Since we're on a food topic here's another one: Do you buy Generic or Name-brand? Do you care? Do you think one is superior to the other? Do you have a childhood complex that forces you to buy one or the other? I'm talkin' clothing, food, whatever? Do you have a preference?
10 comments:
Generic foods: $.97 Canned Crushed tomatoes taste WAY better than the $2.00 kind.
But don't you ever give me a fake Oreo. Yes, I can tell the difference, and, yes, I will vomit on you if you try to give me the cheap stuff.
Clothes - the question is not What Brand is this? The question is - Is this cute?
ps. Is there a reason we have to do word verifications for comments? I have a feeling there'd be more discussion if we didn't have to verify . Furthermore, what, exactly, is the word verification verifying? I'm having a problem with this one...
yeah and on top of that why aren't any of the word verifications real words.
oh yeah and walmart's thick and creamy mac and cheese is a million times better than that Kraft crap
I admit, this is one of those things that I can be a snob about. On most foods I'll buy generic since I'm obsessed with saving a few pennies. But there are those things... like the example before of Oreo's. Yeah, no comparison. You can't even think of the other as a fake Oreo because it's really just a lame cookie.
And there's definitely a difference between store brand chocolate chips, and any name brand. I've discovered this just recently. But at the same time, sometimes, in a cookie, it really doesn't matter. It's still good.
I love Ragu spaghetti sauce and I totally blame my mom for that. If I can't afford it that week, I'll go without and make something else for dinner.
With clothes, I have problems. When I'm shopping for Quinn on Ebay, if it's not Gap or Old Navy I won't even bother to look. But, I don't buy a ton of clothes for him, so if I'm going to, I better really like it. And usually I'm safe sticking with those brands.
If I'm at a second hand shop I could look at something on the rack and not think much of it, or even think it's ugly, but then if the tag says Gap, Old Navy, AE, Banana Republic, etc... I'll take another look and then decide what I really think of it. Yeah, snob. But I guess not too much since most the clothes I buy are second hand.
True about the chocolate chips, too. I always buy a better brand. The crappy chocolate is just...crappy.
Oh...and here's a way to make WAY yummy spaghetti sauce. (and way cheaper) - try it sometime...
about 2 tbsp - 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil.
2 cloves of garlic - minced
1 can diced tomatoes (not the 15-16 oz kind a bigger can)
1 can crushed tomatoes (a bigger can - not the 15-16 oz kind)
1 onion
1/2 cup carrots - minced fine
1/2 cup celery - minced fine
2 bay leaves
some basil (i don't know - probably 1 teaspoon or so)
some oregano (about 1 tsp or so, maybe more)
some salt (at least 3/4 teaspoon)
Sautee the garlic in the olive oil first. (on medium-high heat). Don't burn the garlic. Sautee for about 2 minutes at the most. Add the onions, celery, and carrots. let these cook for a while - until they are soft. probably 10 to 15 minutes or so. You will probably want to turn the heat down to medium/med-high if it is too hot.
When the veggies seem soft, add the cans of tomatoes.
Sometimes I like a little bit more. You can add more if you'd like, but this will make a good amount of sauce. Also, if you're afraid it is runny, remember that this will cook down.
Mix. Add the bay leaves, basil, oregano, and salt. Let this simmer for a while - at least an hour or so - so the herbs really infuse and get good. Plus, the longer it simmers, the softer the veggies are.
Taste this too. Don't be afraid to add more salt if needed.
before serving, discard the bay leaves.
You will never ever buy ragu again.
Oh - and if you don't like garden veggies, omit them. Also - i like to add crushed red peppers sometimes - if i want it spicy. Or mushrooms.
ps - i like to make a big batch of this, and then store the extra in the freezer. Then thaw, and voila! yum.
I'm hungry...
Hmmm, Generics. I could write a thirty page essay on my "generic" evolution. Basically, when it comes to food, I try to buy as many generics as possible. I buy most of my canned goods at ALDI's because they are so cheap and taste good. But since I subscribed to the Consumer Reports magazine, I've been introduced to a new world. They test all of the products (including some generics!) and try to find the best product for the lowest cost.
I recently spent FIFTEEN dollars on my laundry detergent and fabric softner because CR recommended it. I have never even come close to spending that. Most of the time I spend two bucks on the cheapest detergent at ALDI and four bucks on the fanciest generic fabric softner at Wal Mart. So this was a big deal, but Erick has some very nice work clothing and I want them to last so I wanted to try the recommended stuff even though it is way more expensive....and now I'm hooked! And my clothes smell like they're from heaven (even Bryant!) I'm just worried that I'm going to start finding tons of name brand stuff that I like better and spend way too much money.
And when it comes to clothing...well, for a few years for myself I've done the Kohl's route. I love their jeans, but I've noticed that their shirts wear so easily and they are not high quality. I might get to wear one for a year then it's in the Good Will bag. But I have a polo from American Eagle that I bought for like 24.00 that I have worn for FIVE years and it still looks great!! After making this observation, this year I have decided to try buying some of my clothes from the nicer stores because it's worth it if I get the wear out of them. It's going to be my little experiment.
And as far as my kids stuff goes. It's kind of funny. With Bryant, I bought all of his stuff second hand and off of ebay, and from consignment sales. But I was dissapointed a lot of times when the clothing came. It always looked a lot older and more worn when I got it (if I got it from ebay). So with Cora, I bought everything new from target and Old Navy, I just made the investment and it's so much fun shopping for girls anyways. Now if I shop on ebay, I only go for the highest quality stuff--Janie and Jack, Gymboree, etc. I've found I can get a 60 or 70.00 out fit for fifteen or so dollars with shipping. So anyways, yes I do have a childhood--complex. I cannot buy my clothes from Wal Mart, I think it comes from middle school go figure. Anyways yes this is long, sorry!
And, you guys get your wish! No more word verification. Unless we get some weird spam or something. Love, Maurine
Yeah for me, I think it depends on the product and how much I'm willing to spend for it. :) I can go "store brand" for just about any paper product. (I LOVE Target paper towels-just as nice and half the cost of Bounty/Brawny!!)
Clothes, I'm cheap...most of our clothes come from Kohl's. And every once and awhile I will buy the boys clothes from Target. I still buy Old Navy every once and awhile, but lately they don't have anything that looks good on me or that I like. ;)
Maurine - I miss ALDI so bad it hurts. I dream of ALDI. I used to fill my cart with whatever I wanted and never pay more than $40. *sigh* Those were the days.
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