The price of food....and everything really

[Paul mabbott]

I've costed a large home-made semi-wholemeal, organic and it's less than half the price of the equivalent at Tesco. Admittedly there is the cost of the machine but ours lasted for about seven years which amounts to about £15 per year so minimal.

As Susie points out napolitano sauce is cheap and easy - what's more there's no waste on it - any left over can be incorporated into another dish.

... and that goes back to my original point that people waste too much. We waste next to nothing so don't really bother about paying a little more for top-quality, organic ingredients.

Originally Posted by Blackbrook Eye

I wonder where the Guardian buy their bread, I still pay 78p per loaf from my local Co,op so it would be difficult to save a pound a loaf by making my own and anyone who has tried making their own tomato sauce will tell you, it's not cheap by any means, unless you get the ingredients for nothing to start with, but then again the Guardian is not a paper for people who live in the real world, now is it. Regarding eggs, it may be all well and good for individuals to feed their fowls on grass and kitchen scraps, but commercial growers are required to feed their stock more responsibly and that adds to the cost of production, no matter if they are battery or free range. Another point regarding eggs is that although battery rearing is not ideal, at least there is some control over the age of the product, unlike true free range, where eggs can remain hidden in unsavory conditions for days before being collected

[stripee]

I can recommend a bread maker. you can choose exactly what ingredients you want to use, organic flour, type of fat etc. They are more or less foolproof, it takes about 5 mins to put the ingredients in. The loaves are much cheaper. But they get eaten faster, and you need someone who can cut bread without making doorsteps

[Paul mabbott]

Originally Posted by stripee

I can recommend a bread maker. you can choose exactly what ingredients you want to use, organic flour, type of fat etc. They are more or less foolproof, it takes about 5 mins to put the ingredients in. The loaves are much cheaper. But they get eaten faster, and you need someone who can cut bread without making doorsteps

And pizza, pitta, baps, pastry for cakes, buns, whatever ..... I'm not a great one for gadgets but the breadmaker has been one of our best investments ever .....

[Coley]

This thread looks like it could turn into a quick, easy, cheap and waste free recipe page

[Jez]

Maybe restarting manufacturing but in a manner that is eco friendly as pos for a more sustainable future is the key?!?

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by Coley

This thread looks like it could turn into a quick, easy, cheap and waste free recipe page

now theres an idea - might be better on a different thread tho. I think i may seriously look at buying a bread maker - and fortuitously ive just been paid and ive a day off tommorow

any reccomendations on make and model ?

[Meta menardi]

Originally Posted by eeyore

now theres an idea - might be better on a different thread tho. I think i may seriously look at buying a bread maker - and fortuitously ive just been paid and ive a day off tommorow

any reccomendations on make and model ?

I prefer the human hands model. Kneading the dough gets your finger nails really clean too. We do use the electric one and it is very good, the model we have uses a paddle that leaves you with a hole on the middle of the loaf, I think newer ones have a way round that. The other way is to get the mighty mill to knead the dough, then bake it in the oven.

Favoured gadget is the seed sprouter, lots of tastes and so on and you don't have to buy the expensive (but quite good value for what they produce) packets of seeds.

[Blackbrook Eye]

Originally Posted by Meta menardi

I prefer the human hands model. Kneading the dough gets your finger nails really clean too.

I assume from this that the muck from your finger nails adds to the flavour of the bread, as it must go somewhere.

Keith

[Meta menardi]

Originally Posted by Blackbrook Eye

I assume from this that the muck from your finger nails adds to the flavour of the bread, as it must go somewhere.

Keith

Well, of course. My granny said "you will eat a peck of muck before you die", and in fact she was nearly at the end of her second when she did.

[cherrybee]

Originally Posted by coasty

I pay £2.30 for a tray of 30 from the farm,,,,,

So do I.I buy from a local farm just a few minutes away.We always have a tray of their cheapest.If we are lucky we have either mis-shapes or bantom eggs.You cannot beat the flavour either.Ran out the other day the farm shop was closed.Had to get some from Tescos .Even the dearer ones like barn eggs just dont taste like the fresh farm eggs.