If the Lone Ranger was a can of beans
Late last spring, I discovered Walmart Plus.
It arose out of TG being out of town for several days, and me being too lazy to go to the store.
(TG is the kind of husband who gladly goes to the store for me, and yes I let him, although I do a great deal of the grocery shopping too.)
(But I don't always feel like applying mascara to go to the store, and no I will not go without mascara.)
So it was that I tried out the thing where you order your kitchen staples online and they bring it right to your door.
For a nominal fee, and a tip for the driver, neither of which bother me.
I have not looked back. It's just too easy.
Some humorous/perplexing moments have arisen, however.
Like, the time I ordrered a bag of Fancy Feast cat kibble and, although I know it's right there on the shelf in the pet food aisle of the store, they insisted on shipping it separately.
It was delivered the same day as the rest of my order, only it came via a different car and driver, and -- what a bonus -- in the package along with the Fancy Feast was a big box of Huggies Pull-Ups.
The beans were well cushioned for their arrival
Which I neither ordered, paid for, nor need.
Someone ordered, paid for, and needed them, though -- I suppose -- and that someone was out of luck.
I gave them to Erica for when she begins training Elliot a/k/a Skippy.
Another time, I received two unasked-for packets of taco seasoning along with the stuff I did ask for.
Then there are the times that I do NOT get what I ordered, paid for, and needed.
Like the time about one-third of my order was missing. I had to go on the app and put checkmarks beside those items, and there was an immediate refund.
But still. That means I had to re-order those things and pay another tip. C'mon, man!
The other day, only one item was missing from my order: my Wright Hickory Thick Cut Bacon. I love that stuff and so does TG. It's Bacon the Wright Way.
I have not yet reordered that but have simply lived without it. Yes I got my refund.
But I found it amusing when recently stocking up on chili-making supplies should the cool fall weather actually arrive and we be struck with a craving for chili, when the Walmart app said that one can of Bush's Chili Beans in Medium Sauce would be shipped separately.
? ? ? ? ?
With all that padding they could have added a few dozen eggs
Okay, but just one can of beans? Shipping all alone?
And sure enough, a few days later a box showed up on the doorstep.
A box big enough to hold at least eight cans of those beans.
But inside, a lonely can of beans, with a bunch of air pillows in the box for padding.
Because you and I both know how fragile a can of beans can be.
I found it ridiculous but then, what in our world is not at least slightly ridiculous these days?
Not much.
Also I thought I would add, my extra-simple chili recipe* got even better when I discovered a few years ago that buying name-brand chili ready tomatoes and chili hot beans, as opposed to generic, makes a big difference.
In the flavor of the chili, I mean. It's noticeable. Since then I buy only Hunt's Seasoned Diced Tomatoes in Sauce for Mild Chili and Bush's Red Beans in Mild Chili Sauce for my chili.
*For a large quantity of hearty chili (you can make a lot and freeze half of it for another day), brown three pounds of lean ground beef. Add to your slow cooker or Crock Pot three cans each of the Hunt's chili tomatoes and Bush's chili beans, and a packet of chili seasoning.
It was worth waiting for
Mix in the browned meat and let that come to temperature and simmer on low for a few hours.
Naturally you can amend that recipe for a smaller crowd (like just the two of you) by browning only one pound of ground round (what I use; no draining required), and one can each of the tomatoes and the beans.
Add, to taste, chili seasoning that you buy in a canister instead of using a packet.
(In fact it's more economical to use the canister seasoning instead of a packet, all of the time.)
Serve with corn chips, sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, and banana pepper rings. Or you can go with cornbread muffins on the side.
Make a lot and invite the crowd. On the first cool day. Which will arrive in due time.
And that is all for now.
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Happy Tuesday
