I am solidly with ya Ike. Just got back from the grocery store and spent $50 just for fruit for the upcoming weekend. We literally cannot afford to run any discounts. It's only going to get worse with the food prices, as they were set to rise steeply even before any of the oil nonsense started up..
I just ate a pint of raspberries so they wouldn't go bad. I have another pint of blueberries but those will need to wait for tomorrow, I'm stuffed. This time of year is hard because we can go for days with no guests but we can't buy a 'serving for 2' at the grocery store!
I need new recipes that call for 2 pieces of fresh fruit and not something that has to be purchased in pints! And a nice creme brulee torch. Everything looks better caramelized!
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I buy blueberries when they are on sale. I put them DIRECTLY into freezer bags and then to the freezer. I then take out what I need as I need it - and wash them when I use them. Washing before freezing puts extra moisture (bad dog!!) onto the fruit. That was I have blueberries all year. I hit a sale on blackberries and did the same thing. I do NOT have a separate freezer - no room - so they go into the freezer of the refrigerator.
Do you have an ice company in or near town? There is a North Pole Ice 10 miles south of me and if I have a LOT of stuff, it goes into the freezer locker. For $53 per year - come to think of it, it is renewal time - I have the locker for venison, berries, cranberries, pureed pumpkin, whatever. Since I am in that town at least once a week anyway, it is no big deal (other than remembering to go there) to get something out to bring home. I figure the electricity would cost me more per year.
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