PC Pals Forum
General Discussion => Food & Drink => Topic started by: Rik on November 14, 2009, 18:27
-
The Flour Bin:
http://www.flourbin.com/
Still waiting for our first order, so no ideas on quality or service yet.
-
Oh, that reminds me - I was going to look up Shear (?) sauces.
-
They're in the main list. :)
-
I find Carr's strong white and wholemeal is perfectly adequate in my Panasonic breadmaker. I also add 25% Dove Farm spelt flour to the mix. It always turns out a good loaf.
-
I must get myself a breadmaker. I was going to earlier in the year, but other stuff overtook it. Perhaps I'll put one on my Christmas list. :)
-
Like Clive, I have a Panasonic. It's a super machine and has been turning out bread every two or three days since I bought it last February. Although it seemed expensive at the time, it's saved me a fortune on commercially sold bread. Moreover, I know exactly what goes into my bread too,
-
I find Carr's strong white and wholemeal is perfectly adequate in my Panasonic breadmaker. I also add 25% Dove Farm spelt flour to the mix. It always turns out a good loaf.
Try the Waitrose Organic wholemeal if you can, Clive, we find that very good. Also look at the Marriages range.
-
Another vote for the Panny breadmaker here, it's the only machine recommended by Good Housekeeeping for wholemeal flower. Best price I've found is at Costco, if you have access, followed by Amazon.
-
Moreover, I know exactly what goes into my bread too,
Very important to me, Gill, as some commercial loaves can contain 1g of salt per slice.
-
Like Clive, I have a Panasonic. It's a super machine and has been turning out bread every two or three days since I bought it last February. Although it seemed expensive at the time, it's saved me a fortune on commercially sold bread. Moreover, I know exactly what goes into my bread too,
The Panasonic was the one I was looking at earlier in the year.
Just checked on Argos, and they seem to have a lot more now, of varying prices.
Bread makers - Argos (http://www.argos.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Search?storeId=10001&catalogId=1500001801&langId=-1&searchTerms=BREAD+MAKER&Submit=GO+>)
I wonder what the half price Morphy Richards is like? Seems to have good reviews. The cost of the Panasonics isn't prohibitive, but hey, if there's a bargain to be had...
-
If you want just white bread, the MR is OK, but we did have two replacements in the guarantee period. If you want wholemeal go straight to Panny.
-
Another vote for the Panny breadmaker here, it's the only machine recommended by Good Housekeeeping for wholemeal flower. Best price I've found is at Costco, if you have access, followed by Amazon.
Amazon have become a bit of a pain for me, as you never know whether deliveries are going to have to be signed for or not. I ordered a new Tefal ActiFry from them last week, and despite leaving two £100 watches on the doorstep the week before, they have decided they want a signature for this. As I am work all day, this isn't possible, so I have now rung them twice, to ask for the item to be left in a safe place, but still, the couriers have left a card. >:(
-
If you want just white bread, the MR is OK, but we did have two replacements in the guarantee period. If you want wholemeal go straight to Panny.
Yes, I probably would, Rik. :)
-
Amazon have become a bit of a pain for me, as you never know whether deliveries are going to have to be signed for or not. I ordered a new Tefal ActiFry from them last week, and despite leaving two £100 watches on the doorstep the week before, they have decided they want a signature for this. As I am work all day, this isn't possible, so I have now rung them twice, to ask for the item to be left in a safe place, but still, the couriers have left a card. >:(
I didn't think you'd had the first Actifry that long? I always get an email from Amazon telling me which courier they are using...
-
I had it just over two years, and it gradually fell to pieces. Trouble is, I missed it terribly, and there isn't another product (that I have found) which does the same thing, hence they have held their price.
They used the same courier (HDNL) for the watches and the fryer. I don't think it's the couriers, I think it's whether Amazon tell them a signature is required, or not. Some consistency would help.
-
We're not big fans of Tefal, their stuff always seems to fall apart. :( Here, Amazon tend to use CityLink.
-
CityLink are a pain, as it means a 30 mile round trip to collect the package. Parcel Force are the easiest for me, as the depot is in Haywards Heath. It's a shame you can't nominate a courier when ordering.
-
It is. It's a trick that most mail order firms miss.
-
I would certainly go for a retailer that used Parcel Force, over one that didn't, even if the price was slightly more. The whole idea of internet ordering is for the convenience, but sometimes it turns into a PITA.
-
We're lucky here in that all the main depots are very close.
-
Mine aren't close, but they are all in and around the same area.
-
That's a pain. No neighbours you could re-direct to?
-
All working, and I don't really think it's fair to ask anyone else to wait in, anyway.
-
We have a sort of cooperative running.
-
Yes, it's good if you can have that arrangement.
-
We have three households participating, and it works pretty well as usually at least one will be here during the day.
-
Often, though, unless specified, couriers won't even leave a delivery with a neighbour.
-
Our couriers know how the system works. It saves them an extra run so they're happy. The only snag is when it has to be signed for by a named individual.
-
When I was at the old flat, I got to know the CityLink driver, and he used to come and find me on the taxi rank. Sadly, it always seems to be different ones now. :(
-
Same here, but we use them enough that they've got to know us. If you show an interest in them, it makes a huge difference in how they respond.
-
Yeah, but the trouble is, I'm never here to meet them! ;D
-
Minor point. ;D
-
A mere technicality. :)x
-
It really does help, though, it's a shame you're not in a position to develop the relationship. We've reached the point that, if we are out and they haven't been able to leave stuff, they flag us down if they see us. :)
-
I used to chase after the van! ;D
-
It's quite funny now, the DR deliveries come by Business Post, and the driver also delivers to our GP's surgery, so if he sees us there, we take the delivery there. It puzzles the rest of the waiting room no end. ;D
-
Mine comes by TNT, in a great big orange lorry! he knows to leave it round the back if I'm not in, but I usually try to make sure I am, as they delivery on Saturdays, which is always helpful.
-
Oddly, we always get TNT on Saturdays, even though BP do deliver. Only ever had one problem, where the driver failed to read the 'Do not return to depot' sticker and stuff had part thawed. DR replaced immediately and told us to eat what we could and share the rest. That made for some happy neighbours. :)
-
I bet!
-
It all helps. :)
-
We don't have a Waitrose in our area Rik. They have virtually no presence at all in Wales. :( My Panasonic is quite old and was reccomended to me by a rich cousin who will only buy the top of the range. It cost me £199 at the time which I thought was very expensive for a kitchen gadget I thought would be a nine day wonder.
-
Shame. Look out for Marriages then, Clive, they make the Waitrose flower.
I know what you mean about breadmakers, early ones were a waste of space, so buying the Panny was a leap of faith, but we've never looked back since and I hate shop-bought bread.