In this week’s edition of food we bought and things we ate…
Hannaford $33.20
When we decided to make a truly British haddock pie last week, I had no idea that 1. Haddock cost $12.99 a pound and 2. That my husband would buy so much of it.
True, the recipe did call for 1 pound 10 ounces of fish, but still… Somewhere along the way I forgot to mention to my husband that we should halve the recipe because there would just be the two of us eating it.
Getting old. Sometimes I forget we don’t eat as much as we used to and not everything is meant to be eaten 3 days in a row. Whoops.
But that haddock pie… It was weirdly delicious. Maybe you want the recipe?
Farmstand $4.00
I should have bought eggs at ALDI last week because they were only $1.73 a dozen. But I was happy to hand over my $4 to a neighbor for her happy eggs when I opened the fridge and decided to whip up a batch of cookies and was eggless.
It’s weird isn’t it? You want to see the lowest possible price when you buy something from the grocery store, but you’re more than willing to hand over your cash to someone who has grown/made something themselves.
Haddock pie. It was strangely satisfying.
Weenies, eggs and toast. Dutch oven bread. You just can’t beat it.
Weenies and sprouts.
Trader Joe’s teriyaki chicken and rice. At $5.99 a bag it’s cheaper than take out and I don’t have to clean up the stovetop afterwards. Win-Win.
There was a bit of a group effort on the Christmas Day pickety bits platter… And it turned out fantastic.
But the real highlight was the Long Boys coconut candy that I found in my Christmas stocking. Do you like coconut? Have you tried this candy before? HOLY CATS BATMAN… It tastes like the best, moist and softest coconut macaroon on the planet earth.
There were only three of them in my stocking… They’re gone now. And I need more!
Did you get any surprises in YOUR stocking this year? Are there a bunch of leftovers sitting in your fridge? Can you believe that 2024 will be here in less than a week?
~Mavis
Total Spent This Past Week on Groceries $37.20
Total Spent in December on Groceries $87.22 + a trip to Trader Joe’s {I lost my receipt}
Total Spent in November on Groceries $226.19
Total Spent in October on Groceries $83.81
Total Spent in September on Groceries $109.49
Total Spent in August for Groceries $13.04
Total Spent on Groceries for July $376.89
Total Spent on Groceries in June $41.56
Total Spent on Groceries in May $288.51
Total Spent on Groceries in April $35.36
Total Spent on Groceries in March $82.28
Total Spent on Groceries in February $101.14
Total Spent on Groceries in January $167.33 {this includes buying groceries on Fair Isle}
Total Spent on Groceries in 2023 $1,619.02 for our $100 a month grocery budget for 2 + a trip to Trader Joe’s {I lost my receipt}
Amy says
It’s just my husband and myself, and I decided not to cook this year – instead we brought in a truckload of Chinese food. Our local Chinese restaurant was having a “12 Days of Christmas” with 12 little boxes (little bites, really) of various things. We bought four. Delicious! We’re set for a couple of days. This was the first Christmas I haven’t cooked. I’ll make prime rib on New Year’s Day.
Tracy says
Not in my stocking, but my husband surprised me with a lovely wind chime. We have lots of yummy leftovers in the fridge, no cooking tonight! The last year went so fast, hard to believe we are almost into 2024.
Ashley Bananas says
My son and I have a joke that no one likes Almond Joys and someone gave my son a package. He wrapped it when I wasn’t looking and gave it to me from Krampus… it will go straight in the candy jar at my desk at work. lol
You did great on the grocery budget. I am curious if you would ever divulge, or if you even keep a budget for things like eating out, or also household supplies? I have a monthly spread sheet and categorize my groceries which also include things like pet food and toiletries, then have other categories like eating out, and non grocery spending etc…
It’s very challenging with the rise of prices to keep spending as low as other years. I commend you on being so contientious.
Karen G. says
I’d be interested in the breakout of eating out expenses and other groceries not for human consumption, as well. And see how you manage those things. I have learned a few things to try from you and would love to glean more.
Sue says
I would indeed like to have the recipe for haddock pie. Please and thank you–do share!
Pj Truman says
My husband wanted the experience of cooking prime rib for Christmas. In true husband fashion, he researched the recipe for herb paste to rub on the meat, the cooking time, the cooking temp, etc. He put his plan together and purchased local grass fed prime rib from a local butcher. It was stellar and delicious! We had our big meal on Christmas Eve, so making French dip sandwiches was quick on Christmas Day! Win-win!
Heather says
I cooked a prime rib for Christmas. French Dip sandwiches sound yummy. I now know what we are having for dinner tonight.
Rosemary says
No leftovers in the fridge – we were at my son’s house from Friday afternoon until this morning (6 hour trip one way). We ate out one night (Bonefish) and we had prime rib at his in-laws on Christmas. (Wait, I do have a leftover – the rib section from the prime rib. They were going to throw it out!) The rest of the time we ate whatever was put on the table. No surprises in my stocking (hubby gets me white chocolate every year – my favorite). But I put a surprise in his stocking. He likes jerky so I bought a 6 pack assortment – Elk, Buffalo, Venison, Duck, Alligator and Camel jerky! I tried the camel jerky and it tasted just like any other jerky. All in all, good food, fellowship & fun!
Sue S. says
We had “once a year” filet mignon for Christmas dinner. It was so delicious that I decided we need to have more of it in 2024. A luxury for us since we mostly eat salmon or chicken but so worth it.
Happy New Year to everyone. Can’t wait to see what new rug/mat/pillow designs Mavis cooks up this coming year.
Mel says
The baby and I were sick December 23rd and 24th, but I managed to make lasagna and Brussels sprouts for Christmas dinner. Unfortunately, I didn’t realize that all the meat in our last grocery order was right on the edge of it’s expiration date. So, I have a fridge full of expired meat, and all the meals I had planned for this week are out. I’m trying not to think about it.
Sue says
OOF. Been there, done that. Def try not to think about it. Sick baby and sick mama trump all.
JulieP says
We had a simple day Christmas and Boxing Day gammon ham slices with jacket potatoes and peas, pickety bits for tea it was perfect basically no cooking yesterday we had leftover jacket potatoes rewarded and topped with tuna melt. A couple of sausage rolls and a marmite swirl for tea and a cuppa perfect.
Mel I’m so sorry to hear this can none of it be cooked and frozen the edge of out of date and it actually being off can be two different things? Hope you feel better soon. We have had ‘the cold’ and the DH is still poorly with it)
Tracey says
Resounding YES to the Haddock pie recipe! I’ve been curious about this, but never attempted the recipe, as it always seems to include smoked haddock (which where in the world would I find that??! }
eliz says
Are you and your husband less active than you used to be? You often mention that you don’t eat as much as you used to and I was wondering what the reason might be? You are in your 40’s or 50’s, right? I guess my husband is eating less most of the time, but he is 80 and not active most days.
Mavis Butterfield says
I think our metabolisms have just slowed down because we are as busy as ever.