I’m currently an outsider, albeit a virtual one. We are both in the UK government’s secondary “vulnerable” group - basically folk entitled to an annual flu jab - and strongly advised to be cautious about leaving home. We are encouraged to shop online, rather than going to supermarkets (so I actually don’t know what’s on the shelves or not). In normal times, we shop at one of two local supermarket chains but it has been impossible, over the last weeks, to get a delivery slot with either. That has bounced us into ordering from our third choice chain and, one week, our fifth choice chain. Now, when I say “fifth choice”, it isnt really a choice at all - we would never usually shop there because it’s comparitively low quality stuff. But this means we are “outsiders” with those 3rd and 5th chains - taking up delivery slots from their regular customers and buying up food that would normally bve available from them. A difficult situation all round that is not solved unless our 1st & 2nd choice places significantly increase their delivery availablity, or significant numbers return to “real shopping”. Neither seem likely in the short term.
I’m glad you said this. I was feeling kind of embarrassed after my first shopping trip in three weeks. But I’m buying supplies for basically the next three to five weeks, supplemented only by our CSA veg. Another shopper pulling away in her car gave me a feigned look of shock, mouth agape. Judgy.
Feeding two big (not-quite-active-enough) eaters and a toddler:
And yesterday purchased:
(Trying to buy small producer, organic, and/or local meats for many pandemic-ish reasons)
It looks like a lot, but we sure go through the fresh things fast. I’m cooking three meals a day almost everyday, and trying to avoid any unnecessary trips to expose ourselves or others. I picked up some extra berries for a mom friend to spare her a trip.
hugs
I have found I overdo proteins, get produce about right, and should buy more bread. I’m trying to adjust. YMMV. Self awareness is a good thing.
Definitely glad we have a chest freezer. Have I mentioned how much I hate my side-by-side fridge?
This morning I decided to make a flour run. We have a semi-close little gourmet store that has really good stuff. My sister wanted bread flour too so I took her list and mine and left DH in the car.
Ended up with two ap flours, one 00 flour, baking soda, baking powder, tomatoes, oregano, preserved lemons, pasta, pepper, and cookies. Oh, and truffle potato chips and good olive oil.
Most expensive item of the day was my 15 year old nephew’s request for “real” shoyu. But, I love fostering his food curiosity; he will eat most things and will try anything. When the kid was 10 or so, DH offered him a dollar to eat the anchovy off a salad. He grabbed it and down the hatch. The face…and the commentary, “that was NOT good uncle Mikey!” But he already texted me that he was researching karaage recipes because that was what he saw them eat in the shoyu documentary he watched. 
I hear that. Slowly getting the hang of this thing. Before shopping this week I planned out 16-ish main meals and am hoping to order/execute them to best use the produce and perishables before they go bad - or freeze to save them. The tricky thing is I/we will sometimes use an ingredient when improvising and not have it when needed later. Or a planned meal won’t sound good in the moment. I tend to lose steam/enthusiasm if I lock myself into a plan too rigidly.
Think you got a lot of bang for your buck @ChristinaM - wish we had an Aldi near to us. Also lots of nutritious choices, variety and pantry staples. Bleach too, what a feat! H is out shopping/hunting now. It’s always an event when he gets home, and I can see the finds. Fingers crossed for certain items.
No TP to be found today, nor any time I’ve been in a store since mid March. Glad I stocked up.
Hope you/he find what you need!
My online whole-bean coffee source is closed 
I’m betting on pantyhose. I just ordered some on Amazon. Though it hasn’t gotten much play yet, NPR had a report about how wearing a tube cut from pantyhose boosts the filtration power of a cloth facemask to ALMOST that of an N95. This is because it holds the mask snugly against the face.
Plus, you can use the elastic waistband to make straps for your homemade mask, the foot to strain your jam or custard. AND the mask will be just the ticket if you decide to rob a liquor store in your spare time. 
I hadnt appreciated just how versatile it might be. I shall consult with Mrs H over the current household stocks to see if we need to order some for the bank robberies.
Actually, I lie about the bank robberies. We are just going to mug people for their flour purchases.
(Serious point… is crime reducing wherever HOs are? Thought occured to me that, with so many people being at home, there are much fewer empty houses for burglars to target. )
My husband is really into coffee which has amplified during quarentine he has been ordering coffee from these two places without any issues. Let me know if you want recommendations.
There seems to be no flour or yeast to be had, other than from profiteering re-sellers, so save the hosiery. I don’t know if the crime rate has fallen in the USA, but a month or so ago, a police official in some Southern state issued a statement requesting criminals to stay home. It’s a region that prides itself on being polite, but he was soundly ridiculed for his naiveté. Never heard how that’s working out!
It’s interesting to see what is and isn’t available in different places. Yeast isn’t back to normal here, but it is available (at least small packets have started to show up again at my supermarket, which never carried the big 1 lb bags you can get by mail or at stores like Whole Foods, and in some other places, some supermarkets). Flour is nowhere near “normal,” but we seem to have “enough”, though it’s mostly store-brand at the supermarket, or imported brands (not “fancy” imported, just the mainstream-brand Russian and Turkish imports popular among those immigrant populations in my neighborhood) at the small stores. The latter usually only have yeast in small packets anyway, and I don’t know what their stocks have been like, since I haven’t been doing my formerly-usual general browsing when I do go shopping…
TP and PT are still scarce at my supermarket (I think it must disappear almost as soon as the boxes hit the floor, never mind being shelved); but more readly available - in rationed quantities - at the smaller stores around here. In general the smaller stores seem to be quicker to get “alternate” supplies of things, which I guess isn’t too surprising, since they probably don’t have the same kind of top-down sourcing as the chain supermarkets, and aren’t buying in the same quantities…
As far as crime is concerned, I don’t normally follow crime statistics closely, but I think “street crimes” (mugging/personal robbery and assault) are a lot more common here than “burglary” , and with fewer people on the streets, those are presumably down. There have been some “Covid-19- related” assaults, but I think that’s probably more in the nature of “substitute” motive rather than an absolute increase in the number of assaults. People have been assaulting others for alleged/perceived inadequate social-distancing, but so far I don’t think anyone’s been mugged for their TP…
Not surprisingly, there seems to have be an uptick in domestic violence of various sorts - not necessarily involving couples/families. At least judging by headlines, there’s been more “roommate” violence than usual, which also isn’t really surprising given that people who normally wouldn’t necessarily spend a lot of time together have been forced to during the lockdown…
I love those soft amaretti!
Thank you! I’m going to explore local options first, I think. But sure, would love recommendations - especially light roast.
Yes.
He says that almost all of these beans are light roast and they describe the flavor profiles. You should check the website for the tastes you like. Blue bottle is better (obviously his opinion) but also more expensive.
We are drinking this one that has some interesting blueberry notes. Called yirgicheff or something close to that.
Not all of it. As MikeG mentioned, domestic violence is up. So are restaurant burglaries.
That’s the type I like. Ethiopian yirgacheffe.
First sample this AM of a local roaster’s mix of light and dark roasts was not my fave…
As noted, street crime like muggings are down. But the homicide rate in Philadelphia is through the roof (I forget the exact statistics, but there have been many mor than this time last year). Apparently, the only people on the street are angry and carrying guns.
Bummer. The really good coffee has been a nice side effect of being home. My husband makes us a big pour over batch in the morning. Hope your next brew is better!
