Food finds: what have you tried because of COVID shopping difficulties that you’ll retain?

[boatyardblues]

For us, it has been sandwich wraps. I bought them ‘just in case’ as they’re long-dated. We got stuck in 14 day quarantine and used them when we ran out of bread. I was talking about it with DH and the kids last nighf and we all prefer them to bread for lunch. We won’t be going back.

Also, DH and I have renewed our interest in pears after a random veg box gave us some lovely, juicy pears.

Branston beans with vegan sausages couldn't get the usual Heinz beans so had to make do!

We do wrap pizzas: spread a wrap with tomato pasta sauce, top with fresh baby spinach leaves, grated gruyere or parmesan and torn parma or serrano ham. Pop under the grill or a hot oven til the ham is crispy and the cheese melted.

This is our new Friday take away (no take always open here) and it will replace bought pizza.

I eat a lot of salad but needed to be a bit more flexible with its components. I had some leeks in the fridge that needed using up so I shredded them, blanched them and then spread on a baking tray with plenty of rock salt and sprayed with oil before baking. They made an amazing addition to a salad and I’ll certainly be repeating.

Veg box from local grocers. Seasonal and interesting.
Homemade turkish pizza instead of takeout (thanks to a Turkish gamer dh has been playing with online).
I also tried making apple and potato dumplings from a recipe of my Grandmother's to use up a glut of potatoes we had. Turns out they are delicious fried in butter and then topped with sugar and cinnamon.
Fresh crab from a local fisherman.

Celery, I rarely buy it, but during the panic buying stage, it was one of the few things left.
Great in any type of stew, bolly type sauces and as a veg side dish.
And it's cheap!

I like the idea of wrap pizza. If we can get hold of tomato puree, I’ll give it a go.

I use celery finely diced in bolognese and chilli type dishes, also in salads.

Tesco own brand Tomato Soup I stead of Heinz. About half the price and a lot tastier

I used to do wrap pizzas when DD was weaning, they are fab and quick. For me I've gone back to cooking from scratch and meals which take a bit more time eg moussaka and lasagne. My slow cooker which used to be used most days is getting dusty.

It’s not really caused by Covid, just simply that we didn’t have any, but DP wanted flat/naan breads last night and I’ve never made anything like that in my life, but literally flour, water and a pinch of salt and within minute - we had flat breads! And they were really nice! I’m really pleased with myself 🤣

Tesco own brand tomato soup is lovely!

We have been making porridge with half milk and half water to save milk. The dcs haven't noticed so that will be staying, it's saving us a fortune!

The Jack Monroe hot chocolate banana pots that I found put about on a different thread, this dcs loved them and thought they were a real treat even though in reality they were eating a banana with 2 of those tiny chocolate eggs stirred in!

Snuggly, honestly if you make the porridge with water, then put in a bowl and then splash the milk on top they won't notice the difference. It is Also really nice with a splash of oat milk on the top instead because the porridge makes it taste oaty anyway.

Pot noodles.

Dinosaur, those apple & potato dumplings sound lush. Any chance of a recipe?

Bulgar wheat instead of rice (something 'weird' the kids will actually eat!)

Pearl barley instead of risotto rice (so cheap!)

Only ever using half a stock cube.

Actual chicken instead of Linda Mccartney for the dcs. (Have had to reintroduce meat so they could get sufficient protein as they don't like tofu etc)

Banana chips as an alternative to bananas.

Wholemeal bread flour for everything (found an old pack in the back of the cupboard). Or oats, which are still plentiful in the shops, thankfully.

@nameymcnamechangeagain, I made my own tortillas, which I’d never done before. Dead easy and so much nicer (and cheaper) than shop bought ones. I nearly always cook from scratch, but I don’t think I’d ever kneaded dough before! (Breadmaker has done it for me!)

I added some water to swill out a jar of pasta sauce, but then used it to add to the stock for a tomato risotto, cost pretty much nothing.

I made flatbreads to go with a curry - SR flour and yoghurt. Very nice and ridiculously easy, and I'll definitely make them again.

Homemade wedges, which I hadn't done for years. So nice - we'll be eating them a lot, I'm sure.

Couldn't get vintage Cheddar one day so bought a lump of Red Leicester - had forgotten how nice it is.

I've discovered that posh tinned plum tomatoes taste amazing. I used to buy the cheapest thinking that they'd be the same but there is a massive difference!

I also started making the wrap pizzas with Pizza Express passata and grated mozzarella. The kids love them!

Good tips here - can anyone give me a quick measurements/method gif the flatbreads please?

Savoy cabbage from a veg box.
I’d never have chosen it.
Roasted instead of boiled.
Delicious.

Tinned salmon!

Fruit crumble topped with crushed digestive biscuits mixed with butter, instead of flour and sugar. Delicious and easy.

Using our soup maker a lot - roasted pepper soup, butternut squash soup etc etc.

DH’s invented stew of courgettes, onions and tomato, ratatouille style.

We are eating a lot more fruit and veg, and stretching leftovers with beans and pulses eg lamb and chickpea curry, chicken and red pepper curry.

Vegemite, avocado and feta cheese on toast

Savoy or white cabbage is nice done with a knob of butter and grainy mustard in a lidded non-stick pan. You rinse the cabbage (or don’t bother for the clean leaves in the heart), shred it reasonably finely & chuck into a pan where you’ve melted a knob of butter & added a couple of tsp grainy mustard. Stir occasionally, but with the lid on it half sautés, half steams in its own moisture. Great with pork.

Avon roughly same quantity of each e.g. 200g SR flour to 200g yoghurt, plus pinch of salt and maybe some crushed garlic and coriander, or nigella seeds ...