The Scarcity Principle is a marketing principle that describes the urge to purchase, gather, or obtain something that a person feels that they may not be able to get in the future.
What does that have to do with cranberries?
Well, the scarcity principle has apparently been working with me, because I have way more cranberries than I need to carry me through until next cranberry season….I own not one, not two, not three, but SIX bags of cranberries.
Oh, and a partial bag too.
Now, that might not seem terribly excessive, but clearly I’m buying more than I need in a year.
How do I know that?
Well, some of these bags aren’t from last cranberry season…they’re from the season before that and the season before that.
That’s because in November and December, I’m all, “What if I NEED to bake some cranberry bread in April and I don’t have some cranberries and then the world will come to an ennnnnd!!”
And I throw a few more bags of berries into my cart, not realizing that the urge to bake cranberry bread doesn’t really hit me in April.
Or any months of the year other than November and December, really.
To me, this bag reads, "Buy 7, freeze 6!"
Fortunately, cranberries keep pretty darn well in my chest freezer, so these are all in good, edible shape. I just need to, you know, use them before they become inedible.
So, I’m a woman on a mission. I WILL use up these cranberries before next cranberry season.
Cranberry bread, cranberry muffins, cranberry bars, and cranberry sauce, here I come!
And when bags of cranberries once again grace the grocery store shelves this fall, I will exercise a bit more self-control.
At least, I think I will.
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Ok, people. Tell me I’m not the only one who does this!
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Today’s 365 post: And that’s why her highchair was outside.
Joshua’s 365 post: Starbuck (I think I linked to this one before, but I hadn’t published it. Whoops.)
Yuu
Sunday 13th of May 2012
My favorite recipe for cranberries is to mix them with either cut up apples or pears (or both), sprinkle with cinnamon, and bake in a glass dish in the oven. We usually bake at 400 or 425 degrees, until they look piercable.
EcoCatLady
Thursday 10th of May 2012
Oy Vey! After hurricane Katrina hit, I sort of went a little bit nuts and decided that I needed to stock the house with enough food to last 6 months (hurricanes are such a big problem here in Denver don't you know...) Anyhow - that was what - 6 years ago? - no wait... I think it was 7.
Anyhow - now I have a pantry full of expired cans of spinach and other things I will never eat... UG. But you know... at the time I was thinking that I might NEED vegetables. Heaven help me.
shari
Thursday 10th of May 2012
I wish I had more cranberries! I brought home 4 pounds from the harvest festival last fall and bought about 3 pounds more at the grocery store and now they are all gone. I make a jam with them--very easy and tasty. Put some cranberries in a pot and add 1 cup of sugar per pound of berries. You can add more sugar if you want, and I have used less, but I like things tart! Add water about halfway up the cranberries and stir everything together. bring to a boil, turn down the heat and let it simmer for 15 minutes or so until thickened. Put in a jar and refrigerate. This is great on toast and stirred into oatmeal. It is also really good on turkey/chicken sandwiches and wraps! I am thinking that if you wanted this to be a little sweeter without adding more sugar, you could substitute fruit juice for the water. I have not tried this, but I don't see why that wouldn't work. You could also dress it up with some citrus peel or cinnamon or whatever, but I like it plain. I just used up the last bit the other day so I guess I will be waiting until fall to have more. I will appreciate it all the more then :-)
CC
Wednesday 9th of May 2012
Pumpkin Upside-Down Cake with Cranberry Pecan Topping
http://www.globalgourmet.com/food/ild/2003/1103/cake.html#axzz1uPTR6opv
I make this once a year its very rich but good. The cranberries end up tasting like cherries, its good hot and cold. I cook it in my cast iron skillet just like when I do pineapple up side down cake. This recipe will take care of all those pumpkin and cranberries savers, of which I'm one.LOL
Pam K.
Wednesday 9th of May 2012
Yes, of course I have 2-3 bags of cranberries in the freezer! And a couple of cans of pumpkin in the cupboard, just in case I can't find them if I want to make pumpkin or cranberry bread (with your recipe!) some other time during the year! As you say, I don't get that urge except during the holidays, but I'll be prepared if I would for some reason!