pickles and other random stuff

Anne's talk of pantry challenges, meal planning, deviating from the plan and her hubs recreational shopping inspire me to write a related post.

My dad has often bought pickles and relishes and jams, usually at fetes and markets and these days I realise he's probably just supporting the event/ organisation but as a kid I thought it was an extremely weird quirk of his.

Then I grew up and realised that I do the same....except it's not just pickles. I love trying new stuff. I buy different flavours of mayo, tomato sauce, relish, convenience foods (the Aldi potato bake is a smasher) etc etc etc. Keaghan gives me a large amount of grief about having a fridge full of curry pastes. An entire shelf is full of condiments. I look in amazement at clutter free fridges. 

I just have to try it all.

For many years I religiously bought the "Taste" magazine put out by one of the major supermarkets. It was a great mag, full of realistic recipes. The reason it was realistic was because it was trying to make sure people bought their stuff. Every new product was featured and I bought a whole lot of them. Some products made it into regular rotation and some didn't. Some are hanging around in the fridge or pantry waiting for me to decide they are useful (sugar free drinking chocolate, anyone?)

My knowledge of what you can get in a supermarket is, I humbly estimate, at expert level. Got a culinary problem? I probably know the product.

Did you know you can buy pre-chopped onions? what a boring job that saves (no, i don't buy them but sometimes i wish i did)
What about the Aldi potato bake?

Frozen gozleme? makes a fabulous light meal but drink loads of water cos it's salty

vegan fish fillets? great for a fish burger vegetarian fake-away

It's no wonder there's no room in the pantry