Aldi is my friend.... ;-)
Artisan Lettuce 2 @ 1.99 $3.98
Iceberg Lettuce $ .99
Deli Sliced Cheese 3 @ 1.99 $5.97
Deli Sliced Ham $3.49
Bologna 2 @ .99 $1.98
Diced Tomatoes 8@ .59 $3.54
Cottage Cheese 2 @ 2.29 $4.58
Flat Leaf Spinach 2 @ 1.69 $3.38
Honey Wheat Bread 2 @ 1.29 $2.58
TOTAL = $ 30.49
I have been working on some recipes, but have lost a few of the pricing sheets, so I will have to wait to post about them until I can re-create the pricing pages of those recipes. A couple of them were made up on the fly, so I will have to really think hard, and with the holidays coming up, I have a limited amount of free time to focus on that. But, I will do it as soon as I can. :-)
t
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Groceries 10/16/13
I did not realize how long it had been since I posted anything. Busy, busy life!
Cinnamon Raisin Bread 2@ 1.99 $ 3.98
Sliced deli cheese 4 @ 1.99 $ 7.96
Turkey Bacon 2 @ 2.19 $ 4.38
Center Cut Bacon $ 3.99
Ground Turkey 8 @ 1.69 $13.52
String Cheese 3 @ 2.49 $ 7.47
Cottage Cheese 3 @ 2.29 $ 6.87
1 lb deli meat 3 @ 3.29 $ 9.87
Broccoli Florets 3 @ 1.09 $ 3.27
Shredded cheddar $ 3.29
Sweet Potatoes 2 @ 1.49 $ 2.98
Bananas 9.33 lbs @ .44 per lb $13.53
Celery $ 1.29
Green Apples 3 lb bag $ 2.99
Granny Smith Apples 3 lb bag $ 2.99
Gala Apples 3lb bag $ 2.99
Red Delicious 3lb bag $ 2.99
Green Peppers 3 count tray $ 1.29
Onions 3 lb bag $ .79
Carrots 2 lb bag $ .99
Red Grapes 2 lb clamshell 2 @ 2.98 $ 5.96
Green Grapes 2 lb clamshell $ 2.98
Eggs 3 dz @ 1.39/dz $ 4.17
Deluxe Almonds 3 @ 4.29 $12.87
Applesauce Cups 2 @ 1.69 $ 3.38
Cheese Sticks 2 @ .99 $ 1.98
Chewy Dipped Bars 2 @ 1.69 $ 3.38
Whipped Dressing $ 1.99
Rice Squares 3 @ 2.29 $ 6.87
TOTAL = $ 141.01
Did you know that Rice Chex are gluten free? I just found that out! So, the girls get Rice Chex now. Weaning, weaning, weaning! Trying to get the girls moving closer and closer to Paleo.
t
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
EGGS!!! 9/9/13
I went to Harps to grab some body wash and toilet paper, and decided to pick up a dozen eggs while I was there. Boy, am I glad that I did! They had eggs on Manager's Special for a dollar a dozen for the extra large hormone free variety. You know I was all over that!
20 dozen eggs @ 1.00 per dozen $ 20.00
I bought 20 dozen eggs. Yes, that is correct, I purchased 240 eggs at once.
3 dozen, I made immediately into hard boiled eggs for snacking, topping salads, and egg salad.
1 and a half more dozen, I made into 2 delicious frittatas. I had some leftover turkey meat/veggie mix from lettuce wraps the night before (http://paleoonthecheap.blogspot.com/2013/01/behold-power-of-lettuce-wrap.html) , so I added it to a skillet, dumped in a half bag of broccoli from the freezer, sliced two large tomatoes from the garden, diced a leftover chicken breast and mixed it all up till it was warm, then dumped it into pyrex pie plates for frittatas. Mmmmmm.... :-)
Leftover turkey wrap mix $ 1.50
Half a bag of frozen broccoli $ .45
Tomatoes from garden $ .35
Leftover chicken breast $ .40
18 eggs @ $1 per dozen $ 1.50
TOTAL = $ 4.20
$ 4.20 for TWO large frittatas! $2.10 per frittata! Each Frittata yields 6 slices, so it is ONLY $ .35 PER SLICE!!!!
$ .35 per slice for a goodly portion of frittata. Add that to a salad, or some soup, and you have got a great meal for very little money.
2 dozen more made their way into freezable mini frittatas (loosely based on this recipe from Paleo Parents... http://paleoparents.com/2011/mini-egg-pizzas/) for breakfasts on the go, or to be packed in lunches.
Added to the fact that we have omelets or eggs of some form just about every morning for breakfast, and the eggs will be gone by their "sell by" dates in no time at all!
If I get close to the date (roughly a week from now) and I still have a lot of them, then I will look at freezing some of them. Did you know that you can freeze eggs? Crack them into a ziplock baggie and freeze. Frozen eggs will not achieve the volume of fresh eggs when cooked up, so they work best for baking, but in a pinch some eggs, thawed from frozen, can scramble with veggies and cheese for breakfast just fine to my way of thinking. To cut down on the sandwich bag waste, I plan on putting three per bag, since that is a standard serving around here.
I think that is it about my eggstravaganza! ;-)
t
20 dozen eggs @ 1.00 per dozen $ 20.00
I bought 20 dozen eggs. Yes, that is correct, I purchased 240 eggs at once.
3 dozen, I made immediately into hard boiled eggs for snacking, topping salads, and egg salad.
1 and a half more dozen, I made into 2 delicious frittatas. I had some leftover turkey meat/veggie mix from lettuce wraps the night before (http://paleoonthecheap.blogspot.com/2013/01/behold-power-of-lettuce-wrap.html) , so I added it to a skillet, dumped in a half bag of broccoli from the freezer, sliced two large tomatoes from the garden, diced a leftover chicken breast and mixed it all up till it was warm, then dumped it into pyrex pie plates for frittatas. Mmmmmm.... :-)
Leftover turkey wrap mix $ 1.50
Half a bag of frozen broccoli $ .45
Tomatoes from garden $ .35
Leftover chicken breast $ .40
18 eggs @ $1 per dozen $ 1.50
TOTAL = $ 4.20
$ 4.20 for TWO large frittatas! $2.10 per frittata! Each Frittata yields 6 slices, so it is ONLY $ .35 PER SLICE!!!!
$ .35 per slice for a goodly portion of frittata. Add that to a salad, or some soup, and you have got a great meal for very little money.
2 dozen more made their way into freezable mini frittatas (loosely based on this recipe from Paleo Parents... http://paleoparents.com/2011/mini-egg-pizzas/) for breakfasts on the go, or to be packed in lunches.
Added to the fact that we have omelets or eggs of some form just about every morning for breakfast, and the eggs will be gone by their "sell by" dates in no time at all!
If I get close to the date (roughly a week from now) and I still have a lot of them, then I will look at freezing some of them. Did you know that you can freeze eggs? Crack them into a ziplock baggie and freeze. Frozen eggs will not achieve the volume of fresh eggs when cooked up, so they work best for baking, but in a pinch some eggs, thawed from frozen, can scramble with veggies and cheese for breakfast just fine to my way of thinking. To cut down on the sandwich bag waste, I plan on putting three per bag, since that is a standard serving around here.
I think that is it about my eggstravaganza! ;-)
t
Groceries 9/4/13 and 9/11/13
On the 4th, I popped into WM Neighborhood Market specifically to grab 2 bags of chopped kale. They did not have the 1 lb bag of chopped Kale at the Neighborhood Market, so I picked up 2 tubs of baby kale. They were 5 ounces each, and cost $2.98. That is about the same cost as the 1 lb bags of chopped fully grown kale. I understand why, though. Microgreens (baby greens) are more nutrient dense than the fully grown version. Nutrient density between the two options is probably similar between the 5 oz of baby greens vs the 1 lb of full grown greens. Yet, I prefer to buy the larger bags because they go farther than the baby greens.
I am working on talking myself into a 10 day long green smoothie "fast". I have lots of frozen fruits that I purchased on sale and processed myself, so I know there are no added sugars. I have been doing at least one green smoothie for the last few days, and have tweaked my recipe to the point that I think I could have it as my primary food for 10 days. Adding a few new recipes will help. Wish me luck!
9/4/13 - WM Neighborhood Market
Baby Kale 5 oz clamshell 2@ 2.98 $ 5.96
9/11/13 - Wal-Mart
Bag Kale 1lb bag 2@ 2.78 $ 5.56
1 bag boneless skinless chicken thighs $ 5.98
String Cheese 24 count 2 @ 5.98 $11.96
Vidalia Onion 4 lb bag $ 4.28
Spaghetti Squash (4 squashes) 9.96 lbs @ 1.38 per lb $ 13.74
Bacon 3 lb $ 14.68
Avocado price matched to Aldi's ad 8 @ .33 each $ 2.64
TOTAL = $ 58.84
t
I am working on talking myself into a 10 day long green smoothie "fast". I have lots of frozen fruits that I purchased on sale and processed myself, so I know there are no added sugars. I have been doing at least one green smoothie for the last few days, and have tweaked my recipe to the point that I think I could have it as my primary food for 10 days. Adding a few new recipes will help. Wish me luck!
9/4/13 - WM Neighborhood Market
Baby Kale 5 oz clamshell 2@ 2.98 $ 5.96
9/11/13 - Wal-Mart
Bag Kale 1lb bag 2@ 2.78 $ 5.56
1 bag boneless skinless chicken thighs $ 5.98
String Cheese 24 count 2 @ 5.98 $11.96
Vidalia Onion 4 lb bag $ 4.28
Spaghetti Squash (4 squashes) 9.96 lbs @ 1.38 per lb $ 13.74
Bacon 3 lb $ 14.68
Avocado price matched to Aldi's ad 8 @ .33 each $ 2.64
TOTAL = $ 58.84
t
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
My addiction to Sister Wives and a possible Paleo component??
Okay, so my guilty viewing pleasures are "Game Of Thrones" and "Sister Wives", which I watch through our AppleTV on iTunes. With the hundred bucks we are saving a month by not having cable (and I have no idea how much cable would be with HBO added for "Game Of Thrones") and only having Hulu+ and Netflix, we get to really look at what shows we think are worth spending money specifically on. With the whole iTunes streaming to the Apple TV thing, we only spend our viewing money on shows we like, and not just what is on the tube because we are bored.
I cannot tell you how excited I became when I saw Sunday's show and in a conversation Janelle was having with her personal trainer, she mentioned that she had gone "grain free" !!!!!!! OMG, if I could find a way to get a message to her, I would totally send her a link to listen to "The Paleo View" and "Latest In Paleo", which are - hands down - my favorite podcasts. I would send her links to this blog, and nom nom paleo, and paleo parents, and The Paleo Mom, and I really hope that she shares more of her grain free journey on the show, and I wonder if she is going to evolve to a paleo lifestyle.
Like Angelo Coppola says on "Latest In Paleo"; "It just seems that when you truly commit to eating for health, all roads lead to Paleo." At least, I hope I am quoting him correctly. :-)
t
I cannot tell you how excited I became when I saw Sunday's show and in a conversation Janelle was having with her personal trainer, she mentioned that she had gone "grain free" !!!!!!! OMG, if I could find a way to get a message to her, I would totally send her a link to listen to "The Paleo View" and "Latest In Paleo", which are - hands down - my favorite podcasts. I would send her links to this blog, and nom nom paleo, and paleo parents, and The Paleo Mom, and I really hope that she shares more of her grain free journey on the show, and I wonder if she is going to evolve to a paleo lifestyle.
Like Angelo Coppola says on "Latest In Paleo"; "It just seems that when you truly commit to eating for health, all roads lead to Paleo." At least, I hope I am quoting him correctly. :-)
t
Sunday, September 8, 2013
Groceries 9/4/2013
First visit to Aldi for the month - yay!
Almond Milk 3@ 2.49 $ 7.47
Cantaloupe 3 @ .99 $ 2.97
1 lb sliced lunchmeat $ 2.99
Spaghetti Sauce 3 @ 1.19 $ 3.57
12 oz hot dogs 2 @ .75 $ 1.50
Valencia Oranges 3lb bag $ 2.99
Parmasean Cheese $ 2.39
Crescent Rolls 2 @ 1.39 $ 2.78
Carrots 2lb bag $ .99
Roma Tomatoes $ 1.49
Broccoli Florets $ 1.09
Frozen Corn $ .95
Flat Leaf Spinach 2 @ 1.69 $ 3.38
Romaine Hearts $ 1.99
Artisan Lettuce 2 @ 1.99 $ 3.98
Banana 15.65 lbs @ .29 per lb. $ 4.54
Thick Sliced Bacon 3 @ 5.99 $ 17.97
Deluxe American Slices $ 2.79
Shredded Mozzarella $ 3.29
Cream Cheese 2@ 1.29 $ 2.58
Wide Pan Wheat Bread 2 @ 1.69 $ 3.38
Avocados 5 @ .33 $ 1.65
Nectarines 7@ .25 $ 1.75
6 pack Raisins $ 1.19
Deluxe Almonds 4 @ 4.29 $17.16
TOTAL = $ 96.83
The corn went into a casserole that I provided for a friend, made according to her recipe, to pitch in while her husband is laid low with illness.
The crescent rolls and the hot dogs went into making hot dog rolls for a sleepover.
t
Almond Milk 3@ 2.49 $ 7.47
Cantaloupe 3 @ .99 $ 2.97
1 lb sliced lunchmeat $ 2.99
Spaghetti Sauce 3 @ 1.19 $ 3.57
12 oz hot dogs 2 @ .75 $ 1.50
Valencia Oranges 3lb bag $ 2.99
Parmasean Cheese $ 2.39
Crescent Rolls 2 @ 1.39 $ 2.78
Carrots 2lb bag $ .99
Roma Tomatoes $ 1.49
Broccoli Florets $ 1.09
Frozen Corn $ .95
Flat Leaf Spinach 2 @ 1.69 $ 3.38
Romaine Hearts $ 1.99
Artisan Lettuce 2 @ 1.99 $ 3.98
Banana 15.65 lbs @ .29 per lb. $ 4.54
Thick Sliced Bacon 3 @ 5.99 $ 17.97
Deluxe American Slices $ 2.79
Shredded Mozzarella $ 3.29
Cream Cheese 2@ 1.29 $ 2.58
Wide Pan Wheat Bread 2 @ 1.69 $ 3.38
Avocados 5 @ .33 $ 1.65
Nectarines 7@ .25 $ 1.75
6 pack Raisins $ 1.19
Deluxe Almonds 4 @ 4.29 $17.16
TOTAL = $ 96.83
The corn went into a casserole that I provided for a friend, made according to her recipe, to pitch in while her husband is laid low with illness.
The crescent rolls and the hot dogs went into making hot dog rolls for a sleepover.
t
Friday, September 6, 2013
365 Day Spending Fast Update - August
August went by so quickly, it shocked me. Getting everything together for school, going to the lake a few more times before school started. Life was crazy/busy, but it was good.
August - $44.34 (ish) in un-budgeted expenses.
August 4th - $21.34 McDonalds breakfast for 5 little girls - Girls had a sleepover, and one of the girls that slept over rejected every single item that I suggested to her for breakfast. I asked her what she normally has, and she told me "McDonalds, because everything else hurts my tummy." Later, when I mentioned to her mother that we had McDonalds for breakfast, and I hope it was okay, she laughed and said that she drives through McDonalds more than she cooks. If this is true, it makes me sad.
I do not remember the date or exact amount, but I spent $23ish dollars on some new shoes for Thing1. Her flip flops and sandals were just fine, but suddenly none of her tennis shoes fit. Like, overnight they did not fit. 2 pairs of tennis shoes that I had not intended on buying for some more months.
Groceries for August - $152.99 I know, right????
We ate out of the freezer a lot in August. I finally kept to my word of trying to empty the chest freezer to make room for a half cow, a whole hog, or a deer. I have a friend whose neighbor hunts, and if I cover his expenses, and pay for the processing, I might very well get an entire deer's worth of meat in November. I definitely need to make room for that!
So, the SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) amount is $668 - $152.99 = $515.01 rollover for this month! BOOM! That's what I'm talking' bout! (sorry, just saw Despicable Me2)
My current month of rollover, added to the rollover amount from Jan-July is $1,076.43. Kid you not.
See for yourself: $515.01+$561.42 = $1076.43
Maybe it is time to really look at weaning the family off corporately harvested meats. Food for thought....
t
August - $44.34 (ish) in un-budgeted expenses.
August 4th - $21.34 McDonalds breakfast for 5 little girls - Girls had a sleepover, and one of the girls that slept over rejected every single item that I suggested to her for breakfast. I asked her what she normally has, and she told me "McDonalds, because everything else hurts my tummy." Later, when I mentioned to her mother that we had McDonalds for breakfast, and I hope it was okay, she laughed and said that she drives through McDonalds more than she cooks. If this is true, it makes me sad.
I do not remember the date or exact amount, but I spent $23ish dollars on some new shoes for Thing1. Her flip flops and sandals were just fine, but suddenly none of her tennis shoes fit. Like, overnight they did not fit. 2 pairs of tennis shoes that I had not intended on buying for some more months.
Groceries for August - $152.99 I know, right????
We ate out of the freezer a lot in August. I finally kept to my word of trying to empty the chest freezer to make room for a half cow, a whole hog, or a deer. I have a friend whose neighbor hunts, and if I cover his expenses, and pay for the processing, I might very well get an entire deer's worth of meat in November. I definitely need to make room for that!
So, the SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) amount is $668 - $152.99 = $515.01 rollover for this month! BOOM! That's what I'm talking' bout! (sorry, just saw Despicable Me2)
My current month of rollover, added to the rollover amount from Jan-July is $1,076.43. Kid you not.
See for yourself: $515.01+$561.42 = $1076.43
Maybe it is time to really look at weaning the family off corporately harvested meats. Food for thought....
t
Thursday, September 5, 2013
Paleo Gumbo
Something happened while downloading pictures, and they were lost. The next time I make this, I will take pictures and share. Sorry for not having pictures of the process.
One of the things that I have been meaning to turn into a Paleo meal is Gumbo. I love Gumbo! Husband loves Gumbo! Thing1 loves Gumbo! Thing 2 won't touch Gumbo! :-)
The recipe that I have been using for years does not include mushrooms, but I got a fabulous deal recently, so I thought I would try them in the recipe, and they are a tasty addition.
1/4 Coconut Oil $ .70
Bone Broth $ .25
4-6 cups water FREE
2 Tbsp Coconut Flour $ .20
1 large onion, diced (I used a vidalia) $ .35
3 cloves garlic $ .15
4 - 7 stalks celery (I used 6 this time) $ .60
2-3 chopped bell peppers (I used 3 today) $ .99
1 can diced tomato $ .59
1 bay leaf $ .05
1/2 tsp dried thyme $ .10
1 lb okra (fresh or frozen) $1.89
1/2 Tbsp cayenne pepper $ .05
S & P to taste $ .10
Sliced Mushrooms $ .79
EZ Peel shrimp 1 lb $ 4.99
TOTAL = $11.80
I had half of a large cooked Spaghetti Squash in the refrigerator. I peeled the squash from the hard shell, and cut it across the bias, so that I have short strands of squash. Normally, I would serve over riced cauliflower, but I only have frozen cauliflower, and I am not sure how easily it rices. So, over spaghetti squash it is! I would guestimate that the 1/2 of Spaghetti Squash is $2.00 or $2.50.
$11.80 + $2.50 = $14.30 for a gumbo and spaghetti squash dinner for 4, and leftover gumbo for more than 3 more meals. If you divide the gumbo by 7 servings, it is $1.69 per serving, but the spaghetti squash will more than likely cover only 3 servings. $2.50 divided 3 times $ .84
3 servings @ $1.69 + $ .84 = $2.53
4 servings @ $1.69
$1.69 for PALEO GUMBO!! $2.53 for PALEO GUMBO with Spaghetti Squash! You can't get a meal like that for anywhere near that price. Heck, you cannot get a happy meal for $2.53.
Making meals like this makes me feel kind of like a mad scientist.
I used my trusty stock pot. I prefer to use the stock pot, rather than my dutch oven, the size is more forgiving, and I have tried to make gumbo and wound up with too much gumbo and not enough pot before.
Melt your coconut oil, sprinkle in your coconut flour. Mix until your roux is the color of a copper penny, maybe a little darker.
Add chopped onion and bell pepper, dumping them in will give off a sweet sizzling sound, and stir them until fully coated in the roux. Cover and turn down the heat. Cook until onion and peppers are a little softened.
When they are slightly softened, add 1 cup of bone broth to deglaze. Add diced celery and stir. Cover and simmer for 5-10 minutes. Add all the other ingredients, cover, and turn heat to low. I suggest topping off your water as you go, to make sure that you do not add too much and make a dish that should be stew-like into something soupy.
It is only because I soften my onion and peppers that it takes me so long to get everything into the pot. Once your roux is done (15 minutes approx) you can simply dump everything into the pot, cover it, turn the heat to low, and let it simmer and meld for between 1 and 3 hours. I layered mine over the course of about 45 minutes to get everything in and make sure that everything had a chance to meld. I tend to do that when trying out or creating a new recipe. But, this will wind up being an easy 15 minutes to toss, then simmer for 1-3 hours kind of a recipe.
t
One of the things that I have been meaning to turn into a Paleo meal is Gumbo. I love Gumbo! Husband loves Gumbo! Thing1 loves Gumbo! Thing 2 won't touch Gumbo! :-)
The recipe that I have been using for years does not include mushrooms, but I got a fabulous deal recently, so I thought I would try them in the recipe, and they are a tasty addition.
1/4 Coconut Oil $ .70
Bone Broth $ .25
4-6 cups water FREE
2 Tbsp Coconut Flour $ .20
1 large onion, diced (I used a vidalia) $ .35
3 cloves garlic $ .15
4 - 7 stalks celery (I used 6 this time) $ .60
2-3 chopped bell peppers (I used 3 today) $ .99
1 can diced tomato $ .59
1 bay leaf $ .05
1/2 tsp dried thyme $ .10
1 lb okra (fresh or frozen) $1.89
1/2 Tbsp cayenne pepper $ .05
S & P to taste $ .10
Sliced Mushrooms $ .79
EZ Peel shrimp 1 lb $ 4.99
TOTAL = $11.80
I had half of a large cooked Spaghetti Squash in the refrigerator. I peeled the squash from the hard shell, and cut it across the bias, so that I have short strands of squash. Normally, I would serve over riced cauliflower, but I only have frozen cauliflower, and I am not sure how easily it rices. So, over spaghetti squash it is! I would guestimate that the 1/2 of Spaghetti Squash is $2.00 or $2.50.
$11.80 + $2.50 = $14.30 for a gumbo and spaghetti squash dinner for 4, and leftover gumbo for more than 3 more meals. If you divide the gumbo by 7 servings, it is $1.69 per serving, but the spaghetti squash will more than likely cover only 3 servings. $2.50 divided 3 times $ .84
3 servings @ $1.69 + $ .84 = $2.53
4 servings @ $1.69
$1.69 for PALEO GUMBO!! $2.53 for PALEO GUMBO with Spaghetti Squash! You can't get a meal like that for anywhere near that price. Heck, you cannot get a happy meal for $2.53.
Making meals like this makes me feel kind of like a mad scientist.
I used my trusty stock pot. I prefer to use the stock pot, rather than my dutch oven, the size is more forgiving, and I have tried to make gumbo and wound up with too much gumbo and not enough pot before.
Melt your coconut oil, sprinkle in your coconut flour. Mix until your roux is the color of a copper penny, maybe a little darker.
Add chopped onion and bell pepper, dumping them in will give off a sweet sizzling sound, and stir them until fully coated in the roux. Cover and turn down the heat. Cook until onion and peppers are a little softened.
When they are slightly softened, add 1 cup of bone broth to deglaze. Add diced celery and stir. Cover and simmer for 5-10 minutes. Add all the other ingredients, cover, and turn heat to low. I suggest topping off your water as you go, to make sure that you do not add too much and make a dish that should be stew-like into something soupy.
It is only because I soften my onion and peppers that it takes me so long to get everything into the pot. Once your roux is done (15 minutes approx) you can simply dump everything into the pot, cover it, turn the heat to low, and let it simmer and meld for between 1 and 3 hours. I layered mine over the course of about 45 minutes to get everything in and make sure that everything had a chance to meld. I tend to do that when trying out or creating a new recipe. But, this will wind up being an easy 15 minutes to toss, then simmer for 1-3 hours kind of a recipe.
t
Sunday, August 25, 2013
Groceries so far in August 2013 8/11/13, 8/16/13, 8/22/13
I have been accumulating food in my freezer. I normally have a menu, and have been working back towards that. I have odds and ends in my freezer from meals that I planned, then did not make, or due to Husband un-intentionally eating part of the ingredients, and my not going to get more, and making something else instead. Bringing stuff home from Branson, and not utilizing my menu plan as a result. All of these things together have created an abundance of un-earmarked foodstuffs that need to be used.
As a result, August has been kind of light in the buying groceries area, which I am loving.
Aldi - 8/11/13
Celery 2 @ 1.29 $ 2.58
Cauliflower 2 @ 1.69 $ 3.38
Banana 11.89 lbs @ .44/lb $ 5.23
Artisan Lettuce $ 1.99
Creamy Almond Butter 3@ 4.99 $14.97
Sweet Onions (3 lb bag) $ 1.69
Carrots 2 lb bags - 2@ .99 $ 1.98
Deluxe Almonds (for meal) 2@4.29 $ 8.58
Premium Sausage 2@ 2.49 $ 4.98
TOTAL = $45.38
Aldi - 8/16/13
Valencia Oranges 3 lb bags 3@ 1.49 $ 4.47
Bananas 11.20 lbs @ .29/lb $ 3.25
Ham/Cheese loaf $ 2.49
Bologna 3@ .99 $ 2.97
Sliced lunchmeat 6@2.99/lb $17.94
Fig Bars 2@ .89 $ 1.78
Fruit Snacks $ 3.49
TOTAL = $36.39
Harps - 8/22/13
Tip Steak $ 3.25
Ground Beef $15.18
Spaghetti Sauce 4@ 1.00 $ 4.00
TOTAL = $ 22.43
Grand total = $104.20
If I can hold off for a week, I may well have the lowest monthly food bill that I have ever had, since I started tracking this stuff a few years ago. I will need to buy some almond milk, but that really is all that I can think of that I will need in the coming week. So, it just might be possible that I will be spending about $120.00, or close to that amount, for this month. For my family of 4. YAY!!!
I have really begun looking at the lunches that I pack for the girls. Oddly, Thing2 is further along in a Paleo/Primal transition, but that is because her protein is either bacon or hard boiled eggs. She does not like sandwiches. Go figure. Yet another thing that she does not like, but this time, it works for me, and not against me for a change. :-)
A few weeks after the end of school last year, I found this blog post with a helpful idea for lunches. http://www.nwedible.com/2013/05/making-school-lunch-easier-the-sandwich-plus-plan.html
For Thing1, I have made a semester's worth of sandwiches that I can grab first thing in the morning, dump into a bag, and a couple of other freezer things. I made three batches of Morning Glory Muffins from Paleo Comfort Food's youtube demonstration. http://paleocomfortfoods.com/recipes/morning-glory-muffins/ , and they freeze well too.
I have been packing apple spears with sun butter/honey mixed to dip in; or a peeled orange. I also pack carrot sticks, so a typical lunch is:
Thing1 - sandwich, muffin, apple with sun butter dipping sauce or an orange, carrot sticks, raisins, cheese stick, pretzels, and a pudding, or a snack bag with 4 cookies in it.
Thing2 - 2 hard boiled eggs or 4 slices of bacon, apple slices without dipping sauce, raisins, cheese stick and cookies.
I can toss these items in their insulated lunch bags in about a minute. That makes for fast prep in the mornings, and saves me time.
t
UPDATE: So, I was on my bank's website paying some bills, and I saw a charge from Aldi's for $48.79 I remember the trip, and I know that I got some ground turkey, some bacon, 2 things of fish, but I cannot remember much more, and I cannot find my receipt, so I know that I spent money on groceries, but do not have an ability to list everything purchased.
NEW GROCERY TOTAL: $152.99 - On the plus side, I never did get back to the store before the end of August, so this is also my grand total for the month of August.
As a result, August has been kind of light in the buying groceries area, which I am loving.
Aldi - 8/11/13
Celery 2 @ 1.29 $ 2.58
Cauliflower 2 @ 1.69 $ 3.38
Banana 11.89 lbs @ .44/lb $ 5.23
Artisan Lettuce $ 1.99
Creamy Almond Butter 3@ 4.99 $14.97
Sweet Onions (3 lb bag) $ 1.69
Carrots 2 lb bags - 2@ .99 $ 1.98
Deluxe Almonds (for meal) 2@4.29 $ 8.58
Premium Sausage 2@ 2.49 $ 4.98
TOTAL = $45.38
Aldi - 8/16/13
Valencia Oranges 3 lb bags 3@ 1.49 $ 4.47
Bananas 11.20 lbs @ .29/lb $ 3.25
Ham/Cheese loaf $ 2.49
Bologna 3@ .99 $ 2.97
Sliced lunchmeat 6@2.99/lb $17.94
Fig Bars 2@ .89 $ 1.78
Fruit Snacks $ 3.49
TOTAL = $36.39
Harps - 8/22/13
Tip Steak $ 3.25
Ground Beef $15.18
Spaghetti Sauce 4@ 1.00 $ 4.00
TOTAL = $ 22.43
Grand total = $104.20
If I can hold off for a week, I may well have the lowest monthly food bill that I have ever had, since I started tracking this stuff a few years ago. I will need to buy some almond milk, but that really is all that I can think of that I will need in the coming week. So, it just might be possible that I will be spending about $120.00, or close to that amount, for this month. For my family of 4. YAY!!!
I have really begun looking at the lunches that I pack for the girls. Oddly, Thing2 is further along in a Paleo/Primal transition, but that is because her protein is either bacon or hard boiled eggs. She does not like sandwiches. Go figure. Yet another thing that she does not like, but this time, it works for me, and not against me for a change. :-)
A few weeks after the end of school last year, I found this blog post with a helpful idea for lunches. http://www.nwedible.com/2013/05/making-school-lunch-easier-the-sandwich-plus-plan.html
For Thing1, I have made a semester's worth of sandwiches that I can grab first thing in the morning, dump into a bag, and a couple of other freezer things. I made three batches of Morning Glory Muffins from Paleo Comfort Food's youtube demonstration. http://paleocomfortfoods.com/recipes/morning-glory-muffins/ , and they freeze well too.
I have been packing apple spears with sun butter/honey mixed to dip in; or a peeled orange. I also pack carrot sticks, so a typical lunch is:
Thing1 - sandwich, muffin, apple with sun butter dipping sauce or an orange, carrot sticks, raisins, cheese stick, pretzels, and a pudding, or a snack bag with 4 cookies in it.
Thing2 - 2 hard boiled eggs or 4 slices of bacon, apple slices without dipping sauce, raisins, cheese stick and cookies.
I can toss these items in their insulated lunch bags in about a minute. That makes for fast prep in the mornings, and saves me time.
t
UPDATE: So, I was on my bank's website paying some bills, and I saw a charge from Aldi's for $48.79 I remember the trip, and I know that I got some ground turkey, some bacon, 2 things of fish, but I cannot remember much more, and I cannot find my receipt, so I know that I spent money on groceries, but do not have an ability to list everything purchased.
NEW GROCERY TOTAL: $152.99 - On the plus side, I never did get back to the store before the end of August, so this is also my grand total for the month of August.
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
365 Day Spending Fast Update - July
I think that For July and August, I will be dividing them into their own posts, instead of posting the two months together. For one thing, I am finding that in the summer, I am spending money more often on un-budgeted expenses. The girls are with me all the time, and there is simply more opportunity to spend while we are running around and having fun. I, apparently, also felt more of a need to wax poetic about the times that I did spend on what - in accordance with the terms of the spending fast - would be deemed "frivolous".
July - $113.03 in un-budgeted expenses. ($35.00 on Girls nights)
I started out this section of the Spending fast with with a couple of trips to Denny's, which was kind of planned, but since it was not really in the budget, I am claiming both trips to Denny's in McAllister. My kids went separately to Camp Grandma. I dropped Thing2 off for a week, and My mom and I met in the middle, between our two houses, in McAllister, Oklahoma. The following Monday, we exchanged, and I took Thing2 home, and she kept Thing1. It is equidistant for both of us, and they have a nice offering of restaurants to choose from. We chose Denny's, because I knew that I could get a salad or an omelette and be fine with that. Since my Mom was providing meals and snacks for the weeks that my kids were with her, I thought it would be the courteous thing to do to buy the meals during the exchanges.
The first meal was actually in June, but that is documented on the Spending Fast Post about May and June.
July 1st - Denny's $44.18 - This was for 5 people.
July 8th - Denny's $31.02 - This was for 4 people.
7/10 - $15.00 Beef O'Brady's - I was invited to go out for drinks with some of my girl friends, and I did it. Life has been hectic, and it has been months since I have had any kind of gal-pal time. We sat, chatted, and drank for a little over two hours. I had a salad with full fat ranch dressing on the side. I dipped my fork and speared the leaves, so it was a DDP (Dip, Don't Pour - thanks Hungry Girl for that tip!) situation. Full fat Ranch. It has been years since I had that, and it was as good as I remembered. :-) I also has a blended alcoholic drink along the lines of a frozen margarita, but it was a fruity blend. The last time I had been to Beef O'Brady's, I had had another drink that I did not see on the menu. I described it to the owner, and he tried to re-create it. We did not get it right, but it was still mighty tasty. Of course, a friend that joined us a little bit later ordered a Hard Apple Cider. I could have kicked myself for not thinking of it. Oh well, I will remember better next time. :-) So, between my salad, frozen adult beverage, and tip, I spent $15.00 on one single meal. I feel a little bit of "You know better, that was wasted money", but something that I am coming to realize through this year long spending fast is that there are some things that ARE worth the money.
It is kind of becoming like that MasterCard commercial that listed the price of various objects necessary to create a certain memory, and the tag line was "priceless" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVHfTUYUqjs&list=PLE9B6A8F561CC674)
2 hours spent in good company with no child interruption, spending 15 bucks replenishing the "me time" tank in my body so that I have more to give to others? Priceless :-) This year is helping me to hone what I really find important in my life.
An unexpected side effect is that my house is getting incrementally cleaner. I am not exactly sure of the connection, I have been meaning to clean my house for a few years now, but since I am not running as much since I am not going to places where I would have typically spent money, I have more time at home. I am taking time to get organized. That is how I am entertaining myself a little bit. I am finding quite a bit of satisfaction in looking around and seeing my progress, and it is no longer quite as daunting to make a plan for the rest of my house.
7/14 - $20.00 at Johnny Carino's. A friend from church invited the girls and I to meet her at Johnny Carino's for lunch after church. Her daughter, a friend of Thing 1's, was going to summer camp directly after the meal, so it was an easy opportunity for the girls to be able to say goodbye. After some careful consideration, I decided to go. We wound up going with a third friend - who happens to be transitioning to Paleo! So, they have these things called Johnny Carino Points, which give you free meals after so many points. My lovely friend had discounted kids meals on her card, so my Italian Wedge, the kids meals, an Italian Soda, a Sprite, and my lemon water only set me back 20 bucks, including tip! I handed her a $20.00 and she called it done! The generosity of friends is amazing. :-)
7/28 - $17.83 at Beef O'Brady's. After church, a meeting was called for the Missions Group to get a consensus of the direction that we would like to go in once our new building is all done and moved into. Ours burned down over a year ago, and we are almost able to move into the new building. I got a salad, and each of the girls got a kids meal.
I need to rein in the eating out. 5 times in one month is excessive. Even though I ate with points in once instance, and did not spend more than $45.00 on any given experience - even when 5 people were involved, I still need to put a stop to it. This is supposed to be a spending FAST, not a spending "occasional splurge because I have been soooo good lately". Although, I must say that I do not think I would have eliminated any of the trips to the restaurants. Individually, I had a good time at each, and the fact that I have halted the other instances of fiscal leakage means that I do these things with less guilt, and less worry about how I can afford it. However, I feel that I broke with the spirit of the fast by breaking bread in restaurants so often this month.
I like the examination of spending that this is forcing me to do, and the thinking through of where my money goes to a greater extent than I have done in the past..
Groceries for July - $423.86 (Underage of $244.14 added to rollover of $317.28 for a grand total of $561.42 in the grocery rollover amount)
t
July - $113.03 in un-budgeted expenses. ($35.00 on Girls nights)
I started out this section of the Spending fast with with a couple of trips to Denny's, which was kind of planned, but since it was not really in the budget, I am claiming both trips to Denny's in McAllister. My kids went separately to Camp Grandma. I dropped Thing2 off for a week, and My mom and I met in the middle, between our two houses, in McAllister, Oklahoma. The following Monday, we exchanged, and I took Thing2 home, and she kept Thing1. It is equidistant for both of us, and they have a nice offering of restaurants to choose from. We chose Denny's, because I knew that I could get a salad or an omelette and be fine with that. Since my Mom was providing meals and snacks for the weeks that my kids were with her, I thought it would be the courteous thing to do to buy the meals during the exchanges.
The first meal was actually in June, but that is documented on the Spending Fast Post about May and June.
July 1st - Denny's $44.18 - This was for 5 people.
July 8th - Denny's $31.02 - This was for 4 people.
7/10 - $15.00 Beef O'Brady's - I was invited to go out for drinks with some of my girl friends, and I did it. Life has been hectic, and it has been months since I have had any kind of gal-pal time. We sat, chatted, and drank for a little over two hours. I had a salad with full fat ranch dressing on the side. I dipped my fork and speared the leaves, so it was a DDP (Dip, Don't Pour - thanks Hungry Girl for that tip!) situation. Full fat Ranch. It has been years since I had that, and it was as good as I remembered. :-) I also has a blended alcoholic drink along the lines of a frozen margarita, but it was a fruity blend. The last time I had been to Beef O'Brady's, I had had another drink that I did not see on the menu. I described it to the owner, and he tried to re-create it. We did not get it right, but it was still mighty tasty. Of course, a friend that joined us a little bit later ordered a Hard Apple Cider. I could have kicked myself for not thinking of it. Oh well, I will remember better next time. :-) So, between my salad, frozen adult beverage, and tip, I spent $15.00 on one single meal. I feel a little bit of "You know better, that was wasted money", but something that I am coming to realize through this year long spending fast is that there are some things that ARE worth the money.
It is kind of becoming like that MasterCard commercial that listed the price of various objects necessary to create a certain memory, and the tag line was "priceless" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVHfTUYUqjs&list=PLE9B6A8F561CC674)
2 hours spent in good company with no child interruption, spending 15 bucks replenishing the "me time" tank in my body so that I have more to give to others? Priceless :-) This year is helping me to hone what I really find important in my life.
An unexpected side effect is that my house is getting incrementally cleaner. I am not exactly sure of the connection, I have been meaning to clean my house for a few years now, but since I am not running as much since I am not going to places where I would have typically spent money, I have more time at home. I am taking time to get organized. That is how I am entertaining myself a little bit. I am finding quite a bit of satisfaction in looking around and seeing my progress, and it is no longer quite as daunting to make a plan for the rest of my house.
7/14 - $20.00 at Johnny Carino's. A friend from church invited the girls and I to meet her at Johnny Carino's for lunch after church. Her daughter, a friend of Thing 1's, was going to summer camp directly after the meal, so it was an easy opportunity for the girls to be able to say goodbye. After some careful consideration, I decided to go. We wound up going with a third friend - who happens to be transitioning to Paleo! So, they have these things called Johnny Carino Points, which give you free meals after so many points. My lovely friend had discounted kids meals on her card, so my Italian Wedge, the kids meals, an Italian Soda, a Sprite, and my lemon water only set me back 20 bucks, including tip! I handed her a $20.00 and she called it done! The generosity of friends is amazing. :-)
7/28 - $17.83 at Beef O'Brady's. After church, a meeting was called for the Missions Group to get a consensus of the direction that we would like to go in once our new building is all done and moved into. Ours burned down over a year ago, and we are almost able to move into the new building. I got a salad, and each of the girls got a kids meal.
I need to rein in the eating out. 5 times in one month is excessive. Even though I ate with points in once instance, and did not spend more than $45.00 on any given experience - even when 5 people were involved, I still need to put a stop to it. This is supposed to be a spending FAST, not a spending "occasional splurge because I have been soooo good lately". Although, I must say that I do not think I would have eliminated any of the trips to the restaurants. Individually, I had a good time at each, and the fact that I have halted the other instances of fiscal leakage means that I do these things with less guilt, and less worry about how I can afford it. However, I feel that I broke with the spirit of the fast by breaking bread in restaurants so often this month.
I like the examination of spending that this is forcing me to do, and the thinking through of where my money goes to a greater extent than I have done in the past..
Groceries for July - $423.86 (Underage of $244.14 added to rollover of $317.28 for a grand total of $561.42 in the grocery rollover amount)
t
Groceries 7/20/ to make refrigerator jam, which happens to be (mostly) Paleo!
On the 15th of July, Kitten The Juice Pirate posted a recipe to her FB page. It was for refrigerator jam made from Strawberries, rhubarb, honey, and chia seeds. Again, I know chia seeds are not strictly paleo, but I love them, and they help to detox my body in a gentle way. So, for the foreseeable future, they are part of my diet. Here is the link that she posted that inspired me to make some of my own refrigerator jam! http://rawforbeauty.com/blog/refrigerator-jam.html
I went to the store to grab some rhubarb and eggs. When I passed the frozen strawberries, I saw that they had 1 lb bags for 2.18. I had gotten a deal at Aldi earlier in the season for strawberries for 99 cents per lb, but that meant that I had to process them myself, so the actual price was closer to $1.50 per lb after chopping off the green bits and the soft bits to feed to chickens; and sending the bad bits to the composter. The sweat equity I chalk up to the price of having strawberries for my smoothies year round. But, at a dollar off a 1 lb bag, it was worth it to me to grab 5 bags. Was it an impulsive food buy? Yep.
Frozen whole strawberries 1 lb bags 5@2.18 $ 10.90
2 dozen large eggs @ 1.88 each $ 3.76
Rhubarb .52 lb @ 2.99 per lb. $ 1.55
Tax $ .73
TOTAL = $ 16.94
I have made the jam, and it is good, but I have not downloaded the pics. When I get that done, I will be sharing the experience with y'all!
t
I went to the store to grab some rhubarb and eggs. When I passed the frozen strawberries, I saw that they had 1 lb bags for 2.18. I had gotten a deal at Aldi earlier in the season for strawberries for 99 cents per lb, but that meant that I had to process them myself, so the actual price was closer to $1.50 per lb after chopping off the green bits and the soft bits to feed to chickens; and sending the bad bits to the composter. The sweat equity I chalk up to the price of having strawberries for my smoothies year round. But, at a dollar off a 1 lb bag, it was worth it to me to grab 5 bags. Was it an impulsive food buy? Yep.
Frozen whole strawberries 1 lb bags 5@2.18 $ 10.90
2 dozen large eggs @ 1.88 each $ 3.76
Rhubarb .52 lb @ 2.99 per lb. $ 1.55
Tax $ .73
TOTAL = $ 16.94
I have made the jam, and it is good, but I have not downloaded the pics. When I get that done, I will be sharing the experience with y'all!
t
Monday, July 22, 2013
Grocery Shopping 7/11/13 & 7/15/13
Did I need to go out and buy more food? No.
Were the deals very very good, so they brought me out to Aldi's to pick up some veggies, then over to Wal-Mart to price match? Yep.
ALDI (7/11)
Cucumbers 10 @ 29 cents each $ 2.90
Grape Tomatoes 6 @ 69 cents each $ 4.14
Mushrooms 12 @ 79 cents each $ 9.58
crescent Rolls 4 @ 1.39 $ 5.56
Cashew halves 2 @ 2.99 $ 5.98
Almonds 2 @ 4.29 $ 8.58
Hot Dogs 2 @ .75 $ 1.50
Natural Trail Mix 2 @ 5.49 $10.98
Raisins Canister $ 2.79
Macaroni and cheese 6 @ .39 $ 2.94
TAX $ 2.53
TOTAL = $ 58.77
Since I was at Aldi, and reasonably close to Cooks, I stopped in to grab some Melatonin, Lavender Oil, and Paleo Almond Bread from Julian Bakery. I was out, and I want to try to make a totally paleo french toast, so I needed it.
COOKS NATURAL MARKET (7/11)
Julian Bakery Almond Paleo Bread TOTAL = $ 8.99
When mushrooms go to basically half price, I like to buy a whole heck of a lot of them and cut them up to go into freezer bags then into the deep freezer. Between the Chicken Stroganoff, Chicken in Mustard, Omelets, soups and stews, I use mushrooms a lot, so when the price is so low, it behooves me to stock up.
For the cucumbers, I like to cut them up and do a refrigerator pickle. I will sometimes do a full on mix where I boil on the stove 2 cups white vinegar, 1 cup apple cider vinegar, 5 cups water, 3 tbsp of salt, 3 tbsp of sugar, 2 sliced garlic cloves and a sprinkle of red pepper flakes. But, today, I just peeled and sliced up 7 of the 10 cucumbers, put them into 2 large tupperware container2, poured a cup of white vinegar in each, then topped off with water. I have loved them as a snack since eating them as a child at my Grandma's house down at the lake.
WAL-MART (7/15)
Mushrooms (price match) 16 @ .79 $12.64
Grape Tomatoes 5@ .69 $ 3.45
Cucumber 6 @ .29 $ 1.74
Shredded Cheese $ 7.98
Sliced Cheese $10.98
Honey Turkey Deli Meat 2 @ 3.98 per lb $ 7.96
Honey Ham Deli Meat 2 @ 3.98 per lb $ 7.96
Oscar Meyer turkey and cheese slices $ 2.50
Frozen Chicken Breast 3 lbs $ 6.98
Frozen Chicken Thighs 5 lbs $ 5.68
Swirly string cheese 2 @ 5.98 $11.96
TOTAL = $79.83
I think that I have enough mushrooms in the freezer, that I should not have to buy them for recipes for the rest of the year. I think I should only have to buy sliced mushrooms for salads for quite some time.
I slow roasted about half the cherry tomatoes for use later in sauces and soups. Needless to say, between the feta and goat cheese stock up from earlier this month, and this weeks mushroom and tomato stock up, my freezer is not getting much more empty, and I am questioning whether my goal to clear out the chest freezer for a half cow purchase is a realistic one. Grrr... I will have to ponder more about this
I have been adding 1/2 a cucumber to my green smoothies, and I had 2 green smoothies the other day in one day, so I am going through them faster than I normally do. If they start to go soft, worst case scenario, I chop them up, drizzle them with some balsamic vinegar, and snack! So, at least the cucumbers are not taking up freezer space! :-)
t
Were the deals very very good, so they brought me out to Aldi's to pick up some veggies, then over to Wal-Mart to price match? Yep.
ALDI (7/11)
Cucumbers 10 @ 29 cents each $ 2.90
Grape Tomatoes 6 @ 69 cents each $ 4.14
Mushrooms 12 @ 79 cents each $ 9.58
crescent Rolls 4 @ 1.39 $ 5.56
Cashew halves 2 @ 2.99 $ 5.98
Almonds 2 @ 4.29 $ 8.58
Hot Dogs 2 @ .75 $ 1.50
Natural Trail Mix 2 @ 5.49 $10.98
Raisins Canister $ 2.79
Macaroni and cheese 6 @ .39 $ 2.94
TAX $ 2.53
TOTAL = $ 58.77
Since I was at Aldi, and reasonably close to Cooks, I stopped in to grab some Melatonin, Lavender Oil, and Paleo Almond Bread from Julian Bakery. I was out, and I want to try to make a totally paleo french toast, so I needed it.
COOKS NATURAL MARKET (7/11)
Julian Bakery Almond Paleo Bread TOTAL = $ 8.99
When mushrooms go to basically half price, I like to buy a whole heck of a lot of them and cut them up to go into freezer bags then into the deep freezer. Between the Chicken Stroganoff, Chicken in Mustard, Omelets, soups and stews, I use mushrooms a lot, so when the price is so low, it behooves me to stock up.
For the cucumbers, I like to cut them up and do a refrigerator pickle. I will sometimes do a full on mix where I boil on the stove 2 cups white vinegar, 1 cup apple cider vinegar, 5 cups water, 3 tbsp of salt, 3 tbsp of sugar, 2 sliced garlic cloves and a sprinkle of red pepper flakes. But, today, I just peeled and sliced up 7 of the 10 cucumbers, put them into 2 large tupperware container2, poured a cup of white vinegar in each, then topped off with water. I have loved them as a snack since eating them as a child at my Grandma's house down at the lake.
WAL-MART (7/15)
Mushrooms (price match) 16 @ .79 $12.64
Grape Tomatoes 5@ .69 $ 3.45
Cucumber 6 @ .29 $ 1.74
Shredded Cheese $ 7.98
Sliced Cheese $10.98
Honey Turkey Deli Meat 2 @ 3.98 per lb $ 7.96
Honey Ham Deli Meat 2 @ 3.98 per lb $ 7.96
Oscar Meyer turkey and cheese slices $ 2.50
Frozen Chicken Breast 3 lbs $ 6.98
Frozen Chicken Thighs 5 lbs $ 5.68
Swirly string cheese 2 @ 5.98 $11.96
TOTAL = $79.83
I think that I have enough mushrooms in the freezer, that I should not have to buy them for recipes for the rest of the year. I think I should only have to buy sliced mushrooms for salads for quite some time.
I slow roasted about half the cherry tomatoes for use later in sauces and soups. Needless to say, between the feta and goat cheese stock up from earlier this month, and this weeks mushroom and tomato stock up, my freezer is not getting much more empty, and I am questioning whether my goal to clear out the chest freezer for a half cow purchase is a realistic one. Grrr... I will have to ponder more about this
I have been adding 1/2 a cucumber to my green smoothies, and I had 2 green smoothies the other day in one day, so I am going through them faster than I normally do. If they start to go soft, worst case scenario, I chop them up, drizzle them with some balsamic vinegar, and snack! So, at least the cucumbers are not taking up freezer space! :-)
t
Thursday, July 18, 2013
I *should* be hungry
I am intrigued by juicing. But, I am too frugal to waste the pulp, so I smooth. This morning, I put into the kitchen ninja 4 small carrots, 2 small apples - cored, an extra large handful of kale, 1/2 a cucumber, 2 tbsp of flax seeds, 2 tbsp of chia seeds, and a frozen banana with about a cup of water and a drizzle of olive oil. It made about 26 ounces of green smoothie, and they were sweet without being too sweet. It took well over 2 hours to finish the drink, but only because it sustained a nice full feeling for quite some time, and it wound up covering part of my lunch meal too.
Last night, I made Chicken in Mustard Sauce to serve over spaghetti squash. (http://paleoonthecheap.blogspot.com/2013/03/chicken-in-mustard-over-spaghetti-squash.html)
Husband is out of town, so I have bountiful leftovers. For lunch, I spooned up a helping of leftovers. I started piling it into my bowl, then put about half of it back, warmed it up and went to town. YUMMY!!
After about 15 minutes, I had an urge to get up and make myself another bowl. I kept thinking, I am not sated, I must still be hungry, then I realized I was kind of bored and my instinct was to eat. I kept thinking, I should be hungry. But, I wasn't. 3 hours later, I still wasn't.
Between a veggie slurpee, and a healthful serving of Chicken in Mustard for lunch, I'm good. It is nearing dinner time, and I am just beginning to feel the hunger gnome nibbling around. And, this time, I believe myself to be feeling actual hunger.
I have been constantly hungry, yet continuously bloated for so long that coming back to what my body is supposed to feel like has been kind of surreal. Sometimes, I get it wrong. I will take a moment and take inventory, and convince myself that I am not really hungry, but when I start to eat, I find that I am famished. My frame of reference is so skewed from decades of abusing my body with food, that I do not even know if this is normal or not.
It is odd to stop every once in a while and think "Okay, am I hungry?", do a mental check with the rest of yourself, and realize that you are not hungry? I wonder if this is what people do when they have eaten well all of their lives, or if it is something that I am especially aware of, like an alcoholic needs to be aware of a craving for alcohol?
Stumbling through all of this paleo/ancestral/primal/eating for my health stuff is in the process of changing the way that I think and perceive my own body, reality, and consciousness. The journey continues, and I am liking the road now. :-)
t
Last night, I made Chicken in Mustard Sauce to serve over spaghetti squash. (http://paleoonthecheap.blogspot.com/2013/03/chicken-in-mustard-over-spaghetti-squash.html)
Husband is out of town, so I have bountiful leftovers. For lunch, I spooned up a helping of leftovers. I started piling it into my bowl, then put about half of it back, warmed it up and went to town. YUMMY!!
After about 15 minutes, I had an urge to get up and make myself another bowl. I kept thinking, I am not sated, I must still be hungry, then I realized I was kind of bored and my instinct was to eat. I kept thinking, I should be hungry. But, I wasn't. 3 hours later, I still wasn't.
Between a veggie slurpee, and a healthful serving of Chicken in Mustard for lunch, I'm good. It is nearing dinner time, and I am just beginning to feel the hunger gnome nibbling around. And, this time, I believe myself to be feeling actual hunger.
I have been constantly hungry, yet continuously bloated for so long that coming back to what my body is supposed to feel like has been kind of surreal. Sometimes, I get it wrong. I will take a moment and take inventory, and convince myself that I am not really hungry, but when I start to eat, I find that I am famished. My frame of reference is so skewed from decades of abusing my body with food, that I do not even know if this is normal or not.
It is odd to stop every once in a while and think "Okay, am I hungry?", do a mental check with the rest of yourself, and realize that you are not hungry? I wonder if this is what people do when they have eaten well all of their lives, or if it is something that I am especially aware of, like an alcoholic needs to be aware of a craving for alcohol?
Stumbling through all of this paleo/ancestral/primal/eating for my health stuff is in the process of changing the way that I think and perceive my own body, reality, and consciousness. The journey continues, and I am liking the road now. :-)
t
Saturday, July 6, 2013
Groceries 7/6/13
When Aldi has certain special buys, I stock up. This week, they had special buys on Feta crumbles and Goat Cheese crumbles. Plus, they had a salad spinner for $8.99 , and I need one - especially with the lettuce in the yard growing and being eaten like it is. :-) Salad shrimp was $3.99, so I picked up 5. I also wanted to take advantage of their watermelon price and cantaloupe deals for the week.
Flat Leaf Spinach 2@ 1.69 $ 3.38
Turkey Bacon 2@ 2.19 $ 4.38
12 oz hot dogs 5@ .75 $ 3.75
Shredded Cheddar 2@ 3.29 $ 6.58
12 Grain Bread $ 3.38
Seedless Watermelon 2@3.99 $ 7.98
Cantaloupe 2@ 1.29 $ 2.58
Strawberries 4@.99 $ 3.96
Goat Crumbles 6@ 1.99 $11.94
Feta Crumbles 6@1.99 $11.94
Dried Cranberries 5@1.19 $ 5.95
Large Eggs 6@ 1.29 $ 7.74
Almond Milk 3@ 2.49 $ 7.47
All Natural Fruit Snack $ 3.69
Salad Spinner $ 8.99
Salad Shrimp 5@ 3.99 $19.95
Tax $ 5.56
TOTAL = $119.22
With the Spaghetti Squash that I bought the other day, I have enough for 2 dinners of Uncle Foodie's AMAZING Spaghetti.
I have chicken thigh quarters languishing in the deep freeze that can become Chicken in Mustard and Chicken Cacciatore.
I have shrimp in the deep freeze, so with the addition of the turkey bacon from today, I can have Bacon BBQ Bundled Shrimp a la Hungry Girl.
I have a few steaks that I need to cook. I have never cooked steak, so I will be looking up how to do that well. I want to pair them with mashed sweet potatoes, and I need to cook the sweet potatoes soon. Wish me luck!
My goal is to turn over the inventory in my deep freezer, so that I can start looking into buying an entire cow, or half of a cow. If I commit to buying that much meat, the per lb price goes down, and I will more readily be able to afford grass fed beef if bought in large lots and used over time.
I will keep you posted on how that pans out.
With the Spaghetti Squash that I bought the other day, I have enough for 2 dinners of Uncle Foodie's AMAZING Spaghetti.
I have chicken thigh quarters languishing in the deep freeze that can become Chicken in Mustard and Chicken Cacciatore.
I have shrimp in the deep freeze, so with the addition of the turkey bacon from today, I can have Bacon BBQ Bundled Shrimp a la Hungry Girl.
I have a few steaks that I need to cook. I have never cooked steak, so I will be looking up how to do that well. I want to pair them with mashed sweet potatoes, and I need to cook the sweet potatoes soon. Wish me luck!
My goal is to turn over the inventory in my deep freezer, so that I can start looking into buying an entire cow, or half of a cow. If I commit to buying that much meat, the per lb price goes down, and I will more readily be able to afford grass fed beef if bought in large lots and used over time.
I will keep you posted on how that pans out.
t
Groceries 7/3/13
After coming home from a trip with more food than I brought, I did not need a whole heck of a lot from the store.
I came home with three quart sized bags of Uncle Foodie's Amazing Spaghetti Sauce. A few times a year, especially when the family gets together in Branson, he makes a large batch of sauce which yields 4 or 5 gallon sized bags of sauce. We got 4 bags in our freezer to utilize over the week that we were staying. I wound up bringing 3 of the bags home. (LUCKY ME!!!)
I had purchased 2 Hawaiian Chicken dinners, 2 Turkey Breast stuffed with artichoke and spinach, and a twin pack of Chicken Piccata. Never having made Chicken Piccata before, I was unaware of the fact that they are lightly breaded. It was not until half way through the first chicken breast that I realized this, then it was such a negligible amount of breading, it did not give me any trouble. Those are the things that I brought with me.
Once in Branson, my sister and I hit the Wal-mart for veggies, kid snacks, cheeses, chicken and burgers, and various other food and sun protection items. Then, the second day of our trip, a family emergency made my Aunt and Uncle need to leave, and they emptied their refrigerator into ours, giving us multiple salads, cheeses, and some snack items. It helped extend our food a bit. Also, on the second day, my favorite brother in law (FAVBIL) got the grills going. He barbecued chicken thighs, chicken breasts, and hamburger patties. I had bought a large box of patties at Wal-Mart on sale, and FAVBIL went ahead and cooked them all up, and we used them all week long. I added them to eggs in the morning, diced them up and tossed them on salads, and fed them to kids for a couple of lunches. I wound up bringing the Hawaiian Chicken and the Turkey Breasts back home, and they became 4 meals here.
I needed Spaghetti Squash in order to serve some of Uncle Foodie's kick butt Spaghetti Sauce, and that wiped out my stock - necessitating a trip to Harps. While I was at Harps, I also picked up a few small items.
Mangos 2 for 1.00 $ 1.00
Celery $ 1.69
Spaghetti Squash @ 1.49 per lb 2.46 lbs $ 3.67
Spaghetti Squash @ 1.49 per lb 2.50 lbs $ 3.73
Spaghetti Squash @ 1.49 per lb 2.39 lbs $ 3.56
Spaghetti Squash @ 1.49 per lb 2.64 lbs $ 3.93
Pecan Halves @ 17.99 per lb .33 lb $ 5.94
Tax $ 1.06
TOTAL = $ 24.58
I also found out a great new way to cook Spaghetti Squash - in the microwave!!! :-) Looking on my phone for the pre-heat setting, a microwave way popped up. I followed the instructions and poked holes in the skin, then cooked it for 12 minutes. The directions were for 10-12 minutes. 12 minutes made it a bit mushy, so I have been cooking for 10 minutes since then, and have been pleased with the mildly crunchy texture of the squash.
t
I came home with three quart sized bags of Uncle Foodie's Amazing Spaghetti Sauce. A few times a year, especially when the family gets together in Branson, he makes a large batch of sauce which yields 4 or 5 gallon sized bags of sauce. We got 4 bags in our freezer to utilize over the week that we were staying. I wound up bringing 3 of the bags home. (LUCKY ME!!!)
I had purchased 2 Hawaiian Chicken dinners, 2 Turkey Breast stuffed with artichoke and spinach, and a twin pack of Chicken Piccata. Never having made Chicken Piccata before, I was unaware of the fact that they are lightly breaded. It was not until half way through the first chicken breast that I realized this, then it was such a negligible amount of breading, it did not give me any trouble. Those are the things that I brought with me.
Once in Branson, my sister and I hit the Wal-mart for veggies, kid snacks, cheeses, chicken and burgers, and various other food and sun protection items. Then, the second day of our trip, a family emergency made my Aunt and Uncle need to leave, and they emptied their refrigerator into ours, giving us multiple salads, cheeses, and some snack items. It helped extend our food a bit. Also, on the second day, my favorite brother in law (FAVBIL) got the grills going. He barbecued chicken thighs, chicken breasts, and hamburger patties. I had bought a large box of patties at Wal-Mart on sale, and FAVBIL went ahead and cooked them all up, and we used them all week long. I added them to eggs in the morning, diced them up and tossed them on salads, and fed them to kids for a couple of lunches. I wound up bringing the Hawaiian Chicken and the Turkey Breasts back home, and they became 4 meals here.
I needed Spaghetti Squash in order to serve some of Uncle Foodie's kick butt Spaghetti Sauce, and that wiped out my stock - necessitating a trip to Harps. While I was at Harps, I also picked up a few small items.
Mangos 2 for 1.00 $ 1.00
Celery $ 1.69
Spaghetti Squash @ 1.49 per lb 2.46 lbs $ 3.67
Spaghetti Squash @ 1.49 per lb 2.50 lbs $ 3.73
Spaghetti Squash @ 1.49 per lb 2.39 lbs $ 3.56
Spaghetti Squash @ 1.49 per lb 2.64 lbs $ 3.93
Pecan Halves @ 17.99 per lb .33 lb $ 5.94
Tax $ 1.06
TOTAL = $ 24.58
I also found out a great new way to cook Spaghetti Squash - in the microwave!!! :-) Looking on my phone for the pre-heat setting, a microwave way popped up. I followed the instructions and poked holes in the skin, then cooked it for 12 minutes. The directions were for 10-12 minutes. 12 minutes made it a bit mushy, so I have been cooking for 10 minutes since then, and have been pleased with the mildly crunchy texture of the squash.
t
365 Day Spending Fast Update - May and June
Reminder: The grocery budget is set by the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program limitations in my state for a family of 4. That amount is $668.00. While not personally in need of the SNAP program, I was curious as to whether or not a family could eat in a paleo-esque way while staying under the SNAP guidelines.
May - $124.49 in un-budgeted expenses.
Husband will be rueing the day that he showed me how to order through Amazon Prime on his account. It has been my downfall! I ordered Pink Himalayan salt - 2 different kinds. Total? 38.03. Now, I had planned on trying Himalayan Pink Salt, but I only budgeted $15.00 for it. So, $23.03 in un-budgeted expenditures. I also bought several books, and a couple of other food items.
5/15 Great Lakes Unflavored Gelatin, pack of 2 42.32
5/15 Tulsi Tea 4.98
5/22 2 copies of "No Regrets Parenting" 12.00
5/25 "Paleo Slow Cooking" by Chrissy Gower 18.16
5/25 "The Best 4 Years" by Adam Shepard 24.00
I was inspired by this blog to try to Tulsi Tea Jello for Hormone Healing http://empoweredsustenance.com/tulsi-gelee-for-natural-hormone-healing/
When I ordered the Gelatin, I got it almost immediately. It took almost a month for the tea to come in, and by that time summer was in full swing, and I am just now getting to slow down and think about making this Gelee this weekend. I will let y'all know how it goes. :-)
Groceries for May - $514.90 (Underage of $153.10 to be added to the grocery rollover of $135.93 for a total of $289.03 in the grocery rollover slush fund)
June - $260.06 in un-budgeted expenses.
June has shown me that Summer is not the time to try to do a spending fast. The kids are home, and we are on the go more. We have taken 2 trips to Branson and had loads of fun at Silver Dollar City and White Water. I did not take the time to pack any snacks or quick treats, and I wound up utilizing drive-thru way too often. I know better. My lack of preparation for our trips cost resources to the tune of $183.78 in the month of June. I am annoyed with myself, because I KNOW better. Ugh. From that, I can tell you that Chick-fil-a's Grilled Market Salad is DELICIOUS, but it is also $6.99. McDolalds' side salad is also nice, but I have to order three or four of them as a meal, so it is a good thing they are a buck each. I also found out that I am much more inclined to hit the drive through when my girls have a friend or two in tow.
My kids went to my Mom's house (Camp Grandma) one at a time, so they each got a week on their town, thus a two week separation and I got one kids for a week for two weeks in a row. Since my Mom fed my kids while they were at her house, I thought covering the meal on the way to Camp Grandma would be the thing to do. It was $41.28 at Denny's for 5 people.
I have a good friend whose husband is in a group of guys from work who get together and smoke meats. Husband has purchased racks of ribs from these guys before for 20 bucks a rack. These suckers are AMAZINGLY GOOD! My lovely friend told me that her husband, Handsome, was going to be smoking some meat, and did I want to get my hands on some? YES!!!! She went to Sam's Club for some racks of ribs, where there are three in a pack. We agreed that I would get one pack. She asked me for the money for the ribs themselves (sssshhhhhhh, don't tell her Handsome that he was working for free) so I got three racks of AMAZING ribs for $35.00. Totally un-budgeted, but definitely worth it!
One of the trips to Branson was to have fun with my sister and her husband, with their 4 youngest children. At the very beginning of the week, Uncle Foodie's father died, and he and my Aunt left to go to his funeral. They emptied their refrigerator into our two refrigerators in our condo's. I have never met the man, but I am very fond of his son, and my Aunt sings his praises, calling him the closest thing to a saint that has ever walked the earth. He will be very missed.
As a result of their upending their perishables into our laps, and added to the fact that my sister and her husband live a 12 hour drive away, I wound up taking home quite a bit of the vacation food. I had made entree purchases large enough to feed 2 families for each meal. When I brought them home, each planned vacation meal became - in fact - two meals for my family. I can foresee buying only odds and ends to supplement what I have in my freezer for a couple of more weeks before having to make a large food run. That could be good, or that could be bad. When I do my large haul once a month, I keep to my list and am efficient. In my weekly trips, I also stay fairly on point. My worry is that by going to the store as I need things, I might get a little off track and impulse buy more often. I will watch for that tendency.
Groceries for June - $479.75 (Underage of $178.25, added to $289.03 for a grand rolling total of $467.28 in the grocery rollover amount)
In consideration of the fact that I was the recipient of the contents of my Aunt's refrigerator, I am going to deduct $150.00 from the rollover amount. $150.00 is an definite over-estimation, but I like to over-estimate, rather then under-estimate for budgeting purposes.
So.... New rollover amount? $317.28 :-)
t
May - $124.49 in un-budgeted expenses.
Husband will be rueing the day that he showed me how to order through Amazon Prime on his account. It has been my downfall! I ordered Pink Himalayan salt - 2 different kinds. Total? 38.03. Now, I had planned on trying Himalayan Pink Salt, but I only budgeted $15.00 for it. So, $23.03 in un-budgeted expenditures. I also bought several books, and a couple of other food items.
5/15 Great Lakes Unflavored Gelatin, pack of 2 42.32
5/15 Tulsi Tea 4.98
5/22 2 copies of "No Regrets Parenting" 12.00
5/25 "Paleo Slow Cooking" by Chrissy Gower 18.16
5/25 "The Best 4 Years" by Adam Shepard 24.00
I was inspired by this blog to try to Tulsi Tea Jello for Hormone Healing http://empoweredsustenance.com/tulsi-gelee-for-natural-hormone-healing/
When I ordered the Gelatin, I got it almost immediately. It took almost a month for the tea to come in, and by that time summer was in full swing, and I am just now getting to slow down and think about making this Gelee this weekend. I will let y'all know how it goes. :-)
Groceries for May - $514.90 (Underage of $153.10 to be added to the grocery rollover of $135.93 for a total of $289.03 in the grocery rollover slush fund)
June - $260.06 in un-budgeted expenses.
June has shown me that Summer is not the time to try to do a spending fast. The kids are home, and we are on the go more. We have taken 2 trips to Branson and had loads of fun at Silver Dollar City and White Water. I did not take the time to pack any snacks or quick treats, and I wound up utilizing drive-thru way too often. I know better. My lack of preparation for our trips cost resources to the tune of $183.78 in the month of June. I am annoyed with myself, because I KNOW better. Ugh. From that, I can tell you that Chick-fil-a's Grilled Market Salad is DELICIOUS, but it is also $6.99. McDolalds' side salad is also nice, but I have to order three or four of them as a meal, so it is a good thing they are a buck each. I also found out that I am much more inclined to hit the drive through when my girls have a friend or two in tow.
My kids went to my Mom's house (Camp Grandma) one at a time, so they each got a week on their town, thus a two week separation and I got one kids for a week for two weeks in a row. Since my Mom fed my kids while they were at her house, I thought covering the meal on the way to Camp Grandma would be the thing to do. It was $41.28 at Denny's for 5 people.
I have a good friend whose husband is in a group of guys from work who get together and smoke meats. Husband has purchased racks of ribs from these guys before for 20 bucks a rack. These suckers are AMAZINGLY GOOD! My lovely friend told me that her husband, Handsome, was going to be smoking some meat, and did I want to get my hands on some? YES!!!! She went to Sam's Club for some racks of ribs, where there are three in a pack. We agreed that I would get one pack. She asked me for the money for the ribs themselves (sssshhhhhhh, don't tell her Handsome that he was working for free) so I got three racks of AMAZING ribs for $35.00. Totally un-budgeted, but definitely worth it!
One of the trips to Branson was to have fun with my sister and her husband, with their 4 youngest children. At the very beginning of the week, Uncle Foodie's father died, and he and my Aunt left to go to his funeral. They emptied their refrigerator into our two refrigerators in our condo's. I have never met the man, but I am very fond of his son, and my Aunt sings his praises, calling him the closest thing to a saint that has ever walked the earth. He will be very missed.
As a result of their upending their perishables into our laps, and added to the fact that my sister and her husband live a 12 hour drive away, I wound up taking home quite a bit of the vacation food. I had made entree purchases large enough to feed 2 families for each meal. When I brought them home, each planned vacation meal became - in fact - two meals for my family. I can foresee buying only odds and ends to supplement what I have in my freezer for a couple of more weeks before having to make a large food run. That could be good, or that could be bad. When I do my large haul once a month, I keep to my list and am efficient. In my weekly trips, I also stay fairly on point. My worry is that by going to the store as I need things, I might get a little off track and impulse buy more often. I will watch for that tendency.
Groceries for June - $479.75 (Underage of $178.25, added to $289.03 for a grand rolling total of $467.28 in the grocery rollover amount)
In consideration of the fact that I was the recipient of the contents of my Aunt's refrigerator, I am going to deduct $150.00 from the rollover amount. $150.00 is an definite over-estimation, but I like to over-estimate, rather then under-estimate for budgeting purposes.
So.... New rollover amount? $317.28 :-)
t
Sunday, June 23, 2013
Bacon Wrapped Dates
A couple of months ago, I injured my foot trying a 5k. I have a lovely friend that offered to bring my family dinner, and one of the tasties that she brought over was cream cheese filled bacon wrapped dates. My family fell on them like they had not eaten in weeks, and Thing1 asked me f I could ever make them for our family at our house, and could I make them every day, pretty please? My wonderfully lovely (bordering on goddess, really - not gonna lie) friend has kindly given me the recipe, and I am trying my hand at it. This recipe can utilize cream cheese for a paleo-esque experience, or simply dates and bacon for hard core Paleo eaters.
I find my dates in the baking aisle. Whole dates are next to the chopped dates you can use for baking. Slice open the date so that you can stuff it with plain cream cheese.
1 8oz bag of pitted dates $ 3.08
1 box cream cheese $ 1.59
1 package bacon $ 3.49
TOTAL = $ 8.16 (and worth EVERY PENNY!!)
Pre-heat your oven to 375 degrees.
Then, put a schmear of cream cheese into each date...
Wrap the cream cheese stuffed dates...
And, cook at 375 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes.
When I took them out of the oven, I set them on the stove top to cool. When I walked by 5 minutes later, I saw something that convinced me that I should have taken my "after" photo as soon as they were done.
I think they are a HIT!! ;-)
t
UPDATE: With the bacon cut into halves, instead of thirds, it took longer for the bacon to cook. I baked at 375 for 35 minutes, and they were wonderful, if I do say so myself. ;-)
ANOTHER UPDATE: Use some leftover mashed sweet potatoes for the filling!!! It is FABULOUS!!!
I find my dates in the baking aisle. Whole dates are next to the chopped dates you can use for baking. Slice open the date so that you can stuff it with plain cream cheese.
1 8oz bag of pitted dates $ 3.08
1 box cream cheese $ 1.59
1 package bacon $ 3.49
TOTAL = $ 8.16 (and worth EVERY PENNY!!)
Pre-heat your oven to 375 degrees.
 |
| Dates cut in half |
 |
| Closer look at dates cut in half |
I cut my bacon into three parts, and that worked fine for wrapping, but I think that in the future, I will only cut the bacon in half due to shrinkage in the cooking process.
Now, place the bacon wrapped dates on a foil lined cookie sheet...
And, cook at 375 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes.
When I took them out of the oven, I set them on the stove top to cool. When I walked by 5 minutes later, I saw something that convinced me that I should have taken my "after" photo as soon as they were done.
I think they are a HIT!! ;-)
t
UPDATE: With the bacon cut into halves, instead of thirds, it took longer for the bacon to cook. I baked at 375 for 35 minutes, and they were wonderful, if I do say so myself. ;-)
ANOTHER UPDATE: Use some leftover mashed sweet potatoes for the filling!!! It is FABULOUS!!!
Laundry Soap Recipe.
I know it is not a food recipe, but it is one that I make a few times a year. I sent the recipe to a friend, complete with pictures, then I thought I would post it here for some other friends to see. I have a High Efficiency washer, and have found no issues with using it all the time. Of course, I regularly put vinegar through my machine with the towels, so that definitely helps cut any soapy build up or any "off" smells in my HE machine.
I used Fels-Naptha for this batch, but I have also used Ivory Soap. Fels-Naptha is 97 cents per bar at Wal-Mart, but Ivory Soap is 99 cents for 3 bars, and it only takes a bar of either per 4 cup mix. It is kind of what mood I am in, and how rich I feel, as to which one I pick up. If I am feeling wealthy, I splurge on Fels-Naptha.
I started making my own soap as a frugal hack, but then found out that Husband's sensitive skin improved, so I doubt that I will ever go back to buying commercially made laundry soap, no matter how "hypo-allergenic" it is. Plus, it takes about 2 seconds to get everything together and make it.
The last time I made it, one of Thing1's friends was over, and she was kind of surprised to see that it is possible to make your own laundry soap.
One year supply of laundry detergent:
Fels Naptha 4 bars @ 97 each $ 3.88
Arm and Hammer Super Washing Soda $ 3.87
20 Mule Team Borax $ 4.15
TOTAL = $11.90
Grate a bar of Fels-Naptha. It will look like grated cheddar.
You will eventually be measuring out 2 cups each of Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda, and 20 Mule Team Borax.
I put 1 cup each of the Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda and the Borax, along with half the grated soap bar, into a small 2 cup food processor that I keep for that purpose. About once a quarter, I grab everything, spend about 10 minutes making the soap. So, 40 minutes a year plus ingredients, yields a supply of laundry soap adequate to the needs of my 4 person family.
Once everything is all blended into a fine powder in my little handy-dandy food processor, I break out the Folgers reusable plastic canister.
And, I dump in the fine powder that I just made... Then, I make another batch with 2 more cups of stuff and the other half of the shredded soap.
The shredded cheese looking Fels Naptha has been processed into small bits that dissolve more easily than the larger, original, slivers.
I add one level (maybe a little bit rounded) Tablespoon of detergent per load. I have added two for particularly dirty/smelly loads.
I also bought a container of Purex Crystals last year, and have added them to my loads with sheets and blankets, so that those items get a softening agent. For towels, I add 1/2 a cup of plain white vinegar to the laundry with the soap to keep them fresh smelling and soft.
I have also toyed with the idea of buying a small box of Gain (by far my favorite smelling laundry detergent) and adding a scoop of Gain (the equivalent of one load) to my mix for the quarter. If I decide to do so, I will update you. I hesitate to do this, since I do not know if even this small amount might irritate Husband's skin. (That is kind of part of the beauty of making your own, and it being so affordable. If it does irritate his skin, I give that batch away and make another. No biggie!)
So, there you have it. A year's supply of laundry detergent for roughly $12.00. And, our clothes are clean and fresh smelling.
t
Update: Because of some sort of a latent OCD on my part, when someone asked me how much it was per use for my laundry soap, I felt an urgent need to figure out the per use cost.
The bar is 5.5 ounces, and there are 2 tbsp per oz.
Each cup of Borax or Washing Soda is 16 tbsp.
4 C. x 16 = 64 tbsp in the powders, and 11 tbsp in the bar = 75 loads of laundry per quarterly recipe.
$11.90 for the year / 4 quarters = 2.975, or $2.98 per quarter
$2.98 / 75 loads = .0397333, or 4 cents per load. And, that's with the more expensive soap option.
If I were to utilize Zote, which comes in a larger bar (so I only use 1/2 a bar per recipe) or if I use Ivory Soap @ 99 cents for 3 bars, my cost per load reduces to 3 cents per load :-)
I used Fels-Naptha for this batch, but I have also used Ivory Soap. Fels-Naptha is 97 cents per bar at Wal-Mart, but Ivory Soap is 99 cents for 3 bars, and it only takes a bar of either per 4 cup mix. It is kind of what mood I am in, and how rich I feel, as to which one I pick up. If I am feeling wealthy, I splurge on Fels-Naptha.
I started making my own soap as a frugal hack, but then found out that Husband's sensitive skin improved, so I doubt that I will ever go back to buying commercially made laundry soap, no matter how "hypo-allergenic" it is. Plus, it takes about 2 seconds to get everything together and make it.
The last time I made it, one of Thing1's friends was over, and she was kind of surprised to see that it is possible to make your own laundry soap.
One year supply of laundry detergent:
Fels Naptha 4 bars @ 97 each $ 3.88
Arm and Hammer Super Washing Soda $ 3.87
20 Mule Team Borax $ 4.15
TOTAL = $11.90
Grate a bar of Fels-Naptha. It will look like grated cheddar.
Once everything is all blended into a fine powder in my little handy-dandy food processor, I break out the Folgers reusable plastic canister.
I add one level (maybe a little bit rounded) Tablespoon of detergent per load. I have added two for particularly dirty/smelly loads.
I also bought a container of Purex Crystals last year, and have added them to my loads with sheets and blankets, so that those items get a softening agent. For towels, I add 1/2 a cup of plain white vinegar to the laundry with the soap to keep them fresh smelling and soft.
I have also toyed with the idea of buying a small box of Gain (by far my favorite smelling laundry detergent) and adding a scoop of Gain (the equivalent of one load) to my mix for the quarter. If I decide to do so, I will update you. I hesitate to do this, since I do not know if even this small amount might irritate Husband's skin. (That is kind of part of the beauty of making your own, and it being so affordable. If it does irritate his skin, I give that batch away and make another. No biggie!)
So, there you have it. A year's supply of laundry detergent for roughly $12.00. And, our clothes are clean and fresh smelling.
t
Update: Because of some sort of a latent OCD on my part, when someone asked me how much it was per use for my laundry soap, I felt an urgent need to figure out the per use cost.
The bar is 5.5 ounces, and there are 2 tbsp per oz.
Each cup of Borax or Washing Soda is 16 tbsp.
4 C. x 16 = 64 tbsp in the powders, and 11 tbsp in the bar = 75 loads of laundry per quarterly recipe.
$11.90 for the year / 4 quarters = 2.975, or $2.98 per quarter
$2.98 / 75 loads = .0397333, or 4 cents per load. And, that's with the more expensive soap option.
If I were to utilize Zote, which comes in a larger bar (so I only use 1/2 a bar per recipe) or if I use Ivory Soap @ 99 cents for 3 bars, my cost per load reduces to 3 cents per load :-)
Friday, June 14, 2013
Groceries 6/10/13
Aldi's does not have acorn squash, and they do not sell hard cider either, so Wal-Mart was my destination today.
3lb bag of chicken breast $ 5.98
Almond Milk 2 @ 2.88 $ 5.76
Sweet Potatoes 4.52 lbs @ .88 $ 3.98
3 Acorn Squash 5.25 lbs @ 1.38 per lb $ 7.25
Woodchuck Hard Cider 12 pack $13.97
Turkey Franks 5 @ .98 $ 4.90
Dates 2 packages @ 3.08 $ 6.16
TOTAL = $48.00
I will be trying my hand at some bacon wrapped dates. A friend of mine made some for me in the meal that she brought over to me when i hurt my foot, and I got the recipe from her, so I will be trying them in the near future. :-)
t
Update: The bacon wrapped dates were GREAT!! http://paleoonthecheap.blogspot.com/2013/06/bacon-wrapped-dates.html
3lb bag of chicken breast $ 5.98
Almond Milk 2 @ 2.88 $ 5.76
Sweet Potatoes 4.52 lbs @ .88 $ 3.98
3 Acorn Squash 5.25 lbs @ 1.38 per lb $ 7.25
Woodchuck Hard Cider 12 pack $13.97
Turkey Franks 5 @ .98 $ 4.90
Dates 2 packages @ 3.08 $ 6.16
TOTAL = $48.00
I will be trying my hand at some bacon wrapped dates. A friend of mine made some for me in the meal that she brought over to me when i hurt my foot, and I got the recipe from her, so I will be trying them in the near future. :-)
t
Update: The bacon wrapped dates were GREAT!! http://paleoonthecheap.blogspot.com/2013/06/bacon-wrapped-dates.html
Stuffed Acorn Squash, a-la Paleo
I tried another of Chrissy Gower's recipes from "Paleo slow cooking, Gluten Free Recipes Made Simple"
http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Title/book--q1Yej_iI0SMMcmyuc2Hdg/page1.html?utm_source=productlistings&utm_medium=g&utm_campaign=title-Paleo+Slow+Cooking%3a+Gluten+Free+Recipes+Made+Simple&gclid=CLCx9dKP4bcCFXRk7AodtSQAzA
I had never before had stuffed acorn squash. I had never had acorn squash, but the picture in the book looked so good, that I HAD to try it for myself.
The stuffing is simple, a pound of Italian Sausage, onion, mushrooms, spinach, and the squash.
3 Acorn Squash 5.25 lbs @ 1.38 per lb $ 7.25
2 onions $ .40
Mushrooms - 8oz clamshell $ 1.59
1 lb mild italian Pork Sausage $ 2.79
spinach leaves (1/2 an 8 oz bag) $ .75
TOTAL = $ 12.78 (or 2.13 per serving)
I finally made a salad from my own home grown lettuce! Large bowl of lettuce from the garden, and some odds and ends from the refrigerator (1/2 a leftover tomato, handful of olives the kids had leftover from a snack, and half a carrot from a smoothie that I had made earlier.) So, a basically free salad.
In a sauté pan, I caramelized my onions, then added my mushrooms. After a few minutes, I added the Italian Pork Sausage, after cutting it out of the casings. While that cooked, I bisected my acorn squash lengthwise, and scooped out the seeds. I added the seeds to my garden beds, just in case I get them to grow. :-)
Instead of using my crock pot, because there would not have been enough room for everything, I used the alternate cooking directions for the oven. 350 degrees for an hour. They turned out fabulously!
I would suggest having a hand towel on hand, because we found it difficult to try to dig each bite out individually. Much easier to get your entire serving onto your plate, and go from there. :-) We took a hand towel doubled over for the protection of our hand, then scooped the squash totally empty and down to it's skin onto our plates, and dug in. AMAZING TASTE!
For the $12.78, we got 4 really good dinner servings, and enough leftovers for two more full meals.
The next morning, I took one of the servings, mashed it a bit, and fried it up with some eggs for Husband and myself, and it was delicious! He put Sriracha over his for an extra kick, and I took mine plain. SO GOOD!
Okay, so that breakfast breakdown was one serving of the acorn squash ($2..13) and 5 eggs (@ 10 cents each = $ .50) So, a nice breakfast for 2 for $2.63, and I would put it up against any breakfast at any restaurant - especially at $1.32 per serving!! Wait, I forgot the sprinkle of cheese, so add $.15 per serving, for a grand total of $1.47 per breakfast for Husband and myself.
t
http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Title/book--q1Yej_iI0SMMcmyuc2Hdg/page1.html?utm_source=productlistings&utm_medium=g&utm_campaign=title-Paleo+Slow+Cooking%3a+Gluten+Free+Recipes+Made+Simple&gclid=CLCx9dKP4bcCFXRk7AodtSQAzA
I had never before had stuffed acorn squash. I had never had acorn squash, but the picture in the book looked so good, that I HAD to try it for myself.
The stuffing is simple, a pound of Italian Sausage, onion, mushrooms, spinach, and the squash.
3 Acorn Squash 5.25 lbs @ 1.38 per lb $ 7.25
2 onions $ .40
Mushrooms - 8oz clamshell $ 1.59
1 lb mild italian Pork Sausage $ 2.79
spinach leaves (1/2 an 8 oz bag) $ .75
TOTAL = $ 12.78 (or 2.13 per serving)
I finally made a salad from my own home grown lettuce! Large bowl of lettuce from the garden, and some odds and ends from the refrigerator (1/2 a leftover tomato, handful of olives the kids had leftover from a snack, and half a carrot from a smoothie that I had made earlier.) So, a basically free salad.
In a sauté pan, I caramelized my onions, then added my mushrooms. After a few minutes, I added the Italian Pork Sausage, after cutting it out of the casings. While that cooked, I bisected my acorn squash lengthwise, and scooped out the seeds. I added the seeds to my garden beds, just in case I get them to grow. :-)
Instead of using my crock pot, because there would not have been enough room for everything, I used the alternate cooking directions for the oven. 350 degrees for an hour. They turned out fabulously!
I would suggest having a hand towel on hand, because we found it difficult to try to dig each bite out individually. Much easier to get your entire serving onto your plate, and go from there. :-) We took a hand towel doubled over for the protection of our hand, then scooped the squash totally empty and down to it's skin onto our plates, and dug in. AMAZING TASTE!
For the $12.78, we got 4 really good dinner servings, and enough leftovers for two more full meals.
The next morning, I took one of the servings, mashed it a bit, and fried it up with some eggs for Husband and myself, and it was delicious! He put Sriracha over his for an extra kick, and I took mine plain. SO GOOD!
Okay, so that breakfast breakdown was one serving of the acorn squash ($2..13) and 5 eggs (@ 10 cents each = $ .50) So, a nice breakfast for 2 for $2.63, and I would put it up against any breakfast at any restaurant - especially at $1.32 per serving!! Wait, I forgot the sprinkle of cheese, so add $.15 per serving, for a grand total of $1.47 per breakfast for Husband and myself.
t
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