Thrift Score

I have bought so many things in thrift shops that it's had to guess what portion of them were put to good use or left to collect dust for years. For some time I have been wanting the exact item you see here in my kitchen, and here it is, never used, perfectly clean and complete, and for a very low price. Ceridwen has one that's the size smaller, of a different brand perhaps, and with a suction fastening instead of my table clamp.

I have no history of owning these things. I learned how great they are; what a difference they make, from making limpet cakes on the green hills of Wales. And not being electrical is a major quality! These are still sold in stores, but mine might be as old as I am, judging from the box & manual.

I'm not quite sure what sort of burgers I'll make for the inaugural grind, the maiden mince. the main thing is that I consciously wanted this very thing and there it was waiting when I entered the Second Mile Center, and when I could buy it.

My title is borrowed from a once-celebrated zine, Thrift Score by Al Hoff of Pittsburgh. She had a huge following back in the 1990s, writing about finding wonderful things for pennies. I would send this memoir to Al[lison] if her zine was still around, but I thought it would do well as a blip. With Laura Earle and the well-catted table leg in the frame, all the stars are in their right places.