Food and Recipes while under Coronavirus quarantine #7

[BetteDavisEyes]

I found bananas at Target today. I swear the cashier was oblivious that she was handling fresh produce. She dropped them into the bag, literally. Then dropped the 6 small bags of Halloween candy on top of them. Then picked up the entire bag and literally dropped it in my cart. I was flabbergasted, speechless. At what point do people learn to bag food? Good grief.

When I was selecting some not-too-ripe bananas at Nino's yesterday, I asked the produce manager if he had heard about the possibly impending longshoreman strike that could impact local supplies of bananas. He was unaware and said he'd look into it. They sell a LOT of bananas, and dwindling supplies would be problematic. NBC Nightly News had a report about the possible strike during the newscast last night.

 

[Kudzuu]

I found bananas at Target today. I swear the cashier was oblivious that she was handling fresh produce. She dropped them into the bag, literally. Then dropped the 6 small bags of Halloween candy on top of them. Then picked up the entire bag and literally dropped it in my cart. I was flabbergasted, speechless. At what point do people learn to bag food? Good grief.

How old was the cashier?

I swear I've had more trouble with young men these days. I asked a bagger to put my frozen food in my freezer bag. He put my bananas on top and glared at me. Getting old and not having a husband to deal with men is not easy.

Most places now teach employees how to bag groceries. Doesn't mean they'll do it though.

I usually bag my own stuff but I don't think that is an option at Target.

 

[slowpoke]

Every day ought to be National Corned Beef Hash Day!! LOL, love the stuff, and I do make it with the canned corned beef and fresh bell peppers, it's pretty awesome. The canned stuff's good, too, though. Sometimes I poach eggs and sit them on top of it.

I STILL cannot get my duck. I have to walk FOUR MILES to get duck unless someone gets it for me and brings it back (which soon should happen). So today I got cheaper cuts of sirloin tip and seasoned them in heavy oil for steak tacos, seared, into the oven. Lotta oil so they'd tenderize as cooking. I left the cuts whole (till later) Really heavy seasoning and spices (chipotle, ancho, onion powder, fresh garlic, cheat with taco seasoning, fresh jalapenos, fresh chunks of lime). Back out, added some stock, hacked up the meat, more seasonings and spices, let them sit while I cut the onions & cilantro and got the lime together. Warmed the tortillas, put everything together. They were nice, but they'll be better tomorrow once the leftover meat sits in the juices overnight. Also, hopefully I can get some tomatillos & make my own green salsa. I've got a good brand here, though, like this one, it's (checking...) Cholula Green Pepper. Like that one.

No Chinese supermarkets near you, @snooptroop88 ? I was just at one yesterday, and saw whole headless ducks for $2.99/lb.

 

[IceIce9]

How old was the cashier?

I swear I've had more trouble with young men these days. I asked a bagger to put my frozen food in my freezer bag. He put my bananas on top and glared at me. Getting old and not having a husband to deal with men is not easy.

Most places now teach employees how to bag groceries. Doesn't mean they'll do it though.

I usually bag my own stuff but I don't think that is an option at Target.

One of our local grocery store chains hires baggers though a developmental center that finds employment for individuals with Down’s syndrome. They are the best baggers! They are always careful, honor requests, and really take pride in their work.

 

[PayrollNerd]

How old was the cashier?

I swear I've had more trouble with young men these days. I asked a bagger to put my frozen food in my freezer bag. He put my bananas on top and glared at me. Getting old and not having a husband to deal with men is not easy.

Most places now teach employees how to bag groceries. Doesn't mean they'll do it though.

I usually bag my own stuff but I don't think that is an option at Target.

She had to be 40, so not a kid. She didn’t seem mad either and was pleasant. I was just blown away at how dense she was.

There were 8 self checkouts, all full and at least 10 people waiting in that line. There were 2 people ahead of me in this lady’s line. I wanted to get out quick because I don’t have an immune system right now and was wearing a mask.

When I arrived there were maybe 10 shopping carts. When I left people were waiting for carts. I was thinking to myself…. I gotta get out of here before some nut breathes on me!

 

[PayrollNerd]

I hadn’t been to a food pick up in over a month. Today was the big monthly one.

I liked the produce but had to toss all the corn, most of the cabbage, and some sweet potatoes. I’m not a fan of green grapes but I’ll taste them.

I put 2 packs of salmon in the freezer and I’ll make the 3rd one tomorrow. I don’t think I’ve ever had apples from Canada before. The peaches are small and in good shape.

I’ll need to make some banana bread which is ok because we’ve depleted our stash.

The eggs will be great for a breakfast casserole. I’ve started a free box to put at the curb. It’s been too wet to put anything out yet.

 

[acutename]

When I was selecting some not-too-ripe bananas at Nino's yesterday, I asked the produce manager if he had heard about the possibly impending longshoreman strike that could impact local supplies of bananas. He was unaware and said he'd look into it. They sell a LOT of bananas, and dwindling supplies would be problematic. NBC Nightly News had a report about the possible strike during the newscast last night.

I am expecting this strike "for the holidays" because it will cause maximum disruption .... as if the Panama Canal drying up was not bad enough, now this... always something

 

[snooptroop88]

No Chinese supermarkets near you, @snooptroop88 ? I was just at one yesterday, and saw whole headless ducks for $2.99/lb.

Driving me crazy! LOL, I hardly ever get duck. There's a Filipino market I've been dying to get into, but also-- four miles away. No idea if they've got it, but even if they do, it's four miles. No Chinese market around. The local grocery I have to get the WHOLE duck, which is like $30. Hmm, there's a local butcher around the corner, lemme look at their website here. One sec. YES! I see a whole duck there! But it's the whole duck. Still, it's just one picture! Maybe I can get a smaller portion!!

Hope!! LOL OH, and they've got venison! And not ground venison. Slowpoke, thanks on this!!

 

[PayrollNerd]

One of our local grocery store chains hires baggers though a developmental center that finds employment for individuals with Down’s syndrome. They are the best baggers! They are always careful, honor requests, and really take pride in their work.

Yes we have some at my Publix too and they are such lovely people. The cashier gives them pointers and they’re very receptive.

 

[IceIce9]

https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/29/business/goods-port-strike-east-gulf-coasts/index.html

That means America could see some shortages of chocolate, alcohol, popular fruit, including bananas and cherries, and even certain cars if the strike lasts a long time. That could mean higher prices for the goods that are available

 

[slowpoke]

https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/29/business/goods-port-strike-east-gulf-coasts/index.html

That means America could see some shortages of chocolate, alcohol, popular fruit, including bananas and cherries, and even certain cars if the strike lasts a long time. That could mean higher prices for the goods that are available

People are already panic-buying things that wouldn’t have been affected, like toilet paper.

Covid PTSD? Amid port strike some consumers are panic-buying goods like toilet paper

Some consumers, worried about Covid-19 era shortages, are stockpiling some goods. Do they need to?

www.usatoday.com

 

[PayrollNerd]

People are already panic-buying things that wouldn’t have been affected, like toilet paper.

Covid PTSD? Amid port strike some consumers are panic-buying goods like toilet paper

Some consumers, worried about Covid-19 era shortages, are stockpiling some goods. Do they need to?

www.usatoday.com

I need paper towels, which we use mostly for food safety reasons. Now I'm wondering if they'll even be any.

 

[slowpoke]

I need paper towels, which we use mostly for food safety reasons. Now I'm wondering if they'll even be any.

Yes, that’s what happens—people panic-buy, and create a shortage; then others that need it are unable to find it!

 

[killarney rose]

DH and I drink different brands of coffee.yesterday he got us each an extra container before there could be a shortage or the price will go up. No hoarding, just being practical.

 

[IceIce9]

Just before COVID started, an elderly couple that I had been helping for a few years moved to be with their children in another state.

They had been ordering large packages of Bounty paper towels and Charmin toilet paper for quite some time, and they had quite a stockpile in their basement. They didn’t want to move it out of state so they gave it all to me. I didn’t have anywhere to store it besides my garage.

So we had 12-roll packages of Bounty paper towels and 24-roll packages of toilet paper stacked in the garage for more than a year as we gradually used them. I finally cleared out a spot in a closet to move them to.

During COVID I was afraid to open my garage door because I thought if someone was driving by they would think I was a hoarder!

 

[slowpoke]

DH and I drink different brands of coffee.yesterday he got us each an extra container before there could be a shortage or the price will go up. No hoarding, just being practical.

Oooh, coffee is important in my household, too! So, we always tend to buy multiple bags at a time — whenever it’s on sale. Nothing fancy, and just a drip coffeemaker. But I must have it first thing in the morning, to feel like I’m starting my day off right. (Right now, I have about 9 of 12-oz size bags. )

Just yesterday morning, we woke up to the power going out in our neighborhood. So, I couldn’t use the coffeemaker! I was desperate, so I put some ground coffee in the gold filter basket, placed it right over the carafe, and poured boiled water (fortunately have a gas stove) over. Ahhhh—got my coffee fix.

 

[Puzzles8]

I need paper towels, which we use mostly for food safety reasons. Now I'm wondering if they'll even be any.

We were at Costco today. Paper towels were almost gone and there were few rolls of toilet paper left.
Water bottle supply was low...Shesh. 90% of the paper goods we use in the US are made domestically, so there should be no shortages here.

The Dollar Tree on the other hand will probably have bare shelves by next week!

 

[snooptroop88]

Has anyone had a chance to try a Chicken Big Mac yet? I just saw they're selling them in the US now.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Looks like I've been neglecting my foodie friends lately. Sorry. Been busy with physical therapy for my right rotataotr cuff twice a week and my home exercise program. I'm doing really well after 6 sessions with 4 more to go.

Our dinner party last Sunday was very nice. Our friends brought the main course: smoked brisket with baked beans. The meat was very tender with smoky flavor, and the beans were magnificent. I made cocktail sauce to accompany large, chilled shrimp, and DH did a phenomenal job with Ina Garten's Ham & Cheese Puff Pastry. I also made colorful succotash and peach cobbler with French vanilla ice cream. We enjoyed visiting with our friends and their 11-year-old pooch.

Last Tuesday (October 1) was DH's 76th birthday. We went to Ruth's Chris Steakhouse, where we hadn't been for a while. The prices are obscene, but this was DH's choice for his birthday dinner. We shared the mushrooms stuffed with crabmeat appetizer that was O.K. The crabmeat stuffing was good, but the mushrooms were bland. DH had the New York strip steak, while I opted for lamb chops. We shared grilled asparagus with Hollandaise. We had a bottle of a lovely Pinot Noir. Even though we don't go to Ruth's Chris frequently, we knew the waitress because we've had her previously. She's been there for quite a while and remembers us. She provides exemplary service and brought DH a complimentary dessert for his birthday. It was a dense, rich flourless chocolate cake that we shared. She chose it because she knew it would be perfect with our last pours of Pinot Noir. Troy | Dining Room | Ruth's Chris Steak House

I made German potato salad on Thursday to accompany butterfly pork chops. Last night, we had Icelandic cod on a bed of spinach with capers, lemon, scallions, tomatoes, and white wine. I'm going to make a pot of minestrone soup today that we'll have with crusty Italian bread. My minestrone soup will have pancetta, carrots, celery, leeks, chickpeas, orzo, tomatoes, chicken stock, baby spinach, and fresh basil. I'll add a Parmesan rind for flavor and thickening the soup.

In other food news, we watched Chocolat on Flix yesterday. Chocolat (2000) 7.2 | Drama, Romance

 

[PayrollNerd]

Thursday we went to Fords Garage for dinner. My friend’s Dad, Phil is 90, nearly blind from macular degeneration and almost deaf. He is lonely and when we all meet up, I like to sit by him. My blood cancer is very similar to what his wife died from 3 years ago. He’s very interested in how I’m doing, what my treatment entails, etc.

Anyway, he ordered this sandwich called Smoked Brisket Burnt Ends Melt. Then proceeded to tell us it was too burnt. He was so funny! The title of it sounded awful to me to begin with.

I had the Pulled Pork sandwich but didn’t eat the bun. The meat was tender but the sauce was too spicy for me. I had the coleslaw on the side instead of on the sandwich. The green beans were my side and they were very good.

It was a great evening and Phil had a wonderful time getting out and about.

Menu - TIER 4 McG

Menu . VIEW LOCATION DETAILS FOOD MENU DRINK MENU CRAFT BEER LIST HAPPY HOUR MENU CATERING MENU FOOD MENU DRINK MENU CRAFT BEER LIST HAPPY HOUR

fordsgarageusa.com

This morning we had brunch at Bobs Train restaurant. It was a very cool environment with so much history, memorabilia and photos from the circus life. If you’re visiting the area, you should go there. We all had the omelet bar. They call you up to the omelet bar and you pick your ingredients and they plate everything right then.

We all decided we needed to get Phil there soon. He loves trains, had an elaborate train set in his garage until recently.

Bobs Train - Resturant and Circus Museum

Bob’s Train is the best kept secret in Sarasota. Hidden away off the main road we keep our little piece of circus history alive.

www.bobstrain.com