Friday, July 26, 2013

This is NOT an advertisement

How ever, I just did a calculation on the cost of Ancient Grains Flat Bread at Costco vs Sobey's.

Now the same bread is sold at each store. But they are packaged differently, even though the cost is the same, $3.99. Sobey's is packaged 8 rounds to Costco's 15. I use anywhere from 8 and up per week when I have them. They are a nice easy meal. My Costco membership expired in June, and I was not going to renew it, until I was sure I would be near a Costco Store. Now I am having some doubts.

Last night I bought some groceries at Soby's, $47. two bags, not good, but a lot less than I was expecting, by about $15. But here's the crunch. For an average years worth of flat bread, (52x$3.99) it would cost $207.48. Now compare that with Costco at (52x8/15 = 27.73 x $3.99 =) $110.66, that is a savings of $96.82 before membership costs of about $50. Which is still a savings of $46.82, on ONE ITEM alone. When taking into consideration other items, like pills, meat, and condiments, it is probably a good bet, at least compared to Sobey's, Costco is the winner.

Of course that would not include regular super markets, like Food Basic, NoFrills and their sales. They could compare favourably with Costco. But how often, unless your an avid coupon watcher, can you hit the sales. Definitely leaning towards another membership.

Food, FOOOOOD, Glorious Food!!!

ok, a bit over the top I know. But it has been on my mind lately.
How to survive without a kitchen??
What that means, without any stove, microwave, or fire place?
What can be prepared just simply using hot water from the tap?
Can it be sustaining and interesting?

Well, the past two months I have been using powdered milk,
quick cooked oats and Splenda/dark brown sugar, for my breakfast.
Adding the occasional handful of raisins. This was partially a start.

Another treat :-) was Bread and Milk for breakfast. 2 -3 slices of bread,
powdered milk, and a scoop of raisins, and hot water.

Then I began making a drink of Honey, Mint, Ginger, Lemonade and Hot Water .
This in 3 liter bottles, but it began to ferment after 3-4 days. Low Alcohol of course.

But then two weeks ago I got a throat bug.
I began making lemonade, with Brown Sugar, using a plug in kettle.
Again this was limited kitchen facilities.

As for lunches and dinners.
I expanded to include wraps, and using a small Microwave Oven.
Using flat bread from Costco, Ancient Grains (4 dollars gets 15 rounds)
I first began making spreads with margarine and spices or jams.
These were ate cold, no heating up. Variations were endless.
From the usual, peanut butter and jam or honey, to adding Cinnamon
or Cloves. Didn't do this but even heated up apples might have worked.
But then I got a buy on cheese, and grated up a block.
Making Cheese Wraps with salad or frozen mixed veggies.
Heated in the microwave they were great lunches or dinners.

Yesterday, I bought some granola, and a bag of quick cooked oats.
Today I mixed half and half, added a bit of powdered milk and no sugar.
Then the hot water to make breakfast. Decided to try it plain.
Not great but not bad. Think the raisins and a tip of the spoon of sugar
would improve the taste.

Once I had the Microwave Oven in the mix, I began experimenting with Apples.
LARGE Pink Lady apples, cored, and diced with skin, brown sugar, margarine, and quick oats.
Micro waved for 5 minutes, stirred up and eaten hot, with mug of hot lemonade.
Was enough to keep me from nibbling from lunch to 6+ in the evening.

Another drink, was taking raw cocoa powder, splenda and milk powder, and making my
own hot chocolate powder. A couple of spoonful's and hot water from the kettle was all
it took to make a drink to warm up on, during a cold day with the a/c ;-D

It is enough to say, that with a plug in kettle, and microwave oven, a single person
can get by without an kitchen, and in a pinch, even without the microwave.
Between dried stuff, and ready cooked, it is possible to live.
But don't expect to win prizes for culinary greatness ;-)