Re: Budget Cooking
notbob
> I've been watching CNN....
Apparently, to the point of being a masochist.
> There were more but I was extremely surprised. Aren't all of these a big
> DUH?
I don't think so. In fact, I disagree with most of them. I can save even
more $$$ on skin/boneless chicken by watching the sales. Safeway had
'em for $1.69lb 3 wks ago. Three pounds of the best bacon I've seen in ages
for $5! It's not what you buy, but when. As for farmers markets, I don't
know what they're like in the rest of the country, but in CA they've become
more expensive than regular markets. With the exception of a couple items,
seasonal tree fruits (peaches, nectarines, plums) and tomatoes, almost
everything was more expensive at what was our local farmers market. I quit
bothering with them, except for the nectarines.
nb
I mean, common sense would dictate on all of these points. I have
> come to the conclusion that either the media believes the vast majority
> of Americans are incredibly stupid, or, scarier yet, the vast majority of
> Americans *are* incredibly stupid which would explain much. Like the
> popularity of Sandra Lee for just one example.
>
> I got this mental image of people huddling in the corner of their
> kitchens wringing their hands because they can no longer afford "Gourmet
> to Go" and thinking they'll starve because there is no food in the house.
>
> Gawd.
>
> Oh, and the worst was yet to come. Anderson Cooper had Dr. Phil (gag me
> twice) on his program last night. Seriously, I think this man is nothing
> but a media slut. He was yammering on and on about the unemployed can now
> take the time to become "parents", blah, blah, blah. Sheesh...
>
> Michael
>
the...@uwm.edu
: than fresh veggies purchased at the supermarkets. If fresh is not
: available, buy frozen veggies.
I must be shopping at the wrong farmers' markets then.
Supermarket prices are lower than farmers' market prices
about half the time. I'm glad to pay the farmer more directly.
--thelma
: Michael
Dave Smith
> I've been watching CNN, last night and this morning. Some of the guest
> speakers the media types have on with tips how to save money are mind
> boggling. Here are a few of the "ideas" for saving money on food that I
> caught:
>
> 1. Chicken is cheaper than other meats. Chicken with skin on and bone in
> is less expensive than skinless, boneless chicken. Remove the bone and
> skin at home (like people can't look at the price per pound on the
> package and figure this out themselves?).
Different chicken parts vary in price, and that can change from place to
place. Chicken wings used to be dirt cheap but around here they have
been relatively expensive, even more so in the last few months. Thighs
and legs tend to be cheaper than breasts.
I buy most of my meat from a local butcher whose meat is excellent, and
his prices tend to be much lower than the grocery stores.
> 2. Avoid convenience items and deli items. Those tend to be more
> expensive than food you prepare yourself (well slap me upside the head).
I am lucky to be able to bake and to enjoy it. Baked goods are
expensive. I am stunned at the prices they charge for a dozen cookies at
the in store bakery departments around here. I can make at least thee
dozen cookies for the cost of a dozen cookies there, and they are
better. Pies are cheap and easy to make, and to buy a pie as good as a
fresh home made pie is incredible.
> 3. Eat out less often <huge eyeroll>
That was one of the first things to go when I retired. One meal in a
decent restaurant is about as much as my week's grocery bill.
Dave Smith
> I don't think so. In fact, I disagree with most of them. I can save even
> more $$$ on skin/boneless chicken by watching the sales. Safeway had
> 'em for $1.69lb 3 wks ago. Three pounds of the best bacon I've seen in ages
> for $5! It's not what you buy, but when.
There is a local family run grocery store that I shop at once in a while
primarily for their chicken deals. They not only have good prices,
especially when they run a sale, but they have the sizes I want. They
sell a lot of small chickens. I love those little chickens done on my
BBQ rotisserie and one bird split down the middle does the two of us
nicely. They also have nice thin boned skinless chicken breasts that are
perfect for pan frying in some of my favourite dishes.
> As for farmers markets, I don't
> know what they're like in the rest of the country, but in CA they've become
> more expensive than regular markets. With the exception of a couple items,
> seasonal tree fruits (peaches, nectarines, plums) and tomatoes, almost
> everything was more expensive at what was our local farmers market. I quit
> bothering with them, except for the nectarines.
There are different types of farm markets. Some cities have large
permanent facilities and regular vendors. Two local cities have a
parking lot with farm market days twice a week and their prices tend to
be pretty good. Then there are the local fruit and vegetable stands
where you get things right off the field, which tend to be good value
and high quality.
Kris
> I've been watching CNN, last night and this morning. Some of the guest
> speakers the media types have on with tips how to save money are mind
> boggling. Here are a few of the "ideas" for saving money on food that I
> caught:
>
> 1. Chicken is cheaper than other meats. Chicken with skin on and bone in
> is less expensive than skinless, boneless chicken. Remove the bone and
> skin at home (like people can't look at the price per pound on the
> package and figure this out themselves?).
>
> expensive than food you prepare yourself (well slap me upside the head).
>
>
> than fresh veggies purchased at the supermarkets. If fresh is not
> available, buy frozen veggies.
>
> come to the conclusion that either the media believes the vast majority
> of Americans are incredibly stupid, or, scarier yet, the vast majority of
> Americans *are* incredibly stupid which would explain much. Like the
> popularity of Sandra Lee for just one example.
>
> I got this mental image of people huddling in the corner of their
> kitchens wringing their hands because they can no longer afford "Gourmet
> to Go" and thinking they'll starve because there is no food in the house.
>
> Gawd.
>
> Oh, and the worst was yet to come. Anderson Cooper had Dr. Phil (gag me
> twice) on his program last night. Seriously, I think this man is nothing
> but a media slut. He was yammering on and on about the unemployed can now
> take the time to become "parents", blah, blah, blah. Sheesh...
>
> Michael
>
> “He who does not understand your silence will probably not understand
> your words.”
> ~Elbert Hubbard
>
> You can find me at: - michael at lonergan dot us dot com
Well, I think there *are* a lot of people who are stupid about food.
Yes, they could read the price labels, but they don't. They could see
how expensive convenience foods are compared to buying ingredients to
make their own, but they don't. They could see that cooking at home
is cheaper then most restaurants, but they don't.
If people thought about things a bit more in general, they'd be better
off. Basic cooking (and shopping) skills should be taught in school
more to de-mystify what is, essentially, a pretty easy task.
Just my two cents,
Kris
OTOH, I also find that Farmer's Market stuff isn't always as cheap as
supermarket. Especially their meats & cheeses. Just what I've obsrved
Mr. Bill
>I don't think so. In fact, I disagree with most of them. I can save even
>more $$$ on skin/boneless chicken by watching the sales.
When boneless/skinless becomes 99 cents a pound, i.e. whole chicken, I
will buy the store out. Actually, boneless/skinless has had all
the flavor removed.
Whole chickens provide wing tips, backbones, necks, jiblets, etc for
my stock which continually is better the Blah-Blah's Stock in a Box.
brooklyn1
<the...@uwm.edu> wrote in message
news:BvWdnb0EQLwDLSLU...@speakeasy.net...
Crops being seasonal there will only be a couple of items at a farmers
market harvested that day, or even that week.... there is really no
difference in freshness from the stupidmarket because when it's time for
harvesting say strawberries, corn, squash, etc. it'll be just as fresh at
the stupidmarket, maybe fresher because they buy in bulk directly from local
farms, they pay in advance to reserve future crops and so get best of the
crop. Most of what's sold at farm stands is the same storage crops that are
sold everywhere. The only way to know for sure that you're getting fresh
picked crops is to grow your own. Nowadays the term Farm Stand is
meaningless... what they really do is sell knock offs.
Mr. Bill
wrote:
>OTOH, I also find that Farmer's Market stuff isn't always as cheap as
>supermarket. Especially their meats & cheeses. Just what I've obsrved
You are right....they NEVER are....and getting fresh from Farmer's
Market is so seasonal....What am I suppose to do from November thru
April?
Pete C.
"Mr. Bill" wrote:
>
> On Tue, 17 Mar 2009 14:14:49 GMT, notbob <not...@nothome.com> wrote:
>
> >I don't think so. In fact, I disagree with most of them. I can save even
> >more $$$ on skin/boneless chicken by watching the sales.
>
> When boneless/skinless becomes 99 cents a pound, i.e. whole chicken, I
> will buy the store out.
I see that here from time to time, though not recently. Still sub $2/#
is common.
> Actually, boneless/skinless has had all
> the flavor removed.
Never tried the boneless skinless thigh filets eh?
> Whole chickens provide wing tips, backbones, necks, jiblets, etc for
> my stock which continually is better the Blah-Blah's Stock in a Box.
I don't use much stock in my cooking typically, so it's not worth the
extra effort for me.
sf
<don'ta...@donttell.huh> wrote:
>I've been watching CNN, last night and this morning. Some of the guest
>speakers the media types have on with tips how to save money are mind
>boggling. Here are a few of the "ideas" for saving money on food that I
>caught:
>
<snip>
If those people are stationed in NYC, all of the above are true
revelations for them. People have small kitchens that are rarely
used, if they live in Manhattan. My SIL has lived there for over 20
years and never meets Manhattanites who cook. The one person she
knows now who you would say knows how to cook lives in Queens and is a
transplant from Florida who used to own a restaurant.
>
>Oh, and the worst was yet to come. Anderson Cooper had Dr. Phil (gag me
>twice) on his program last night. Seriously, I think this man is nothing
>but a media slut. He was yammering on and on about the unemployed can now
>take the time to become "parents", blah, blah, blah. Sheesh...
>
Actually, that's really happening. A lot of people are between jobs
now and have time on their hands so they are volunteering more in
schools. I wouldn't be surprised if they are getting more involved
with their kids in other ways too.
--
I never worry about diets. The only carrots that
interest me are the number of carats in a diamond.
Mae West
David Harmon
<don'ta...@donttell.huh> wrote,
>There were more but I was extremely surprised. Aren't all of these a big
>DUH?
Hey, at least they are not *wrong*.
maxine
> I've been watching CNN, last night and this morning. Some of the guest
> speakers the media types have on with tips how to save money are mind
> boggling. Here are a few of the "ideas" for saving money on food that I
> caught:
>
> is less expensive than skinless, boneless chicken. Remove the bone and
> skin at home (like people can't look at the price per pound on the
> package and figure this out themselves?).
It's the habit thing. Also, the general level of kitchen knowledge in
this country is abysmal. They coined the term "butcher" to describe
what my deboned meats look like<g>.
> 2. Avoid convenience items and deli items. Those tend to be more
> expensive than food you prepare yourself (well slap me upside the head).
I had to point this out to my daughter. She's not stupid, just has
bad habits, like running out of the house and grabbing a bagel at DD
on the way to school. She can save the $2-3 she spends every morning
by toasting a bagel from our stash at home.....
> 3. Eat out less often <huge eyeroll>
But that means cooking more at home! who has the time [/sarcasm]
> 4. Buy fresh veggies at farmer's markets. They tend to be less expensive
> than fresh veggies purchased at the supermarkets. If fresh is not
> available, buy frozen veggies.
This one is surprising. The veggies at the farmer's market are more
expensive than at the supermarket. Frozen is a good alternative. But
I've met adults who think it is more expensive to buy those veggies
and cook them themselves, than to buy a lean-cuisine or other frozen
dinner.
People get into bad habits when money's plentiful. They forget how to
cut back, and these tips are useful for them. The local newspaper had
an article on how to cook cheap at home, including a pantry inventory
for making all the dishes mentioned in the article, including the ones
with recipes. All of them were meatless, right before Lent, and easy
enough to make. My coworkers were appalled: there was no meat in the
meals!
I could go on (at length) but it's time to go back to work.
maxine, off lunch hour
Omelet
"Michael \"Dog3\"" <don'ta...@donttell.huh> wrote:
> There were more but I was extremely surprised. Aren't all of these a big
> DUH? I mean, common sense would dictate on all of these points.
"Common sense" is an oxymoron babe!
There are people that cannot even change a light bulb...
--
Peace! Om
I find hope in the darkest of days, and focus in the brightest. I do not judge the universe. -- Dalai Lama
Joseph Littleshoes
Michael \"Dog3\" wrote:
> I've been watching CNN, last night and this morning. Some of the guest
> speakers the media types have on with tips how to save money are mind
> boggling. Here are a few of the "ideas" for saving money on food that I
> caught:
>
> 1. Chicken is cheaper than other meats. Chicken with skin on and bone in
> is less expensive than skinless, boneless chicken. Remove the bone and
> skin at home (like people can't look at the price per pound on the
> package and figure this out themselves?).
>
> 2. Avoid convenience items and deli items. Those tend to be more
> expensive than food you prepare yourself (well slap me upside the head).
>
> 3. Eat out less often <huge eyeroll>
>
> 4. Buy fresh veggies at farmer's markets. They tend to be less expensive
> than fresh veggies purchased at the supermarkets. If fresh is not
> available, buy frozen veggies.
>
> There were more but I was extremely surprised. Aren't all of these a big
> DUH? I mean, common sense would dictate on all of these points. I have
> come to the conclusion that either the media believes the vast majority
> of Americans are incredibly stupid, or, scarier yet, the vast majority of
> Americans *are* incredibly stupid which would explain much. Like the
> popularity of Sandra Lee for just one example.
>
> I got this mental image of people huddling in the corner of their
> kitchens wringing their hands because they can no longer afford "Gourmet
> to Go" and thinking they'll starve because there is no food in the house.
>
> Gawd.
What's the old joke about the guy who comes home from work and the
little woman tells him dinner is not ready as the electricity is out.
The husband say's "but we have a gas stove" and the little woman replies
"yes dear but the electric can opener wont work."
--
JL
>
Joseph Littleshoes
notbob wrote:
> On 2009-03-17, Michael "Dog3" <don'ta...@donttell.huh> wrote:
>
>>I've been watching CNN....
>
>
> Apparently, to the point of being a masochist.
>
>
>
>>There were more but I was extremely surprised. Aren't all of these a big
>>DUH?
>
>
> I don't think so. In fact, I disagree with most of them. I can save even
> more $$$ on skin/boneless chicken by watching the sales. Safeway had
> 'em for $1.69lb 3 wks ago.
$1.30 per pound in our local chinatown routinely.
Backs, thighs and necks for .50¢ per pound and if you go at the right
time you can get a 4 - 5 pound bag of assorted chicken bones for $1.00.
Just try to get a beef bone at an Andronico's or Safeway! the local
chinatown butcher i go to lets me have big leg bones for less than
$1.00 per pound.
--
JL
> Three pounds of the best bacon I've seen in ages
> for $5! It's not what you buy, but when. As for farmers markets, I don't
> know what they're like in the rest of the country, but in CA they've become
> more expensive than regular markets. With the exception of a couple items,
> seasonal tree fruits (peaches, nectarines, plums) and tomatoes, almost
> everything was more expensive at what was our local farmers market. I quit
> bothering with them, except for the nectarines.
It is amazing to me, i walk through one on friday mornings to go to the
china town and have to restrain myself from telling people to walk two
block farther up the street for the same produce at 75 - 80% less cost.
I was going to purchase a head of garlic at the farmers market, said to
the guy selling it, one head of garlic, 'how much' and he said "$1.00" i
laughed out loud! i mean 'guffawed' i was so stunned, i walked two
blocks farther up the street and paid .20¢ for a head of garlic.
Farmers market had asparagus for $5.00 per pound last friday, chinatown
.79¢ per pound.
--
JL
Joseph Littleshoes
The farmers market near by is patronized primarily by yuppies, and is
as much (if not more so) an adventure in ethnic shopping as any
necessary marketing.
The people who patronize china town seem much more 'down home'
definitely not 'yuppies'.
And as inexpensive as Chinatown is, if your willing to get up at 4 - 5
am and go there you can buy stuff right off the delivery trucks at a
substantial discount from what is routinely sold inexpensively any way.
We had some lovely corn on the cob last year for .20¢ per ear i hope it
happens again this year.
I sometimes think yuppies are insulted or offended by a good,
inexpensive product, for some reason don't trust it. What's the point
of being wealthy if you don't flaunt it by being wastefully extravagant?
Even if i were wealthy i would have the staff shop at Chinatown.
--
JL
bulka
Everybody has to learn everything for the first time. What we think
of as common sense because we learned it 20 or 40 years ago is still
new information to some folks.
And, there are a lot of young, inexperienced, uneducated people in all
the media. If their editor will pay them for recycled Hints from
Heloise, why bother to do any research or thinking? And, back to my
first point, maybe the obvious, recycled knowledge is what is needed.
b
cybercat
"Joseph Littleshoes" <jpst...@isp.com> wrote
> I sometimes think yuppies are insulted or offended by a good, inexpensive
> product, for some reason don't trust it. What's the point of being
> wealthy if you don't flaunt it by being wastefully extravagant?
I think this is sooooo true. There's a bit of this in my husband's family,
too.
Mark P. Nelson
news:49BFEBD1...@isp.com:
>
> $1.30 per pound in our local chinatown routinely.
> Backs, thighs and necks for .50¢ per pound and if you go at the right
> time you can get a 4 - 5 pound bag of assorted chicken bones for $1.00.
>
> Just try to get a beef bone at an Andronico's or Safeway! the local
> chinatown butcher i go to lets me have big leg bones for less than
> $1.00 per pound.
>
> It is amazing to me, i walk through one on friday mornings to go to the
> china town and have to restrain myself from telling people to walk two
> block farther up the street for the same produce at 75 - 80% less cost.
>
> I was going to purchase a head of garlic at the farmers market, said to
> the guy selling it, one head of garlic, 'how much' and he said "$1.00" i
> laughed out loud! i mean 'guffawed' i was so stunned, i walked two
> blocks farther up the street and paid .20¢ for a head of garlic.
>
> Farmers market had asparagus for $5.00 per pound last friday, chinatown
> .79¢ per pound.
> --
> JL
>
I'm guessing you live in Oakland. Shopping Chinatown is the only sensible
way to go. The prices at that Friday farmers' market downtown can outdo the
prices at Andronico's; I've seen peas for $6 per lb.
Fresh duck daily for $1.79 per lb at Yet Sun Market, $7.99 per lb. and not
fresh daily at Andronico's. I do wish the Chinese ate rabbit, though. Can't
find a decent price on that anywhere. I used to snare them as a kid so I
hate to pay for them at all, really.
Yeah, you have to put up with 4-foot grandmothers with elbows they use the
way soccer-players do, but it's all part of the fun.
Mark.
--
Verbing weirds language--Calvin
Joseph Littleshoes
Mark P. Nelson wrote:
> Joseph Littleshoes wrote:
>
>>I was going to purchase a head of garlic at the local farmers market, said to
>>the guy selling it, one head of garlic, 'how much' and he said "$1.00" i
>>laughed out loud! i mean 'guffawed' i was so stunned, i walked two
>>blocks farther up the street and paid .20¢ for a head of garlic.
>>
>>--
>>JL
>>
>
>
> I'm guessing you live in Oakland.
Yep, over by the federal building.
> Shopping Chinatown is the only sensible
> way to go. The prices at that Friday farmers' market downtown can outdo the
> prices at Andronico's; I've seen peas for $6 per lb.
I know! its outrageous! $5.00 per pound broccoli and that not even
certified organic! one store i routinely shop at in Chinatown wont sell
broccoli if it gets much over .50¢ per pound retail.
>
> Fresh duck daily for $1.79 per lb at Yet Sun Market, $7.99 per lb. and not
> fresh daily at Andronico's. I do wish the Chinese ate rabbit, though. Can't
> find a decent price on that anywhere. I used to snare them as a kid so I
> hate to pay for them at all, really.
Yeah, no veal or lamb either.
>
> Yeah, you have to put up with 4-foot grandmothers with elbows they use the
> way soccer-players do, but it's all part of the fun.
*chuckle* i used to think the little Asian grannies were just rude, now
i think they are half blind:) and i am quick to hop out of their way.
Determined little things, they will push you aside if you let them and
take you place in the check out line.
I still kick myself for not shopping there till a back injury forced me to.
I used to shop at Andronicos on Telegraph in Berkeley, it was convenient
to my work and when i stopped working, and moving about much at all, i
had to start patronizing the local shops and i was Schocked! just
Schocked! at the low prices.
--
JL
>
> Mark.
Goomba
> Well, I think there *are* a lot of people who are stupid about food.
>
> Yes, they could read the price labels, but they don't. They could see
> how expensive convenience foods are compared to buying ingredients to
> make their own, but they don't. They could see that cooking at home
> is cheaper then most restaurants, but they don't.
are they so devoid of rational sense that they can't see this or imagine
this without CNN having to tell them?
>
> If people thought about things a bit more in general, they'd be better
> off. Basic cooking (and shopping) skills should be taught in school
> more to de-mystify what is, essentially, a pretty easy task.
Home-Ec? Or having parents at home with the sense to teach them. I
taught my children the basics as I did things. They shopped with me and
saw me price comparison and evaluate the purchases.
>
> Just my two cents,
> Kris
>
> OTOH, I also find that Farmer's Market stuff isn't always as cheap as
> supermarket. Especially their meats & cheeses. Just what I've obsrved
I agree that some farmer's markets are more trendy al fresco markets and
not as cheap as the megastores. Yet often the product is superior so it
isn't even a fair comparison.....
Christine Dabney
wrote:
>> >Kris wrote:
>
>> Yes, they could read the price labels, but they don't. They could see
>> how expensive convenience foods are compared to buying ingredients to
>> make their own, but they don't. They could see that cooking at home
>> is cheaper then most restaurants, but they don't.
>
>are they so devoid of rational sense that they can't see this or imagine
>this without CNN having to tell them?
No, they aren't devoid of rational sense. The people with whom I come
in contact that are like this just don't seem to care. They are very
rational, but just don't care.
>
Christine
--
http://nightstirrings.blogspot.com
Goomba
> No, they aren't devoid of rational sense. The people with whom I come
> in contact that are like this just don't seem to care. They are very
> rational, but just don't care.
> Christine
Ah! Not caring is an entirely different issue, IMO. If they cared,
presumably they'd be able to figure out how to do it. That reassures me
more than a preponderance of ignorant people who can't even begin to
imagine how to squeeze a nickle....
Bobo Bonobo®
I love wing tips, both chicken and duck, fried crispy. My favorite
part of a roast turkey, other than the gravy, is the wing tips. Mmmm,
crunchy.
Christine Dabney
wrote:
Not entirely.
A lot of them know how to do this stuff, but have gotten lazy and just
don't care enough to change. Their circumstances are such, that they
would just rather pay the money. And even those that are trying to
watch their pennies, they just don't seem to care enough to make a
change. And there are a whole host of reasons why they don't care
enough. Too much trouble, not enough time, too lazy... I could go on
and on.
Christine
--
http://nightstirrings.blogspot.com
George
> I've been watching CNN, last night and this morning. Some of the guest
> speakers the media types have on with tips how to save money are mind
> boggling. Here are a few of the "ideas" for saving money on food that I
> caught:
>
> 1. Chicken is cheaper than other meats. Chicken with skin on and bone in
> is less expensive than skinless, boneless chicken. Remove the bone and
> skin at home (like people can't look at the price per pound on the
> package and figure this out themselves?).
>
> 2. Avoid convenience items and deli items. Those tend to be more
> expensive than food you prepare yourself (well slap me upside the head).
>
> 3. Eat out less often <huge eyeroll>
>
> than fresh veggies purchased at the supermarkets. If fresh is not
> available, buy frozen veggies.
>
> of Americans are incredibly stupid, or, scarier yet, the vast majority of
> Americans *are* incredibly stupid which would explain much. Like the
> popularity of Sandra Lee for just one example.
>
> I got this mental image of people huddling in the corner of their
> kitchens wringing their hands because they can no longer afford "Gourmet
> to Go" and thinking they'll starve because there is no food in the house.
>
> Gawd.
>
> Oh, and the worst was yet to come. Anderson Cooper had Dr. Phil (gag me
> twice) on his program last night. Seriously, I think this man is nothing
> but a media slut. He was yammering on and on about the unemployed can now
> take the time to become "parents", blah, blah, blah. Sheesh...
>
> Michael
>
told what to do and are only interested in impressing their friends and
watching American idol. They don't know how to compare for value, budget
their money or other such basic stuff.
The other day I mentioned to someone that they could save $500/year just
by brown bagging one day a week and they gave me a look like a carrot
was growing out of my ear.
George
decisions for them because they respond to marketing without analyzing
what they are being told to do.
George
>
>
> I sometimes think yuppies are insulted or offended by a good,
> inexpensive product, for some reason don't trust it. What's the point
> of being wealthy if you don't flaunt it by being wastefully extravagant?
> Even if i were wealthy i would have the staff shop at Chinatown.
> --
> JL
>
From experience knowing lots of such folks they aren't wealthy they are
just wannabes who are 1/2" from going under. Honest normal people who
are truly wealthy tend to get that way by being sensible.
Omelet
Joseph Littleshoes <jpst...@isp.com> wrote:
> What's the old joke about the guy who comes home from work and the
> little woman tells him dinner is not ready as the electricity is out.
> The husband say's "but we have a gas stove" and the little woman replies
> "yes dear but the electric can opener wont work."
> --
> JL
I'd not heard that one! Thanks for the laugh. ;-D
George
Yes, they somehow think it is beneath them and often live with
continuous angst because of it. I know a couple who are a matched set.
Both say "it will work out somehow" and are living way beyond their
means because they "deserve it". Only they know why they deserve it. His
doc has given him a scrip for probably every mind altering drug so that
maybe he can sleep once in a while or get through the day because of all
of this self inflicted pain they are in.
Omelet
George <geo...@nospam.invalid> wrote:
That is very true.
But then, there are the percentage that are just plain ignorant.
I've helped more than one person at the store shopping for a recipe in
the produce section! One girl did not even know what a green
onion/scallion looked like.
I actually have fun helping people like that. :-) She was making stuffed
mushrooms...
Melba's Jammin'
"Michael \"Dog3\"" <don'ta...@donttell.huh> wrote:
> There were more but I was extremely surprised. Aren't all of these a big
> DUH? I mean, common sense would dictate on all of these points. I have
> come to the conclusion that either the media believes the vast majority
> of Americans are incredibly stupid, or, scarier yet, the vast majority of
> Americans *are* incredibly stupid which would explain much.
> Michael
For me and thee, they are DUH! For too many others who've never given
it a second's thought, not so much. And common sense isn't so common
any more.
--
-Barb, Mother Superior, HOSSSPoJ
http://web.me.com/barbschaller - pot pie
"What you say about someone else says more
about you than it does about the other person."
RIP, Ivan, Mary, and Shirley. You and the others died way
too young. Rapid City, South Dakota, March 17, 1968.
Melba's Jammin'
notbob <not...@nothome.com> wrote:
> As for farmers markets, I don't know what they're like in the rest of
> the country, but in CA they've become more expensive than regular
> markets. With the exception of a couple items, seasonal tree fruits
> (peaches, nectarines, plums) and tomatoes, almost everything was more
> expensive at what was our local farmers market. I quit bothering
> with them, except for the nectarines.
>
True here as well, nb. I am usually happy to support a local grower,
though, and generally don't mind the higher price for locally grown and
nice quality.
--
-Barb, Mother Superior, HOSSSPoJ
http://web.me.com/barbschaller - pot pie
"What you say about someone else says more
about you than it does about the other person."
RIP Ivan, Mary, and Shirley. You and the others died far too soon.
Christine Dabney
<barbsc...@earthlink.net> wrote:
>In article <tfOvl.41951$3S3....@newsfe22.iad>,
> notbob <not...@nothome.com> wrote:
>> As for farmers markets, I don't know what they're like in the rest of
>> the country, but in CA they've become more expensive than regular
>> markets. With the exception of a couple items, seasonal tree fruits
>> (peaches, nectarines, plums) and tomatoes, almost everything was more
>> expensive at what was our local farmers market. I quit bothering
>> with them, except for the nectarines.
>>
>> nb
>
>True here as well, nb. I am usually happy to support a local grower,
>though, and generally don't mind the higher price for locally grown and
>nice quality.
At least in the bay area, where there are lots of farmers markets, it
depends on the farmers market. There are a few where the prices are
cheaper than the grocery stores. The Alemany market is one such
market. There are others that are much, much more expensive...
Christine
--
http://nightstirrings.blogspot.com
Melba's Jammin'
<9cbfeafd-6b21-407e...@q9g2000yqc.googlegroups.com>,
Kris <shan...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> Well, I think there *are* a lot of people who are stupid about food.
>
> Yes, they could read the price labels, but they don't. They could see
> how expensive convenience foods are compared to buying ingredients to
> make their own, but they don't. They could see that cooking at home
> is cheaper then most restaurants, but they don't.
>
> If people thought about things a bit more in general, they'd be better
> off. Basic cooking (and shopping) skills should be taught in school
> more to de-mystify what is, essentially, a pretty easy task.
>
> Just my two cents,
> Kris
I think they *could* with some basic information or instruction and some
encouragement but mostly I think they just don't care and they don't
look too far ahead. My daughter is always willing to tell me that she
is in a stressful profession and values her down time at home and
"everyone's priorities are not the same." Tough to argue with the
statements at face value. I think that, mostly, they just don't care
enough to get into it. The highest price will come later in life, IMO.
Melba's Jammin'
Goomba <Goom...@comcast.net> wrote:
> are they so devoid of rational sense that they can't see this or imagine
> this without CNN having to tell them?
Sure, but I think some just blow it off and figure it's not going to
apply to them. They don't care. They just don't care. They can't be
bothered.
> Home-Ec? Or having parents at home with the sense to teach them. I
> taught my children the basics as I did things. They shopped with me and
> saw me price comparison and evaluate the purchases.
Good that you did. Some of us didn't have that kind of patience or
interest in the process (our own short-sightedness, perhaps) when we
were raising our kids. Me, for instance. Shoot me. Doing it with
LaTwerp is much easier and I have about 80 times more patience with her
efforts that I did with her mother's. I live with the regret on an
ongoing basis.
Melba's Jammin'
Mr. Bill <bb0...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Tue, 17 Mar 2009 07:40:00 -0700 (PDT), Kris <shan...@hotmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> >OTOH, I also find that Farmer's Market stuff isn't always as cheap as
> >supermarket. Especially their meats & cheeses. Just what I've obsrved
>
> You are right....they NEVER are....and getting fresh from Farmer's
> Market is so seasonal....What am I suppose to do from November thru
> April?
Adjust how you eat? When I was a kid a half century+ ago, the
availability of fresh fruits and vegetables was seasonal. I looked
forward to eating stone fruits and berries in the summer, either
homegrown (the berries) or purchased -- shipped in from California, most
likely. "Shipped in" meant from states with longer growing seasons
and/or a warmer climate, not from countries south of the equator. In
the winter you could get citrus fruit and apples and not a whole lot
more than that. It wasn't a big deal and I remember the fruit as
generally being of high quality. Our world got bigger.
Melba's Jammin'
the...@uwm.edu wrote:
> I must be shopping at the wrong farmers' markets then.
> Supermarket prices are lower than farmers' market prices
> about half the time. I'm glad to pay the farmer more directly.
>
> --thelma
Hear, hear!
Melba's Jammin'
"brooklyn1" <grave...@verizon.net> wrote:
> Crops being seasonal there will only be a couple of items at a farmers
> market harvested that day, or even that week.... there is really no
> difference in freshness from the stupidmarket because when it's time for
> harvesting say strawberries, corn, squash, etc. it'll be just as fresh at
> the stupidmarket, maybe fresher because they buy in bulk directly from local
> farms, they pay in advance to reserve future crops and so get best of the
> crop. Most of what's sold at farm stands is the same storage crops that are
> sold everywhere. The only way to know for sure that you're getting fresh
> picked crops is to grow your own. Nowadays the term Farm Stand is
> meaningless... what they really do is sell knock offs.
Not all of them operate the way you describe, farm stands or
supermarkets.
TFM®
"Melba's Jammin'" <barbsc...@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:barbschaller-DF62...@news.iphouse.com...
> In article <OIOvl.700$SU3...@nwrddc02.gnilink.net>,
> "brooklyn1" <grave...@verizon.net> wrote:
>
>> Crops being seasonal there will only be a couple of items at a farmers
>> market harvested that day, or even that week.... there is really no
>> difference in freshness from the stupidmarket because when it's time for
>> harvesting say strawberries, corn, squash, etc. it'll be just as fresh at
>> the stupidmarket, maybe fresher because they buy in bulk directly from
>> local
>> farms, they pay in advance to reserve future crops and so get best of the
>> crop. Most of what's sold at farm stands is the same storage crops that
>> are
>> sold everywhere. The only way to know for sure that you're getting fresh
>> picked crops is to grow your own. Nowadays the term Farm Stand is
>> meaningless... what they really do is sell knock offs.
>
> Not all of them operate the way you describe, farm stands or
> supermarkets.
Certainly not in this part of Floriduh. My 2 favorite produce stores grow
most of their stuff on site year round.
OTOH they are sometimes more expensive than the supermarkets, but the
quality is almost always better.
I did manage to get real, ripe tomatoes last week for 99 cents a pound.
Butternut squash (one of my all time favorite foods) is always 69 or 79
cents a pound at the produce stands. Up to $1.29 at the grocery stores.
Better food cheaper and I'm supporting local business. Kinda gives me a
warm fuzzy feeling.
TFM®
TFM®
"Kris" <shan...@hotmail.com> wrote
> Well, I think there *are* a lot of people who are stupid about food.
>
> Yes, they could read the price labels, but they don't.
At the supermarkets here the price labels on the shelves all have the price
per ounce hidden in a corner in fine print.
I've been shopping with a lot of people and none of them has ever noticed
that. They'll jump on the larger size item because it's on "sale" and then
I point out that the standard size is cheaper.
Even my lovely wife tended to gravitate toward the large type, sale signs.
She was far from stupid, but a classic example of how marketing works.
TFM®
TFM®
"Mr. Bill" <bb0...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:10evr4tjqt61bm7r6...@4ax.com...
> On Tue, 17 Mar 2009 07:40:00 -0700 (PDT), Kris <shan...@hotmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>>OTOH, I also find that Farmer's Market stuff isn't always as cheap as
>>supermarket. Especially their meats & cheeses. Just what I've obsrved
>
> You are right....they NEVER are....and getting fresh from Farmer's
> Market is so seasonal....What am I suppose to do from November thru
> April?
>
Move to Floriduh?
TFM®
TFM®
"George" <geo...@nospam.invalid> wrote
> The other day I mentioned to someone that they could save $500/year just
> by brown bagging one day a week and they gave me a look like a carrot was
> growing out of my ear.
I like to come home for lunch and have a shot of whisky. It's 2 miles to my
job. How much money will I have saved in a year? ;-)
TFM®
TFM®
"Sqwertz" <swe...@cluemail.compost> wrote in message
news:170309.19264...@sqwertz.com...
> "Michael "Dog3"" <don'ta...@donttell.huh> wrote:
>
>> 4. Buy fresh veggies at farmer's markets. They tend to be less expensive
>> than fresh veggies purchased at the supermarkets. If fresh is not
>> available, buy frozen veggies.
>
> Bullshit. The vegetables at the farmers markets around here are
> 2-5x as expensive as the supermarkets. And that's pretty much goes
> for every farmers market I've ever been to in many states.
Is the discussion over now that you've thrown the bullshit flag down? It's
really not the case here.
I could actually get a group of like minded people together and we could
travel 10 miles from here and buy wholesale for about half what most produce
stands charge, which are still cheaper than the supermarkets.
Finding a large enough group of people who actually know what to do with
fresh produce would be the challenge.
TFM®
Bob Terwilliger
>> and getting fresh from Farmer's Market is so seasonal....What am I
>> suppose to do from November thru April?
>>
>
> Move to Floriduh?
I was under the impression that Mr. Bill already lived pretty far south
(eastern Tennessee, to be specific). He says he *has* lived in Florida,
though.
Bob, Florida native living in California
Andy
Gave up hurricanes for earthquakes? Or humidity for smog? Or both?
Andy
Nancy Young
> At the supermarkets here the price labels on the shelves all have the
> price per ounce hidden in a corner in fine print.
> I've been shopping with a lot of people and none of them has ever
> noticed that. They'll jump on the larger size item because it's on
> "sale" and then I point out that the standard size is cheaper.
>
> Even my lovely wife tended to gravitate toward the large type, sale
> signs. She was far from stupid, but a classic example of how
> marketing works.
They are good at what they do. 10 for $10! sounds good until you
realize it was cheaper last week on sale. Just being in the weekly
circular, that doesn't mean it's on sale. You have to know your
prices. Still, you can drive yourself crazy trying to get everything
at the lowest price all the time. Sometimes you just have to let
it go.
nancy
Bob Terwilliger
>> Bob, Florida native living in California
>
> Gave up hurricanes for earthquakes? Or humidity for smog? Or both?
More like wet heat for dry heat. Here in the Sacramento valley we don't have
smog *or* earthquakes. But the summer sun is FEROCIOUS. In general, the
roads here are also safer: Florida roads have a high concentration of people
with diminished hearing, slow reflexes, and who never turn their heads while
driving.
I do sometimes miss the thunderstorms, but I damn sure don't miss the
cockroaches!
Bob, with two sisters who still live in Florida
Cindy Hamilton
I think he means "brown bag rather than eat lunch in a restaurant".
It's 5 miles to my job. I'd rather spend the 1/3 (god, I hope my
mental math is
correct, or someone will crucify me) gallon of gas to get home and
back for lunch, although I do dine out occasionally. I rarely brown
bag
it, because fools keep coming to my office and interrupting me.
Cindy Hamilton
Omelet
<e226d06a-e0b7-404e...@j39g2000yqn.googlegroups.com>,
Cindy Hamilton <angelica...@yahoo.com> wrote:
Lock the office door during lunch...
--
Peace! Om
Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass.
It's about learning to dance in the rain.
-- Anon.
brooklyn1
"Melba's Jammin'" wrote
> "brooklyn1" wrote:
>
>> Crops being seasonal there will only be a couple of items at a farmers
>> market harvested that day, or even that week.... there is really no
>> difference in freshness from the stupidmarket because when it's time for
>> harvesting say strawberries, corn, squash, etc. it'll be just as fresh at
>> the stupidmarket, maybe fresher because they buy in bulk directly from
>> local
>> farms, they pay in advance to reserve future crops and so get best of the
>> crop. Most of what's sold at farm stands is the same storage crops that
>> are
>> sold everywhere. The only way to know for sure that you're getting fresh
>> picked crops is to grow your own. Nowadays the term Farm Stand is
>> meaningless... what they really do is sell knock offs.
>
> Not all of them operate the way you describe, farm stands or
> supermarkets.
>
>
couple-a-three crops they're harvesting that week... like asparagus in
spring, strawberries early summer, tomatoes late summer, corn later summer,
and whatever else they put out as it ripens. But Farmer's Markets are no
different from stupidmarkes, at any given time they're *all* selling mostly
imported/storage produce.
Unlike a Farm Stand a Farmer's Market is simply a stand alone produce
department without the rest of the stupidmarket. A Farmer's Market is what
used to be called a Green Grocer. How do you account for all those out of
season crops sold at Farmer's Markets... and in fact the typical Farmer's
Market is composed of many independant purveyers most of which don't operate
a farm, probably never have... each morning they go to the area's wholesale
produce terminal to shop for whatever they can bargain for, most being
imported and storage produce... and then they tout it as home grown and even
organic... and charge ridiculously high prices.
Where I live there are plenty of Farmer's Markets and Farm Stands. They are
more expensive than stupidmarkets but sell exactly the same produce. The
only truly honest ones are the small Farm Stands operated by folks who have
a large garden like mine, they put out a table or two roadside in front of
their house with whatever crops they harvested that morning... the crops are
in small containers marked with the price, with paper bags to carry off what
one wants so they can leave the containers, with a jar or a box for the
money, all done on the honor system, and people are honest. I tried it for
a few weeks one year, wasn't worth my trouble for the few dollars... my
doorbell didn't stop ringing by people wanting to know if I had more of
something, when I'll be having such n' such, all sorts of questions, many
just wanted to chat... now I just give away and trade my surplus. I give a
lot to a local golf course for their restaurant, they reciprocate tenfold.
I don't golf but I learned about the golf course from my neighbor who has a
large garden too, and we trade, but he brings a lot of his surplus to the
golf course because his daughter waits table there summers and because his
entire family has lived here for generations (I think the golf course owner
is related), in small towns everyone knows each other, there's lots of
reciprosity, in rural communities the barter system is still alive and well,
I think most even share the same DNA... they don't refer to it as six toes,
here they say pointy ears... true.
Dave Smith
>> It's 5 miles to my job. I'd rather spend the 1/3 (god, I hope my
>> mental math is
>> correct, or someone will crucify me) gallon of gas to get home and
>> back for lunch, although I do dine out occasionally. I rarely brown
>> bag
>> it, because fools keep coming to my office and interrupting me.
>>
>> Cindy Hamilton
>
> Lock the office door during lunch...
That is not always feasible. People arriving at noon hour and finding
the place closed may get upset and not come back, but finding the doors
locked and seeing someone inside may make them even more upset. Better
not to be there at all.
My partner and I often worked through our lunch hour and left early. It
was a small building and we had nowhere to hide. If we left the place
open we were sure to have people drop by. When we did take a lunch break
we locked up and went to a restaurant.
Bob Terwilliger
> It's 5 miles to my job. I'd rather spend the 1/3 (god, I hope my mental
> math is correct, or someone will crucify me) gallon of gas to get home and
> back for lunch
Doing the math: 5 miles home and 5 miles back means you did a 10-mile round
trip on 1/3 gallon of gas. So if your car gets 30 miles to the gallon, your
math is correct.
Bob
brooklyn1
"Bob Terwilliger" <virtualgoth@die_spammer.biz> wrote in message
news:2lnf9p....@news.alt.net...
> TFM® replied to Mr. Bill:
>
>>> and getting fresh from Farmer's Market is so seasonal....What am I
>>> suppose to do from November thru April?
>>>
>>
>> Move to Floriduh?
>
> I was under the impression that Mr. Bill already lived pretty far south
> (eastern Tennessee, to be specific). He says he *has* lived in Florida,
> though.
>
>
>
else... and in fact California averages a two month longer growing season,
and many crops don't grow in Florida, it's too friggin' hot there, they
don't have nearly as fertile soil, and their weather is too unpredictable...
even the Florida citrus crop is very iffy, a great deal of citrus that folks
assume is from Florida is grown in Central America. California encompasses
a much broader biome so the range of crops is enormous, but still
seasonal... all crops are seasonal everywhere, that's why for about half the
year North America imports produce from South America, and vice versa...
agriculturally Chile is the mirror image of California.
Bob Terwilliger
> For Farm Stands this is true but there are very few that sell only the
> couple-a-three crops they're harvesting that week... like asparagus in
> spring, strawberries early summer, tomatoes late summer, corn later
> summer, and whatever else they put out as it ripens. But Farmer's Markets
> are no different from stupidmarkes, at any given time they're *all*
> selling mostly imported/storage produce.
If there were a Hall of Fame for stupid things posted by Sheldon, this would
surely be a shoo-in!
Dumbass, what do you think farmers *do* with their crops? Around here, the
farmers' market kiosks all proudly display banners of where the farms are,
and at any time I could drive out to the farm and PERSONALLY WATCH the crops
being grown, picked, and trucked to the market. I don't know where you pick
up the bullshit you post, but that bull has some NASTY diarrhea!
> Unlike a Farm Stand a Farmer's Market is simply a stand alone produce
> department without the rest of the stupidmarket. A Farmer's Market is
> what used to be called a Green Grocer. How do you account for all those
> out of season crops sold at Farmer's Markets...
I don't need to account for any such thing, because my farmers' markets
don't sell ANY out-of-season crops. In the months when some farms are not
harvesting, representatives from those farms simply don't appear at the
farmers' markets. But around here, there is ALWAYS something being
harvested.
If farmers in your area engage in the kind of scams you mention, then maybe
you need to relocate to an area of the country where integrity is a little
more common.
> and in fact the typical Farmer's Market is composed of many independant
> purveyers most of which don't operate a farm, probably never have... each
> morning they go to the area's wholesale produce terminal to shop for
> whatever they can bargain for, most being imported and storage produce...
> and then they tout it as home grown and even organic... and charge
> ridiculously high prices.
In California, there are regulators who ensure that anything labeled as
"organic" has in fact been grown in accordance with the fairly-rigorous
California definition of organic produce. And farms have to be CERTIFIED as
organic before they can sell their organic crops. It's not an easy thing to
get that certification, either. A farmer can't just show up at a market and
start selling his goods; he has to go through a screening process before
he's allowed to sell at that particular market. That way the consumers are
protected.
So New York doesn't give a shit about enforcement of agricultural standards,
and their farmers' markets have no consumer protection in place at all? If
that were true, I wouldn't be *totally* surprised, but I think it's not
true; I think you are simply talking out of your ass again.
> Where I live there are plenty of Farmer's Markets and Farm Stands. They
> are more expensive than stupidmarkets but sell exactly the same produce.
> The only truly honest ones are the small Farm Stands operated by folks who
> have a large garden like mine, they put out a table or two roadside in
> front of their house with whatever crops they harvested that morning...
> the crops are in small containers marked with the price, with paper bags
> to carry off what one wants so they can leave the containers, with a jar
> or a box for the money, all done on the honor system, and people are
> honest.
No, you just went on at great length about how DISHONEST people in your part
of the country are! Don't try to back out of it by holding up "people with
large gardens like mine" as a counterexample, because I don't believe you
for one second. You are a complete scumbag, and I have no doubt in my mind
that if you ran across a farm stand like you describe, you would steal not
only the money jar but all the produce as well.
Bob
Gloria P
> In article
> <9cbfeafd-6b21-407e...@q9g2000yqc.googlegroups.com>,
> Kris <shan...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>>
>> If people thought about things a bit more in general, they'd be better
>> off. Basic cooking (and shopping) skills should be taught in school
>> more to de-mystify what is, essentially, a pretty easy task.
>>
>> Just my two cents,
>> Kris
>
> I think they *could* with some basic information or instruction and some
> encouragement but mostly I think they just don't care and they don't
> look too far ahead.
I agree about not caring. If you don't value eating you won't care
about cooking. Our daughter is a terrific cook but her husband is one
of those skinny guys who only eats to live so they eat out a lot. My
theory is that her effort isn't valued, so what the heck, let's eat out.
Money isn't a problem right now so like many of their generation they
spend it nearly as fast as they make it.
gloria p
Bob Terwilliger
> A lotta BS... Florida crops are just as seasonal as California and
> anywhere else... and in fact California averages a two month longer
> growing season, and many crops don't grow in Florida, it's too friggin'
> hot there, they don't have nearly as fertile soil, and their weather is
> too unpredictable...
On the other hand, there are many crops which cannot be grown in California
but which will grow in Florida just fine. Florida's climate is much more
tropical than California's, so you can easily grow things like guavas,
mangos, and starfruit. When I lived in Florida, in addition to the
ubiquitous citrus trees (oranges, sour oranges, lemons, and grapefruit), we
had mangos, avocados, loquats, rose apples, Surinam cherries, figs,
seagrapes, and guavas growing on our property. Neighbors also had citrus, as
well as mulberries, tamarind, star fruit, prickly pears, yuca, bananas, and
lychees.
Poking around, I see www.floridagardening.com/html/aboutus.html, which seems
to give a pretty accurate view of the agricultural potential in Florida.
Bob
brooklyn1
"Cindy Hamilton" <angelica...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:e226d06a-e0b7-404e...@j39g2000yqn.googlegroups.com...
Methinks yoose prevaricate... brown bagging in no way precludes eating
somewhere other than at ones work station. Since you're willing to sit in
your car for a round trip home why not eat in your parked car and then go
for a walk... and I'm sure one can find a park bench or somesuch somewhere
nearby... in large cities office workers eat while strolling the Avenues,
alone or with coworkers, they get a little exercise while window shopping.
I know of three neighbors who work within 3 miles of where they live (my
next door neighbor walks a 1/4 mile round trip), but the only reason they
come home lunch time is to walk their dog, actually just let it out to run
and do its business. My tenant is a school teacher in town, she drives the
6 mile round trip to let Harrold out while she sits on her back steps eating
lunch (in fact it's 12:30, I'll hear her driving up any minute). Another
fellow a bit further down the road works at the same place my neighbor does,
he also walks home for lunch and to let his dog out. But most people work
too far to drive home for lunch, most brown bag but eat somewhere other than
their work station.
blake murphy
> I've been watching CNN, last night and this morning. Some of the guest
> speakers the media types have on with tips how to save money are mind
> boggling. Here are a few of the "ideas" for saving money on food that I
> caught:
>
> 1. Chicken is cheaper than other meats. Chicken with skin on and bone in
> is less expensive than skinless, boneless chicken. Remove the bone and
> skin at home (like people can't look at the price per pound on the
> package and figure this out themselves?).
>
> 2. Avoid convenience items and deli items. Those tend to be more
> expensive than food you prepare yourself (well slap me upside the head).
>
> 3. Eat out less often <huge eyeroll>
>
> 4. Buy fresh veggies at farmer's markets. They tend to be less expensive
> than fresh veggies purchased at the supermarkets. If fresh is not
> available, buy frozen veggies.
>
> There were more but I was extremely surprised. Aren't all of these a big
> DUH? I mean, common sense would dictate on all of these points. I have
> come to the conclusion that either the media believes the vast majority
> of Americans are incredibly stupid, or, scarier yet, the vast majority of
> Americans *are* incredibly stupid which would explain much. Like the
> popularity of Sandra Lee for just one example.
>
see, that's the thing. these items *aren't* obvious to a lot of people.
beyond that, there are a *lot* of things (particularly political things)
that aren't at all obvious to people who appear on t.v.
>
> Oh, and the worst was yet to come. Anderson Cooper had Dr. Phil (gag me
> twice) on his program last night. Seriously, I think this man is nothing
> but a media slut. He was yammering on and on about the unemployed can now
> take the time to become "parents", blah, blah, blah. Sheesh...
>
> Michael
dr. phil just strikes me as obnoxious. i think i would prefer to live in
whatever domestic hell he is trying to cure that listen to advice from that
gasbag.
your pal,
blake
blake murphy
> On 2009-03-17, Michael "Dog3" <don'ta...@donttell.huh> wrote:
>> I've been watching CNN....
>
> Apparently, to the point of being a masochist.
>
>> There were more but I was extremely surprised. Aren't all of these a big
>> DUH?
>
> I don't think so. In fact, I disagree with most of them. I can save even
> more $$$ on skin/boneless chicken by watching the sales. Safeway had
> 'em for $1.69lb 3 wks ago. Three pounds of the best bacon I've seen in ages
> for $5! It's not what you buy, but when. As for farmers markets, I don't
> know what they're like in the rest of the country, but in CA they've become
> more expensive than regular markets. With the exception of a couple items,
> seasonal tree fruits (peaches, nectarines, plums) and tomatoes, almost
> everything was more expensive at what was our local farmers market. I quit
> bothering with them, except for the nectarines.
>
> nb
granted, suburban d.c. is not a hotbed of farmer's market activity, but i
agree - the prices don't seem to be any better. sometimes the quality is,
but that's also hit-or-miss.
your pal,
blake
blake murphy
> notbob wrote:
>
>> I don't think so. In fact, I disagree with most of them. I can save even
>> more $$$ on skin/boneless chicken by watching the sales. Safeway had
>> 'em for $1.69lb 3 wks ago. Three pounds of the best bacon I've seen in ages
>> for $5! It's not what you buy, but when.
>
> There is a local family run grocery store that I shop at once in a while
> primarily for their chicken deals. They not only have good prices,
> especially when they run a sale, but they have the sizes I want. They
> sell a lot of small chickens. I love those little chickens done on my
> BBQ rotisserie and one bird split down the middle does the two of us
> nicely. They also have nice thin boned skinless chicken breasts that are
> perfect for pan frying in some of my favourite dishes.
>
finding an approximately 3-pound chicken is difficult in the grocery near
me (md). it drives me nuts.
your pal,
blake
Lynn from Fargo Ografmorffig
> On Tue, 17 Mar 2009 07:40:00 -0700 (PDT), Kris <shanno...@hotmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> >OTOH, I also find that Farmer's Market stuff isn't always as cheap as
> >supermarket. Especially their meats & cheeses. Just what I've obsrved
>
> Market is so seasonal....What am I suppose to do from November thru
> April?
Buy local produce. It's (literally) "greener". The stuff that's
trucked in or shipped from Chili or the other coast has much less
flavor. Skip the stuff that's out of season.
Lynn in Fargo
Tomatoes . . . I rest my case.
blake murphy
> In article <OIOvl.700$SU3...@nwrddc02.gnilink.net>,
> "brooklyn1" <grave...@verizon.net> wrote:
>
>> Crops being seasonal there will only be a couple of items at a farmers
>> market harvested that day, or even that week.... there is really no
>> difference in freshness from the stupidmarket because when it's time for
>> harvesting say strawberries, corn, squash, etc. it'll be just as fresh at
>> the stupidmarket, maybe fresher because they buy in bulk directly from local
>> farms, they pay in advance to reserve future crops and so get best of the
>> crop. Most of what's sold at farm stands is the same storage crops that are
>> sold everywhere. The only way to know for sure that you're getting fresh
>> picked crops is to grow your own. Nowadays the term Farm Stand is
>> meaningless... what they really do is sell knock offs.
>
> Not all of them operate the way you describe, farm stands or
> supermarkets.
there's not much in the Real World™ that operates as sheldon describes.
i'm still working on the chickens with breast cancer and floor sweepings in
coffee.
your pal,
blake
blake murphy
> In article <gpp4lp$8gf$2...@news.motzarella.org>,
> George <geo...@nospam.invalid> wrote:
>
>> Joseph Littleshoes wrote:
>>>
>>
>>>
>>> I sometimes think yuppies are insulted or offended by a good,
>>> inexpensive product, for some reason don't trust it. What's the point
>>> of being wealthy if you don't flaunt it by being wastefully extravagant?
>>> Even if i were wealthy i would have the staff shop at Chinatown.
>>> --
>>> JL
>>>
>> From experience knowing lots of such folks they aren't wealthy they are
>> just wannabes who are 1/2" from going under. Honest normal people who
>> are truly wealthy tend to get that way by being sensible.
>
> That is very true.
>
> But then, there are the percentage that are just plain ignorant.
>
> I've helped more than one person at the store shopping for a recipe in
> the produce section! One girl did not even know what a green
> onion/scallion looked like.
>
> I actually have fun helping people like that. :-) She was making stuffed
> mushrooms...
i was once in the grocery store next to a man holding a head of cabbage and
looking very puzzled. i finally asked him what he was looking for and he
said his wife wanted him to pick up a head of lettuce. i said 'your wife
will be very unhappy if you bring that home. look over there.'
your pal,
blake
Lynn from Fargo Ografmorffig
(snip)
>
> Ah! Not caring is an entirely different issue, IMO. If they cared,
> presumably they'd be able to figure out how to do it. That reassures me
> more than a preponderance of ignorant people who can't even begin to
> imagine how to squeeze a nickle....
Interesting Point: Do you think one of the "silver linings" of our
present economic disaster will create another generation of children
who squeeze nickels, pinch pennies and hoard rubber bands?
Lynn in Fargo
Mom born in 1920 z''l
Janet Bostwick
Sheldon. There is one exception -- a mixed market available on Saturday's
only, where 'some' of the produce available is local. Otherwise it is just
a market. There is no way that my local markets are growing oranges in
January. It has been this way for at least 20 years. They are just another
business without brick and mortar.
Janet
Lynn from Fargo Ografmorffig
> >>OTOH, I also find that Farmer's Market stuff isn't always as cheap as
> >>supermarket. Especially their meats & cheeses. Just what I've obsrved
>
> > You are right....they NEVER are....and getting fresh from Farmer's
> > Market is so seasonal....What am I suppose to do from November thru
> > April?
>
> Move to Floriduh?
>
> TFM®
=======================
Half of North Dakota does that. The other half moves to Arizona.
Lynn in Fargo
goin' nowhere ;-)
Omelet
blake murphy <blakepm...@verizon.net> wrote:
<lol> Nothing wrong with helping people that look lost. :-)
It can be very rewarding.
I was wandering the store once filling my shopping list, and I ran into
this older gentleman 3 times in 3 different areas of the store. I noted
the third time he really was looking rather lost...
I finally asked him "Can I help you sir?" (I get used to uttering that
phrase at the hospital where I work anyway) and he asked me if I worked
there. I said "No, but I've been shopping here for over 20 years".
He was looking for salted nuts. I was able to tell him where they were
found and showed him.
He was quite grateful. :-) Made me feel all fuzzy and all that.
Look for people in the produce section holding a bit of paper with a
recipe rather than a shopping list. I've done that more than once.
Omelet
<c7368e9c-f6ac-47b5...@e18g2000yqo.googlegroups.com>,
Or kids that will actually be interested in learning how to cook from
fresh foods!
maxine
> The other day I mentioned to someone that they could save $500/year just
> by brown bagging one day a week and they gave me a look like a carrot
> was growing out of my ear.
Nothing personal, but that's $10 for one lunch. The once a week I buy
lunch it's $6-8 max. I must live in a very inexpensive area!
maxine in ri
Omelet
<ff8b8d43-5a3e-4ef3...@p11g2000yqe.googlegroups.com>,
maxine <wee...@gmail.com> wrote:
Or YOU know where to eat! I'd never spend 10 bucks for a lunch. $4.00
to $6.00 MAX.
maxine
wrote:
One could hope. At least they could try and hold on to enough of them
to rub two together once in a while.
maxine in ri
Mom born in 1913 Doctor said she was in good shape on Monday.
George Shirley
Good for her Maxine, my Mom was born in 1905 and lived until 1994 in
pretty good health then went downhill in about a month. Dad was born in
1911 and made it to 1982 even with severe heart problems most of his
life. It's amazing what modern medicine can do for us.
MIL was born in 1908 and, if she makes it to October, will be 101 yo
then. Her first cousin died last week, one day after her 101st birthday.
MIL is somewhat senile with moments of great memory but is otherwise
healthy for a woman her age.
I was working on the family tree the other day and realized an amazing
thing. I was born in 1939, my mother in in 1905, and her mother in 1862.
In two generations I'm back in the middle of the US Civil War. Can't
wait to discuss this with the greatgrands who are due here tomorrow to
spend some time with us. The eight-year old will be thrilled as she's
studying the Civil War in school but I'm afraid the five-year old will
be more interested in playing with the dog.
James Silverton
>> On Mar 17, 5:23 pm, George <geo...@nospam.invalid> wrote:
>>
> >> The other day I mentioned to someone that they could save
> >> $500/year just by brown bagging one day a week and they
> >> gave me a look like a carrot was growing out of my ear.
>>
>> Nothing personal, but that's $10 for one lunch. The once a
>> week I buy lunch it's $6-8 max. I must live in a very
>> inexpensive area!
>>
>> maxine in ri
> Or YOU know where to eat! I'd never spend 10 bucks for a
> lunch. $4.00 to $6.00 MAX.
If I go to a restaurant for lunch and pay significantly under $20 around
here with a tip and one beer, I feel I am doing well. About the cheapest
I can find are buffets and even they come to about $10 without tip or a
drink.
--
James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland
Email, with obvious alterations: not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not
Ophelia
> i was once in the grocery store next to a man holding a head of
> cabbage and looking very puzzled. i finally asked him what he was
> looking for and he said his wife wanted him to pick up a head of
> lettuce. i said 'your wife will be very unhappy if you bring that
> home. look over there.'
There have been many times over the last few years, that I have taken my
produce to the checkout, only to be asked 'what is this please?'
Kswck
"blake murphy" <blakepm...@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:1eep8y7xytm5f.z...@40tude.net...
I have a different scenario. I stand 6' 8". So I am always the one the
'little old lady' looks for when she can't reach something on the top shelf.
Which is several times every time I go grocery shopping.
ra...@vt.edu
> In my area the only farmer's markets are those that are described by
> Sheldon. There is one exception -- a mixed market available on Saturday's
> only, where 'some' of the produce available is local. Otherwise it is just
> a market. There is no way that my local markets are growing oranges in
> January. It has been this way for at least 20 years. They are just another
> business without brick and mortar.
The local farmer's market here has pretty strict rules about produce
being local. My wife used to be the market coordinator and I know
most of the vendors. A few years ago there were some that tried
to bring in stuff they bought from wholesalers, but they were quickly
told to knock it off. On the other hand, it sure isn't cheaper than
the supermarket.
Bill Ranck
Blacksburg, Va.
Dave Smith
> In article
>>
>>> The other day I mentioned to someone that they could save $500/year just
>>> by brown bagging one day a week and they gave me a look like a carrot
>>> was growing out of my ear.
>> Nothing personal, but that's $10 for one lunch. The once a week I buy
>> lunch it's $6-8 max. I must live in a very inexpensive area!
>>
>> maxine in ri
>
> Or YOU know where to eat! I'd never spend 10 bucks for a lunch. $4.00
> to $6.00 MAX.
There are lots of places to get good cheap lunches, but you usually have
to be mobile. When the local restaurants know they have near captive
audience who don't have the time or means to go elsewhere the charge
higher prices. When I was working I had a government vehicle and made
sure that my business took me areas that had good, cheap meals. I could
always find meals that were less than my expense account maximum.
Hotels are full of people who are from out of town, don't know the city,
and often on generous expense accounts, and the hotel restaurants tend
to be expensive places to eat.
Kathleen
> In article
> <c7368e9c-f6ac-47b5...@e18g2000yqo.googlegroups.com>,
> Lynn from Fargo Ografmorffig <lynn...@i29.net> wrote:
>
>
>>Goomba said:
>>(snip)
>>
>>>Ah! Not caring is an entirely different issue, IMO. If they cared,
>>>presumably they'd be able to figure out how to do it. That reassures me
>>>more than a preponderance of ignorant people who can't even begin to
>>>imagine how to squeeze a nickle....
>>
>>Interesting Point: Do you think one of the "silver linings" of our
>>present economic disaster will create another generation of children
>>who squeeze nickels, pinch pennies and hoard rubber bands?
>>Lynn in Fargo
>>Mom born in 1920 z''l
>
>
> Or kids that will actually be interested in learning how to cook from
> fresh foods!
We're planting victory gardens this year, here and at DD's boyfriend's
house.
We've got two kinds of tomatoes - Arkansas Traveler, a crack resistant,
heat tolerant heirloom slicer, and grape tomatoes. Also, cucumbers,
snow peas, sugar snap peas, poblano peppers, two kinds of super sweet
corn - burgundy and white, for proper cross-pollination. Giant
pumpkins, just for grins, and cantelope. Birdhouse gourds, which I plan
to plant around the dead corkscrew willow at the back of the yard (hey,
it's a free trellis). Strawberries, and rosemary. And potatoes.
A substantial chunk of the back lawn is going bye-bye.
The tomatoes will go in the existing fenced, raised bed to protect them
from the dogs and the bunnies. Peppers and strawberries in containers
on the patio that can be shifted to take advantage of the sun. Rosemary
in the front garden. Gourds around the willow, pumpkins and cantelope
on mounds just forward of there, corn, cukes, taters and peas in a plot
down the middle of the yard.
At least I don't have to worry about deer and raccoons pillaging the corn.
At boyfriend's house, cucumbers, potatoes, peas, peppers and tomatoes.
Bob Terwilliger
> In my area the only farmer's markets are those that are described by
> Sheldon. There is one exception -- a mixed market available on Saturday's
> only, where 'some' of the produce available is local. Otherwise it is
> just a market. There is no way that my local markets are growing oranges
> in January. It has been this way for at least 20 years. They are just
> another business without brick and mortar.
Where do you live? Have you ever visited www.localharvest.org to see if
maybe there's a REAL farmers' market near you? I know they can be a bit hard
to find.
Bob
notbob
> and many crops don't grow in Florida, it's too friggin' hot there.....
What crap!
"The hottest temperature ever recorded in the Florida was 109 蚌 (43 蚓)"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida#Climate
That's just a hot day in CA. Temps in the 100+teens are common in the
Central Valley, CAs agri bread basket. But, it's dry heat. FL has the
natural humidity that CA doesn't. BTW, CA growing season depends on how
much snow fell in the Sierra's the previous Winter, as it's all irrigation.
Depending on the newer strains of whatever crop, the growing season is damn
near year round.
nb
Cindy Hamilton
> It's 5 miles to my job. I'd rather spend the 1/3 (god, I hope my
> mental math is
> correct, or someone will crucify me) gallon of gas to get home and
> back for lunch, although I do dine out occasionally. I rarely brown
> bag
> it, because fools keep coming to my office and interrupting me.
>
> Methinks yoose prevaricate...
I don't prevaricate. I freely admit to a strong preference to going
home for lunch, since it is relatively close and I enjoy being in
my house. It's very relaxing. Sometimes I'll do a little prep
on dinner while I'm home for lunch.
Plus, I can eat whatever I feel like when I am ready to eat,
rather than what I felt like packing in the brown bag.
>brown bagging in no way precludes eating
> somewhere other than at ones work station. Since you're willing to sit in
> your car for a round trip home why not eat in your parked car and then go
> for a walk... and I'm sure one can find a park bench or somesuch somewhere
> nearby...
Industrial park just south of Ann Arbor, MI. Not much around here,
although
there is a strip mall down the street with a Middle Eastern "deli".
Cindy Hamilton
Cindy Hamilton
> > it, because fools keep coming to my office and interrupting me.
>
> > Cindy Hamilton
>
> Lock the office door during lunch...
Sorry, I used the word "office" figuratively. It's a doorless
cubicle.
Cindy Hamilton
Janet Bostwick
open for a certain period of months per year. Other than that, it indicates
the local food co-op (brick and mortar store where I do have a membership)
that is a grocery and the produce is not local, but some is organic. A
couple other places described are subdivision plots for residents plus a
deliver to your home deal where you pay x amount per time period and get an
organic produce delivery. Nothing like the farm stands that carry locally
grown stuff.
Janet
bulka
>
> They are good at what they do. 10 for $10! sounds good until you
> realize it was cheaper last week on sale. Just being in the weekly
> circular, that doesn't mean it's on sale. You have to know your
> prices. Still, you can drive yourself crazy trying to get everything
> at the lowest price all the time. Sometimes you just have to let
> it go.
>
> nancy
Yeah, 10 for 10 is a great gimmick. Never mind that it was 89 cents
last week, I'm still tempted to stock up. But I resist.
I check the circulars, but, between taking my sister to her job at the
fancy store, I drive by two or three others every day. Some I like
better for some items, some for the convenience of being near the
library or pet food store.
On the other hand, the other day I paid almost $1 more for a gallon of
milk at the quicky-mart down the street rather than go the couple of
miles to the grocery for one thing.
The stuff you buy every week, you know what it should cost. Special
things, like corned beef this week, might take some comparison
shopping.
On the other hand, its special.
Here's some psychology. When the budget is the most tight is when I
am most likely to splurge. "These few dollars aren't going to keep me
from the wolf. Might as well get the fancy stuff and live well until
I die."
B
Janet Bostwick
"Omelet" <ompo...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:ompomelet-A4119...@news-wc.giganews.com...
it, what do you do with it, cooking and preparation and so forth. Costco
doesn't generally carry unusual produce. Now that I think about it, I also
get asked in the meat and fish department as well. Maybe I ought to apply
for a job there as a roving consultant. I must look like I know what I'm
doing. The funny part is that these people are not all young people.
Janet
TFM®
"Janet Bostwick" <nos...@nospam.net> wrote
> In my area the only farmer's markets are those that are described by
> Sheldon. There is one exception -- a mixed market available on Saturday's
> only, where 'some' of the produce available is local. Otherwise it is
> just a market. There is no way that my local markets are growing oranges
> in January. It has been this way for at least 20 years. They are just
> another business without brick and mortar.
I've thrown away hundreds of pounds of citrus since the new year.
It was all good, just couldn't find enough people to take it all.
Your scenario along with Sheldon's just doesn't fit the rest of the country.
February is strawberry time in Florida. I can get a flat for $5, but I
can't eat them all before they rot.
It must truly suck to live in New York.
TFM®
Nancy Young
> On Mar 18, 8:12 am, "Nancy Young" <rjynly...@comcast.net> wrote:
>> They are good at what they do. 10 for $10! sounds good until you
>> realize it was cheaper last week on sale. Just being in the weekly
>> circular, that doesn't mean it's on sale. You have to know your
>> prices. Still, you can drive yourself crazy trying to get everything
>> at the lowest price all the time. Sometimes you just have to let
>> it go.
> Yeah, 10 for 10 is a great gimmick. Never mind that it was 89 cents
> last week, I'm still tempted to stock up. But I resist.
It's true. Pasta, 10 boxes for $10. But wait ... it was 89 cents a
box before. I just have to stop myself.
> I check the circulars, but, between taking my sister to her job at the
> fancy store, I drive by two or three others every day. Some I like
> better for some items, some for the convenience of being near the
> library or pet food store.
In my experience, some stores regularly have better deals on
one type of item, other stores have theirs. For instance, one
store I go to has the best deals on ice cream, but I would never
buy soda there. Even on sale it's a fortune.
> On the other hand, the other day I paid almost $1 more for a gallon of
> milk at the quicky-mart down the street rather than go the couple of
> miles to the grocery for one thing.
It was there. I get that.
>
> The stuff you buy every week, you know what it should cost. Special
> things, like corned beef this week, might take some comparison
> shopping. On the other hand, its special.
>
> Here's some psychology. When the budget is the most tight is when I
> am most likely to splurge. "These few dollars aren't going to keep me
> from the wolf. Might as well get the fancy stuff and live well until
> I die."
I understand that, too. When I was really hurting for money, I just
had to have some things I had no right buying. Once I bought these
bendy straws because I just had to have them. (laugh) Living on
10 cent blue box macaroni, but I do have these straws. I think I was
19 or so.
So what do you think of this scenario? The store where I shop most
often is having a tax rebate gimmick. If you buy a $300 gift card,
it will be good for $330. Free $30. Would you consider that as part
of your grocery saving plan?
nancy
TFM®
"Lynn from Fargo Ografmorffig" <lynn...@i29.net> wrote in message
news:c55b05c7-e4cf-4855...@v15g2000yqn.googlegroups.com...
They must be going to Miami. I've yet to see a ND tag here. I've seen
Hawaii and Alaska.
There was once a bumper sticker that said, "Leaving Florida? Take a
friend."
Political correctness took care of that one.
I once worked with a guy here who opted to move to North Dakota. I said,
"Dude! That's almost Canada!"
He's still in the psychiatric ward.
Palm trees, sunshine, green grass, blue water. And that's all in the
winter. The rest of the time it's really pretty.
--
Aloha Nui Loa,
TFM®
Gregory Morrow
blake murphy wrote:
> i was once in the grocery store next to a man holding a head of cabbage
and
> looking very puzzled. i finally asked him what he was looking for and he
> said his wife wanted him to pick up a head of lettuce. i said 'your wife
> will be very unhappy if you bring that home. look over there.'
>
See, you should have "pulled a moosmeat" on the guy, blake...
This past T-day I was telling someone that they should buy a turkey that has
been gassed to death instead of having it's head chopped off, as the latter
fowl would suffer from extreme rigor mortis and thus the meat would be
tough. They fell for it...
--
Best
Greg
Janet Bostwick
"TFM®" <hillbi...@tampabay.rr.com> wrote in message
news:49c159e9$0$31959$ec3e...@news.usenetmonster.com...
Janet
Default User
> On Mar 18, 8:12 am, "Nancy Young" <rjynly...@comcast.net> wrote:
>
>
> >
> > They are good at what they do. 10 for $10! sounds good until you
> > realize it was cheaper last week on sale. Just being in the weekly
> > circular, that doesn't mean it's on sale. You have to know your
> > prices. Still, you can drive yourself crazy trying to get
> > everything at the lowest price all the time. Sometimes you just
> > have to let it go.
> Yeah, 10 for 10 is a great gimmick. Never mind that it was 89 cents
> last week, I'm still tempted to stock up. But I resist.
>
I've never seen any such pricing shenanigans at the local stores here.
The 10/$10 are always a discount. Often a substantial one.
Brian
--
Day 43 of the "no grouchy usenet posts" project
TFM®
"Janet Bostwick" <nos...@nospam.net> wrote in message
news:JvSdnYhYpstkwFzU...@supernews.com...
Sheldon lives in New York, home of the asshole.
I grew up in Utah and Colorado. I've dug taters and picked corn many times.
Sorry to have spoken of you as if you were from "there".
I prefer Florida reds and Yukon golds to russets though. ;-)
Dan Abel
Joseph Littleshoes <jpst...@isp.com> wrote:
> What's the old joke about the guy who comes home from work and the
> little woman tells him dinner is not ready as the electricity is out.
> The husband say's "but we have a gas stove" and the little woman replies
> "yes dear but the electric can opener wont work."
Reminds me of a favorite story. My wife's in the hospital 50 miles away
with the new baby. Son and I are home. It is dark and stormy. There's
a loud crash, a flash of light down at the corner and the power goes
out. My son looks at me sadly, and laments that he can't have hot
chocolate now. I ask why? The microwave won't work without power. I
take him in the kitchen and light the gas burner with a match. I make
him a cup of hot chocolate. You could've knocked him over with a
feather. I was the most powerful person in the world! I could make hot
chocolate without a MW!
--
Dan Abel
Petaluma, California USA
da...@sonic.net