topic Re: Why am I always surprised? in Kitchen

Why am I always surprised?

drizzellla — Thu, 02 May 2019 22:02:49 GMT

I started to clean the refrigerator today. And once again I am bothered. Guess that is why I don't like doing it.

I found 4 bottles of cocktail sauce, 2 bottles of Blue Cheese dressing, 2 bottles of Thousand Island dressing, 2 bottles of Ranch dressing, 2 Dijon mustard, 2 bottles of brown spicy mustard, 2 bottles of dill mustard. And 3 packages of fresh dill. I did not do the top shelf.

I thought I was preventing these duplicates. Last week someone went to open another jar of spaghetti sauce. I said there were 2 open in the refrigerator. I got both bottles out for them. But it seems like anytime other people than me cook, they always have to open a new bottle of something, rather than look in the refrigerator.

Wonder what awaits me on the top shelf. I know there are several bottles of salad dressing. I try and organize similar things together but that doesn't last long.

Re: Why am I always surprised?

Mom2Dogs — Thu, 02 May 2019 22:05:54 GMT

@drizzellla , how many people are cooking in your house? I'd be irritated to say the least.

Re: Why am I always surprised?

coffeegal — Thu, 02 May 2019 22:09:25 GMT

@drizzellla wrote:
I started to clean the refrigerator today. And once again I am bothered. Guess that is why I don't like doing it.

I found 4 bottles of cocktail sauce, 2 bottles of Blue Cheese dressing, 2 bottles of Thousand Island dressing, 2 bottles of Ranch dressing, 2 Dijon mustard, 2 bottles of brown spicy mustard, 2 bottles of dill mustard. And 3 packages of fresh dill. I did not do the top shelf.

I thought I was preventing these duplicates. Last week someone went to open another jar of spaghetti sauce. I said there were 2 open in the refrigerator. I got both bottles out for them. But it seems like anytime other people than me cook, they always have to open a new bottle of something, rather than look in the refrigerator.

Wonder what awaits me on the top shelf. I know there are several bottles of salad dressing. I try and organize similar things together but that doesn't last long.

Sounds like me.. and I do know why. If I bought something, and had it for a few weeks or so and I see a recipe I want to make that calls for that something, I feel better getting a fresh one. And this is one reason I have duplicates of things. Now the pantry is a whole different story.. I clean that and in what seems like no time. its messy again. Between dog and cat food and treats and husbands sugar free things, it doesn't take long for it to get a mess.

Re: Why am I always surprised?

PA Mom-mom — Thu, 02 May 2019 22:13:49 GMT

@drizzellla There are only 3 at our house, so this doesn't usually happen in our refrigerator. However, the spice cabinet - now that's a different story. And, I'm the only one buying the spices. I've got 2 jars of ground mustard, 3 jars of cumin seeds (including one big one from Costco!), and numerous jars of garlic powder. I could go on and on. I think we both need some sort of inventory list. Maybe Alexa can help with that, but then we would have to check it...hahaha!

Re: Why am I always surprised?

tobes — Thu, 02 May 2019 22:15:45 GMT

You go girl. Find any money? My aunt used to hide cash in her freezer.

Re: Why am I always surprised?

Annabellethecat66 — Thu, 02 May 2019 22:20:18 GMT

Well, I live alone (with 2 cats) so I don't have anyone to blame.

I always have several bottles of just about every condiment (the usual ones).

I get tired of looking for something, so I just get another one.

Eventually, they'll work their way up to the front and THEN I'll throw them/it away.

Re: Why am I always surprised?

GAQShopr53 — Thu, 02 May 2019 22:36:53 GMT

Since I am the only cook in my home then I am the guilty party. My biggest issue is mayonnaise and salad dressing. I have a system now that every Tuesday is trash day so that's when I inventory the refrigerator and consolidate and toss out those empty containers.

Re: Why am I always surprised?

nana59 — Thu, 02 May 2019 22:47:22 GMT

@tobes wrote:
You go girl. Find any money? My aunt used to hide cash in her freezer.

so did my nana!!

Re: Why am I always surprised?

Malcontent — Thu, 02 May 2019 23:19:15 GMT

Maybe you could think of it al this way: I’m lucky to have electricity and a frig and food to put in it.

Just sayin’.

Re: Why am I always surprised?

froggy — Thu, 02 May 2019 23:32:53 GMT

I have a lifetime supply of peppercorns in my pantry!

Re: Why am I always surprised?

drizzellla — Fri, 03 May 2019 00:03:27 GMT

There are 3 people in our house. And my husband subscribed to Milk Street magazine. So once in awhile my husband and son try out recipes. We also bought the cook book for Cook's Country.

They like to try different recipes that they come across.

Re: Why am I always surprised?

Peaches McPhee — Fri, 03 May 2019 00:10:19 GMT

Recently, I took this particular bull by the horns. We rarely bake, but do sometimes. My hubby will buy everything again. The vanilla, the flour, the sugar, you get the idea. One day I got it all together in one place, so we could see it. I consolidated what I could, and forbad my husband from buying anything else until he checked the cabinet first. We had like 3 containers of sugar! So far, so good, but we'll see what happens when the baking bug hits again.

Re: Why am I always surprised?

drizzellla — Fri, 03 May 2019 00:12:26 GMT

Coffeegal -

I thought with the 4 bottles of cocktail sauce that one should be old and ready to toss. And every bottle had a September 2019 or later expiration date.

My husband is like you. He list all the ingredients he needs for a recipe and then goes out and buys it.

Oh and I have 3 bottles of lemon juice. And 2 bottles of lime juice. GRRR! No wonder the refrigerator is full.

Re: Why am I always surprised?

jannabelle1 — Fri, 03 May 2019 00:26:15 GMT

LOL! Same thing at my house with the refrigerator! DH likes to buy bottles of salad dressing - every time we buy a package of lettuce - even though we have a multitude of dressings already. I don't blame him though. We always take a list of things we need, but then see something and can't remember if we have any of "it" on hand. I'm pretty good about pantry items, but refrigerator stuff gets out of control in our kitchen! Pickles, olives, different flavors of condiments...it's all the new products - that's the problem! Haha!

Re: Why am I always surprised?

drizzellla — Fri, 03 May 2019 01:24:37 GMT

@tobes wrote:
You go girl. Find any money? My aunt used to hide cash in her freezer.

Funny you mentioned finding cash. Yesterday my husband was walking the dog, he found $40 in the street. I used to find $$$ in the washing machine. In the old days the dollar bills seem to float to the top. So I would find money - and I kept them too. I figure that was my tip.

Re: Why am I always surprised?

jlkz — Fri, 03 May 2019 02:48:04 GMT

As for 3 bags of sugar, why not do what appears on Ina Garten’s cooking show: place the duplicates and triplicates of a product in a large glass container labeled as to the contents.

This way everyone would see how much of an item was already on the shelf ?

Re: Why am I always surprised?

homedecor1 — Fri, 03 May 2019 03:08:45 GMT

@drizzellla

after reading your post I took a look in my "clean & organized" fridge ...so much for that thought😮

I've been away for a few weeks & thought I cleaned it before I left...yuck in the very back was a bottle of curdled milk, leftover beef stock and rotten vegs (good thing in lock n lock), container of coleslaw...to name a few🙄

I'm going away tomorrow for 10 days so glad I just completely cleaned it out!!! I'm usually pretty good at keeping it cleaned🤷‍♀️

Re: Why am I always surprised?

drizzellla — Fri, 03 May 2019 13:03:10 GMT

@homedecor1 wrote:
@drizzellla

after reading your post I took a look in my "clean & organized" fridge ...so much for that thought😮

I've been away for a few weeks & thought I cleaned it before I left...yuck in the very back was a bottle of curdled milk, leftover beef stock and rotten vegs (good thing in lock n lock), container of coleslaw...to name a few🙄

I'm going away tomorrow for 10 days so glad I just completely cleaned it out!!! I'm usually pretty good at keeping it cleaned🤷‍♀️

Enjoy your trip! And cleaned out refrigerator. I am jealous.

What started the cleanout was because of a vegetable drawer. There was a package of mini cucumbers that were past their prime. So I cleaned out the vegetable drawer and the fruit drawer. We seem to be so good at buying fixings for salads but not so good at using them.

Re: Why am I always surprised?

SharkE — Fri, 03 May 2019 13:11:53 GMT

@drizzellla wrote:
Coffeegal -

I thought with the 4 bottles of cocktail sauce that one should be old and ready to toss. And every bottle had a September 2019 or later expiration date.

My husband is like you. He list all the ingredients he needs for a recipe and then goes out and buys it.

Oh and I have 3 bottles of lemon juice. And 2 bottles of lime juice. GRRR! No wonder the refrigerator is full.

Waste of money and storage eater. I run a tight ship. Thank God my husband wouldn't do any thing in kitchen besides open the refrigerator.

I'm king of my kitchen. LOL

Re: Why am I always surprised?

cookinfreak — Fri, 03 May 2019 13:43:08 GMT

I, too am guilty of duplicates. I live alone so my "excuse" is, I make sure I have the ing for a recipe and am sure I have something called for in it. I look & look and can't find it, so I buy new and when I get home I open the fridge or cabinet and low & behold--there it is. I believe I may have gremlins who like to play tricks on me!

cookin