Small loaf of sourdough $6.00 + $3.75 for a baguette a few days later from our local bakery. I love the fact that I can walk down the street whenever I feel like it and buy real bread from the people who made it. It makes me happy to hand my $6 over the counter.
Fast forward to a few days later when the HH and I were near a Panera and decided to pick up a loaf of their Cinnamon raisin bread for $5.29. My husband was the one to notice that not only was the loaf smaller than last time we had bought one, but the price had gone up too.
And then he went on about how we live in a downtown area now, and how much easier it is to support the local mom and pop businesses instead of big business. Something that’s harder to do I think when you live smack dab in the middle of high maintenance suburbia and surrounded by Target and chain retailers on every corner.
And I totally agree. And then I wonder if we are beginning to sound like those hippy dippy types… you know, the kind of people who have slowed down and actually stop and think about a dollar being much more than just a dollar. Or how it all breaks down… or something like that. I don’t know what I’m trying to say here. But something has changed in us. For the better.
Here’s a cool trick: Put some bacon in the oven and whisk a few eggs in a bowl and leave them on the counter. The set the timer and as you are walking away, yell to your husband to keep an eye on the bacon and OH HEY, if you want you can scramble the eggs when the bacon comes out of the oven.
Works like a charm… every single time. 🙂 🙂 🙂
Linner: Toast with Christmas jam and Brussels sprouts. Possibly the strangest combination ever.
Campbell’s tomato soup.
Homemade Tomato soup. Waaaaaay better.
A few weeks ago the HH made another batch of the Copy Cat Panera Chicken and Wild Rice Soup. Several people had asked if the soup could be frozen, so when he made it again, I made sure to freeze a couple of containers to see if it would taste the same.
And well, the consistency was a little different, but the soup tasted the same. So although I don’t think I’d make a big pot of soup just to freeze it, I would freeze the leftovers if I knew I was going to be eating them within a few weeks.
Still no Malt o Meal here… Just Cream of Wheat.
Lasagna and Brussel sprouts. I told the HH he should make manicotti next time. From scratch.
The Girl made dinner. I told her that if she is still here when we’re really old, she’ll be making all of our meals for us. And bringing me tea all day. She just rolled her eyes and walked out of the room.
My Mother in Law LOVES shopping on QVC.
And we love that she loves QVC. 🙂 🙂 🙂 Cheese …. How did she know?
Monday. Let’s do this.
Have a great day everyone,
~Mavis & Lucy
Total Spent This Past Week on Groceries and Bakery Treats $15.04
- Total Spent on Groceries in December $192.19
- Total Spent on Groceries in November $237.13
- Total Spent on Groceries in October $218.59
- Total Spent on Groceries in September $249.15
- Total Spent on Groceries in August $253.38
- Total Spent on Groceries in July $300.74
- Total Spent on Groceries in June $259.12
- Total Spent on Groceries in May $262.39 {More meat!}
- Total Spent on Groceries in April $284.56 {My husband bought a smoker and a BUNCH of meat!}
- Total Spent on Groceries in March $321.69
- Total Spent on Groceries in February $220.92
- Total Spent in January on Groceries $41.19
- Total Spent So Far on Groceries in 2019 $2853.05
You can go HERE to read more Shopping Trip Stories
nancy grimsley says
Oh Mavis! The hippies were right all along.
Carol Scott says
I think so, too!
Mel says
I’m jealous of your proximity to the bakery. We have one bakery nearby, but it’s extremely small. They make a small amount of product each day and close whenever they’ve sold out, which could be as early as 9 am on doughnut days. Quaint but not exactly convenient, so I generally just make my own.
Carol jean Kadonsky says
I live in Wisconsin and I appreciate that your MIL sent you Wisconsin cheese. It’s a very tough time for small family dairy farms. Have a great holidays.
Jennifer says
Mavis, just a thought for a future post. Since I’m sure there are plenty of days when y’all are housebound, what are favorite homemade things to have make or have frozen to reheat/bake? We just moved to the NC mountains and we got 23″ last year in one storm. I have some spaghetti sauce, shells and sauce and a meatloaf sofar, but would love some freezer friendly recommendations from you or really anyone who cooks for the freezer. Thanks.
Mel says
Mavis posted my list of freezer favorites a while back. It’s available here and includes some of her recipes as well: https://www.onehundreddollarsamonth.com/mels-big-list-of-freezer-meal-recipes-and-freezer-meal-cooking-tips/
There’s also a Freezer Meals section in the Recipes section of her site–super handy!
Lana says
We are definitely the hippie types when it comes to local food. We have ditched most all chain restaurants because why go where the food is subpar and expensive. This morning we had two eggs, home fries made from fresh potatoes and a biscuit for $2.99 and their wonderful coffee is only $1.49. Our daughter lives downtown in a German city and they have a bakery on their block. The kids want to go there just about every time they leave home!
Marcia says
Oh we are definitely the hippie types. I was super into an ultra-low grocery bill awhile ago (probably when I started reading your site!) Then I’ve drifted…most of what we buy/ eat is local – I get two local produce boxes. I like buying local gifts, local bread from the gluten free bakery. My hippy-ness extends to buying most grains and beans in bulk so I can use my own containers and generate less plastic (have not found a solution for cheese).
Ann says
Try a cheese vault: https://capabunga.com/collections/cheese-vault
melissa says
We live right by Disneyland in the heart of Suburbia but we’ve always supported Mom and Pop places. We rarely eat at a chain restaurant and when we do it is usually not voluntarily. We’ve seen a lot of great places close down because it’s a tough business but we’ve met some lovely people and eaten a lot of great food. I sell and shop on Ets for the same reason. Here’s to the hippy in all of us.
Emily says
Your bakery breads are always so lovely. How do you think they make the spiral pattern on the loaf?
Karen says
…that comes from the form used for baking.
Sharon says
Could you post your homemade tomato soup recipe? (Or did I miss it?)
Mavis Butterfield says
I haven’t had a chance to post it yet. I will soon though.