British Expats - Groceries

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- The Maple Leaf (https://britishexpats.com/forum/maple-leaf-98/)

- - Groceries (https://britishexpats.com/forum/maple-leaf-98/groceries-857019/)

Quote:

Originally Posted by BristolUK (Post 11763135)

Absolutely. But it's the savings that pay for those indulgences.

Like the Beef Tenderloin, Prime rib or Lamb that costs 4 or 5 times what is normally good enough in our household.

Can you mark where you live on a map please? :sneaky:

We've always had a valuable asset to fall back on but actual cashflow was a problem in early years and was supported by use of credit card in the event of unexpected expense. Spending less money than you have to is just sensible regardless of how much income you have.

Double income back then or double income now wouldn't change much. All I'm doing now is paying less for an identical product by shopping in 'that store' instead of the other one or buying the same product 'tomorrow' instead of today - because the flyers are telling me it's cheaper tomorrow or the other store.

Give me twice as much money and I have no doubt that I'd be buying Beef Tenderloin more than occasionally instead of Inside/Outside Round. But I'd be buying it "tomorrow" or at "the other store" @ $12 a lb instead of $22 instead.

Like Jack Monroe (A Girl called Jack) did and is now a success.

The Guardian picked her up so maybe The Mail?

I like Jack's recipes/budgeting, but I tend to skim through her political stuff.

On groceries:
Saturday I scored an 8lb ham (at Maxi AKA No Frills), @ 10,56$ + reduced by 50% sticker.

Slow cooked it in Beer, water, with a carrot, onion, celery, apple, cloves,. Had myself a nice roast dinner with mash, homegrown beans & gravy. Sliced up the rest for salads/sandwiches & the freezer, and made (more) stock with the bone & gubbins.

Swiss chard was on special at 1,99$ for a humungous bunch. I've been eating it with everything... ;)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shirtback (Post 11763193)

I like Jack's recipes/budgeting, but I tend to skim through her political stuff.

On groceries:

Saturday I scored an 8lb ham (at Maxi AKA No Frills), @ 10,56$ + reduced by 50% sticker.

Swiss chard was on special at 1,99$ for a humungous bunch. I've been eating it with everything... ;)

Both great bargains, especially the swiss chard [red or white stalks?} as long as it fresh fresh;) We prefer the red stalk type

Quote:

Originally Posted by not2old (Post 11763197)

Both great bargains, especially the swiss chard [red or white stalks?} as long as it fresh fresh;) We prefer the red stalk type

Yeah, I was *quite* chuffed by the ham - I even suspected the 50% off was an error, but that's not my problem :).

Red stalks & very fresh. It's yummy :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shirtback (Post 11763247)

Yeah, I was *quite* chuffed by the ham - I even suspected the 50% off was an error, but that's not my problem :).

Red stalks & very fresh. It's yummy :)

Mentioned somewhere back in this long thread - have you tried beets leaves as an alternative to chard? Simply cut out the stalk, wash the leaves & cook as you would the chard or kale

In two of my local store produce sections, beets will have the tops chopped off & discarded either by the customer or the produce guy.

So I'm always on the look out for these, even have the guys have them to one side for me, along with an early when they open at 8am visit when fresh produce is being stacked on the shelves. They cut back or cut off so much good stuff they I always ask 'can I have the rabbit leaves'

Free produce & whatever else is newly stacked & marked down on the seconds shelf.

Penny saved goes towards the gasoline:nod:

I rarely buy beets, but when they turn up occasionally in my (summer only) veggie box, yes I eat the leaves :)

I have a similar deal to yours set up at local butchers' for free/50c bags of bones, bits & bobs & scraps for soup/stew making :)

They had elk and blueberry sausages in the market last evening, how Canadian is that? I went for the Cumberlands. :o

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oink (Post 11763372)

They had elk and blueberry sausages in the market last evening, how Canadian is that? I went for the Cumberlands. :o

Wise move. Sausages shouldn't have fruit in 'em!

Our family borscht recipe uses some of the beet leaves as well as some of the carrot tops (the little baby carrots are best).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atlantic Xpat (Post 11763377)

Wise move. Sausages shouldn't have fruit in 'em!

I'd try those.

Quote:

Originally Posted by caretaker (Post 11763379)

I'd try those.

Of course you naffing would. :p

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atlantic Xpat (Post 11763377)

Wise move. Sausages shouldn't have fruit in 'em!

Apple sausages are fairly common. Not that I have them mind.

Turkey and Cranberry would probably work.

And my sausagemeat 'stuffing' works well - orange mashed up in one, plum sauce mixed with the other.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BristolUK (Post 11763410)

Someone posted on sausage meat ingredients a few months ago. Suffice it to say, my consumption of the said food has plummeted. Not that it was any news to me, but just made me think a bit more about the type of meat I was actually consuming. No bad thing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by caretaker (Post 11763378)

Our family borscht recipe uses some of the beet leaves as well as some of the carrot tops (the little baby carrots are best).

:goodpost:

that would be to die for caretaker...

Quote:

Originally Posted by BristolUK (Post 11763410)

And my sausage meat 'stuffing' works well - orange mashed up in one, plum sauce mixed with the other.

when you say 'sausage meat' - from where, do you make it from scratch pork something, buy the 'sausage meat' in a tube ready to go or use store bought sausages for this?

Quote:

Originally Posted by not2old (Post 11763436)

when you say 'sausage meat' - from where, do you make it from scratch pork something, buy the 'sausage meat' in a tube ready to go or use store bought sausages for this?

Maple Leaf sausage meat.

There was one xmas when it was only two of us (two dealing with ill father/grandfather in Montreal) so I made do with sausages mashed up.