Allotments 4 All

Today while doing my shopping i thought i would get some pearl barley, for a stew tomorrow running quite low.
I started at Tesco, morrisons, somerfield , coop. none of them had any. Do these people who run the stores & ordering not order things like that in winter i think so many people make stew or soup in the winter they should rethink  i cannot believe that everyone has stormed the shops to get pearl barley. What has happened to it.
By the way got it from the health shop in the end.
    Rant over. ;D

As far as I am aware, stew is something you buy from the supermarket as a chilled item.  Can't think of many, including my own girls, bothering to actually make one.

Rosebud we had a store cupboard stew today...carrots ,onions,celery,squash,pearl barley.split peas,lentils and mung beans with some potatoes thrown in at the end .All cooked in home made chicken stock.It was delicious and cost pence I'm glad  picked up the pearl barley back in the summer  ;)

Made a stew on saturday did us for monday OH had some tuesday and a bit left for his lunch wednesday!!! The kids dont like it so have to do something else for them. Got my pearl barley from Morrisons on friday. I put borlotto beans in as well plus dumplings yum yum :D :D

The people who run the stores don't do the ordering that's done by a central office removed from the stores. Working for one of the big 4 we ran out of 1 type of flour for our bakery this week because people are panic buying.  Theres talk of limiting certain items per customer to give everyone a chance of buying the basics.  As always this sort of weather brings the best/worse out in people.  Take care out there folks.  Regards, Taurus

Surprised you couldn't find any in Tesco, that's where I got mine for the last stew I made (a couple of months back) I also buy the mixed bags now with pearl barley, yellow split peas, green split peas, marrowfat peas and red split lentils (also from Tesco)

OOOOOOO - did you say you're making stew for tomorrow?? ;D ;D ;D ;D

Whilst on the subject of dried pulses. I remember my grandma just tipping the pearl barley and lentils into the stew. Is it true that you have to soak or boil these first before adding.

Quote from: shirlton on December 01, 2010, 09:01:58
Whilst on the subject of dried pulses. I remember my grandma just tipping the pearl barley and lentils into the stew. Is it true that you have to soak or boil these first before adding.

the bigger pulses and legumes take a long time if they are not pre-soaked and other things in the stew may have gone too soft if in for the same length of time. I think lentils taste best if cooked in with everything else and pearl barley you might get away with.

By the way what is the difference between a casserole and a stew- I tend to think casserole is the posh name for the same thing or is a stew a bit more liquid?

We are lucky in having a fantastic wholefood wharehouse in Sheffield called Lembas, they deliver for free on orders over £100. I put in a big order every few months, and find it very cost-effective, but have to store things which means I have lentils and cornflakes and allsorts in the wardrobe. I try to avoid supermarkets.
Anne x

Love a stew with veg from the lotty. might get the Mrs to make one for Saturday with some of MY home made bread, :)

The way I see it is a stew is cooked in a pan on the hob & a casserole cooked in the oven

I can't believe anyone wouldn't make their own stew with your own veg  ??? the mind boggles,   :o I bought mine from Tescos last week, pearl barley that is.      ;D ;D ;D      :P

All the supermarkets do stock it but the thing is people suddenly want it and they run out.

Get your supplies in early.

Mind you why any one wants to add that horrible slimy stuff to a decent meat and veg stew I can not understand. Yuk

Quote from: Poppy Mole on December 01, 2010, 18:49:03
The way I see it is a stew is cooked in a pan on the hob & a casserole cooked in the oven

Thank you Poppy Mole -now you say it seems so obvious but I've wondered for years!!!

Thanks for reminding me Sam Louise. I have a bag of the soup mix in cupboard. That's tomorrows lunch sorted  along with some chicken;) ;D.

Quote from: SamLouise on December 01, 2010, 08:12:55

OOOOOOO - did you say you're making stew for tomorrow?? ;D ;D ;D ;D

Grrrrrrrrrrr, this cursed snow!  Missed out on a Rosebud special because we couldn't get there today!! >:( ::) ;D

How odd I was thinking about adding pearl barley, split peas, etc. to a Stew?   A Stew for me is Stewing Steak cooked on the Hob with Onion, carrots and turnip/swede.  ( I am having one tomorrow)   Adding pearl barley, split peas etc. is a Soup for me.   We all have our different ways of cooking.  I made split pea soup today, soaked te split peas overnight and made the Soup with plenty veg.  its was yummy.

;D

We had stew n dumplings the other day no pearl barley but a few mushroom's in for luck.

Hurrah, got my pearl barley today, in the pantry now for my winter stews.

How could anyone seriously buy supermarket stew Yuuuuuuk, I have always made stew since i married, my mother showed me & i have taught both my girls to make it they both make a good stew.

Yes Samantha, you did miss out on a lovely stew, shame Dad, & i had to have it 2 days running even nicer the next day Hahahahahaha.
Macmac, your stew sounded lovely do you make dumplings also. A must in this house ;D ;D.
I hope all those who have MADE a stew this week have enjoyed it as much as we have ;D ;D ;D.

Kev's ingredients    : Stewing  Steak or chicken,  carrots,  mushrooms,   spuds,  onion,  pearl barley and dumplings, bloody criminal to not have dumplings bubbling on top of the stew for the last 50 mins. Would love to put celery in but the OH don't like it.   :(       PS. Sammy you prayed for the snow, so its tough bloody titties you missed out on Mummys stew, :P  I was invited but was busy.    ;D ;D ;D

Kev, i like the sound of your stew a little tip  might help, my husband hates onions, so i put very large  pieces in so he can take them off his plate, i also put the celery in very large pieces, any good ?

I have already had my orders to make another stew when they are visiting I have to do as i am told Hahahahaha.