Food prices are out of control

amother

↑ Taupe ↓

Wed, Nov 13 2024, 9:48 am

vintagebknyc wrote:

You can also make hummus for pennies, you just need a blender (immersion works) or food processor

It's not pennies, a can of chickpeas alone is $1.25, plus the tahini is expensive and other ingredients. But yes it's pretty easy to do. Be aware that it won't be anywhere near as smooth as store bought unless you have a very high powered blender. Some people care, some people don't.

My recipe: Blend a drained can chickpeas with tahini, olive oil, lemon juice, salt, garlic, cumin. (I don't measure)

amother

Papayawhip

Wed, Nov 13 2024, 9:58 am

amother Taupe wrote:

My Braun does a great job at that. Add a bit more oil if you need to. I let the machine go for quite a few minutes.

boysrus

Wed, Nov 13 2024, 10:10 am

amother Clear wrote:

I know this might sound strange to some, but for people who have grown up eating CY and have eaten only CY all their life, from an emotional perspective it would feel like eating treif to start eating cholov stam. Seriously. thats how it would feel to me. Now throw as many tomatoes as you like, thanks Wink

I think there are other people who would agree with you about this. Like chabadniks, chassidim etc. Interesting perspective...

observer

Wed, Nov 13 2024, 10:14 am

amother Clear wrote:

I agree.

No tomatoes anyway, they're too expensive Tongue Out

amother

Mocha ↓

Wed, Nov 13 2024, 10:25 am

boysrus wrote:

I think there are other people who would agree with you about this. Like chabadniks, chassidim etc. Interesting perspective...

I’m not Chabad or chasssidish, regular litvish and I agree with her 100%!!

amother

↑ Clear

Wed, Nov 13 2024, 10:38 am

amother Mocha wrote:

I’m not Chabad or chasssidish, regular litvish and I agree with her 100%!!

Thank you, I thought I was going to get tons of flak for that. I'm also regular litvish, but grew up being makpid on CY. Its good to hear that ther are other non chassidim who would feel the same way as me.

amother

↑ Mocha

Wed, Nov 13 2024, 10:47 am

amother Clear wrote:

It would never even dawn on me to ask such a shaila. I personally dont think that not having money is a reason to stop eating cy

tulip3

Wed, Nov 13 2024, 11:03 am

Prices are crazy! I don't know where you live but there are coops where they truck in bulk food if you have enough families signed up. If you talk to caterers/schools that you have a connection to, they order through distributers and buy in bulk so it's much much cheaper. If you could place an order with them, that could help.
Is there Walmart drive able to you? Walmart plus is amazing.
I've stopped buying the dairy besides for milk and cheese. Most of the yogurts are full of sugar, not healthy and very expensive. My kids look at it as a treat. I'll occasionally buy a big tub of plain. Did you ever try making your own yogurt or cottage cheese?

Dolly Welsh

Wed, Nov 13 2024, 11:22 am

amother Oxfordblue wrote:

I don’t live near (walking distance) to super stores so I learned some tricks for the local stores.
Buy large yogurts- not individuals. If you need it for takeaway, buy small containers on Amazon. It’ll still be cheaper.
Vegetables- only buy the count you need. No buying for the fridge.
Some vegetables you can get for cheaper, like peppers are tomatoes have a variety.
Stock up on eggs when they’re cheap. Skimp on them when they’re charged as gold.
Chummus- buy sabra on sale or make your own from beans. Much cheaper and tastier.

Sorry but this is thanks to Biden.

This. We can make our own yogurt in a crock pot. Or at room temperature if using Viili starter. We can make our own chummus from canned chick peas, bottled lemon juice, garlic powder, and oil, and tahini, if you have it. In a food processor or blender. Dried chick peas are even cheaper than canned. Soak an hour, rinse, put in crock pot overnight.

But yes, it is terrible.

In the country, keep a laying hen or two.

Even in the suburbs, have some normal looking but edible landscaping.

↑ vintagebknyc

Wed, Nov 13 2024, 11:46 am

amother Taupe wrote:

I use dried chick peas and boil them till they are soft.

↑ Bnei Berak 10

Wed, Nov 13 2024, 11:56 am

amother Taupe wrote:

If one had a meat grinder one may use it for the chick peas.
I never buy canned chick peas. I soak dry ones, boil them and freeze in portions.

amother

Ivory

Wed, Nov 13 2024, 12:19 pm

amother Taupe wrote:

We don't keep yoshon, but we do keep cholov and pas Yisroel. We still are able to buy most of our groceries in Walmart. I think the only thing we buy that yoshon would affect is pasta, but there are plenty of times even that can be bought and still be yoshon. https://yoshon.com/product/gre.....etti/ (Duncan Hines brownie mix is always yoshon - https://yoshon.com/product/dun.....-mix/)

Here's the list of what I buy: https://www.imamother.com/foru.....76157

From your list, it would also affect:

Pepe's pizza dough
Rhodes bread dough or rolls
Pepperidge Farm puff pastry
Pretzilla buns

Cold cereal (only the ones that contain chameishes haminim)
Instant oatmeal packets
Old fashioned oats (canister)
Quick oats

There are still a lot of other stuff on that list that one could buy. Smile

amother

Mintgreen

Wed, Nov 13 2024, 12:55 pm

amother Taupe wrote:

I put in ice cubes which gives it a very smooth texture. Cooking up the beans before blending makes it even smoother but I usually don't do that. I use Naomi Nachmans recipe.

renslet ↓

Wed, Nov 13 2024, 1:16 pm

I read an article once about lowering grocery expenses and one of the main ideas was about changing what we buy and cooking differently.
Like if cereal is expensive then make oatmeal or toast etc
Snacks for the house can be homemade cookies etc
Plan menus around produce in season and stuff on sale
Obviously pick and choose what works for you and you sanity (very important) but there are loads of tips online

amother

↑ Ultramarine ↓

Wed, Nov 13 2024, 1:38 pm

tichellady wrote:

If money is tight perhaps it’s time to ask about not keeping chalav yisroel

For some that’s like telling someone if money is tight to not keep kosher.

Money being tight is not a reason to be less machmir. What about money is tight and pants are cheaper than skirts, time to stop wearing skirts. Etc.

amother

↑ Taupe ↓

Wed, Nov 13 2024, 1:42 pm

renslet wrote:

Yes, this is important. If red peppers are very expensive, don't use red peppers for now.

When eggs are cheap, I'll use a lot in a kugel. When eggs are expensive, I use less, and I'll make water challah. Same with other ingredients.

Crookshanks

Wed, Nov 13 2024, 1:43 pm

amother Ultramarine wrote:

Don't be silly. Chalav Stam is not treif, and not comparable to wearing pants vs a skirt.

amother

↑ Taupe ↓

Wed, Nov 13 2024, 1:44 pm

Crookshanks wrote:

Don't be silly. Chalav Stam is not treif, and not comparable to wearing pants vs a skirt.

My Rabbanim say I would need to kasher keilim used for Chalav Stam. So although it is not actual treif, some halachic authorities consider it a very serious matter.