WHAT DID WE HAVE FOR TEA?

[PanBiker]

I had Spag Bol last night, a home made meat and tatie pie is in the making for tonight.

[Stanley]

Three eggs for breakfast and the first of the new batch of mutton and peas with veggies for tea. Lots of cabbage in this batch and I have some sprouts to add as well.

[Marilyn]

Cheese and Spinach Rolls...

[PanBiker]

I will have the remainder of my meat and tatie pie for my diner with a bit of gravy. Tea will be some kind of crushed potato bake thing with onions, garlic, smoked bacon and cheese.

[Tripps]

It was my birthday yesterday. I keep it fairly low key.

I got best wishes from Samsung who offered me 15% off a new phone- which was kind. Another email from the British Bottle Collectors club chat board, which I'd forgotten I'd ever joined. Nothing from the Accrington.com website- seems they have folded.

All fairly routine until the bell rang at lunchtime, and I found my son and two grandchildren (2m from the doorstep) with a bag of goodies for me. Wow ! - a large fillet steak, a bottle of Barramundi Merlot, a chunk of Lancashire Creamy, a piece of Dorset Blue Vinny , and a home made chocolate cake.

Nice chat - wonderful to see the kids. Roll on the day they can come in.

Had the steak for tea with some sauted spuds and veg. - first time a steak has beaten me. There's enough for a sort of fillet steak burger tonight. That never used to happen.

Memorable.

[Cathy]

Happy Belated Birthday Tripps

[Marilyn]

How lovely Tripps! That will cheer you up for a bit. Happy Birthday!

[Stanley]

Sounds just about right David, happy birthday. I know what you mean about steaks defeating you. I reckon my limit these days is not much more than four ounces. (I remember the day the Blue Horse saloon announced that "The 32 ounce steaks are off!" when we sat down one night.
I had the mutton and veggies X two for breakfast and dinner. The Mutton and peas has hit its peak, lovely grub.

[Marilyn]

Dave “wasn’t hungry” tonight, so I toned down the salad I normally a to a Turkish Roll with Chicken. ( eg no beetroot, no tomato etc)...but it did the trick and he ate it all. ( He had Branston and Gherkins in his, I didn’t). Anyway, dinner done, it was delicious. No dessert...we don’t “do” afters!

[Marilyn]

Tomatoes are at their very best at present...

[Tripps]

Maz - my mini plum tomatoes look the same, but I bet they don't tase the same.

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Did you see Nigella's latest creation. As far as I can see - no reference to the meecrowarvay this time. Ironically seeing that I helped pay her wages -I had some trouble finding a good copy.

This will have to do. Banana peel curry

I think she did it for a bet. Didn't see anyone actually eat any of it.
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PS we're ahead of the curve with the forecast that mutton will be the 'in' meat this year. We all know what a 'two shear' is already. Very satisfying.

[Marilyn]

Don’t fancy Banana Peep Curry...but it has plenty of fibre though

Mediterranean Veg Bake tonight...contains Onion, Red Capsicum, Spinach, Aubergine, Zucchini, Tomatoes, Cheese, Oregano, Parsley, Basil and Chilli...plenty of fibre there too! Meat free.
Had two small slices of stale bread, so crumbed them up, mixed with Olive Oil....so a nice crunchy topping. Waste not, want not.

[Stanley]

David, does this mean that the world has fallen into step behind me? About time too. Support local farmers!
Yesterday I had Mutton and peas with veggies X two for breakfast and tea.

[Stanley]

Mutton and Peas with veggies for breakfast and tea. I have a nice piece of pork belly slow roasting in the small oven. It will probably be in there until at least 13:00. We'll look at it then!

[Marilyn]

Summer Salad Veg not too badly priced here.
Cauliflower and Broccoli are horrendous prices. ( Cauliflower £3.50 for a very very small one, about the size of a large grapefruit)
I did buy a Broccoli the size of my clenched fist...made sure I enjoyed every mouthful tonight. Sprouts are about £7.00 a kilo. Can’t afford them as they are too big and don’t look their best anyway.
I wonder if your fruit and veg prices will shock you after Brexit.
I would be interested to know. High prices here are put down to pickers unable to harvest due to Covid.
As you are more affected by Covid than we are, how are prices going?
P.S. rarely eat meat...so will compare prices for you if anyone is interested. We occasionally buy Minced Beef, and that is £7.00 per kilo.

[Tripps]

Here's my Morrisons shopping list which arrived a couple of days ago - interesting comparison. The cauli and the cabbage were OK, but quite small compared to usual.

Cupboard
* 1 Morrisons Brown Onions £0.65 (1Kg)
* 1 Morrisons Free Range Eggs Large £1.69 (12 eggs)
* 2 Morrisons Wholemeal Rolls £1.10 ( 12 rolls)
* 2 Dolmio Bolognese Hidden Veg Smooth Pasta Sauce £2.50
* 2 Frank Cooper's Original Oxford Marmalade £3.60 (over rated !)
* 2 Galaxy Smooth Milk Chocolate More to Share Bar £3.00
* 2 Heinz Cream of Tomato Cup Soupn (8 sachets) £2.00
* 1 Heinz Tomato Ketchup £2.50 (800g)
* 1 Linghams Chilli Sauce £1.50
* 1 Morrisons 25% Balsamic Vinegar For Cold Dishes £1.00 (Not available)
* 1 Morrisons Balsamic Glaze £1.50 (Not available)
* 2 Morrisons Chunky Beef & Vegetable Soup £1.50
* 1 Morrisons Cream Crackers £0.40
* 2 Morrisons English Mustard £1.20
* 1 Morrisons Extra Virgin Olive Oil £2.69
* 2 Morrisons Fast Action Yeast (16 Sachets) £1.70
* 1 Morrisons Porridge Oats £0.79
* 2 Morrisons Prunes in Juice (410g) £1.40
* 2 Morrisons Spaghetti (each 500g) £0.90
* 1 Mrs Elswood Whole Sweet Cucumbers Pickled £1.70
* 3 Morrisons Diet Ginger Ale £1.20
* 1 PG tips Original Tea Bags 240 pack £4.00
* 1 Rowntree's Cocoa £2.50
* 1 Whyte & Mackay Blended Scotch Whisky £17.00 * ( 1 Litre Special offer !)
* 1 Morrisons Citrus Thick Bleach £0.39
* 2 Morrisons Lemon Washing Up Liquid £0.70
* 1 Morrisons Savers Jumbo Kitchen Towel £1.70
Fridge

* 1 Morrisons Unsmoked Back Bacon 20 Rashers £3.25
* 1 Morrisons Whole Chicken Large £3.55
* 2 Morrisons Baby Plum Tomatoes (each 250g) £1.38
* 1 Morrisons Carrots £0.40 (1 Kg)
* 1 Morrisons Cucumber £0.45
* 1 Morrisons Medium Cauliflower £0.82 (I'd say small not medium)
* 1 Morrisons Royal Gala Apples £1.49 (6 apples)
* 1 Morrisons Salad Onions (minimum 100g) £0.50
* 1 Morrisons Salad Peppers £0.95 (3 different colours)
* 1 Morrisons Sweetheart Cabbage £0.55
* 1 Morrisons Trimmed Leeks £0.99 (2 leeks)
* 1 Morrisons White Potatoes £0.99 (2.5 Kgs)
* 2 Morrisons British Salted Butter £2.98 (each 500g)
* 2 Morrisons British Semi Skimmed Milk 4 Pints £2.20
* 2 Morrisons Extra Mature Cheddar £4.00 Total (400g each)
* 1 Morrisons Large Lattice Pie £1.80
* 2 Morrisons Single Cream £1.58
* 2 Morrisons The Best Cumberland Chipolata Sausages (2x12 Pack) £4.00

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Total cost about £80. Including the whisky! Next slot booked for 3 weeks time Jan 28th
Thanks I'd forgotten about the lattice pork pie - I'll have some for tea.

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PS. Minced beef (12% fat) is £4.70 per Kilo. See everything here

[Big Kev]

PS we're ahead of the curve with the forecast that mutton will be the 'in' meat this year.

Mutton, or goat, is wonderful in a very slowly cooked curry.

[Stanley]

A professional price watcher this morning said that for normal seasonal reasons prices overall are actually lower but this will adjust itself over the next few weeks and in normal years there is a slight rise.
Later a very large importer of EU vegetables said that there was a rise but it was due to the cost of customs charges and administration. These have to be paid by the exporter who raises the price to the UK importer who has to pay the same charges again. He says that up to now the increase is being absorbed in the system but would work its way through over the next few months and the overall price will be higher.
Just seen your post Kev. Yes, and in any other dish as well. I have just dealt with my slow roasted pork belly, 6 hours on about 120C and it is lovely. A rolled pork loin has followed it and will get about 7 hours. The result will be base meat in the fridge ready for whatever is expected.

[Stanley]

The last of the Mutton and veggies for breakfast and tea. I have roast pork sat in the fridge, all it wants is something to go with it!

[Marilyn]

Trippy, just fished out my shopping docket from last week...

Broccoli £3.45 per kilo
Bananas £1.50 per kilo ( they were cheap!)
Pink Lady Apples £3.25 per kilo
Japanese Pumpkin £1.70 per kilo
Packham Pears £1.90 per kilo
Eggplant £3.45 per kilo
Zucchini £2.90 per kilo
Lebanese Cucumbers £2.90 per kilo
Red Capsicums £3.45 per kilo
Carrots (500g bag) 75p
White washed Potatoes ( 2 kilo bag) £1.75 ( they were the cheapest spuds I could find. Spuds have been around £1.50 a kilo for a long time).

We don’t buy our mince on packed trays. The supermarket has an in-house butcher. He grinds it up himself and weighs it out for us when I tell him how much I want. It is priced at £7.00 per kilo. Basically, it is the only red meat we eat, apart from an occasional sausage. We eat a lot of fish, a lot of veg, and Chicken.

[Marilyn]

Our supermarkets do not sell alcohol here ( you need to go to the bottle shop, taking with you a cloth bag constructed for bottles, as our bottle shops are bag free).
I shall provide a photo...

[Stanley]

Three eggs, beans and pork for breakfast. Pork, beans and mixed veggies for tea.

[Marilyn]

Really weird weather here today. We had a cool morning, which influenced my choices for evening meal. Then a huge nasty wind came through. Then the temp rose to over 25 C...then a huge wind came through and took us back to 20C. Now, at dinner time, it is just really sweaty and tropical.
So dinner tonight was my version of “Hot Pot”. Very very nice, but increased the body heat and we are now sat with overhead fans on, and knees ajar!

[Marilyn]

Harvested a mass of Rhubarb from our front garden again, so hubby has enjoyed a bowl of Rhubarb and Custard tonight ( I made him a cup of custard in the microwave). He really enjoyed it. Free food.

[Tripps]

Marilyn - thanks for coming back with your list. I think overall, I prefer being here, but of course there is a lot more than the price of groceries to consider. :smile

I've got one of those wine carriers too.

I can see why crop picking will be a problem. My son did a gap year which included Australia, and the flying ban must have stopped the supply of seasonal pickers.

Watched the Tasmanian lobster catchers on TV again last night. I think it pre dates the Chinese ban on imports so they are probably struggling even more now.