How to be speedy in the Supermarket

Here are my top tips for being really speedy in the supermarket...

There is no need to spend ages dawdling around walking up and down each aisle pondering over life.

Get IN. Get OUT.

Here are my top tips for being really speedy in the supermarket...

1. Pick and Stick: Most people already have their one supermarket that they're loyal too, if you don't then you need to decide. Nothing will slow you down more than entering into the maze that is a new supermarket...
2. Mini List: Make a mini list only! Just include the really important things that if you forgot you would genuinely go back for. Any more on the list will make you dawdle, and unless you can write the list in aisle order you'll be faffing about reading the whole list as you get to each aisle.
3. Pre-Pack: This is an important step because it saves lots of time in the later stages of shopping and when you get home. When you put something in your trolley follow this order system- Freezer-Cupboard-Fridge. Put everything that will go in the freezer furthest away from you, cupboard stuff in the middle and fridge things closest to you in the trolley. I do it in this order so I don't get mixed up with fridge and freezer when I get to the till, some of them can be either and its hard to remember which when you're speed packing. 
4. Till Grouping: Put your items on the conveyer-belt in the same order as the pre-packing. At this stage I make sure to spread out the heavy things within each category. (e.g. I don't put the juice and the milk next to each other on the converter-belt because they're too heavy to go in the same bag). If the supermarket is a bit busy you'll have some time at this stage to get your grouping perfect. 
5. Speed Packing: Theres nothing to stop you now! Just grab a bag and throw the items in as they're passed to you. They'll be in the right order... all you have to do is realise when one category has ended and another has begun and make sure you start a new bag!

See my tip for saving money at the supermarket. 

Saving Money at the Supermarket

I'm not going to bother telling you what to and what not to buy at the supermarket, you will get what you want and you'll spend as much as you want too! You might buy branded, you might buy basics/value, you've got brand match on your side so you're not losing out by being at the wrong supermarket.

But what can you do to save a bit of money? 
It's all about what time you go shopping. Now in 24hr shops it can sometimes be a bit later than in others but I recommend 8:45pm as a general time in all shops.

• It's usually not very busy
• The clearance ladies have just done a sweep of what is going off today and just marked it down 
• The bakery have hot cross buns practically for free (tomorrows breakfast yes please?) 

If your supermarket closes at 10pm, don't make the mistake of thinking that going for a quick shop at quarter to will get you loads of good bargains... they have definitely started (and probably nearly finished) throwing away all of the clearance food that is left over by then!! 

But the food goes off today/tomorrow? 

Not a problem, whack it in the freezer!

I put everything from meat to bread in the freezer. It doesn't make much difference just that you need to take out things to thaw in the morning before you go to work. And don't give me that "I don't have time for that in the morning", I timed myself it took me 29 seconds to get out a bag of ready-prepared chicken breast and put it in a bowl of water. 

I have been known to follow the clearance lady (as I like to call her) around the shop watching her mark things down and then popping them in my trolley. I've even engaged in a 10p garlic baguette war with a random man... yes I'm talking both of us holding an end each like an old fashioned comedy sketch or cheesy movie. It wasn't love at first sight... and yes of course I won the garlic bread! 

Borderline OCD?

When it comes to deciding what is a suitable take-away to go to, people usually have the same criteria...Price, Taste and Proximity. Add one more factor and you've got me! 

Does the take-away serve the food in plastic or foil containers? 
Foil=goodbye
Plastic=come to mama

Originally this factor became important after I lost a tupperware which I had paid approximately £3 for. Well, that was unacceptable and couldn't happen again... what a waste of money!

I decided right then that I was no longer taking my lunch into university or work in anything that I couldn't get for free. You may say that take-away containers are technically not free but in my mind they are because most people throw them away! 

And well, you were always going to buy the take-away anyway weren't you...

When does it stop being weird and start being really useful?

Well, aside from not wasting any money if you accidentally lose your tupperware (or accidentally leave it dirty in a bag for two weeks and then can't bare to use it again even after you've cleaned off all the mould) they're really good for storing things in your fridge. 

My life can get quite busy sometimes and I know it will get even more busy when I'm working on placement next year (my degree has a year in industry) so it is great to spend one morning or afternoon at the weekend or one evening just sorting out my fridge or food for the week. 

Usually it doesn't take too long for me to prepare my non-junk fast food because my ingredients are already prepared (post on how I save cooking time by prepping in advance coming soon). So I make up some easy dishes and keep them all in my free containers until I want to heat them up. 

It basically means that if I come in from a horrible day or I'm in a rush to get somewhere I can just grab one container and pop it in the microwave and my dinner is ready. And yes sometimes I am too lazy to wash up a plate as well so I eat it out of the container. But also I can just grab a container and take it with me for lunch as well. 

It probably takes a few hours out of my life on a sunday morning but if I spent 30-45mins a night cooking on weekdays that would be 2hrs 30-3hrs 45 used up. So if I spend any less than that prepping then I'm winning. But lets be honest, there is always more free time at the weekend so its better doing it then anyway.

I'll post a picture of all my prepped meals next time I've done them but I've only got 2 containers left in the fridge right now so it wouldn't be a suitable example!

When did the useful collecting become unhealthy?

Yes, you're right some of them don't look like take-away containers... they're Haribo tubs (still free in my mind)!

Gooey Oreo Cookies

Today I've been feeling a bit down and stressed with revision so I decided I deserved a yummy treat. I was absolutely craving a gooey warm half baked cookie. I had no chocolate chips in so decided to get creative... then I remembered I had mini oreos!

Ingredients (only for 4 cookies):

2tbsp softened butter

3tbsp white caster sugar

2tbsp brown sugar

8oz Plain Flour

2tbsp water

1tbsp Vanilla Essence- I didn't have any today :(

1 packet of mini oreos

Firstly mix together all the sugar and the butter until it is nice and smooth. Then add the water and the vanilla extract... make sure you mix it nice and fast so it doesn't go all curdled like it did for me (oops, told you I don't know what I'm doing). If it does curdle just add some of the flour, but if not add all of the flour straight after anyway.

Mix it all up so it looks like this...

Now you can add in your mini oreos or if you don't have any then whatever you want to put in instead.

Pop some grease proof paper on a baking tray and put a bit of butter over the top of it so the cookies don't stick to it.

As you can see the recipe says it makes 4 cookies but my photo only has 2...because well, I made my splodges wayweigh too big (pun intended).

I thought it would make them more gooey inside but it probably didn't in the end. Also you could probably make 6 or 8 cookies from that amount of mixture but I just couldn't resist eating some of the dough!

If only it were socially acceptable to be obese... I'd be in my element.

Pork and Apple Sausage Pasta

This is a lovely way to make a pasta dish more exciting or to do something a bit different with your sausages. You can use a whole variety of sausages to do it... I've used Pork and Bramley Apple today but sometimes use Pork and Honey Chipolatas.

Ingredients (serves 2):

3 Pork and Apple Sausages- You can alternatively use pork sausage meat and just chop up an apple into small chunks and add them to the pork.

1 Onion

1 Clove of Garlic

1 Tin of Chopped Tomatoes

1 Chicken OXO Cube

Pasta (I used Fusilli), just as much as you normally make for 2



Firstly, pop the kettle on to boil (you need enough water for the pasta and for the chicken stock).
While its boiling, take the sausage meat out of the Pork and Apple Sausages, which is a lot easier than it sounds. Make sure your sausages are fully defrosted if you have had them frozen. Make a slice along the length of the sausage but don't go all the way through, just deep enough to break the skin. Then using a fork to keep the sausage still, take your knife under the skin and peel it to the sides. Then just scrape the meat out of the skin with the edge of your knife. It's really easy just go with it...

Now pop the pasta on to boil and make up about 200ml of chicken stock.

Fry up the diced onion, chopped garlic and the sausage meat in a little bit of oil. Don't be tempted to eat any even though it will smell absolutely incredible.

Once its all cooked through add 150ml of the chicken stock and the tin of tomatoes. Turn the heat down a bit and let it all simmer for about 10 mins.

By now your pasta should be cooked. Drain it and add it to the pan if there is room (I do this so that I can check that the pasta-sauce ratio is correct and its easier to mix it all up in the pan without spilling). If you don't think there is enough sauce then you can add the rest of the stock.

Serve it up and grate a bit of cheese on top (any kind is fine really, I used Cheddar)

Enjoy!