Hot Diggety Dog, take a look at the boxes of produce we were able to reclaim this week. I guess you were right, people are not spending money on melon this time of year. Not only was there plenty of fresh melon for us to keep, but there was plenty of fresh grapes and lettuce for the chickens too.
This is what were able to reclaim –
- 9 watermelons
- 3 halved honey dew melons
- 2 halved cantaloupes
- 2 heads of lettuce {perfect for taco night}
- 4 halved pineapples {YUM!}
- 2 apples
- 3 bags of red seedless grapes
I’ll have to give Girly Girl and Mrs. Hillbilly a call and see if they want some of this melon. There is no way we’ll be able to finish it before it goes bad. I’d consider freezing the watermelon for smoothies later in the winter, but I need to defrost my freezers so it’s not really an option at this time.
Were you able to pick up anything for free this past week? If so, let us know in the comment section below.
Peace Out Girl Scouts, have a great day.
~Mavis
Would you like to see what else we have brought home over the past 7+ months?
Head on over HERE to read all the past stories and to see all the pictures.
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michelle guilmet-buck says
You know, I’m glad you’re getting all this free food… but what is alarming to me about the whole deal is that is really shows how much food the grocery stores have to waste in order to provide the consumer with only the perfect stuff. I wish more stores would donate/give away what’s left! Mine (Fred Meyer) won’t because somebody’s pig got injured eating a staple & the store got sued… at least that’s the story they’re passing around the produce posse. 😉
More power to you for having the chutzpah to even ask in the first place!
Herdog says
Dehydrate your watermelon. I here It’s like candy, but then again I here fish eyes are like candy to some. hee hee I think I’d try the watermelon first b/4 fish eyes. Nice haul. Glad its not going to land fill. Heck, if this was NY you couldn’t even give it to the food pantry.
LaToya says
And here you wanted to break up with him… Pineapple’s been good lately too. Picked one up at Costco with my rebate money.
Mavis says
I know! I’m glad everyone piped up and told me to stay with him. Pineapple rocks! 🙂 Did you get anything exciting with that rebate check?
LaToya says
Pineapple, raspberries, rolls, a big thing of provolone that my kids hate (WTH?), some spray whipped cream like was in your friends’ freezer 😉 a pumpkin pie, heavy whipping cream, some wool socks for my little. Not really exciting. I love their hot dogs. Nasty though they may be I can eat that crap all day long – ha!
Anne-Marie Bilella says
Hi Mavis!
Ok I did it! I asked the local fruit stand what they did with their fruits and veggies that they could not sell. They put it out every morning out back and let whoever wants it to take it. I was so nervous asking but I got. : 8 bananas, 3 red peppers, 1 lg.onion, 1 bag carrots, 5 apples, 1 butternut squash, 1 yellow squash, 1 orange and a large bunch of greens, woohoo!!! My cows and chickens got about half and we kept the rest.
Lisa says
Anne-Marie, Good for you for asking and getting lots of produce!
Lindsey says
I second the dehydrating suggestion. We do it to all excess melons, but watermelon is the best. Pineapple is great, too. Just be sure to slice things thinly and let them really dry or it will turn into a damp ball of sweetness taht you have to freeze to keep from molding. I give it to my dog and my husband for treats.
Lynda says
Dehydrate the melon..tastes wonderful or make watermelon jelly…yummy and a beautiful shade of pink.
Lisa says
On Monday I got about 10 heads of green leaf lettuce, which is the lettuce of choice for my tortoise, bunny and guinea pig! Also got 8 pears, which we are eating fresh and using in smoothies. We also got lots of celery, which is going into a stir-fry. This is probably the smallest amount of produce in terms of variety that I’ve gotten, but I really needed it for my pets, so it’s definately worth it. Going back tomorrow – Wednesdays are always the best day!
Anne-Marie Bilella says
Wow you did great as well! I am going to go tomorrow earlier and see what I get.
Mavis says
Report back and tell us what you found. 🙂 🙂 I hope you find something you like.
Lisa says
I told you Wednesdays were the best for reclaimed produce!…IThis is the produce that I kept: 4 bags of mung bean sprouts, 9 romaine lettuce, 2 iceburg lettuce, 3 carrots, 7 mushrooms, 6 tomatoes, 3 mango, 1 orange, 2 cucumbers, 6 zucchini fresh mint, 1 pear, 2 green peppers, 1 yellow pepper, 1 orange pepper and a papaya!!! We are defaintely having stir fry tonight!
Anne-Marie Bilella says
Ok I went back to the fruit stand yesterday. A different guy was there but he told me to take the boxes out back plus he threw in a few more pieces. About half of it went to the chickens and cows. I salvaged 8 apples, 9 red peppers, 12 small cukes, onions, 2 tomatoes, 10-12 small oranges and a bunch of turnips!!! I was so excited!
Mavis says
I bet your pets are loving the fresh lettuce over the winter. Good for you for finding a way to get it for free. 🙂 I love it.
Lisa says
I always bought lettuce & carrots for the critters, but since I’ve been getting the reclaimed produce I haven’t had to purchase any. Plus they get a variety of veggies and fruit now!
Angela Johnson says
My free food this week was a 14 1/2 lb. turkey. Publix had a coupon in the paper where if a new or transferred prescription was filled by December 5th, a free turkey was the prize (up to 16 lbs). I happened up as the meat guy was refilling the turkeys in the freezer section, and I asked if he had one between 14 and 16 lbs, and he came out with the one I took. I also got a free 2 liter soda for buying a 12 can pack of soda.
For the shopping trip where I picked up my free turkey, my grocery total was just at $160. With store savings sales, coupons, doubled coupons, and my free items above, I paid right at $75. I stocked up on things for the future like Campbell’s Cream of Mushroom Soup
Yay! free and reduced food.
Mavis says
Awesome Possum Lady! Nice work.
Lissa says
Good haul here after 2 weeks off for vacation:
6 romaine hearts (salads/snacking)
2 bunches kale (salad, soup?)
1 bunch dill (any good recipes?)
2 baby bok choy (sauteed)
10 roma tomatoes (pico de gallo, oven-dried for salads)
~4c. spinach (spicy spinach barley, w/ scrambled eggs, salads)
6 bell peppers (pico de gallo, peanut soup, snacking)
~2lbs brussel sprouts (roasted w/ cauliflower)
5 pablano peppers (stuffed w/ spicy spinach barley)
3 sprigs mint
1 pear
1 radish
Mavis says
You did great Lissa! I wish I had peppers. It’s fun to know what other people are picking up. I don’t have a recipe. but maybe a good dill dip for dipping veggies?