Adventures Anderson: Let's Get Some Messages!

"Messages" are groceries, FYI. I don't use the term without thinking about it first but my friends here do!

Whilst shopping today I thought I'd give y'all insight into what I get to see and shop for one morning a week. I took along a camera and tried to ignore the curious looks as I focused on meat, produce and dry goods!

The GOOD, BAD and MISSED:

First off, it's SO apparent we live in Scotland as you can find SO many Scottish products, and quite honestly it's pretty cool they market their own products so heavily.

Scottish Pork

Yum--Mark can do a mean pork chop on the grill...

Scottish Beef

It's a REALLY big deal here. I'm sad to say I don't purchase this as Scottish beef is grass-fed and I think has a bit of a gamey taste. Give those poor cows some corn!

The bakery section:

Open air, you can smell the stuff you want to buy!

Double Chocolate Chip Cookies

I treat myself to one of these gems each time I'm at Lidl's (Lidl's, a German store like Aldi)

Mackie's Ice Cream

Scottish ice cream tastes very, VERY buttery!

A "Breakfast Pack"

Top left going clockwise:

Scottish breakfast link sausage; black pudding (blood sausage); Scottish recipe Lorne (beef sausage with a little seasoning) and hash browns!

A Haggis!

This is EVERYWHERE, although to get a really "good" one the local butcher may be your best bet. Haggis is a sheep's stomach stuffed with oatmeal and ground sheep's heart, liver and lung.

I'm. Not. Kidding. And my husband and children LOVE this.

Scottish Salmon

A salmon lovers dream!

Walkers is THE brand of crisps (chips) here.

These are the classic flavours:

Cheese & Onion, Ready Salted, Salt & Vinegar, Prawn Cocktail and Worcestershire Sauce

Hard Gums?

Maybe gum drops? I didn't realise they were so American. But I don't like gum drops there so I probably won't like them here!

Pate'

This is a BIG thing here. My dear friend loves it on her toast. I can't reconcile the creamy, smooth texture of liver with a meat product...

Black Eye

Another Pudding (pudding here is "sausage" or "dessert"!) This is beef sausage with black pudding. Notice the brand: "We Hae Meat" (We Have Meat)!

Haggis Pizza

Pizza with haggis on it (not in the stomach sack, of course, it has a ground sausage texture). Caedmon wanted this for supper tonight.

Goose Fat

Well then...

Milk

From Scotland, see the cool jugs they come in? It's to better fit in the tiny refrigerators here.

YUM, we go through nearly 4 gallons a week (blame the pregnant lady).

Channel Island Milk

This is 100% Jersey and Guernsey cow milk. It has a cream top and is nearly yellow because of the creaminess. It's also Mark's favourite milk in the whole world (Even more so than Promised Land Dairy products in the states).

I should've taken a picture of the nutritional information as that would give my reasons for hardly ever purchasing this!

Yogurt

Check out the flavours:

Blackcurrant, Rhubarb and Gooseberry!

The Yogurt Section

One of my favourites. You have never tasted better stuff than this--and the variety is AMAZING!

Cheese

UK grocery stores always have an outstanding cheese selection, no matter how small they are!

Tortillas

They CAN be found here! And we ALWAYS have these in our quesadilla-loving house!

Cheesey & Ham Macaroni

Proudly advertising that it's Scottish!

The Fabulous 3

Indian food to the UK is like Mexican food to the US. It's a BIG deal here.

Korma, Tikka Masala and Jalfrezi are the biggies.

Frozen Peas

There are more peas than any other frozen veggie, with the exception of...

Chips!

Potatoes cut into big fries are a staple.

Yorshire Pudding

They're a for reals thing-- a pastry.

Cereal

This one is self explanatory.

YAY!

We eat this here at the Anderson household!

The cereals are by and large healthier, less sugary, less flavoured and have less colouring than American equivalents.

A lot of them also have chocolate in them.

Sandwich Baguettes

Another Anderson staple. These 4 packs for £1 rock my world.

They also smell fabulous.

Chocolate Chips

Teeny bag, big price! We love bags of Nestle choc. chips from the states.

Chicory & Coffee Essence

This is a first for me to see, but it was by the vanilla extract and has a kilted man on the label...

Cake Mixes and Canned Frosting

Those of you enjoying the $1 Betty Crocker mixes, don't take them for granted. These babies come out to $3.50!

Another family-import from the US we cherish!

Chocolate Spread

They have some peanut butter here, but this is WAY more popular.

Cadbury Chocolate Spread

My sister, Jillian, and her husband are addicted to this.

Meringue Nests

I've often wished for these when I was in the US. They are little 'nests' made from meringue and you can put all kinds of loveliness into them!

Maple Syrup

The ONLY options--the real deal (the stuff on the left is full of carob syrup and is not the same) cost $9.47. (thanks mom and dad for sending us over Mrs. Butterworths!)