A grocery experiment: Week 3 (4?) groceries
Trader Joe's: $81.50
Includes:
tortilla chips
dried cherries
organic frozen raspberries (2 pkg)
multigrain crackers
organic chocolate syrup
Dr. Bronner bar of soap
organic plain whole milk yogurt
organic frozen strawberries
organic light brown sugar
vanilla whole milk yogurt
butter
2 zbars
bananas
garlic naan bread (so good!)
chocolate chips
frozen petite peas
frozen mango chunks
pizza sauce (the refrigerated kind)
clif bar (For Nate)
whole wheat tortillas (2 pkg)
organic peanut butter
frozen edamame
fresh ginger
organic spinach salad
organic broccoli
organic whole carrots
uncured bacon
shredded cheese (2 pkg)
monterey jack cheese brick
Kroger: $12.33
Includes:
2 gallons milk
4 cans orange juice
buttermilk
whole wheat bread
Locally Grown Gardens: $15.40
Includes:
3 apples
green pepper
broccoli
2 dozen eggs
Note: Just found out they raised their egg prices .50 to $4.25 a couple months ago. I've not been paying attention. I thought I was getting such a deal there, since the Farmer's Market eggs are usually that much and LGG was lower. They had to raise it cause the price of feed went up.
Locally Grown Gardens: $19.11
Includes:
dozen eggs
1 onion
4 apples
4 peaches
Grand total for September: $548.86
A couple of thoughts:
--I can't wait to go apple picking. Apples are expensive at LGG. We're going to Beasley's this coming weekend when my folks are here. Hoping to eat lots of fresh apples, make apple pie a couple of times, make applesauce with extra to freeze, dry apples, and maybe some apple crisp and baked apple muffins too. Mmmmm.
--Thinking about going back to Farm Fresh Delivery. I don't know if it will save me money, but it will surely save me time. I think it will save a bit of money compared to what I've been spending this month. :)
--I can't wait to get a chest freezer. We're waiting until we can save for it. I'd like to buy a 1/4 or so of a grassfed cow.
--I won't be posting my grocery bill from tomorrow for this month. Since there are only three days left in the month, I'm counting that for next month. I will be keeping track of how much I spend, but I'm not sure if I'll list what I buy. I guess if I wanted to be really thorough I'd compare right down to each thing I bought, but I don't think I will be.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Sunday, September 20, 2009
A grocery experiment: Week 3 Menu
Mostly skipping lunches on the menu. Will figure those out as we go.
Monday:
B: yogurt, granola, and fruit or cereal with milk
L: peanut butter and jelly sandwiches or tortillas and smoothies
D: chicken (turkey) curry over rice with naan and peas and corn (Nate gone at boy night)
Tuesday: (make Powerball Cookies today--note: I chop up the nuts and chocolate chips in the food processor or hand chopper so they stick better and also include shredded, unsweetened coconut)
B: oatmeal with fruit
D: baked french toast with apples (board meeting for me)
Wednesday: (make cookie bars for community group)
B: eggs and toast
D: community group--bring cookie bars
Thursday: make English muffins and pizza dough
B: German Apple Pancake (see below)
D: Salmon melts and tomato basil soup (from freezer)
Friday: (make banana bread or muffins)
B: Leftover German Apple pancake or cereal
L: Leftover english muffins and toppings
D: Pizza and salad
Saturday:
B: Pancakes or oatmeal with fruit
D: Leftover pizza
Sunday:
B: Granola or cereal and fruit
D: Burros (beans, cheese, taco meat, cheese)
German Apple Pancake
from Nate's mom
Serves 4-6
4 eggs, room temperature
1/2 cup flour
1 T sugar
1/2 tsp salt
2/3 cup milk, room temperature
2 T butter
about 2 apples, peeled and thinly sliced or diced
cinnamon sugar mixture (2 T sugar and 3/4 tsp cinnamon)
Beat eggs with electric mixer until thick and lemon-colored. Beat in flour, sugar, salt, and milk. Preheat 9x13 inch pan in preheating oven (preheating to 400 degrees), melting butter at same time--tilt to coat. Pour batter in pan and scatter apple slices over. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar mixture. Bake 15-20 minutes--will get puffy. Serve warm with maple syrup, powdered sugar, or just plain.
Mostly skipping lunches on the menu. Will figure those out as we go.
Monday:
B: yogurt, granola, and fruit or cereal with milk
L: peanut butter and jelly sandwiches or tortillas and smoothies
D: chicken (turkey) curry over rice with naan and peas and corn (Nate gone at boy night)
Tuesday: (make Powerball Cookies today--note: I chop up the nuts and chocolate chips in the food processor or hand chopper so they stick better and also include shredded, unsweetened coconut)
B: oatmeal with fruit
D: baked french toast with apples (board meeting for me)
Wednesday: (make cookie bars for community group)
B: eggs and toast
D: community group--bring cookie bars
Thursday: make English muffins and pizza dough
B: German Apple Pancake (see below)
D: Salmon melts and tomato basil soup (from freezer)
Friday: (make banana bread or muffins)
B: Leftover German Apple pancake or cereal
L: Leftover english muffins and toppings
D: Pizza and salad
Saturday:
B: Pancakes or oatmeal with fruit
D: Leftover pizza
Sunday:
B: Granola or cereal and fruit
D: Burros (beans, cheese, taco meat, cheese)
German Apple Pancake
from Nate's mom
Serves 4-6
4 eggs, room temperature
1/2 cup flour
1 T sugar
1/2 tsp salt
2/3 cup milk, room temperature
2 T butter
about 2 apples, peeled and thinly sliced or diced
cinnamon sugar mixture (2 T sugar and 3/4 tsp cinnamon)
Beat eggs with electric mixer until thick and lemon-colored. Beat in flour, sugar, salt, and milk. Preheat 9x13 inch pan in preheating oven (preheating to 400 degrees), melting butter at same time--tilt to coat. Pour batter in pan and scatter apple slices over. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar mixture. Bake 15-20 minutes--will get puffy. Serve warm with maple syrup, powdered sugar, or just plain.
A grocery experiment: Week 2 and 3
Locally Grown Gardens: $12.90
Includes:
6 peaches (4 for community group)
3 apples
2 pears
Good Earth: $16.81
Includes:
almond milk-1 quart
one quart TP yogurt
about 1 pound TP ground beef
yogurt raisins (treat for Nate and girls)
I went to Kroger because Good Earth was out of TP milk and Kroger sells it too for a little more. They were out too, though, so I gave up and bought Kroger brand milk.
Kroger: $9.12
Includes:
3 cans frozen orange juice
whole wheat bread
2 gallons milk (actually 4 half gallons because they were cheaper)
Total: $420.52
I'm toying with the idea of stopping the experiment here. I know the month isn't over yet, but I'm at least thinking about giving up on the milk. TP milk is the most expensive milk I've seen out there. It's even more expensive than getting raw milk from a local farmer even after buying a share of the cow and all. Oh, how I wish we hadn't missed out on that deal we almost had to buy a cow and board it with a farmer...oh well. Letting that go, now. :) Nate's been saying that he's been drinking next to no milk this month and it is kind of a pain that the milk comes in quarts. We are constantly opening a new bottle.
So, i think that's my compromise. I'll go back to buying regular milk (hormone-free, at least), mostly at Trader Joe's, but still try to buy other things local, like produce, beef, yogurt, honey, eggs. I'll keep track of my spending on here for the rest of the month still. And maybe even next month for a comparison, we'll see.
Locally Grown Gardens: $12.90
Includes:
6 peaches (4 for community group)
3 apples
2 pears
Good Earth: $16.81
Includes:
almond milk-1 quart
one quart TP yogurt
about 1 pound TP ground beef
yogurt raisins (treat for Nate and girls)
I went to Kroger because Good Earth was out of TP milk and Kroger sells it too for a little more. They were out too, though, so I gave up and bought Kroger brand milk.
Kroger: $9.12
Includes:
3 cans frozen orange juice
whole wheat bread
2 gallons milk (actually 4 half gallons because they were cheaper)
Total: $420.52
I'm toying with the idea of stopping the experiment here. I know the month isn't over yet, but I'm at least thinking about giving up on the milk. TP milk is the most expensive milk I've seen out there. It's even more expensive than getting raw milk from a local farmer even after buying a share of the cow and all. Oh, how I wish we hadn't missed out on that deal we almost had to buy a cow and board it with a farmer...oh well. Letting that go, now. :) Nate's been saying that he's been drinking next to no milk this month and it is kind of a pain that the milk comes in quarts. We are constantly opening a new bottle.
So, i think that's my compromise. I'll go back to buying regular milk (hormone-free, at least), mostly at Trader Joe's, but still try to buy other things local, like produce, beef, yogurt, honey, eggs. I'll keep track of my spending on here for the rest of the month still. And maybe even next month for a comparison, we'll see.
Monday, September 14, 2009
A grocery experiment: Week 3 menu
Sunday-
D--Texas Chicken Enchiladas
Monday-
B-eggs and toast
L-leftover chili, blueberry bread, leftover baked oatmeal and fruit for girls
S-Chris's mexican food in Nora for my birthday
Tuesday-
B-Oatmeal and peaches
L-Texas chicken enchiladas, tortillas with pb and j or plain chicken for girls, fruit, carrots
S-Mac and cheese and turkey hot dogs
Wednesday-
B-Pancakes or granola (need to make some)
L-Texas Chicken Enchiladas, smoothies and toast and chicken for girls
S-Community group--bring something
Thursday-
B-Eggs and toast
L-Texas chicken enchiladas (they are yummy and last a long time with only Nate and I are eating them)
S-Eating out somewhere--hoping the gyro place--I'm getting a massage before dinner!
Friday-
B-cereal and milk
L-Not sure--probably cheese, fruit, crackers, bread, tomatoes, carrots, and yogurt
S-Salmon melts (see below) on homemade english muffins
Saturday-
B-Leftover english muffins and eggs (after we go early to a couple of yard sales, I hope)
L-maybe not much if we have a big enough, late enough breakfast)
S-Burros (basically taco meat and cheese and beans and sometimes rice and corn, wrapped up in a tortilla, baked in a pan covered with aluminum foil or wrapped each in alum. foil. you can also freeze them and throw them in at 350 for an hour straight from freezer) Only 30 minutes in oven if just made and 45 min if from the fridge.)
Sunday-
B-baked oatmeal
L-
S-leftovers
Salmon Melts
1 can salmon or tuna
1/3 cup celery (I usually don't have celery-can use celery salt or some other crunchy veggie)
1/2 cup mayo (can substitute some plain yogurt for part of this)
1 Tbsp Dijon or regular mustard (sometimes I do half mustard and half honey)
1/2 tsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp worcestershire sauce
1/8 tsp salt
ground pepper
english muffins
butter
tomatoes, thinly sliced
cheese slices
In small bowl, combine seafood and celery. Add mayo, mustard, lemon juice, worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper; mix well. Lightly toast and butter English muffins; top with tomato. Divide seafood mixture evenly among halves. Top with slice of cheese. Broil until cheese bubbles. Sometimes I put cheese under the seafood mixture.
Sunday-
D--Texas Chicken Enchiladas
Monday-
B-eggs and toast
L-leftover chili, blueberry bread, leftover baked oatmeal and fruit for girls
S-Chris's mexican food in Nora for my birthday
Tuesday-
B-Oatmeal and peaches
L-Texas chicken enchiladas, tortillas with pb and j or plain chicken for girls, fruit, carrots
S-Mac and cheese and turkey hot dogs
Wednesday-
B-Pancakes or granola (need to make some)
L-Texas Chicken Enchiladas, smoothies and toast and chicken for girls
S-Community group--bring something
Thursday-
B-Eggs and toast
L-Texas chicken enchiladas (they are yummy and last a long time with only Nate and I are eating them)
S-Eating out somewhere--hoping the gyro place--I'm getting a massage before dinner!
Friday-
B-cereal and milk
L-Not sure--probably cheese, fruit, crackers, bread, tomatoes, carrots, and yogurt
S-Salmon melts (see below) on homemade english muffins
Saturday-
B-Leftover english muffins and eggs (after we go early to a couple of yard sales, I hope)
L-maybe not much if we have a big enough, late enough breakfast)
S-Burros (basically taco meat and cheese and beans and sometimes rice and corn, wrapped up in a tortilla, baked in a pan covered with aluminum foil or wrapped each in alum. foil. you can also freeze them and throw them in at 350 for an hour straight from freezer) Only 30 minutes in oven if just made and 45 min if from the fridge.)
Sunday-
B-baked oatmeal
L-
S-leftovers
Salmon Melts
1 can salmon or tuna
1/3 cup celery (I usually don't have celery-can use celery salt or some other crunchy veggie)
1/2 cup mayo (can substitute some plain yogurt for part of this)
1 Tbsp Dijon or regular mustard (sometimes I do half mustard and half honey)
1/2 tsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp worcestershire sauce
1/8 tsp salt
ground pepper
english muffins
butter
tomatoes, thinly sliced
cheese slices
In small bowl, combine seafood and celery. Add mayo, mustard, lemon juice, worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper; mix well. Lightly toast and butter English muffins; top with tomato. Divide seafood mixture evenly among halves. Top with slice of cheese. Broil until cheese bubbles. Sometimes I put cheese under the seafood mixture.
A grocery experiment: Week 2 and 3 groceries
Some of these are from the end of last week and some for the beginning of this week. It's hard to keep up with posting.
Locally Grown Gardens: $27.09
Includes:
Sugar baby watermelon (medium-sized)
5 peaches
2 dozen eggs
2 apples
2 red peppers
Good Earth: $35.34
Includes:
4 quarts TP milk
1 quart TP yogurt
bulk pinto beans (3 cups or more)
bulk organic rolled oats (about 2 lbs)
toothpaste for Nathan
cumin (ounce and a half)
garlic
Nathan went to these two for me yesterday. He forgot that we were experimenting with avoiding Kroger for the month. But I appreciate that I had a little break from grocery shopping anyway.
Trader Joe's: $29.19
Includes:
whole wheat flour
turbinado sugar
altoids (hmmmm)
organic whole carrots
turkey hot dogs
butter
frozen mangos
frozen strawberries
bananas
turkey breast half
Kroger: $16.08
Includes:
Edys ice cream-2 (for my birthday!)
orange juice (5)
Total groceries so far: $381.69
Some of these are from the end of last week and some for the beginning of this week. It's hard to keep up with posting.
Locally Grown Gardens: $27.09
Includes:
Sugar baby watermelon (medium-sized)
5 peaches
2 dozen eggs
2 apples
2 red peppers
Good Earth: $35.34
Includes:
4 quarts TP milk
1 quart TP yogurt
bulk pinto beans (3 cups or more)
bulk organic rolled oats (about 2 lbs)
toothpaste for Nathan
cumin (ounce and a half)
garlic
Nathan went to these two for me yesterday. He forgot that we were experimenting with avoiding Kroger for the month. But I appreciate that I had a little break from grocery shopping anyway.
Trader Joe's: $29.19
Includes:
whole wheat flour
turbinado sugar
altoids (hmmmm)
organic whole carrots
turkey hot dogs
butter
frozen mangos
frozen strawberries
bananas
turkey breast half
Kroger: $16.08
Includes:
Edys ice cream-2 (for my birthday!)
orange juice (5)
Total groceries so far: $381.69
Monday, September 07, 2009
A grocery experiment: Menu for Week 2
This is a flexible menu for week 2. I didn't perfectly follow my menu for last week, but planning ahead was still helpful for knowing what to have in the house.
I'm not doing the breakfasts this week. We will eat breakfast, of course, but I don't have them planned at the moment.
Monday:
L: sandwiches, apples, snacky foods that we would have taken to the beach
S: Zucchini pie with homemade crescent roll crust (this is a lot more work, but so worth it and so much better for you...except it uses a ton of butter--I'm happy to email it, but I don't think I should post it), blueberries, and smoothies for the girls
Tuesday:
L: Leftover zucchini pie and some tomatoes for me, girls will have sandwiches, edamame, and apples
S: Pasta with pesto (see below for recipe) and leftover tomato basil soup and bread
Wednesday:
L: Smoothies, apples, blueberry bread (from freezer) and leftover zucchini pie if there is any left for Nate and me
S: Community group--bringing tomatoes
Thursday:
L: Avocado quesadillas (if they are ripe) and fruit
S: Chili and cornbread (didn't have this last week because didn't have beef in house)
Friday:
L: Chili and cornbread leftovers
S: Slow cooker chicken
Saturday:
L: Chili leftovers (we always eat this for a few days) and smoothies for girls
S: Texas Chicken Enchiladas (See below for recipe) with chicken leftovers
Sunday:
L and D: Yummy leftovers
Pesto (from Mommy-made (and daddy too))
2 cups basil leaves, rinsed and tightly packed
1/2 cup walnuts (could use almonds too)
1-2 cloves garlic, minced
Process above in blender or food processor until coarsely chopped.
Slowly or gradually blend in:
1/2 cup olive oil
Remove from processor or blender to bowl and stir in:
1/2 cup parmesan
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
Let sit in covered container in fridge for 1-2 hours to let flavors develop. Then can use with 1 lb of cooked pasta.
I froze half of the pesto. Place in container and cover with olive oil before freezing. Freeze for up to three months.
You can also freeze fresh basil. Rinse and chop basil (I use a scissor to cut in small strips. Then place 1 Tablespoon of basil in each cube of ice cube tray and cover with water. Once frozen, pop out and place in freezer bag. I'll be using three cubes in each batch of tomato basil soup.
Chili (from my mom with my variations)
1 lb ground beef, browned (I don't drain mine, because it doesn't have a lot of grease)
Add one clove minced garlic
Add one small/medium, chopped onion
Add green pepper (take seeds out and chop)--opt.
Add 2 cans beans--I use garbanzo beans--about 2-3 cups cooked beans. Use what you like.
Add 1 28-ounce can diced tomatoes--sometimes I blend them to make them less chunky, sometimes I leave them how they are---this week I may use fresh tomatoes
Add spices:
1 1/2 tsp chili powder (or more)
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp cumin (or more)
Simmer for about 1 hour before eating (mine usually simmers for 2-3 hours, at least, because I make it right around lunch time). Or I make it the day before, let it simmer for an hour, then let it cool and bit and place it in the fridge for the next day's meal.
Texas Chicken Enchiladas
recipe from friend of family with my variations
Ingredients:
8 flour tortillas
1 small onion, chopped
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
3-4 chicken breasts, cooked, seasoned, and diced or shredded
(chili powder, cumin, and splash of lime plus 1/4 cup water to season or buy a fajita seasoning mix in a jar in the spice section or buy chicken that has been pre-cooked and seasoned)
frozen corn, optional
black beans or pinto beans, optional
8 oz shredded cheese
Sauce (from Whole Foods for the Whole Family):
3 Tbsp. olive oil
1-2 Tbsp. chili powder
2 Tbsp. flour
2 cups water
1 tsp vinegar
1/2 tsp garlic salt
1/2 tsp oregano
1. If your chicken is not already pre-cooked and seasoned in the package, you need to cook the chicken and season it. You can bake it in a pan on 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes or until center is no longer pink. Then shred or dice the chicken, place it in the pan on the stove and add spices or spice mix and water. The easiest option is to buy pre-seasoned chicken until you get the hang of it.
2. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Saute onions over medium to medium high heat in 2 Tbsp margarine or butter until transparent. Add seasoned chicken and cream cheese. Mix well. If desired, add black beans and frozen corn for extra nutrition, texture, and flavor.
3. Either have tortillas at room temperature or heat briefly in microwave to soften. Spoon 1/3 cup of chicken mixture on each tortilla. Roll them up and place seam side down in 9x13-inch baking pan that has been sprayed with cooking spray.
4. To make sauce, combine all sauce ingredients in a small pan and stir until blended. Heat on medium high until it boils and then reduce heat to low and let simmer for 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Pour sauce over rolled up tortillas, trying to get liquid over as much as possible. Sprinkle with as much cheese as desired.
5. Bake for 25 minutes, uncovered. Enjoy plain or with salsa or sour cream. You could probably freeze half of these in individual portions, maybe even wrapped up in aluminum foil and placed in a ziploc bag. Enjoy lots of leftovers. These are Nate's favorite!
This is a flexible menu for week 2. I didn't perfectly follow my menu for last week, but planning ahead was still helpful for knowing what to have in the house.
I'm not doing the breakfasts this week. We will eat breakfast, of course, but I don't have them planned at the moment.
Monday:
L: sandwiches, apples, snacky foods that we would have taken to the beach
S: Zucchini pie with homemade crescent roll crust (this is a lot more work, but so worth it and so much better for you...except it uses a ton of butter--I'm happy to email it, but I don't think I should post it), blueberries, and smoothies for the girls
Tuesday:
L: Leftover zucchini pie and some tomatoes for me, girls will have sandwiches, edamame, and apples
S: Pasta with pesto (see below for recipe) and leftover tomato basil soup and bread
Wednesday:
L: Smoothies, apples, blueberry bread (from freezer) and leftover zucchini pie if there is any left for Nate and me
S: Community group--bringing tomatoes
Thursday:
L: Avocado quesadillas (if they are ripe) and fruit
S: Chili and cornbread (didn't have this last week because didn't have beef in house)
Friday:
L: Chili and cornbread leftovers
S: Slow cooker chicken
Saturday:
L: Chili leftovers (we always eat this for a few days) and smoothies for girls
S: Texas Chicken Enchiladas (See below for recipe) with chicken leftovers
Sunday:
L and D: Yummy leftovers
Pesto (from Mommy-made (and daddy too))
2 cups basil leaves, rinsed and tightly packed
1/2 cup walnuts (could use almonds too)
1-2 cloves garlic, minced
Process above in blender or food processor until coarsely chopped.
Slowly or gradually blend in:
1/2 cup olive oil
Remove from processor or blender to bowl and stir in:
1/2 cup parmesan
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
Let sit in covered container in fridge for 1-2 hours to let flavors develop. Then can use with 1 lb of cooked pasta.
I froze half of the pesto. Place in container and cover with olive oil before freezing. Freeze for up to three months.
You can also freeze fresh basil. Rinse and chop basil (I use a scissor to cut in small strips. Then place 1 Tablespoon of basil in each cube of ice cube tray and cover with water. Once frozen, pop out and place in freezer bag. I'll be using three cubes in each batch of tomato basil soup.
Chili (from my mom with my variations)
1 lb ground beef, browned (I don't drain mine, because it doesn't have a lot of grease)
Add one clove minced garlic
Add one small/medium, chopped onion
Add green pepper (take seeds out and chop)--opt.
Add 2 cans beans--I use garbanzo beans--about 2-3 cups cooked beans. Use what you like.
Add 1 28-ounce can diced tomatoes--sometimes I blend them to make them less chunky, sometimes I leave them how they are---this week I may use fresh tomatoes
Add spices:
1 1/2 tsp chili powder (or more)
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp cumin (or more)
Simmer for about 1 hour before eating (mine usually simmers for 2-3 hours, at least, because I make it right around lunch time). Or I make it the day before, let it simmer for an hour, then let it cool and bit and place it in the fridge for the next day's meal.
Texas Chicken Enchiladas
recipe from friend of family with my variations
Ingredients:
8 flour tortillas
1 small onion, chopped
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
3-4 chicken breasts, cooked, seasoned, and diced or shredded
(chili powder, cumin, and splash of lime plus 1/4 cup water to season or buy a fajita seasoning mix in a jar in the spice section or buy chicken that has been pre-cooked and seasoned)
frozen corn, optional
black beans or pinto beans, optional
8 oz shredded cheese
Sauce (from Whole Foods for the Whole Family):
3 Tbsp. olive oil
1-2 Tbsp. chili powder
2 Tbsp. flour
2 cups water
1 tsp vinegar
1/2 tsp garlic salt
1/2 tsp oregano
1. If your chicken is not already pre-cooked and seasoned in the package, you need to cook the chicken and season it. You can bake it in a pan on 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes or until center is no longer pink. Then shred or dice the chicken, place it in the pan on the stove and add spices or spice mix and water. The easiest option is to buy pre-seasoned chicken until you get the hang of it.
2. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Saute onions over medium to medium high heat in 2 Tbsp margarine or butter until transparent. Add seasoned chicken and cream cheese. Mix well. If desired, add black beans and frozen corn for extra nutrition, texture, and flavor.
3. Either have tortillas at room temperature or heat briefly in microwave to soften. Spoon 1/3 cup of chicken mixture on each tortilla. Roll them up and place seam side down in 9x13-inch baking pan that has been sprayed with cooking spray.
4. To make sauce, combine all sauce ingredients in a small pan and stir until blended. Heat on medium high until it boils and then reduce heat to low and let simmer for 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Pour sauce over rolled up tortillas, trying to get liquid over as much as possible. Sprinkle with as much cheese as desired.
5. Bake for 25 minutes, uncovered. Enjoy plain or with salsa or sour cream. You could probably freeze half of these in individual portions, maybe even wrapped up in aluminum foil and placed in a ziploc bag. Enjoy lots of leftovers. These are Nate's favorite!
A grocery experiment: Week 2 groceries
Farmer's Market: $72.80
Includes:
Honey-1 gallon for $35 (my last gallon lasted us 7 months--see below for a note on storage)
Whole roaster chicken-$13 at $3 a pound
Zucchini-$1 for 2
Apples-$3.50 for 1/4 peck
Raw milk cheese-$5.30
Cookies-$3 for 2 (a treat for Nate and the girls)
2 quarts TP milk-$7
1 quart TP yogurt-$5
Good Earth: $20.35
Includes:
2 pounds TP ground beef
bulk whole wheat pastry flour
bulk whole wheat flour
bulk all purpose flour (can't remember how much I got of each flour)
swiss chard (it was so pretty, but I've given up on really liking it...spinach is so much better tasting)
Trader Joe's: $53.48
Includes:
dishwasher detergent
TJ's O's cereal
munchies for beach (we didn't end up going cause Ally had a fever)
--mini cheese sandwich crackers
--schoolhouse cinnamon cookies
--dried cherries
mozzarella shredded cheese
organic peanut butter
organic strawberry preserves
all purpose flour
organic carrots
bananas
avocado (bag of four)
chocolate chips
ham for sandwiches
parmesan cheese
apple juice
2 cans frozen orange juice (1.99 each, much better)
sour cream
package of cream cheese
butter
Blueberries: $22.50 for 10 lbs from a farm up north through a friend from church
Almost forgot the totals.
Total groceries so far: $273.99
A couple notes there: that total includes the honey and the blueberries, both which will last me much longer than this month (I froze lots of blueberries). That's $50 of the total. It's so hard to really see how much you are spending unless you look at both the monthly and the total year.
I'm hoping that's all I'll need this week, but I think it won't be. I at least have to go out and get some more milk once. And I might want to get some more fruits or veggies.
Honey storage: You can leave honey out, but it will crystalize eventually. Place bottle in pan of water and warm slowly just like a baby bottle to de-crystalize. It will crystalize even faster in the fridge, apparently, but if you stick it in the fridge it won't crystalize. Pour what you need for a week or two in a jar to leave out, then put the rest in the freezer. Let it thaw for four or five hours when you need more, refill jar, place gallon back in freezer. I'm going to try the freezer this time around to see if this works.
Farmer's Market: $72.80
Includes:
Honey-1 gallon for $35 (my last gallon lasted us 7 months--see below for a note on storage)
Whole roaster chicken-$13 at $3 a pound
Zucchini-$1 for 2
Apples-$3.50 for 1/4 peck
Raw milk cheese-$5.30
Cookies-$3 for 2 (a treat for Nate and the girls)
2 quarts TP milk-$7
1 quart TP yogurt-$5
Good Earth: $20.35
Includes:
2 pounds TP ground beef
bulk whole wheat pastry flour
bulk whole wheat flour
bulk all purpose flour (can't remember how much I got of each flour)
swiss chard (it was so pretty, but I've given up on really liking it...spinach is so much better tasting)
Trader Joe's: $53.48
Includes:
dishwasher detergent
TJ's O's cereal
munchies for beach (we didn't end up going cause Ally had a fever)
--mini cheese sandwich crackers
--schoolhouse cinnamon cookies
--dried cherries
mozzarella shredded cheese
organic peanut butter
organic strawberry preserves
all purpose flour
organic carrots
bananas
avocado (bag of four)
chocolate chips
ham for sandwiches
parmesan cheese
apple juice
2 cans frozen orange juice (1.99 each, much better)
sour cream
package of cream cheese
butter
Blueberries: $22.50 for 10 lbs from a farm up north through a friend from church
Almost forgot the totals.
Total groceries so far: $273.99
A couple notes there: that total includes the honey and the blueberries, both which will last me much longer than this month (I froze lots of blueberries). That's $50 of the total. It's so hard to really see how much you are spending unless you look at both the monthly and the total year.
I'm hoping that's all I'll need this week, but I think it won't be. I at least have to go out and get some more milk once. And I might want to get some more fruits or veggies.
Honey storage: You can leave honey out, but it will crystalize eventually. Place bottle in pan of water and warm slowly just like a baby bottle to de-crystalize. It will crystalize even faster in the fridge, apparently, but if you stick it in the fridge it won't crystalize. Pour what you need for a week or two in a jar to leave out, then put the rest in the freezer. Let it thaw for four or five hours when you need more, refill jar, place gallon back in freezer. I'm going to try the freezer this time around to see if this works.
Sunday, September 06, 2009
Tuesday, September 01, 2009
A grocery experiment: Week 1 groceries
Good Earth: $61.85
Includes:
4 quarts TP milk
1 quart almond milk (to use in recipes to off set the TP cost)
organic butter
raw milk cheese
small bag lettuce
1 lb chicken breasts
mustard
broccoli
2 cups corn meal
1/2 cup whole wheat pastry flour
2-3 cups garbanzo beans
2 frozen orange juices (4.70 each)
Echinacea extract (tincture?)--this was $11 of the bill--we put a dropper full in our oj to boost our immune system when we are getting sick
Note: they didn't have TP beef in stock and I totally forgot bulk whole wheat and all purpose flour--I was so distracted by stopping Ally from re-organizing all their small bottles every where. Also didn't have buttermilk there. I'll either have to find a substitute for it (anyone?) or buy it at Trader Joe's.
Locally Grown Gardens: $43.01
Includes:
Sugar baby watermelon (a medium-sized, seedless watermelon with a dark green rind--can't stop eating it!)
Cantaloupe
2 dozen eggs
Maple syrup--made locally in Indiana-$19.50, but it lasts awhile and is so delicious--we like to give it as gifts sometimes too.
2 apples (for the girls to munch while we shopped)
2 peaches
2 onions
Total grocery: $104.86
Good Earth: $61.85
Includes:
4 quarts TP milk
1 quart almond milk (to use in recipes to off set the TP cost)
organic butter
raw milk cheese
small bag lettuce
1 lb chicken breasts
mustard
broccoli
2 cups corn meal
1/2 cup whole wheat pastry flour
2-3 cups garbanzo beans
2 frozen orange juices (4.70 each)
Echinacea extract (tincture?)--this was $11 of the bill--we put a dropper full in our oj to boost our immune system when we are getting sick
Note: they didn't have TP beef in stock and I totally forgot bulk whole wheat and all purpose flour--I was so distracted by stopping Ally from re-organizing all their small bottles every where. Also didn't have buttermilk there. I'll either have to find a substitute for it (anyone?) or buy it at Trader Joe's.
Locally Grown Gardens: $43.01
Includes:
Sugar baby watermelon (a medium-sized, seedless watermelon with a dark green rind--can't stop eating it!)
Cantaloupe
2 dozen eggs
Maple syrup--made locally in Indiana-$19.50, but it lasts awhile and is so delicious--we like to give it as gifts sometimes too.
2 apples (for the girls to munch while we shopped)
2 peaches
2 onions
Total grocery: $104.86
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