Saturday was exciting. We went to Sam's Club! I have only been three times. Plus, we were getting things we needed. Friday night, Tommy came through the living room with his coffee maker. It died. So, we needed that. We ran out of plastic spoons and Tommy said just to get forks, too. I needed guaifenesin, but the Mucinex version is soooo expensive.
Well, there were no coffeemakers and no plastic spoons.I wanted to get a new TV, so we wandered by and he said we have one. His 50" lost the picture and he pulled out his old 32" TV. It seems so small now, plus the screen seems dark and he does not know how to fix it.
When he first went in, he stood in line and collected his Sam's rewards. It would have made a 50" TV almost free.
We did get a two-foot stack of paper plates, a ton of plastic cups/glasses, I could barely lift the package. Then, I spied these little 5" plates at less than half the price per plate of the larger ones. So, we got those, too. Sometimes, we waste a plate for a tiny amount of some food. We bought 300 forks!
I had him drag a table into the cart. It's like a huge TV tray. I need one for several things. Of course, this will work for one activity. He can run things through the self-checkouts, so the checkout was quick. Lines were so long and some people had one of the flatbed carts with so much merchandise.
Coming out of Sam's, I squealed when I saw the Girl Scout cookie display. Of course, I got Thin Mints. Tommy chose the new cookie--adventurefuls. I did not like it after I tasted it when he bought it. I still did not like it later when I had my second and last one ever.
When we came home, I ordered a coffeemaker--Black and Decker 12-cup Programable and the med from Amazon. The med is made in the USA and Mucinex is made in England. I bought 200 for the price of 20 from Mucinex. Of course, Mucinex last 10 days whereas, the brand from the US will last 50 days. It is a win. I do not have good luck with time-release meds. So, I try to avoid them.
Making the meatloaf was a fiasco. I used a can of the Hunt's Petite Diced Tomatoes. The result was a watery can of tomatoes, and big chunks of tomatoes instead of a tomato-y sauce. I did not have bell pepper, a must for my meatloaf. So, I took a chunk of meatloaf mixture and baked it on a pan in the over. I put the rest in a pan, thinking I could dice up bell pepper and press it down the next night.
(There is no problem with the tomatoes being watery as the can was chock full of chunks of tomatoes! )
Pressig down the bell pepper into the meatloaf worked well until I realized that I had not put PAM in the dish for the meatloaf. Sooo, I sprayed another casserole and emptied the meatloaf into that pan. When it was cooked, it was too loose even with eggs and oatmeal. That was okay, but it desperately needed salt. I salted mine on the plate, something I never do.
I said to Tommy, "That is not the best meatloaf I ever made, right?" He very solemnly said, "No." It is the worst I ever made. sigh Well, there is a third night of meatloaf left. I think I will remake it by mixing it up and reseasoning it before I freeze it. I know that is weird, but now I don't like it.
A can of the cheap tomato paste I bought last year is what I will use from now on. I had used catsup in the meatloaf and on top for years. When I used a can of tomato paste with less sodium, I love the taste of the meatloaf.
That was my Saturday, tiring and productive. Have you bought your Girl Scout Cookies? Will you? Have you ever tried to experiment with a recipe that was delicious and made it almost inedible? Do you ever go to Sam's Club?
No cookies for me - just way too expensive for what you get anymore.
ReplyDeleteYou could turn the leftover meatloaf in to pasta topping with spaghetti sauce. Or put it on pizza or make taco meat.
Cheryl,
DeleteWe will only buy those two boxes, no matter what we want. I thought about putting the last piece into a bell pepper, but I will just remake the meatloaf since I would have to buy a bell pepper.
We stopped buying GS cookies because we were not eating them and throwing them out. We did a big Sam's trip this week. Their meat is still reasonable for these days so we bought some meat and bread flour and other things we want to be sure to have plenty of in the coming days as prices go higher. What about putting that meatloaf into some spaghetti sauce?
ReplyDeleteLana,
DeleteWhat kind of people are you...lol...throwing out cookies? Probably healthy! I could not find chicken and was not interested in anything else. NO chicken? Imagine that. Spaghetti sauce would be a good save, but I just want meatloaf. Silly, I know.
So all the disposable flatware/plates/cups means you're not using your dishwasher?
ReplyDeleteslugmama,
DeleteYes, we do use the dishwasher and rely on it heavily. However, Tommy would not allow me to remove utensils from his drawers when I first came here. He was being an ass. I bought plastic forks and spoons. After that, he pays for them. He is okay with disposable. The drawers were filled with roaches, so I was not willing to use things and put them back in filth.
When I finally get someone in here to help, I will have them empty and clean the cabinets. Then, we will use his utensils. I doubt disposables will ever go.
When I use the dishwashers, there are usually two to four plates, lots of glass bowls and the snaplock glass casseroles and bowls. Really, it is so full there is still stuff to wash in the sink in order to get it all clean at once. Of course, if we used the dishwasher more often, it would not be so full.
Tommy takes it upon himself to wash things in the sink. I am amazed. Sometimes, he goes into the kitchen and stays for a long time. When he comes back in the living room, I ask him what he was doing. He said one day, "I thought I might as well get those dishes washed in the sink."
I am pushing to use real plates, but he said he prefers paper plates. I hate a plastic spoon, but he says it is okay with him. I think it is because that is what he has mostly used where I only started using them regularly here. I have to slowly wean him.
Meatloaf, supposed to be such a simple dish. I think not, there are so many ways to make it and everyone has their favorite. I also love green pepper in mine. I do put a little tomato sauce, worcestershire sauce, onion, garlic in as well. Sometimes a tomato, brown or mushroom gravy. If I was to use it in another way I would go to pasta or make a soup with it.
ReplyDeleteI have in the past purchased girl scout cookies to support the organization but I have never liked them. I would get thin mints and take to my father inlaw, his favorite.
I used to go to Sams with my mom and sister. We would share large products through our 3 households. It is so easy to get carried away in there. It was the best place to get frozen snacks when my son and his friends filled the house.
Texas,
DeleteThe bell peppers are a must for mine.
I suppose some people don't like Thin Mints like I do. Lucky fil.
Sam's was always over an hour away from my home, so it was not a regular thing for me. But, for most of the items, I would need to share with several people. I saw the boxes of snacks and they were indeed huge.
A friends daughter was selling cookies so my husband gave her $20 but didn't take the cookies. We told her to give them to someone who would appreciate them but wouldn't be able to buy for themselves. Trust me, we do not need the cookies. Ranee (MN)
ReplyDeleteRae,
DeleteTrust me, we don't need the cookies, either.
I am a Costco woman. I think it's required to join when you purchase a home in my zip code!
ReplyDeleteI don't tend to experiment with recipes when I cook, (baking is another story) but, even so, I have made a few inedible things following the recipe *exactly*.
No Girl Scout cookies here...I don't like how expensive they are, nor how little the troop gets per box. I DO buy, at Christmas, Costco's Fudge Mint Cookies which are EXACTLY like the Thin Mints, and a lot cheaper. (I'm thinking the same company makes them?) Of course, my family forgets about them after New Year's, so the remaining cookies almost always wind up as a crust for my St. Patrick's Day chocolate cheesecake.
Meg,
DeleteI now live over 100 miles from Costco and have always lived over 50 miles from Sam's. I wasn't exactly experimenting, but it was better eventually. I don't know how anyone forgets cookies. My family would not..lol. At least you use them and not toss them.
I use tomato soup in my meatloaf. There was a Campbells soup cookbook from the 60"s with a recipe for it. I have taken not so good meatloaf and turned it in to sauce for pasta wtih a little tomato sauce.
ReplyDeleteBarbara,
DeleteTomato soup would make a tasty meatloaf, I am quite sure.
Although I bought GS cookies, I have not received them. There is apparently a supply chain issue. Although I saw a cookie booth while out shopping yesterday. Confusing. Next year I think I will pass on them.
ReplyDeleteI have had this happen with my moms brownie recipe before. A recipe I could make in my sleep.
We have a Sam's Club membership but we are thinking about letting it go.
Amy,
DeleteI had not heard about a supply chain issue with GS cookies. Hmmm
Tommy only had one as it came with his retirement job. He decided to keep it.
I hate to mess up a familiar recipe. It has been a long time since I did anything so awful.
I have yet to try your marvelous meatloaf recipe
ReplyDeleteWhat your write often happens to me: I follow the letter of the recipe and it comes out disappointing. I always assume it is operator error, and try to deduce what did I do wrong.
Urspo,
DeleteSometimes it is a recipe from a source that wrote it wrong. Sometimes, it is a recipe that I don't care for, not my making of it.
You don't have to go 100 miles to Costco. There is one in Hoover right behind the Galleria. I prefer Costco to Sam's for most things.
ReplyDeleteAnne,
DeleteI never knew There was a Costco in Birmingham. Thanks. I only knew of the one in Huntsville. Thanks. Why do you prefer Costo and for what items?
We only buy 4 things at Costco because we have no need to buy in such huge quantities.
DeleteKeto Bars (ice cream type thing, only place I have ever seen them)
Mixed nuts
Individual chip bags (TheHub loves having them and they are cheaper there)
Conecuh sausage (It comes in a 3 pound package and costs substantially less than buying it by the pound at the store. I bring it home, cut it into meal size portions and freeze it)
The keto bars sound like something I want and need! The $120 membership makes this not a good deal. Thanks.
DeleteThe executive membership is 120 but the regular one is 60 for 2 cards
DeleteAnne,
DeleteThanks. That makes me want a card for sure.
I used to make such good meatloaf. I used stovetop turkey dressing crushed up fine for my crumbs,plus a bit of dry instant rice mixed in with the meat, microwave chopped onions and finely diced bell pepper that also was precooked in the microwave. I mix half a can of tomato soup into the meat mix plus a little milk plus an egg. I think I may have used a can of mushroom soup in the meat also, but I wasn't sure.I use 2 lbs of 90 percent lean ground beef. It makes 2 meatloaves worth. I top it with the remaining half can of tomato soup, with chili sauce (the kind that is like catsup), and a raw egg all mixed together and spread completely over the meatloaves.
ReplyDeleteI thought I remembered how to make the meatloaf that we liked for so long, but when I made it last time,it was missing something and not good like the last times I made it.It had been a year or so since I made my good meatloaf, and I'll be darned if I must have forgotten how to make it. I never wrote
the recipe down when I was making such good meatloaf. Who would have thought I would forget how to make meatloaf the way we liked it. Before, I had been making good meatloaf for years. Now with the price of the meat and everything else, I can't afford meatloaf fails. I used to like to fry pieces of the left over meatloaf for supper. We never cared for sandwiches of it.
I am so hungry for good meatloaf again. On the next one, I will try putting a half can of mushroom soup in, too, or maybe a whole can if it doesn't make it too gloppy. I have a feeling that is what I forgot and why my most recent meatloaf turned out so bad. If I can ever figure out how to make good meatloaf again, I will definitely write that recipe down. I have a feeling that my memory for good meatloaf was erased by the anesthetic from surgeries.
You and Tommy always have such enjoyable shopping days. That is so nice. My husband and I seem to always end up getting into it about something by the time we get home when we have big shopping trips.
I have never heard of meatloaf like you make. Too bad you did something wrong and it was not the way you like it. Write it down now to use later. That way you can mull it over before you start, making sure it is complete.
DeleteThere are times when Tommy just explodes. I know it is his blood sugar going too low. He disagrees. If I can get him to eat, either crackers or a burger, he is okay.
Haven't had meatloaf for a while ... which reminded me about these meatloaf cupcakes
ReplyDeletehttps://thelowcarbdiabetic.blogspot.com/2015/06/meatloaf-cupcakes-whatever-next.html
All the best Jan
Jan,
DeleteI get on a meatloaf kick and then don't have it for six months. I have thought about making meatloaf cupcakes. I need to get papers for cupcakes.
I have both Sam's & Costco memberships. Costco is closer, but we have been going to Sam's for longer. We're trying to figure out which has the greater number of goods we're interested in. Sam's keeps getting rid of things I like. They had shiitake mushrooms for a great price, then discontinued them! .
ReplyDeleteI don't buy GS cookies, because we don't need them. But as a former GS "Cookie Mom", I do support them. I will buy Boxes for the Troops (should be an option no matter where you live) to donate to our soldiers abroad, or will simply make a donation to the troup itself.
Two things I really hate about GS cookies:
One: For a $4.00 box, the troup only gets to keep .85 cents. The rest goes to pay bloated GSA Corporate salaries. Yes, just like so many 3rd-world nations, adults are LITERALLY making money off the backs of young children! They should be ashamed of themselves.
Two: It really chaps my ass that they've got kindergarteners (Daisies, the 1st level of GS) selling cookies. Yes, GSA Corporate is pimping out the babies for bucks. Because cute little girls fetch more money for their greedy asses than do the tweens and teens.
That said, I will ALWAYS donate directly to the local troups or purchase cookies for soldiers.
And here's a hearty "F-U" to GSA management!
Sue,
DeleteI did not know all this. Thanks. It is not nice.