Monday, September 15, 2008

Name Brand

I have posted before that I think that store brand products are just as good as the name brand. There are a few exceptions. Doritos and Oreo Double Stuff are examples of the exceptions.

I have added a new exception to my rule. Lipton Onion Soup mix. I don't use it to make soup. I don't know anyone who uses it to make soup. Most people use it to make dip (or Scoop).

Recently I bought the store brand onion soup mix to make my dip. For some reason the little bits of onion that they use in the store brand do not soften in the sour cream like the Lipton brand. The little tiny crescent shaped pieces of onion stay crunchy.

While I was eating my chips and dip I could not help but feel I was eating a bowl full of sour cream and toenail clippings.

Now can you imagine if I was eating Frito's, which to me always smell like dirty socks, with my dip?

26 comments:

Dr Zibbs said...

I like getting the off brand cereal because of the ridiculous names like, Admiral Crunches.

Bogart said...

I always try to buy the store brand...exceptions are soda's, certain chips, and coffee.

Thanks for the visuals on the toenails in sour cream.

Anonymous said...

Sometimes I think the store brands are actually better than the name brands... like Giant's slow churned strawberry ice cream... mmmmmmm....

Susan said...

Hilarious and a really bad mental image! I agree with you though that the store brands are usually just as good. Glad to say I have never had your Lipton soup experience before. Thanks for sharing so that masses don't have to suffer through that.

eclectic said...

I never use it to make dip, but I use ONLY Lipton's to make meatloaf or pot roast. Lucky for me, they sell Lipton's at Costco and it's actually cheaper per package than the store brand at the grocery.

joanna said...

YUCK and LOL.
I totally agree on Doritos. I have been buying Clancy's Nacho Cheese tortilla chips -- just not the same. (These are from Aldi.) But we do save a lot of money on buying generic.

Multi-tasking Mommy said...

I totally agree that most of the time, store brand works just as well. But you are right, there are definitely exceptions to the rule!

Anonymous said...

Wow, You just nailed a delicacy at Rogelieu's house.

The Egel Nest said...

I have heard several times the reference to Frito's and smelly feet...how come I love Frito's? lol

Bradley
The Egel Nest

Anonymous said...

Ick.

I love the Great Value Brand of Thick and Creamy Mac and Cheese. However.. their brand of yogurt... not so good.

As someone with a family of five living on a very small budget... off brand is a necessity.

Anonymous said...

I am a shopping idiot and always overpay for brands I recognize.

Here's why. When I was a kid we were forced to drink Pathmark brands of soda. You know the sterile can that says "Cola" on it. The one with a semi-flat, horrible tasting concoction inside. My grandparents would give us Coca Cola or Royal Crown (later, Crown Royal) and there was no comparison.

This sh*t has kept me from even trying store brand stuff.

So I piss my money away on name brands like an idiot. Maybe you could share a "just as good or better" list with me.

Anonymous said...

oh, and judging by what you leave on the bedside table every night, I wouldn't be surprised one bit if there actually were a few real toenails in your onion dip...

C. said...

Oh Lauren, that is just so gross. Opps, I found a nail clipping on my nightstand ;)

Frito's smell like feet and I love them!

Anonymous said...

Um. Yuck.

CM said...

The dip is really good with yogurt instead of sour cream.
My mom always put it in her meatloaf too.

Unknown said...

Sour cream and toenail clippings...perfect analogy! Yuck!

Anonymous said...

That's one heck of a mental image there. Somehow this reminds me of that time at the fondue place, where the obviously stoned waiter insisted that funions were a great dipping substitute for the fondue...

JP said...

Sort of reminds me of "My Blue Heaven" with Steve Martin.

Clerk: Would you like to try some store brand vanilla oat crunchies?

Vinnie: Whadda you think?!?

Mindie said...

I buy some store brands, but there are a few things where the name brand is absolutely required. Coke Zero, and Kraft Mac n Cheese.

And I agree with your wife about the store brand ice cream, it's almost always better than the name brands!

Anonymous said...

i've been wanting onion dip (my downfall) for over 2 weeks now.... and i've fought it each time i've gone to the market

but darn you...now i think i might have to go get the lipton...

The Maid said...

HA ha ha ha ha ha ha....

I once made deviled eggs and put some spices in the mixture that apparently contained the same type of onions...everyone kept accusing me of dropping eggshells in the mix.

Dang it.

And deviled eggs are such a pain in the poot to make anyway...had to throw the whole batch in the trashola!

The Maid

Mmmm...mix boiled egg smell with your dirty sock and toenail scenario...yummo...as Rachael Ray would say!

Anonymous said...

Eew. Toenail clippings in dip is even grosser than toenail clippings on the nightstand...

;)

Charity Donovan said...

This reminded me of the fact that Cheetos smell like someone dropped bootie when you open the bag yet the sweet nectar of the orange goodness is so worth the initial shock!

sari said...

Hidden Valley Ranch dressing is another thing that is Name Brand Only.

And Charmin.

And Coke.

And no "no name" coffee.

And ice cream.

And microwave popcorn.

I think that covers it. Sheesh, I'm groceriarily high maintenance.

Kate Giovinco Photography said...

For the most part I agree store brand is just as good if not better.

EXCEPTION: Ketchup! Has to be Heinz...no other kind!

Angie @ KEEP BELIEVING said...

Oh, nasty.

I add Kraft macaroni and cheese to that category of no store name exceptions. Not the same.

I bought Aldi brand ravioli the other day and my Chef BoyrDee ravioli nut left half his bowl. I had a bite after fussing at him and promising him NO SNACKS and almost gagged.


I didn't even know you COULD make soup with Lipton Onion Soup Mix. Who eats onion soup anyway???

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