Re: Groceries
 

I'm eyeing that pork loin & my freezer space, which is at a premium at the moment.

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I usually separate as best I can, forgetting about bits stuck together as they'll still cook, and grill (broil) it all on a baking tray but using parchment paper. Turn the pieces when necessary.

I pour off the fat as I go so it's not smoking - the bacon also not too close to the element - and end up with lovely crispy bacon pieces.

Freezing it is a new one on me. Just checked with MIL...she's done it. Quebec thing maybe? She likes bacon bits in her salads so she probably did her own in the past.

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Possibly. Did she ever work in the food industry?

I learned this method in the hospitality biz, in Qc ;). No way were we going to, or able to, mess about separating uncooked bacon slices individually in the heat of a breakfast rush ;). Hence pre-cooking, removing fat, freezing etc etc. It also gets rid of the excess water with which most sliced bacon seems to be afflicted these days.

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Only a Chinese restaurant when she was about 14 :lol:

Other than that, working in a cobblers, having kids and security at McGill. She is a very good story teller :nod:

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Bristol you are missing out not living in my part of the world with all the competitive choices from the ethnic supermarkets ... just saying. Then again higher hydro prices, property price & property tax

flyer

From this it would be - pork chops, Salmon steaks, fish, chicken legs & backs, veggies, onions, green onions, red bell peppers & whatever else they have on the markdown shelf



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We have a no frills across the street from us now. Some good deals to be had.

Their normal pricing seems high but then they had so much on sale no real need to buy at normal price.

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One of these days I'm going into the little halal grocery on my way home. They have goat meat, and I haven't had goat in ages, but I want to go before my usual trip to the club after work so I don't have beer on my breath.

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I usually shop in a RCSS and made the daft mistake of assuming that own brand pricing would be pretty consistent across all Loblaws shops until I checked out the no frills near where my daughter skates. President's choice products were up to 30% cheaper in no frills. :eek:

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Loblaw & RCSS are a total rip off with no consistency in prices, then again, depends what you have where you live.

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:thumbup:

Prices here can vary quite a bit from one Maxi (Qc version of No Frills), as well as one Walmart etc to the next, even on basics/own brand products (outside the flyer specials). I notice because I occasionally shop in a much larger Maxi & Walmart, with daughter who lives in a much larger town, & I thought she would be able to get better deals/specials. Not so.

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My bargain of the week was at Wholesale Club, big 600g chub of Chevrai soft unripened goat cheese from Woolwich Dairy in Orangeville Ont. I think was $8.68 -30% so $6, delightfully light and creamy. Got it 2 days ago, expires on the 14th and half gone already. Tomorrow's omelette... I have the mushrooms, and the technology.

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I drove through Orangeville Ont. en route to the cheese shop where, in addition to the usual items, I got some Clos Du Berry, which was the cheese offered for tasting. It's "Cave Aged Goat Gouda" from Char, France and it's a very nice change.

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Superstore had some reserve Scottish Cheddar and some Extra Old British cheddar :lol:
But I did buy some rather stinky Camembert with which I attempted this.

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Loblaws don't keep the good Camembert, La Rustique, anymore so I go to Metro for, just, that. It's $10 for the cheese and $2 for the petrol.

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I'm in England right now. The prices and choice are overwhelming, I feel like I've emerged from years behind the iron curtain.

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More or fewer choices, or the same as in Canada?

What is the cost of your UK shopping basket compared to what it would be in Canada?


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[QUOTE=not2old;12203061]More or fewer choices, or the same as in Canada?

What is the cost of your UK shopping basket compared to what it would be in Canada?

Way more choice in England, better quality produce than I can get, much cheaper. I didn't do an item by item comparison as I've better things to do but little oranges were 25p each, cheese about half the price, bread, milk cheaper. Eating out is more expensive though so we've been staying and having cheese sandwiches for supper.

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Have a ball while you're there, bats; what about street food like kebabs?, that mustn't be too dear.

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]Thanks! The having a ball part started today when we had lunch with old friends. We came for my MIL's funeral so we've had tiring days and evenings collapsed in front of the telly.

I can never eat street food because of the risk of gluten but greasy burgers and hot dogs don't appeal anyway. I do like the smell of those fried onions though!

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Oops, forgot. :o I had a friend who was a vegetarian, but once in awhile (2-3 years), in the summer she would have a bbq'd hotdog because, "Though the wieners are disgusting, they are the perfect vehicle for mustard and fried onions."

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At last I found some Hobnobs that didn't have chocolate on them.

Until yesterday I'd only ever seen the chocolate ones here which are just not right.

If only the Brit sections would get some Colman's sauce mixes. :o

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TOTALLY AGREE ON THE SAUCE MIXES!

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Usually I mention a Colman's sauce mix and people just say make your own - ditto with VH curry sauces in jars.

But there's always a risk of the right consistency but lack of (or unbalanced) flavour or the right flavour but too thin and consequential loss of flavour from attempts to thicken.

I don't want to serve up stodgy or too runny or just right but tasteless on how ever many occasions before I get it acceptable every time. And with things like Bourguignon, Chasseur, Provençal, Coq au vin, I don't do them often enough to want to take a chance.

Use a Colman's sauce mix as an aid and it's right every time.

Great if people can do their own and get it right every time. Maybe they've been doing it for long enough it comes naturally. Or maybe only cooking for one and being disappointed for yourself until practice makes (near) perfect isn't the same as disappointing others. :unsure:

There are many things I cook without 'cheats' but some things I do less often I need a guarantee.

Of all the food complaints we all have about what's not available here or what is but "isn't the same", ridiculously expensive etc this is mine. :(

Maybe there's more a tradition of doing things from scratch but then there are so many instant gravy options, so many marinades available, different versions of ready mixed steak spices, slow cooker mixes and some instant pouring sauce mix options including Chasseur. Why no cook-in equivalents.

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Home-made pizza can be better than what's available locally too, but nobody beats you up for ordering pizza. :sneaky:

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An excellent point. Especially coming from such a culinary expert :thumbup:

I shall quote you next time :lol:

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Doing some bookkeeping today, feeding three people (with bits & bobs for the FIL) - the first quarter year grocery bill (three calendar months) Jan 1 to March 31 was $705.17 ($235/mth). That was everything, all food items, tea/coffee, staples, laundry products, personal care, bathroom... you name it.

We don't drink bottled water, booze or soda pop

Carryover items over for April, meat in the freezer, staples, small amount of fruit & veg, laundry stuff, bathroom, personal care


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I scored a bunch of stuff left over from a band rider; taco meat from Taco Time, shredded cheese, salsa, cheese sauce, lettuce. I'll get some frozen peas and make empanadas with the meat, and after giving away most of the lettuce still have lots for BLT's, I like a nice cheese and mushroom omelette, and so nothing goes to waste. Taco Time tacos with their usual ingredients and those hard shells are pretty disgusting, but with some peas and onions (or whatever else you want to use), the meat makes a nice empanada. Ideally this would coincide with tomato season when people all want to give you tomatos because a big pot of fresh salsa is the perfect accompaniment.
I could live on pennies if I chose to, but having done it out of necessity before I won't do it for fun. I'm thrifty except for all my vices, most of which cost something.

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what is a band rider ?

"thrifty" when doing it for fun is wonderful, once you've experienced doing out of necessity

The 'no waste' food is a valuable lesson that most don't practice

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The section of an entertainment contract regarding food, lodging, and incidental arrangements. The tacos were for Finnish heavy metal bands.

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Wouldn't that be a good part time job for some folks that would like to get a free meal out of it :nod:

Did you manage to grab some 'leftover' free booze also?

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Go for it, if you can sing in Finnish.

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Cadbury 100g chocolate bars. Despite what some say about it being inferior to 'British' Cadbury choc, I still like them.

But WTF has happened to the price?

They've usually been around $1.70 but I never paid that much attention as so often the worst deal was 2 for $3. Far more often 4 for $5 and 3 for $4.

Now they seem to be as much as $2.49, far fewer offers than previously and you're lucky to get them around $2 each.

Even Shoppers which was usually most likely the best for them doesn't do better than 2/$4.

It's an outrage. :rofl: And chocolate is an integral grocery item. :nod:

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The place with cheap British chocolate biscuits here was Sears Bargain Centre and it's almost empty now.

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I really don't think Sears will be around much longer.

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I went into a Sears in Feb. Looked like a junk store. No organization and dirty cluttered store with lots of empty display cases and stock so old tags and some clothing faded.

Not sure why they just dont throw in the towel. Pretty clear they have given up.

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my deal of the day from the local ethnic store

Italian imported 'Bauli Tiramisu Cake', 450g @ $1.99

shown below

Bauli Tiramisu Cake, 450g [8001720448006] - $7.99 : Piccolo's Gastronomia Italiana, Fine Italian Specialties

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They did give up, the Bargain Centre here went into liquidation mode 2 or 3 months ago, it's like Target when they crapped out. It's too bad because I used to be able to get jeans and shoes really cheap there at one time, not to mention all the snacks. Besides all the Cadbury's chocolate and Waterford or whatever the liquorice was, there were dozens of Polish candies and cookies that were pretty good. I know it's impossible but I would have liked them to keep the bargain/disposal store and kill the downtown department store, (which I never use).

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Pork shoulder roast (included a very small bone) with rind for crackling $0.99/lb, total cost $4.70

Stripped the rind, salted & cooked in its own dish in the oven, enough cracking for 3 people

With leftovers, seven meals in total + enough for a couple sandwiches

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The cauliflower index has risen again and is now $5.99. Not that I bought any.
I did get a death date chicken for $8 and some ground pork so I'll cook up a roast dinner ce soir.

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Oooh, French! :lol: