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Stinky The Clown

(67,669 posts)
Wed Nov 25, 2020, 09:52 PM Nov 2020

My Grocery Store Encounter Just Minutes Ago

I went there to make one last pass at actual heavy cream to whip for pumpkin pie. Still no luck. We have one aerosol can of real whipped cream, but we really prefer to whip our own to be less sweet.

Anyway, as I approached the display refrigerator where it lives in our store there was an elderly woman (easily in her 80s, maybe even early 90s) looking in the same case. I said to her "well, it looks like we will be condemned to spray cream".

She said "Its worse than that. My husband has been told he has to eat prunes. He doesn't like prunes but said maybe he could get them down with whipped cream. So I am looking for some." She found, literally, the last can of fat free spray cream. Blech, fat free whipped cream.

I said to her "your husband is lucky to have you. That you're willing to come out just for that."

She smiled and said "I'm lucky to have *him*"



To everyone: Happy Thanksgiving. I sincerely hope we can all say we have something we're lucky to have.


63 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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My Grocery Store Encounter Just Minutes Ago (Original Post) Stinky The Clown Nov 2020 OP
Love this Nevilledog Nov 2020 #1
Thank you. Uplifting. triron Nov 2020 #2
Whipping cream has been tough to find MontanaMama Nov 2020 #3
I've bought two containers at two different stores - Ms. Toad Nov 2020 #10
Because baking is one of the things people do more of when they spend more time at home JI7 Nov 2020 #13
You could probably freeze them. nt Javaman Nov 2020 #60
Trader Joe's shanti Nov 2020 #40
Dang. MontanaMama Nov 2020 #41
So? If you're in Montana, ... JustABozoOnThisBus Nov 2020 #52
You're a funny one... MontanaMama Nov 2020 #55
yes, shelf stable whipping cream at Trader Joe's. Grasswire2 Nov 2020 #51
Thank you for this. sheshe2 Nov 2020 #4
How nice! Thanks, Stinky. Shaddox Nov 2020 #5
Happy Thanksgiving Stinkey MustLoveBeagles Nov 2020 #6
Nice story marlakay Nov 2020 #7
Thanks for this uplifting post DeeDeeNY Nov 2020 #8
Nice ❤ ... THANKS for something positive! 👍 🙂 nt Raine Nov 2020 #9
Thanks for sharing ! ! ! Gilbert Moore Nov 2020 #11
Happy Thanksgiving, Stinky! gademocrat7 Nov 2020 #12
R&K Thank you. MerryBlooms Nov 2020 #14
Nice exchange. There are a lot of good people out there. Happy Thanksgiving all DU'ers! Evolve Dammit Nov 2020 #15
Trader Joe's has room temp., real, heavy cream for whipping BigmanPigman Nov 2020 #16
it needs to be cold (as cold as possible without freezing it) to whip properly yellowdogintexas Nov 2020 #25
Good info! Thanks. BigmanPigman Nov 2020 #28
Sweet story...thanks for sharing! Tanuki Nov 2020 #17
I feared that you had had an unpleasant encounter with an anti-masker! LaMouffette Nov 2020 #18
Thanks for sharing. brer cat Nov 2020 #19
Awwww tymorial Nov 2020 #20
Secret Prune Recipe MattBaggins Nov 2020 #21
I was going to comment soldierant Nov 2020 #63
Thank you SCantiGOP Nov 2020 #22
I was expecting a different story. Thanks for this one and yonder Nov 2020 #23
That is sweet. Thank you for sharing the incident. n/t KWR65 Nov 2020 #24
All of us DO have something to feel wnylib Nov 2020 #26
Being thankful in all things, Stinky, I'm grateful for you. Some times more than others ... marble falls Nov 2020 #27
Awwwwwwwwwwww dhol82 Nov 2020 #29
Damn, you made me cry. Thank you, bless you, bless the woman in the grocery store japple Nov 2020 #30
Hey don't knock my Land O Lakes spray!!!! cstanleytech Nov 2020 #31
What a great story. Thanks for sharing. Bantamfancier Nov 2020 #32
Thanks! paleotn Nov 2020 #33
What a nice encounter, Stinky. MLAA Nov 2020 #34
Sweetness! Heartstrings Nov 2020 #35
This is what it is all about occupant Nov 2020 #36
Nice Joinfortmill Nov 2020 #37
I feel luck and grateful for DU ! You have all been part of the ONE place to come FailureToCommunicate Nov 2020 #38
Very sweet! smirkymonkey Nov 2020 #39
great story! oldtime dfl_er Nov 2020 #42
Thanks for this lovely story Danmel Nov 2020 #43
Lovely. Thx for sharing, & happy TG to you & Sparkly. Hekate Nov 2020 #44
Love, wholesomeness and decency. ❤️ herding cats Nov 2020 #45
Wow. That was absolutely not what I was expecting. BobTheSubgenius Nov 2020 #46
Your story had an unexpected twist ending PirateRo Nov 2020 #47
Ohhh, what a lovely story! PoindexterOglethorpe Nov 2020 #48
Blech, fat free whipped cream-lol, cute story. 58Sunliner Nov 2020 #49
You could have suggested prune whip ... eppur_se_muova Nov 2020 #50
Lovely malaise Nov 2020 #53
Happy Thanksgiving, Stinky! octoberlib Nov 2020 #54
That was so lovely. Thank you for sharing with us. niyad Nov 2020 #56
Great story! Even better reminder! calimary Nov 2020 #57
Happy Thanksgiving to all DUers and their families. oasis Nov 2020 #58
You too, Happy Turkey Day!! SWBTATTReg Nov 2020 #59
That was not what I was expecting, but was a lovely encounter! liberalla Nov 2020 #61
This is way better than what I was expecting IronLionZion Nov 2020 #62

MontanaMama

(23,238 posts)
3. Whipping cream has been tough to find
Wed Nov 25, 2020, 09:56 PM
Nov 2020

here too...and not just this week. I wonder why?

Happy Thanksgiving to you STC, and everyone else too.

Ms. Toad

(33,915 posts)
10. I've bought two containers at two different stores -
Wed Nov 25, 2020, 10:08 PM
Nov 2020

within the last 3 days. Pretty sure I had my choice of two brands (I know there were two sizes) at the first store. I just grabbed a second container since my daughter stole some of the first to put in her coffee and I wasn't sure I had enough left for both pie and potatoes.

BigmanPigman

(51,430 posts)
16. Trader Joe's has room temp., real, heavy cream for whipping
Wed Nov 25, 2020, 10:13 PM
Nov 2020

to keep in the pantry until you need it. I never saw it until a year ago and it is real cream and I don't know how it stays "good" without tons of chemicals but it does and it tastes like real heavy whipping cream that is refrigerated.

yellowdogintexas

(22,114 posts)
25. it needs to be cold (as cold as possible without freezing it) to whip properly
Wed Nov 25, 2020, 10:29 PM
Nov 2020

Just an FYI

Those shelf stable dairy products have been widely used in Europe for at least 40 years.

Spanish cream has such a high butterfat count that you can whip it with a fork.

LaMouffette

(2,009 posts)
18. I feared that you had had an unpleasant encounter with an anti-masker!
Wed Nov 25, 2020, 10:14 PM
Nov 2020

I'm so happy that this was a heart-warming story instead. Thanks for sharing, and Happy Thanksgiving to you, too!

tymorial

(3,433 posts)
20. Awwww
Wed Nov 25, 2020, 10:15 PM
Nov 2020
only smile that seems appropriate but apparently I don't spend nearly enough time on here lol because others have done it for better. Lol

MattBaggins

(7,894 posts)
21. Secret Prune Recipe
Wed Nov 25, 2020, 10:20 PM
Nov 2020

Get oats that you have to cook and prune juice with pulp. Cook the oats with prune juice instead of water. Add chopped prunes, apricots or other dried fruit. Adjust by adding extra juice depending on dried fruit added.

soldierant

(6,647 posts)
63. I was going to comment
Thu Nov 26, 2020, 05:18 PM
Nov 2020

that most anything prunes can do, oats can do. You beat me to it and your method sounds tastier - at least to most people - I happen to love hot oatmeal with butter and salt myself.

SCantiGOP

(13,855 posts)
22. Thank you
Wed Nov 25, 2020, 10:23 PM
Nov 2020

From the thread title, I thought this was going to be another one of those over-dramatic stories of confronting some moron who wouldn’t wear a mask. Instead, it was a delightful story that made me smile.
Thanks, and hope your pumpkin pie is delicious.

wnylib

(21,146 posts)
26. All of us DO have something to feel
Wed Nov 25, 2020, 10:29 PM
Nov 2020

lucky about and grateful for. We will have a normal presidency soon. And a covid vaccine.

marble falls

(56,358 posts)
27. Being thankful in all things, Stinky, I'm grateful for you. Some times more than others ...
Wed Nov 25, 2020, 10:30 PM
Nov 2020

Happy Thanksgiving, pal!!!

A tip: keep a carton of heavy cream in the fridge: it has a lot of uses from coffee to thickening sauces, to enriching a soup, to whipping up a topping. And it'll keep a long time.

japple

(9,772 posts)
30. Damn, you made me cry. Thank you, bless you, bless the woman in the grocery store
Wed Nov 25, 2020, 10:36 PM
Nov 2020

and her husband. May we all manage to have a fucking happy and safe Thanksgiving and live to see Joe Biden sworn in as President on Jan 20!

 

occupant

(166 posts)
36. This is what it is all about
Wed Nov 25, 2020, 11:00 PM
Nov 2020

Thanx Stinky, that was such a sweet, kind, encounter. You may have been the only other person besides her hubby that she has talked with all week ! Most of my lifetime employment was as cashier/clerk at a populer grocery store, and your story brought tears to my eyes.So many seniors are almost alone and your kindness prolly made her day. Made mine, and I'm thankful and hopeful for more days like these. Ones of kindness and joy...

FailureToCommunicate

(13,989 posts)
38. I feel luck and grateful for DU ! You have all been part of the ONE place to come
Wed Nov 25, 2020, 11:06 PM
Nov 2020

to that make some sense of these crazy times...to read important news and see immediate reactions and commentary from intelligent, moral thinkers; and to hear about fascinating things that sometimes have nothing to do with politics...

I cherish this site, and all of you, that feel most times, a lot like family.

Happy Thanksgiving!

herding cats

(19,549 posts)
45. Love, wholesomeness and decency. ❤️
Wed Nov 25, 2020, 11:56 PM
Nov 2020

We all need this now. Thank you for sharing a small window of normalcy. It felt so good.

BobTheSubgenius

(11,535 posts)
46. Wow. That was absolutely not what I was expecting.
Wed Nov 25, 2020, 11:59 PM
Nov 2020

I guess I've become conditioned to expect mask confrontations, or election arguments or whatever else people find to be assholes about.

Not this. This was a beautiful little bit of Thanksgiving.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours, and to that lovely lady and her husband.

PirateRo

(933 posts)
47. Your story had an unexpected twist ending
Thu Nov 26, 2020, 12:02 AM
Nov 2020

I wAs sue it would end up in a fist-fight, with much insult and slipping and sliding on whipped cream and prunes, over a mask.

I certainly wasn’t expecting a gothic ending of niceness.

Happy thanksgiving!

PoindexterOglethorpe

(25,746 posts)
48. Ohhh, what a lovely story!
Thu Nov 26, 2020, 12:10 AM
Nov 2020

Because of restrictions on the number of people inside stores where I am (Santa Fe) I'd spent Monday and Tuesday checking out the line in front of my nearest grocery store. The one thing I absolutely needed was half and half. Other things could wait.

One problem was that the local Target, which also has a grocery section, closed down nearly two weeks ago because of employees testing positive for Covid. It won't open for several more days. Then one of the Smith's grocery stores shut down for the same reason. But I saw in today's paper that the Smith's in question has been able to re-open, so I scurried there today, and YES! No line outside, although an employee was counting people entering and leaving. I was able to get the half and half and various other items. Lucky me.

Tomorrow I bake my turkey for one, will do a zoom with family members and have a great day.

I hope every one of you here has an excellent Thanksgiving, however you observe it this year.

eppur_se_muova

(36,227 posts)
50. You could have suggested prune whip ...
Thu Nov 26, 2020, 01:25 AM
Nov 2020

Here's the one I remember, from "The Peanuts Cookbook". I just noticed that it lists 1/3 cup of sugar, but doesn't tell you what to do with it. Perhaps it was meant to be added to the prunes and water before cooking:





Apparently, prune whip has been around for a long time, and there are various interpretations of it. Here's one from the people wanting you to buy more Knox gelatine:

Prune Whip Recipe:

1 envelope Knox Gelatine (unflavored) ¼ cup cold water ¾ cup hot prune juice 1 cup cooked prune pulp 2 tbsp lemon juice ½ cup sugar 2 egg whites ½ cup chopped nuts ¼ tsp salt

Soften gelatin in cold water. Add sugar, salt and hot prune juice and stir until dissolved. Add prune pulp and lemon juice. Cool, and when mixture begins to thicken, fold in stiffly beaten egg whites. Turn into mold or sherbet glasses. Chill. When firm, unmold and sprinkle with chopped nuts. Serve with or without whipped cream.

https://www.dallasobserver.com/restaurants/no-cook-prune-whip-is-plum-tasty-ike-liked-it-too-7035533

niyad

(112,426 posts)
56. That was so lovely. Thank you for sharing with us.
Thu Nov 26, 2020, 12:00 PM
Nov 2020

I was very lucky. My market had just gotten their dairy order up. LO
TS of whipping cream. Thank goodness! How else could one make eggnog, and pumpkin mousse?

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