What Are You Eating/Drinking?, The Tastiest Thread Around Options

[Decrepit]

Only two of this week's Walmart's d'anjou pears felt soft/ripe enough to eat right away. To allow a little extra ripening time, I bought two almost-too-soft Bartletts, a pear I've not eaten (as raw fruit) in decades. They're what I've munched on these past several days. For my money, they aren't nearly as tasty as ripe d'anjous. Oh yeah, "Red Pears" were in stock. I don't believe I've seen those before. I bought one. It's too hard for a proper taste-test, and will likely remain so for days to come.

[mirocu]

Nothing yet, but I hope to gorge down a pizza later!

[Acadian]

Yep. Like chocolate and coffee, pizza is one of the primary food groups.

[TheCheshireKhajiit]

Only two of this week's Walmart's d'anjou pears felt soft/ripe enough to eat right away. To allow a little extra ripening time, I bought two almost-too-soft Bartletts, a pear I've not eaten (as raw fruit) in decades. They're what I've munched on these past several days. For my money, they aren't nearly as tasty as ripe d'anjous. Oh yeah, "Red Pears" were in stock. I don't believe I've seen those before. I bought one. It's too hard for a proper taste-test, and will likely remain so for days to come.

Did you ever get to eat the red pear?

[Decrepit]

Only two of this week's Walmart's d'anjou pears felt soft/ripe enough to eat right away. To allow a little extra ripening time, I bought two almost-too-soft Bartletts, a pear I've not eaten (as raw fruit) in decades. They're what I've munched on these past several days. For my money, they aren't nearly as tasty as ripe d'anjous. Oh yeah, "Red Pears" were in stock. I don't believe I've seen those before. I bought one. It's too hard for a proper taste-test, and will likely remain so for days to come.

Did you ever get to eat the red pear?

<nods> That I did. It's a good pear. Flavorful, sweet and juicy. I bought five this week, Walmart having only two green D'anjou in its bin. Maybe my luck's bad, but based on reds bought to date, they seem to behave the opposite of greens. Greens tend to take a LONG time to adequately ripen. Reds tend to ripen too fast. Of those reds bought this week, the last turned to mush by the time got around to eating it. It went in the trash rather than my mouth. Two others were overly soft, but edible. Conversely, both this week's greens, the first of which I ate half of at lunch, are still under-ripe/hard, with an unpleasant aftertaste.

I've thought of returning to Fuji apples, despite them tasting nowhere near as yummy as they once did. To the plus, they are a more nutritious fruit, good taste or not. To the minus, apple prices have soared lately, making them hard to justify on a $50US weekly food allowance.

[mirocu]

Yep. Like chocolate and coffee, pizza is one of the primary food groups.

Add popcorn and sammiches and you have the full set!

[Decrepit]

This week, neither Walmart nor Kroger stocked green D'anjous. Reds, which have been quite affordable, shot up in price beyond what I'm willing to pay. Any apple that tickled my fancy was also on the expensive side. I settled for Bartlett pears, priced at $1.14US per pound.

Neither Walmart stocked WowButter. The good news; Kroger still has some. The bad news; it's a dollar more there. I both a jar anyway.

None of the three has Smucker's Sugar-Free Apricot Preserves. Thankfully, as much as I'll miss it, it's not an absolute must-have.

Kroger came to the rescue with Distilled Water in gallon containers, both Walmarts being out. Enough remains of my current gallon to make it through the week. But I like to stay an extra gallon ahead, since running short keeps me from using CPAP treatment. Who knows if any of the three will have any had I held off until next week?

This post has been edited by Decrepit: Sep 13 2022, 08:21 PM

[Lena Wolf]

Apfelstrudel hot out of the oven with ice cream cold out of the freezer. I proclaim this dish to be medicinal because when used against headaches, it has about as much effect as penicillin (which is an undisputed medicine) but tastes far better.

[mirocu]

Frozen pizza!

[Lena Wolf]

We're getting weekly healthy recipes emailed at work. I would have preferred weekly tasty recipes instead.

And also: of course that beefsteak is vegan! The cow was a vegetarian!! (Vegan beefsteaks are the latest invention in our supermarket.)

[Acadian]

Green Pact hypocrisy:
"Can I eat grass?"
"No."
"Can I eat deer?"
"Of course."
"What do deer eat?"
"Er. . . grass."

[macole]

Green Pact hypocrisy:
"Can I eat grass?"
"No."
"Can I eat deer?"
"Of course."
"What do deer eat?"
"Er. . . grass."

[Decrepit]

Pears having disappeared from their bins, I've returned to apples these past two weeks. First week I bought "raves", those being cheapest per pound at the time. They are edible. Not a great apple, but not bad. This week Kroger sold Fuji's at 60 cents per pound less than Walmart. With some misgivings, I bought a week's worth. I should have heeded those inner warnings. Those eaten so far have varied from barely tolerable to obnoxious. Such a sad fall for what was once one of my all-time favorite foods.

I've switched to Wishbone Garlic Basil Vinaigrette dressing from my salad-suppers. It's not overly flavorful, but a small dab of yellow mustard perks it up sufficiently. I tried Kraft Garlic Parmesan before that. I like its taste, but it gives me a pre-migraine buzz. Not worth the risk.

Sad news. Kroger sold the last of its Wowbutter supply. Both Walmarts had been out for a month or more by then. Neither chain had a restock date online last time I checked. (Admittedly some days ago.) I'm not sure what I'll do once my current jar runs out. Maybe skip lunches altogether? I doubt it will do me harm. I eat a fairly substantial breakfast (oatmeal and fruit) which should tide me over until supper. <crosses fingers> (Regardless of what I do, I'll continue eating half an apple or pear at lunchtime.)

[Acadian]

Don't know about price comparing, but looks like Amazon has Wowbutter. Maybe an option in a pinch?

[Decrepit]

Don't know about price comparing, but looks like Amazon has Wowbutter. Maybe an option in a pinch?

I've checked out that option. Alas, too expensive. At least double local store prices. Of course, next time stores get some in stock they too might sell it at a too-high-for-me price. Such is life. On a related topic, this month's (Sep 2022) food expenditure came in $3.50US under budget. A miracle! Admittedly, this came about due to a few staples not being available when I needed them.

[Decrepit]

High- and lowlights of this week's grocery run:

- Still no WowButter. Kroger says their warehouse is out. They keep requisitioning it, but no luck.With much hesitation I broke down and bought an over-expensive (for my budget) jar of SunButter (sunflower seeds sammich spread) at Walmart, but have yet to try it.

+ Kroger had Sugar Free Blackberry Jam in stock and on sale. It's not Smucker's. I don't like it as well. But it's okay. I bought a jar, Walmart being out of Smucker's SFBJ. (I could have held out until next week, but wanted to take advantage of the discount).

+ The Walmart I don't normally go to had Smucker's Sugar Free Apricot Preserves in-stock for the first time in around a month. I bought a jar. A good thing. The Walmart I normally shop at still has none.

- Neither Walmart stocked its house-brand tuna. I was again forced to buy more expensive StarKist (or do without).

RELATEDLY, I recently decided to cook up rice as a substitute for lettuce for that day's supper. I hadn't cooked rice in forever, and have made it only a few times since acquiring my current Microwave Oven. I couldn't recall exactly how to do it, but thought I remembered the gist of it. So much for thinking. What I ended up with was a large bone-dry circular paddy of rice-hardtack. Needless to say, that went into the trash. I had my normal salad-supper after all.

[Acadian]

...large bone-dry circular paddy of rice-hardtack.

[Decrepit]

Well poot. Today Walmart not only had no Wowbutter, but has removed its SKU-sticker from where it used to be on the shelf.

No Smucker's Sugar Free Strawberry Jam. I don't know that I've ever seen them run of it before, even when most other sugar-free Smucker's varieties vanish. There's still plenty of sugar-free Grape Jelly in stock. Likely because it doesn't sell. I tried it once. Never again. (Famous last words?)

As suspected, no house-brand bags of frozen Broccoli. I resorted to a far more expensive Name Brand. If it keeps up, I'll just do without, much as I might wish otherwise.

Bought Ambrosia Gold apples at $1.78 per pound. The cashier range them up at $2.28 per pound. Luckily, I looked over my receipt while in-store and had Customer Service refund the difference. As to how those apples taste, we shall see come lunchtime.

Bought another jar of Sunbutter (Sumflower seed spread). I don't like it all that much, but need something to replace Wowbutter. Sooner or later I'm going to have to figure out a tastier, healthy, cheaper Wowbutter alternative or simply forgo lunch (other than a half-apple). Either is a viable option; one more satisfying, one budget friendly.

To the plus, house brand tuna is again in stock. I bought a 4-pack, at a decent saving over what I've been paying for StarKist.

No bags of frozen peach slices. Thankfully, I've enough to last through the week, maybe next.

I bought the store's last bag of frozen Limas, only because someone had sat the bag in the wrong place. Thankfully, I keep a one-month supply of frozen Limas in the freezer, so have a lot of wiggle-room.

Bought two red onions instead of one. Every onion bin was empty save reds, and there weren't many of them. Better safe than sorry.

In other words, it was your average late 2022 U.S. grocery shopping experience.

[mirocu]

Popcorn!

[mirocu]

Time for pizza!!