Beef prices at Costco and politics

[BaronChocula]

I'm not a big consumer of beef outside of an occasional burger. I actually do like cooking steaks more than I like eating them. So every once in a long while I'll get a tray of Costco steaks to put in the freezer to cook over time on mostly American ritual nights like Super Bowl or Oscars. Also good to have for some guests. It's been over a year since I bought steaks so I considered it today while at Costco in Los Feliz. I was pretty astounded at the prices, even in this economic storm. I decided it just wasn't worth it if I didn't really enjoy beef that much. On top of that, the case was pretty empty compared to how it used to be stacked. Understandably, less demand.

I have no problem admitting a part of me was giddy because I figure the vast majority of shoppers are completely unaware of the daily revelations of fiascos at the hands of this current regime, like that cuckoo-bananas UN speech or that idiotic power play of a con-fab of military brass today. For most people, this is their FIND OUT moment of the trouble we are in. I'm not happy that good people are suffering, but I'm grateful that there is some way that the unengaged people whose well of information is stubbornly confined to their collection of infantile perceptions are faced with some reality that bad things are happening at the hands of an incompetent bad man with the help of his toadying party.

I began thinking that if it wasn't for these high prices, more people would be pretty ok with the way things are going. So if I have to be grateful for higher prices, I'll take that bittersweet victory. I just wish our culture wasn't dominated by the most lazy level of thinking possible. And as our government shuts down as I write this, the FINDING OUT continues.

In conclusion, I bought some pork butt at $3.79/lb and had some delicious carnitas tacos for dinner. And now I have enough pork to hopefully last through the TrumpSlump however long that may be.

[Silent Type]

1. Meat lovers have to be feeling the pain. And think about restaurants.

[BaronChocula]

2. Just gave roommate a speech the other day

that eating out at restaurants was no longer worth it for the same reason. He's a little more addicted to the idea of treating himself to the point where he doesn't calculate the value. I'm no penny pincher. I'm just sensible. He also owes me money which forces me to find ways to inoffensively remind him whenever he wants to splurge senselessly.

[Keepthesoulalive]

3. Coffee lovers are losing their minds

I think it’s lack of caffeine. Some folks need to feel pain to understand what is going on with diaper mad man.

[BaronChocula]

4. I may have to...

(GULP) buy cheaper beans and cold brew them overnight rather than hot brew them and bring out their worst. We'll see how bad things get.

[Keepthesoulalive]

11. Maxwell House used to be known as brown swill

Now it’s a luxury brand.

[DET]

5. Beef Prices Have Gotten Crazy

But I’m fine with cheaper cuts, like round steak, especially since I don’t like fatty meat. The steak is tougher, but the flavor is there, especially with a good marinade (my favorite - equal parts olive oil, balsamic vinegar, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, a teaspoon or two Dijon mustard, chopped garlic, salt and pepper; crosscut steak and marinate for several hours). In my experience, pork and chicken are still fairly reasonable.

But yes, sticker shock may be the only experience a lot of people have with the malevolent policies of this fascist regime. I just hope that it helps open their eyes to the fact that they’ve been lied to by a psychopathic fraud and that their quality of life is degrading, not improving.

[BaronChocula]

7. I did browse some "cheaper"cuts

I figured I could at least braise it maybe which is what I did with the pork I ended up buying.

[DET]

8. Braising

That’s how I usually make pork chops. Season and sauté in oil, add chopped shallots and garlic, add a bit of water or chicken broth, then cover and cook on medium low heat for an hour or so. Reduce liquid and swirl in butter to finish. Delicious.

[BaronChocula]

10. My parents were PA natives

So thanks to the Pennsylvania Dutch, pork and sauerkraut was a New Years tradition. My mother did walk me through the process of braising pork chops with sauerkraut just months before she passed. Phew! If it wasn't for that I'd never think to make it.

[fierywoman]

6. If you have a Chef Store near you, their prices for meat are among the lowest. You can still get grass

fed-grass finished hamburgers at Costco for around $6-ish a pound. And Costco already cooked chicken hasn't changed price and becomes a real money saver. I'm eating out less and less because at the places I can afford, the quality has gone down so much -- I find it hard to rationalize that the cost of a not so great lunch (that i could cook better) here in the town of Microsoft World Headquarters costs me what I now have to pay for 2 pounds of coffee (which gives me great pleasure for many, many weeks ...)

[BaronChocula]

9. I took a look

and no Chef Store in Southern Cal.

I'll definitely get by okay without beef. But if cheese prices soar there will be a problem.