Still avoiding the supermarket pretty much

I do try and avoid the supermarket ( for lots of reasons I won't go in to here as I've covered it before) as much as possible and I've detailed over the years on this blog just how I go about doing this.

As it stands we get -

Milk and juice from a local milkman

Eggs from our own hens

Honey from our bees

Veggies and some fruit from the allotment

Local farm shop for fresh fruit and veg, meat and cheese

We make wine and beer, jams, cake and biscuits. We eat a diet that is for the most part unprocessed so have no need for ready meals.

We buy the staples in bulk from Infinity foods so things like toilet rolls, tea, coffee, pasta and rice which we store in the garage.

I should point out that there are no shops in this village and the nearest town and therefore supermarket is 20mins drive away.

But -

We've started over the last few months having veggie boxes from Abel and Cole. This helps to even out the peaks and troughs of allotment growing especially this year when time and the weather meant I don't think we got the harvests we would normally expect. This has been a huge success and it means we get to try out new veggies that perhaps a whole row of up the plot would have been a waste - what if no one liked it!.

More recently Abel and Cole have introduced an excellent range of basic staples like pasta and cereals which has made me question bulk food shopping. I've just spent the morning squaring up the garage; filling up the kitchen jars and containers and thinking about this. I'm going to try ordering things as we need them through Abel and Cole and see how we get on. The space in the garage would be handy and we are permanently trying to outwit mice ( everything in there is in secure boxes or cupboards but even so..) but whether I can quite get use to not having a back up pantry to call on I'm not sure. I can see perhaps the odd bulk order being placed as I like having the basics to knock up a quick meal but we'll see.

As I said previously I have to grab the odd thing from the supermarket ( cat food, crisps, and the odd kids favourite like fish fingers) but I certainly don't need to do the weekly 'big shop'. For all the other reasons to avoid the supermarket for me the time saved is the biggest reason to think outside the superstore

Satisfying Day

Its done nothing but rain today. Definitely not a day to be doing outside work. I spent the morning sorting out Christmas. I've written the lists and started to plan with earnest.

I now know how many Christmas cards I'll need and spent the rest of the morning making the homemade ones for close family and friends. I'll buy the Oxfam ones I need on Friday at work. With impending royal mail strikes I want to be ready to go when its safe to post them and I want the pick of the selection avaliable.

This afternoon I've baked. After a rough survey around the family I've discovered that they're more in to biscuits than cake currently so I tried out a new recipe for chewy choc chip biscuits. Should have had nuts in them but no one else likes nuts so I was outvoted. I've pictured them above .

Now I'm off to make a nice slow cooked veggie stew; perfect for a damp and dark sort of autumnal day

This years hampers - 2009

As I said this morning we make Christmas Hampers. I don't suppose we're unique at all but if you're new to this blog or the idea I thought I'd put a bit about them.

I've covered this in previous posts on here in Christmas Hampers2006 and Christmas Hampers 2008 Both contain ideas for things to make to go in them.

As I put in the 1st post this is something that started as a way of sharing our harvest and the things we've grown or made over the year.

The sort of things we put in are things you could make in to nice presents for anyone whether you go to the trouble of creating a whole hamper or just to be able to make nice simple homemade gift for someone.

I start with a nice container for the goodies. I make sure its part of the gift so it might be a reusable bag or basket, or one year I got wooden wine crates from a local wine warehouse which could be reused in the garden.

Often the things that go in the hamper will be things we've made throughout the year like jams from summer fruit harvests or honey gathered from our bees. With a little pre-thought it needn't be a last minute thing at all.

Some new thoughts since I last wrote a post about hampers are -

Calenders - Boots do a calender kit which is cheaper and easier than going to a printer. It just needs 12 photos. The grandparents would love a year of the kids photos or perhaps your garden or travels would make a great calender. Either way try and make it seasonal so the kids and a snowman goes in to February's slot and kids on the beach is for August. If you get really enthused by this idea then try to think about calenders when you're taking snaps throughout the year so you've a ready file of options.

Christmas cake - I tried this idea out last year with great success. Very popular with those who love Christmas cake but for whatever reason wouldn't get round to making their own. It needn't be an arduous job for you. Making one big square cake and then carving it up in to little square ones is easy. Decorating it is lots of fun.

Other foodie ideas include homemade biscuits and fudge - my eldest is particularly good at the latter. Such a simple gift is all about the packaging to make it look especially scrumptious.

Things that go together are nice - in the past I've done a homemade loaf of bread plus the jam to go with it. I'm toying with the idea of homemade lemon curd or marmalade this year.

Things the kids have made - up to you what you include here but I would make sure they are made with care. For example if they've gone mad with glitter you might consider covering it with clear plastic to ensure the glitter stays enhancing the gift and doesn't just get all over everything. School made gifts fall in to this catergory.

Crafts you've made - you know what you're good at whether its knitting or crochet, embroidery or canvas work. There are plenty of patterns for ideas on the net or in books for simple things that would be lovely to make and recieve. Just make sure they're fairly quick and simple so that you enjoy making them. Time consuming items that you need a quantity of is not what you need to be doing at such a busy time of year. Also make sure that you finish off all things to the highest standard - it will make all the difference to the finished item.

I'm still working on ideas for this years hampers but hope this inspires you to have a go at some homemade items too


* photo is of the cake I made for my mum's hamper last year

Planning For Christmas

Whilst in some ways I secretly admire those who whizz around the shops on Christmas Eve and make it all look effortless; I can't work like that. These days leaving it to the last minute is also rather an expensive way to do Christmas.

So I'm sat with a cup of coffee about to start planning ours. Actually I've had half an eye on the subject for weeks and have started to make things towards it like the Christmas cake. I've bought a few fabric and craft things already and have some ideas for presents. Gently spreading the cost and work load over a few months is calmer and less hard work on the old money.

I write card lists - using previous years list as a guide but also my address book too to make sure I don't forget anyone. I still send cards - Royal Mail strikes permitting- whatever some eco-folk may say. Sometimes there are distant friendships where a card is the perfect way to just say you've been thought of at Christmas - I like sending cards. I then check whether I have spare cards from last year or whether I need to buy/make more this year. I have made all of them some years but its not necessarily the cheapest option by the time you've bought the blank cards and envelopes. These days I tend to get some from Oxfam where I work and make some special cards for close family and friends only. That way I still get the pleasure out of making some; which I genuinely enjoy. So far this year I've already got the bits and pieces needed to make them.

Then the present lists - years ago when I was married to the father of my kids we set a rule within the family that we'd only buy for the kids. This still holds true and if you have a lot of siblings with children its well worth considering; before present buying gets out of hand and pocket. So after the children, there is just our parents and each other pretty much. I start writing down ideas as I think of them ( or see them) but am not above asking for lists from people for more specific ideas. I'd rather get them exactly what they wanted. That's much less wasteful

Separately I also start to plan the hampers. If you're a newish reader then I'll explain we give a hamper of homemade or homegrown goodies to our close family. Its part of sharing our harvest from the year. One per household. I'll cover what I make for them in a separate post.

Finally I have an early start thinking about entertaining and food. If there is something I can get make or put in the freezer so much the better!

I absolutely love Christmas but whatever your take on it; I guarantee early planning of it will help