To ask about your hidden gems at the supermarket?

[CathTurnbull]

Just a bit of fun. I always end up buying similar food items in my weekly shop. Occasionally I’ll try something new and it’s really nice and I’ll continue to buy it. For example last week I bought some balsamic chutney from Morrison’s- it was so good I’ve added it to most sandwich fillings yum 😋

Have you bought anything new recently which you’ve been really impressed with?

Aldi in Ireland certainly do frozen spinach, mushrooms, peppers and chopped butternut squash. The frozen herbs are great. Aldi ketchup is nicer than Heinz, it's not as sweet.

Aldi's Moser Roth chocolate is excellent, no palm oil.

Frozen basil hasn't been seen in our local Waitrose in living memory. @Annasgirl said Aldi sold it. If I try Sainsbury's I can get some more of those chocolate cherry liqueurs while I'm there!

Marks and Spencer cucumber and mint sparkling water. Really subtle flavour as though the water has just been infused with cucumber and mint, and no sugar or horrible taste of sweetener like other flavoured waters. Also top tip- if you buy it by the sandwiches in a small 500ml bottle it's £1 but the drinks aisle has 1ltr bottles for 65p. I stock up on 3 or 4 bottles at a time whenever I'm near an M&S food, they're great to have in the fridge when you fancy something other than water but don't want a sugary drink either.

Iceland vegan sausage rolls called ‘no porkies’

Also top tip- if you buy it by the sandwiches in a small 500ml bottle it's £1 but the drinks aisle has 1ltr bottles for 65p

That's a great tip! 65p at M&S for 1ltr is good value.

If I try Sainsbury's I can get some more of those chocolate cherry liqueurs while I'm there!

Get thee behind me Sainsbury's!

I was addicted to these- cheap and sooo delicious!

I just vacuumed them up- had to stop buying them in the end because I was too greedy and had no self-control.

Great thread!

I've had to buy pretty much exclusively from Tesco since lockdown due to shielding home deliveries. A couple of favourite discoveries are:

The Collective Russian Fudge Yoghurt

Tesco Finest Cheddar & Onion flatbreads (if you buy these as a £5 special offer along with a Tesco Finest pizza you effectively get them for 50p rather than £2.45)

They also do bags of frozen diced chorizio which I've just bought to try for the first time (so not eaten yet) as it seems really handy for quick pasta dishes etc!

Whoever suggested the Tesco Crispy Seedy Nutty Bites, I’m not your friend any more. I’ve eaten a whole packet in two days.

can't wait to try some of these finds. We are lucky to have a Lidl, Aldi, Asda, Sainsbury's and Tesco's within a five-ten minute drive

@AliTheMinx

I've receny discovered some amazing Italian bread in Sainsbury's - Pane Pugliese by Crosta e Mollica. It's divine and perfect for bruschetta with garlic and pomodorino tomatoes.

that was one of my recommendations. Its amazing isnt it

Aldi imitation Ben and Jerry’s ice cream is amazing - the chocolate brownie and the cookie dough
Also Aldi Brie, smoked cheese, lentil curls, 30p bars of dark chocolate. Oh and their Gavi wine.

@AliTheMinx

I've receny discovered some amazing Italian bread in Sainsbury's - Pane Pugliese by Crosta e Mollica. It's divine and perfect for bruschetta with garlic and pomodorino tomatoes.

I love this stuff. You can get it in waitrose too. I make the kids bruschetta with it (brush it will garlic olive oil and fry both sides in the pan for a minute or so then add chopped tomatoes, torn mozzarella and blobs of pesto. However its most amazing with lots of melted butter and runny scrambled eggs.

Oh i said this already! Brain gone to pot!

I’m obsessed with Harvester’s Spiked Maple Sauce atm and luckily they sell bottles of it. It’s superb as a glaze on gammon or in a burger. I made a special trip to a Harvester 10 miles away just to get some (4 bottles!) a month or so ago.

I would like to add Waitrose almond croissant. Just divine.

@brieislife - I agree, I love the harvester sauces. I often buy the kicking garlic one. I love the red devil salad dressing too!

In farmfoods I found some Ben and Jerry's cookie dough choc ices, shaped in a circle. Went down very well. (can't picture many people on mums net shopping at farmfoods....)

I used to go in Farmfoods a fair bit but I prefer delivery now as I can't carry much

Lidl sage & onion stuffing mix - I always used to be a Paxo girl but not any more

I mentioned Farmfoods upthread ChickenNugget, I was in there this morning buying more Milka chocolate supplies (and biscuits). Sells stuff I'd forgotten about like Fray Bentos pies possibly with good reason

I've just discovered Pikelets in Asda (though I'm sure they do them elsewhere, too). As a long time crumpet fan, these just take me to a new level of buttery enjoyment!

Who mentioned lemon Turkish Delight? 3 for £1 in B&M. I've eaten one, thank God they are smaller than I remember the pink ones being and now I feel queasy. Won't be recommending or buying them again. Who wants 2 lemon Turkish Delights?

I got them in Poundland; I rather like them for a change.

Amarena cherries from Lidl (only available during Italian Week, unfort) - amazing dropped into Greek yoghurt or a cherry cocktail. There was an incredible Deluxe fresh pasta with truffle a few Italian Weeks ago; hasn't reappeared in our local branch since, boo.

Lidl's Way to Go Fairtrade chocolate - it's obvs their version of Tony Chocolonely, both in the upscale packaging (same random chunk size, similar matte wrapper/silver paper) but also the ethical sourcing (it uses 100% traceable cocoa). Milk, plain and salted caramel. Really nice and 2 bars for £3!

If you have a dog with a serious Kong/Lickimat habit, Lidl & Aldi are both great sources for cheap reduced fat pate/cream cheese/sardines in tomato sauce.

And YY to the 'chef's mix' of chopped onion/carrot/celery at Tesco - it's often to be found in the reduced veg section too.

Right so, I bought two bars of Lidl own brand chocolate today. It was in the middle/edge food idles and £1.99 each or 2 for £3.
The one I'm raving about that you've GOT to try is caramelised almond and sea salt flakes. Great Scott it's delicious. The bar is wrapped in a decorative biodegradable paper case.

Ben and Jerry's phish food, tesco prawn crackers.. Mmmm