I didn't really need to shop at all this week.
True I was a bit low on bread or so I thought, I knew there were buns in the freezer. I had totally forgotten that there was also a loaf purchased just before Christmas, so when I went to put the new one into the freezer ready for use as and when needed, one slice at a time, I found the older one.
I somehow managed to squeeze the new one in too ... the freezer is very full. 😐
I have a budget for the first half of this year of £10 a week for shopping, including food and toiletries etc. and a spare £10 each month to make a large purchase if needed, so a total of £50 a month as it were, with any change leftover at the end of the month being carried forwards.
I do also have an emergency 'pot', but I'll post about that another day. 💰
And while I didn't really need to shop for any food this week, I thought I would get myself some flour while we were in Booths for Alan's now seemingly regular Saturday morning bacon butty. I have been itching to get back to making my own bread, possibly because I seem to have been watching lots of people making their own on various social media platforms. I also watched a YouTube video about all the additives in so many of the breads we eat, including the seemingly healthy baked in-store loaves.
I think I have been influenced!! 😄
But there's something very satisfying about bread made with just flour, yeast, oil, water and salt isn't there. So I now have all that I need to get back to my bread making roots.
Anyway, even if I am going to be making some bread of my own, I did want a sliced loaf in the freezer for any toast emergencies that may arise. So now I have two. 😁
I was determined not to waste anything of the loaf currently in use. I had eaten the last two slices for breakfast before we went to Booths, so when we got back I crumbled up the two crusts of the loaf by hand and popped them into a tub for the freezer. They will come in handy for coating something or adding to homemade burgers.
Alan purposefully said yes to a tomato ketchup to go with his bacon bun, even though he knew he wasn't going to use it. I quizzed him about that and we had a really interesting conversation about the prices of café food and the things that are built into the prices that you pay. We both agreed that anything that is usually offered i.e. sauces with buns or hot food, and sugars with coffees etc are most definitely included in the price you pay, and we should continue to say 'yes please' when asked. But if they are not offered, we will not ask for things that we know we won't be using in the café at the time.
Doing this will continue to help me out over the course of this years extra frugality, but also salve my conscience twinges about taking too much.
Sue xx
Paper napkins - some places have helped yourself dispensers, others they are delivered with the food. I have observed recently that often we [two] are purposefully given one each - but occasionally a harassed server dumps a wodge of about 6 on my tray. Like you I try not to take what I won't use.
ReplyDeleteYou can't beat home made bread. Medieval bread had just TWO ingredients - flour and water - and was left overnight in the kitchen to gather natural yeasts which fermented (slowly one would think in the middle of a freezing winter!!) I treated myself to a tasty Norkfolk loaf from the bakery this week - it's a granary and lovely - but think I will make a small cheese loaf next. Haven't made one of those for ages.
ReplyDeleteHomemade bread sounds delicious. I've tried making it, but, haven't had a lot of success. I'm not very good at kneading, I think.
ReplyDeleteOur breadmaker is in constant use... more reliable than my hand made efforts!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good plan re the small extras that are definitely included in the prices you are paying for a butty or coffee. Maeve xx
ReplyDeleteIt’s really difficult to buy bread that is tasty, healthy and filling. We sometimes
ReplyDeletebuy parbaked baguettes but I notice they often make me feel really bloated not long after eating. I mainly use bread for toast as I like wraps and small bagels for my lunchtime “sandwich”. Catriona
Breadmaker bread is our staple, a small loaf, a mix of white and wholemeal. Good bread from basic ingredients, very different from factory UPF stuff. Freshly made as often as we need, then finished off as toast. I am getting a sack of strong white flour for my birthday present.
ReplyDeleteJon occasionally takes a couple of extra sachets of brown sugar when we're in Wetherspoons but the sauces are back to being in full sized bottles, it must save them a fortune! We don't have bread very often these days but can recommend Katy Beskow's Three Ingredient Beer Bread
ReplyDeletehttps://www.rte.ie/lifestyle/food/2020/0411/1129325-2-super-easy-bread-recipes-to-bake-if-you-dont-have-any-yeast/
I fancied a panini on Saturday. I picked up a pack in Morrisons, read the ingredients, and put them back. 😳
ReplyDeleteWheat Flour, Water, Rapeseed Oil, Palm Oil, Salt, Dried Skimmed Milk, Sugar, Yeast, Wheat Gluten, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Calcium Carbonate, Wheat Semolina, Maize Flour, Rapeseed Lecithins, Carnauba Wax, Sunflower Lecithins, Potato Starch, Enzymes, Flour Treatment Agent (Ascorbic Acid), Amylase, Iron, Niacin, Thiamin
As OH said, he used to put Carnauba Wax on his car! We don't want to be eating it.
Your approach to condiments sounds sensible to me. Making bread is certainly economical, though I suppose there's the added cost of running the oven...:/
ReplyDelete