Monday, December 01, 2008

You Decide: Extreme Cheapness Or Extreme Eco-Conservationism?


I bought these rolls for the paltry price of $1.00/dozen on the clearance bakery racks at the grocery store.
Yeah, they may be just one step away from entering a crusty state of Crouton-dom, but you can't beat the price tag.
That's one small step for stale bread items......one giant step for the Infidel Family budget.
Nothing is too good for my family.
Except paying retail price for bread products, apparently.
After polishing off the rolls, I couldn't bear to throw away the sturdy aluminum baking pans they came in.
I could have a little Greenpeace member living inside me, fighting to get out. Or maybe I was blindingly hypnotized by the shiny, shiny reflection beaming off the silvery surface........or it could be the temporary loss of oxygen flow to the brain when I about choked to death on a crumbly piece of dried-out roll...........but whatever the reason I promptly cleaned out the baking pans and stored them for future use.
These little beauties have served me well through a Donut Muffin baking frenzy. They also lovingly housed my traditional Thanksgiving rolls this year.
I almost feel like I can never throw them away now we've become so attached.
My mom got a cast iron skillet set and some antiques as her family inheritance.
My kids will likely receive some well-loved and well-worn aluminum muffin pans when I die.
They'll undoubtedly reminisce fondly about their wonderful mother and how she combined a legacy of cheapness, recycling, and family heirlooms all into one cherished gift.
It's a good thing I have 6 aluminum pans to share equally so that none of my six mini-Infidels will have to launch a court fight against each other.

29 comments:

Christy said...

Why would anyone through them away if they are still usable? I don't throw things away unless they are the amount of work to get them clean isn't worth to cost of replacement.

Good for you Elastic, good for you.

Christy said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Christy said...

stupid publish your comment button.

Stacey said...

I'm so glad there won't be a bitter court battle between your young'uns.

I do my part by re-using foam plates.

Jillybean said...

It's hard to throw away things that are still useful. Even after you've used them for baking, I'm sure there are tons of craft projects that they could be used for.

Rebecca Blevins said...

Again, Elastic, you are my hero.

You could also use dry rolls with beaten eggs and such to make a breakfast casserole! Oh, the possibilities!

Science Teacher Mommy said...

The answer is "both" however inadvertent one or the other may be. I've been washing Ziploc bags for years. Plantboy says it is environmental. His mother says we are cheap. His sisters says we are poor. I say "YES!"

Melissa said...

I think it's fantastic that you're getting in touch with your "green side"
My mom is also one to wash Ziploc bags, reuse tin foil and save every plastic container that crosses her threshold.

Unknown said...

Your "green" side is bringing out your "pink" side. This a very sweet looking template.

Rhonda Sloan said...

Do you have a giant ball of aluminum foil somewhere?

b. said...

Love the background!

Why didn't I think of that!! I threw away 4 of those foil things the other day!! Dangit! It didn't even cross my mind!
I adore you! Thanks! I shall not do that again! You're a genius!

Hey It's Di said...

I just store my aluminum pans with my cool whip containers. Hey! Those things come in handy later on! (a statement I have had to declare over and over to my kids as they laugh at me:)

Physcokity said...

You are so wise! One per kid...no arguments about that! I usually try to save the pie tins, unless I got a little too careless with the knife-ing of the pie. :(

Where on earth do they give you sweet reusable muffins tins with your pre baked crouton goodness?

nikko said...

Cheap or green, whatever you call it, I would have done the same thing.

:o)

Nancy Face said...

I like saving stuff like that!

Extreme cheapness...oh, yeah! :D

Unknown said...

Ahhhhh, to be one of your offspring to be bequeathed such a priceless treasure.

My children? It will be all my used pie tins I can't bear to throw away. I'm right there with ye....

Nancy Face said...

My Marie Callender pie tin collection is the envy of people far and wide. (I have no idea how I actually got my grubby little hands on them.) They are hideously dented and maimed because they double up as noisemakers on New Year's Eve...all it takes is a sturdy spoon! :)

Schmoop said...

You can always use the foil pans this summer to hold near your face and really get everything thing you can out of Mr. Sun for a sporty tan. Cheers!!

J-Mom said...

Those are some awesome tins! And think, you couldn't have bought those tins new for the price you bought them with bread in them!

And you get to pass one to each kid, how much better can it get?

I'll be looking at the clearance bakery area with a whole new idea now.

aubreyannie said...

now i have muffins on the brain. this post combined with reading if you give a moose a muffin ten times a day does that to me.

joanna said...

I tend to throw everything away! If I buy plastic or 'foam, it's to make throwing away that much easier. I have not caught onto the "green" thing yet. One day I'm sure to be stoned in the streets like an adultress.

You need to add your e-mail so I can respond to your comments. You have inspired me to look for a festive blog template. But where?

Hilary said...

Not to mention that you could use them as ice cube trays - for those punch bowls which need big fruit-filled cubes.

Such a wise and frugal infidel. :)

Busy Bee Lauren said...

It's ok...my mom washes plastic plates. I have seen it all! :)

Mmmm...crusty bread.

Anna Maria Junus said...

I used to save stuff like this.

But then they multiplied and grew and took over my house and threatened to smother my babies.

So now I blissfully throw them away.

I have enough other crap to move around.

JB said...

You are brilliant. And my eco-hero.

Here in the rich neighborhood, the fancy ladies make reuse pie tins the way you're repurposing the muffin pans.

Jean Knee said...

after my grandma died we found about 400 empty and scrubbed out ice cream containers.

The sweet guys from the landfill got every one of those things :)

J-Mom said...

Enjoying the festive look around here.

Anonymous said...

I'm extremely, profoundly, colossally thankful that nobody mentioned yuck money-saving tips such as washing out condoms and hanging them up to dry for use another day.

To the question somewhere above: I bought the rolls at my favorite clearance bakery hangout.....KROGER'S.

I made some delicious whole wheat pumpkin nut raisin muffins in the pans just yesterday. They've exceeded all expectations as well as exceeding their own natural life span!

joanna said...

Hmmm...re-using condoms. Now you've got me curious.