Saucy Sauces on #marketfriday

It sometimes amazes me at the variety of "convenience foods" that are available in some markets. On a recent excursion to restock my pantry, I just happened to walk down an aisle where the words MAYOCHUP, MAYOCUE, and KRANCH caught my eye...

Offered by HEINZ^®, these are blends of 'mayonnaise + ketchup,' 'mayonnaise + barbecue sauce,' and 'ketchup + ranch' dressing, already blended in bottles for one's dining pleasure. It was quite the amusing find. I'm not sure if these blends will be popular enough to stand the test of time, but hey... premixed 'peanut butter + jelly' still seems to be available after decades for those who want to pay a little more for not having to mix them in one's own kitchen, or having to buy two items instead of one.

I suppose these offerings might actually be somewhat beneficial to those living alone, where buying bottles of these ingredients, individually, might be undesirable. For myself, I can never empty a quart jar of mayonnaise before it goes bad, so I buy pint-sized jars, instead — although not as economical on the wallet, there's less waste (or flat taste when it gets old). These so-called "Saucy Sauces" might also be a helpful option for families with small children under foot, where the convenience and variety of flavors might entice a finnicky young'un to eat.

As a child as well as an adult, I have always enjoyed the occasional pudding as a snack. But it has always been off-white (vanilla), brown (chocolate), green (pistachio), or yellow (butterscotch). Now, thanks to the ✨magic of unicorns✨ there are PINK and BLUE varieties of pudding, too! "Made with Star Dust" ~ I couldn't help but think of @enginewitty's little princesses and how delighted they would probably be to have such colorful pudding in front of them! 😊 I also think of @katrina-ariel whenever I see unicorns, too... 🦄

I'm also amused by the "CLAM CHOWDA" I found a couple years ago, spelled just as it would be pronounced in New England! 😂 For those not familiar with it, New England-style Clam Chowder is a very tasty soup made with chopped clams and chunks of potato in a thick cream-based liquid. Sometimes, bits of other seafood or carrots are added, depending on the preference of the person making it. I personally believe it fits the "comfort food" category very well.

I've not tried this particular brand of Clam Chowder, as it is quite pricey, even though it might be a better quality than the traditional canned variety. Of course, nothing beats homemade, but hey, cooking for one is not such a fun endeavor. I don't mind going to extra trouble preparing food when someone else is there to appreciate the work that went into the meal, but I take the easy-way-out now that I am preparing food only for my own intake.

There is another version of Clam Chowder that is tomato-based instead of cream-based and called "Manhattan" Clam Chowder. Some New Englanders with whom I've spoken consider Manhattan-style a sacrilege against the "true" Clam Chowder, the way it was "meant to be." Frankly, I find both versions to be quite enjoyable, although I don't think of the Manhattan-style as "comfort food" as I do the creamy New England-style.

Thanks for coming along with me to the market this week, but why did you let me spend so much money...? 😮 LOL