At the grocery store today:

[trof]

$1.99 for a can of Campbell's beef consomme.
And the can now contains 10.5 oz.
19 cents an OUNCE?
For CANNED soup?
Holy Shite!

$3.59 for a package of sun dried tomato tortilla wraps.
6 in the package.
That's 60 cents A PIECE!

whew

[sinkingfeeling]

1. And have you noticed that cake mixes are now only 15.5 oz. I still have one in my cupboard that

was 18.5 oz. You can't even bake a 9 x 13 with 15.5 ounces!

[fleur-de-lisa]

2. And it tastes like shite!

After Hurricane Isaac, with no electricity (my range is not gas) I thought I would try a can of soup. I was sick of peanut butter and crackers. The soup was so nasty! I've been cooking from scratch as much as possible lately to control a couple of health issues. I guess when your body is not used to all the chemicals and other unnatural shit in canned goods, it's not a good idea to re-introduce them. I took a few spoonfuls and started gagging. Never again!

[Boxerfan]

3. Try it with kids & on food stamps...

My wife works as much as her job will giver her and we are thankfull for that. I have been awaiting a SSDI decision for what is now going on 3 years...With premanent damage of my salivary function I don't sleep much at all having to quench my mouth through the nite-20+ times typical. I also have fibromyalgia, 2 hernias & a host of minor issues.

We have held steady as possible & the food stamps have been a blessing.

But trying to feed a family on them is impossible unless you want to eat a generic cheese dinner every meal.

I cook from scratch as much as possible & forrage local fruit tres in publica areas this time of year.

But yes the prices are making what was nearly impossible into a cruel game of skipping meals.

I just wish the SSDI would be granted & we can just "live".

[Warpy]

7. Sjogren's sucks. So does fibro.

The average wait for SSDI is 3 years. I hope you're one of the lucky ones and just hit the average.

I don't use canned consomme or broth any more, I keep a jar of Better than Bouillion in the fridge. The jar looks expensive, but remember it's concentrated and takes the place of a lot of cans of consomme.

I was lucky when I was on a poverty diet of beans, rice, and roasted root veg. I didn't have picky kids to try to please. That's what throws a spanner into the works of most family food budgets.

However, when the bottom falls out of your finances, knowing how to cook is really key to staying healthy.

[trof]

9. Just saw a jar of Better Than Boullion in the pantry.

Why didn't we (she) use THAT?

[Warpy]

12. She was probably still using the canned stuff

and thought the jar looked more complicated.

If it hasn't been opened, likely it's still OK. If it has been opened, toss it. That stuff needs refrigeration.

[dixiegrrrrl]

22. FWIW, trof...that is ALL I use, for the last few years.

It comes in chicken, in beef, and in vegetable flavors.
The jar looks pricey, but really lasts a long time.
Flavor is incredible.
I use a small amount in gravies,use more to deepen soup stock flavors.Tis very concentrated.

[HereSince1628]

4. We don't call consomme soup in these here parts...we calls it

beef flavored water, fancy folks call it seasoned beef stock.

Is that concentrated or organic or special somehow?

My beef squeez'ns comes in powdered form. My basic grocery rule is to avoid unnecessary purchases of water. So I don't buy canned soups very often. Water is a lot cheaper from the tap, and leaving it out makes the grocery bags quite a bit lighter.

[sharp_stick]

5. That's pretty much criminal

Today's prices at the local Stop and Shop in central CT found online.

Campbells canned soup is going four for $3 ($0.75 ea.)and the Chunky Soup is $1.50 each. Progresso is 4 for $6.00 ($1.50 ea).

Regular Tortilla wraps (Stop & Shop brand) 16 oz, 10 per pack is $2.09. I couldn't find sun dried tomato wraps.

[trof]

10. Miz t. says Winn-Dixie; prices are high.

Guess we'll be shopping at the Piggly Wiggly or (shudder) WalMart.

[Warpy]

13. I shop WalMart when I'm poor

because if I want to eat, I have little alternative. Wally's was for packaged stuff, I couldn't afford meat. I also loaded up at Costco before the card expired.

At least Wally's was the first place to have low cost generic prescriptions. They aren't completely terrible.

[kickysnana]

6. Just for contract..lawnmower batteries the same price as 2 years ago..$21.99

We have medical equipment that uses these. If we get them from a medical supply dealer we paid $290 for two four years ago. We paid $44 for two two years ago and yesterday at Batteries plus. Wheelchair batteries medical supply 2 for $500 three years ago, Batteries Plus yesterday $180. All were installed.

Standard paper plates at Walgreens used to be 100 for .99 on sale 6 years ago, then they put them down to 72 for .99 and when I looked this week they had 50 for $2. I got them at the Dollar tree 50 for $1, saw that same price at Walmart local.

8 big roles of Bounty Select-a-size = 12 standard rolls now are $21.98 at Cub this week. Non-select a size are 8 for $10 at CVS but you have to take a $10 store "CVS bucks" credit that is unavailable for a couple weeks and then expires in 90 days and 2 weeks.

It is not easy shopping these days.

[trof]

8. I'm gonna be a Dollar Store shopper.

32 oz. box of beef broth - $1.00
Miz t." That's not the same as consomme."
"Cook it down some and it will be."
15.2 oz. can of Campbell's tomato soup - $1.00
$1.99 at Winn-Dixie.
And a 10.5 oz. can.

[earthside]

11. It's going to get worse.

Now that the Fed is going to pump $40 billion a month in magic money into the economy.

Dilution of the value of the dollar.

But the bankers will be happy.

[AnneD]

14. The best advice I can give anyone.......

Start your own pantry (I have a years stuff and I rotate). Buy bulk of staples like flour, cornmeal, shortening, sugar, etc. If you see those items on sale....it is a real sale. I do this year round and some items still have seasons when prices go down. Catch the after holiday sales too. For example, canned pumpkin is cheap the holidays and makes a great soup base. This is just many of the things I do. Get an Amish or Mennonite cookbook. Great simple and delicious food from scratch.

Because I have such a stocked pantry, I can kick back and catch the sales. My lunch today was a spicy Asian Thai noodle soup that I bought for $0.69. I bought a bunch of just add chicken noodle gourmet soup starters for $1.50 last Sat. I cleared the bargain rack of those. Do not be shy, ask the folks behind the meat counter when they put their marked down stuff out. My store is Thursday. Visit the day old bakery store in you town. Great place to pick up kids lunch things.

I had a stay at home Mom and there were 6 of us to feed during the 70's. Mom taught me well. If I had room, I would have a small freezer too. That's when you save even more.

[westerebus]

15. Have you been looking in my garage?

That's where the small freezer resides. My grand mother had a walk in pantry and additional storage under the stairs. I just need to learn to bake bread and make pies. Apple pie and a cuppa' for breakfast. Great way to start the day.

[AnneD]

17. Yes I have....

Where in the hell do you keep the beer!

Best pie crust recipe I ever found was in an old Mormon cook book. It also had recipes for hard tack and ways to preserve things without refrigeration.

Hmmmm, apple pie. Can I get a little cheese on top?

[westerebus]

20. If I knew you were coming over I would have brought some.

I do keep some good wine on hand. The hard stuff is in the hall closet on the top shelf. It's the holiday collection or in case of snake bite.

I've got some Irish Dubliner cheese that would be great for the pie.

I'd go with a some french vanilla ice cream myself, for the calcium. lol

[AnneD]

21. Damn....

I am on my way. I'll bring some Blue Bell French Vanilla ice cream. I'll even pitch in some IBC Root Beer. We can have some root beer floats. Let's just say, if I could plan my last meal on earth...that would be on the short list.

[grasswire]

30. what was different about that recipe? nt

[AnneD]

32. Flakey crust

Every time, never fail. Makes 2 pie crusts. Pioneer women didn't have time to mess around with recipes that failed, had too many exotic ingredients, or required too much fuss.

[NMDemDist2]

24. watch out storing flour at room temp long term

it will go rancid

there's just enough wheat germ oil to turn

[AnneD]

25. Thanks for the tip.....

But I am an old pro at storage. I have been at it since my late 20's and I am closer to 60 than anything else. As long as air does not get to oil, it has a good shelf life. I keep milled flour in the freezer. I deep store wheat to grind as part of really long term storage.

[NMDemDist2]

26. yup, you know your stuff!!

sorry!

but not all readers may know, i know i sure didn't in the beginning

[AnneD]

29. No....

That is a good tip. I learned it the hard way

Same thing with nuts too. Oil in the presence of oxygen goes rancid quickly.

[trof]

16. As much as I don't Like WalMart...

We have to look after us first.
Retired on limited income.
Miz t. found the same consomme there for a buck.

[GulleyJimson]

18. Produce prices

I am shocked... shocked, I tell you, whenever I visit the states to see the food prices. I live in that socialist country France where everything is supposedly outrageously expensive because of socialism but food prices are a joke compared to what one pays in the states. Two dollars for a head of lettuce? I pay €.60 for one or €1 for two. Bell peppers; red €2 a KILO (2.2 lbs per kilo), greens are even cheaper. I never buy processed food so I can't make a comparison. Oh, and I can get calves brains, chitlins, duck fat for cheap to satisfy my southern roots. I don't know why produce is so expensive in the states as it's not like farmers are paying top wages for harvest. Don't mention fuel cost as we're paying $8 a gallon. So, why the large difference in prices?

[westerebus]

23. Hi welcome to DU.

I'd say a lot of folks here do not cook. It's a microwave or fast food. Which ever is cheaper. Some grill almost all year round.

As the OP stated food prices have been going up. Wages on the other hand have been going down.

A fair portion of our produce is from South and Central America. So your guess is as good as mine on this one.

[abelenkpe]

27. Personally taken to eating spaghetti with red pepper flakes everyday for dinner

luckily the kiddos like it.

Food prices are getting pretty crazy.

[Sherman A1]

28. I posted this thread a few days ago, note the inflation in food over the last 10 yrs

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021382244

[grasswire]

31. food prices are expected to rise 14% more in the next few months

Due to the near failure of the corn crop this summer. Meat will be much higher. And everything else.