I think Irene has affected what we have in the stores. I give you lots of credit for perserverance as I wouldn't do that much follow through.I'd order something to be made and cut the stress. I have never been to 7 different stores in my area. You are a champion in my eyes. I'm sorry this happened to you. Hope you sleep well and enjoy yourself when everything is prepared.

I think I'd have changed the menu by #2. LOL Heck I' don't even have 7 options for groceries. ^5 for your perseverance.

I find it very frustrating that it is so hard to get the good basics these days.

I live where much of the US produce is grown and yet the quality is way down from years ago when the selection was much smaller. i have talked to the produce managers and I hear that the good stuff goes right off the farms to the major producers of canned,bagged and other food to be processed. the grocer gets the middle good stuff but it is not as fresh and depending on storage and transport much gets ruined or mishandled.

It's not just the fresh food area either. We have so much low fat, no fat, no carb, low carb, faux whole grain, whole grain slightly, l real whole grain mucking up the bread aisles that you can't find a good basic rye bread or Italian any longer. Good healthy low cal breads that didn't need ridiculous relabeling.

I don't plan a menu before shopping any more. I shop and then plan.

The irony is that that the super Walmart some miles away has better produce than our local expensive grocer.

That's frustrating. I think that after the 2nd store, I would have given up and changed the menu.

Wow, 7 stores. If I don't find it at Walmart I go with out. LOL
You are a very busy lady!

I too would have changed the menu, probably at the first store. I don't have time to run from store to store so I either spend the bucks or change the menu, if nothing else I am flexible. We're in a small town, we don't have that many choices to begin with! LOL! The cantaloupe scare has removed a lot of the melons from store shelves, as has the end of season up here in PA, what is around is pretty pricey unless you happen to find them at a local market.

You are definitely to be commended. I, too, would have revised the menu by store #2 at the very latest (but probably the first one)--and you have to add to those $2 sprouts, the cost of the gas you expended with all that driving--unless the stores are in the same block, you probably used between $5-10 worth of fuel getting them.

Part of the problem was that you were looking for foods (melons and sprouts) that have recently had contamination issues and consequently many stores are not carrying them out of caution.

Kudos for your perseverance! WOW, when did bean sprouts get so expensive!

I am lucky to have a twice weekly farmer's market in my area, plus an independent 7 day a week produce only market. Everything is locally grown and the prices are reasonable.

No way I would go to more than three stores to find what I need. I'd go to plan B. I'm not retired though so just would not have time for that.

looks like a typo or a very large book which means a couple of meals. A good nights rest will help put it in prospective. (lol, we don't have 7 grocery type stores , plan b would be my only option) Good luck on your menu!

I'd have to drive 50 miles to find 3 stores! If one doesn't have what I need, I MIGHT go to another one, but only if I had lots of time.

I hope your luncheon is a success, you've sure worked hard enough on it already!

Well, this I will admit to. I am very lucky to have so many stores within 5 - 15 minutes of one another. The reason I didn't think about changing the menu is because it was such an easy one that I picked. LOL. Foo Young Toss and Egg Drop Soup. Not only easy but different and good. So much for easy. I probably did squander all my money on gas, but paying $12.00 for bean sprouts just didn't sit well with me. Not to mention that the price for the melons and the pineapple were out of line also. I'm all rested and not feeling so bad about the whole ordeal today. In fact, I can laugh about it now. It was kind of ridiculous but when I get committed to something like that, there's no stopping me!

I spend more time going from one place to another just to save money, but spend more money on gas :o)

You are a serious person when it comes to hostessing. I am too.

It's stressful but fun to entertain and I work best under stress.

Enjoy and keep on going and going and going.

Sometimes it becomes sort of a mission to accomplish something and find the things you're looking for. Been there. I get so frustrated with a store where I go in with a list of 15 things and come out with maybe 5-7. That's a big part of why I seldom, very, very seldom patronize Walmart these days.

I used to go to several stores to get things, hit the loss leaders and stuff but now, I try to do everything at one place whenever possible. Time, trouble and gas makes me sometimes compromise on things too. Although I do not like shopping at all.

You have a lot more determination than I do, Georgysmom. I hope you have a great time tomorrow. Get lots of rest tonight!

Well that does sound frustrating but you should also be thankful you have that many stores. I have one tiny overpriced grocery store in my town. If I need something quick I go there. If they don't have it, I go without or use a different product than what the recipe calls for. If I can wait, there's another larger grocery store 30 miles away. I really can't imagine having that many grocery stores. I envy that but I really like living in a rural area so I guess I have to put up with the little stuff.

Don't take this as being harsh. If I were in your shoes, I imagine I'd be frustrated also.

I wouldn't have the patience to hit multiple stores. I have many, many choices of markets and farmers markets. I would have changed my menu at store #1 and come out smelling like a rose.

Hi georgysmom ... I got a bit confused at your first line - you must have a large book club gathering, or they must be some loquacious?

I usually visit three or four stores, the cheapies, but they are rather close together ...

... and I'm shopping the specials, then plan the diet later.

These days ... it's mainly tomatoes from my garden ... sooner or later, I expect the body to rebel! Over 3/4 of them are rotting before they're fully ripe ... and blight was killing the leaves and adding dark patches to stems and branches, starting a couple of weeks ago.

ole joyful

Hi, O. J. That was supposed to be 10:00 - 12:00 for the Book Club. Just goes to show you exactly how frustrated and tired I really was! LOL. If it's taking so long for tomatoes to ripen, how about some fried green tomatoes added to the diet. Yum. I am lucky to have so many choices of stores within a reasonable distance and actually there are three others that I didn't even hit. It's one thing to visit a number of them to shop the sales, (not my M. O.), but it is frustrating to have to visit so many stores to complete a grocery list of about 15 items. Particularly when you're pressed for time!

By the third store I would have involved the military and called Colonel Sanders. LOL

Doubt I've ever been to 7 stores either, but I do get on that "mission" to find things sometimes and here we are blessed to have a variety of stores to choose from.

One year, I was going serve duck, amongst other meats for Christmas. Was determined to have plum sauce for the duck.

I went EVERYWHERE to find the plums and ended up freeezing the duck cause I didn't have sauce to go with it.

That was over 25 years ago, in my days of glory when I really cooked for a number of people.

jodi...that's too funny. Love KFC ad haven't had it in about five years. When I get on a mission, I'm like a dog with a bone. Glenda, I so relate.

Local KFC closed recently ... I hear that a number of them ... all of them in Canada? ... have.

Something about being sold, to be refurbished, etc.

You notice that they dispensed with the "Fried" part of their name, some time ago? Wrong image, I guess.

ole joyful