No, Skeptic, you would not be hoarding if you buy more pumpkins and apples. I say this as someone who has six pie pumpkins and two peanut pumpkins waiting to be processed. Most people really do not know how to deal with pumpkins, so in buying them, you are doing a useful service to the growers. The seller from whom I buy at the farmers' market knows me as "the lady who likes to bake with pumpkin," and had thoughtfully brought along an extra peanut pumpkin last week in case I wanted it. (Of course, I did!) Their sales are mostly decorative pumpkins--most of which will end up in the landfill.
As for apples, if we can get to an orchard, we will be stocking up as well. The apples keep pretty well in the garage (heater is at 39F). My husband likes to eat them plain, and I do a lot of baking with them. I hope to find some for applesauce. I'm also considering canning apple pie filling.
Cases are spiking in our state, and there has been a sharp increase in the cases reported in our county over the last few days.
I've noted that ground turkey prices at Aldi's have been particularly good the last two times we've shopped there (about $1 less than usual.
On Thursday, I baked my Whole Wheat Sourdough Cheese Crackers, using the dough I made last week.
I made English Muffin Toasting Bread using a recipe from Barefeet in the Kitchen. It's quick, easy (no knead), and makes great toast. I've sliced and frozen it so we can pull out a slice or two whenever we want toast.
Personally, I think they were something that wasn't ordered (at least for that store) and they really didn't know what to do with. I've only seen the baby ones in Nebraska a few times in 40 years. Most of the time they only have the jumbo ones, which are a lot more work to prepare and not as succulent.
There was a vendor at the farmer's market who was trying to grow artichokes last year, they only got a few tiny ones really late in the season. I don't know if they tried them again this year, we haven't been to the farmer's market much this year with the COVID-19 issues.
You're assuming supermarket managers have any idea about who their customers are or what people do with flour and other ingredients. IMHO, they buy bleached flour because they can put it on really cheap specials, like 99 cents a bag.
I remember a few years ago I found some baby artichoke hearts at the nearby 'discount' grocery chain location. Once folks found they had them, they disappeared from the shelves quickly. (People were coming from across town to get them once the word got out.)
About a year later I asked the produce manager if they were going to get them again and he said no, because their customers are mostly 'lower income'. FWIW, this part of town has some of the most expensive real estate in the county.
We had been planning to go to a family gathering in Omaha for Thanksgiving, but even if it is held this year, I don't know that we'll go. I was suppose to make an apple pie for it this year, last year I brought an assortment of breads and made the gravy after I got there. (Some people find making gravy a distraction, I enjoy making gravy, I just don't get a chance to make it that often here.)
FWIW, I saw an article in the Wall Street Journal that says turkey ranchers are producing more small turkeys this year, assuming that there won't be as many big family gatherings needing a big bird. I haven't looked in the stores to see if the local supply reflects that trend.
Thanks, Skeptic. I'll report on the voting experience once the location opens in my town (only for two Saturdays in October). I, too, liked the feeling of being part of a great day and until the last election always voted on election day.
We did our big grocery run to the next town this morning. We included Walmart--only the third time we've been to Walmart since the first weekend in March. That meant stocking up on extras. The local store charged me $4.99 for mayonnaise a couple of weeks ago. I paid half of that at Walmart and so bought two. At Kroger, I was able to snag a bag of blue label Pepperidge Farm Dressing mix. I'm not taking any chances of not having it for Thanksgiving.
Has anyone else noted a shortage of unbleached flour--Gold Medal or Pillsbury? Neither Walmart nor Kroger had it. They did have King Arthur, but sometimes I want the lower protein. There was plenty of bleached flour and even White Lily self-rising flour, as well as whole wheat (KABC and BRM). I did buy another small bag of Arrowhead Mills spelt flour.
Other than the unbleached flour, I came home with everything on my list.
Note: post is corrected to say Gold Medal.
Your pie looks delicious, Len.
To go with leftover soup on Sunday, I baked my Scottish Style Scones (Barley).
I made an apple pie using honeycrisp apples. I made an oil crust from Jenny Jones but I used part whole wheat pastry flour. For the topping (Dutch style pie) I subbed 1/2 almond flour for the AP and walnut oil for the butter. I also drizzled several tablespoons of Smuckers salted caramel sauce of the apples before I topped it.
It might not look pretty but I have high hopes for it.
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I was relieved that Bob's Red Mill has its milk powder back in stock (or did when I ordered it). It is vital for my yogurt, so I've had to hold back on adding as much or any to granola, muffins, quick breads.
Cases in my state are rising, since our governor, in his not so great wisdom, moved us on to stage five from stage 4.5. We should probably still be in stage 2 or 3. My state is one where vote-by-mail is only allowed for about five reasons, so I have to vote in person. There is also a shortage of poll workers. (By the way, the primary did allow vote-by-mail without incident.) I will take advantage of early voting, put my license in a baggy, take my own pen, and consider wearing disposable gloves.
I read an article this week (forget where) that said grocers are stocking up to prevent shortages during the Covid/flu/cold season, in case there's another lockdown. I think that's good and dandy; I just hope they don't get stuck with excess inventory when spring arrives.
I've seen something that MIGHT have been Italian 00 flour in a tiny bag (1 pound) for an outrageous price. I think I've also seen some type 00 flour at a store that specializes in European products.
We have a frost warning. We did get some rain yesterday, along with thunder. (Of course we did: there was an all day electrical project going on outside our house and in the garage and shed.)
I have been reading about an eggplant dip that sounds interesting.
I wish that I could make ratatouille, but my husband is not on board with eating it. I love it with brown rice and chicken.
I find Subway bread squshy and not particularly satisfying. However, when we are traveling (back when we could!), Subway is our fast food choice when we do not have our own with us. Although we both get the whole grain, I'm somewhat dubious about the whole grain content.
Under Irish law (VAT), bread can have up to 2 percent of flour weight in sugar, Subway breads are 10 percent sugar, so according to a court, they aren't bread and have to be taxed under Irish law.
