The RAnts of RA

Have you been out shopping?  I drove down the hill today to pick up some chicken base, so while I was at it I figured I might as well do a little grocery shopping. I remembered I wanted to bake some  Blackberry Bliss Bars  —  they looked so good — so I needed some coconut as well.

First I stopped in at Cost U Less (I love that store), for the chicken base. It seemed like everything was on sale. I walked in the door expecting to buy three items and ended up spending $75.  I can’t believe how expensive everything has gotten.  I saw they had chips on sale 2 for $5, I thought to myself, “that’s more like it.”  Only to find out when I opened one that they’re only 9 oz. I couldn’t believe it!    Guess we won’t be eating chips unless I make them at home.

On the way out of the store, there was a woman going through the boxes stacked up in front of the store.  I was putting away my receipt in my purse, while walking out of the store and accidentally ran over the  woman’s  toe.  I told her I was sorry and kept walking.  She got all ticked off, acting like a jerk. I don’t know what else she wanted me to do —  I said I was sorry.  I sure wasn’t going to kiss it for her.

Then I went to Save Mart.  Big mistake. I had to get coconut and they didn’t have it at Cost U Less.  I went down the aisle where the baking items are and the only coconut on the shelf was their store brand and I wanted the real deal — Baker’s — I think it tastes better. There was a sign that said more coconut could be found at the front of the store.

So, I walk around, and around these little islands they have set up at the front of the store but I’m not finding any coconut.  I asked a stock boy to help me, he turned around, then met up with some co-workers and I was a distant memory.    I asked another person’s help and they ignored me outright.

At the checkout counter, I told the cashier about not being able to find the coconut and you’d have thought I was invisible. It was really strange.  So, as I was leaving the store, I asked another cashier where I could find a manager.  She finally put me in touch with some — I don’t believe he was a manager but he said he was. I told him what had happened and I kid you not, his eyes just glazed over.

I ended with … “that is why I won’t be shopping here any more” and walked out.  He never said a word.

It went downhill from there.

I promised the hubby I would stop at KFC for a bucket of chicken. I left my son to wait for it while I went to Price Co. for the coconut.  Bad mistake.  I was getting frazzled by this time.  There were cars everywhere, so I slipped in between them all to park but I didn’t quite make it into the spot.  I was in fact parked almost diagonal. Some guy took me to task about it.  He quipped that I should slow down.

Well, I’ll spare you the details, let’s just say he didn’t have anything else to say to me after I told him to mind his own business…

By this time, I’m in a foul mood. Everyone else is in a foul mood. Merry Christmas.  If this is how things are out there NOW, what are they going to be like in a couple of weeks?  I know I won’t be venturing out again any time soon.  It will come in the mail (thank you Amazon!) or I don’t need it.

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Sometimes you just have to have fried chicken. It’s just one of those things that is oh so good. I like to fry up a batch of nuggets that can either be eaten by itself then used in a wrap the second day.  This recipe is easy and tasty too.

A bottle of peanut oil.

Easy Chicken Nuggets

3  cups peanut oil (or sunflower oil or lard)
1  egg
1 cup milk
1 cup flour
2-1/2 tablespoons  powdered sugar
1/2 tablespoons  pepper
2 tablespoons salt
2 skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2″ pieces

Mix together the egg and milk. Place the nuggets in this mixture, and let  sit for at least an hour.  While the breasts are sitting, mix together the flour, sugar, pepper, and salt.

Once the sitting is done, dredge in the flour mixture.

Place the peanut oil in a deep fat fryer, and bring up to a high heat.  Once up to 375 F., gently drop into the oil, and let cook until golden  brown.

Enjoy!

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I have a confession to make.

For the past several years Save Mart ran a special, during the months of November and December, where if a customer spends $99, they receive a free turkey (up to 19 pounds). I looked forward to their special each year and would make sure I stocked up on groceries during this period of time. On any given year we would earn 3 or even 4 free turkeys.

To tell you the truth, I can’t remember the last time I actually bought a whole bird. I have always filled the freezer during the holidays. Which brings me to my confession. I’m so glad I saved this turkey, I picked it up one-year ago at Save Mart, during their Free turkey deal. That turkey was my personal best. I had baked it in a brown paper bag as usual but this year, it was an incredible bird.

I’ll bet you didn’t think a  turkey that had been frozen for over a year would still be good. Did you?

Speaking of turkey… How’s that turkey disappearing? Are you sick of eating cold turkey sandwiches, grilled turkey sandwiches and such? I found the solution to tired old turkey.

Determined not to waste one morsel of this lucious bird, I cut the breast meat off first, pulled apart the carcass and boiled the pieces for several hours to get all the meat off the bone. After allowing it to cool briefly, I picked out the large bones and tossed them in the trash.  A pair of kitchen shears is a huge help during this process.

Using the juices from the bird as a base, add your meat back into the pot (along with the giblet juice, if you saved it) add one packet of brown gravy mix (add per package directions). Mix well and continue simmering.   (Note: I started with a 19 pound turkey, I used only the dark meat and loose pieces of white, not the breast meat, which I set aside.)

Then I add the following ingredients to the pot:

• 2 Tbs. Worcestershire sauce
• 1 Tbs. Onion powder (or add some grilled, saute’d or raw diced onions if you prefer)
• 1 package of mixed vegetables (corn, peas, carrots, green beans)
• 1 Tbs. Garlic powder
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 3-cans Dennison Chili

I started this on the stove and when it outgrew the pot, I transfered the stew to my large crock pot. Then simmer all day, serving up dishes as needed. My turkey stew simply flew out of the pot.   🙂

Serve this up with some fresh sour dough bread and you’ve got a winner for a cold winters day.

Hey, Save Mart! If you are listening… I spent a lot of money in your store over the holidays because of your free turkeys. I believe a lot of people had a better meal and you had loyal customers. Please consider bringing back your free turkey deal in the future. (If you can afford it) — it’s great for the community — great for your store and it’s healthy eating!

Happy New Year!

What’s on your menu?