#1.29 a pound yesterday at the Safeway. It will be on the menu tonight
along with liver and onions and mashed potatoes. Fruit for dessert.

Made Wayne's cream of asparagus soup, to have for lunch tomorrow. Tastes
delicious. Thanks, Wayne!

Dora

Dora
--

limey wrote:
> #1.29 a pound yesterday at the Safeway. It will be on the menu tonight
> along with liver and onions and mashed potatoes. Fruit for dessert.[snip]

Wow, I haven't had that for so long, and it's so good. Definitely will
be on my mind when I go to the store. Maybe I'll get lucky and see
some good looking liver. I found that a few shakes of balsamic vinegar
added toward the end of caramelizing the onions adds a nice dimension
to the flavor, do you do that? -aem

On Thu 16 Mar 2006 12:30:06p, Thus Spake Zarathustra, or was it limey?

>
> #1.29 a pound yesterday at the Safeway. It will be on the menu tonight
> along with liver and onions and mashed potatoes. Fruit for dessert.

Sounds delicious! Haven't had that meal for quite a while. :-(

> Made Wayne's cream of asparagus soup, to have for lunch tomorrow. Tastes
> delicious. Thanks, Wayne!

You're welcome, Dora. Glad you like it!

--
Wayne Boatwright o¿o
____________________

BIOYA

"aem" wrote

> limey wrote:
>> #1.29 a pound yesterday at the Safeway. It will be on the menu tonight
>> along with liver and onions and mashed potatoes. Fruit for
>> dessert.[snip]
>
> Wow, I haven't had that for so long, and it's so good. Definitely will
> be on my mind when I go to the store. Maybe I'll get lucky and see
> some good looking liver. I found that a few shakes of balsamic vinegar
> added toward the end of caramelizing the onions adds a nice dimension
> to the flavor, do you do that? -aem

No, I don't, aem. That's a good tip and I'll give it a try - I'd never
thought of it. We get two kinds of liver at the supermarket - one is beef
liver, sliced and packaged by Safeway, but often unavailable. The other is
frozen calf's liver, which I don't buy because it's ragged, sliced as thin
as paper and hard to handle because of it.

Dora

Wayne Boatwright wrote on 16 Mar 2006 in rec.food.cooking

> On Thu 16 Mar 2006 12:30:06p, Thus Spake Zarathustra, or was it limey?
>
> >
> > #1.29 a pound yesterday at the Safeway. It will be on the menu
> > tonight along with liver and onions and mashed potatoes. Fruit for
> > dessert.
>
> Sounds delicious! Haven't had that meal for quite a while. :-(
>
> > Made Wayne's cream of asparagus soup, to have for lunch tomorrow.
> > Tastes delicious. Thanks, Wayne!
>
> You're welcome, Dora. Glad you like it!
>

Could you re-post the soup? Please

--
-Alan

On Thu 16 Mar 2006 01:59:21p, Thus Spake Zarathustra, or was it Mr Libido
Incognito?

> Wayne Boatwright wrote on 16 Mar 2006 in rec.food.cooking
>
>> On Thu 16 Mar 2006 12:30:06p, Thus Spake Zarathustra, or was it limey?
>>
>> >
>> > #1.29 a pound yesterday at the Safeway. It will be on the menu
>> > tonight along with liver and onions and mashed potatoes. Fruit for
>> > dessert.
>>
>> Sounds delicious! Haven't had that meal for quite a while. :-(
>>
>> > Made Wayne's cream of asparagus soup, to have for lunch tomorrow.
>> > Tastes delicious. Thanks, Wayne!
>>
>> You're welcome, Dora. Glad you like it!
>>
>
> Could you re-post the soup? Please
>

Alan, I've looked and I can't find it. Dunno why it's not in my
MasterCook, but it isn't. I hesitate to offer it from memory. Since Dora
has it, perhaps she could repost it. It is very tasty.

Dora?

--
Wayne Boatwright o¿o
____________________

BIOYA

On Thu 16 Mar 2006 01:59:21p, Thus Spake Zarathustra, or was it Mr Libido
Incognito?

> Wayne Boatwright wrote on 16 Mar 2006 in rec.food.cooking
>
>> On Thu 16 Mar 2006 12:30:06p, Thus Spake Zarathustra, or was it limey?
>>
>> >
>> > #1.29 a pound yesterday at the Safeway. It will be on the menu
>> > tonight along with liver and onions and mashed potatoes. Fruit for
>> > dessert.
>>
>> Sounds delicious! Haven't had that meal for quite a while. :-(
>>
>> > Made Wayne's cream of asparagus soup, to have for lunch tomorrow.
>> > Tastes delicious. Thanks, Wayne!
>>
>> You're welcome, Dora. Glad you like it!
>>
>
> Could you re-post the soup? Please
>

Well, Alan, I finally found it...

Cream of Asparagus Soup

1 pound [454 g] fresh asparagus spears
1 medium onion, diced
1 tablespoon [15 mL] butter
3 cups [750 mL] chicken broth
1 medium potato, peeled and diced
1 stalk celery, chopped
1 sprig fresh thyme or
1 teaspoon [5 mL] dried thyme
Salt and freshly ground white pepper, to taste
1 cup [250 mL] cream, half and half or milk

Soak and rinse asparagus spears.

Remove and reserve top 1 inch [2.5 cm] of each spear; discard tough lower
part, reserving middle section of stalks.

In a 3-quart [3-L] casserole, over medium heat, saute diced onion in melted
butter for 3 to 5 minutes, until translucent.

Pour in chicken broth; add asparagus tips and stems, potato dices, chopped
celery, thyme, salt and pepper.

Cover; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 12 to 15
minutes, until vegetables are soft.

Remove from heat; leave to cool.

Remove and set aside asparagus tips.

Pour half mixture into a blender container. Cover and puree at high speed
for 20 to 30 seconds, until really smooth.

Press through a fine sieve, into casserole.

Repeat with remaining half of mixture.

Delicately stir in reserved asparagus tips and cream [half and half or
milk].

Reheat thoroughly, or refrigerate and serve cold.

--
Wayne Boatwright o¿o
____________________

BIOYA

"Wayne Boatwright" wrote

Mr Libido Incognito wrote:
>
>> Could you re-post the soup? Please
>>
>
> Well, Alan, I finally found it...
>
> Cream of Asparagus Soup
> <snipped>
> --
> Wayne Boatwright o¿o

That's the recipe I used. I would have posted it originally but didn't like
to pre-empt the original poster's recipe (unless he wasn't able to locate
it). Enjoy!

Dora

"limey" > wrote:
> #1.29 a pound yesterday at the Safeway. It will be on the menu tonight
> along with liver and onions and mashed potatoes. Fruit for dessert.
>
> Made Wayne's cream of asparagus soup, to have for lunch tomorrow. Tastes
> delicious. Thanks, Wayne!

You must live in a slightly lower cost area... asparagus was on sale here at
Safeway last week for $1.39 a pound (Mid Atlantic). Back up to the normal
outrageous price this week.

I made a few things out of it, including shirred eggs with asparagus and
browned butter. But the big thing last night was cream of asparagus soup, by
a "make it up as I go" recipe. Similar to Wayne's recipe though.

I did do a couple of things differently, which might be of interest to some.
I have a hard time tossing the tough lower ends of the stalks, no matter
what I'm using the asparagus for. A couple of years ago I decided to
accumulate them for asparagus soup. So every time I make something with
asparagus, the tough lower ends get tossed into a bag in the freezer. When I
have enough saved up, I also buy a new fresh batch and make soup.

The tough lower parts go into the pot first with the chicken stock, coarsely
chopped. After simmering about 15 minutes, I go through them with the stick
blender. After simmering 30 minutes total, this portion goes through the
food mill, removing all the fibrous material.

The middle third (also coarsely chopped) get steamed in the microwave. These
get added to the above liquid. I go through it again with the stick blender.
This is similar to Wayne's use of the blender on the middle third. The
asparagus tops then go in whole.

The other different thing I did this time was fry up a couple of ounces of
chopped salt pork. The cracklings from that also went into the soup when the
middle thirds of the asparagus did, so they also got pureed into oblivion
with the stick blender. Using the salt pork, obviously I didn't add any salt
to the soup (and I used low salt chicken stock). The fat from the salt pork
went in also, but that wasn't much as I used quite lean salt pork.

I know it's a bit more work to use the lower ends of the asparagus, but I am
extracting quite a bit of flavor from them. I made my soup using 6 cups of
chicken stock, and perhaps 3 pounds of asparagus total. I guess
proportionally my soup had significantly more asparagus in it than Wayne's
recipe.

--
( #wff_ng_7# at #verizon# period #net# )

On Thu 16 Mar 2006 03:43:32p, Thus Spake Zarathustra, or was it wff_ng_7?

> "limey" > wrote:
>> #1.29 a pound yesterday at the Safeway. It will be on the menu tonight
>> along with liver and onions and mashed potatoes. Fruit for dessert.
>>
>> Made Wayne's cream of asparagus soup, to have for lunch tomorrow.
>> Tastes delicious. Thanks, Wayne!
>
> You must live in a slightly lower cost area... asparagus was on sale
> here at Safeway last week for $1.39 a pound (Mid Atlantic). Back up to
> the normal outrageous price this week.
>
> I made a few things out of it, including shirred eggs with asparagus and
> browned butter. But the big thing last night was cream of asparagus
> soup, by a "make it up as I go" recipe. Similar to Wayne's recipe
> though.
>
> I did do a couple of things differently, which might be of interest to
> some. I have a hard time tossing the tough lower ends of the stalks, no
> matter what I'm using the asparagus for. A couple of years ago I decided
> to accumulate them for asparagus soup. So every time I make something
> with asparagus, the tough lower ends get tossed into a bag in the
> freezer. When I have enough saved up, I also buy a new fresh batch and
> make soup.
>
> The tough lower parts go into the pot first with the chicken stock,
> coarsely chopped. After simmering about 15 minutes, I go through them
> with the stick blender. After simmering 30 minutes total, this portion
> goes through the food mill, removing all the fibrous material.
>
> The middle third (also coarsely chopped) get steamed in the microwave.
> These get added to the above liquid. I go through it again with the
> stick blender. This is similar to Wayne's use of the blender on the
> middle third. The asparagus tops then go in whole.
>
> The other different thing I did this time was fry up a couple of ounces
> of chopped salt pork. The cracklings from that also went into the soup
> when the middle thirds of the asparagus did, so they also got pureed
> into oblivion with the stick blender. Using the salt pork, obviously I
> didn't add any salt to the soup (and I used low salt chicken stock). The
> fat from the salt pork went in also, but that wasn't much as I used
> quite lean salt pork.
>
> I know it's a bit more work to use the lower ends of the asparagus, but
> I am extracting quite a bit of flavor from them. I made my soup using 6
> cups of chicken stock, and perhaps 3 pounds of asparagus total. I guess
> proportionally my soup had significantly more asparagus in it than
> Wayne's recipe.
>

Depending on the store, I have been buying asparagus at 97¢ or 99¢ per
pound for several weeks now and I don't consider where I live to be an
especially low cost area. Although it used to be somewhat cheaper to live
here than it is now. However, the asparagus is grown in Mexico and I live
in Arizona, which I'm sure accounts for the low cost. Some of the nicest,
bright green, thin asparagus I've seen in a long time.

I like your inventive use of the tough, fibrous ends, as well as the use of
salt pork. I'm going to try both the next time I make the soup.

Thanks for the ideas!

--
Wayne Boatwright o¿o
____________________

BIOYA

"Wayne Boatwright" <wayneboatwright_at_gmail.com> wrote:
> Depending on the store, I have been buying asparagus at 97¢ or 99¢ per
> pound for several weeks now and I don't consider where I live to be an
> especially low cost area. Although it used to be somewhat cheaper to live
> here than it is now. However, the asparagus is grown in Mexico and I live
> in Arizona, which I'm sure accounts for the low cost. Some of the nicest,
> bright green, thin asparagus I've seen in a long time.

I know I've seen asparagus from Mexico around here too this time of year,
maybe that's where my latest batches came from. In summer, it can come from
closer areas. Some of the nicest asparagus I've seen in recent years came
from New Jersey, of all places. I guess there was a reason New Jersey was
called the "Garden State".

The "normal" price for asparagus at my local Safeway supermarket is $3.99 a
pound. I believe that is what I saw it at today. I won't buy it at that
price (or anywhere near it). That price is not necessarily indicative of the
price for the region as a whole. I live in downtown Washington, DC. I
believe Safeway sets prices store by store. But during sales, prices are
uniform region wide. The sales flyers always say "save up to xxx" because
the normal price varies by store.

> I like your inventive use of the tough, fibrous ends, as well as the use
> of
> salt pork. I'm going to try both the next time I make the soup.

I came up with the method by trial and error. Just so you avoid the errors,
here's the logic and the mistakes.

If you put the middle tender portion and the tough lower portion together to
cook, you can't separate it later. I've run the resulting soup through the
food mill to remove the fibrous material, and it ends up being way too thin.
One then has to rely totally on butter, flour, and cream for the enrichment.

If you just blend it like crazy (normal blender or stick blender) but don't
run it through the food mill, the soup is way too fibrous. You end up
chopping the tough fibers really short, but they are still there.

By keeping the middle and lower portions separate, you can use the food mill
to remove the fibrous material from the lower portion, but keep all of the
middle portion. That gives the soup a lot of body without a lot of fiber.
Your method of course retains the middle portion in its entirety also for
body (but doesn't make any use of the lower portion for flavor).

Tomorrow I'm off cooking in another direction entirely... that's why I was
in the Safeway today, getting the fixings for New England Boiled Dinner, or
what I call Corned Beef and Cabbage Deluxe. More root vegetables (turnips,
parsnips, beets), mostly.

--
( #wff_ng_7# at #verizon# period #net# )

"limey" > wrote in message
...
>
> #1.29 a pound yesterday at the Safeway. It will be on the menu tonight
> along with liver and onions and mashed potatoes. Fruit for dessert.
>
> Made Wayne's cream of asparagus soup, to have for lunch tomorrow. Tastes
> delicious. Thanks, Wayne!
>
> Dora
I got really lucky yesterday -- $.99 per pound. I bought a lot and am
thinking about going back for more. Love asparagus.
Janet

On Thu 16 Mar 2006 05:20:20p, Thus Spake Zarathustra, or was it wff_ng_7?

> "Wayne Boatwright" <wayneboatwright_at_gmail.com> wrote:
>> Depending on the store, I have been buying asparagus at 97¢ or 99¢ per
>> pound for several weeks now and I don't consider where I live to be an
>> especially low cost area. Although it used to be somewhat cheaper to
>> live here than it is now. However, the asparagus is grown in Mexico
>> and I live in Arizona, which I'm sure accounts for the low cost. Some
>> of the nicest, bright green, thin asparagus I've seen in a long time.
>
> I know I've seen asparagus from Mexico around here too this time of
> year, maybe that's where my latest batches came from. In summer, it can
> come from closer areas. Some of the nicest asparagus I've seen in recent
> years came from New Jersey, of all places. I guess there was a reason
> New Jersey was called the "Garden State".
>
> The "normal" price for asparagus at my local Safeway supermarket is
> $3.99 a pound. I believe that is what I saw it at today. I won't buy it
> at that price (or anywhere near it). That price is not necessarily
> indicative of the price for the region as a whole. I live in downtown
> Washington, DC. I believe Safeway sets prices store by store. But during
> sales, prices are uniform region wide. The sales flyers always say "save
> up to xxx" because the normal price varies by store.

$3.99 is also the "normal" price around here, too. The prices at Safeway
here do not seem to vary from store to store. Typically, not all chains
are running good specials on asparagus at the same time. When I've seen it
at one or two chains ~$1.00/lb at one chain (including Safeway), it may
still be at $1.99-$3.99 at other chains. It certainly pays to read the ads
before shopping.

>> I like your inventive use of the tough, fibrous ends, as well as the
>> use of salt pork. I'm going to try both the next time I make the soup.
>
> I came up with the method by trial and error. Just so you avoid the
> errors, here's the logic and the mistakes.
>
> If you put the middle tender portion and the tough lower portion
> together to cook, you can't separate it later. I've run the resulting
> soup through the food mill to remove the fibrous material, and it ends
> up being way too thin. One then has to rely totally on butter, flour,
> and cream for the enrichment.
>
> If you just blend it like crazy (normal blender or stick blender) but
> don't run it through the food mill, the soup is way too fibrous. You end
> up chopping the tough fibers really short, but they are still there.
>
> By keeping the middle and lower portions separate, you can use the food
> mill to remove the fibrous material from the lower portion, but keep all
> of the middle portion. That gives the soup a lot of body without a lot
> of fiber. Your method of course retains the middle portion in its
> entirety also for body (but doesn't make any use of the lower portion
> for flavor).

All good tips! Thanks!

> Tomorrow I'm off cooking in another direction entirely... that's why I
> was in the Safeway today, getting the fixings for New England Boiled
> Dinner, or what I call Corned Beef and Cabbage Deluxe. More root
> vegetables (turnips, parsnips, beets), mostly.

I like those additions and often add rutabagas and parsnips. If I use
beets, I either serve them pickled or cook them separately in some of the
same broth. I don't want to run the risk of everything turning pink. :-)

--
Wayne Boatwright o¿o
____________________

BIOYA

Wayne Boatwright wrote:
> On Thu 16 Mar 2006 05:20:20p, Thus Spake Zarathustra, or was it wff_ng_7?
>
>
>>"Wayne Boatwright" <wayneboatwright_at_gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>>Depending on the store, I have been buying asparagus at 97¢ or 99¢ per
>>>pound for several weeks now and I don't consider where I live to be an
>>>especially low cost area. Although it used to be somewhat cheaper to
>>>live here than it is now. However, the asparagus is grown in Mexico
>>>and I live in Arizona, which I'm sure accounts for the low cost. Some
>>>of the nicest, bright green, thin asparagus I've seen in a long time.
>>
>>I know I've seen asparagus from Mexico around here too this time of
>>year, maybe that's where my latest batches came from. In summer, it can
>>come from closer areas. Some of the nicest asparagus I've seen in recent
>>years came from New Jersey, of all places. I guess there was a reason
>>New Jersey was called the "Garden State".
>>
>>The "normal" price for asparagus at my local Safeway supermarket is
>>$3.99 a pound. I believe that is what I saw it at today. I won't buy it
>>at that price (or anywhere near it). That price is not necessarily
>>indicative of the price for the region as a whole. I live in downtown
>>Washington, DC. I believe Safeway sets prices store by store. But during
>>sales, prices are uniform region wide. The sales flyers always say "save
>>up to xxx" because the normal price varies by store.
>
>
> $3.99 is also the "normal" price around here, too. The prices at Safeway
> here do not seem to vary from store to store. Typically, not all chains
> are running good specials on asparagus at the same time. When I've seen it
> at one or two chains ~$1.00/lb at one chain (including Safeway), it may
> still be at $1.99-$3.99 at other chains. It certainly pays to read the ads
> before shopping.

am I the only one who shops according to whats on sale?

In article > ,
sarah bennett > wrote:

> am I the only one who shops according to whats on sale?

Nope.

One income, six people, soon to be seven, two in private school. We
shop the ads, the sales, consignment and thrift shops.

Regards,
Ranee

Remove do not & spam to e-mail me.

"She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands." Prov 31:13

http://arabianknits.blogspot.com/
http://talesfromthekitchen.blogspot.com/

Wayne Boatwright wrote:
> On Thu 16 Mar 2006 06:17:09p, Thus Spake Zarathustra, or was it sarah
> bennett?
>
>
>>Wayne Boatwright wrote:
>>
>>>On Thu 16 Mar 2006 05:20:20p, Thus Spake Zarathustra, or was it
>>>wff_ng_7?
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>>"Wayne Boatwright" <wayneboatwright_at_gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>Depending on the store, I have been buying asparagus at 97¢ or 99¢ per
>>>>>pound for several weeks now and I don't consider where I live to be an
>>>>>especially low cost area. Although it used to be somewhat cheaper to
>>>>>live here than it is now. However, the asparagus is grown in Mexico
>>>>>and I live in Arizona, which I'm sure accounts for the low cost. Some
>>>>>of the nicest, bright green, thin asparagus I've seen in a long time.
>>>>
>>>>I know I've seen asparagus from Mexico around here too this time of
>>>>year, maybe that's where my latest batches came from. In summer, it can
>>>>come from closer areas. Some of the nicest asparagus I've seen in
>>>>recent years came from New Jersey, of all places. I guess there was a
>>>>reason New Jersey was called the "Garden State".
>>>>
>>>>The "normal" price for asparagus at my local Safeway supermarket is
>>>>$3.99 a pound. I believe that is what I saw it at today. I won't buy it
>>>>at that price (or anywhere near it). That price is not necessarily
>>>>indicative of the price for the region as a whole. I live in downtown
>>>>Washington, DC. I believe Safeway sets prices store by store. But
>>>>during sales, prices are uniform region wide. The sales flyers always
>>>>say "save up to xxx" because the normal price varies by store.
>>>
>>>
>>>$3.99 is also the "normal" price around here, too. The prices at
>>>Safeway here do not seem to vary from store to store. Typically, not
>>>all chains are running good specials on asparagus at the same time.
>>>When I've seen it at one or two chains ~$1.00/lb at one chain
>>>(including Safeway), it may still be at $1.99-$3.99 at other chains.
>>>It certainly pays to read the ads before shopping.
>>
>>am I the only one who shops according to whats on sale?
>>
>
>
> No, that's why I buy a ton of asparagus when it's 97-99c/lb. Likewise, I
> look for good prices on other vegetables and fruits, as well as meats.
>

I don;t buy anything unless its on sale or at ALDI. Or like, if we're
out of TP or toothpaste and I need some ASAP. I get callled a chap
******* by my in-laws, so i assumed it was not a common practice.

--

saerah

http://anisaerah.blogspot.com/

email:
anisaerah at s b c global.net

"Peace is not an absence of war, it is a virtue, a state of mind, a
disposition for benevolence, confidence, justice."
-Baruch Spinoza

"There is a theory which states that if ever anybody discovers exactly
what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear
and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable. There
is another theory which states that this has already happened."
-Douglas Adams

On Thu 16 Mar 2006 06:17:09p, Thus Spake Zarathustra, or was it sarah
bennett?

> Wayne Boatwright wrote:
>> On Thu 16 Mar 2006 05:20:20p, Thus Spake Zarathustra, or was it
>> wff_ng_7?
>>
>>
>>>"Wayne Boatwright" <wayneboatwright_at_gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>>Depending on the store, I have been buying asparagus at 97¢ or 99¢ per
>>>>pound for several weeks now and I don't consider where I live to be an
>>>>especially low cost area. Although it used to be somewhat cheaper to
>>>>live here than it is now. However, the asparagus is grown in Mexico
>>>>and I live in Arizona, which I'm sure accounts for the low cost. Some
>>>>of the nicest, bright green, thin asparagus I've seen in a long time.
>>>
>>>I know I've seen asparagus from Mexico around here too this time of
>>>year, maybe that's where my latest batches came from. In summer, it can
>>>come from closer areas. Some of the nicest asparagus I've seen in
>>>recent years came from New Jersey, of all places. I guess there was a
>>>reason New Jersey was called the "Garden State".
>>>
>>>The "normal" price for asparagus at my local Safeway supermarket is
>>>$3.99 a pound. I believe that is what I saw it at today. I won't buy it
>>>at that price (or anywhere near it). That price is not necessarily
>>>indicative of the price for the region as a whole. I live in downtown
>>>Washington, DC. I believe Safeway sets prices store by store. But
>>>during sales, prices are uniform region wide. The sales flyers always
>>>say "save up to xxx" because the normal price varies by store.
>>
>>
>> $3.99 is also the "normal" price around here, too. The prices at
>> Safeway here do not seem to vary from store to store. Typically, not
>> all chains are running good specials on asparagus at the same time.
>> When I've seen it at one or two chains ~$1.00/lb at one chain
>> (including Safeway), it may still be at $1.99-$3.99 at other chains.
>> It certainly pays to read the ads before shopping.
>
> am I the only one who shops according to whats on sale?
>

No, that's why I buy a ton of asparagus when it's 97-99c/lb. Likewise, I
look for good prices on other vegetables and fruits, as well as meats.

--
Wayne Boatwright o¿o
____________________

BIOYA

Talk about comfort food. When I was a kid sick with a flu and my stomach
needed gentle food, my mother fed me Asparagus Soup or Creamed Asparagus on
toast.

Lefty
--
"Even a child who is pure at heart
And does his homework neatly
May become a wolf when the wolfsbane blooms
And the moon is full, completely."





"Wayne Boatwright" <wayneboatwright_at_gmail.com> wrote in message
28.19...
> On Thu 16 Mar 2006 03:43:32p, Thus Spake Zarathustra, or was it wff_ng_7?
>
> > "limey" > wrote:
> >> #1.29 a pound yesterday at the Safeway. It will be on the menu tonight
> >> along with liver and onions and mashed potatoes. Fruit for dessert.
> >>
> >> Made Wayne's cream of asparagus soup, to have for lunch tomorrow.
> >> Tastes delicious. Thanks, Wayne!
> >
> > You must live in a slightly lower cost area... asparagus was on sale
> > here at Safeway last week for $1.39 a pound (Mid Atlantic). Back up to
> > the normal outrageous price this week.
> >
> > I made a few things out of it, including shirred eggs with asparagus and
> > browned butter. But the big thing last night was cream of asparagus
> > soup, by a "make it up as I go" recipe. Similar to Wayne's recipe
> > though.
> >
> > I did do a couple of things differently, which might be of interest to
> > some. I have a hard time tossing the tough lower ends of the stalks, no
> > matter what I'm using the asparagus for. A couple of years ago I decided
> > to accumulate them for asparagus soup. So every time I make something
> > with asparagus, the tough lower ends get tossed into a bag in the
> > freezer. When I have enough saved up, I also buy a new fresh batch and
> > make soup.
> >
> > The tough lower parts go into the pot first with the chicken stock,
> > coarsely chopped. After simmering about 15 minutes, I go through them
> > with the stick blender. After simmering 30 minutes total, this portion
> > goes through the food mill, removing all the fibrous material.
> >
> > The middle third (also coarsely chopped) get steamed in the microwave.
> > These get added to the above liquid. I go through it again with the
> > stick blender. This is similar to Wayne's use of the blender on the
> > middle third. The asparagus tops then go in whole.
> >
> > The other different thing I did this time was fry up a couple of ounces
> > of chopped salt pork. The cracklings from that also went into the soup
> > when the middle thirds of the asparagus did, so they also got pureed
> > into oblivion with the stick blender. Using the salt pork, obviously I
> > didn't add any salt to the soup (and I used low salt chicken stock). The
> > fat from the salt pork went in also, but that wasn't much as I used
> > quite lean salt pork.
> >
> > I know it's a bit more work to use the lower ends of the asparagus, but
> > I am extracting quite a bit of flavor from them. I made my soup using 6
> > cups of chicken stock, and perhaps 3 pounds of asparagus total. I guess
> > proportionally my soup had significantly more asparagus in it than
> > Wayne's recipe.
> >
>
> Depending on the store, I have been buying asparagus at 97¢ or 99¢ per
> pound for several weeks now and I don't consider where I live to be an
> especially low cost area. Although it used to be somewhat cheaper to live
> here than it is now. However, the asparagus is grown in Mexico and I live
> in Arizona, which I'm sure accounts for the low cost. Some of the nicest,
> bright green, thin asparagus I've seen in a long time.
>
> I like your inventive use of the tough, fibrous ends, as well as the use
of
> salt pork. I'm going to try both the next time I make the soup.
>
> Thanks for the ideas!
>
> --
> Wayne Boatwright o¿o
> ____________________
>
> BIOYA

On Thu 16 Mar 2006 06:25:28p, Thus Spake Zarathustra, or was it Ranee
Mueller?

> In article > ,
> sarah bennett > wrote:
>
>> am I the only one who shops according to whats on sale?
>
> Nope.
>
> One income, six people, soon to be seven, two in private school. We
> shop the ads, the sales, consignment and thrift shops.
>
> Regards,
> Ranee

You're one smart lady!

--
Wayne Boatwright o¿o
____________________

BIOYA

On Thu 16 Mar 2006 06:36:54p, Thus Spake Zarathustra, or was it sarah
bennett?

> Wayne Boatwright wrote:
>> On Thu 16 Mar 2006 06:17:09p, Thus Spake Zarathustra, or was it sarah
>> bennett?
>>
>>
>>>Wayne Boatwright wrote:
>>>
>>>>On Thu 16 Mar 2006 05:20:20p, Thus Spake Zarathustra, or was it
>>>>wff_ng_7?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>"Wayne Boatwright" <wayneboatwright_at_gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>Depending on the store, I have been buying asparagus at 97¢ or 99¢
>>>>>>per pound for several weeks now and I don't consider where I live to
>>>>>>be an especially low cost area. Although it used to be somewhat
>>>>>>cheaper to live here than it is now. However, the asparagus is
>>>>>>grown in Mexico and I live in Arizona, which I'm sure accounts for
>>>>>>the low cost. Some of the nicest, bright green, thin asparagus I've
>>>>>>seen in a long time.
>>>>>
>>>>>I know I've seen asparagus from Mexico around here too this time of
>>>>>year, maybe that's where my latest batches came from. In summer, it
>>>>>can come from closer areas. Some of the nicest asparagus I've seen in
>>>>>recent years came from New Jersey, of all places. I guess there was a
>>>>>reason New Jersey was called the "Garden State".
>>>>>
>>>>>The "normal" price for asparagus at my local Safeway supermarket is
>>>>>$3.99 a pound. I believe that is what I saw it at today. I won't buy
>>>>>it at that price (or anywhere near it). That price is not necessarily
>>>>>indicative of the price for the region as a whole. I live in downtown
>>>>>Washington, DC. I believe Safeway sets prices store by store. But
>>>>>during sales, prices are uniform region wide. The sales flyers always
>>>>>say "save up to xxx" because the normal price varies by store.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>$3.99 is also the "normal" price around here, too. The prices at
>>>>Safeway here do not seem to vary from store to store. Typically, not
>>>>all chains are running good specials on asparagus at the same time.
>>>>When I've seen it at one or two chains ~$1.00/lb at one chain
>>>>(including Safeway), it may still be at $1.99-$3.99 at other chains.
>>>>It certainly pays to read the ads before shopping.
>>>
>>>am I the only one who shops according to whats on sale?
>>>
>>
>>
>> No, that's why I buy a ton of asparagus when it's 97-99c/lb. Likewise,
>> I look for good prices on other vegetables and fruits, as well as
>> meats.
>>
>
> I don;t buy anything unless its on sale or at ALDI. Or like, if we're
> out of TP or toothpaste and I need some ASAP. I get callled a chap
> ******* by my in-laws, so i assumed it was not a common practice.

Sounds like your in-laws have an attitude problem. Either that, or money
to burn. I know many people who try to buy as many things as they can
when they're on sale. Unless you simply must have something when it's not
at a good price, it's foolish not to take advantage of specials.

--
Wayne Boatwright o¿o
____________________

BIOYA

"sarah bennett" > wrote

> I don;t buy anything unless its on sale or at ALDI. Or like, if we're out
> of TP or toothpaste and I need some ASAP. I get callled a cheap ******* by
> my in-laws, so i assumed it was not a common practice.

Well, I don't know where that's coming from, you know how I feel
about them, but nice talk about the mother of their grandchildren.

Whatever. I go through a couple of circulars and made a list.
Two things, what's on sale and inspiration for dinner sometime
that week. No, I don't always just buy what's on sale, I often
just buy what I want even if it isn't.

And if I only bought on sale? I would expect no one to say a
thing about it. Not their business. Are your children starving?
No. Are they eating a garbage non-nutritious diet? No.

That's all that counts.

nancy

Nancy Young wrote:
> "sarah bennett" > wrote
>
>
>>I don;t buy anything unless its on sale or at ALDI. Or like, if we're out
>>of TP or toothpaste and I need some ASAP. I get callled a cheap ******* by
>>my in-laws, so i assumed it was not a common practice.
>
>
> Well, I don't know where that's coming from, you know how I feel
> about them, but nice talk about the mother of their grandchildren.
>

she grew up poor and thinks being frugal is cruel.

> Whatever. I go through a couple of circulars and made a list.
> Two things, what's on sale and inspiration for dinner sometime
> that week. No, I don't always just buy what's on sale, I often
> just buy what I want even if it isn't.
>
> And if I only bought on sale? I would expect no one to say a
> thing about it. Not their business. Are your children starving?
> No. Are they eating a garbage non-nutritious diet? No.
>
> That's all that counts.
agreed

--

saerah

http://anisaerah.blogspot.com/

email:
anisaerah at s b c global.net

"Peace is not an absence of war, it is a virtue, a state of mind, a
disposition for benevolence, confidence, justice."
-Baruch Spinoza

"There is a theory which states that if ever anybody discovers exactly
what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear
and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable. There
is another theory which states that this has already happened."
-Douglas Adams

On Thu 16 Mar 2006 07:08:10p, Thus Spake Zarathustra, or was it sarah
bennett?

> Nancy Young wrote:
>> "sarah bennett" > wrote
>>
>>
>>>I don;t buy anything unless its on sale or at ALDI. Or like, if we're
>>>out of TP or toothpaste and I need some ASAP. I get callled a cheap
>>>******* by my in-laws, so i assumed it was not a common practice.
>>
>>
>> Well, I don't know where that's coming from, you know how I feel
>> about them, but nice talk about the mother of their grandchildren.
>>
>
> she grew up poor and thinks being frugal is cruel.

My dad group up very poor, although my mother did not. Neither of them
absolutely never scrimped on food, but he wisely did buy many things on
special.

>> Whatever. I go through a couple of circulars and made a list.
>> Two things, what's on sale and inspiration for dinner sometime
>> that week. No, I don't always just buy what's on sale, I often
>> just buy what I want even if it isn't.
>>
>> And if I only bought on sale? I would expect no one to say a
>> thing about it. Not their business. Are your children starving?
>> No. Are they eating a garbage non-nutritious diet? No.
>>
>> That's all that counts.
> agreed
>



--
Wayne Boatwright o¿o
____________________

BIOYA

In article > ,
sarah bennett > wrote:

> I don;t buy anything unless its on sale or at ALDI. Or like, if we're
> out of TP or toothpaste and I need some ASAP. I get callled a chap
> ******* by my in-laws, so i assumed it was not a common practice.

My in-laws shop like we do, even though they have lots more money.
They were in much the same position when Rich was a kid, and so they've
always just husbanded their money as well as they could.

Do you have any grocery outlets near you? We shop there and find all
sorts of great deals on cheeses, cereal, canned food, wine, kids' snacks
for school, etc. Also, if you are on the west coast, there are Cash and
Carry stores that are much like Costco without the membership card and
fee. They take cash, credit or debit, no checks. We get amazing
produce there for very little money, buy SAF yeast for just over $2.00
for a pound, we get meats and cheeses and either split them with another
family, or split and freeze, if they are the right kind of food for
that. We also buy our bread and all purpose flour there in 50 pound
sacks (they come in smaller sizes) and our sugar. We pretty much only
use Costco for the gas now, though occasionally we pick up some things
there that make it worth it to us to keep our membership. Since we pay
much less for it (Rich was given an option for one from work) than we
would for a walk in membership, we figure it's worth it.

Regards,
Ranee

Remove do not & spam to e-mail me.

"She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands." Prov 31:13

http://arabianknits.blogspot.com/
http://talesfromthekitchen.blogspot.com/

In article >,
"Nancy Young" > wrote:

> And if I only bought on sale? I would expect no one to say a
> thing about it. Not their business. Are your children starving?
> No. Are they eating a garbage non-nutritious diet? No.
>
> That's all that counts.

Exactly. It's so bizarre that anyone would criticize a family for
being frugal.

My mom thinks it's shameful and a sign of how far down I have come
that I buy my kids' clothes largely at consignment shops. What do I
care, I buy nice things for less than a quarter of the retail price,
sometimes still new with tags. The kids wear them out or stain them, we
aren't out a fortune.

When I was pregnant with Amira a family from church that didn't know
us well, but was friends with another family that did, asked through
them, if we would be offended to receive some of their granddaughter's
hand me downs. This granddaughter came from a wealthy family that
bought all new, replaced every thing each season, etc. We said, please
offend us. We clothed her for the first two years of her life largely
on those clothes, most of which still had the tags on them. Between
that huge sack, some hand me downs from another friend and the new stuff
from the shower and my mom, all we had to buy was shoes.

Regards,
Ranee

Remove do not & spam to e-mail me.

"She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands." Prov 31:13

http://arabianknits.blogspot.com/
http://talesfromthekitchen.blogspot.com/

Ranee Mueller wrote:
> In article > ,
> sarah bennett > wrote:
>
>
>>I don;t buy anything unless its on sale or at ALDI. Or like, if we're
>>out of TP or toothpaste and I need some ASAP. I get callled a chap
>>******* by my in-laws, so i assumed it was not a common practice.
>
>
> My in-laws shop like we do, even though they have lots more money.
> They were in much the same position when Rich was a kid, and so they've
> always just husbanded their money as well as they could.
>
> Do you have any grocery outlets near you? We shop there and find all
> sorts of great deals on cheeses, cereal, canned food, wine, kids' snacks
> for school, etc. Also, if you are on the west coast, there are Cash and
> Carry stores that are much like Costco without the membership card and
> fee. They take cash, credit or debit, no checks. We get amazing
> produce there for very little money, buy SAF yeast for just over $2.00
> for a pound, we get meats and cheeses and either split them with another
> family, or split and freeze, if they are the right kind of food for
> that. We also buy our bread and all purpose flour there in 50 pound
> sacks (they come in smaller sizes) and our sugar. We pretty much only
> use Costco for the gas now, though occasionally we pick up some things
> there that make it worth it to us to keep our membership. Since we pay
> much less for it (Rich was given an option for one from work) than we
> would for a walk in membership, we figure it's worth it.

we have ALDI, which is comparable in prices to the warehouse stores, or
better, but you dont have to buy huge quantities. The downside is they
dont have the selection of those stores.

--

saerah

http://anisaerah.blogspot.com/

email:
anisaerah at s b c global.net

"Peace is not an absence of war, it is a virtue, a state of mind, a
disposition for benevolence, confidence, justice."
-Baruch Spinoza

"There is a theory which states that if ever anybody discovers exactly
what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear
and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable. There
is another theory which states that this has already happened."
-Douglas Adams

sarah bennett wrote on 16 Mar 2006 in rec.food.cooking

> am I the only one who shops according to whats on sale?
>
>

Yes...I buy according what I think I might like, call me Mr. Impulse
Consumer. I don't go into the grocery store knowing what I want...veggie
wise...I just see what strikes my fancy that night.

--
-Alan

"Mr Libido Incognito" > wrote:
> sarah bennett wrote on 16 Mar 2006 in rec.food.cooking
>
>> am I the only one who shops according to whats on sale?
>>
>>
>
> Yes...I buy according what I think I might like, call me Mr. Impulse
> Consumer. I don't go into the grocery store knowing what I want...veggie
> wise...I just see what strikes my fancy that night.

Normally I check the sales flyers every week to get ideas. A different kind
of impulse buyer, I guess. I try not to have fixed ideas of what I want and
let the sales push me in one direction or another. Aside from saving
considerable money, it keeps me from getting into a rut too... they don't
have the same things on sale week after week after week.

Just because something is on sale, doesn't mean I'm going to buy it. It has
to be of good quality and something I have some desire for. Luckily for me,
I'm not a picky eater, so I am extremely flexible in what might appeal to
me. Of course there are things I just must have now and again, but even some
of those desires are driven by season. Last weekend I was thinking we must
be coming into season for shad roe, I just want some. Sure it's relatively
expensive, but shad roe only comes around once a year for a couple of
months. I won't go broke indulging this habit a few times each spring.

--
( #wff_ng_7# at #verizon# period #net# )

"Wayne Boatwright" <wayneboatwright_at_gmail.com> wrote:
> $3.99 is also the "normal" price around here, too. The prices at Safeway
> here do not seem to vary from store to store. Typically, not all chains
> are running good specials on asparagus at the same time. When I've seen
> it
> at one or two chains ~$1.00/lb at one chain (including Safeway), it may
> still be at $1.99-$3.99 at other chains. It certainly pays to read the
> ads
> before shopping.

Maybe the reason I am seeing the price differences between Safeways is this
area might be a bit more "complex" than where you are. I believe they charge
different prices based on a few factors, one of them being their cost of
doing business. I'm pretty sure they charge more for smaller stores in city
neighborhoods with low competition than they do in large suburban stores
with lots of competition. I also think they charge different prices by the
state they are in. Here we essentially have three states within a very short
distance (DC, VA, MD). Years ago when I was working at one location, I
crossed state lines four times just going to work! ;-)

The price difference thing is not just in supermarkets... a couple of months
ago I encountered the same thing at Staples office supply stores. I was
buying some foam board and the first store I went to was out of stock. So I
had them call over to another store, a mere five blocks away, to make sure
it was in stock there. When I got there, it was something like 50 cents more
expensive. So I made them do a price match to their first store. I'm a cheap
******* with a good memory.

--
( #wff_ng_7# at #verizon# period #net# )

On Thu 16 Mar 2006 09:18:48p, Thus Spake Zarathustra, or was it wff_ng_7?

> "Wayne Boatwright" <wayneboatwright_at_gmail.com> wrote:
>> $3.99 is also the "normal" price around here, too. The prices at
>> Safeway here do not seem to vary from store to store. Typically, not
>> all chains are running good specials on asparagus at the same time.
>> When I've seen it at one or two chains ~$1.00/lb at one chain
>> (including Safeway), it may still be at $1.99-$3.99 at other chains.
>> It certainly pays to read the ads before shopping.
>
> Maybe the reason I am seeing the price differences between Safeways is
> this area might be a bit more "complex" than where you are. I believe
> they charge different prices based on a few factors, one of them being
> their cost of doing business. I'm pretty sure they charge more for
> smaller stores in city neighborhoods with low competition than they do
> in large suburban stores with lots of competition. I also think they
> charge different prices by the state they are in. Here we essentially
> have three states within a very short distance (DC, VA, MD). Years ago
> when I was working at one location, I crossed state lines four times
> just going to work! ;-)
>
> The price difference thing is not just in supermarkets... a couple of
> months ago I encountered the same thing at Staples office supply stores.
> I was buying some foam board and the first store I went to was out of
> stock. So I had them call over to another store, a mere five blocks
> away, to make sure it was in stock there. When I got there, it was
> something like 50 cents more expensive. So I made them do a price match
> to their first store. I'm a cheap ******* with a good memory.

Yes, it's probably geographical. Greater Phoenix (including all
surrounding towns) encompasses a huge area, and although there are varying
economic levels from place to place, the general cost of doing business is
probably more consistent.

--
Wayne Boatwright o¿o
____________________

BIOYA

"limey" > wrote in message
...
>
> #1.29 a pound yesterday at the Safeway. It will be on the menu tonight
> along with liver and onions and mashed potatoes. Fruit for dessert.
>
> Made Wayne's cream of asparagus soup, to have for lunch tomorrow. Tastes
> delicious. Thanks, Wayne!
>
> Dora
>

Last night I had dinner at my folks' house up there in Vista. My dad looked
at his plate when he got to the table, smiled at my mom, and
oh-so-innocently asked "Did we get a good deal on asparagus?"
They'd had it a couple times already this week And...it *was* a good
deal! lol I did have to laugh at his subtleness, though!

kimberly

In article >,
"limey" > wrote:

> #1.29 a pound yesterday at the Safeway.

Geez, I thought $2/lb was good. This will be the second bunch I've
bought this season. And I get it all to myself! Yeay!
--
-Barb
<www.jamlady.eboard.com> Updated 3-16-06, Sam I Am! Hamantaschen and
Peanut Butter cookies for Grandpa; Church review #9 and Musgovian
Vegetable Soup.

"If it's not worth doing to excess, it's not worth doing at all."

In article <8hnSf.31766$_f4.13492@trnddc03>,
"wff_ng_7" > wrote:

> I guess there was a reason New Jersey was
> called the "Garden State".

I haven't been there in years but I remember being surprised at how
beautiful it was. Shattered a stereotype of it being industrial and
nothing more. Seems to me I've heard good things about tomatoes grown
there, too.
--
-Barb
<www.jamlady.eboard.com> Updated 3-16-06, Sam I Am! Hamantaschen and
Peanut Butter cookies for Grandpa; Church Review #9, Musgovian Soup.
"If it's not worth doing to excess, it's not worth doing at all."

In article > ,
sarah bennett > wrote:

>
> am I the only one who shops according to whats on sale?

I do it, too, Sarah, although not exclusively. Mostly I buy what I need
to keep my pantry stocked as I like it. Usually my sale shopping is for
canned goods -- usually tomato products or canned soups or canned beans
(I'm thinking of the stuff that gets stored in the basement) -- and
meats. MOF, I almost never buy meat that's not offered at a sale price.
AFA produce goes, I buy what I want and need when I want or need it --
that is, I think, a benefit of not having to be quite so careful about
expenditures since it's just two adults in house.
--
-Barb
<www.jamlady.eboard.com> Updated 3-16-06, Sam I Am! Hamantaschen and
Peanut Butter cookies for Grandpa; Church Review #9, Musgovian Soup.
"If it's not worth doing to excess, it's not worth doing at all."

"Melba's Jammin'" > wrote

> "wff_ng_7" > wrote:
>
>> I guess there was a reason New Jersey was
>> called the "Garden State".
>
> I haven't been there in years but I remember being surprised at how
> beautiful it was. Shattered a stereotype of it being industrial and
> nothing more. Seems to me I've heard good things about tomatoes grown
> there, too.

The turnpike is hideous and manages to be so pretty much from
end to end. People can be forgiven if they think that's what it's
like.

nancy

In article >,
"Michael \"Dog3\" Lonergan" > wrote:
> Asparagus is still expensive here in St. Louis. It was "on sale" this week
> for $1.97 a pound.
> Michael

Here, too, at Cub. It's from Mexico. Local doesn't come in until about
mid-May.
--
-Barb
<www.jamlady.eboard.com> Updated 3-16-06, Sam I Am! Hamantaschen and
Peanut Butter cookies for Grandpa; Church Review #9, Musgovian Soup.
"If it's not worth doing to excess, it's not worth doing at all."

In article >, "limey" > wrote:
>
>#1.29 a pound yesterday at the Safeway. It will be on the menu tonight
>along with liver and onions and mashed potatoes. Fruit for dessert.

G'day Dora,

I have to say that Qld Rail's liver and bacon was one of my favorite
breakfasts; but I've never managed to make it to anything like the
same standard. :-(

So I'm interested in alternatives such as your liver and onions.

Care to reveal your recipe and method, please? No detail is too
trivial to mention when it comes to a liver neophyte like me! TIA

>Made Wayne's cream of asparagus soup, to have for lunch tomorrow. Tastes
>delicious. Thanks, Wayne!

Cheers, Phred.

--
LID

sarah bennett wrote:
>
> Wayne Boatwright wrote:
> > On Thu 16 Mar 2006 05:20:20p, Thus Spake Zarathustra, or was it wff_ng_7?
> >
> >
> >>"Wayne Boatwright" <wayneboatwright_at_gmail.com> wrote:
> >>
> >>>Depending on the store, I have been buying asparagus at 97¢ or 99¢ per
> >>>pound for several weeks now and I don't consider where I live to be an
> >>>especially low cost area. Although it used to be somewhat cheaper to
> >>>live here than it is now. However, the asparagus is grown in Mexico
> >>>and I live in Arizona, which I'm sure accounts for the low cost. Some
> >>>of the nicest, bright green, thin asparagus I've seen in a long time.
> >>
> >>I know I've seen asparagus from Mexico around here too this time of
> >>year, maybe that's where my latest batches came from. In summer, it can
> >>come from closer areas. Some of the nicest asparagus I've seen in recent
> >>years came from New Jersey, of all places. I guess there was a reason
> >>New Jersey was called the "Garden State".
> >>
> >>The "normal" price for asparagus at my local Safeway supermarket is
> >>$3.99 a pound. I believe that is what I saw it at today. I won't buy it
> >>at that price (or anywhere near it). That price is not necessarily
> >>indicative of the price for the region as a whole. I live in downtown
> >>Washington, DC. I believe Safeway sets prices store by store. But during
> >>sales, prices are uniform region wide. The sales flyers always say "save
> >>up to xxx" because the normal price varies by store.
> >
> >
> > $3.99 is also the "normal" price around here, too. The prices at Safeway
> > here do not seem to vary from store to store. Typically, not all chains
> > are running good specials on asparagus at the same time. When I've seen it
> > at one or two chains ~$1.00/lb at one chain (including Safeway), it may
> > still be at $1.99-$3.99 at other chains. It certainly pays to read the ads
> > before shopping.
>
> am I the only one who shops according to whats on sale?

Nooooo.....Sharon, who is going shopping this morning with a list
comprised of sale items from two local stores...

Wayne Boatwright wrote:
>
> On Thu 16 Mar 2006 06:17:09p, Thus Spake Zarathustra, or was it sarah
> bennett?
>
> > Wayne Boatwright wrote:
> >> On Thu 16 Mar 2006 05:20:20p, Thus Spake Zarathustra, or was it
> >> wff_ng_7?
> >>
> >>
> >>>"Wayne Boatwright" <wayneboatwright_at_gmail.com> wrote:
> >>>
> >>>>Depending on the store, I have been buying asparagus at 97¢ or 99¢ per
> >>>>pound for several weeks now and I don't consider where I live to be an
> >>>>especially low cost area. Although it used to be somewhat cheaper to
> >>>>live here than it is now. However, the asparagus is grown in Mexico
> >>>>and I live in Arizona, which I'm sure accounts for the low cost. Some
> >>>>of the nicest, bright green, thin asparagus I've seen in a long time.
> >>>
> >>>I know I've seen asparagus from Mexico around here too this time of
> >>>year, maybe that's where my latest batches came from. In summer, it can
> >>>come from closer areas. Some of the nicest asparagus I've seen in
> >>>recent years came from New Jersey, of all places. I guess there was a
> >>>reason New Jersey was called the "Garden State".
> >>>
> >>>The "normal" price for asparagus at my local Safeway supermarket is
> >>>$3.99 a pound. I believe that is what I saw it at today. I won't buy it
> >>>at that price (or anywhere near it). That price is not necessarily
> >>>indicative of the price for the region as a whole. I live in downtown
> >>>Washington, DC. I believe Safeway sets prices store by store. But
> >>>during sales, prices are uniform region wide. The sales flyers always
> >>>say "save up to xxx" because the normal price varies by store.
> >>
> >>
> >> $3.99 is also the "normal" price around here, too. The prices at
> >> Safeway here do not seem to vary from store to store. Typically, not
> >> all chains are running good specials on asparagus at the same time.
> >> When I've seen it at one or two chains ~$1.00/lb at one chain
> >> (including Safeway), it may still be at $1.99-$3.99 at other chains.
> >> It certainly pays to read the ads before shopping.
> >
> > am I the only one who shops according to whats on sale?
> >
>
> No, that's why I buy a ton of asparagus when it's 97-99c/lb. Likewise, I
> look for good prices on other vegetables and fruits, as well as meats.
>
> --
> Wayne Boatwright o¿o
> ____________________
>
> BIOYA

Wayne, do you freeze, and if so, what is your method for getting a
good result....thanks....Sharon

biig wrote:
>
> sarah bennett wrote:
>
>>Wayne Boatwright wrote:
>>
>>>On Thu 16 Mar 2006 05:20:20p, Thus Spake Zarathustra, or was it wff_ng_7?
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>>"Wayne Boatwright" <wayneboatwright_at_gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>Depending on the store, I have been buying asparagus at 97¢ or 99¢ per
>>>>>pound for several weeks now and I don't consider where I live to be an
>>>>>especially low cost area. Although it used to be somewhat cheaper to
>>>>>live here than it is now. However, the asparagus is grown in Mexico
>>>>>and I live in Arizona, which I'm sure accounts for the low cost. Some
>>>>>of the nicest, bright green, thin asparagus I've seen in a long time.
>>>>
>>>>I know I've seen asparagus from Mexico around here too this time of
>>>>year, maybe that's where my latest batches came from. In summer, it can
>>>>come from closer areas. Some of the nicest asparagus I've seen in recent
>>>>years came from New Jersey, of all places. I guess there was a reason
>>>>New Jersey was called the "Garden State".
>>>>
>>>>The "normal" price for asparagus at my local Safeway supermarket is
>>>>$3.99 a pound. I believe that is what I saw it at today. I won't buy it
>>>>at that price (or anywhere near it). That price is not necessarily
>>>>indicative of the price for the region as a whole. I live in downtown
>>>>Washington, DC. I believe Safeway sets prices store by store. But during
>>>>sales, prices are uniform region wide. The sales flyers always say "save
>>>>up to xxx" because the normal price varies by store.
>>>
>>>
>>>$3.99 is also the "normal" price around here, too. The prices at Safeway
>>>here do not seem to vary from store to store. Typically, not all chains
>>>are running good specials on asparagus at the same time. When I've seen it
>>>at one or two chains ~$1.00/lb at one chain (including Safeway), it may
>>>still be at $1.99-$3.99 at other chains. It certainly pays to read the ads
>>>before shopping.
>>
>>am I the only one who shops according to whats on sale?
>
>
> Nooooo.....Sharon, who is going shopping this morning with a list
> comprised of sale items from two local stores...

I'm lucky to have five supermarkets within a mile from my house. Both of
the Aldis near me are a bit of a hike, but one is on the way to my mom's
house (I do laundry there every sunday morning), and the other is around
the corner from my SIL. One of the close supermarkets has good prices in
general, decent produce and meats, and their sales beat Aldi prices on a
regular basis. I'm there every week anyhow, because my bank has a branch
inside the store, and it's the closest place for me to deposit my
paycheck. The two stores closest to me have better meats and produce but
are about twice as expensive for those items as I'm willing to pay. One
of them runs good sales, though, and the other has bulk spices and nuts,
which saves money when I only need, say, a 1/4 cup of pine nuts, or need
to refill my oregano shaker. Both of them are a ten-minute walk from my
apartment, which is close enough even in the winter with a preschooler.
The other two are reigonal chains that are nothing special in terms of
quality or prices, but they have deals good enough for me to make a
separate trip some weeks (like milk for 1.78 a gallon, or cheese for
2.00 a pound) Asparagus was on sale at a few different stores this week,
(1.77/1.88 a pound) but I bought spinach instead.

--

saerah

http://anisaerah.blogspot.com/

email:
anisaerah at s b c global.net

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