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


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

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

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

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

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