Grocery shopping tips during Coronavirus quarantine #3

[BetteDavisEyes]

Oh my goodness!
Eggplant and avocados?
I love both but expensive here!

I've got dibs on those, too Eggplant is my favorite vegetable. I made Eggplant Parm last week.

 

[PayrollNerd]

Ok I need help with preserving the avocados. I don’t eat them but my girls do. They are soft but don’t seem mushy. My girls said they’ll spoil quickly. I have them in the crisper drawer. Do I peel them and mash them for something like guacamole or can you freeze them? Thanks!

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Ok I need help with preserving the avocados. I don’t eat them but my girls do. They are soft but don’t seem mushy. My girls said they’ll spoil quickly. I have them in the crisper drawer. Do I peel them and mash them for something like guacamole or can you freeze them? Thanks!

I don't know about freezing avocados, but they do spoil quickly. I only buy one or two at a time and try to find the firmest ones that I can. It's better to hasten ripening in a paper bag or wine sleeve than it is to use overripe avocados before they turn brown and yucky. I've never seen pre-made guacamole in the freezer section of any store, but there are a couple of brands that are in refrigerated tanks along with salsa, bean dips, hummus, etc.

 

[Laughing]

Ok I need help with preserving the avocados. I don’t eat them but my girls do. They are soft but don’t seem mushy. My girls said they’ll spoil quickly. I have them in the crisper drawer. Do I peel them and mash them for something like guacamole or can you freeze them? Thanks!

No experience with this:

How to Freeze California Avocados | California Avocados

 

[PayrollNerd]

No experience with this:

How to Freeze California Avocados | California Avocados

Oh this is perfect!!! If I can at least keep them fresh/frozen for Tday that will help a lot. Does anyone know if when they thaw are they watery?

 

[PayrollNerd]

I've got dibs on those, too Eggplant is my favorite vegetable. I made Eggplant Parm last week.

I need to make that again. Last time I did it for meal prep and even when it was thawed, it was good.

 

[MimosaMornings]

I don't know about freezing avocados, but they do spoil quickly. I only buy one or two at a time and try to find the firmest ones that I can. It's better to hasten ripening in a paper bag or wine sleeve than it is to use overripe avocados before they turn brown and yucky. I've never seen pre-made guacamole in the freezer section of any store, but there are a couple of brands that are in refrigerated tanks along with salsa, bean dips, hummus, etc.

Once air hits the premade guac - turns brown. I’ve tried Saran Wrap and the top layer still turns brown. Yucky.
Soft but not mushy if you want to use in that day or next day. Firm to keep for a few days.
I don’t know about freezing! Never tried it.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Once air hits the premade guac - turns brown. I’ve tried Saran Wrap and the top layer still turns brown. Yucky.
Soft but not mushy if you want to use in that day or next day. Firm to keep for a few days.
I don’t know about freezing! Never tried it.

This is the brand that I've tried. It's OK but definitely not as good as fresh, homemade, chunky guacamole.

WHOLLY® GUACAMOLE | America's #1 Selling Guacamole & Avocado Dips | Wholly Guacamole (eatwholly.com)

 

[TAM121]

I've never frozen avocados but I mash them and mix with mayo and paprika and use it as a spread for sandwiches or even dollop or two on eggs. Mixture keeps for about a week in a Tupperware container.

 

[PayrollNerd]

Ok I tried. I have never done this before. I’ve always just handed over the produce and let them deal with it. I won’t see them until Thursday this week tho. Anyway, I cut out the brown spots, wrapped the good chunks and put them in the freezer.

Then my oldest texts me and says you can make mashed avocado ice cubes. My tiny covered ice trays have lemon juice in them. Next time. Maybe I should get them little covered ice trays like mine for a gift.

 

[acutename]

Holy Veggie Pickup! I just returned from this morning’s produce distribution. I will not be going to Wednesday’s because this is more than plenty for the 3 of us. Sometimes you only get a few items and sometimes you get a lot.

They included a package of precooked chicken leg quarters, milk and eggs. There is an orange, a pear and a couple carrots that are in rough shape. Otherwise everything looks great. Now we can finalize our Tday side dishes.

Now to figure out how to get all this in the fridge!

My girls and I are so very thankful. Our budgets could never afford this much produce in a week.

plums for that tart..... and more milk....to go with your other milk....time for a pudding.

 

[kalvis]

Last minute change of our Thanksgiving plans. We are going to take the advice of the CDC and stay home. Our original plan was to have Thanksgiving at my mother-in-law‘s with about 15 people and then on Friday travel about three hours to my daughters house.
Instead I bought a turkey breast for DH and I. I will make noodles, corn, green beans, mashed potatoes, gravy and a pumpkin pie.
Our Kroger was completely stocked with food. They even had Clorox wipes. But like everywhere else, they did not have canning lids and very little TP (toilet paper) and PT (paper towel).
I hope everyone has a wonderful 2020 Thanksgiving! Gobble Gobble!

 

[ilovewings]

Last minute change of our Thanksgiving plans. We are going to take the advice of the CDC and stay home. Our original plan was to have Thanksgiving at my mother-in-law‘s with about 15 people and then on Friday travel about three hours to my daughters house.
Instead I bought a turkey breast for DH and I. I will make noodles, corn, green beans, mashed potatoes, gravy and a pumpkin pie.
Our Kroger was completely stocked with food. They even had Clorox wipes. But like everywhere else, they did not have canning lids and very little TP (toilet paper) and PT (paper towel).
I hope everyone has a wonderful 2020 Thanksgiving! Gobble Gobble!

I know it is difficult not to be with family for Thanksgiving but I think you made a wise decision to keep your family safe. Have a wonderful happy and healthy Thanksgiving!!!

I wish those 3 million people who are flying around the country had taken the advice of CDC!!!

 

[anneg]

Last minute change of our Thanksgiving plans. We are going to take the advice of the CDC and stay home. Our original plan was to have Thanksgiving at my mother-in-law‘s with about 15 people and then on Friday travel about three hours to my daughters house.
Instead I bought a turkey breast for DH and I. I will make noodles, corn, green beans, mashed potatoes, gravy and a pumpkin pie.
Our Kroger was completely stocked with food. They even had Clorox wipes. But like everywhere else, they did not have canning lids and very little TP (toilet paper) and PT (paper towel).
I hope everyone has a wonderful 2020 Thanksgiving! Gobble Gobble!

Congratulations, and enjoy your Thanksgiving feast with your husband!

 

[mickey2942]

Last minute change of our Thanksgiving plans. We are going to take the advice of the CDC and stay home. Our original plan was to have Thanksgiving at my mother-in-law‘s with about 15 people and then on Friday travel about three hours to my daughters house.
Instead I bought a turkey breast for DH and I. I will make noodles, corn, green beans, mashed potatoes, gravy and a pumpkin pie.
Our Kroger was completely stocked with food. They even had Clorox wipes. But like everywhere else, they did not have canning lids and very little TP (toilet paper) and PT (paper towel).
I hope everyone has a wonderful 2020 Thanksgiving! Gobble Gobble!

Bless you. I am very worried about people visiting on the holiday. Especially with a vaccine right around the corner. Hold tight!

 

[PayrollNerd]

plums for that tart..... and more milk....to go with your other milk....time for a pudding.

I was reading some plum tart recipes. I think it will be too much to switch them to GF, DF, EF and NF. Some recipes really lend themselves to the switch but some just don't hold up.

I’ve moved on to a “coffee cake” for tomorrows breakfast. First tho, I have to make the 2 batches of pumpkin cookies. Then, if there is enough GF flour, I’m going to prep for a warm plum coffee cake. They will love that with their coffee. Praying I have all the ingredients because I have zero desire to go to a store today.

I gave my daughter’s boyfriend the extra gallon of milk, chicken leg quarters and a carton of eggs. He lost his job and has been working temp jobs sporadically. His Dad & stepmom came in town for an unexpected death so he has people to feed now.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Not grocery-related, but I am absolutely flabbergasted by reports of crowds at local malls Very few parking spaces left at two major malls - Twelve Oaks in Novi and Somerset Collection in Troy. Shoppers lined up outside stores waiting to be allowed in. I did the Black Friday thing once many years ago and never did it again. I don't understand why people are bound and determined to shop 'til they drop during this pandemic. Even under the strictest health restrictions (masks and social distancing), there are likely to be people who end up sick with COVID after a Black Friday shopping expedition. SMH

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Black Friday bargains aren't worth it this year. Stay home and shop local. (nbcnews.com)

There is no price for a flatscreen TV that will make contracting Covid worth it.

People have died as a result of Black Friday.

It’s true: Early morning bargain shoppers have been shot in parking lots outside big-box stores over parking spots and inside malls over mistaken looks, crushed by their fellow Americans as they stampede toward deals at Walmart and even killed in car wrecks coming and going. There are all-out brawls in the aisles over various items — yes, just things — that will be outdated in a few months anyway and, one year, people reportedly stepped over a dying man in Target who was suffering a heart attack.

Apparently, bargain hunting brings out the beast in people...

 

[acutename]

Black Friday bargains aren't worth it this year. Stay home and shop local. (nbcnews.com)

There is no price for a flatscreen TV that will make contracting Covid worth it.

People have died as a result of Black Friday.

It’s true: Early morning bargain shoppers have been shot in parking lots outside big-box stores over parking spots and inside malls over mistaken looks, crushed by their fellow Americans as they stampede toward deals at Walmart and even killed in car wrecks coming and going. There are all-out brawls in the aisles over various items — yes, just things — that will be outdated in a few months anyway and, one year, people reportedly stepped over a dying man in Target who was suffering a heart attack.

Apparently, bargain hunting brings out the beast in people...

There are always these news stories, but in non-COVID years, I have found holiday shopping to be pleasant- stores have decorations and lots of special items and people are usually cheerful if they are just shopping and have not been lined up outside a big box store for 5 hours since 2 a.m. waiting for something that is really limited. In the old days, pre-COVID, people stuck in a line would actually chat and lots of people give to charity or buy toys to donate to children/families who would otherwise have no gifts at this time of year. Once the parking lots are too full, the holiday spirit darkens into a curse, IMHO.

 

[MimosaMornings]

There are always these news stories, but in non-COVID years, I have found holiday shopping to be pleasant- stores have decorations and lots of special items and people are usually cheerful if they are just shopping and have not been lined up outside a big box store for 5 hours since 2 a.m. waiting for something that is really limited. In the old days, pre-COVID, people stuck in a line would actually chat and lots of people give to charity or buy toys to donate to children/families who would otherwise have no gifts at this time of year. Once the parking lots are too full, the holiday spirit darkens into a curse, IMHO.

Cheerful if they knock you down with their shopping cart to get a dollar off a DVD.