***chat*** The Official Publix Grocery Chat Thread and anyone else is welcome Chat too!

Quote from TeamORillo : Thanks for the advice - appreciate it (will rep when I can again)! I know I've been spoiled by the deals on SD, but I have to keep telling myself that sometimes just a BOGO can be worth it! If I can avoid buying extra food storage, I definitely will, but I'm probably most nervous about the turkey. Our fridge door opens into the kitchen wall (we're renters - I never would have designed the kitchen that way) and even if we take the side shelves out, I'm not sure we'd fit a turkey. And to buy frozen would mean dedicating like 1/3 of the freezer to stand it up in there I bet. This may be the temporary insanity talking, but maybe I need to buy a turkey the morning of? To make things more complicated, DH brews beer and wants to make a special match for Thanksgiving - unfortunately those bottles have to stay refridgerated AND have to stay upright. It's definitely going to be a game of Refridgerator Tetris!

You say you rent, I think you said an apartment, perhaps you can
1 ask the the office if they have an empty apartment that you could borrow the fridge from, maybe for 2 weeks.
2. another option is renting a fridge from say rent a center or something like that.
If you have a porch you could leave it there. That way if you get it the first of November, you can better plan and prepare.
You can stockpile refrigerated items as well
and also plan ahead meals....Probably like on Saturday I know my family would be watching college football, so maybe a pot of chili or american chop suey would be in order (Yea I am praying for cooler weather)
If you had meals ready to go, you can enjoy your company rather than spending the time in the kitchen.

Quote from UsedtoBeHidn : This is what I would suggest. It involves brining a turkey and using a cooler. You can also defrost it in the cooler. We have done this especially when traveling long distances and spending the holidays with family. It will avoid the needless headache of making room in your freezer/frig if the buy the turkey the day before. Plus this recipe tastes great. http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipe...index.html

I love love love the turkey done this way!

Quote from UsedtoBeHidn : This is what I would suggest. It involves brining a turkey and using a cooler. You can also defrost it in the cooler. We have done this especially when traveling long distances and spending the holidays with family. It will avoid the needless headache of making room in your freezer/frig if the buy the turkey the day before. Plus this recipe tastes great. http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipe...index.html

Wow - this is great - thanks! I Alton Brown!!

Quote from kallison423 : Do you have any neighbors that might let you keep a few things in their fridge/freezer when it comes closer to Thanksgiving?

I'm kinda embarrassed to say that we're still in the NYC frame of mind I guess and don't really know our neighbors. Plus 2 out of the 3 apartments on our floor are seasonal rentals so they'll probably be different folk in a month or so.

Quote from phatchristy : We actually have gotten fully cooked smoked turkeys a few times, and those things are FANTASTIC.

You know, DH suggested something like that - there's an AMAZING bbq place down the block from us that offers a deep-fried turkey service (you drop it off a day or two before and pick it up Thursday morning) but I don't know if my mom would freak out I didn't do it the "traditional way" like her.

Quote from phatchristy : OMG, I can't believe it's so close!!! I've never gotten used to the seemingly non-changing seasons down here so it doesn't feel like we're approaching fall to me! I definitely agree, if you're going to plan everything out, write things out and start now. I'm guessing some people are going to also want to bring a few dishes (I hope so, don't do everything yourself like I do usually).

I know - it totally snuck up on me, too! I'm still in summer-mode!

I am definitely starting to plan out everything this week so I have plenty of time to figure out what I'm forgetting and pick everything up. Unfortunately everyone is flying down from NY/NJ/PA so they won't be bringing much - but at least I don't have to wonder or organize who is bringing what!

Thanks to all of you for your advice - I really appreciate it!

Quote from MsAttitude : You say you rent, I think you said an apartment, perhaps you can 1 ask the the office if they have an empty apartment that you could borrow the fridge from, maybe for 2 weeks. 2. another option is renting a fridge from say rent a center or something like that. If you have a porch you could leave it there. That way if you get it the first of November, you can better plan and prepare. You can stockpile refrigerated items as well and also plan ahead meals....Probably like on Saturday I know my family would be watching college football, so maybe a pot of chili or american chop suey would be in order (Yea I am praying for cooler weather) If you had meals ready to go, you can enjoy your company rather than spending the time in the kitchen. I love love love the turkey done this way!

Unfortunately no porch, but not a bad idea asking if there are any empty rentals during that time. I could talk to the owners about a "fridge rental" sort of deal, perhaps.

Also a million thanks for the chili idea - that's absolutely perfect! All canned items (at least the way I make it) except for beef so that's a great space-saver meal AND perfect for football. Thanks!!

Quote from UsedtoBeHidn : This is what I would suggest. It involves brining a turkey and using a cooler. You can also defrost it in the cooler. We have done this especially when traveling long distances and spending the holidays with family. It will avoid the needless headache of making room in your freezer/frig if the buy the turkey the day before. Plus this recipe tastes great. http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipe...index.html

That recipe is great! My SIL and BIL did that one for Thanksgiving last year. It turned out fabulous! Yum!

According to Gordon Ramsey, a turkey should actually rest as long as it cooks...so if it cooks for 3 hours, it rests for 3 hours. We did that at our house with the one we made at Christmas and it really did seem to make a difference...so tender and juicy all the way through. Heaven, I tell ya!

Quote from rydergal : That recipe is great! My SIL and BIL did that one for Thanksgiving last year. It turned out fabulous! Yum! According to Gordon Ramsey, a turkey should actually rest as long as it cooks...so if it cooks for 3 hours, it rests for 3 hours. We did that at our house with the one we made at Christmas and it really did seem to make a difference...so tender and juicy all the way through. Heaven, I tell ya!

I don't think anyone in our house is that patient! The way we pick at the food cooking all day, it's a surprise we still can eat

Speaking of Gordon Ramsey, I'm super bummed the finale of Hell's Kitchen was last night. I loved my weekly fix of him

Quote from tn_native : I'm scared about the new barcode, only from a why in the he!l did this beep standpoint (I bought the correct size, I bought the correct brand, why it beeped.) I've seen a Produce TQ used lately too. There hasn't been a valid one for months! It isn't like Publix programmers couldn't help the situation by reading something other than JUST the value on a Q. At least read the MFG code too, as we both know that you could use a Cottonelle Q on Charmin and it never beep at Publix. BTW, when is Publix gonna roll out the new barcode implementation?

I know the new software is in full swing here. Beeps beeps and more beeps and only twice was I at fault, had two coupons instead of one (on products) the rest is always verified.

I took out my parents dog for a walk and I knew she got something in her mouth when we were out. And it was a frog. I totally just spent the last half hour chasing a frog around my house

Luckily, frogs don't scare me and no panic attacks!

Quote from MsAttitude : I know the new software is in full swing here. Beeps beeps and more beeps and only twice was I at fault, had two coupons instead of one (on products) the rest is always verified.

I was told the software update they had several months ago is not the same as the GS1 barcode apparently (asked them about that one). They updated the registers to 'attach' or match products to coupons, but aren't as specific as the GS1 barcoding, which is why so many people can still commit fraud by buying products in the same 'family' but not the exact product that is listed on the coupon. They can also use expired coupons, the computer does not catch them so it is up to the cashier to catch it. Twice, I've had a raincheck that 'allowed me' to use some expired Q's and they passed right through and the cashiers acknowledged that the computers still take expireds. Yes, the system is better than it was (before any coupon for anything would work) but it's still not what it will be. All of the implementation is apparently taking longer and most retailers still do not have the technology in place. I read an article online about it around a month ago... The new barcode will contain the specific items allowed and expiration date information. It may even contain information about what regions the coupon is valid in. As more coupons removed the old upc we'll start seeing more retailers getting on board! There are some coupons right now that contain the new barcode only and people have been having those beep because the stores they are using them at do not read the new barcode. That seems to be the case at wags too...some wags registers work with the new barcode and some don't. Go figure...!?!? I hope it's not much longer for all the changes...

BTW, eta...Last night I saw a news story about an announcement that Conagra made that they would be increasing the prices of their products to keep up with the price of commodities....

This is totally OT, but do we have a Petsmart deals thread or discussion thread on SD? I've searched and can't find it. Thanks,

Quote from phatchristy : I was told the software update they had several months ago is not the same as the GS1 barcode apparently (asked them about that one). They updated the registers to 'attach' or match products to coupons, but aren't as specific as the GS1 barcoding, which is why so many people can still commit fraud by buying products in the same 'family' but not the exact product that is listed on the coupon. They can also use expired coupons, the computer does not catch them so it is up to the cashier to catch it. Twice, I've had a raincheck that 'allowed me' to use some expired Q's and they passed right through and the cashiers acknowledged that the computers still take expireds. Yes, the system is better than it was (before any coupon for anything would work) but it's still not what it will be. All of the implementation is apparently taking longer and most retailers still do not have the technology in place. I read an article online about it around a month ago... The new barcode will contain the specific items allowed and expiration date information. It may even contain information about what regions the coupon is valid in. As more coupons removed the old upc we'll start seeing more retailers getting on board! There are some coupons right now that contain the new barcode only and people have been having those beep because the stores they are using them at do not read the new barcode. That seems to be the case at wags too...some wags registers work with the new barcode and some don't. Go figure...!?!? I hope it's not much longer for all the changes...

The biggest problem I see with having these "smart" coupons with all of this information embedded in the new bar code - what do you do when it beeps (as we all know even perfectly legitimate coupons often do)? Either a cashier is going to shrug and push it through, which would defeat the purpose of making these coupons "smart"... or more stores are going to adopt a "if it doesn't scan, we can't take it" policy ("if the coupon is smart, there must be a good reason it beeped!")

Quote from tn_native : I'm scared about the new barcode, only from a why in the he!l did this beep standpoint (I bought the correct size, I bought the correct brand, why it beeped.)

Quote from wcw7 : The biggest problem I see with having these "smart" coupons with all of this information embedded in the new bar code - what do you do when it beeps (as we all know even perfectly legitimate coupons often do)? Either a cashier is going to shrug and push it through, which would defeat the purpose of making these coupons "smart"... or more stores are going to adopt a "if it doesn't scan, we can't take it" policy ("if the coupon is smart, there must be a good reason it beeped!")

which is why I stated "why the he!l did this beep" in my post. If they are coded for the wrong area of the country, no one would even know, but they would beep for everyone.

...and tried the new $6/2 Schick disposables coupon? Did it scan?

Went this AM and found 12 packs for 1.97.....had 12 in my order...6 coupons.....stuff to absorb the overage (coupons say no cash back if value exceeds)...and they beeped to high heaven!

After a 20 minute wait...with people lined up behind me...FINALLY the CSM came back and said; "if it doesn't scan we can't take it".

Arggghhh! How do ya'll that do WM STAND it?????

Please enlighten...I swear every time I go there I tell myself Never Again!

And then in about a year I try again with the same results....

Quote from tn_native : which is why I stated "why the he!l did this beep" in my post. If they are coded for the wrong area of the country, no one would even know, but they would beep for everyone.

There were some keebler coupons that beeped that I had, in that case they had actually scanned the new barcode apparently because the cashier didn't even bat an eye she covered the new barcode with her finger and rescanned and saw my bewildered look and said 'the registers couldn't take the new barcode yet'.

I've had that happen at walgreens too where it beeps and they they cover up the new barcode and it scans the older one first and it works.

I think if they do limit things 'regionally' then that's definitely going to alter the way that people purchase coupons online. I wouldn't doubt then that they start printing something designating it on the coupon as well. I anticipate a lot of changes overall coming up...especially with the show being so high profile. Already unilever is now printing 'limit 4 per shopping trip' on some coupons in this weekend's inserts. They want to cater to the individuals out there who use coupons basically to buy the name brand over the store brand, they definitely are going to do whatever it takes to make it more difficult to get items for free/nearly free in large quantities.

Quote from Ozma : ...and tried the new $6/2 Schick disposables coupon? Did it scan?

I haven't tried it yet, sadly I was only able to print one of those because my printer somehow didn't print out the first time.

I can understand with an internet printable why they may not want to accept it...people have done things like photocopy, etc. so I can see why they would be unlikely to want to take it if it didn't scan.