Price Check on Aisle Three

One of the comparisons I'm working on is the cost of buying Sandra Lee's recommended pre-packaged foods against the cost of making more-nearly-from-scratch versions of the recipes.

To this end, I have recruited a merry band of volunteer price-checkers across the US, and the results are coming in. Now, I shop frequently, but apparently from a fairly limited list. After spending a good 45 minutes in the market last evening, I'm officially a victim of sticker shock.

Part of it is Marin County, I'm sure, but when something is a dollar more for the identical item (applesauce) than in the Carolinas? Somethin' ain't right... I do know the greatest variety will be in dairy, probably eggs, too. But applesauce?!?


8/27/04 Looked at "pre-made" angel food cakes at two stores this morning - Whole Foods at $5.49, Cala at $3.99. The Cala cake looked smaller than the Whole Foods one, but I didn't have my tape measure with me... Martha Stewart probably would have!