Just letting y'all know that I have recently encountered a tremendous infestation of Mishpacha cholent beans. I don't know if it's the brand or the store where I bought it, but the eggs are even visible from the closed package, and if you soak them in water, most will float.
I told the store to clear out their stock (they didn't have any other brand though), but I just want to warn you to check what you are using.

According to the Star-K halacha experts when I brought it in for testing last week, ( to Star-K workers, if you didn't figure it out before, you know now) the floating beans should be discarded, the other beans washed well from the eggs, and then they can be used.
According to the females there, throw the whole thing out. It's gross.

So much easier to use canned beans, don't need to worry about bugs.

I have never seen a cholent mix in beans. And we don't need a whole can. So to open a few different cans and save them for a couple weeks is just not worth it.
Also, the bags cost 99 cents.

You only use a handful of beans?

1/3 of a cup.
Personally, I could care less if we have beans in the cholent. I don't eat them anyway. : )

what store?

7 mile, of course.
I couldn't find "cholent beans" in Shoppers. Haven't been to Giant in ages.

Interesting you shop there if you're trying to save money. I think they have a problem with keeping things around too long there.

I spent under $75 for my grocery shopping for the week total.
Today, I got enough chicken for a few Shabbosim. Some meat. Stocked up on canned goods. A gallon of milk. Eggs. 2 bottles of olive oil. Bread. Etc.
Produce I get at Shoppers.

For a family of 4, I think our grocery expenses are pretty good.

Why is that? Do you really think they check???

I never got that floating thing to work for me. What I was told to do is cook the beans and soak in hot water for a couple hours, then they become semi transparant so you can see if there is any infestation.

Or save yourself a couple of hours, the price of using gas/electricity, and buy the blue vacuum packed beans instead.

It's cheaper to do it yourself.

Only if one has the time.

Anything you buy at 7 Mile is a risk. Always check twice before putting in your cart. I still remember coming home and finding a brick of cheese coated in mold.

I am pretty sure you can get cholent beans in Shoppers in the kosher section, and I know you can get it in the Gucci Giant.

i think it might also be the brand -- they recently had an infestation of flour. Anyway, 7 mile is clearing their shelf now (or did so yesterday)
I didn't see any in Shopper's kosher section last week.
Which is the Gucci Giant?

It's the Giant on Old Court and Reisterstown.
The beans arent' in the kosher section at Shoppers.

Why? Because it's slightly higher class than the one by Clarks?

Yes, slightly.
I don't know, that's what all the old yentas in Baltimore call it, so that's the name it gets. I actually think that it's that name because of its size. Back in the day, the other Giants were smaller stores, so this was called the Gucchi Giant.

This specific location? I thought the old Old Court moved there...
Anyway, I should probably visit that Giant, but the problem is nowadays I take my kids with me when I go to the library, but I hate taking them shopping, and I don't want to have to make a special trip there.
Shoppers is on the way from my sitter to work.

Does Giant in the Plaza have?

It has been called the Gucci Giant for a very long time. My boss who hasn't been in the area for about 15 years, said that even back then it was called the Gucci Giant. That was in the days when it was a smaller store. It didn't move to that location. It's been in that location for at least 20 years. They built a new store behind the old one about 10 years ago. Then they knocked the old one down.

Giant is expensive anyway. Anyone who shops there or at Safeway is asking to get ripped off.

So why are you complaining I shop by 7 mile? For the Jewish things (cholent beans), I do better at 7 mile than anywhere else.

I guess you don't feel like I do - that shopping at 7-Mile is the food equivalent of getting your teenage son a cheap hooker - it might save you money in the short term, but get ready for some trips to the doctor's office.

I don't follow the connection.
I have gotten moldy cheese from Giant, thank you very much.

Yea but have you gotten green chicken there? Or do they still bleach the chicken to stop the greening process?

I check the chickenI check the chicken first. No`I check the chicken first. No time to go to a butcher.