Shopping List

[samsteele]

Flying out to visit with family near Orlando next week. There are a few things I'm picking up as a family member will be driving back so no issue re liquids. Do you have any other suggestions for goodies to pick up?

My list so far: 1) couple jars mild pickled peppers as can only find hot pickled peppers in local grocery stores 2) Bonine or Dramamine motion sickness pills. Hard to even source Gravol at least online. I've found it recently on well.ca but a challenge 3) Dial bar soap - I prefer this for handwashing along with Safeguard bar soap during winter flu season. I haven't found Dial bar soap for over a year plus in local stores. Safeguard I've also found on well.ca but $$ 4) Zest bar soap. Gone. Used to find big packs in Walmart. Have found Zest body wash in Dollarama over past 6 months but want bar soap. Think this is a manufacturer issue but still love my Zest bar soap.

Please let me know below if you have any suggestions for my shopping list.

 

[damo]

Flying out to visit with family near Orlando next week. There are a few things I'm picking up as a family member will be driving back so no issue re liquids. Do you have any other suggestions for goodies to pick up?

My list so far: 1) couple jars mild pickled peppers as can only find hot pickled peppers in local grocery stores 2) Bonine or Dramamine motion sickness pills. Hard to even source Gravol at least online. I've found it recently on well.ca but a challenge 3) Dial bar soap - I prefer this for handwashing along with Safeguard bar soap during winter flu season. I haven't found Dial bar soap for over a year plus in local stores. Safeguard I've also found on well.ca but $$ 4) Zest bar soap. Gone. Used to find big packs in Walmart. Have found Zest body wash in Dollarama over past 6 months but want bar soap. Think this is a manufacturer issue but still love my Zest bar soap.

Please let me know below if you have any suggestions for my shopping list.

Betty Crocker Rainbow chip frosting....lolol.

 

[scrappinginontario]

What things do you like? My master US shopping list has 80 items on it. I copy and modify whenever we hop across the border.

 

[flav]

Stonewall Kitchen black raspberry and sour cherry jam
Pillsbury gluten free confetti cake mix
Krusteaz gluten free Cinnamon Cake Mix
Orea Cakesters
Maurten Gel 100 Caf 100
Trader’s Joe dried sweet mangoes
Buggles

 

[bankr63]

Stonewall Kitchen black raspberry and sour cherry jam
Pillsbury gluten free confetti cake mix
Krusteaz gluten free Cinnamon Cake Mix
Orea Cakesters
Maurten Gel 100 Caf 100
Trader’s Joe dried sweet mangoes
Buggles

@flav If you are GF look for the Red Lobster GF Cheddar Bay Biscuit Mix. You can get the non-GF here, but Walmart in US carries both GF and non-GF. It's a family fav.

@samsteele I'm with @scrappinginontario our US regulars list is long. Are you looking for food, cleaning products, beverages?

 

[samsteele]

Thanks for your replies. I'm mostly looking at food but realized I do have limited space as family is carting it back for me. Given the generally lower prices and the huge selection of new to many of us products, I shouldn't be surprised that people have big shopping lists.

If you only had room for a few favourite food items, what would you choose?

GF not an issue for me.

 

[bababear_50]

Hard to find here and very expensive in Canada.
Usually much cheaper and better supply in USA
Gardetto's snack mix

https://www.gardettos.com/

Have fun planning
Hugs Mel

 

[bankr63]

Okay, here are a few in no particular order:
- Badia marinades; Cilantro Lime and Mojo available at Publix, use all the time for a variety of recipes like spatchcock chicken
- Blenheim's Ginger Ale; red top is blow the top of your head off hot
- Boar's Head sauces - especially the Chipotle
- Cabot Cheese - all their cheddars are Lactose Free, almost as good as good Canadian cheddars
- Campbell's Skillet and Slow Cooker Sauces - quick and easy weekday meals
- Cheerwine - great soft drink/pop/soda
- 'real' grits - hard to find here
- hominy corn (canned) - can buy at specialty shops here for $$ but under $1/can there. Use in Pozole
- Kerry Gold Irish Butter
- Kind Bars and Larabars (more flavours/flavors in the US)
- PB Fit - powdered Peanut Butter
- Jiff to go - individual sized PBs are great for car trips
- Sticky Fingers Carolina BBQ Sauce (best on Chicken)

 

[samsteele]

Thank you all for your replies. Your suggestions sound wonderful. I'll definitely hunt down more than a few.

 

[samsteele]

Back from my Florida trip and found a few things on my list.

One of your suggestions was Kerry Gold Irish butter and that was a big hit. We used it as a simple spread on crackers and really noticed the taste upgrade from regular North American supermarket butter. We had some guests over for happy hour who had digestive problems after surgery and it was the one thing they could join in and enjoy with the group.

Someone there mentioned we can find it in Ontario Costco. Something to check out.

Thanks again for all of your input.

I really noticed how $ orange juice and fresh vegetables and fruit were compared to Ontario. Unbelievable that orange juice in Florida is almost double the price of the same brand in Ontario given the transportation cost input, taxes, etc. Beef and chicken breasts were still relatively reasonable compared to Ontario but other grocery items were significantly more expensive. Not sure how snowbirds rationalize months long stays on a budget. That sunshine and easier exercise without the snow sure carries a premium.

 

[bankr63]

I really noticed how $ orange juice and fresh vegetables and fruit were compared to Ontario. Unbelievable that orange juice in Florida is almost double the price of the same brand in Ontario given the transportation cost input, taxes, etc. Beef and chicken breasts were still relatively reasonable compared to Ontario but other grocery items were significantly more expensive.

I agree that many groceries are shockingly expensive in the US right now, even without considering exchange rates. My biggest shock is pop (soda, soft drinks) specifically in aluminum cans. Generally, seems about double the price charged here in Canada for a case of 12. But for some reason the beer is much cheaper. Guess which one I'll be drinking when we return in another 3 weeks

 

[juniorbugman]

I remember years and years ago going to Florida and a friend asking for shampoo and it was double the price it would have been in Canada so I said nope.
I may make a run over the border in May for a 24 hour visit so I better start getting my list ready. I am going to Fallsview Casino for a concert on a Thursday night and I am trying to talk my sister into driving over to Niagara Falls or Buffalo New York somewhere nearby on Friday morning and come back Saturday morning. We shall see. Fingers crossed.

 

[samsteele]

I agree that many groceries are shockingly expensive in the US right now

We didn't do much shopping in Publix because of this. We found most groceries in Target and Walmart. Target in Florida has great prices for sirloin steak. Not much choice but a 2 pack was extremely reasonable, tender and tasty. Walmart carries an off brand summer sausage that is really good. It's usually shelved in the cracker section on a bottom shelf. Clearly saturated with salt so no refrigeration required. But a nice treat and reasonably priced. We also found a small, basic $20 air fryer in Walmart and used that for the week. Then gifted to a neighbour. Paid for itself over the week. I still can't get used to malt based coolers but love the big choice of $8-10 California Chardonnay. I also enjoyed some Kona Brewing Company ale. Nice break from standard lager and pilsner.

 

[dancin Disney style]

Kerry Gold butter is available in Canada at Walmart, Metro, Sobeys and Costco. There may be more places but that's where I've seen it recently. Be prepared to pay though, can cost $10+