Frozen zukes? I haven't run into them in good quantities at grocery stores.

The closest is one brand (President Choice by Loblaws in reference to my previous post) who had? / have? (store dependent?) three kinds of frozen spiral veggies as pasta substitutes. Made in India! and brought over by frozen boat???? Butternut squash, zucchini and red beetroot.

To me beetroot is by far the best and most substantial after heating followed by butternut and zoo in that order. And often their "california" cauli rice (with carrots and broccoli) is the same price and slightly larger package. So THAT one (or the beetroot) win when I shop 🤷‍♂️

Hubby and son are ALL about loyalty points and sales offers - quantity shopping. I’ve checked out of grocery shopping almost completely and let hubby handle it. Can’t tell you how much cussing and fussing goes on before his shopping trips. The sheer work of preparation to shop!

Things were different when we had a family to feed on one income. Made some sense then. But now it’s just two old people with dietary restrictions.

Now - if it was just me - I’d go to the damn store buy a jar of sauce and cook the meal. No shopping hedges for the future- no stockpiles. Get what you need this week at reasonable/best prices and move on. Make substitutions as needed.

I refuse to have grocery stores harvest my data and offer me crumbs in return.
The older I get the fewer brain cells I have to offer up to this kind of stuff.

“But, but, but, but…. you have to play to…. probably lose!”

Guess I’m just getting crankyass? So many other things going on in my life that make grocery games seem too much effort. I do try to humor hubby’s enthusiasm over scoring wins at the store.

Good freezing technique. Have never done it.

This has been regular inflation so far. Not hyper.

Hyper is when buying pop (or getting to the basics: flour, sugar, butter/oil, and salt and toilet paper 😜) become a better store of value than having money. And you bring back jerry cans home on your payday.

Not there yet. Thankfully.

I doubt prices will ever return to a baseline. Old enough to remember 35 cent per gallon gas (and a 35 cent pack of cigarettes too). My annual income was $7500 and I thought I was in hog heaven! Bought a car, traveled to Europe, ate at fancy restaurants- the good life! Of course I had no cell, cable, homeowner, medical bills…..

Our most absurd bill currently is house tax/insurance. The house is now worth 6x the original price - no fancy upgrades.

I miss you all! This week really hasn't been about the hamsters - but a kid's Halloween party being held tomorrow. I sort of bit off more than I could chew (THAT has NEVER happened literally :) )

I'll post pictures of the picture "board" thingy I advanced into an underwater haunted seascape :) - was supposed to be one of those things with a picture on one side and a face sized cutout so kids stand behind it and their parents take a picture of them looking through the hole. BUT. Because someone donated 4 partial sheets of plywood - it has turned into a structure - and a whole lot of painting.

But the eating has been good through this - except for 25 very very small bitesized snickers bars from the Halloween stash.

Athijade sometimes writing about things in our lives helps us gain control of what is happening around/to us. I hope this works for you.

first Newfoundland story: absolutely sold my grandson on those zucchini noodles!!!!

Hey Jade. I'm sorry you're struggling but glad you're finding it in you to voice it and share it.

Reminds me of not being hungry but standing in the kitchen and continuing to eat.... like that's going to solve anything 🫩

Of course prices are not going to reduce. every new increase is sticky.

Mind you. As I say this, we are currently looking at reduced rents and reduced property values.

And the economic activity reduction that goes with that. Because investment does not tend to pour into things that go down.

”first Newfoundland story: absolutely sold my grandson on those zucchini noodles!!!!

Next time you visit Laurie try spaghetti squash too. Fascinating how the innards of a baked squash turn magically into noodles. Besides throw on enough sauce and cheese and it’s all yummy 😋

Here’s the method I use for spaghetti squash-

• Preheat the oven to 400°F.
• Slice the spaghetti squash in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds and ribbing. Drizzle the inside of the squash with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Place the spaghetti squash cut side down on the baking sheet and use a fork/knife to poke holes. Roast for 30 to 40 minutes or until lightly browned on the outside, fork tender, but still a little bit firm. The time will vary depending on the size of your squash. The timing can vary depending on size.
• Remove from the oven and flip the squash so that it’s cut side up. When cool, use a fork to scrape and fluff the strands from the sides of the squash.

Once it’s cool, you can portion into freezer bags and flatten. If I’m going to roast squash, I make two or three!

Frozen bananas make good banana bread or muffins - depending on added sugar/oil. I guess you could try smoothies or ice cream?

Went to an interesting play yesterday.

Mainly because it presented, quite poignantly, the downsides of what I would consider to be closer to a correct than an incorrect outcome given the totality of circumstances.

Before the play we had din din. Split personality 🤣🤣🤣 order of zucchini sticks plus a 6oz burger patty!!!!🤣🤣🤣 As many calories as any other restaurant meal (the totality of yooly's allotment for the day)

As usual.... no ability to add photos from pixel phones.... year 5+ of the issue ????

PAV - that’s quite a meal there! Yup at least my daily allowance. I think I’ll explore something lighter.
More surprising is that you went to a PLAY. Somehow I didn’t think of you as a playgoer. Full of surprises aren’t you???

WOW Mr. PAV - aren’t you full of surprises? Opera and symphonies! And a ballet 🩰 maybe 🤔.
Cannons! One year I went to an outdoor performance of the William Tell Overture and they had live/ loud cannons during the performance. It was a Fourth of July event with fireworks to accompany the cannons. Memorable!