Bargain Cheese

Our local grocery store has this thing they do that I love. They mark things down, sometimes just a little, sometimes 90% off, usually about half off. I find these lovely orange and yellow "Manager's Special" labels and go kind of crazy. I know exactly where in the store they hide all the discount bins. Our menu for the week depends on what bargain specials I find.

So the other day, I'm poking through a bin of bargain deli items and find this white cheese. It looks okay, no moldy spot or weird looking fuzzy bits inside the wrapper, so I take it home to try it out.

Best cheese decision ever!

It's Sartori Montamoré cheese. It melts into a creamy goo of scrumptious delectable cheesiness. Slightly sharp (like parmesan and swiss had a baby) a little sweet, sort of nutty, and creamy when cooked, it was absolutely delightful. I ate way more than I should have, especially when we used it to make a stroganoff sauce for meatballs and noodles. Recipe forthcoming on Thursday. It was that good.

So, books, like cheese, sometimes get marked down as bargains. I can't resist if the cover looks at all intriguing. Usually it only takes a few pages before you realize why the poor book has been relegated to the bargain table. But every once in a while, you get a real gem.

Back in the late '80s, Science Fiction Book Club had a book on clearance for about $3. Titled "The Colour of Magic" by Terry Pratchett, it caught my eye. I'd never heard of him, but the book sounded like it might be fun and $3 isn't much so I gave it a shot. I adored that book and bought every other book I could find that he wrote, especially his Discworld series. He was like Douglas Adams on Prozac, a happier, gentler kind of satire. Sadly, he passed away a few months ago. The world has lost another comic genius.

Have you ever bought a bargain item that was worth every penny and a whole lot more? Tell me about it in the comments!

And speaking of bargains, if you haven't snagged a copy of Nexus Point yet, the ebook is only ninety-nine cents.

Why Attend Conventions?

Answer: They're fun! And you can have fangeek moments and no one gives you strange looks. And you can network with other people who have similar interests.

I spent last weekend in Phoenix AZ at the First North American Discworld Convention. Sir Terry Pratchett is amazingly funny, friendly, and a true gentleman. The con was well-run and very enjoyable.

And I agree with Sir Terry's comment: "I've never seen so many corsets in one place at one time in my life!"

Thanks to the committee and the guest of honor and the others who attended for making it a great experience.