It has been a bit of an obsession lately of mine to get my shopping list down to only the essentials (plus any gathered foods I find) from which I then make everything I can from scratch. It is fun, satisfying, healthier and cheaper (and because of that if you wanted it probably would be affordable to opt for organic versions of everything).
It might take a little bit more time, but often most of the time making basics is spent rising, setting etc. Thus it takes longer to have the finished product, but while you wait you can do other things. So it is just a matter of planing and setting a routine whereby you make things to set overnight every few day etc.
So here is my current shopping list (many of these things last for ages or can be bought in bulk, thus this doesn't represent a weekly shopping list, just what you would have to buy to set yourself up to start this particular lifestyle):
- fresh fruit, veggies and meat (bought from a local market if possible)
- a variety of dried beans and lentils
- eggs
- butter
- oats
- milk
- milk powder (for yoghurt making...but not essential)
- brown sugar
- caster sugar
- bakers flour
- plain flour
- baking powder
- herbs and spices (including salt and pepper)
- vinegar
- red wine
- dried yeast
- nuts and dried fruit
From this list you can make pasta, bread, croissants, cakes, muffins, yoghurt, jams, preserves, ricotta, musesli... the list goes on.
You know, I saw castor sugar on your list and I wondered if you had ever made candied fruit? I havent personally, but I saw a friend make it in my kitchen a couple of years ago, and it is unbelievably simple! She made candied orange peel as part of a chocolate cake, with chopped peel inside for tang as well as peel decoration on top.
ReplyDeleteNo i haven't actually. That might be fun to try, although i doubt all that healthy. We really must spend some time cooking together when you are next out.
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