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I stopped at ta local supermarket after work today to pick up a few items and could not believe how small a box of Ritz crackers has gotten. I didn't notice the actual size, but it was so ridiculously small that I put it back and will go without. The smaller soda bottles, ice cream, potato chips, cereal boxes, and 59 oz orange juices have been ticking me off for a while now. Which food items have you noticed that have just gotten to be beyond ridiculous?
Yes, I have noticed it, too. I bought a favorite liquid soap from a store recently and the bottle has shrunk several ounces. But that's what happens when the economy tanks, and much of that has to be blamed on gas prices, too. When gas inflates it isn't just OUR pocketbooks that feel it, but all the businesses and services that we need.
I'm okay with smaller packaging for some things. Other things, I'd prefer that they just raise the prices a bit. Depends on what it is.
I went on vacation with my girlfriend and her toothpaste was almost empty. So she cut the tube in half to get the last little bit. When she showed me the insde of the toothpaste tube we were both shocked. There was a much smaller tube (that held the actual toothpast) inside the outer tube. So shadey!
Really? Interesting................when my tube runs out I will have to check that out.
For the ice cream, there are a few brands that are still 1/2 gallon, but they're mostly the store brands. (and the container is like a square brick that tears easily too)
Oh wow, I remember those square, brickish ones. You opened one of the smaller sides and had to scoop from there.
Most of the items, I noticed but it didn't bother me too much..
except
CAKE MIXES ! grrrrr....the amount in a box now doesn't make anywhere near a nice two layer cake. Of course - the picture on the box still shows a "regular" looking two layer cake, but when I baked one the other day, the batter barely coverd the bottom of the two cake pans.
Plus I have a bunch of Wilton cake pans I like to pull out when nieces/nephews come to visit. Holiday shapes and whatenot ( a Christmas tree, Jack O lantern) It's fun for the kids to decorate (icing and hard candies) Anyway - the pans are made to be used with a "standard cake mix" or what used to be considered standard. Very annoying!
Most of the items, I noticed but it didn't bother me too much..
except
CAKE MIXES ! grrrrr....the amount in a box now doesn't make anywhere near a nice two layer cake. Of course - the picture on the box still shows a "regular" looking two layer cake, but when I baked one the other day, the batter barely coverd the bottom of the two cake pans.
Plus I have a bunch of Wilton cake pans I like to pull out when nieces/nephews come to visit. Holiday shapes and whatenot ( a Christmas tree, Jack O lantern) It's fun for the kids to decorate (icing and hard candies) Anyway - the pans are made to be used with a "standard cake mix" or what used to be considered standard. Very annoying!
It's not that much harder to mix cake batter from scratch!
Most of the items, I noticed but it didn't bother me too much..
except
CAKE MIXES ! grrrrr....the amount in a box now doesn't make anywhere near a nice two layer cake. Of course - the picture on the box still shows a "regular" looking two layer cake, but when I baked one the other day, the batter barely coverd the bottom of the two cake pans.
Plus I have a bunch of Wilton cake pans I like to pull out when nieces/nephews come to visit. Holiday shapes and whatenot ( a Christmas tree, Jack O lantern) It's fun for the kids to decorate (icing and hard candies) Anyway - the pans are made to be used with a "standard cake mix" or what used to be considered standard. Very annoying!
Bake from scratch. If you don't like the texture of the cake with all purpose flour, find cake flour. It's a finer milled, lower gluten, lower protein flour. My favorite flours are King Arthur Flours -- and their cake flour is Queen Guinevere... available online.
Well, actaully I do back from scratch, I'd say boxed cake mix and the odd batch of slice and bake cookies (again for the kids) are pretty much the only processed foods I buy.
The kids are very young and using the boxed mix makes it easier - the directions are pretty simple, ie - pictures of three eggs and the masurings cups, etc... So the whole process is done before they lose atttention. Plus sometimes the cake is for a birthday(one of the adults or aunt or uncle - these are for "family parties", it kinda gets them involved in getting things ready for the party.
Bake from scratch. If you don't like the texture of the cake with all purpose flour, find cake flour. It's a finer milled, lower gluten, lower protein flour. My favorite flours are King Arthur Flours -- and their cake flour is Queen Guinevere... available online.
I'd always considered myself a pretty good baker.... then about 6 years ago, I ran out of flour and the local Mom and Pop only stocked the "King" and "Queen". I bought some and made a loaf of banana bread - never went back to Pillsbury or House brands again.
Cake mixes are one of the very few things where the size adjustment affected me. I don't buy prepackaged cookies/chips/crackers except maybe when we are having a party. I buy fresh fruits and vegatables at our local Sprouts or the Farmers market so I don't ever really buy canned goods (soups I make from scratch).
But I'm embarrassed to admit I just noticed the 5lb bag of sugar is now 4lbs. And this has been a fact for a few years now. lol
Curious!
I just bought a 5# bag of Domino sugar. Even the store brand is 5#.
I wonder why they downsized sugar in some areas of the country but not in others??
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