Saturday, January 3, 2015

spending for the week

I did our weekly shopping today.  I had success at the farmer's Market.  I almost didn't survive the grocery store, though.   Winter weather is expected tonight and the entire town is in a panic.  Yowza.


Farmer's Market $43
$39 spent on a whole chicken (4 lb) and (1.5 lbs) of chicken breasts
$4 Russet Potatoes


Walmart $5
Silicone baking cups - $4
$1 bamboo skewers


Sunflower Foods $10.81
Eggs $2.75
chocolate covered almonds $3.90
Bulk seasoning to make onion dip $4.16


Hannaford $83.43
straws $.99
natural peanut butter $4.19
Block Jack cheese $5
Mozzarella block $3.99
yeast 3 pack $1.69
whole grain white bread $2.59
Whole milk French vanilla yogurt $3.79
organic strawberry yogurt squeezies $3.29
whole grain white flour $3.49
Strawberry all fruit spread $1.99
Haagen Daaz vanilla ice cream $3.49
generic cheerios $2
organic tomato sauce $1.49
organic apple juice $2.99
Local, organic milk $3.95 (plus $2 glass bottle deposit)
I returned 3 ($6 credit, plus $2 charge)
Organic apple sauce squeezie $2.59
Annie's organic mac and cheese $2.59
gmo free tortilla chips $2.49
Organic butter $4.99
Organic edemame $4.59
Organic salsa $2.99
Organic coffee $6.29


broccoli $1.11
bananas $1.70
kiwi fruit $1.00
cantaloupe $3.49
Hothouse cuke $.99
organic sweet potatoes $4.69
cauliflower $2.99


Total Spent $142.24


still need to purchase 2 lbs of white fish and probably more milk, so approximately $20 more.


Not bad, but ideally I'd like to stay closer to $125/week.









New Year, new weekly menu!

Today I'm hitting our local Winter Farmers market.  I'm excited, I can't lie.  I've got my meal plan and shopping list ready to go


Today, Saturday January 3
Homemade Baked Beans (in the crockpot since last night) with Applegate Hotdogs (I hope my family will eat them... I might serve them on skewers, since my kids don't like buns or condiments ... but they do like things skewered....) I'm planning on making homemade onion dip so, I'll also serve some cut up fruits and veggies.


Sunday January 4
Crepes for breakfast with fruit (my husband makes very good crepes)
Pasta with meat sauce, salad and veggies


Monday January 5
Homemade chicken dippers (see skewer comment above), oven fries, sweet potato fries, and roasted cauliflower.


Tuesday January 6
Fish with rice and veggies


Wednesday January 7
Fish cakes (with leftover fish) served with Annie's mac and cheese, peas and veggies


Thursday January 8
Crockpot chicken, mashed potatoes, veggies


Friday January 9
BBQ chicken quesadilla


Saturday January 10
Chicken noodle soup with cheesy pizza


I struggle the most with finding interesting things to serve for breakfast. Ug, any ideas??







Friday, January 2, 2015

Unusual Problems or a day in the life

Our new year plan to eat more whole foods is going very well.  We've been drinking (really expensive) organic, local whole milk, which has been well received by my family.  I think it does taste better than the mass produced milk I used to buy. 


We were running low on milk tonight, low like there would not be any milk for the morning coffee.  This is a travesty that I cannot live with. I really need a cup of coffee or 2 in the morning.


My husband took our boys and scooted to the local health food store to grab a 1/2 gallon of milk.  He bought raw milk.  I didn't have the heart to criticize, but I was freaking out in my mind.


I sent a text to my dear friend who happens to be a nurse.  I wanted to let her know if my family fell ill, to please let the doctors know the illness is from the raw milk.


My husband put out boys to bed, while I researched raw milk.  I have confidence in the CDC, so I checked out their website.  I learned that I could "pasturize" it myself.  I simmered the milk between 170* and 180*F for 5 minutes.  Cleaned the bottle with soap and hot water then refilled the bottle with the hot milk.


Good news, I probably won't be sick tomorrow.