Plan to Spend for the same amout of Groceries at your local Supermarket!

Get ready for higher grocery store bills!


The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service released its 2011 Consumer Price Index analysis for projections on food prices, and reported that overall food prices are expected to be on the rise this year. The causes included are rising commodity prices, shrinking supplies of key ingredients and increasing demand for corn-based ethanol for vehicle fuel. Just how much commodity prices rise will depend on whether we can provide all the grain and soybeans and cotton we need, and how low the inventories will get, before we get a chance to replenish them.

This will be expected to translate to higher prices for consumers in the grocery aisles and everywhere!

We will probably see it soon at the meat counteras well, in part because feed prices surged last year. According to the USDA's index report, beef prices were up this past December compared with a year earlier, while pork prices jumped double digits last month compared with December 2009.

McDonald's Corp. recently warned that it is considering increasing the price of some of its menu items to offset the rising cost of beef. Other leading packaged-food companies, including Kraft Foods Inc. and Sara Lee Corp., have als warned consumers that higher prices are on there way in the year.

This all coupled with the ever soaring fuel costs is sure to hit home at our local food markets! Costs for transportation will double in some cases, what will that do to our weekly food budgets.

How are you going to cope with these rising costs? Will you cutback on eating out and concentrate on making better food choices for the home? Let me know your thoughts and reccomendations, I have a few more ideas of my own and would be happy to share them with you...

carl@mediamother.com
203-779-9367

Quote for the day...
You control your future, your destiny. What you think about comes about. By recording your dreams and goals on paper, you set in motion the process of becoming the person you most want to be. Put your future in good hands - your own!

Ruff "N" It Doggie Daycare

Spent last week snowboarding at Jay Peak in Northern VT.  Weather was great and had a great snow storm to finish out the week.  One could have not asked for a better mid-Winter break from the daily grind...

The Big "Dilemma" when ever we go away is leaving Pearle our Akita with a kennel or can she come along and play with us on vacation.  Unfortunately Jay Peak does not have many pet friendly condos but we found a "Fantastic Place" less then three miles from the resort.  Ruff "N"It Doggie Daycare is a new start-up just beginning to keep dogs overnight, Pearle was the first.  Connie and Ron, the owners are great.  They have three Huskies of their own and have just built a new facility for their dog guests.

Pearle got to go on long walks everyday and we would go spend time with her and play in the VT outdoors.  You can get some exercise yourself here too!

I would recommend Ruff "N" It to anyone who is planning a trip to the Jay Vermont area if you can't keep your dog with you.  They will be close by and you can visit them anytime.

You can reach Connie and Ron at these coordinates...
Ruff "N" It Doggie Daycare, LLC
960 Gendron Road
Jay, VT 05859
802-744-2582
http://www.ruffnitvt.com

Please share with me any of your experiences finding quality Pet Care while traveling on vacation.  Tips and recommendations are all welcome.  I really want to know...

Carl Brucher
203-779-9367
cbrucher@yahoo.com

If we cannot envision the world we would like to live in, we cannot work towards its creation. If we cannot place ourselves in it in our imagination, we will not believe it is possible.

Savory Valentine Treat... Share and Enjoy!

Here's a "Savory Valentine Treat" for your to serve to your special friend or families for tonight...  Compliments of "we got the list"

Recipe for Bailey's Ice Cream Parlour's famous Hot Fudge Sauce.

From:  The Way We Cook, by Sheryl Julian & Julie Riven

4 ounces unsweetened chocolate

8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter

1 box (1 pound) confectioners sugar

1 can (12 ounces) evaporated milk

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, melt the chocolate and butter over low heat.  Remove from the heat.  Add 1/2 cup of the sugar, then a little of the milk, and continue alternating the sugar and milk until they are all added.

Set the pan over medium heat and cook until small bubbles appear on the sides of the pan, then let the mixture bubble steadily, stirring occasionally, for 8 minutes.

Stir in the vanilla. The sauce may look curdled, but it will become smooth later.  Remove from the heat and let cool for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the fudge sauce is no longer burning hot and has thickened slightly.

Serve as a fondue with fresh fruit or over your favorite ice cream as desert.

Enjoy :)

NOTE: Reheat leftover sauce over low heat, stirring constantly.

Are our Air Carriers Safe??? Please Read and Comment!

Very early this morning I embarked on a business trip traveling by air on one of our most trusted airlines.  I must say that I was taken back by the physical condition of the cabin...

After boarding and getting settled for the first leg of my trip I noticed that one of the overhead storage bins was taped shut and signage attached saying that was not for passenger use.  After inspecting this closer I saw that it appeared to have been in this shape for quite some time.  The tape was warn and the sign was pealing on the corners.  As I sat there I also notice two of the flight attendants were having trouble getting other overhead bins to stay closed.

After sitting there for a while I started to think about what else might the airlines be neglecting?  The cabin was clean but noticeably warn.  Are they skimping or going cheap on fixing the interiors of these planes to keep up maintenance on the parts that REALLY matter or is this the trend of the airline industry.

Anyways the plane took off and landed in destination "B" where I promptly boarded my connecting flight for today's final destination.  I am happy to report that this plane was fully operational, clean and filled to capacity with people and baggage.  We took off and landed on time and everything is great.

So my question is "Has anyone else had an experience similar to the first leg of my trip today?"  Was this just a fluke experience or are our air carriers neglecting their aircraft?

Please share any experiences you may have had back with me via this blog, email or by phone...  I would really like to know and so should you!

Carl Brucher
cbrucher@yahoo.com
203-779-9367

Happy Super Bowl Sunday...

Happy Super Sunday everyone!

I hope everyone is settling in for the big game if that is your thing.  Me, I'm sort of passive to luke warm as far as today's game but look forward to it just because of the friends, family and most importantly "Food!"

Slow cooked my pulled pork overnight so it would be in good shape and flavorful for today, drumlets/wings are coming out of the oven now and the table is pretty well set with guacamole, chips and anything else you can fathom...

I went down to the local Stop & Shop to get a few last things this afternoon and hand out the last of the Super Bowl snack menus.  Lots of people grabbing everything in site to take home to eat.  They were quite grateful for the recipes...  Was down to my last menu, check out with my last minute things and got pulled over for speeding on my way home by the local heat!  41 in a 30 mph zone!  F_ _ _K!  I managed to talk my way out of it by sharing my menu with the cop who was just getting off duty and going shopping for Super Snacks...  Pink warning ticket only!

So I guess if nothing else the Super Snack menu saved me a ticket.  Have menu will travel "FAST!"

Enjoy the game, or at least you snacks... :)

Super Snacks for your Super Bowl Party...!

Blake Brucher performing as Fagin in the play Oliver

Two video links to Blake Brucher performing as Fagin in the play "Oliver Twist"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCGin59WY6w
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4Uxa5sb_iU