Tips wanted: Alternatives to 'out of stock' items

[EmbarrassingMama]

I thought it might be useful to start a thread with practical solutions to things we are struggling to get our hands on.

Baby Wipes:

• Cheeky Wipes or a number of other companies do reusable wipes. You can wash them at 60 degrees and they are fine for faces / hands and bottoms.
• Cheap / free version: cut old towels into 6inch squares and store in a tupperware tub. Cover with cool boiler water and use as necessary. Bung in wash at 60 (no softener) and line dry.

Nappies:

• Reusable nappies are available online in bulk order kits and pocket nappies are reasonably cheap to buy. Can be washed at 60 degrees with your wipes, above.
• Cheap version: buy second hand from eBay. Can be used for multiple children. Easy to do (particularly if we're all going to be spending more time inside!).
• Free version: contact your local council to see if you get a 'real nappy' voucher (often about £50 worth of nappies).

Can we have more tips please? Any ways to reduce what we're using / cook with less would be helpful and would make me, at least, feel like I can do something useful rather than panic!

Thank you!

I usually put lentils into bolognaise, chilli etc to bulk it out so you can use less meat. You can usually use tinned veg in it too and not taste the difference.

I noticed that some corner shops still had toilet rolls etc in, so consider the small independent stores rather than the large multinationals.

Shower gel for handwashing.

Lentils in chilli is a great idea. Super cheap and our local shop has tons of dried lentils in.

I guess if I have to be at home more I might be able to do better food prep! Soaking lentils, here we come...

If you have whole lentils you could sprout them for a couple of days too.

I brought some dried peas that I will soak and then grow pea shoots in a little compost.

I have slow cooked a chicken and will take the meat off and cook the bones a bit longer to make a chicken broth soup. I am going to freeze it in case we get sick.

I've found it hard to get yeast for the breadmaker, so I've bought bicarb of soda so I can make soda bread by hand if needed instead.

Just saw Jack Monroe on Twitter saying they're going to be doing an 'alternatives' list in the next few days, if that helps.

Chickpeas are a good bulker too. My Great Grandmother used to put porridge oats in mince dishes to bulk them out as well.

Coffee mate is okay in cups of tea if you can't get milk.

Bag up the ends of leftover vegetables and pop in the freezer to make stock/soup with when you have enough.

Use tortilla wraps instead of bread for sandwiches or to make tortilla chips. Easy recipe and kids like to make them too.

thecafesucrefarine.com/best-ever-homemade-flour-tortillas/

Also make cheese scones to accompany and bulk up meals like chilli.

Fry off bacon in chopped pieces to add bulk and flavour to bolognese and chilli. I also grate carrots into mine.

If using packet lentils in eg Bolognese, do you just throw a handful in or do they have to be cooked or soaked first?

If using packet lentils in eg Bolognese, do you just throw a handful in or do they have to be cooked or soaked first?

For red split lentils, I'd just give them a rinse as they can be dusty, then throw in. They'll take about 20mins to cook down.
Brown/puy/green lentils would probably need pre-cooking if dried but if tinned you can just add to the dish and warm through.

If you run low on wine you can always move to spirits for a few days.

Seriously, I like the cheese scones idea. There can't be any meal that isn't improved by the addition of a cheese scone! I'm going to do that.

I did also teach myself to make pitta breads at the weekend and feel that might be quite useful at some stage when I get sick of the loaves from the breadmaker.

Great idea for thread!

Pasta is not n short supply but there are lots of noodles for stir fried.

If you don't have yeast, you can make your own sourdough starter culture from scratch with just flour and water - it'll take a few days, but will allow you to make sourdough breads, pizza bases, etc onwards. Here is an article on how to make your own: www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/mar/08/make-your-own-sourdough-bread-starter-recipe

Great thread! Following with interest

It’s not an alternate, as such, but both our local large Asda and Sainsburys are completely out of tinned tomatoes and pulses UNLESS you go to the ethnic food section, where the shelves are full.

You can make flat bread with equal amounts of self raising flour and yoghurt. I use skyr but greek should work too.

Use oil to roll them out rather than flour if you're planning on pan frying them but I usually put mine in the grill.

Packet cake-mix can be made up with lemonade or other carbonated drinks instead of egg.

(Yes, this does make me sound like a modern-day Marie-Antoinette)

pearl barley is a good one for bulking or for eating as a grain substitute

The water from chickpeas can be used as an egg substitute

Aquafaba, tinned chickpea juice, is a great egg replacement in baking - about 3 tbsp = 1 egg so you don't need much!

Gnocchi is good with most pasta sauces and doesnt seem to be selling out.

Bars of soap instead of handwash.

Jug of water and a clean flannel if you've no toilet roll...

@Dinosauratemydaffodils I use plain natural or Greek yogurt with the flour to make pizza bases too.

Getting them to make their own keeps them busy for 30 minutes so it's a win win.

Some great tips here, thank you everyone. This is really lovely - and helpful.

Love the soda bread idea, and freezing veg ends till you have enough to make a stew or soup.

I'm watching this with interest, I'm going through my freezer and cupboards later to check what I've got and meal plan.

I do have some bread flour and yeast, thanks to DS needing it for cooking at school, and I make reasonable bread.