[Colbyt]

They seem to have determined that their clientele probably fits into a fairly narrow band of the larger community.

That's a very PC way of saying it.

The Hispanic food selection is one of the best in town.

 

[Wooleybooger]

We don't have many local stores. Here the grocery market is dominated by Kroger, Meijer, and Walmart with Aldi coming in at the end. Walmart and Aldi don't do a lot of advertising. Kroger and Meijer are chains and they honor their ads. Both have some digital coupon offer, only revealed in the fine print, and all you need to collect is their "card' and a phone number. I only go once to a store who fails to honor and advertised price.

I loaded a coupon on my Kroger card the other day. When I checked out it showed the wrong price. Bought anyway, the cost was less that shelf price.

 

[KitchenWench]

The only paper store flier I get is for Food Lion, our only regular grocery store. In order to go to a different one I need to drive at least 15 miles where I have Food Lion, Ingles and Aldi. Walmart is ever present for groceries and where I do most of my shopping because the prices are usually better.

If I decide to go out of town to shop I pull up the Food Lion, Aldi and Ingles fliers online to price compare. 99% of the time Aldi is the best for pantry basics, Food Lion for meats and fresh "ish" veg. I don't always like the quality of their fresh produce because despite their claims, I've brought home what was "just brought in off the truck" produce that went bad in 24 hours. But they're usually better than Aldi for the most part.

Then there's Ingles. They're a higher end chain in the area where I can get more unusual ingredients. They've got the biggest foreign food section within 25 miles but they're also the most expensive, even with coupons and store specials. I'll give them this, though; they've got spectacular specialty foods and fresh produce, and their fresh meat and seafood are incredible. That's where I go if I'm looking for something special or have their butchers break something down for me.

 

[Colbyt]

I guess I am spoiled and have it easy. Three mungo markets within 3 miles of the house.

 

[Wooleybooger]

Yeah me too. Within 3 miles one WM, 3 Kroger one of them less than a mile, one HEB. Branching out to 7 1/2 miles, 3 Food Town, another WM, 2 Aldi's, Hong Kong Market, several Asian Indian places. But no totally Mexican. Those are out to 10 miles.

 

[KitchenWench]

You two are spoiled...lol

If I want that kind of choice range I'd have to drive 45-50 miles to Charlotte. And unless it's an ingredient I can't get any other way, including ordering it online because it's a fresh food item, I've got to saddle up and head down.

 

[Wooleybooger]

You two are spoiled...lol

If I want that kind of choice range I'd have to drive 45-50 miles to Charlotte. And unless it's an ingredient I can't get any other way, including ordering it online because it's a fresh food item, I've got to saddle up and head down.

Ahh big city livin'.
Actually small city living. 4 small cities and a large city all with adjoining city limits in two counties. I can drive about 3 miles to another county and another 6 and find another WM and Lewis and Coker or used to be that and a locally own grocery store. All without going to the "big city". Have to do that for 100% Mexican grocery stores.

 

[Colbyt]

You two are spoiled...lol

If I want that kind of choice range I'd have to drive 45-50 miles to Charlotte. And unless it's an ingredient I can't get any other way, including ordering it online because it's a fresh food item, I've got to saddle up and head down.

Country or small town living comes with a hidden cost.

 

[KitchenWench]

Ahh big city livin'.
Actually small city living. 4 small cities and a large city all with adjoining city limits in two counties. I can drive about 3 miles to another county and another 6 and find another WM and Lewis and Coker or used to be that and a locally own grocery store. All without going to the "big city". Have to do that for 100% Mexican grocery stores.

There's no blurring of city limits out here. I live in the middle of town, then there's the greater township and then unincorporated areas. The closest blurred lines is about 20 miles away, then more open space and then Mecklenburg County where the lower half of the county is one giant blurred line.

I can be in 1 of 2 different counties in less than 5 minutes. Heck, I live closer to those county seats than I do my own county seat!..lol Sadly I don't think either of them have an Asian grocery but 1 has a Mexican. For Asian I need to go to Charlotte where I've got 3-4 choices. There are all kinds of ethnic groceries to choose from. Since I have drs appts down there every 6-8 weeks I plan extra time for shopping.

 

[Colbyt]

Okay. I confess I am spoiled.

 

[Steve-o]

Okay. I confess I am spoiled.

Me, too. Enough Asian groceries nearby that they specialize (Korean, Japanese, Filipino, Karen, etc.). A street with several Mexican groceries. A number of European/Mediterranean shops. Russian/eastern European delis not far from here. But it's one reason I choose to live in the city.

 

[KitchenWench]

I tried city living and all the "advantages" that included. It took less than 6 months for me to start going insane. I really am a country girl.

 

[Wooleybooger]

I have three cousins born and raised in the sticks. Family tried moving to the city but that lasted about 6 months and back to the sticks. Now the youngest, about 65, living in a big city, oldest in a small city, middle one died several years ago.

 

[KitchenWench]

Bake to the original topic...

Does anyone make pasta on a regular basis? If so, how cost effective is it over store bought? I don't plan to switch over entirely, just for specific styles.

I know from experience making pasta is time consuming and it tastes 1,000 times better, I'm just wondering if it's worth it.

 

[Wooleybooger]

That would be debatable I think unless you need a "large" sheet for something like ravioli. I've made pasta for wide noodles but that's all. Isn't all that difficult but as you say time consuming to dry it, not totally dry but a bit drier and takes some room.

 

[KitchenWench]

Time I've got, it's room to dry it that's the problem. I was contemplating making lasagna noodles since a long time friend was supposed to be coming south for a good long visit and he adores my lasagna.

 

[LeonardoDaBenz]

Time I've got, it's room to dry it that's the problem. I was contemplating making lasagna noodles since a long time friend was supposed to be coming south for a good long visit and he adores my lasagna.

About as cheap as you can get

Incredibly Easy Pasta Drying Rack

Incredibly Easy Pasta Drying Rack: If you're making fresh pasta every once in a while, you probably don't want to spend $20 - $40 on a pasta drying rack. If you're handy woodworker, you can "re-make" one of those racks for a fraction of the cost. However, if you just have a…

www.instructables.com

 

[Wooleybooger]

About as cheap as you can get

Incredibly Easy Pasta Drying Rack

Incredibly Easy Pasta Drying Rack: If you're making fresh pasta every once in a while, you probably don't want to spend $20 - $40 on a pasta drying rack. If you're handy woodworker, you can "re-make" one of those racks for a fraction of the cost. However, if you just have a…

www.instructables.com

I've done similar a couple of dowels on a stack or two of #10 cans and drape the pasta sheets over them.

 

[KitchenWench]

I've done that before only with a pair of cinder blocks as the ends. Hey...It's what I had handy...lol