What food/product would you miss most?

[Katharine]

In view of the current shortages in shops, I wonder what people would miss most if there were long term shortages of something?

Apart from obviously not wanting to be without loo roll (although I do have a stack of old newspapers sculling around ), I couldn't bear to be without toothpaste. Anti-bac wipes and hand gel aren't normally something I buy much, other than just to keep handy at the bottom of a bag or in the car in case of emergencies, but I would be really stressed without soap in both kitchen and bathroom, although I know a lot of people who don't normally have it in either/both.

Food wise, the current pasta shortage hasn't fortunately been a problem for me, I do sometimes eat it, but mostly eat potatoes or rice - would be really upset if I couldn't get those. Probably the worst thing for me to be without though would be gravy powder!

[Chris_jr]

It's my oval shaped favourite, the Egg that had disappeared for a few days here in the great shelf clearance boiled, fried or poached with or without 'soldiers' it's what I'd miss.

[Katharine]

Oooo yes, good point, I do like a nice egg from time to time, and they are so versatile:

soft or hard boiled, scrambled, fried, omelette..... makes me hungry just thinking about it.

[Anita Bensoussane]

If I could only pick one thing, it would probably be chocolate!

Eggs, cheese, bread and tomatoes would be greatly missed too.

[Katharine]

Yummy, they sound like the perfect ingredients for an Enid Blyton picnic.

[Anita Bensoussane]

That makes me think of the picnics in Dinton Pastures that we had at the end of some Enid Blyton Days! If an Enid Blyton Day had been planned for this May, it would be in grave danger of having to be cancelled!

I'm not too bothered about pasta either, Katharine. It doesn't taste of much - the flavour comes from the meat, vegetables, herbs and cheese that go with it! Pasta reminds me of elastic bands, just as rice cakes remind me of polystyrene!

[Katharine]

The food I remember most from the one I attended is the Tiffin (I think) that either Stef or Fiona provided - very, very yummy. Although, to make sure I don't offend anyone, I'm sure there was lots of equally lovely food there too, I was just so overwhelmed at being in such great company, that's the only thing I remember.

Sadly I suspect that anyone who had plans for May will find their either postponed, cancelled or very limited.

Ha ha - not sure about the elastic bands comment, although I agree pasta doesn't have a lot of flavour on its own, but I agree that rice cakes do resemble polystyrene, although they can taste quite nice if they are the only think available when I very hungry.

[IceMaiden]

Potatoes, bread, sugar, eggs, milk, butter and flour. I wouldn't want to be without them because if you have some in you can always make up something to eat even if the rest of the cupboard is bare. For an actual shop food product though the one I would miss most is a Lidl's Toffee Yum-Yum. I pray they never stop making them!

[IceMaiden]

I'm not too bothered about pasta either, Katharine. It doesn't taste of much - the flavour comes from the meat, vegetables, herbs and cheese that go with it! Pasta reminds me of elastic bands, just as rice cakes remind me of polystyrene!

Rice cakes remind me of those cork coasters you put hot cups on! They do have the consistency of polystyrene though I agree, they've even got that same 'squeakiness' when you bite into them

I must be a bit odd because I like pasta and rice plain on it's own. When I was little I'd eat dry cereal straight out of the packet too, I thought corn flakes, rice krispies and weetabix all tasted much nicer when crunchy and dry than soggy and mushed up!

[Boatbuilder]

I must admit, I've never eaten polystyrene and I'm intrigued that both of you seem to have tried it.

[Anita Bensoussane]

I feel as though I have, after eating rice cakes!

[Courtenay]

(re polystyrene / rice cakes)

I was a bit annoyed that they were sold out of my current favourite chocolate at Sainsbury's yesterday, but I'll live. They DID have Kelly's clotted cream vanilla ice cream, which I love, so I've got a tub of that to see me through for a while. I'm just so grateful I get two meals a day provided where I work (included in my rent) — breakfast I have to make for myself, but we resident staff always have bread and jam and milk and cereal provided in our kitchen, so we can always get by even if we can't go out shopping. I know plenty of others must have it much harder. Hope everyone here in the forum community is still getting on OK.

[floragord]

It's got to be good tea - because we live out in the boondocks I usually have an interesting "tea library" of different brands and flavours, but in for the long haul I'd have to vote for stock piling Yorkshire Gold teabags. We had a look at arranging a home delivery from Tesco, our usual supplier, for our return, and discovered the first available date to bag a slot is 8 April, which we have hastened to book.

[IceMaiden]

I must admit, I've never eaten polystyrene and I'm intrigued that both of you seem to have tried it.

I've never eaten polystyrene but like a rice cake is how I imagine it would taste . If you snap one it breaks exactly the same way as those polystyrene packaging pieces that you get in boxes of things like kettles and irons!

[Boatbuilder]

Of course polystyrene comes in many forms - that sort being 'expanded polystyrene'. Many 'plastics' in everyday use are also polystyrene - such as yogurt pots, CD cases, disposable razors, etc. Perhaps some of those will taste better.