Oh man, my friend Dana had the same thing happen with her mom's biscuit recipe. She got impatient and cut the butter in while it was still cold from the fridge, and those biscuits came out flat and tough. Her mom took one bite and just shook her head. Dana said the butter never really mixed in, it just sat there in little cold lumps. Now she pokes the butter with her finger every few minutes like she's checking a steak.

Isn't $38 tape just a fancy sticker for your wallet?

That $60 price tag is wild compared to what your mom paid. I got a small chest freezer for $50 at a scratch and dent sale about six years ago, mostly because I wanted to buy meat in bulk when it went on sale. It has never needed a single repair either, just a wipe down now and then. The power bill went up maybe two or three dollars a month, so it really does pay for itself fast if you fill it up.