Oh My God, Really ????

[theoldtrout01876]

I live in USA, have done for many years. There are certain things you just cant get here so since the rise of amazon, many years ago, I use them. I have just spent $46 for 4 packs of Bisto, $18 for 2 bottles of HP sauce and $12 for a jar of marmite.Oh and $27 for a 6 pack of baked beans. I cant be without baked beans. I cant get over how much they have gone up since last time I bought them, which was only a matter of months ago !!!. I had to unload the branston from my cart cos it was $32 for 3 jars and thank fck I noticed this but a multipack of frazzles ( My husbands favorite and a rare treat) was $8 a good deal thought I till I noticed they wanted $95 for shipping !!!!!!. Had to remove my colemans mint sauce too. I will buy that next month with the Branston.
I didnt even get to look at the chocolate hobnobs or custard creams cos my basket was too expensive before I even got there

What difference is there between using an oxo cube for flavour, browning for colour, flour for thickening, and using a powder that handily incorporates all three elements? None, really.

Anyway this is all very much beside the point since OP wasn’t actually asking for tips on how to make a gravy.

Irish people like Heinz beans too, @Marmite27

Why would you use an Oxo cube in gravy?

@Ninkanink why spend x amount on something you can make from scratch and is much cheaper

She does make it from scratch...

Never mind.

WOW the bisto hate is something else. My gravy is made from scratch thickened and coloured with bisto. We dont have oxo for flavor. The only thing available to add colour is not always available and it tastes weird. Im a damn fine cook, my gravy is to die for bragging much. Bisto is easier and i like the end result consistency better. If I was broke and couldnt afford bisto, Id make do, and have done in the past. I can afford it. I was just gob smacked by how much more expensive it was than the last time I bought it
I was raised in a poor household in Scotland in the 70s and 80s, it dont matter how much money I have now I will always be frugal and certain things are "comfort food" to me. That will never change, no matter how old I get. Turkish delight ( though I never got a whole one )and custard creams were something we got as treats when I was kid, twas a big deal to have a custard cream with my supper before bed. My mum loved turkish delight and used to give me a wee bit on the rare occasion she could afford one. Baked beans were a staple, always good an hot and served with the best she could afford.
Laugh if you want, the 70s and 80s in Scotland were a different time. I loved it but we were poor as fuck looking back.
Some things you just "need" and my list is things that make my soul feel better ( still dont get the Bisto hate though)

[quote Fireflylane]@Ninkanink why spend x amount on something you can make from scratch and is much cheaper [/quote]
She comes a lot closer to making it from scratch than someone who adds an oxo cube! Bisto is basically starch and brown colouring (with a bit of onion) all the meat taste comes from the meat juices the gravy is properly made with, not a cheap stock cube.