does your local grocery store off meals you can
Posted By: Ella on 2007-11-29
In Reply to: Big dinner here this year but do I need - Christmas question
buy that you just have to pop in the oven for a little while..I did this last year because I was so busy.. and it was a hit, we had prime rib and fixins, they also have turkey/ham dinners, it might save time and the dinner I got was tasty....(Obviously I am not much of a cook) Just a different idea.
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I used to give my grandparents gift certificates to the local grocery store, sm
they would use them to buy special things like shrimp or other things that might cost a bit more that they wouldn't normaly buy for themselves. My parents are that age and I have given them restaurant gift certificates or if they have family out of town, prepaid phone cards, because I know some folks that age don't like paying for long distance calls.
Another grocery store one (sm)
 The ones who act like it's a total surprise that they actually have to take out their wallet and pay after they're given a total - worse yet, paying in cash, and have to dig around in their purse for the appropriate change. G-r-r-r
Grocery store......
My daughter worked at a grocery store as cashier in high school..she would come home disgusted at how some of these ladies would come through her aisle and pull their money out between their breasts...she hated touching that money. During the summer, she said it was even worse...they were sweaty and nasty and she had to take the money and recount it. She couldn't wash her hands enough!!
grocery store inconsideration--sm
This may sound weird, but I have had it happen to me just about every time I go to the grocery store, or any store really, that have shopping carts. People who stare right at you and then run right into you with their shopping carts, like they never even saw you. Most never even say excuse me. I just don't see how people can look you right in the eye and then run into you. I think it is purposely, just to get a reaction. RUDE.
Smoking in Grocery Store
I remember my mom pushing me in the grocery cart, I must have been 3 or 4, and she would be smoking away. When the cigarette was gone, she would throw it on the ground and step on it. Classy lady, I know, but really, that was the norm back in the 60's.
I'd start at the grocery store sm
Go for every loss leader in the place and cook with them. If baby carrots are cheap, get them. Glazed carrots. If zucchini is cheap, get some. Julianned, stir fried and splash on some soy sauce and garlic or oyster sauce and garlic, depends on what you have. Celery cheap? Waldorf salad. Potatoes are not usually cheap or very good this time of year.
Buy what is cheap and then look up recipes by ingredients. Much as I love allrecipes.com, I usually just use my good old Betty Crocker orange cookbook and look up by ingredients, substitute some stuff for things that are cheaper (i.e. another onion rather than another green pepper, ground beef for cut up steak, etc.)
Don't forget your seasonings, spices and garlic. Cheap food is not synonymous with food that doesn't taste good.
Ohhh and OLD FASHIONED MAC AND CHEESE out of that Betty Crocker. Cheap, easy and WONDERFUL.
Shun the cold cereal for other things. Look up breakfast cookies online. There are such things full of blackstrap, oatmeal, nuts, seeds, and other good for you stuff. It is novel for kids who think it is a joke to eat cookies and milk for breakfast.
I used to make a pumpkin pie and serve it as a veggie at dinner when I was short veggies and/or when we were having child company just to tease them: Eat up your vegetables! LOL
I was a grocery store cashier for several years..sm
and the best thing I saw come through line very late one night was a roll of duct tape, a bottle of wine, and condoms. The customer was one of my professors at school, I was the only checker open, so he had to come through my line. Ended up with an A in all 3 of his classes I was in, hopefully by smarts and not fear of blackmail!
Grocery Store Check Out Lines
I can't stand people who go into the line that says 10 or less items and have double or triple that.
I buy organic catnip (right in my grocery store) and
take a big pinch of it, rub it between your fingers hard to release the fragrance, then rub it right into the post - rub in your case. The fresher, the better. I've never known a cat not to eat it.
sticker shock at the grocery store..sm
I wanna vomit as well and hubby really has no concept of how high food has gotten.....
Still have 2 kerosene heaters that I won't part with in the event of a gas outage....but K1 is $3.50 a gallon.....I know what you're talkin' about trying to fill the tank with oil (I'm originally from the NE). We've got enough quilts and long underwear to make it through...And, I found insulated coveralls, Carhart (your winter uniform) $7...I hit the consignment stores and lucked out on that one!
A lotta people take for granted things like heat and food and have never chopped wood. In any event,it's great to know that you're okay.  Cat
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjCzhckeEb4
I looked for this in the grocery store last night
but couldn't find it. What brand is it?
Check out deli at grocery store. They will know
x
I get mine from a regular grocery store
What you want to buy is a "city" ham, not a "country" ham. City hams have less salt. Smithfield hams are good. I've also tried Cooks' and Hatfield. Don't know if they sell those in your part of the country.
I get a catalog called Burger's Smokehouse and those hams look absolutely fantastic. I would love to order from there but I'm strapped for cash right now.
The past 2 years, we have gotten a 1/2 pig from a local butcher. DH loves them. I'm not crazy about them.
Be back in a bit, I have to go to the grocery store now! Great ideas. nm
!
I worked at a grocery-type store and he delivered chips there...
He is 5-1/2 years older than me so I figured he was "to old"--LOL..Plus, I had a boyfriend at the time. But I broke up with my boyfriend, and my husband and I have been together for 11 years in July, married for 7 years in June...
I have to disagree. EVERY grocery store chain does NOT sell gay & lesbian material.
v
I saw in the grocery store today Diet Chery Chocolate Dr. Pepper
and a lot of it for $1.99 a 12-pack. I could help out the poster below. If anyone sees Folger's Instant Straight Up Latte could you help me out? This is like taking crack away from a crackhead. Unbelievably hard and making me depressed to boot.
I went to a local store
called Fred's Beds and caught our Simmons on sale. I think the set was only $900. I was thrilled.
If you have a local craft store
like Hancock Fabrics or Joann Fabrics, they might be able to teach you the basics. You could also check with local quilting clubs - you might find a new hobby and meet new people this way.
Is there a local candy making store?
 They may have them, but not sure. I'm in Delaware, but we have a store that carries all kinds of little things to make your own candy. I do remember seeing cinnamon chips, and I wonder where they went? I wonder if you also tried Hershey's website for them or other websites. I wonder if you Google cinnamon chips???? just a thought....
Check with your local art supply store
An artist's portfolio works great for things like this. They come in all sizes and are generally relatively flat. Link below is to a site that sells portfolios of different sizes. I don't know about their prices - you might do a little research.
Got 3 at the local party supply store. I LOVE them.
x
I tried to donote to a local church's thrift store...
I had a small freezer and an entertainment center. When I went in the store and told the guy what I had he barked, "No!" he never even looked at me. When I went back out to my truck, a man asked if I was willing to sell him the freezer. He had been waiting for them to take it in the store to buy it, so I just "donated" it to him, but I could not believe how rude the person inside was. I would have been happy with a smile and a "No thank you."
A local mastectomy center might fit you for bras, too. Or a high-end lingerie store. nm
s
Gift cert for 1 movie rental at blockbuster (or local video store)
and we wrapped it around an individual pack of microwave popcorn! Loved it!
I used to do store security for a major department store - try this -
Go to the store and ask to speak with someone from the security department. Tell them what you have stated here. Hope they are able to help you!
My dog loves coconut oil right off the spoon. Try the health food store. Sometimes in food store,
s
Prepared meals sm
We have a new service in our rural area which has been very successful and branched out. They rent space (have taken chefs courses). There are several different types of foods already prepared and you are given a container and choose which entree and side dish you want, pack it up yourself and just bring it home. Most women working outside the home stop on their way home from the office and love it, all they do is pop it in and warm it up. You sound like you want to do it from home. I don't know what the licensing requirements would be, but busy people need help, perhaps you could check around with local rules and regulations for food handlers. This business took off really well and is expanding to other parts of the state. I will ask my sister who uses it how they charge if you're interested, I'm not sure if it's by the food choices or by the pound. They like the variety of choosing their own diverse food choices, no pots and pans, no dishes, etc.
I have 3 rescue meals (sm)
1) Southwestern Chicken in a crock pot - 4-5 ingredients
This works either with or without the chicken. The chicken can be breasts, tenderloin strips, or legs, doesn't matter.
2 cans corn
2 cans black beans
1 large jar salsa
sour cream or cream cheese to taste
chicken if desired, as explained above
Toss it all in the crock pot, set the crock to low. Come back 3-4 hours later and eat.
2) Chicken casserole, Easy Style
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can cream of celery soup
Mix the above up with 2 cups of instant rice on the bottom of a casserole baking dish. Top it off with chicken breasts or strips. salt and pepper that chicken to taste. Add whatever other seasoning you want to the chicken while you're at it.
Bake at 350 until the chicken is done.
3) If you have an Aldi, their stir-fry chicken or shrimp in a bag for $3.99 is really good. If I'm feeling extravagant, I toss in an extra bag of jumbo shrimp for another $3.99. Cook according to package directions in about 10-15 minutes total. Cook a cup of instant rice to go with. Feeds 2 adults easy, sometimes we get the kids to take no-thank-you-bites of that one (they're not big fans of veggies, LOL!)
Well skipping meals no matter
what kind of condition you have is not good. I have also heard that thyroid problem causes weight gain, but good food choices should still override this condition. We all have vices, and we all can have excuses. Just keep trying!
Do you plan meals in advance
I'm used to going to the grocery store and just looking around (I do have a list of things I need) and deciding on what to make for dinner while I'm standing there. I've never 'planned' meals before.
I am separated and getting divorced and seriously need to cut back on the food bill. We typically spend $700-800 a month for 4 of us. (food and toiletries)
I use coupons when I have them and most things are generic, but not all. Our bill is so high in part because my husband goes to the store everyday to buy breakfast on his way to work and also has special dietary issues. Right off the top without those two factors, I think I will save about $100 a month. Also, two teenagers who eat nonstop is expensive.
I buy lots of vegetables and try to use less meat/chicken, and more veggies but it doesn't always work! I do make soup often but my kids aren't into that as a main meal, just as part of their meal.
I don't buy sodas so that's not an issue.
Should I make a lot of bean type dishes? my kids would rather starve first! Hmm, maybe not a bad way to cut back...!
Does it save money if you plan your (dinner) meals in advance? Any other tips would be great.
cheap and easy meals?
What are your favorite quick and cheap family meals? I have to bring my grocery budget down. I need some ideas for meals that can be made for about $10. My family is getting tired of spaghetti, chili, pork barbecue sandwiches and sloppy joes. What do YOU whip together on the cheap? I'm all ears.
Healthy meals for fussy 7-10 YO sm
"Yuck, ugh," sick of these words from young kids whose Mom wants them to eat healthy. They are also label readers (believe it or not), want to know where everything is on the food pyramid, yet they balk at everything in front of them. I am so tired of trying to please them and don't want to go against the Mom's rules. Anything tasty and healthy? Forget vegetables!
10 kids all demanding different meals
that would be crazy! I can't even imagine making dinner for 10 kids (I only have 1)
I don't know why many kids don't like vegetables. Perhaps if the parents don't have enough variety of them, or only tasteless overcooked ones.. raw or lightly cooked vegetables taste good and are colorful. I know you weren't recommending the force feeding. I am just reminded of the one time my father thought I should start eating scrambled eggs (which I don't like) because "everyone else eats them." I just swallowed, no chewing. He gave up after 1 time.
do you have Meals-on-Wheels in your area?
nm
I definitely agree with you there. I cook all meals and we
rarely eat out. I am very particular in what I cook and how I cook it. At least food that is eaten early in the day has a better chance of all the calories being burned off. A lot of times as well it will give them that extra boost of energy that they need. We as parents should have taught them how to make correct choices. That part is not the schools problem.
hypoglycemic child- kid friendly meals?
The ped endocrinologist said to cut out all processed sugar. Does anyone have experience with this? Would post any snacks/meals/names of cookbooks?
I'm going to see if our public and church libraries have any diabetic diet cookbooks. I've never liked cookbooks because they always list at least 15 items per meal that would cost a week's worth of our food budget to buy!
It's just the two of us so I don't have to worry about cooking for other family members.
Thank you :)
I can't imagine affording all those meals out, but I have some suggestions sm
I usually cook from scratch. My idea of "fast food" is a can of lentil soup, and I have that about once a month, occasionally twice. I make crockpot soups a lot because I am busy.
I will tell you, there is a place that is sort of between a restaurant meal and home cooking. I used to have kids at home, lots of them, and I would get too tired to cook. My answer was to hybrid the dinner, so to speak.
You can get Stouffer's lasagne which is good. You can pickup some ready-made stuff in your grocery store deli or freezer case. We liked the frozen Banquet chicken back in the day. I might get that, a box of flavored instant potatoes, potato salad or ready-made mashed to go with it. We might get a bag of salad too. Fresh fruit cups were nice if they were on special. You know, make a nice meal you don't have to 100% cook, but isn't going out.
These days, I see that you can get beef tips in gravy, or sliced beef in gravy and other prepared stuff at the store. It just takes looking. It is more expensive than doing it all yourself, but it is much cheaper than going out.
You can try another thing that is NOT everyone's cup of tea, and that is OAMC or Once A Month Cooking. This is my favorite website:
http://snider.mardox.com/plans.htm
I don't have the energy to do this one a month, but the above site doesn't advocate for that. They advocate for "mini plans" using what is on special in a given week. They have breakfast plans, muffin plans, potato plans, chicken, beef, pork plans, ground meat plans, even some dessert plans. With planning, you can do this in bits and pieces. From people who have done far more of this than I have, they tell me that with soup already made, no chopping or messing, they are more likely to make fresh rolls, salad and even a quick dessert...round out any meal because the work is done. Obviously, it saves money.
As for the meals you've made that you end up tossing, sm
why don't you freeze leftovers in single-serving sizes, in microwave containers? I do this for lunches with leftover main meals, and it works quite well. Almost everything is freezable - chili, spaghetti, etc.
Do you plan your week's meals in advance?
I try to, but I don't cook every night so I don't do a good shopping list.
I usually think of 2 or 3 meals before I head out to the grocery store and just wing it the other days.
My meals include the main dish and a side or two, plus a bread (for DS1, who loves biscuits, rolls, etc.). I never do desserts but I keep ice cream on hand for the boys and WW fudge bars for DH & myself. Dessert isn't part of our meal, but we may have it - or not - later in the evening.
I'm amazed at those who prepare full meals every single day plus dessert! Even though I was brought up that way, it's just not the way we eat. I'm not a big dinner eater, sometimes DH and I skip it altogether. I always feed the kids, though!
I love Mix N Match Pasta for summer meals
Just boil up a big batch of tricolor rotini pasta and add whichever of the following that appeals to you, or whatever you happen to have on hand.
Chicken, tuna, ham, shrimp, crab meat
Celery, carrots, onion, green peas, mushrooms
Ranch dressing, Italian dressing, mayonnaise, Miracle Whip
It's a great "clean-out-the-refrigerator" meal! 
Oriental, Thai, Indian meals. Pasta primavera. Hummus w/
s
The man in grocery line who said anything to me
would have not liked what he heard from me then. I am way past the age of caring what I say and whether I would be offending and would have used, probably the F word, (yes I do use that when I get that ticked off)when he had such nerve as to say something when I was trying to feed my babies. I have never had anyone that rude to state unsolicitated remarks to me regarding them but they would really get an earful if they did. I might be kicked out of the store, oh well....
Grocery prices
I haven't done any baking in almost two years, but decided to try to get going for this Christmas. So, I get my list all ready and get my fanny out the door and to the market.....just to give myself a heart attack!! A small jar of honey, store brand, $6.00, a large can of Crisco, almost $7.00!! Flour, $3.50! I wanted to make some Italian annisette cookies, almost $5.00 for a small bottle of anise flavoring. forgetaboutit! Holy Cow!!! How the heck do families with kids manage?
On our news last night, they said here in RI, where the unemployment rate is 9.3%, they said that 1 in 6 kids will go hungry....that just makes me sick.
I think I won't be doing much as much baking as I had planned on. This is just nuts! Oh, and have you seen the price of them lately?!!
grocery shopping with kids
I used to go to the frozen food section first, grab a box of popsicles and give them each one. It kept them happy and more importantly kept them from screaming because they had to eat those popsicles fast before they melted!
2 things in grocery stores
1. When your looking for a specific item and looking at all the choices and someone walks right in front of you and stops and does the same thing. Then they don't even have the decency to say excuse me or even look at you.
2. When your at the check out stand and writing a check on the little counter and the person behind you comes and stands so close to your back that you can feel them breathing down your neck or they are so close they can read your check.
ok my post about condoms in grocery stores was
You won't shop in any stores that have gay/lesbian items but you shop in your stores of your choice - where there are probably plenty of gay employees!
Don't you see the hypocrisy? I'm just trying to make a point. You cannot presume to know in a shop who is a gay/lesbian employee, correct? So you're defeating your own purpose I do believe.
Me? I think there's not enough love in this world and so if 2 people find each other in a loving way, it's okay by me. I really don't care who is *doing* who as it is none of my business.
I'm much more of a political shopper as another poster just said.......the poster who posted ALL that info towards the end of this entire thread about all the details about Wal-Mart including the dissatisfied Wal-Mart employees in China....being very careful where I spend my $$ for political reasons. In this light I have a problem with Target......so much of their $$ is given to a party I am not affiliated with, but, on the other hand, I just heard that Target gives so much back to the communities and charities and is a huge *giver* to the communities and charities - and that's a GREAT thing so I'm in a quandry about Target. *lol*
(Thank you to that poster who posted ALL the Wal-Mart problems information - that was TERRIFIC info, especially the stuff about China!!!)
In any event, we all do not need to be spatting about this - I mean it is the Holiday season and we should try to be kinder to each other.
Y'all have a GREAT holiday season and an even better 2007!
I was a grocery checker several years ago while going to school...
and he was my Sunday guy. I used to see him every other Sunday and he would always come through my line. If I was on break or lunch and would see him come in I would open my line up just for him. I could tell that he was single by what he was buying, plus he wore no ring. We talked all the time. He came in on a weekday and asked me if I got his message; he had called the store and left his name and number for me with the bookkeepers because he wanted to ask me out. We went out to lunch and I found out he only came in every other Sunday because he lived rurally and only shopped every 2 weeks after church. Nine years later and couldn't be happier.
When you fuse plastic grocery bags.
You have to be sure you are in an ventilated area because it has toxic fumes. I did mine outside because I have a plug in on the side of my house. You cannot get anymore ventilated that that. lol. I set my iron on 3 which is a medium setting, no steam and sandwich 1 bag folded twice (you need 8 layers) in between 2 pieces of regular typing/print paper. As I am ironing I just count to 20 or you can use a timer lol and then flip it over and iron the other side and count to 20. When you peal the paper off you will find that the plastic bag is stiff like paper and seems to be very durable. I cannot tear the things and I have tried. To me, it is the perfect liner for a car trash bag or even a bathroom trash bag. If one must use a plastic garbage bag for the kitchen (some garbage companies won't allow anything else but plastic bags) then maybe we can at least eliminate the amount we use.
Check your area for reclaimed grocery stores.
That's where you can get perfectly good groceries that regular stores have returned for various reasons. Expiration date may be soon, or packaging is out of date because a promotion is over, or maybe the product was discontinued. I saw a segment on the news, and people save around 40% to 50% on their food bills.
I'd go with gift cards to restaurants. You can buy them in grocery stores or Walgreens
nm
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