There are times in life where I wish I could just take a pill instead of physically preparing food and sitting down to eat. Last week was one of them. There are people who live to eat and people who eat to live.
I think I fall into the later category most of the time. Unless of course there is pie or pastries involved. Then I get excited. But for the most part {at least 75% of the time} I could just get by eating beans, rice, seasonal produce from the garden and a can of tuna or canned chicken and not have to think about it.
We do this {EAT} multiple times a day. And I think in the name of saving time and money, we’d all have a better system to go about it by now.
But what do I know?
You could drop me off on an island in the middle of nowhere with a giant sack of beans, some rice and a pallet of wool for a year and the isolation or the monotony of eating the same thing everyday wouldn’t get to me.
We’re all wired differently. Some of us obsess about food, and some of us just eat what’s in front of us and get on with it. But maybe I’m just feeling a little cranky about the whole mealtime thing lately because…
The HH broke the news to me that he will NOT be moving our old stove {or refrigerator for that matter} back into the house because he doesn’t want to scratch up our newly sanded and sealed floors.
He bought us a portable induction cooktop to use until the kitchen remodel is done {and I’m supposed to be excited about that!}.
So not only do I need to go to the garage every time I need to retrieve something from the refrigerator, we’ll be cooking all our meals with a hot plate, a Crock Pot and a griddle all summer while we wait for the AGA to arrive… it’s going to be interesting, that’s for sure.
Good times.
He also bought us a fancy steamer basket.
Now I don’t know that I’ve ever used a steamer basket before, but I’m pretty sure {and I’m going out on a limb here} that you can’t prepare the fine feast you see on the package in a steamer basket.
I mean really? You can steam avocado and lettuce in a steamer basket? Who knew?
Hot plate test run. Grilled cheese on cheap {$2.99 for a loaf of bread is now cheap?} sawdust bread.
Ritz and tuna. No cooking required, just 2 trips to the garage to retrieve the mayo and put it back.
In case you were wondering…
No, care package Christmas filet mignon steaks do not cook up the same as pot roast in a slow cooker. 😉 Whoops. The HH said the meat had the consistency of tuna straight out of the can. I agreed.
8 can taco soup. It ain’t pretty but it tastes Mmm Mmm Good.
My online pal Kathy from Louisiana {knowing how much I love beans and rice} sent me a few cans of Blue Runner Creole style beans last fall so I heated those up on the hot plate and served them over rice for dinner one night.
They were a huge hit.
We liked them so much that I heated up the second can of beans the next night, only this time, I added a can of Rotel to the beans thinking it might jazz them up a bit.
Bad idea. This is one instance where Rotel does not in fact add anything to the dish. 😉 Oh well. Now I know.
General Store $7.99
The sawdust bread from last week wasn’t cutting it with the HH so he picked up a loaf of Dave’s Killer bread. And boy, it wasn’t cheap! {5 bucks} but it was delicious toasted with butter and jam. 🙂
Shaws $5.00
Would you look at that!? Five produce items for $5. Those are basically normal prices from a few years ago.
I am not a fan of Shaw’s in general as I think there prices are really high {on par with Safeway in the PNW} and the hoops you {normally} have to jump through to buy their sale items {sign up for their club card, their app, clipping digital coupons, junk emails, buying a certain amount of each item yada yada yada} make me not want to shop there {this was my first trip to a Shaw’s in 9 years}.
But since we were in the area, and there were no strings attached with this deal {other than I needed to buy 5 items, which I actually wanted} I decided to pop in and take advantage of the deal.
I did take a quick look around, and their everyday prices were just as I expected, so I just got my 5 items and headed for the door.
One item that jumped out at me was the Jenni-O turkey breast that was on sale for $15.99 {$17.99 was the regular price!}. Last August I paid $11.99 for the same item {which I thought was high} and a year or two before that, I paid $5.99 each for a Jenni-O turkey breast at Market Basket.
Talk about a HUGE increase in food prices. That’s insane.
Prices are going up at an alarming rate {sawdust bread used to be $0.99 a loaf, now it’s $2.99 for Pete’s sake!} and the only advice I have is to stick to the basics, buy only what’s on sale and GROW as much of your food {and preserve it!} as you can this summer.
Because seriously, I highly doubt prices are going to go down anytime soon {if ever}.
~Mavis
P.S. Did you find any good deals at the stores this week? If so, let us know the name of the store so others can check for those deals in their area too. 🙂
Total Spent This Past Week on Groceries $12.99
- Total Spent in April on Groceries $94.48
- Total Spent in March on Groceries $114.12
- Total Spent in February on Groceries $94.64
- Total Spent in January on Groceries $96.58
- Total Spent on Groceries in 2022 $399.82
Brianna says
I paid $6.49 for Dave’s killer bread the other day. I actually have taken to keeping it in the refrigerator, which I know is not the best, but it will keep it from going moldy since I paid a premium for it.
The grocery prices are outrageous. I have pretty much subbed out all the organics (tomato, apples, cucumbers, etc.) I use to buy for regular inorganic varieties. I have started buying generic on some products I did not before and the generics I usually buy I am in shock of the price increase. I am seriously excited to find a 1lb box of butter for $2.99 now. I have cut back in recipes on some ingredients to stretch, but we rarely have leftovers now. I go grocery shopping with my list and stick to it, but I have to be flexible and if I see a good price on something or an item seems unreasonably priced I will try and substitute it.
I have noticed smaller packaging on some items too. I have a wild rice blend we love and I always decant it into a certain container. It went up in price, but I still bought it. I decanted it and it only filled my container 3/4 whereas before it would be to the top and I would have to shake it a bit to get it all to fit. The package is the same size as before, but the amount inside is less.
Kate says
I’ve found that Dave’s Killer bread keeps great in the freezer. I put the entire package in and just pull out a slice when I want one. Do ahead of time if you want it thawed for a sandwich, otherwise, just pop it in the toaster frozen.
Mavis Butterfield says
Yes! That’s what we do too.
Sue S. says
That’s the only bread I buy and I put mine in the freezer too. It’s worth every penny!
Claudia says
$2.99 got dozen eggs! Just didn’t $321 at Costco and didn’t by any meat. I went in for butter and forgot it
Gina says
I “baked” yeast bread in my crockpot last night and it turned out wonderful. Let me know if you would like the recipe? (I wasn’t sure how to send by email.) With no stove, this may be an option for you!
Ashley Bananas says
Gina, I would love the recipe – and my stove works! Can you post here?
Gina says
I have a simple blog just so I can keep my recipes. I posted the recipe today so I don’t forget how I did it. Recipe is here. Sooo good.,
https://athomemyway.blogspot.com/2022/04/so-easy-crockpot-bread-easy-as-sliced.html?m=1
Michelle says
I buy Dave’s bread at a small store in town for $6 a loaf, but try to get on sale out of town at a larger grocery store for $5. I noticed I can get a 2 pack at Sam’s club for $9. It does freeze well.
Lynda says
Lots of people rave about the air fryer. Maybe buy one for the interim. I don’t have one and have never used one but they are loved by many. (And then maybe write a review post so I’ll know whether to buy one or not 🙂
Lana says
We got one about 6 weeks ago and realized we should have done it way sooner. We love it!
suzanne says
Agreed. I’m so happy I got the big one. I rarely use the oven anymore.
Lindsey says
Wow, I had the opposite experience—the clean up was a pain and the food did not taste like it had been fried. I gave it away a month after we bought it.
Mel says
I love ours for certain recipes, and we have an easy to clean model, but I don’t use it often because I find it doesn’t work as well (either in terms of the final product or the quantity it can hold) for other things. Egg rolls are our favorite thing to make in it, and I’m sure we’ll find other favorites, but I am not good about trying things since it’s a little hit and miss.
Susie says
We love our Cuisinart toaster oven-style air fryer. You can use it as a toaster oven (obviously) as well as air frying. I think the bucket-style air fryers are a bit limiting. I know you’ll love your AGA, but we use this for SO much we never imagined.
Andrea Haywood says
We had a power surge blow out the panel on our Jenn Air range (which I will not be replacing bc it’s a total lemon), and now I’m eyeing the Anova Precision Oven as a replacement. It bakes, broils, dehydrates, sous vide and fits on the countertop but looks big enough to bake a small turkey. I honestly think you could make back the $600 with what you’ll save on bread lol. Oh I just looked and it’s on sale for $539!
Audra from Ohio says
Yesterday Meijer had a bunch of produce for a dollar each, and if you bought 10 you got the 11th item free. I stocked up on bell peppers, english cucumbers, and avocado but they had other items on sale as well.
I also got the deal of the century there on hydrangeas in the garden center. They had let them get hit by a frost and so I was able to get 7 Endless Summer gallon pots for $3 each (normal price $25 each) The plants were fine, I trimmed off the frosted bits and they look great.
Mavis Butterfield says
$3 is a steal!!! Well done Audra!
Jeanine says
At least it’s not winter time and the electricity works! In another year, you can look back on this time and be glad it’s over. You have a jewel of a husband….he has a long list of honey dos and is accomplishing them. This is your forever home and it will look beautiful soon. Hang in there!
Mrs. C. says
Mavis, I can relate. We are remodeling our kitchen right now. Demo started last week, ten months after we ordered everything, and six months after the cabinets arrived and completely filled up our entire garage, rendering it unusable all snowy winter long. We, too, are using a microwave, hot plate, etc. what’s really fun is no kitchen sink – we wash our dishes outside. I think by tomorrow we should have use of our new range, but no sink, etc., for another three weeks. Why? Countertops, wiring, plumbing all have to be done in a certain sequence, and plumbing is the last. I keep praying that things just go as smoothly as possible after all of this.
Mavis Butterfield says
Going without a sink is rough. Hopefully they can stick to the timeline. 🙁
Margo says
We have a Safeway affiliate near my home that I avoid unless absolutely necessary because of the prices. Gas prices just came down below $5.99 a gallon. I have to eat Gluten free, but $8.99 for a loaf of gluten free bread? I’ve been making my own, lately, most of the time. I did pay $6.00 of 6 gluten free tortillas, and $6.49 yesterday for gluten free English muffins. Going to learn to make those too, in the near future. Bought them because we are in a heat wave (90’s today) and didn’t want to light the oven, but it will cool off next week. I feel for folks with families with food sensitivities.
Jennifer says
We are gluten free too and have been making our own bread – not great tasting or great texture but we were making due. Then my friend told me about “Sam’s Choice” gluten free bread at Walmart grocery. 6.00 for a loaf. Seriously soooo much better than anything we have tried (Uzi’s Schars, White Mountain, etc.) I figure we make so much other stuff at home to save on costs, I will gladly pay $6 for a loaf!
Stephanie Z says
If you don’t already have a bread machine, I highly suggest it.
Pre-programmed and you’ll wake up to fresh hot bread. I use it for making English muffins, which you grill, not bake which would work out in your current reno situation.
JAMIE N says
I love air frying veggies and cooking in my air fryer. I just bought my mom the Costco 7qt. fryer that is currently on sale for $39.99. It can air fry, bake, broil and is big enough to hold a chicken. Maybe worth it during your remodel? Good luck!
Elle says
Would HH get sick of rice and beans? If yes, make nothing else until he gives in (yes, I would do this to my hubster 😉 Right now, 6 months could be 12!
Got a neighbor who will let you throw bread in their oven for 45m????
Tracey says
I’d really be interested to know how you get along with that induction burner. I’ve been considering getting one to use outdoors when it’s too hot in the kitchen and I don’t want to crank the AC.
Virginia says
I smirked when I saw Mavis’s portable induction cooktop box because I bought the same one this year — I actually bought two. Why? Earlier this year, a winter storm knocked out our power for 5 days. Even though we were able to run most of the house off 2 generators, I wasn’t able to use my GE induction stove (5 hobs) because it draws too many amps. After that event, I decided to get a couple smaller induction hobs to have on hand just in case. Having used a propane gas stove for almost 30 years, I changed out our stove to induction and I love, love, love it. Will never use anything else. Instantaneous control of the heat level, no fumes, energy efficient, cool to use in the summertime, and super easy cleanup. Give it a try, Tracey — I think you’ll like it.
andrea d says
If you were closer I’d lend you my countertop oven so you could bake your own bread (and pies!) again. I bought it a few years ago from Target in an emergency ‘the oven is broken and it’s a holiday I need to cook tonight’ situation. It’s wide enough to fit a 9 x 13 and tall enough to bake bread; it bakes, roasts, toasts and it’s just sitting in the garage at the moment.
As for the eating to live, my grandmother is that way. She eats very plain, simple, breakfasts and dinners, and she bakes a batch of cookies, freezes them in packs of two, and that is her ‘lunch’ most days- she’ll be 95 in a couple weeks, and she still walks the mountains near her home a couple miles every day, so I guess it works 🙂
Lindsey says
I’m convinced genetics has a lot to do with it. My grandmother died at 99 and 11 months, living on her own until the last few days in the hospital. She ate full sugar Pepsi and jelly donuts for breakfast (and sometimes for lunch) for at least the last 20 years of her life and died with everything but her hearing still going strong.
Angie says
Dave’s Killer Bread is $7.99/loaf in my
Area. I purchased a copy of Zoe Francois’ bread book and kept it moving.
There have. Even very few sales on meat or produce items as of late. Last year I paid $16 for a huge bucket of fresh picked strawberries from a local farm. This year the same
Bucket is $25. I ordered all of my
Flower seeds and am purchasing loads of veggie seeds to expand my garden. A friend is giving me
Her old canner and I plant to buy that camp burner set tin mentioned, put it in my back porch and keep it running all summer long. Prices have no where to go but up.
Virginia says
Mavis, there definitely are ways to move a refrigerator and stove back into place without damaging the floor. My (extremely conscientious) contractor hubby does it all the time. It usually involves a hand truck with very large wheels and a piece of luan (thin plywood). Your HH is plenty capable (with the proper research ) and should be able to put you out of your misery and get you a functioning kitchen. If he digs his heels in though, I really do recommend you get yourself a toaster oven. I’ve got an Oster I’ve had for years and love it. Great little oven big enough for a 1/2 sheet pan or nice size casserole dish.
Susie says
Totally agree with the method of moving the appliances back in. Your hubby loves to research things…I’m sure YouTube has some tutorials on how to do it. Where there’s a will, there’s a way!
Karen says
We once lived in a two story house (rental) that had the kitchen on the top floor, and the A/C whole house unit was woefully small for the house size. And the house had a southern exposure, which meant in summer the kitchen was majorly hot. So much so that even using a crockpot heated the place up miserably. So my husband sent up an outdoor kitchen on the patio outside, with a hot plate and a crockpot, and there were days I was out there cooking beef stew or things like that on a one-plate burner (I mean searing the meat and then putting it in the crockpot). It worked. It wasn’t very fun, but it worked. We actually have two old fridges out in the garage–one for water (city water here is horrible), and one for extra groceries that don’t fit in the inside fridge. We have four boys, so there are…extra groceries a lot. I am so used to going out to the fridge to get a seltzer or extra eggs or cheese at this point.
I would love to be somebody who just eats to live. Honestly. I think I am getting there, but it takes time!
Lana says
I have seen recipes for baking Artisan bread in the crockpot. If you wrap the bottoms of your pots you can put them on the griddle like a cooktop.
Tammy says
My daughter calls Dave’s Killer bread, “Dave’s poison bread” because she can’t stand it. LOL I really like it, so much better than cheap bread (which, as you pointed out, isn’t so cheap any longer).
I remember I was appalled when I was a kid, when I thought through the whole eating (and bathroom) thing and realized that I was going to HAVE TO EAT (and go to the bathroom) my entire life! LOL
S says
Not related to food prices, but I just saw this video about Big G’s in Winslow, ME. Looks like an amazing place and what a lovely family who owns it! It’s 2.5 hours from where I live, but I’d definitely consider a Saturday drive for one of those sandwiches!
Laura says
Prices here are increasing at an alarming rate too. A gallon of milk was 1.59 a few weeks ago and I paid 2.29 for one today. Ugh!
My box store did have Ambrosia apples on sale for .99 cents a pound this week, so I loaded up on those. I’m trying to raise three boys so cutting every corner I can when shopping is essential. I appreciate the tips you share!
Cathy Lielausis says
You might want to shop around a bit for turkey breast. Three different brands are available at $10.49 for 3 pounds here in Thomaston, Maine.
KC says
I am cranky about how much grocery stores are profiting. Like, yes, it is reasonable that with supply chain issues, etc., that prices would have to go up *some* but they’re taking advantage of that and raising the prices *more* and therefore bringing in record profits while somehow generally escaping notice. It’s really skeezy. I’m okay with people raising the prices of luxuries – that really is a supply-and-demand question where it’s truly optional to buy champagne or other not-necessary fancy things – but leave regular food, where there aren’t cheaper functional options, alone!
Ashley Bananas says
I have felt very similar….how much does the price need to rise, and how much is extra icing on top?
Claudia says
Have you looked at the furniture mover pads. I’ve moved several heavy items across my new floor. They don’t scratch up the floors.
Stacie says
Killer Dave Bread in south Texas is $5.75 and Blue Bell ice cream is $7.44 for a half gallon. Their ice cream used be be in the $5 range for the half gallon.
Ellen in Clackamas says
I saw a little saying on FB that said the worst part about realizing you are now a grown up is knowing you are going to have to figure out something for dinner every night for the rest of your life. I decided after I retired I was done (50 years, three kids and three husbands later) and it was going to be cereal, sandwiches or popcorn for me! Around that time my son boomeranged home and wasn’t happy with that meal plan so now does all the cooking! Win for me!
Kippy says
I just placed a Fred Meyer/Kroger. Every item costs more now than it did last month. I did place multiple can orders for cat and dog food, extra bread loaves etc. because they are things needed every day and prices will probably be even higher next month. The bread is 30 cents more than last month. Ranch beans also about 30 cents more than in March.
The days of getting myself a special treat as reward when order placed are gone. Can’t afford nonluxuries.
Marcia says
Dave’s killer bread is what my husband eats, and it’s $6.99 here.
Shaw’s seems like Safeway because they are all owned by the same folks. They pretty much rule the town here.
Terena says
Hi Mavis. I’m (living in Canada) home in Ireland visiting family at present and they are seriously talking about food shortages due to the war in Ukraine. The country is a major exporter of stuff we would NEVER think about! So even though we in north america are a long way from the conflict, growing and preserving our own garden produce is becoming more and more a smart thing to do.
Pam says
Oh lawd I feel for you! We tore out our kitchen and it took 8 months to get it finished. We cooked from the laundry room. Thankfully it was big enough to have some counter space. We fed 4 adults from that space… We used these 3 things the most: grill, insta pot & a deep sided electric griddle. I actually missed using the griddle once we were back in the kitchen. I learned how to cook great food in one pan-best of luck, hope it moves swiftly
Sue S. says
Wow this post generated a lot of comments.
Good ones too! I had my contractor put my appliances on carpet remnants when I put in hardwood floors last year. My daughter(age 7) and i moved the entire contents of our 1st floor from room to room on carpet remnants and beach towels. The only item we didn’t move was the piano. Then the contractor made feet for it from flooring lumber and carpet padding…….
..brilliant. the piano tuner was so impressed. It took us quite a while and we ate out a bit, but so worth it in the end. Are you getting the blue Aga?
Mavis Butterfield says
Yes. And it weighs over 800 pounds. I have no idea how they are going to get that in the house without messing up the floors. I like the carpet idea.
Karen says
And will your floor support 800 lbs. or must it be reinforced?
Jennifer says
I guess I a wondering 2 things – 1, how far is the garage (attached or not) and 2, is the stove plugged in out there? If so I would still use it. I know y’all are simple but if it were me I know that we would end up eating out a lot more than normal if we were in your situation. Your hubby needs to get you a working kitchen hooked up somewhere.
Patti says
Our furniture movers used blankets/quilts to move our heavy furniture sideways to get around a narrow corner (think double dresser on it’s small side) on our hardwood floors. Just put the furniture on it and pulled the blanket. Smart!
Judith DeWitt says
What happened to the HH doing the cooking? He might think about an
alternative plan IF he had to heat a meal on essentially one burner!
Erin says
No good deals here in eastern Iowa. I was planning an online order through a company my brother works for (we get his discount) and the powdered milk went up $10 since the last time I ordered it (3 months ago). I sell eggs for $2.50/dozen and now they sell out daily. Chicken feed was $12.10 purchased from the Amish today. 3 months ago it was $9. Fuel went up another .10 to $3.89.
Laura says
I’d buy out the store if I saw Dave’s bread here on Kaua’i for $5. A double pack at our Costco is $12.99, and that’s the lowest price anywhere. In the markets here a single loaf sells for $8.99.
We used to live just a short drive away from the Dave’s Bread outlet in Milwaukee, Oregon. Buy 12 loaves and you’d get a discount or free stuff. It really is the best stuff around.
Kim says
Bad flashback vibes! I cooked on an induction cooktop for almost a year. No, it wasn’t a remodel, just a lazy man in the house. But lemme tell ya, I was without the induction for almost 6 months! Yeah. You can cook a lot in an instant pot, but not everything. I found a NuWave, complete will all the extras, for $25 at a yard sale! And it was NEW! Unlike you, I love cooking so this whole ordeal was a nightmare for me! Now, my stove is fixed, kinda, if you can overlook the duct tape. #CanYouTellImFromKentucky
Dee says
Prices continue to rise here in Missouri, too. A dozen eggs are priced $ 3.30 this week. Lewis bread for $ 1.89 (1/2 loaf), which is superior to most other brands. We eat less meat now because it is too costly. Celery cost $ 1.89, while asparagus is on sale for $ 1.99 a pound. The worst thing is that many items I want to buy are out of stock. Fast food is very expensive here. About 50% more than it used to be.
I use my countertop oven and toaster oven more than my stove’s oven. I plan on replacing my 37 year old Amana range soon, but I’m also buying a new countertop oven to replace the present one and the toaster oven. I wouldn’t want to be without the microwave, crockpot and bread maker, either. The air fryer gets very little use here.
Can anyone explain the difference between an Instaot and a pressure cooker?
Andrea says
Did I understand this correctly that you put filet mignon steaks in the crockpot?!?