I’ve often wondered if it would be more cost effective to make some pantry staples rather than buy them. I usually don’t give it much more thought than that because it’s usually just more convenient to spend a few more cents and not have to bother with it.

However, Slate recently researched the same idea and came back with a few pantry staples that might just be best to make yourself, and not just because it will save you money but because the quality and taste are so much better than store bought.

They tried out bagels (conclusion: make your own), cream cheese (buy it), yogurt (make it), jam (make it), crackers (buy it), and granola (specifically Alton Brown’s granola) — which gets the “make it” not because it’s cheaper but because it tastes a lot better.

I’ve made bagels before and while they turned out fine the time I spent on them, just to have them devoured within minutes, kind of put me off them (I know, that’s the point, at least everyone enjoyed them, but it only made six!).

I don’t think I’d dare make cream cheese myself, but I’ve always been intrigued with making my own yogurt, so I might be giving that one a try soon. I don’t have access to cheap fruit (everything’s flown in since nothing grows here, so I don’t have neighbors dumping bags off on my porch) so jam is cheaper for me to buy, but I would like to try making crackers sometime just to see how it turns out. And as soon as I get some cashews you bet I’m going to be trying Alton’s granola!

What pantry staples do you make yourself?

[image: flickr]

I’m using the word Xerox as a metaphor for, supposedly, “menial” tasks…or more to the point, our own sense of self-importance.

For me, as a small business owner, the xeroxing and the envelope stuffing, and the running to the post office are never over.

I have to do these things myself…and goddd, I think I’ve been collating documents for 30 years.

But when I was in corporate-land, I had “people” who did these tasks.

We learn when we start life at a big corporation that assistants do certain things, and managers…well..don’t.

I was speaking to a colleague, a very Sr. manager at a large company here in NYC.

She complained that another Sr. person in her department made a comment to my friend that goes something like: “…done Xeroxing yet?”

To which my friend responded, “…want to help me..?” And of course, the answer resulted in an expletive.

Here’s my feeling about this…NO ONE is beyond these tasks.

It’s true that as a person moves up the corporation — the busier or more Sr. one becomes — as in, more valuable to a company — there is a direct correlation to how time is managed.

But as a human, we should never feel or behave as if we’re more important than anyone else at the company.

And by the way, it starts at the top — if you want your department or your company to behave with sensitivity…it won’t kill you to stand and chat at the copy machine, as you send your Power Point presentation through the machine.

Now, who wants to run to Staples for me?:-).

Oh come on now — it’s exactly 2 months until Christmas. It’s not even HALLOWEEN yet and already with the Lowes commercials and the scarey holiday music.

If you’re too weak to start thinking about a gift list, how about a present for your computer…3M now makes these nifty laptop privacy protection screens for your laptop. This is a very effective thing to bring with you when flying: it cuts down on glare, but it also keeps nosey-bodies from taking peeks at your work…or your movie.

So, run down to staples and get one for your computer. And while you’re at it, you may as well get some wrapping paper…and one of those storage bins that have all of the neat compartments for all of the decorating crap you through up in the attic in a Bloomingdale’s shopping bag last year.

Gosh, can you believe it is September already?! I just want to wish everyone a safe and happy Labor Day. And kids, I’m sorry the fun is almost over…but parents, you’ve got to LOVE those Staples commercials with the holiday music in the background.

I’ll be thinking of those of you in the path of this season’s hurricanes.