ditsydine

Today near me, which between downtown and NCState most major stations had gas, a lot of regular is out, which was $2.99 the other grades were about $3.10 and $3.25. I just read one of the pipelines to NC is open & I heard a clerk tell a customer that only the mom & pop stores are going to have problems getting gas. I would fear not. Yes, I have heard Charlotte is worse, but we are 2 hrs away from them, and IMHO Charlotte might as well be South Carolina! ← Oops look like I was replying the same time debbie did!

Today near me, which between downtown and NCState most major stations had gas, a lot of regular is out, which was $2.99 the other grades were about $3.10 and $3.25. I just read one of the pipelines to NC is open & I heard a clerk tell a customer that only the mom & pop stores are going to have problems getting gas. I would fear not. Yes, I have heard Charlotte is worse, but we are 2 hrs away from them, and IMHO Charlotte might as well be South Carolina!

For those of you who are going to be in town this weekend (sadly I have a work obligation that will prevent me from going to the pig-pickin') I wanted to let you know of some of the cool entertainment things that are going on. Saturday night--downtown live in Moore Square Free music--Saturday Night Special (4 ex Lyndrd Skynrd members), Little Texas, and other bands, plus beer, etc. If you are going to be down south, might as well get some southern rock' in you too! It starts early, but the bands don't usually start till 9 ---------------------------------------- Also on Saturday all day @ King's which is on McDowell Street Saturday, September 3 "THE RALEIGH RUMBLE MODS VS. ROCKERS" DAY LONG MOTORCYCLE SHOW (11am to 2am) + ROCK BANDS Great local rock bands--these are British motorcyles and scooters http://www.tonup-nc.com/raleighrumble.html --------------- I highly suggest you pick up an Independent while you are in town, or check out Indyweek.com I love my city of Raleigh, and I wish all of you to as well!

Try out the mac & cheese @ Poole's on McDowell street (formerly Vertigo) it is quite delish.

Greg great to have you here!

Power--you are the king of all Triangle dining! I guess what I meant is that while we have some wonderful places in Raleigh--Vin for example, Durham is really the top notch restaurant burg in our Triangle. I am not opposed to driving for a nice meal, I'm just jealous. (Plus other reasons why I think Raleigh is way cooler, and other things that are not for this forum)

Dean why did you not use your powers to convince him to put his places in R-town?!

and I guess that is what I was trying to avoid, but you know, screw it, that is the beauty of the market!

A field trip to FM....really? My only comment is that I hope this wouldn't be on a Saturday. Hub and I went there one sweltering Saturday a few weeks ago....after the parking mess and shuffling along cheek-by-jowl with all the other human furnaces, I said NEVAH AGAIN for me (on Saturday). I've been there from time to time during the week and had no problem. I regularly buy from one of the two vendors at City Market. They're there on Thurs-Sat. from 7 AM to 6-7PM. My guy always stops by the Farmer's Mkt first to pick up items to supplement what he grows himself. ← Frankly, there's not enough interesting or unusual stuff at the State Farmers Market to justify a field trip. Going to one of the vendor's farms would be interesting, however. ← That would rock! Perhaps post Pig Pickin'?

Thanks guys! You know you pointed out an important thing, building up a relationship with the vendor, so you can get not only good service, but good food! More reason for me to be a regular. Also, I think we need to have a Triangle eGullet field trip there!

Wonder if Greg is on here? Lurking perhaps. Debbie, do you know? And now i have to find an excuse to take a long lunch!

Now that I am stone's throw away from the farmer's market, I told my self I have no excuse not to go. So today I went, and I am in heaven with some lucious tomatoes and bail as I write. Anyway, I sort of found things overwhelming, I couldn't decide where I should buy what. I knew I wanted my purchases to be locally grown, etc. But I am curious as to if anyone has any favorite vendors there, or ones to avoid? I went later in the afternoon, so not all the folks were there. Did buy some fresh eggs, which appear to be right out of the chicken's butt (egghole? hahah), can't wait to have those!

Worse--my friends, god bless, 'em getting so hammered before dinner that it was all for naught. I learned not to obsess about my cooking as much when I cook for heavy drinkers

You know I'll shope the hell out some Big Lots, American General, etc, but I know packaging has changed, but I still have the anti-dented can gene in my blood from my mom.

That is my pet peeve--no one makes amends for carnivore guests. People amaze me--if you have special dietary needs and you don't tell the host in advance and/or bring something you can eat--tough cookies.

I wish I could reply to each and every post, but once again the great and varied ideas are just so wonderful AND inspirational. My only note--I Know the diet sodas are bad, but it is mostly the bubbly part--I do often buy cheap seltzer and flavored carbonated waters...

Um, I'm interested in this statement, and confused a tad. So you want to read about food you dislike and can't cook? Please expound. I'm not being arch here: I just want to understand. ← My impression was that she's tired of reading on eGullet about all the wonderful food people eat, when her budget is too tight to afford such herself. I sympathise, ditsydine ← BINGO! What's that old saying "Champange taste..beer budget" Luckily I have the booze part covered--friends in high places..Yeah, I guess I feel deprived on some level & I guess that is the level of *nice* food. Regardless of anything, I am thankful that I am not starving--period, that is something to be happy about. Everyone's suggestions have been so wonderful and varied, egullet rocks. BTW--I did have kasha varnishkes today for lunch! I made it at home. I forgot I had a box in my cupboard--not only did it taste good, but the smell brought back good memories of my mom and grandma, and everyone in the breakroom wanted to know what smelled so good!.

Um, I'm interested in this statement, and confused a tad. So you want to read about food you dislike and can't cook? Please expound. I'm not being arch here: I just want to understand. ← No harm, I meant is I feel like I read (and watch) about fabulous food, and haven't been able to funnel that fabulousness to my table. If that makes one iota of sense. BUT everyone's suggestions have showed me otherwise, yeah!

BTW I meant to add I will definitely report you all after a week on my new budget/good food lifestyle!

Thanks for everyone's wonderful suggestions--I meant to add that I am tired of beans and rice, lord knows they have been a saving grace for me. One of the big challenges cooking for one, budget or not is being savvy and proactive enough that things don't go bad if you don't eat them right away & I live in the land of cars and large markets. The roast chicken--why didn't I think of that, not long ago I made a wonderful roast chicken for my boyfriend! Master of the obvious here! Keep on with the suggestions, I am sure I am not alone in this need!!

I would say overall I have excellent cooking skills, except for baking--I've never had the patience. Besides the budget issue, I am always running around like a chicken with its head cut off, I plan on taking on a second job and I am afraid of doing more of the same. Basically I am tired about reading about the food I love & can cook. Let's see my kitchen is pretty basic apt. standard-fourt top electric range, microwave, no major appliances but I have some decent knives, bowls, etc.

Hey guys, I figured if anyone could give me good input it would be all of you. Without much detail, I am having to put myself on a STRICT budget. I have figured approximately $40 a week for groceries (I'm single) max! Somethings I can't give up, diet soda, but I am not afraid of the store brands. I have figured I could save some money by going to the farmer's market, but that is not always feasible due to my schedule. Included in this budget will be my breakfast (usually Kashi oatmeal or similar high fiber cereal bar) and lunch at work which I bring. As it stands I've had to live off a lot of frozen meals, which not only get boring, just get gross. My larder is pretty bare right now, but I have most basic spices. My budget hould include these factors: -If I shop for just a receipe--my budget is blown -I am sick of pasta, and to be honest, while i did not go total low-carb, i did lose 30+ lbs not eating it all the time, and i have 30 more to go. Other than that, other than cottage cheese and offal I'm flexible. Love to hear your feedback!

That makes me laugh-- about 10 years ago on some random "Oprah" show they had these college girls arguing about something. One of the girls said, "Well I always bring the Ro-Tel dip!" Oprah looked at them like WTF? "What is that?" The girl gave the recipe--Velveeta and Rot-el and then they cut for commerical.

I think earlier in this thread, I think the best way to view grits is Southern polenta, pretty much is, IHMO. This reminds me though, when I was a kid, and the tv show "Alice" was popular, I recall asking my babysitter after the infamous Flo said "Kiss My Grits"-what the hell grits were. "II dunno, I think they are some kind of meat." Imagine my surprise about a year later when my family moved to Asheville, NC (prior to it being a trendy mountain enclave-it was devoid of Yankee trash such as us), it was our first day there and the moving truck was delayed. We had breakfast in I think was a "Steak & Egg" (of the Waffle House ilk) and my dad ordered grits. WTF? This wasn't meat!