Since I won’t be doing any shopping today, I can tell you that February was a good month in the food department. I spent $94.64 on groceries which means I have come in under my $100 a month budget for food for 2 months in a row now. Yee-Haw!
General Store $4.41
Our big purchase last week: Milk and bananas.
I had asked the HH to pick up a 1/2 gallon of milk on his way home from running errands and he came home with milk and bananas. I’m not sure if it’s because he feels awkward just buying 1 item at our little general store or what. But it could have been worse, so who am I to complain.
I LOVE making homemade bread! All the ingredients for a plain loaf of my Dutch oven crusty bread costs a whopping $0.25 and tastes 100 times better than anything I could ever get at the store. And it’s soo easy to make! I don’t know why more people don’t make there own bread.
Last week I told you my plan was to work on emptying out one of our little chest freezers {we have 2 of these ones HERE}.
First up was slow cooker pot roast soup with some extra pot roast bits thrown in. Always freeze your extra bits! They make a great base for soups and stews.
We also enjoyed some of Mel’s Drunken Beans over rice. {Serve this around noon and you’re good for the rest of the day.Seriously, it’s that filling!}
8 can taco soup with a little leftover rice thrown in and grilled cheese sandwiches.
The HH’s homemade chicken noodle rice soup {we split a grilled cheese sandwich again}.
We also had some Copy cat Panera black bean soup over rice with a little sour cream and salsa on top.
And my favorite rustic split pea soup with homemade bacon cheddar biscuits {anyone want the biscuit recipe?}
Yesterday I mentioned we are currently swimming in fruit…
Yes, well my in-laws thought it would be great fun to send me {us} a boatload of produce for my birthday. 🙂
And doughnuts… 🙂 🙂 🙂
I didn’t even know there were companies that shipped doughnuts!!! Did you? And the funny thing was, all the doughnuts were my favorite ones {Boston creme, jelly, lemon filled, maple and honey dipped}. I don’t think I’ve ever had a conversation about doughnuts with my mother-in-law and so I was seriously amused by the whole thing.
And apparently there is ONE MORE package on the way…. WHAT COULD IT BE?
When you get older, food gifts are pretty much the best thing ever don’t you think?
Have you ever received a care package in the mail that contained food? If so, what has been your favorite thing to receive?
Have a great week everyone, I hope it’s filled with plenty of vitamin C. 🙂
~Mavis
Total Spent This Past Week on Groceries $4.41
- Total Spent in February on Groceries $94.64
- Total Spent in January on Groceries $96.58
- Total Spent on Groceries in 2022 $191.22
S says
My inlaws are in Sounthern CA and sent us a box of oranges and grapefruit from their backyard trees. They think we are crazy when we beg them to do so, but the fruit is so delicious (tart and sweet and so juicy) and they are swimming in fruit they’ll never eat. It does cost about $25 to ship the box, but what a treat! (We’re in MA, so it’s especially lovely). You can 1000% taste the difference of a “homegrown” citrus.
Willow says
My brother sends me a ginger care package every year for my birthday and Christmas. He always finds new and different things, it’s great! And yes, home grown is so good! Potatoes especially taste so different from store bought.
Holley says
I agree that food gifts are the BEST gifts!!! Happy Birthday, Mavis!
J in OH-IO says
Mavis, Happy Birthday- how thoughtful of your in-laws to give you fruit and donuts! Yum! What a great way to celebrate! Wahoo! Enjoy the vitamin C and the sweets! It is fun to get food as a gift- always the right size and you can share with others! Food=love!
We have great friends who thoughtfully send our family Valentine’s goodies in the mail-a new flavor/kind of chocolates we haven’t tried, delicious treats, snacks, or trail mix, and all time favorites Reese’s peanut butter hearts. It is sweet to get food in the mail and a nice surprise.
Lana says
Yes on the bread! My Hubby makes all our bread but my estimation of cost here is around 60 cents. You must be getting flour way cheaper than us. Happy Birthday and Yay on the food gifts!
Linda says
A cousin in Maine sent me a good box of Maine food items. So fun and thoughtful! Fun surprise for sure
Joely says
Happy Birthday Mavis. Enjoy your wonderful food gifts. They really are the best.
KC says
Last year for my birthday, I received a small “library” of fair-trade chocolate bars – various brands, various flavors, all soooo good. I’m a chocolate miser (I eat less than a “serving” at a time and usually just one or two chocolate tastes per week) so it lasted me nearly all year (even though I split it 50/50 with my spouse), and also told me which of these would be “hits” with me personally, which is nice – when you’re looking at more-expensive chocolate, it’s a little easier to cope with the price tag when you know you already like it rather than when it’s a maybe you’ll like it, maybe that’s $3 down the drain…
Margo says
My best food gift happened about 40 years ago. My MIL, who lived in CorpusChristi, Tx., met the shrimp boats coming in one morning and bought a lot of shrimp. She took them home , sorted them by size, and froze them in water in old margarine containers. Then she packed them in dry ice and had them shipped to us express. We ate shrimp for a long time. Must of cost an arm and a leg to ship, even back then, but we really loved getting them!
Jaime says
Did you ever watch Everybody Loves Raymond? The running joke was that Raymond gifted his parents a fruit of the month subscription. I think it starts in the first season. It’s hilarious. They were appalled that someone would send them fruit every month and were trying to give it away.
Monica says
I saw that episode & thought it was so funny. Something my own parents would probably enjoy tho. As they loved fresh fruit on a daily basis.
Julie says
Food presents are some of the best presents: consumable and delightful! Mavis, didn’t you receive a box of corn for your anniversay one year? That was the post when I knew I needed to follow you. 🙂
Mavis Butterfield says
Yes!! 🙂 Many years in a row actually. Ha.
Lyra says
Oooo Happy Birthday! Yes please on the biscuit recipe! We love your split pea soup around here and the pairing sounds delightful.
Diana says
OK, so we need to know – were the donuts really good? How about giving us the link to the donut shipping company? lol…
Mavis Butterfield says
They were fantastic! I think they came from Kane’s doughnuts in MA.
Ashley Bananas says
Happy birthday lady!
Question, I know you are working on keeping a budget of food products for your $100 a month budget challenge this year. I’ve noticed that you, and some other bloggers/vloggers doing similar challenges don’t include the cost for products like toilet paper, other toiletries like shower gel/soap, tin foil, and other kitchen non edibles, as well as over the counter medicine (advil/tylenol), or perhaps say pet food.
I was wondering if you would ever do a cost analysis where you would include these other items for the month as well? It seems like many bloggers are saying food cost alone we can keep at X, but I’m not sure if it frame the whole and typical picture when it comes to a grocery budget. So someone who wants to use this as inspiration may find their budget much larger because they include more everyday things.
Mavis Butterfield says
Hi Ashley, we don’t eat toilet paper, soap or laundry detergent etc. and so that’s why it is not in our food budget. 🙂
Michelle Counter says
I seperate my budget as groceries (edible foods), household goods (toilet paper, shampoo, non edibles, over the counter meds), pets, and meds (prescription). I definitely spend more then Mavis, however… but a family of 8 certainly consumes more then a household of 2.
Wendy says
I moved from Texas to Florida so now my sister has to ship me Ruby Red grapefruit.
Marcia says
I miss bread. I don’t think I could make a loaf for 25 cents. I am gluten free. But thanks to a friend who recently became gluten free and was posting pictures on facebook … I now have a BREAD MACHINE recipe for buckwheat bread. It’s pretty good. I have been playing around with the ingredients a bit. It is a bit dense, but I am able to slice it thin and freeze it for sandwiches.
Buckwheat flour is not cheap, but I can still make a loaf for $4 or 5, which is cheaper and healthier than any GF bread at the store. If you want bread with actual fiber, it’s going to be at least $8 a loaf.
Anyway, I eat a lot of oatmeal for breakfast instead. And salads for lunch – salads aren’t cheaper than sandwiches, but at least I don’t get the post lunch snoozies with salads.
Amanda says
Has anyone checked out Goldbelly? Restaurants all over the country will ship their items overnight to you, or to anyone you choose. Pizza, fried chicken, doughnuts, bagels I could go on and on. Even if you don’t purchase anything it’s so much fun to browse!
Cindy Miller says
Happy Birthday, Mavis!
Janie says
Happy birthday Mavis!!
Stephanie says
YUM!!! Fruit and doughnuts are an amazing birthday gift! Those all look fabulous! And I love all your soup; soup is highly underrated as a meal. It’s easy to make, it’s almost impossible to screw up, you can pretty much throw anything you want in and have it turn out great, it freezes well for leftovers, and it’s a perfect comfort meal. What’s not to love???
Sandy Cirello says
We Got A Lobster Package From Maine and Oranges From Florida for Christmas. It was WONDEFUL!!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, MAVIS!!!
Judi Y. says
Happy Birthday Mavis!
Cindy says
Happy Birthday what a awesome birthday gift to reserve.
Annette says
Happy birthday Mavis!!
And you have an amazing MIL.
Debi says
Happy birthday Mavis.
I always tell everyone. If you want to get me a gift, get me raspberries (my all time favorite). Actually any berries and cherries are top priority. After that melons, then any other fruits.
Vivian says
Yes please on the bacon cheddar biscuits! When you mentioned these the other day I looked for the recipe and couldn’t find it! Sounds SO good!
Pam says
Happy birthday, Mavis! Hey, I’ve been looking forward to trying your no-knead bread recipe for so long, and today was The Day. I’m heating the oven now, but the dough is quite a wet mess… no way will it form a ball! Followed the instructions strictly…any ideas what I’m doing wrong??
Cheryl says
As my brother would say “A gift of food is always appreciated!”(I kinda think he stole that line from Martha Stewart)…so one year, not knowing what to get him for his birthday, I had cupcakes in glass jars shipped to him, along with party hats, streamers, etc., the whole birthday box. He loved it!
About 20 years ago, I had a friend stationed in Afghanistan and he requested home made cookies and votive candles from Yankee Candle….pretty much on a weekly basis. The cookies were shared and eaten by all, and the candles were used to cover up the odors that accumulated from a bunch of soldiers living in a canvas tent in 100+ degree weather. They loved the cookies and the candles.
Rosaleen says
Food gifts are great IF people understand your dietary restrictions. We find ourselves giving away or tossing many food gifts.
That said, I’m guessing that you are a fellow Pisces. Happy Birthday!
Melonie says
Happy birthday! I think those are excellent gifts – especially the donuts. 😀
Meggan S says
I have recently stumbled upon your blog and I am loving it! I can’t wait to see what’s next!