Yesterday we went to Sams.
About 3 weeks ago my father informed me during a Skype call that a routine scan found “3 dots” in his lungs. Nobody knew what they were. The dots could have been masses or something else. This was very alarming because Grandfather died of lung cancer. He also smoked unfiltered cigarettes and had a chunk of shrapnel from World War II stuck in his lungs. But still, the specter of hereditary lung cancer had raised its ugly head. I was promised that I would be informed of the subsequent tests and to wait for the call.
I was not informed. I finally lost my patience and called yesterday. My father and step mother answer and they launch into the longest story on Earth about all the various scans and trips. After five minutes, they finally come to it: no cancer. The “dots” went away and were likely the result of the respiratory infection he got during holidays.
I told them that the story should have started with “Ilona, I don’t have cancer.”
I got stressed out, and then Gordon realized that we were out of a few things. The day was lovely, so instead of ordering groceries in, the way I usually do, we decided to make the trip to the pool supply place. That ice storm we had not too long ago nuked our booster pump. So we needed a new pump, and since Sams is located ac ross the parking lot from the pool supply, we decided to just run in.
The problem with going to Sams is that I fall into their trap and buy things I don’t necessarily need. Here is my record of wins and losses.
Rotisserie Chicken – didn’t buy. Major win. I usually buy the chicken but it only gets eaten about 50% of the time. Even though we have every intention of cutting it into salad, etc., a third of that chicken ends going bad in the fridge more often than I am ashamed to admit.
Throw Blankets – bought 4. Major fail. We have enough blankets. More than enough. But there is something about new throw blankets that makes them absolutely irresistible. We will give 2 blankets to the kids, and they were on sale, and they were very colorful and soft, but still major fail.
Snacks, chips, and candy – didn’t buy. Epic win. Walked right past the aisle. Didn’t reach for gummy bears, or Rice Crispy treats, or trail mix that looks good but nobody will eat.
Fresh Cookies – bought a small container. Partial fail. They are small cookies and they smelled good, and the kids will eat them when they come over. Sadly, I can only enjoy cookies once in a while.
Random kitchen items like pots, pans, cutting boards, etc – didn’t buy. Pheew! Dodged a major fail there.
Towels – partial fail here. I bought a small pack of hand towels, and I have a rationale for it. I would like to put them into the bathrooms. They are all the same color, they are nice, and this way kitchen towels will stop mysteriously ending up in the bathrooms.
Sushi – bought 2 packs. I regret nothing, I ate it for dinner, and it was yummy.
Ice cream – didn’t buy. Our willpower is strong.
The takeaway from all this – shopping online saves us money, even with the delivery fees, because I just buy things on our list and don’t randomly veer into the Aisle of Random Purchase Regret. Also, we probably shouldn’t purchase any more meat , fish, or poultry for a bit. Like for 6 months or so. Heh.
As we loaded all of our purchases into the car, I felt safe and happy. I realize this was probably reaction to the stress of anticipating bad news from my father, and I understand that a lot of this is comes from being poor when we were younger, but it worked. I’m now ready to face the week knowing that we have enough mangoes.
I forgot to mention that I bought mangoes. I know they’re not in season, but they were there and I love mangoes. Wishing you plenty of your own “mangoes” to get through this week.
Yay for sushi! ????
Also, congrats on the willpower for what you didn’t get! Don’t stress over what you did, it’ll be fine and isn’t worth your mental capacity to worry about it. You did great! ????????????????
+1
I do the same thing with the chicken. I eat the leg and thighs and then tell myself the rest will be for salad. Then time turns and in the trash it goes. Good job avoiding most of the “I don’t need but I still buy it”.
Nooo. I get it home and cut all the meat off so I can throw skeleton into my small stock pot. Onion skins, limp celery etc go in too and then I just simmer. Then next day I can finish simmering, pour thru colander and turn into chicken soup with whatever vegetables and remaining chicken available. My father used to make turkey soup like that. After the holidays we always had dad’s turkey soup. So now I just do it for me with a rotisserie chicken.
I’m glad your father is OK even if he scared the heck out of you before letting you know. I assume this is an Eastern European thing though as my grandfather could never answer a question directly or tell a quick story without going through all of the alleys and byways and tangents first. Especially if there was a chance if an argument in the way.
I only discovered how much cheaper it is to do online shopping during COVID. I didn’t realise how susceptible I am to reduced and offer items, resulting in waste and unnecessary purchases.
However I’m now the queen of bulk buying – previously I was limited by my carrying ability as I don’t drive. The box room is jokingly being referred to as the corner shop now since it’s where the surplus goes from all the overload!
As to your father, brace yourself. As I discovered as my mother aged, the older you are, the more self-absorbed you become, no matter how thoughtful you were in your younger years. And nothing interests old people more than their own health. This means that ALL details about their health are of great and equal importance. Thus the fact that there was no cancer was of equal importance with all the details of the visit. It seems crazy to us, but they don’t differentiate. You will learn to rudely interrupt and demand the answer you need. Then sit back with a cup of tea and let them enjoy telling you all the details. It also helps to remind yourself that this will be you someday!
So glad there was good news about your father’s health. And sometimes the impulse purchases make things easier.
I haven’t been to Sam’s in years because I moved away from the one that was closest, so now it’s just Costco’s. I can avoid Costco’s a lot because I also moved away from the one I lived near, but it’s still near work, so I’ll hit it up for gas. I will occasionally shop in Costco, but yeah, it’s hard to walk away from the throws.
I’ve discovered I can avoid the Costco rotisserie chicken if I instead find their street tacos pack. I think they’re called street tacos. I am not a fan of cabbage except in coleslaw, but I do like their version of street tacos. I’ve discovered I’ll eat those in a timely manner. Rotisserie chicken or chicken wraps, no. Street tacos, yes.
**one I lived near (not leaved near). Oy.
Fixed. 🙂
Costco Street Tacos. Yum. I can dine for 3/4 meals on a pkg of those. They are good. Sadly not enough grated cheese and that yummy cilantro sauce. 🙂
Agreed. Usually have to dip into a separate bag of the cheese.
Dang it. Now I want street tacos.
I completely understand the Buyer’s Regret issue, and it’s why more often than note my husband goes to Costco alone. He usually remembers to take the list. Regarding the roast chicken dilemma… we always buy it, often two at a time. Upon arrival home, we immediately debone it, chop the meat, parse it into meal-size portions, bag-it and freeze it. Grab one, thaw it and use or dump it frozen into whatever soup you’re making. It freezes really well. The legs end up as snacks in the frig and the bones either go directly in the stock pot for cooking into broth or into a giant freezer bag to accumulate for stock making later. Altogether we can get about five meals for the two of us out of a single chicken. For $5/chicken it’s a screaming deal. It’s also the only time I manage to think that far ahead with meal planning.
I belong to the portion and freeze club, too! I love the whole chicken but since it’s just me I switched to the big pack of hand pulled roasted chicken breast. It’s about $13 and lasts me a LONG time. Soup, salad, weird combos of frozen veggies and potatoes, quesadillas, etc.
I too but the large pack of rotisserie chicken and freeze smaller portions. It’s great for easy weeknight dinners!
Wow. I admiringly salute your competence and foresight.
????
I get a small roaster and simply don’t cook anything else until it’s gone. The budget is tight enough at the moment to provide sufficient motivation. Last week I ended up doing an unscheduled trip which would have wreaked havoc on this strategy. The wings, legs, thighs, and tenderloins were gone; still had the breasts to go. So before leaving I peeled them off, sealed them in baggies, stuck them in the freezer, and pitched the carcass. They’ll probably need to go in some kind of sauce, but at least they won’t go to waste.
Plush throws – minor win because they bring happiness to the house and I donate the old ones to my local homeless shelter while they are still in great condition. I get new blankets and so do they. I typically get them when I see new pretty patterns.
Chicken – rotisserie minor win because it is less than buying the chicken parts and making it myself and it tastes sooo good and it makes 2 meals that aren’t take out or stressful or long cooking time… also, about half the time I actually make the leftovers into chicken stock that gets frozen.
If that is an actual picture of the blankets you purchases, I am with you. I cannot stop buying plush throws. I love them.
It is. They are so squishy.
The aisle of purchase Regrets is a place I have called home for far too long. How much slat crystals does a woman need for goodness sake!!
+ So glad your father is ok. This is an age thing. They want to share all their news. Sending prayers.
I have a MASSIVE weakness for throw blankets that are soft and warm. I discovered alpaca this winter. My rationale, when we have plenty of lovely wool blankets, is that we had the coldest winter in a decade with the highest heating prices.
Therefore wool would no longer do.
It’s not Sams or similar for me. It’s Etsy, and I badly need to uninstall the app from my phone and admit that “just browsing” is expensive.
OMG
You are not alone.
Rotisserie chicken guilt!!!!
Why is it so hard to get through them?
I felt so successful the one time we ate the whole thing and I made soup from the bones… didn’t finish all the soup though.
Freeze the soup! I make double portions and freeze half. Or sometimes just a serving if I’m sick of it. Never know when soup will come in handy, heh
You are not alone.
Rotisserie chicken guilt!!!!
Why is it so hard to get through them?
I felt so successful the one time we ate the whole thing and I made soup from the bones… didn’t finish all the soup though.
I gave up on the whole chicken and just buy the large pack of hand pulled roasted chicken breast. Then I portion it into small snack bags and freeze. Perfect for salads, quesadillas, add to frozen veggies & potatoes, etc. I still love the whole chicken but only buy it if I’m serious about making soup with it.
Glad your dad’s news was good.
I shop at Costco. It’s been quite a while since I was in Costco and didn’t buy a rotisserie chicken. Theirs is such a good deal. Their cookies are also an almost auto buy. I’m trying to buy new things from the frozen. Some are winners, others not so much. Also, a great buy is their chicken breast meat. I’m talking cooked, and pulled. It’s great. I chop it up and put it in 2 cup portions for the freezer. Works with quite a few recipes. My main complaint with Costco is they keep moving things around. I know this is intentional to force the shopper to walk around and find more things. But, it’s frustrating. That’s it.
Blankets/throws are my kryponite. My husband always wonders how he survived without me for so long.
Very glad your father is okay.
We were very poor growing up. I find that if I have a house and freezer full of food I am not hungry. But as soon as it falls below some “in my head” level I am ravenously hungry.
I am disabled so love the grocery delivery option. It costs $7.50 for them to shop and delivery it to my front door. The time and money this saves is incredible when I think about it. If I did it myself I would have to drive to the store, navigate the aisle of the grocery story and load up the cart, then unload it at the conveyor belt, load all the groceries into the car, drive home, unload all the groceries from the car and carry them into the house, then unload the bags into the cupboards. This used to take me hours.
Now, I click buttons, pay online, put a wagon out on the day, pull the wagon into the house once they’ve filled it with my groceries and put them away. This takes me 10 minutes tops.
+1 to all of this.
Glad your Dad is ok. Years ago my sister-in-law told me to never ask an old person how they are. They will tell you in detail and with descriptions! I am old now and try not to inflict this on younger generations. As to the wonderful giant stores, I try to avoid them with the exception of IKEA. There is one near my daughter’s town in another state. I pick up the soft blankies for my neighbor’s daycare. The kids don’t fight over gray ones! I get stacking toys and kids dishes and tableware sets. I found an octopus clothes hanger thingy for my lace or hat drying. I spend so much money there because my husband sees stuff too. We get there a couple times a year so I budget my IKEA trips. I like getting my neighbors stuff and they watch over my house when we are gone. They are nice,friendly, helpful and a generation younger than us. Being a good neighbor is important.
So glad your dad had good news sorry you had to stress worry though. My dad found out earlier this month that he has prostate cancer so now we just wait on the surgeon that he has an appointment with on Friday.
I love Sam’s I normally do pretty good just a couple fails but if my husband goes with me it’s game over we will go down all the aisles and end up with things we don’t need. My husband and kids love the blankets there also so we normally end up with one about every other trip.
I hope everything goes well. Best wishes for easy and quick surgery.
Ah, Thank God.
Have a great week!
Throw blankets are our weakness, too. We have piles of them on the couches. None of the furballs complain, though. The new pup loves to jump on a pile.
Isn’t that sushi just amazing? I automatically buy it every time we’re in there.
Now I want Sushi and Ice cream. Also mangoes are almost in season here. Yea!!
THIS was my mangoe for today. Thank you! Reading about you getting in-stressed made me smile.
Went grocery shopping Saturday and mostly stuck to the list. Mushrooms weren’t on the list, but since I was buying cream for a different recipe creamed mushrooms make a good pasta sauce. And then I left the store…and immediately bought some candy for a basketball fundraiser. ????♀️
Creamed mushrooms and pasta sounds wonderful. I have never thought of that!
Being housebound so much of the time, going to the store is a major event for me–I spend too much time looking at (and for) new stuff.
As for your dad, I’m sorry for what he put you through. My father died of lung cancer, more than 42 years ago. I still, & always will miss him; his intelligence, his humor, his good advice, such as when someone or something was annoying me, he’d say “don’t worry, he/she/they’ll die soon.”
I miss my mother, too.
I don’t have a Sams or Costco membership because it’s just me at home. So, I don’t shop there.
When I read the post, I thought of Mrs. Marais (aka the Costco lady). ????
Glad your father is ok after hearing the long, long, long story.
Mmmmm, gummy bears. Some times my will power is good, other I must avoid that aisle entirely, and sometimes the snack sized bag at the checkout counter defeats me.
I grew up fairly poor and my dad would buy large dented cans of veggies without labels for us to eat. I always feel happy when I can afford to stockpile food a bit and I know that I’m a bit obsessed with finding all of the deals at the store. I have 5 kids and I need to shop on a budget but my kids never go hungry or eat vast amounts of dented cans that were actually sometimes dog food.
Ouch! That’s terrible about the dog food surprise. Big hugs to younger you & well done on making it through that and ensuring that experience isn’t a part of your childrens’ stories, too!
So grateful your dad is ok. Thank you for sharing your trip to Sams. It made me feel safe too. Thank you also for your books. I’m re-reading HL and there is so much ACTION. Just wonderful
Cancer survivor here. I have spots on my lungs. My doctor says everyone in the area I live has them (due to air quality, I guess?), so I guess they can be pretty run of the mill (until they’re not, of course). Glad it was good news.
Keep an eye on the spots. I have been recently diagnosed with stage 3, maybe 4, breast cancer. I’m on chemo while they try to shrink it/them (bilateral) before surgery. It is a relatively uncommon type, and is the same exact type that killed my mother. And I was diligent about mammograms because of my grandmother and then mother. This type is just really hard to pick up on imaging. Anyway, point is, be diligent and do your homework. Treatments are so much better now for most cancers, but they share in common that the sooner they find them, the better the outcomes. Be vigilant. Best wishes!
Sometimes you need a little retail therapy, so don’t feel too horribly guilty. I’m glad your Dad is okay and having lost 1 parent and both in-laws, health stress is the worst!
We keep the Costco membership in the family and Mom keeps Sam’s Club, so the family as a whole has access to both. The chicken is hard to resist and I have failed many times in using it before it goes bad, so you’re not alone. =)
At my local Costco I can avoid the temptation of impulse purchases by way of the outer parameter walls. As I enter it is a sharp right behind electronics and straight down to bakery, then past meat and produce, behind the freezers (here i will wander up and down. I regret 0 frozen food extravagance ????) I wander into the other aisles only if needed. stright to checkout. then to the food court. listen, I’ve put in a full lap of that warehouse… i think I’ve earned a hot dog, or giant slice of pizza.. maybe a churro….
this is not as fun as wandering all the aisles, tasting all the samples, checking the new seasonal items… but it gets me out fast and closer to budget
I almost wrecked the car as I was taking my dad to lunch when he (in that circular fashion) hinted the doctor found ‘something’ wrong – and I realized it was an abdominal aortic aneurysm.
The soft throws are wonderful for pets! They love the texture and they wash easily. I put throws on chairs and the end of my bed.
The best tip when grocery shopping is do not go when you are hungry!
Hope he came thru the surgery aok. My dad had that too and we discovered it by accident. Such a relief to have it fixed because it was huge.
Oh, Sam’s. The large bucket of mini cream puffs. Yes, I can lie to myself, “Oh, these are great to have on hand to make fast desserts” or “it’s good to have these for guests” but in reality I will rip off the lid and eat them all by myself. It’s considered a win if I have enough discipline to last three episodes.
ha. This one made me laugh. I love the mini eclairs you find frozen in the stores. I do not have the fortitude to pass them up if they are right in front of me. This is why Shopper Above with the lap around the outer perimeter of the Costco is my approach as well to stepping foot in Costco. Mind, still plenty temptation in the bakery (ah, the chocolate 4 layer frosted cake is dreamy)… the fruit pies… Mostly I make it through, but if I hit the center aisle area, or the alcohol areas.. TOAST, I am TOAST. There goes all the sticking to budget. I order online now, but sometimes I don’t get what I ordered in quite the right way, so with Costco its best to go in person. I just don’t do it often, and I brace for impact when I walk towards the register – Kaching! You owe: What, 400 dollars?!! For what??!! Sigh. Such is life with very little look new shiny must have! discipline.
I am so glad you got good news for your Dad. I feel you on the family communications fail. sounds like an overall epic win for your health regarding the expedition to Sam’s.
My parent is undergoing cancer treatment again this week. if cancer were some kind of evil triathlon, she’d be kicking ass on the 5th portion. it’s still a worry and I have been engaging in retail therapy and purge crying through Everywhere, All at Once.
I hope your weather is more Spring-like this week. Even though we still have frost risk, I can finally get in dome much needed weeding. I plan to try chicken/veggies patties and a chickpea, coconut, spinach dish this week, which will be better than retail therapy, for adulting.
I am so sorry. ::hug:: I hope she gets better fast.
I feel your pain about the rotisserie chicken. I have done the same thing. I have noticed though that two of our local groceries Wegmans and Giant now sell packs of rotisserie chicken already cut up. You can get an 8 pack of dark or white for about $6.99 to $7.99 at Giant and around $13.99 at Wegmans. Wegmans can be a bit high end and organic. What I like is that ALL the pieces are nice and moist, no dry chicken, and it is so simple to take out a thigh nuke it in the microwave with or without veggies and your meal is ready to eat.
I am glad your Dad is ok. I have to “encourage” my 85 years old Mama to tell me about her appointments. We almost lost her in 2020 from a untreated strep infection and now if she does not answer the phone on the 3rd time I call, I have a mini panic attack.
Also, buying throw blankets is never a loss. I am sure that the fur babies will ALWAYS be happy to use them, if you don’t want them ????
Parents! My 88 year old Dad has cataracts. The Dr. said he could wait a bit for surgery so Dad said he would follow-up at his next appointment in Nov. 8 months + 6 months to get a surgery slot in Canada is 14 months! I harassed him with facts and he is going to get a surgery appointment. Now I just have to organize my vacation time around his surgery.
Good job on the shopping trip ????
We live in a small apartment in NYC. so when tempted I ask a few questions to myself. Do I really need this? If a treat do I already have a treat in my cart. if not food then where will it go in the apartment, how much use will it get, where will I store it. am I getting rid of something else and replacing with it. I have stopped myself from buying a ton of stuff that way
All bulky stuff hubby and I have to agree on ????
YES! Sam’s and Costco trap. But we like to keep extra stuff on hand, and both are 60-80 miles away, so when we go we get things we cannot get easily near us. We avoid candy, and now won’t buy Hershey for any reason. Great win for me, as I LOVE peanut butter cups, now no issue. I like Costco meat but need to give sams another try because it’s 20 miles closer. We do not use pans, but only mostly corning ware, lasts forever, easy to clean, and use Kutzler spoons and stuff (hard plastic) so it won’t mar the surface. Rice tastes better, no metal taste from pan. In summer we eat breakfast on back porch, so use metal pan on the induction hot plate then. TMI. Monty
We used to live near a Sams in Michigan (we moved to W. NY state in High Pandemic Time). You showed extreme willpower. And mangoes are great in fish tacos.
So happy your dad is OK!! YAY!
I have a rule for Costco – I am not allowed a cart. If I have a cart, i will fill it. BAD. So I can only buy what I can carry out.
Impressive!
I have the same rule with IKEA. No big bag.
Man, I haven’t been to an IKEA in forever. That place used to get me good in the small kitchen tools and gadgets section. I don’t cook that much but that some of that stuff gives me incentive so I’ll buy it. Unfortunately, the incentive never makes it past the front door of the store.
I’m always filling the cart at Costco and then putting most of it back. If the line is too long at TJ Maxx or Ross or Marshall’s I end up leaving without buying anything. Shopping can be very relaxing, it’s the buyers remorse that can become stressful. I rarely buy online and I enjoy grocery shopping especially picking meat, cheese and produce myself.
I’m glad your Dad is cancer free. Happy Solstice.
So very glad that the health scare turned out to be a nothing burger.
IMHO, the words “sushi” and “regret” do not belong in the same sentence. ???? =????
Chips will forever be my waterloo. My hat’s off to you for resisting it completely.
This sounds like a successful trip overall. And frankly, no sane person could walk away without at least one of those throws on a regular day. They’re so snuggly and soft. Those throws on sale must have been irresistible!
I bought one for sitting around the campfire. Could never use it because my travel mate kept stealing it. So I bought a second. Travel mate still kept stealing mine because she left hers at home. Finally bought 2 more – two for at home at two for camping. And I would still buy more if I found a new pattern I liked. But only in sets of 2, because I am trainable!
I’m here to fck up your blanket not-buying wins. I mean look at these: https://ownkoti.com/collections/summer-color-patchwork-blanket
That is some high quality evil right there. Respect! 🙂
Ooh very nice, and look how peaceful you could sleep with those blankets. ????
Whew! IKR. Glad its all good, We love our Dad’s. And yes, mail order does save, we get distracted easily …
Glad your Dad is ok. They keep telling mine he has prostate cancer, doing surgery, and finding nothing. Twice. Last time he told them no.
I haven’t bought rotisserie chicken since I got salmonella from one four or five years ago. If I want chicken I throw one in the dutch oven for a couple hours. Just as good and I can make sure the temp is safe.
I buy the same fluffy fleece throw blankets. They are great for covering the (human) beds where dogs invariably sleep. They get less fluffy with repeated washings (ref dogs), whereon I donate e.g. to an animal rescue and buy new ones.
I love a good throw blanket too. my teen daughter loves them even more. They are so difficult to pass up when they are so soft and the price is reasonable. Stay comfy.
Congratulations on the wins! Leaving snacks, ships, candy, and ice cream at the store (except in case of entertaining) is always a win. I keep Tony’s Chocolonely dark 70% in the pantry. Everything else has to stay at the store unless someone’s coming over, or unless there’s a valid celebration like a birthday or spring equinox or something. Also, if I need a more immediate excuse, Sundays are always feast days for Episcopalians.
Blankets and throws I limit to wool or alpaca. This means they’re more expensive, so easier to leave on the shelf. But if there’s a really good deal on one of those, it may come home with me if the budget will stretch to it.
Store-bought cookies rarely tempt me. They’re one thing that almost always tastes better home-made. I’ve also discovered that almost anything highly processed really messes with my innards, and baked goods top that list. It has to be insanely tempting for me to buy any (peach-blueberry bread, why yes! Yes I will).
I can laugh about the parental woes, now that I’m past dealing with them. “I don’t have cancer” is one sentence that almost never shows up at the beginning of a conversation. It could happen though.
I really thought my mom and I were the only ones to not finish the rotisserie chicken. Then I read all the comments. ????. Holy cow.
I’m happy you ended the day feeling comforted. Errands were done, blankets were purchased – it was a good day.
I read this blog post to my husband, whom I finally ensnared into your books via the Innkeeper series. His comment after I read it to him? “Ok, so she’s a Quillonian.” ????????????
Someday we may desperately want something revealed and Gordon will be resolute and not spoil a thing. The BDH will be left waiting for answers. When this day comes, we will have to remember the temptation of mangoes.
I have to go grocery shopping tomorrow. In theory there is only need for bottled water, tab water is not jummy here, milk, lettuce, fruit and cheese but I’m curious how full the car trunk will be. No blankets because I’m knitting them myself. Also have too many of them.
I bought 2 bags of gummy bears when I ordered groceries this weekend. I regret nothing.
Also I unlocked an heretofore unknown annoyance of pick up grocery shopping- I ordered FOUR bananas. I received FOUR BUNDLES of bananas. One of the bundles had 8 bananas on it! Maybe they thought I ran a group home and desperately needed bananas.
Two words for you: banana bread!
It freezes, too.
Banana muffins too.
Also, freeze the bananas when they ripen. You can use the frozen bananas for later recipes.
The Cooks Illustrated website has a recipe that calls for 5-6 bananas (2 1/4 lb./1 kg) per loaf. They accomplish this by defrosting frozen bananas or microwaving fresh ones to release the juice, then cooking down the juice significantly. Wonderfully bold banana flavour, isn’t gummy, freezes like a dream. I like to add chocolate chips, raisins, and chopped almonds instead of their recommended walnuts, because all those things are healthy, right? 😉
Ultimate Banana Bread
(Makes one 9-inch loaf)
TIME: 2½ hours
WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS
We added banana flavor without introducing too much moisture to our banana bread recipe by microwaving the fruit and draining it. We then simmered the banana liquid in a saucepan until it reduced and incorporated it into the batter. We used brown sugar instead of granulated and swapped out oil for the nutty richness of butter. Toasted walnuts gave our banana bread recipe a pleasing crunch, and a sixth banana sliced thin and caramelized on top of the loaf gave our banana bread an enticingly crisp, crunchy top.
1 ¾ cups (8 3/4 ounces/250g) unbleached all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon table salt
6 large very ripe bananas (about 2 1/4 pounds), peeled (see note)
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
2 large eggs
¾ cup (5 1/4 ounces) packed light brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ cup walnuts, toasted and coarsely chopped (optional)
2 teaspoons granulated sugar
Note: BEFORE YOU BEGIN
Be sure to use very ripe, heavily speckled (or even black) bananas in this recipe. This recipe can be made using 5 thawed frozen bananas; since they release a lot of liquid naturally, they can bypass the microwaving in step 2 and go directly into the fine-mesh strainer. Do not use a thawed frozen banana in step 4; it will be too soft to slice. Instead, simply sprinkle the top of the loaf with sugar. The test kitchen’s preferred loaf pan measures 8½ by 4½ inches [22cm x 11cm]; if you use a 9 by 5-inch [23cm x 13cm] loaf pan, start checking for doneness five minutes earlier than advised in the recipe. The texture is best when the loaf is eaten fresh, but it can be stored (cool completely first), covered tightly with plastic wrap, for up to 3 days.
INSTRUCTIONS
Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 8½ by 4½-inch loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray. Whisk flour, baking soda, and salt together in large bowl.
Place 5 bananas in microwave-safe bowl; cover with plastic wrap and cut several steam vents in plastic with paring knife. Microwave on high power until bananas are soft and have released liquid, about 5 minutes. Transfer bananas to fine-mesh strainer placed over medium bowl and allow to drain, stirring occasionally, 15 minutes (you should have ½ to ¾ cup liquid).
Transfer liquid to medium saucepan and cook over medium-high heat until reduced to ¼ cup, about 5 minutes. Remove pan from heat, stir reduced liquid into bananas, and mash with potato masher until fairly smooth. Whisk in butter, eggs, brown sugar, and vanilla.
Pour banana mixture into flour mixture and stir until just combined with some streaks of flour remaining. Gently fold in walnuts, if using. Scrape batter into prepared pan. Slice remaining banana diagonally into ¼-inch-thick slices. Shingle banana slices on top of either side of loaf, leaving 1½-inch-wide space down center to ensure even rise. Sprinkle granulated sugar evenly over loaf.
Bake until toothpick inserted in center of loaf comes out clean, 55 to 75 minutes. Cool bread in pan on wire rack 15 minutes, then remove loaf from pan and continue to cool on wire rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Really glad your dad does not have cancer. And I bought mangos at Costco this weekend, and I’ll be damned if hubs and I didn’t eat the whole container yesterday. They were delicious, and I have no regrets.
I’m a vegetarian, so this is really my mom’s story: Costco chicken is for their dog. This dog (toy poodle) eats better than most people, since she cooks all his food for him (and adds a powdered vitamin supplement for dogs). He’s super picky and has my mom completely under his control.
I resonated with this so much. My mom has a bad habit of only telling partial stories to several family members, but different parts to different people. So inevitably I have to call her back for more info, which is stress inducing. I also shop for groceries online for the same reason. It makes meal prep very easy. My grocery store is across the street and if I do pickup instead of delivery it’s free of charge. So those are my mangoes ????
When is the next Hugh 2 coming out? It’s been a few years.
We are not telling you when things will come out or what we are working on to manage both your expectations and the amount of pressure constant questions produce. Right now we are offering Wilmington Years, Kate novellas, which take place after the event of Magic Shifts but before Blood Heir.
When a new project is ready for publication, it will be posted here: https://ilona-andrews.com/release-schedule/ You will not find out about it until it’s either almost done or complete.
My worst grocery trips are when I come home with bags of stuff, but not the three things I went to the store to get. I can imagine your relief over your father’s disappearing dots, wonderful news and worthy of sushi indulgence.
Mangos Are In Season (writing from Costa Rica). You can still get them green and eat them with lemon juice and salt. Or leave them sitting out until they ripen. Both are yummy. I’m planning to go to mango country in a couple of weeks and buy boxes of mangos to cut up and freeze. So worth it!
Tree ripened mangoes – heaven. I haven’t had them since i was a child in Hong Kong many decades ago. I still remember the flavor. Grocery store mangoes in New England are a pallid shadow of the real thing.
this is why I don’t go to Sam’s more than 1 time a month.
Glad your dad is okay! Yes, mangos for everyone 🙂
when i buy the rotisserie chicken, it sits on my counter til i’ve put all the other groceries away. then i pull out a freezer bag or freezer container and the kitchen scissors before my hands get dirty. i eat my leg and thigh standing at the kitchen counter, and then pull all the meat off the bones and use the scissors to cut it into bite size pieces. i shove it all in the bag or container, clean up, and stick it into the freezer. i’ve learned the hard way that i’m NOT going to use the remainder up within the next few days because i *just* ate chicken and i’m not in the mood for it again. but if its in the freezer all cut up and ready to go, THEN i will use it. the dog sits and patiently watches and drools while this happens, because she knows if she stays patient and quiet, she gets some chicken too. she is a nice polite beggar.
I’m glad to hear your father didn’t have lung cancer. Being beyond 85 years old, I understand your parents’ saga. I do the same to my children. If I don’t tell them the whole story, each one has different questions. There are some auto-immune problems which are genetically related in my family. Each of my kids are aware that they need to know.
Two of my brothers-in-law were professional soldiers as I was. We all had Agent Orange diseases. My B-I-Ls passed away because of them. I have survived Prostate Cancer for several years. I had three biopsies, the first was positive and the next two showed no change or growth. I am on a Watch-and-Wait regimen. Once a year I pee in a bottle, get a PSA test, and a finger wave. My Urologist tells me, “There’s no change, come back next year.” The worst part of the exam is the afterwards, cleaning off the KY jelly.
Thank you for stepping forward to keep us all safe, Henry.
I am a complete sucker for soft blankets. Every couch and comfy chair in our house has soft blankets, often from Sam’s or Costco. I have also purchased the same blankets for at least five people as presents 🙂
Yesterday we were in Sam’s and I also had some epic fails!
XD that is a true trip to Costco on the west coast. Did you leave spending under $100? That wasn’t actually a Costco trip.
Good job, dearie. I have to do the shopping for my husband, and myself, while he has to wait in the car. His medication compromises his immune system, and he can’t be around people. So, I shop, and take a list. I am getting better, but it’s still HARD!!! So, good job at the store.
This happens to me, but I know it. Today I needed milk, and I only bought $15 of extra stuff. Including the rotisserie chicken. It was a WIN!!!
Lol. I’m with you on the throws. Lovely & comfortable. MY main fail for the past few yrs now has been lounge wear & night wear. I’ve lived in joggers all through lockdown & since so I am always on the lookout for something new. This week I’ve just got some that look like denim- jogging trousers that look like denim jeans- just SO comfy.
And new nightdresses! O. M. G. I must by a new nightdress a month I think. I HAVE to stop!! The good thing is that it’s 1 in,1 out so the charity shop gains. Most of my shopping is done online praise be I hate to think what would happen if I actually walked into the store……..
Grateful that the news about your dad was good! And, it sounds like basically, your trip to Sam’s was more of a win than a fail. Go you! ????
Sushi is never a regret, a reward maybe, but not a regret. I have a pantry of non-perishables. Was very grateful for it when there were shutdowns and supply issues. Doing the same thing with towels was a lifesaver for me. I had two boys and half the neighborhood kids in and out closest house to the neighborhood park). No complaints from hubby once he realized his towels weren’t getting dirt stained anymore. Celebrate your wins and enjoy the fluffy blankets.
I go right by a Costco this week, I have a rewards certificate, and, thanks to Ilona and the BDH, I now must purchase a soft blanket. Evil, evil, evil.
Yes, but if your rewards certificate is enough, then you essentially prepaid for the soft blanket. You’re just going to pick it up now. 😉
ahhh the “Aisle of Random Purchase Regret”. I too actually saved money during covid lockdowns because (thankfully) I could work from home and I didnt really have any discretionary spending.. basically only ordered whatever was on the grocery list.
Loove mangoes to pieces. Small pieces that I eat every night.
My sis and BiL work at Sam’s. The stuff that is thrown out would feed a soup kitchen yet they don’t donate any of it. Not just food, baby formula, clothes, anything that is returned. My sister brought home a high end purse one time and an expensive watch. The manger told her to go ahead and take them when she questioned it being THROWN OUT!
I knew there were more reasons I don’t shop at Walmart or Sams. What a miserable waste of products going to overflowing landfills. Waste like that should not be tolerated.
I really wanted to buy throws the last time we went amd my oldest daughter was like no I have a million throws you have a million throws we don’t need anymore throws. I had to set a good example:(. Rotisserie chickens never last long in my house 2 collage age boys still live at home. thankfully we live 45 min away from our nearest Sam’s but our saturday trip to Walmart ALWAYs ends up being $100. Glad to hear about your dad. my mom has been battling overian cancerous and on for 30 years now. It’s hard to hear the doctor found something. My mother in law was just told they found something on her lungs. she told us that it was because our chickens visit her on her front porch so they gave her an infection…..never mind she’s been a pack a day smoker since she was 12.
I wish there was an easy way to send you some of our mangoes when they come off the tree. The problem is that everyone else’s mango trees are also producing and you can’t give them away.
I have a Costco and Sams within 1 1/2 miles of my house and office. They are across the street from each other. Sams was there first. I admit I don’t go to any malls. All of my clothes are from Sams. It is dangerous to go to Costco because the gas line goes out into the street and they have two full time attendents directing traffic. Sams has diesel Costco doesnt. Otherwise their gas prices are the same.
Sams is our go to for cheese, frozen goodies and lunch meat. I can pass up most of the groceries. Our Stater Brothers has better meat and produce.
Sams is very dangerous for me for the non food items.
So pleased your father is ok, always a worry and as much as we try it’s natural to feel anxious, enjoy the mangoes, my weakness is Avocados love them
I like browsing the Costco subreddit and costco.com new items. I can see all the neat items and not purchase them. Maybe this is a hobby?
The subreddit shows a lot of impulse buys which is a fun way to actually know if someone went in for the rotisserie chicken or the tv (or really both). Also plenty of pet x blanket pics. Thankfully Costco.com tech is basic basic so the search engine terms needs to be very specific, no store inventory check, and definitely no mobile scan to pay. It saves me money. Time, eh, browsing from the comfort of home.
Enjoyed reading about the wins and fails! I’m sorry, but it sounds to me like you had some fun. I’m all about fun!
As to the rotisserie chicken, I love to buy them on occasion, if I’m feeling too lazy to cook. They are partially eaten then the remaining chicken is either made into soup or a green chile enchilada casserole. Yum! Or tacos. Almost never makes it to salad, heh.
So glad to hear the good news! Unless your dad also smokes, I’m not sure I’d worry about lung cancer. That said, I totally understand the instant stress! Whew!
In my area its BJ’s. I have to avoid the side wall of freezers as the big boxes of mini frozen eclairs would leap into my cart. (Always justified because they are mini: small, fewer calories if I eat one. Stopping at one is impossible)
So glad you finally got the good news from your Dad. I am puzzled about how a rotisserie chicken can go to waste in a family with dogs… of course they DON’T get the bones, but I’m sure they’d happily help out with the meat. And KUDOS on those mangoes!
We have just left the mango season in Australia as we are officially in autumn now, although with the recent heatwaves you would not know it. I do occasionally buy the rotisserie chicken and it feeds both of us for two meals so no left overs. The C word is hard and provokes a visceral fear. I lost my mum to lung cancer and still miss her nearly 40 years later. My wife had non Hodgkins but 5 years clear now. Unfortunately her mother’s husband has been diagnosed with brain cancer and has had the surgery so just organising the chemo and radiation. No cure just to give additional year or two. The silver lining is his personality has changed and he is currently kind. Don’t know if it is a temporary result from swelling or if he had a come to Jesus monument but you take all the wins you can get. I hope you get to eat all the mangos and have better days ahead.
Congrats on the Willpower! These are the exact reasons I online grocery shop as well, especially when I need to go to thw Big Box stores. Coincidentally its the same reason hubby likes to pick up instead of delivery. He will go in an hour before pick up time so he can wander to see whats new. ????
Pup has a GI issue. While she was in for tests to get to the bottom (pun not intended) of her problem, I hit Trader Joe’s. Why? Because it is nice to have nice things, not just basic things, when I know I won’t be able to hit the grocery store any time soon. I got a block of parmesan, and some cookies, and a package of the “turdiest” looking chocolates I could find for the vet, because she is an exceedingly patient lady who shoehorned me in on very short notice, and because I knew she’d think it was funny. (Eventual diagnosis for the pup? Small infection that probably resulted from her eating something she shouldn’t. Antibiotics and chicken-rice diet for a while. Pup ecstatic with the menu.) Congratulations on your mangoes.
Trader Joe’s for “roasted no salt” almonds. (I can get “roasted with salt” or “unroasted no salt” at the regular grocery store, neither of which is what I want.)
TJ’s for the win!!
I am so happy for the good news.
I have a rule for shopping. I can get what is on the list, what should be on the list (your hand towels fall here), and two impulse buys. It keeps me in check and lets me get treats or throw blankets without guilt. Once there are two things in the cart, any further things that catch my eye are weighed against needing to put something back. That mainly happens when I grocery shop on an empty stomach.
I only buy fried chicken. It takes me at least four days to go through the 8 pieces, but it does all get eaten. Any other variation on the theme tends to end up like yours.
I get my mangoes in the dried fruit section of Trader Joe’s. Less messy that way.
For the rest, kind of sounds like about half my trips through the local Fred Meyer.
I was just mentioning to Hubby that sometimes I missed going to the grocery.
He reminded me that I spent the bulk of my time trying to figure out if there were nuts in gluten free cookies over getting what we needed, or adding to our coffee cups when we have too many.
This is the same man who cannot go to Tractors Supply without bringing me back a toy dinosaur.
We’re a pair.
Congrats on the good news!
Usually my partner does the shopping, but last week partner and kid got sick together so basically my thought process went: I’ll get a haul of groceries now, so that when I inevitably get sick myself, we will be all set and won’t need to leave the house or ask other people to get us shopping.
So there’s a reason I normally don’t do the shopping.
Unlike my partner, I go into stress mode. And stress is dealt with by eating. So me doing the shopping while stressed meant I got more stuff than needed, mostly in the crunchy/chocolate range. And yet I still count it as a win, because while I did spend more than I needed to, none of the extra stuff will go off, and we actually did finish all the perishables.
Also, I didn’t get sick, so also a win ????
So glad your Dad is okay! With age comes fears about spots…lung spots, mammogram spots, that weird skin spot. I never feared the spots when I was younger. Now they make me nervous.
Ah, mangoes. Down here is sunny southern Florida, everyone in my neighborhood has a mango tree in their yard. And when they get ripe, everyone has more mangoes than they could ever possibly eat, so we bag up a bunch and “gift” them to neighbors…except those neighbors are trying to get rid of their own extra mangoes, so it’s like a game of Hot Potato with bags of mangoes. Many a time I have opened my front door only to find the mango fairy has left me a surprise 30 or so mangoes that I have to rehome in addition to my own. If they weren’t so stupidly expensive to ship, I’d send you some. (Bananas too. My banana plants are insane. Don’t get me started on those).
You mention the reason I don’t belong to Costco or Sam’s Club
Sam’s can be expensive, due to impulse buys. Whenever possible, I order from the app and use curbside pickup. That eliminates the impulse buying!
Throw blankets make great gifts. (That’s my rational.) (Also throw blankets are a lot cheaper than the same weight fleece fabric and I make pajama pants out of them.)
We hit a great sale on meat this month and I probably won’t need to buy anything but fish until July (I only buy fresh fish, I don’t like frozen). I have a funeral to go to today and I just took one of the giant pork roasts and made … well, I thought I made Bulgogi Pork but it turns out that word doesn’t mean what I (and Bon Appetit) thought it meant so I made Korean BBQ Pork, which will be served with home made rolls and do chua (Vietnamese picked vegetables).
Both freezers are full to the top.
I’m glad your dad is cancer free. It’s a scary thought, that someone you love might have cancer. The past 14 months my husband and my youngest son have had thyroid cancer. They’re both doing ok now, but now it’s the granddaughters and a genetic heart arrhythmia. It never ends.
Well that went downhill fast. I’m glad your dad is ok. I’m looking forward to the new book. Hang in there. And that chicken makes great soup. Throw it in the pot with some pasta and a bag of frozen vegetables. Yummy.
Mangoes are always a win. Always. Enjoy the mangoes!
P.S.: You did much better than I always do when I go to the Walmart near me. I have been known to stop by there for one little thing and then end up buying all the other things. Sometimes I even forget to buy the one thing I went for! ????
I love the Costco cookies! They’re delicious frozen and keep very well that way! Eat them cold or toss em in the oven for a few minutes.
I bet the dogs would love some of the chicken!
So glad your dad is ok!
When the going gets tough, the tough go shopping! lol!
Congrats on restraining yourself as much as you did at Sam’s!
Similar story here. I often have partial will power if I enter a store with a large footprint (Walmart, Target, Costco, Petsmart, what-have-you).
Curbside pick up has been revolutionary!
My father is terrible about keeping me up to date on medical things. Says he doesn’t want to worry me. Makes me worry more. Argh!
I can’t resist buying blankets/throws either!
I recently read we should take the chicken carcass and low boil it for 24 hour to make bone broth for the pets. Or us I guess?
After an odd hospital based lung infection I had many scan many worries. It is all fine except asthma and supposed copd. But they do pick up small oddities then have to keep checking.
I only shop pickup, since before the pandemic. I’ve actually cut my grocery bill by almost 50%. I am such a horrible impulse buyer – being the person they set up end caps for! So, I am very proud of you for your restraint at Sam’s! It is so not easy – or fun! It take’s amazing self control. Congrats on a successful outing.
I’m glad your Dad is okay. I understand about having supplies in the house. I usually don’t do the Costco run, my husband does it and he actually likes going. But he is traveling for work this and we have company coming so I am going to shop there this week. The payoff is my husband is going to smoke a brisket for the company. Yum!
Hopefully the rest of the week goes smoothly.
When I visited South Africa I ate mangoes almost every day. I cannot find any mangoes here in the states that taste like that. They were so good!
With blankets, for cold weather, get a few that are crocheted. In very cold weather with the crocheted blanket as the first layer and a second blanket on top of that the small air pockets created hold your body heat and helps you stay warm.
Sometimes we just need good food. Better to go for the sushi and mangoes than to succumb to the (delicious but regretful) snack foods.
Glad your dads clean. And thanks Mangos back at you giggle.
I am just returned from a week at an air b n b in Katy, Tx. With all the stress of living for a week with two families, the horse polo tournament and trying not to exceed the budget, I didn’t think to look for Houston land marks from Hidden Legacy… I will say… Bucc-ee’s was an experience, the Houston area highways with all the flyovers … those I now can picture in great detail!! My first time in Texas… it was cold. Didn’t encounter any large insects, the hot tub chose when it wanted to work which was whenever I didn’t have time to use it, but we all had fun! Strawberries and a nice trail mix are my happy “mangoes”… the kind with walnuts, pecans, almonds, cashews and dried fruit.
Donate the old/least favorite throws to the local animal shelter. The dogs will love them and they will no longer be breeding at your house.
Happy your father is well. I stress buy soft blankets and throws. They also end up going to kids or the many many dogs who also love blankets. Just feeling them for a bit and the pretty colors are instantly stress reducing for me. (Not the husband .”don’t we already have enough blankets “) ????
Glad your Papa is okay!
My mom is going under the knife, tomorrow.
And don’t consider it a fail when you buy something that you need AND have a good use for it!
oh, man, can I ever relate to the chicken getting bought with the best of intentions….then tossed. This is what happens when you fall for teenagers saying, “I want to eat healthier. More protein!” No. No they don’t…
I’m so glad it wasn’t cancer. And my family has also been trained to start the call w “Everything is okay but…” or what have you and to *not* leave people hanging.
I had canned mangos with sticky rice and coconut cream today. It was heavenly dessert.
I bought 2 mangoes , I adore them
I love using a rotisserie chicken to make chicken pot pie casserole. Then the pot pie gets eaten as leftovers for a few days, haha. It’s a favorite of my family, and I’m expected to produce it for any potluck style family get togethers, haha.
I love the Sam’s cozy blankets. I’ve bought two so far and have to stop myself from buying more.
I’m not sure if they have it in your area, but the Sam’s here offers curbside pick up. It’s not as fun as wandering the aisles, but it does save time and money.
We almost always have a rotisserie chicken at home. Dad and mom tend to grab the white meat and I prefer the dark. we still never finish the whole thing, so the remaining bits get used to make pancit, macaroni soup, sotanghon (a ginger vermicelli soup), lugaw (a rice porridge), and chicken salad sandwiches.
I’m glad your dad is all right. I think some people just don’t realize (or care) about the stress they cause others. Your stress shopping restraint is admirable.
haha I have 2 young boys. when we are done shopping at Costco, each kid gets a rotisserie chicken leg. I used to give it to them in the car, but now I’m prepared, I bring a small knife and 2 sandwich bags and each kid gets a leg in a bag and it makes so much less mess. then with their tummys filled they sleep in the car, which provides some nice quiet time after the noise of costco. my mom taught me to hand shred the chicken as soon as I get home and freeze it for stir fry. whats leftover goes into the instant pot for chicken broth and used for noodle soup.
Went to Big Lots last weekend because it is a great place to get a good deal on large ceramic pots for the patio.
Bought two throw blankets, a towel, some chips, and three different kinds of olives.
No pot. The pots they had were lovely, but not in the colors I wanted.
Sigh.
The trail mix IS yummy, not just looks that way, with three kinds of nuts, big raisins, and (generic) chocolate M&Ms… But yeah, not buying is a major win. Once I eat a handful, I usually get two or three more instead of just replacing the lid and putting it away.
Fiquem bem!!!
First, good news about your dad. That makes me happy. Second, I once told someone that I love what IA writes so much that I would read Ilona’s grocery list and enjoy it, and voila! Grocery list! And I enjoyed it.
Sushi – yes this is the way. Mangos mix well into icecream or yogurt or maybe some salsa. You can be healthy or not it’s your choice. Total win in my book. I’m glad your family is healthy.
As a life-long Northerner, I’m ashamed to admit I have no idea when mangoes are in season.
Lovely to hear your family also buries the lead about important stuff. So many phone calls that start out talking about the kid being mouthy or the dog chewing up some socks. Then right at the end you find out about the car accident or the trip to the ER. They drop a bomb on you right before having to ring off, leaving basically no questions answered. Sigh.
My major impulse buys are always stationary. Pens and pretty notebooks especially. I buy them and then they end up in the storage area because I will never actually be able to use them all in my lifetime.
I have learned after covid that if I contemplate buying pretty notebooks and stationary online long enough it prevents me from buying them. Basically, I feel like I’ve already looked at them enough that I no longer derive enough joy out of a particular notebook or planner to actually purchase. Thus saving me money and regret.
Yumm…mangos. I, too, prefer ordering to in-store shopping. Misfits Food doesn’t necessarily save me money, but it saves time and I am more likely to buy stuff that is good for me. Too often shopping in store leads to buying things that look good, but are disappointing when I get them home. Mangos are yummy at any season.
Off the Subject:
Dear Ilona, do you ever go to yarn trunk shows? Miss Babs yarn is going to be in Spring on the 3/24. Thought u’d like to know.
I got the same thing with throw blankets. I manage to not buy every time I go but I definitely have enough for 3 apartments
I grew up in Indiana in the 1980’s. I am right on the age ledge where people remember the odd practice of calling bell peppers “mangoes”. Actual mangoes were not something one came across at the local grocery store. There are a few theories online about why some people in the “West Midland” region (mostly Indiana, Illinois, and Ohio) used the term “mango” to refer to a bell pepper. One theory is that two to three hundred years ago, mangoes was a term applied to pickled fruits (and apparently some veggies) – especially ones that needed to be preserved during their long journey from India to England. No one uses this term now. I am 45 and many people my age – even from Indiana – do not remember using the word to describe bell peppers. I thought you might find this strange movement of language interesting.
I got tired of wasting the Chicken so now I debone it as soon as it is cool enough to touch. Now we seldom waste any of the chicken.
Mangos are very hard to pass by
Glad your dad is ok! The waiting and not knowing is terrible.
My dad recently had his first colonoscopy at the age of 66. My sister, mom, and I had been after him for YEARS to get one. You know, typical man who doesn’t believe he ever needs to go to the doctor. My sister literally told him “For Christmas I don’t want anything, just you telling me you scheduled your colonoscopy!” He finally had it a few weeks ago, grumbled about the prep and diet (to be fair, the instructions they gave him had no paragraph breaks and read like massive run on sentences and even I was like what the hell is this?). But he finally did it and we were so relieved.
They found a few polyps, all benign but according to my mom they weren’t sure at first and had to confirm. So she sat there for a few days anxiously waiting and not knowing if her husband potentially had cancer and apparently didn’t tell my dad either because she didn’t want to stress him out. He is cancer free but I guess due to the size of the polyps found, they want him to return in a year.
I didn’t stress shop after because I hate shopping but it was great news. Now we get to repeat this in a year and convince him to do it all over again. ????
Rotisserie chicken. Always good for enchiladas.
I had an emergency appendectomy on Monday, so I may treat myself to a mango or two myself.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/iMu2b4NCoHuchtA89
Get well soon!
Glad to hear that it was the all clear news from your dad. Definitely agree that he should have led with that tidbit. I too fall victim to the purchasing of throw blankets. My youngest does not help in that regard as she loves to snuggle up with them just as much as I do, and once they’ve been washed a few times they are dead to her and must be replaced.
This post I can so relate to. With us it’s BJ’s. We cannot leave the store without spending a minimum $$$ amount. I too have a weakness for soft blankets and weirdly, cute coasters.
The chip and candy aisle is tough. I have to turn away from the Terra Chips. Only I eat them and all in one sitting. So don’t buy, don’t eat. Sushi is always a win win!! Sounds like a good day at Sam’s!! I’m mentally making my list for BJ’s now. LOL!!!
Oh have you tried the Dole mango and papaya fruit cups in juice? I don’t usually like fruit cups because way too many little plastic cups, and usually way too much sugar. but treat in my childhood was canned fruit cocktail or peaches so.
but I love these mango and papaya cups for the occasional treat. Not too sweet and I recycle every cup. I wish they came in a big glass jar.
We were on a super tight budget with young kids for years too: I still get random waves of being sooo grateful I can just walk in and buy groceries without a running total! To those still there, keep up your hard work, it will pay off eventually!
This is so heartwarming.
you didn’t get a jar of the White Star Polish pickles?
I give our friend $25 and she buys me 6 quart-size jars of those pickles when she hoes to Sam’s Club. I used to be able to buy them at Costco or BJ’s but Wal-Mart bought their entire supply for the past decade so you can only buy them at Sam’s. It’s a year supply. Give or take, depends on the number of sandwiches made and if I decide to do a tray of devilled eggs.
I didn’t know you love mangos. Is this why Orro/Quinllonian loves Mangos?
Wal-Mart has been delivering my groceries since the beginning of the plague. They bring me perfect fruit and they used to have shredded rotisserie chicken for about the same price as a raw chicken. It’s gotten more expensive, but it’s still very handy for a disabled old lady who lives by herself. Great for chicken sandwiches, thrown in low sodium soup along with extra frozen vegetables and tacos. They also deliver craft supplies and new shorts for this summer. I buy their plush throws too. 🙂
But the real question is: do you have “Dina” flashbacks while in Costco and find your eye searching those upper shelves? Do you find yourself throwing heavy canned goods in your cart “just in case?”