99 cent stores and cookbook

**Palooka** · 10-24-2008, 02:03 AM

Did anyone see this on Rachael Ray yesterday morning? I know some don't like her but I thought this was interesting.

She had a guest on that shopped for most of her food at the 99 cent stores and made gourmet meals with what she found there. We don't have those here so I am going to just assume it is like the dollar store or family Dollar store that carries groceries?

I usually just by hba, paper products, trash bags, cleaning products, and whatever I find a good price there.

I know they have canned food, boxed food, and I saw a few named brands,but never really bought it.

So if this is close to the same thing she is talking about...do you buy food there? I shop at Aldis for most and than fill the rest with other stores.

She has a cook book just based on all the food you can find there.

It sounds like more than mac and cheese.

**larabelle** · 10-24-2008, 09:32 AM

I have looked at prices at the Dollar Store versus Sav A Lot and Sav A Lot beats the prices of the Dollar Store related to food items. However, maybe this is only particular to my area of the country (the GREAT REPUBLIC OF TEXAS).

**Spikey1341** · 10-24-2008, 10:11 AM

Newbie here, what is hba? I have seen a few times and I cannot figure it out.

**cmdarlin** · 10-24-2008, 10:27 AM

Originally Posted by Spikey1341

Newbie here, what is hba? I have seen a few times and I cannot figure it out.

Jeanne, Its health and beauty aids.

Debbie

**peanut** · 10-24-2008, 11:32 AM

I don't try it here. Most of the food is canned stufff high in salt and preservatives. I prefer to use the grocery store with it's fresh produce. But, having said that, spices are a good deal at our Dollarama. And the price on kitchenware is hard to beat!

Jean

**justpeachy92** · 10-24-2008, 12:54 PM

I saw a news story about her awhile back. In our dollar type stores, it does pay for me to buy food items there, the packages are usually alot smaller than the packaging at typical grocery stores. To get the servings needed for my family size I would have to buy several packages. The packing is sized more for one or two people.
here is a link to her website for those that are interested
http://www.the99centonlystorecookbook.com/

**justpeachy92** · 10-24-2008, 12:57 PM

looking at the few recipes she has on the site, she is calling for ingredients I have never seen at our dollar type stores.

**Ali Lee** · 10-24-2008, 03:35 PM

I just stopped this week and bought a LARGE container of cinnamon & nutmeg. I stockpiled Swanson Organic vegetable broth & chicken broth from there. And those are in resealable 1qt containers. I have bought Cheez-its, name brand. Kraft Pasta Salads, Oreo's. You just need to take the time to go up & down the aisles and LOOK. ps I buy my Johnson&Johnson floss from there and that's $$'s saved!!

.

**heartofmine** · 10-25-2008, 08:31 PM

The only time I've bought food at the Dollar Tree type stores it tastes old so I quit getting anything. As for the Dollar General Store its higher than Save-A-Lot. I have found that Family Dollar store does have some fairly good prices on food.

**Laura2** · 10-26-2008, 03:38 AM

The dollar store near me doesn't have much food for sale. I pretty much only buy paper and plastic items there.

**staciah** · 10-26-2008, 06:54 AM

We have a decent Dollar Tree here that I shop at weekly. You have to go in weekly because they change there stock constantly. Ours has a freezer section too. I can get name brand frozen veg (Green Giant) and Pillsbury biscuits. Frozen lunch meals for DH (South Beach Diet) Lots of Spices, Pasta, Cookies, juices, cheese, eggs, even lunch meat.

My mother and Sister live in a different state than I and they both have a Dollar Tree but theirs doesn't have a freezer sections.

**SaucyCranberry** · 10-26-2008, 08:16 PM

Our dollar store has no fresh/dairy/frozen products so I could not duplicate her recipes. I tried a few small containers of spices from our Dollar Tree and they were OK. Italian and chili powder. They were a little bland. I noticed better quality and flavor when I ran out and repurchased McCormick, but in a pinch (no pun intended, lol) I'd use them again.