The final amount on my Sainsbury's gift card was burning a hole in my pocket, so I decided to have a little stock up of things that I really needed ... and a couple that I just plain and simple wanted.
I have scoured all the shops in our home town for a bag of Gram flour over the last few weeks, alas to no avail. So while we were in Manchester visiting Mum on Sunday we called to the big Sainsbury's there, and I got a huge bag. It was the only size that they had, but two whole kilos should last me quite a while. 😁
By using the gift card, which I got when I took out my Pure Cremation funeral plan, I only needed to add an additional 91p to the payment. Shown on the receipt but not on the photo are the nine packets of Ginger's favourite cat food, which happily was on a special Nectar offer for me.
Sadly these were bought in error, as I thought they were dairy-free, a lot of White Rabbit things are but these are not. Alan very happily volunteered to eat them for me.
Sorry for the lack of posts over the last few days, life has been strange.
Sue xx
Please could you share what you make with the gram flour as I have a bag myself and need a recipe ( or 2
ReplyDeleteI make bhajis with it - gram flour, some spices (usually garlic, nigella seeds and then cumin and coriander) and a big spoonful of cornflour - mix together and toss in some thinly sliced onions. Mix to a thick batter with water and then spoon out lumps and fry off (you could bake them on a tray, sprayed with oil)
DeleteI mostly use it to make savoury pancakes, as it's so much cheaper than eggs and as high in protein. I also use it as the flour to toss things such as fishcakes in when I don't want breadcrumbs.
DeleteI've found this link for you with more ideas. 😀
https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/gram_flour
Mrs G - your recipe sounds simple and very tasty. 😀 I've not made bhajis for ages.
DeleteThank you so much for the link. Lots of great ideas and so much protein too.
DeleteThere's a few things that I fancy trying too. 😀
DeleteWhat is gram flour? I don't know if we have it in the USA. Maybe We do.
ReplyDeleteChick pea flour
DeleteSandi- it is chickpea flour. Simply dried, ground chickpeas, hence the brilliant protein level, around 11g per 50g portion.
DeleteFG - unusually this bag describes it as Chana Dal, which confused me as I always think of that as split yellow peas. After Googling it seems chickpeas and split yellow peas can be one and the same thing. There, I've learnt something new. 😀
I'll look it up!
DeleteWe have a new pasta product made from chick peas. It is expensive. Would be better to just get the flour! 🤣
I noticed our Aldi had chickpea pasta and also some pea pasta again, but I've tried them before and I'm not that keen. They are useful for anyone with a gluten intolerance though.
DeleteI hope everything is okay, Sue. Xx
ReplyDeleteWe're managing to stay sane. 😄
DeleteHope all's okay with you, Sue. Its easier to get gram flour than plain flour round here, every corner shop sells it! x
ReplyDeleteThat's why I knew I would be able to get it in Manchester. Our 'world food aisles' in town are pathetic. 🫤 My eyes light up when I spot a good WF aisle in any shop, oh the big bags of spices and rice ... heaven.
DeleteI’m glad to see your post today as I had been thinking about you and hoping all is well. Catriona
ReplyDeleteWe're managing. I think the stress got to me this week more than I usually allow it to.
DeleteWe get gram flour here in Huddersfield but the bags ate too big for me to buy I would never use that much. I noticed oat flour today in Sainsbury's by Dove Farm not seen that before.
ReplyDeleteHope life is strange in a good way!
I used to use Wessex Mills oat flour for bread making. Yummy loaves with that.
DeleteViv - I usually buy the kilo sized bag, which lasts me ages, but this 2kg size was the only one on stock ... and only £3 so a real bargain. It's got a good date on it ... 2027 ... so I'll try and store it well. 😀 Sadly life is strange in an awful way, but we are trying to get through.
DeleteJennie - Ooh I can just imagine bread made with pure oat flour, or even a mix, it must have a luxurious taste. ❤️
I’ve just bought one bag of shopping at Sainsbury’s 45 bloody quid
ReplyDeleteI think we are all used to rises of a penny here or there, but now it's a 20p or even more, increase on everyday foods. It adds a lot to the overall total doesn't it. 🫤
DeleteI see you have liquorice - I love that!
ReplyDeleteI hope the strangeness resolves soon.
I absolutely love it, I have to be firm and ration myself. 😄
DeleteHere's hoping equilibrium is restored soon...
ReplyDeleteSadly, we are all hoping for this. 🙂
DeleteLife is sometimes very strange. My goodness you had a lovely grocery haul for pennies.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
It's like one of my old challenges isn't it. 'Look what I got for 91p.' 😀
DeleteGram flour/chick pea flour is not available at most regular supermarkets, here, in my state, at least, but, might be available in Indian stores.
ReplyDeleteHope life continues to be happy, even if strange. :)
Yes, it's easier to get hold of in bigger towns or cities, we just live in a small town with an unusual very white/British population. I do miss diversity.
DeleteI think having to really look for happiness, and trying to be upbeat has drained me. I just let go a bit this week and plummeted. 😐
I'm just back from my trip "home" and realize I must have been quite close to you as we stayed with my sister in Cheshire for a week. Back home for only a day, I feel completely disorientated. Off kiltre was a word that came to mind, does it apply to your strangeness? Odd feeling I must say.
ReplyDeleteMy Mum's nursing home and her bungalow are in Cheshire, we're further north past Preston in Lancashire. But as you will have seen on here we have been up and down the motorway every couple of days for the past two years.
DeleteWhat a haul, no need to shop for a while and how kind of Alan to eat those puds!!
ReplyDeleteHe's a real trooper isn't he. 😄
DeleteWhat do you use the Gram flour for? You got a lot there for little outlay anyway.
ReplyDeleteMostly for savoury pancakes, but also for coating fishcakes or tofu. I shared a link with more ideas on Tam's comment. 😀
DeleteI didn't know that White Rabbit was the name of a company, so spent several seconds wondering about a connection between rabbits and tiramisu!
ReplyDeleteHope your strangeness settles into quiet and peaceful unless it was caused by something exciting - like house or dog hunting!!
Haha ... what a wonderful confusion. 😄
DeleteDefinitely not caused by house hunting, that's been a bit of lightness if anything, but we have to stop looking for now. We are not getting any more animals for a long time. The strangeness is mostly to do with Mum's long and lingering journey from this world.
Sue, sorry about your strange season. We all have them and thankfully they do pass, but it really stinks when you're in the middle of it. I had to laugh at your comment about being in a white/British region, therefore you can't get the flour you like. Here in the states our stores have ethnic sections in each store. You can buy most things in the basic grocery store. We do have a few Indian stores that are independently owned, but you can also find the basic products in the regular store too. At least that bag should last a while!
ReplyDeleteThis will pass, and we know it will but in a sad way.
DeleteWe do have small areas of ethnic foods in the three supermarkets, but they are so limited. I did manage to get a bag of gram flour from Booths a couple of years ago, but there mustn't have been much demand for it in our branch so they no longer stock it.
Our three local supermarkets are smaller versions of their counterparts, I guess it's the downside to living in a very small town. We were discussing this recently, and now that we have both retired we are going to travel further afield and find bigger stores that we like.
Yes, it will be interesting to see just how long the bag lasts. :-)
Hi Sue, might be multiplying 2x2 and coming up with 4. I do not expect you to answer as it's none of my business but your last reply struck a cord with me. "It's mostly to do with mum's long and lingering journey from this world". I am having a hard time. My dad is almost 93 and totally reliant on me as his only child. Its having such an impact. We both reach retirement age in the next few months and we cant go anywhere or do anything. He won't go in a home. I feel trapped.
ReplyDeleteIt's difficult living like this, it could go on for years. He wasn't a very good dad when i was growing up and i do feel resentful. Thanks for your writings. They brighten my day. Xx
DeleteYour mathematic equations are correct, and we are in a similar position. While I do have a brother, who actually lives very close to Mum's care home, he still works full time and visits twice a week the same as us, he is and always was the apple of Mum's eye. Lots of things do fall to daughters don't they, although to give him credit he takes on most of the financial aspects due to him having the LPA. I had a similar relationship with my Mum for most of my early life, so I do understand the resentment of having to seem to have a good relationship.
I hope you find moments of brightness and can take time for yourself. If my blog helps in any way then I am very happy. xx
Bless you, Sue. I was worried I'd stepped out of line with my comment. It really is so difficult, isn't it. Anyway I try to stay positive. Theres lots to enjoy, we have an allotment and a big garden and Walter the dog so life isn't so bad. I will stop with the mardy talk now.😂😂 xx
DeleteNever mardy, always honest. I value honesty above virtually all else. xx
DeleteChristina's reply above resonated with me, my dear old Mum ( who had led a very happy, contented life ) lingered after she suffered a stroke. The whole business was exhausting emotionally and physically , and when she did die I and my sisters were poleaxed by it all.......... thinking of you and your family.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you bought yourself and Alan some treats with your shopping 😍
Alison in Devon x
Christina is being very open and honest, and isn't that refreshing.
DeleteOne day I will speak my mind about mine and Mum's relationship, but I don't know when that time will come, not yet for sure. Everyone's end seems to come a different way, as all of our parents has gone differently and I can now say from experience that this is the worst way.
I think treats are the order of the day at the moment ... although Alan's should have been mine!! ;-)
Lovely you see you popping back on here, Sue, I was a bit concerned for you yesterday especially when I was unable to comment and thought comments had been switched off. As you know my Sister's husband passed away 2 weeks ago after a long and slow deterioration. The funeral is still to take place and it does feel very unsettling. I just hope my Sister is coping as she will only communicate via WhatsApp and information is scant . It doesn't help that I've not felt myself over the last few months either 😕
ReplyDeleteTake care of yourself, Sue. Sending hugs,
Angie x
So sorry to hear about your brother in law. I hope your sister has people living closer to help support her. It's extremely hard to help others when you are not very well yourself isn't it. But we all do our best. Take care. xx
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