In message Melba's Jammin' > wrote:

> In article Salty Thumb > wrote:
>
> > Should I splurge and get the Foodsaver or is the Black and Decker or
> > Rival okay? Not expecting to be using it a lot, maybe once or twice a
> > week.
>
> I just bought an inexpensive Tilia at Tuesday Morning - $30, I think. It
> will only use the 8" wide rolls. I don't know if that's good or bad. I'm
> thinking about getting the gizmo that will let me vac seal jars. That
> sounds appealing to me.
>
> I just bought replacement bag product at Wally World for HALF of what
> Tilia costs at Sam's. Half. And a friend has suggested a way to get more
> mileage out of those bags by making the bag way bigger than you need it
> the first time, and re-using. Tilia suggests the same, I believe.
>
I bought a Tilia back in England about 4 years ago (Mail Order), and have
used it consistently ever since. I bought the 2 sizes of bags available and
also the 'make your own bag rolls. After a bit of faffing around I got the
hang of it. It was a real boon for those 'special offer' days or 'out of
season' produce!

Then we moved, because of work commitments, to Belgium. I've brought over
enough food, sausages, smoked and plain bacon, haddock plain and smoked, and
a variety of English cheeses (unobtainable over here) to half fill a chest
freezer. I return annually to stock up. It's not that I dislike European
produce - I just love foods that I've grown up with and hundreds of the
recipes I use and develop could not otherwise be made.

Anyway, unfortunately, the machine gave up the ghost this year! I don't know
if I worked it to death, but I can say that it is now sorely missed. I have
tried to replace it but can't find a source for purchase :-(

Anyone know if it's possible? Perhaps an American PX store at a German base?
By the way, I got my bags sent over by a friendly lady who I email weekly in
Colorado. They cost me an arm and a leg because the Belgian customs put a tax
on equivalent to the original price of the goods - greedy leeches!!

Cheers

Don