Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for April 28, 2020

Luann scores!! Jack is coming to dinner!

and they’re at lucky cashier #7

Look out folks Jack is back!

Well I may have been wrong about Jack being on the outs! Fancy, that!

Greg’s Grocery Software Co.’s software in on their system. WOW!

A A fermented milk drink? What would AA say about that?…

For that price they could have scored some steaks.

Trader’s Joe Market? Fancy herbs.

Their supermarket has grains of paradise? I’ve wanted that for years but never saw it on the shelves.

Luann’s got them sultry looks goin’ for her. Somebody called the possibility that Jack could be the new roomer. Now that would be an interesting arc!!!

Is he finally going to get past the friend zone?

Maybe if dinner’s late, Mom will make it a foursome. Probably a good idea since Dad will probably be hyperventilating by then.

Sounds like an invite.

End to the friend zone?

If you can’t stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen, Jack. Luann wants to turn on more than just the stove. I see that Heart of the City has a new artist and radical new style. A few years back, Baldo experimented with a more realistic style. Didn’t last long. Despite some harsh treatment, Greg has been doing this strip for over 30 years, drawing has improved, critics wither by the road side, and everyone at the bank knows him by his first name.

I never could resist guys with curly hair and muscles who can cook.

They shop in an amazing grocery store where all the items they want are there and most of them are on the same aisle. The only downside is that aisle is not very well lit and it appears you have to be able to recognize the food in the dark.

Kind of pricey for three.

What do I know, though? I ate two Ramen packs yesterday.

Since she invited jack to dinner with beef stew w/ veggies as the main course, i wonder what (or who) dessert is? Given the sultry seductive look on her face.

Yes! Now this is the storyline we need in these troubled times!!

SM makes a point that maybe Luann has other than romantic notions inviting Jack so he can cook, but even if so that means even more. She would not want to disappoint her dad, and dad and mom will have the most interesting reaction(s). I think this is clearly, clearly, clearly the key to the lock of love some of us, including me have been predicting. They make such a hot couple, look how they are drawn together.

I truly loathe all those recipes that have mile-long ingredient lists. What? They have secret contracts with grocers to list all those stuff to keep them in business?? What do the recipe book or website foodie authors get in return?? I ignore most of the useless and expensive spices and stick with the old salt, pepper, seasoning salt and sometimes ranch dressing or whichever flavor that might go well with which dish and Worcestershire sauce to substitute for all those spices. The dishes I made with substitutes tasted good which was all what mattered to me. See that $65 grocery bill – very true.

There’s no pepper at home? Now I could see needing cumin because Jack is coming and even turmeric…

Save the cardamom for your coffee.

I made Tandoori Chicken one time. Those spices are expensive!!

Honestly, I think Jack and Luann would make for a very cute couple. They just seem to click together whenever they meet up anywhere, whether it be at the park or in this case, the supermarket..

Luann’s finally making sense.

Luann as she gets home and opens the front door: “Dad! Guess who we’re having for dinner? Jack!”

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Frank: “Now, Luann, you know I’ve gone vegan…”

I “love” how the “ingredients” have quote “marks” around them. Look at this so-called “cumin”, they just made that “up”, no way that’s “real”! We are making “wise” choices within our “budget”!

E-Z stew does not sound all that easy to make.

He’s come a long way in her eyes since he dropped that bowling ball on her foot. They’ll get hitched one day, you’ll see.

I see where this is going. A dinner invite could lead to a new roommate, which will stop Nancy from working at the Fuse.

Jack doesn’t realize he’s going to be the cook.

$65.29? For that ONE bag of groceries???? What? I thought the DeGroots were in financial straits. If that’s the case, there’s no reason to buy filet mignon for stew! There’s cuts of beef called “stew meat” that’s far cheaper. The recipe she’s trying calls for some exotic $pice$? Why?

Tip for those who need to spend money wisely… go to ethnic markets for meat, and the local produce market for spices. If you shop well, that $65.29 can buy three bags of groceries and enough meat and veggies to last a week. Chicken leg quarters are still less than $1 a pound. A bag of potatoes, a bag of carrots, a bag of rice… and everyone gets fed for days.

Welcome to the family stew, Jack! :D

Have you ever looked at the unit prices of spices? They’re outrageous!

They don’t have Thyme in the house? And I get a kick out of “cumin” being in quotes, like it’s incredibly exotic.

Get some meat, throw in some vegetables, spice it using your own taste buds. Stew.

That’s some expensive stew. It better feed the family and Jack for a couple of days at least. Good to see Luann flirting a bit.

Go get him Luann, he’s one of the good guys

whoa, didn’t they have ANY spices at home?

No, it’s still pricey for three. Though they’ll likely have plenty of leftovers.

I thought Luann always went with the times surprised not to see them wearing facemasks

There’s a spice called Allspice. Just buy one of those, skip the rest, and save some dough.

I think GnK are just jerking us around. Few of the “regular” commenters have considered them couple material since Tara’s comment in Chem Lab.

Luann, you sly dog!

Grains of Paradise: Pepper, cardamom and a little lemon peel. Much cheaper!

I think kingbrlee has ferreted out the real reason for the sultry invite!

The joke here is on Luann for choosing a dish with so many expensive ingredients. She is spending every cent Nancy is earning on spices. Live and learn! But I am enjoying where this is going with Jack.

$20 per person for a stew is still expensive… But math was never her forte.

OK folks. Let’s review the bidding on “Jack.”

“Jack” is your classic comic book “nice guy.” Hunky. A jock. Treats girls with respect, is compliant with their wishes. What young girls consider as “big brother” material, i.e., a “safe date.” Not really boyfriend material unless he has some star quality; sports star (Kip), hero (Brad, Ben York), rich daddy.

Something will have to change from what we’ve seen so far for Jack to pop out as “couple material.” Maybe Tara will make a play for him and stir up Luann’s competitive juices again.

Luann, you slinky little weasel.

Despite a somewhat rocky start at school, I’ve always thought there was a good chance for a romance between these two.

I’m glad Luann invited Jack over for dinner♡. I hope he will also help her in cooking. Cooking together is a great thing for couples♡. Can’t wait to see what Frank will think about dinner & Jack.

I like Jack.

I think we are looking at this all wrong – Luann, judging by her eyes, is about to have a stroke and she lost her senses by saying “three”.

A hunk a, hunk a , dinner is served!

Actually yes, $65 is pricey for three, as well.

I do like Jack and I hope they become an item—always best to start as friends.

I thought Jack met that girl at the dog park but then again perhaps Luann is just being friendly and platonic with no ulterior motives…… However, perhaps Jack is available and he is probably the nicest guy she associates with and he seems to be devoid of insecurity issues unlike our guy Gunnie!

Spices are expensive. But they can be used over and over for many meals, as could some of the other items on her list. I look forward to seeing Jack in the kitchen (Frank and Nancy’s kitchen).

“The Pricey’s Right”

“Guess Who’s Cumin To Dinner”

“We Meat Again”

“Heaven In The Seventh Aisle (♪♫)”

“Stew For Two, Or Stew For Three / Just Me And You, And Da-a-addy! (♪♫)”

Not for nothing, but where is the supermarket where the register is opposite the conveyor belt, instead of adjacent to it?

Has anyone here ever used Kefir in a beef stew recipe? I’ve never used it in anything.

Meat is about to get even more expensive…

Good grief! Do any commenters on here cook?! I have all these things in my cupboard, except kefir milk, and use these spices fairly regularly.

Luann and Jack are certainly more creative/adventurous than I. I’m a simple guy with simple (perhaps even boring) tastes. Give me a can of Dinty Moore and some fresh onions for extra flavor, and I’m good to go. Of course, I like the MRE beef stew with Tabasco, so what does that say about my palate?

If Jack’s destined to be the new boyfriend, could he go to the same head drawing style altering facility that transformed Brad when he was dating Tony?

Most of those ingredients can be used more than once, especially the spices, so the next time she wants to make this it would cost significantly less.

Grains of Paradise!!

YUSSSS!

Given the outbreaks at Tyson’s and Smithfield you better get your meat now before it turns into toilet paper.

That’s pricey, alright. Of course if it includes a slew of 3-oz. jars of herbs and spices, that would add up pretty quickly.

Stew doesn’t really need a recipe. In the early afternoon, throw whatever meat you have into the crockpot with a bit of wine. Add your root vegetables, a can of mushrooms with the juice, and whatever seed spices you like (and a dollop of butter if you’re feeling decadent. Go do something else for awhile. Come back, stir it, and add whatever leafy vegetables you have, and the rest of whatever herbs and spices you fancy. It never has to be the same combination twice. Stir again and let it do its thing. By supper-time it will have turned into stew.

Maybe Nancy should stay at home, if her going to work causes Luann and Frank to spend $65.29 for one average day’s dinner. And they wonder why they have money problems…

On my coarse pepper shaker, I have a label that says “Flyspeck’s Fleaspecks”. Or, is that “Fleaspeck’s Flyspecks”?

Tomorrow’s strip:

(La cocina en Casa DeGroot)

Jack: Smells awesome, Luann! This stew is gonna turn out great! Uh, why are you putting your nail files and emory boards in the pot?

Luann: I went overboard with buying spices, so when I saw “file” on the recipe list, I knew that we already had plenty of those at home. I wasn’t sure if I should use the ones in Dad’s toolbox, but these nail files are cleaner!

As an inexperienced shopper, Luann has probably been making many “rookie” mistakes in choosing what to buy. With a knowledgeable guide she should do better in time.

Doesn’t everyone have plenty of Tumeric, thyme, cumin, pepper, and cardemom on hand? Luann probably doesn’t realize her mom already has spices available. They’re expensive to buy a new bottle every time you need a quarter teaspoon.

Gets expensive at Whole Paycheck. Then again, about $30 or so of that is seasonings that will be able to be used for a while.

It turns out that selling liquor infused with grains of paradise is a third-degree felony under an obscure law passed over 150 years ago — during an era when some people believed the spice was a poisonous drug that could morph drinkers into suicidal madmen.

One can get a pound (16 oz.) of Grains of Paradise for $29 here:

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https://www.myspicesage.com/grains-of-paradise-p-133.html?gclid=CjwKCAjwqJ_1BRBZEiwAv73uwPGXxML3A5jBDU4ANhP2_7xViHpzCsfInPr-A5iyZf6A7PhTNTxYWxoCyAcQAvD_BwE

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Gin not included.

…Why are some basic ingredients in quotes like they’re some strange, exotic, foreign substance? Wow! Cumin! Such a rare and perplexing ingredient that it’s in most $5 chili seasoning packets!

That isn’t to say there aren’t some unusual ingredients in there. You probably don’t need to pick up grains of paradise or cardamom unless the recipe specifically asks for them… and if the recipe calls for BOTH of them then I question how good the recipe is, since they’re so similar in taste that you could substitute one for the other. If the recipe DOESN’T ask for them, then don’t. Get. Them. Impulse buying extra items will very quickly drive up the final cost.

And kefir? What kind of generic E-Z stew is asking for an ingredient most grocery stores don’t even have? I can’t even find a beef stew recipe that uses kefir… it makes me wonder if there’s even an actual stew recipe being referenced here, or if the writers just decided to throw in whatever sounded exotic and expensive, even if it makes no sense.

On that note, I really have to wonder how this ended up at $65. Meat can be expensive, though stews usually use the cheapest meat cuts. Kefir might be expensive depending on what form it’s in. However, a store that’s selling kefir is likely large enough to also have a Hispanic or Asian section, where you can often find better deals on spices. I’ve seen small 1-oz bags of spice that go for a buck or two, maybe five if it’s a really fancy spice. It’s not feasible if you need it bulk, but if you just want it for a few dishes then it’s a good buy.

In other words, the only way I can see a simple stew going to $65 is if Luann bought brand-name organic roasted cumin and beautifully marbled steak instead of just getting the value items. And if that’s the case, there are are a lot deeper problems here than having to buy exotic ingredients like thyme.

Finally!

I had to Google “Grains of paradise” to be sure it wasn’t something they made up.

Never ran across it before.

On Atlas Obscura’s Gastro Obscura page, they have an article wherein they eat stew made from a bison that was frozen in the permafrost about 50,000 years ago: “The Dinner Party That Served Up 50,000-Year-Old Bison Stew”

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https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/ancient-bison-stew-blue-babe-alaska

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Bon appetit! >>bleh<<

Luann making a move.

Well, well, well! What’s brewing in the stew here, hmm?

Well, well…

Everybody in the strip is growing up. It’s good to see.

Love the look in Luann’s eye.

Jack is one of those guys who’s so chill that you can’t even hate him when he takes your girlfriend.

Luann fires a shot across the bridge of the nose.