Tuesday, 23 September 2025

'Scratching an Itch'

 

  
At this time of year I nearly always get the urge to squirrel away food for the Winter. 

 It's probably got something to do with living on farms and smallholdings that were quite a way from the shops in our recent past.  Here in our small town we are literally a three minute drive away from the shops, but still the urge is great.

At the moment I literally have a five pound note and a box full of change to my name, so I might 'scratch the itch' to stock the store-cupboard by using my Nectar points ... I have almost £25 worth.  

It's a shame my hairdresser doesn't accept them as I need that exact amount to have my hair cut tomorrow.  I think I will have to dip into savings this month.  😀


Some free food this week came in the form of the final tub of homegrown potatoes, tipped out, washed and weighed and then split between the two of us.  It gave me a lovely addition to three meals.


One of which was a nice simple potatoes and fish.  No other veggies were needed as I had already had more of my seven a day that is now 'officially' recommended.


Sue xx


18 comments:

  1. I love that black and white picture reminds me of a simpler time. The eagle eye in me spotted Farley's rusks straight away, to this day I enjoy those lol. Also I was in Tesco recently looking for baking powder & I spotted an old fashioned black & white tin with one of those lids that your prise open with a knife like the lids you find on treacle or golden syrup lol. That tin would look right at home in that photo 😄.
    £5 odd is not alot to your name, thanks goodness your savvy with money!

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    1. I too love a Farleys Rusk but they have to be the original ones in the pink box. Heather

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    2. Now not so little one in my family said only the other day 'I always remember you giving me a buttered rusk with the saying 'one for you and one for me!'. Must buy a box for old times sake and see if they still taste as good.

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    3. I LOVE old packaging, it used to be so much nicer than the garish design on packets we have now. It's a good mix of foodstuffs in that photo isn't it. It's the sort of little stash of food that was recommended for each household before rationing was imposed in January 1940.

      My eldest loved rusks as a baby, and then when his brother was born six years later he went through a phase of having two for his breakfast in a dish with milk, or one to clutch while he played out with his friend. I could never eat them as I found them far to cloying and sweet.

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    4. There Is something very tasty about a Farleys Rusk - with or without milk 😄
      Alison in Devon x

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    5. I love rusks with or without milk but yes they do have to be the original one, the sugar free one is yucky lol

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  2. In the museum I visited today they had a wonderful basement pantry styled as in the late 1800 and early 1900. Pantries are what are missing from new houses these days. I remember my mum bottling tomatoes, pickled onions and peaches at this time of year.

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    1. I love a proper built in pantry in a house, sadly I have never had one ...maybe one day. :-)

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  3. This morning I defrosted the garage freezer so that I can start squirrelling away some frozen food for the Winter months. I'm with you on being prepared well in advance 😉 I have quite a lot of prepared apples, green beans and summer fruit in boxes (well labelled!!) Now I intend to chop up the butternut squash and freeze it for future soups and stews alongside the sliced leeks and celery.
    Your potatoes look lovely 😍
    Angie

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    1. They were so tasty, I was quite sad that they are the last we will eat until next years crops. :-(

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  4. Your potatoes look beautiful. Fish and potatoes is a splendid meal and very satisfying.

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    1. It was a lovely comforting evening meal, so tasty and simple.

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  5. I tend to keep a fairly well-stocked pantry as part of my emergency preparedness (I live in a place prone to earthquakes). With food prices increasing almost daily, I buy when things go on sale/offer and stock up on a regular basis.

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    1. Yes, I think that's what I will do, with my squirrelling, do it over a few weeks so that I can take advantage of any offers.

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  6. I will be starting my winter nesting very soon. While we are also probably a three to five minute drive from the various shops I frequent, there are sometimes some pretty severe winter blizzards where the snow piles up and we are unable to leave the house for awhile. So I stock up on food, medicines, candles, and batteries.

    God bless.

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    1. That makes perfect sense. Even though we are so close to the shops, I don't like to drive in icy or snowy conditions, or even walk in them, so having a couple of weeks worth of food is always a good idea isn't it.

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  7. I wanted to ask you Sue, what sort of bags do you grow your spuds in, I want to have a go at that method next year.
    Alison in Devon x

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    1. I grow them in huge back plant pots. The sort with handles on either side.

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