Lately my posts here have been all about meat/all about pressure canning. I'm getting psyched up for a different kind of canning--water bath canning. A little more than a month ago I ran out of my home canned sweet pickle relish. Of course, the primary ingredients, cucumbers and sweet peppers, are not in season in March. I decided to buy some sweet pickle relish to hold me 'til those items went on sale. I have been SO disappointed in the store bought stuff. It doesn't hold a candle to what I made. I made myself some tuna salad with the store bought stuff and I didn't enjoy it at all. Then I made myself a hot dog with the store bought stuff and ended up feeding a major portion to the dog. So, I got desperate. I went ahead and ordered the cucumbers and bell peppers to make another round myself, even though they are not yet in season! I figure they will cost me from $2-$3 a jar and an equivalent size from the store (is nasty) and about the same price, depending on brand. And one good thing about water bath canning is that the cook time is generally short, like 10 minutes rather than the 75 minutes it takes for a load of meat.
It's getting warm enough around here to require air conditioning. That means I'll be canning after dark to avoid spiking my power bill........
So today was grocery day and Instacart tried to get me again. I ordered a 56 ounce package of LingLing pot stickers, priced at $15.99. They decided to substitute a 24 oz package for $9.99. What I ordered was priced at $.28 an ounce. What they delivered to me was priced at $.41 an ounce. That's like 50% more per ounce! No way. I decided just to ask to have the whole purchase price refunded. I will eat what I got and I may feel guilty that I got it for free, but EVERY order they pull something like this. And every item on my list, under substitution instructions, says "Do not substitute more expensive product." But, I'm tired of having to audit every order. It does take time, you know? I feel sorry for anyone else who depends on these people but doesn't know to check them closely.
I DID get the cucumbers, onions, and peppers I ordered. I am so grateful to be the proud owner of a Vidalia Chopper. it will make the prep go much easier.
I still have not gone through the freezer to check if I have more chicken breasts on hand that should be canned. I'll need to get those pot stickers in the freezer so perhaps I'll have enough presence of mind to do it then.........
Meanwhile, I only managed about 5 hours of sleep last night. I think I need a short nap.......
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