FM198
I have always advocated two
types of shopping trips – the quick I am in a hurry type and then the cruising
shelves one finding new and useful inspiring ingredients and labour saving
convenience foods. I have now added a new chapter to this necessary excursion
that of price comparisons and what and adventure this has proved to be. We all
have our little preferences – likes, dislikes. That aside we are being more
cost effective and conscious in one way or another. Are you the grab a pack of
what you want and do not hesitate to explore the choices and price variations.
Is that bargain? a real saving or just a lost leader to get you to buy more. I
do recommend a list of what is wanted after planning your feeding regime
whether it be for a week or just a few days and also quantities need to be monitored
carefully to avoid wastage.
Some of us do have choices of
shops whether they be local or a car ride to a supermarket the choice is yours –
but do you look at the prices in real terms. By this I mean how much per kilo
or even more confusing per 100g or 200g.
Let me illustrate my recent
supermarket visit.
Red Onions pack of 3 for 90p equivalent at £3.60 per Kilo. Loose they are 90p per Kilo
Cooking Onions
– Bag x 1Kg = £1.00 per Kilo – loose at 80p per kilo
Carrots – 1 Bag
x 1 kilo = £1.53 – loose at 80p per Kilo
Leeks 1 pkt of
3 at £4.00 per Kilo – loose £2.50 per Kilo
Sausages. Vary enormously around £4.65 per Kilo upwards.
Sainsburys are doing a very nice line of Rileys chipolatas x 10 at a £1.00 per
Pack = £2.94 per Kilo
Cheese – Cheddar
oh boy now there is a minefield of choices varying from a deal at £3.00 a Kilo
or £14.80 per Kilo
Meat also
features in this conundrum. A Cheap Roasting Joint like Silverside or Top Rump
even on offer at £5.40 per Kilo, diced or sliced can be used for Braising or
Stewing and beat Braising, Stewing Beef at £7.00 - £10.00 per Kilo.
So please don’t just grab a
packet or an item, take a breath and look at the variation of prices you will be
surprised. A special offer is not always the best deal. My favourite one is
buying Aubergines at £1.00 each against £49p each at another Supermarket or per
Kilo at my local Ethnic shop.
Roasted Sweet Potato and Butternut Squash
This month I thought a no
effort at all recipe. Wash both the Sweet Potatoes and Butternut Squash. (Do
not bother peeling). Chop up into chunks (de seed the Squash)
Toss in Oil of your choice
and place into an oven proof dish. Add a Couple of Garlic bulbs sliced
horizontally and also drizzled with Oil. Put in a hot oven to roast for about
an hour.
Halfway through cooking add a
roughly chopped Orange. Turn all over together carefully and continue to roast.
This does not have to be served hot warm is fine. You can drizzle with Balsamic
Vinegar or a Vinaigrette and use as a Salad maybe with some Rocket Leaves or
add chopped herbs from the garden. Great with foods off the BBQ.
