It's What We Do...

That's the motto of the Co-operative Group - since 1844, this company has tried to provide good quality food, in a fair way, at a fair price, distributing profits to loyal customers [in the old days, you got your "divi" - dividend, but now it comes as loyalty points on your card. for every £1 spent, I get 2p back] 
The Co-op has expanded its range, now providing funeral services, pharmacies, in branch Post Offices, insurance, travel agencies, education services, and much more. I like the Co-op, not least because they work to strong ethical principals - FairTrade goods, supporting minority groups across the globe [eg they boycotted South African produce in the days of the anti-apartheid campaigns] they have good facilities for recycling...

Dereham has a useful branch, in the Market Place, next to the Congregational Chapel. I popped in for a few bits yesterday. Firstly some crumpets. These are primarily for Jess, who is happily weaning, and loves holding a finger of toasted crumpet, and gradually eating 50% of it [the rest ends up all over her person and the floor]

These were £1 for NINE - right next to packets of SIX which cost £1.20. "Do many people buy the smaller packet?" I asked the assistant who was stocking the shelf. "It's a temporary offer" she said. I resisted the urge to buy two more packets for the freezer! That was my first bargain.

The second was a bag of mixed roasting veg, reduced from £1.50 to £1.07. It held carrots, an onion,  a swede, and a parsnip. As the only parsnip eater in the house, this was a treat for me! Sue has been doing diligent price comparisons recently. So when I got home, I weighed out the veg individually

Total weight was 1kg. You cannot buy these goods loose, but taking the cost per kilo, and using their "Honest Value" Range, I calculated that my bag was worth £1.09. I had saved just TUPPENCE!!

But it makes it so apparent that if shopping for a single-person household, the odds really are stacked against you. These are root veg, and will keep a while in the fridge, and the crumpets can be kept in the freezer - but other products have a much shorter shelf life. Buying a large bag of spinach or punnet of soft fruit is only cost effective if it can be eaten in time. 

When I began teaching, I lived alone in a small flat, with no fridge [just a cool food cupboard]. I had guests for lunch one Sunday, and I made two desserts - apple pie and trifle. They just ate all the pie, and I had to eat trifle for supper, breakfast, and Monday night's meal, because it wouldn't keep and I couldn't bear to waste it.

The smallest carrot and onion from my bag yesterday went into a warming impromptu lunchtime soup for a cold day. 

Quick Minestrone

Drain one can butterbeans and put into saucepan with one carton of passata/chopped tomatoes and 150 ml water or stock. Bring to boil. Add 1 tsp mixed herbs. and half a pack of Maggi instant noodles. Reduce heat to simmer.

Meanwhile chop small onion and fry off in a little oil. Add to saucepan

Dice carrot and cook in microwave for 3 mins in 1tbsp water. Add to pan

Stir, simmer soup for at least 5 mins, then serve. 

[this will serve 4 medium portions]

I hope it is not too cold and windy wherever you are.