Caker Problem #52 – Re-buying the same crap

There’s always that one ingredient that you rarely use, but can never remember if you have any on hand. So you buy it, and take it home, and put it with the other three bottles, all brand new, never been used. For me, it’s orange essence. I currently have 4 bottles, unopened in the pantry, plus one just opened. I know, I’m a moron. I get to the store, think of whipping up something involving orange, and stand there like a chimp, going “Now I can’t remember, do I have some at home? I think I do. I think I have more than enough. No, definitely fine, let’s keep going”. I get to the end of the aisle, “Wait! What if I don’t? It’s like a buck to buy more right now. Am I really going to risk not being able to make this, because I didn’t spend an extra dollar at the supermarket?” So I go back and pick up a bottle just in case. 

I also have ten times the amount of plain flour I’ll ever need sitting in the pantry, but I constantly get home with a fresh bag, but no self raising, which I actually did need. Now, I know what you’re going to say, “If you just wrote a list, you wouldn’t have this problem”. You’re not wrong, but it’s a little more complicated than that. You see, I bake on a whim, when I feel like it. I race out the door in the morning, drop the kids at the bus stop, and then think, bugger, I’ve got to grab some groceries. I’ll just pop down and grab a couple of things to tide us over. 

You should also know something else about me. I never shop for more than three days worth of groceries at a time. Ever! I say it’s because the fruit and vegies will spoil, and I’m a nutter when it comes to fresh meat (thanks parents for sharing your neuroses). This isn’t really the reason though. I eat what I feel like, and if I plan 7 days ahead I have no idea what I’ll feel like. I’m well aware that it’s just food. But it’s just what I do. So I don’t bother with lists. 

Don’t get me wrong, I love lists. Love lists! I write about 3-4 lists a day. About the house cleaning that has to be done, ideas for a new video, what shoes I don’t currently own, how to spend my lottery winnings. Because that will totally happen one day, and I need to be prepared. In the meantime, I’m heading out to the store, to get some more orange essence, plain flour, and anything else I already have in the cupboard..