😮 ghastly 🎄 supermarket party food.

Kate1949

I love a sardine and tomato paste sandwich on white bread and butter. How's that for rubbish?

very popular in Portugal.. I like it too

As I say, for health reasons, people need to look at what they're drinking.

FriedGreenTomatoes2

Here’s one ad.
If you picked up a paper plate and a plastic fork would this array of party food really tempt you?

very greige,, where are all the colours of fresh veg and fruit..

That's what you serve with them.

pascal30

FriedGreenTomatoes2

Here’s one ad.
If you picked up a paper plate and a plastic fork would this array of party food really tempt you?

very greige,, where are all the colours of fresh veg and fruit..

well obviously we would MissAdventure, but the advert is not appealing without them...

From experience, the good old retro classics always go down very well - cheese and (fresh) pineapple hedgehogs, and sausages on sticks. Because there happened to be some that needed using up (I’d used frozen packs as ice packs en route) - I once served a load of sausages on sticks as canapés at an al fresco lunch at a chateau in France - guests of BiL who owned the place were mostly French neighbours.

The Ss on sticks all vanished within a couple of minutes!

Astitchintime

There isn't much by way of commercially produced party food that actually appeals to me. Reading the ingredients can be very alarming - 5 or more ingredients is a sound indication that the food is ultra-processed and something to avoid as far as I am concerned.

There will be 5 or more ingredients in nearly everything I cook!
Even a flan has 5 or more,
Stuffed mushroom,
Vol-au-vent,
Samosa,
Baklava...
Even a simple risotto or Victoria Sponge has 5 or more!

MissAdventure

All together now!

Picky bits, picky bits, pickies all the way!
Oh what fun, to stuff ourselves, with beige food off a tray, hey!

As I say, these kind of threads always bring out the food snobs...

Well, ads can't cater to appeal to everyone, I guess, but most people with the smallest amount of imagination would be thinking about celery, cherry tomatoes, and all the things that go with erm... picky bits.

It's sort of like being shown a picture of a bucket full of mashed potatoes, and how appealing that looks.

Then imagining it on a plate, with delicious organically reared meat, tiny buttered petit pois, caramelized onions, and a rich gravy topping it off

I agree FGT, I won’t be buying or eating any of it. My grandmothers would definitely recognise the food I’ll be eating.

The first couple of months I was first on gransnet I was taken to task about a Gregg's sausage roll, of all things!

MissA

MissAdventure

The first couple of months I was first on gransnet I was taken to task about a Gregg's sausage roll, of all things!

Every time I see those words, I want one!!
However, I haven't eaten one for years.

The only thing to beat a Gregg's sausage roll are my friend's sausage rolls, she adds all kinds of tasty bits and pieces to the sausage meat but I think even she buys the readymade puff pastry.

Nobody in their right mind makes puff/flaky pastry these days. The bought version is so good, just why would you?

I wouldnt know, because I can't stand sausage rolls, actually.
Thats the daftest part.

I think I've seen Delia using ready roll pastry before, and singing its praises.

I’d rather have some of the things mentioned in here than the Biotiful Kefir Overnight oats I’ve just been given.
I need a Baileys to take the taste away, but it’s too early!

Haha but you bought one from Greggs! It was probably for someone else though.
To be honest MissA, I’m not a fan of sausage rolls either. I neither make nor buy them. Nor eat them. But I had to make them in Domestic Science once at school, including the dratted pastry from scratch.

NotSpaghetti

Astitchintime

There isn't much by way of commercially produced party food that actually appeals to me. Reading the ingredients can be very alarming - 5 or more ingredients is a sound indication that the food is ultra-processed and something to avoid as far as I am concerned.

There will be 5 or more ingredients in nearly everything I cook!
Even a flan has 5 or more,
Stuffed mushroom,
Vol-au-vent,
Samosa,
Baklava...
Even a simple risotto or Victoria Sponge has 5 or more!

5 or more ingredients is a sound indication that the food is ultra-processed and something to avoid as far as I am concerned.

This always makes me laugh because if every component of even just those five ingredients were to be listed, as they are on any processed food, they would be extensive.

Eggs
Meat, plain vegetables, jus made with water (wine is processed)
Fruit

Could become a rather boring diet.

Flour, sugar, butter have all been processed.
Eggs.

Then mix, bake - ultra-processed?

Gregg's were in the newspaper for something or other at the time, comparing their sausage roll to jesus or something.

That's what sparked the discussion.
It was thoroughly unpleasant, though, as was being followed about the forum for months afterwards with snide comments.

It's just a pity, a thread like this sparks more interest than one asking if anyone has been shown kindness, or chatting to people who are obviously lonely and in need of a bit of kindness themselves.

MissAdventure

I wouldnt know, because I can't stand sausage rolls, actually.
Thats the daftest part.

😂😂😂

Sadly I cannot eat cheese, as it makes me ill, but my husband used to love all kinds. This time of year I used to look for treats in the cheese line, sage derby, pink windsor, brie and stilton. So some lovely Carrs water biscuits, some crisp celery and a glass of merlot , was a favourite lunch for him. I used to have the water biscuits but added duck pate or smoked trout, or some good fish with a little tartare sauce , for a treat, and ditto the merlot!! So much washing up too - two plates and two glasses!! I always remember one year seeing a very much reduced french brie in its cardboard tub and looked to see why. The assistant said " Oh it has gone very soft so will need using soon!" My husband had a great time with that. Ah those were the days. My biggest treat for myself yesterday has been a small half leg of lamb reduced to half price, which I am going to make a lovely roast to enjoy , which will leave me with a fair amount to eat cold and might even freeze a bit if there is any left and will be able to have a good jacket potato with some salad and slices of lamb with pickle. It has been so expensive that havent had any for ages. Feeling very hungry now so ready for my bread and hummus and tomatoes and celery. Dont think the supermarkets are going to make much of a profit out of me.

That all sounds really tasty.
Enjoy!

Most supermarkets are not selling their party food till the 19th December.They are there for convenience, it’s time saving and some pre prepared things are a life saver when unexpected guests arrive.

Grunty

I wait all year for the frozen prawn party ring with the lurid pink dipping sauce!

My favourite too, or the large Prawns which you peel yourself. Just delicious. I find all the rich food OTT, we have been out for Christmas lunch 3 times so far this season in different restaurants. They all cook their veg in butter so it is swimming in it when served, likewise their poached fish. I ordered a Celeriac pasta and is was so salty it was inedible, they had only cooked the pasta in the celeriac water. Another place I ordered a beetroot and butternut squash en croute vegetarian dish. The en croute was like a dough ball on top and the base so hard I could neither cut it nor bite it. The filling was delicious though. All these places are top restaurants which charge hugely inflated prices this time of year. I find most of the buffet type food unappetising, they look good but do not taste of proper food. Give me a freshly home-baked cheese straw any time., a mince pie and perhaps a Lindt chocolate or two, then I am happy.