For one mom, the supermarket is her Disneyland.
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Recession Mama: O supermarket
bakery, how I love thee! Your gorgeous, big, New York-style bagels,
six for $1.99, your glistening fruit tarts for under $10, and a
cake shaped like a cheeseburger, just for fun ...
I remember when I was a kid, getting a cake from the supermarket bakery was
kind of embarrassing. Like using
coupons and getting a "doggie bag"
in restaurants (which actually had a picture of a dog on it). My
mom did all those things anyway -- and I'm none the worse for
it. In fact, it made me appreciate the convenience and value of the
supermarket bakery.
Some years ago, Albertson's grocery ran a set of commercials
where a tearful bride described some horror of a wedding cake that
had been delivered from a fancy bakery, and how Albertson's
fixed it. Around that time, I noticed that the selection at the
larger supermarket bakery counters was really great -- doughnuts,
delicate pastries, chocolate-covered strawberries, and cakes of
every size.
We have a really large summer party every year, and I need a cake for about
80 people. A few years back, the kids decided they wanted the cake
to be completely covered in fruit. I went to a popular local bakery
and explained that I would like a full sheet
cake, completely covered in fruit. They told me it
would be $150. I called around and got about the same price at
other bakeries. While grocery shopping the next day, I spoke to the woman at the
bakery counter, and she told me it would be just their regular
charge for the full sheet ($49) -- no more for the fruit or extra
labor. I had plenty of choices of cake, fillings, and frostings. On
the big day, the cake looked and tasted fantastic -- and the number
of comments we got were astounding. We've never looked back
...
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A former state deputy attorney general and current stay-at-home mom, Recession Mama Michele Ashamalla has three kids and ten years of experience stretching one salary to cover the necessities and more. She's all about saving money whenever you can, so you have it to spend on whatever you want!
Read more: MomLogic.com -- Ode to the Supermarket Bakery
