probably around £4, so super cheap.  

Like I said, mixed reviews for the Fray Bentos pies!  According to the tin, they've gone back to their Classic Recipe since customer feedback has been poor.  We'll see.  

joedenise

@YorksLass - what recipe do you use for your Jalfrezi curry?  Would you mind posting the recipe or a link to it please?  TIA.

YorksLass

@joedenise - Like you, I'm a bit of a "throw it all in" kind of cook so it can vary according to what I have in stock.  This is the basic though, to feed 2-3 people - and there might be some left over (depending on portion size) that can be frozen for another day.  If it's just a small amount I use it as a jacket potato topping or as a filling for a wrap or pitta pocket with some salad and a dollop of mayo.

200-250g mince beef - dry fry first so you can drain off the fat
1 medium sized onion - finely chopped
1 bell pepper - diced (preferably red, but any colour will do)
Handful of frozen peas
2 medium sized potatoes, diced small
1 jar of ready made Jalfrezi sauce (I like Pataks.  The most expensive part of the dish  )

Throw everything into SC and cook on low for about 5-6 hours, stirring occasionally, and add a bit of water if it's getting a bit too thick.  Serve with boiled rice or naans.  Other suggested additions: handful of sultanas or a small diced dessert apple, half a tin of chickpeas, sliced mushrooms, broccoli or cauliflower florets, sliced green beans - whatever takes your fancy!

EssexHebridean

Fife_Flyer said:

Florenceem said:

I may make pancakes next week.
I have one of the Fray Bentos pies in a round flat tin - last time we had one - was a real job to open.

Last time I had one of the Fray Bentos steak & kidney pies, not only was it a challenge to open, it was hardly worth the effort once it was opened and cooked - lots of pastry and gravy but very little meat...

We tried one for nostalgia’s sake a couple of years ago - it was unbearably salty! Just goes to show how tastes have changed! 

Bluegreen143

I also find any kind of bought pie whether gray bentos or other is sooooooo lacking in filling it’s unreal. And as said above, what filling there is is all sauce/gravy. 

Can’t beat a good homemade pie, whether steak or chicken, with plenty of meat and veg in! It may or may not cost a bit more but you get so much more for your money. And leftover pie for lunch the next day is a real favourite of mine!