Market Basket $36.47
I didn’t want to leave the house at all last week but I knew I needed to run a bunch of errands {6 stops!} and so I decided to just cram all my errands into one day, and get them over with. And you know what? I think that’s my new game plan. Just leaving the house once a week. Because really, what do we need besides food? Give me a year though, I’ll either go stir crazy or become a recluse {my bet is on the recluse lifestyle}. 😉
Ham and Crisco we my big ticket items this week. Spotted bananas were $0.19 a pound.
Remember last week when we were just getting the hang of the wood stove? Well I think we’ve got a system down now and we are finally figuring out the damper. Basically open it up when you get the fire started, and then crank down to about 25% open during the day. We haven’t tried heating overnight with it yet though. I don’t know why, but I’m a little nervous about that.
Cooking meals on the wood stove though? FREAKIN’ AWESOME! Easter dinner was ready to eat in less than 30 minutes.
Polka dot pumpkin pie. {Not cooked on the wood stove}.
The chicken soup was though… and the house smelled lovely all afternoon. Leftover chicken {from the pasta meal our realtor brought us on moving in day} carrots, leftover red onions, garlic, chicken stock and water. Delish!
Picky dinner.
Beans and rice, rice and beans.
Banana Nutella Muffins. {The BEST muffins on the planet if you ask me}.
Aldi has Washington state organic Fuji apples on sale this week 3 pounds for $3.99. When we lived in Washington pretty much the only apple I’d buy was Fuji…. Unless I wanted to make a pie, then I’d buy Granny Smith apples. Since being here in New England though the Macintosh apple seems to be the most popular and best priced apple in the stores though so we’ll probably convert.
Random farm stand at the end of someone’s driveway $14
You gotta love small towns. The HH and I were driving through a neighborhood on the other side of town when we saw a little pop up veggie stand at the end of someone’s driveway. I made him turn around so I could do some shopping. 😉 Or rather buy one of everything that was offered. I put the money in the cookie tin and we drove off. It was magical. I had a big smile on my face the rest of the day.
- Eggs $3
- Honey $7
- Squash $2 each
Cast iron skillet + wood stove + bacon and eggs = Breakfast
Weenies from a local meat shop $14.33
Saturday night beans…. It’s a New England Tradition. Did you know this? I don’t even know how I found this out, but a few years ago I pretty much decided that if we ever made it to New England, I would dedicate every Saturday supper to beans. Because you know, It’s a New England Tradition. Although we’ll always be from “away” at least we can act like we’ve lived here all our lives, right? 😉
Seriously, the dried bean aisle at Market Basket… It’s crazy! I LOVE IT!!!!
And last but not least… Sunday’s breakfast in bed show and tell.
This whole country living thing…. I think we’re going to do just fine.
Wishing you the happiest of Mondays…
~ Mavis
- Total Spent This Week on Groceries $64.80
- Total Spent in March on Groceries $306.75 <– Apartment life, moving across the country and settling into a new house
- Total Spent in February on Groceries $259.81 <— Living in an apartment and buying a lot of ready-made meals
- Total Spent in January on Groceries $240.15 <– Packing mode and not cooking from scratch as much
Go HERE to read more Shopping Trip Stories.
Kari says
Your beans and weenies look good. Any particular bean recipe to share with us?
I’m so glad you are enjoying East Coast life, and that the rest of us can live vicariously through you.
Mavis Butterfield says
This week they were canned beans. This is my favorite crock pot bean recipe though: https://www.onehundreddollarsamonth.com/easy-crock-pot-recipes-slow-cooked-boston-baked-beans/
Katelyn says
Macs are delicious but they will behave VERY differently in cooked applications than Fujis – you’d probably figure this out on your own but fair warning! They make really great applesauce, though – I often peel and chunk up a couple and make a quickie applesauce to go with pork; it’s done in 10 minutes! Another thing about Macs is that they don’t store as well as other apples so if you buy local Macs at this point, be prepared for them to be a little mushy or even mealy. Can’t wait for fall to come so you can get out to an orchard and discover some awesome New England heirloom varieties – it’s really amazing how apples used to taste!
UpstateNYer says
I use Macintosh for my cinnamon apple sauce too! Delicious!
Wendy says
Apples here are best in the fall when you can get them right off the tree. The only apple I like for long term storage is Honey Crisp. They’re usually more expensive, but totally worth the money.
Cortlands and Macs are popular varities. They are amazing in applesauce. Make sure you look for PYO orchards in the fall.
Anne says
Macs are good in Apple pies.
Mavis Butterfield says
Thanks Anne. I’ll give it a try.
Carolina says
Was that a tap/bucket on the side of a maple tree in a previous post? That last photo of HH’s breakfast in bed, looks like it could use a little touch of real VT/NH maple syrup. Soon enough, I think you will find some at another roadside stand! Glad you are enjoying Market Basket–one of the few stores that still has marked down produce at real bargain prices. Though I don’t work at Market Basket (just a customer) they must really treat their employees right. They all wear names tags that say their name and how many years they have worked there. Take notice sometime. Many folks have worked there for 20, 30 years,
Sluggy says
Try a Maine Yellow Eye Bean in your Baked Beans. Shaw’s carry them as do some other grocers. It’s related to a kidney bean but white with yellow around the eye.
You might want to grow those too(and Marafax beans, an heirloom bean variety up there)if you like growing beans.
Kathie S. says
My mom used to make Boston brown bread in a coffee can to go with her baked beans. Congratulations on your move and your new home!
Beth says
My mom and Dad used to make boston brown bread in coffee cans also- they gave it away to friends as a Christmas present and included a package of cream cheese. I had forgotten that until I read your comment.
Pauline in Upstate NY says
Hi, Mavis! Love the way you are jumping right in :). If you’re becoming a fan of the Saturday night baked beans tradition, you might want to check out the B&M brown bread to go with it. It’s in the canned goods area of the store, usually quite near the canned “baked beans.” Yep — bread in a can… And I think it is terrific! It comes either plain or with raisins. You open both ends of the can and push it out. Slice, toast, butter or cream cheese or jelly, and there you go. And, if you have no toaster available, it can be heated in a fry pan with a bit of butter. This stuff is typically only available in New England groceries. (Shaw’s will definitely have it; others I’m not sure about.). There is NO other brand. This is the real stuff.
Also, as a couple other readers pointed out, please expand beyond Macintosh apples. They are great for what they are, but they don’t do everything well. You will love all the old varieties you’ll see in the markets next fall. When I do a pie or sauce, I usually use a mix of varieties.
UpstateNYer says
Mavis – if you haven’t already, you should also look into the Farmers Almanac website. I found some good New England recipes there. Like Johnny cakes.
Jennifer@thefrugaldribble says
This new place seems like such an adventure! So fun for you.
Dena says
For the wood stove, start the fire w/ the damper open all the way – draws air up & gets the fire going quickly. Then crank it down to 25 – 50% for most of the day. At night, after feeding the stove prior to going to bed, we crank down the damper to less than 25% open, or less – keeps the coals glowing most of the night. By opening the damper when you first start the fire, you not only create an air flow up the chimney, but also help to burn a lot of the creosote off the inside that gets built up (don’t burn plastic coated stuff in the stove). Still clean your chimney (brush) the inside of your chimney once or twice a year (spring & fall), depending upon how much & what type of wood you burn. If your fire is smoldering down to die during the day, add some kindling & open the damper up a bit & the fire will ‘burst’ to life. When the power went out here in your old neck of the woods, about 20 years ago, my family kept the wood stove going constantly for 6 days until the power came back on. Fun cooking the meals on the two – tiered top of the stove also.
Diana says
Welcome to the wood stove cooking world! The chicken soup aroma must have been awesome. I’m looking forward to your future wood stove cooking experiences.
Diana says
Wood Stove Top Recipe for Pineapple Upside Down Cake:
1 bx yellow cake mix
1 c. brown sugar
3 eggs
1 stick butter
Canned pineapple rings
Save pineapple juice and add water to make 1 1/2 cups of liquid
Maraschino cherries (opt.)
In bowl, mix eggs and cake mix. Add juice and water.
In cast iron skillet, melt butter. Add brown sugar; stir it into the butter until wet and the skillet bottom is coated.
Arrange pineapple rings and cherries in the butter-sugar coated skillet bottom.
Gently spoon in the cake batter on top of the pineapple.
Cover the skillet and cook on low for about 20-25 mins. (The cook time varies greatly, depending on the stove heat.)
When cake is done baking, let it cool and then, with a plate covering the skillet, flip the skillet upside down, letting the cake come out on the plate.
Note: You can halve this recipe and make it in a 2-qt cast iron dutch oven on the stove.
(I adapted this recipe from a blog, and I’m so sorry I can’t find what blog it was now, to give credit.)
Mavis Butterfield says
Thanks Diana. I am going to have to try this.
Joanna says
Mackintosh is my favorite apple. It cooks down a lot though and becomes soft, so I only use it for eating, applesauce, and putting one or two in an apple pie to give it that wonderful flavor.
debbie in alaska says
Macintosh apples … farm stands … oh you are making me long for home! There is nothing quite like taking a drive on a crisp fall day along curvy new england country roads when all the leaves are changing and then stopping at a farmers market for fresh picked macintosh apples by the half-peck. Bliss. Pure bliss.
Wendy says
We heat exclusively with wood. There was a learning curve and getting over having a fire going all of the time was a little scary, but there’s nothing quite like heating with wood to make one really appreciate a warm house ;).
I love cooking on my woodstove, and we always have a kettle of water, for coffee and tea :).
Mandy Mascaro says
I wonder if every part of the country has some type of special “bean day”. Here in Louisiana, whether you’re at home, someone else’s home, or a restaurant, it doesn’t matter where you go! Someone is going to be serving red beans and rice on a Monday!
Lauralli says
Yes! I’m a Louisiana native! Red beans & rice were served on Mondays because it was “wash day”. They would put the beans on to cook all day and they didn’t need “tending”. This was important because boiling and washing clothes took all…day….long! Makes me so thankful for my washing machine and dryer!
Mavis Butterfield says
I love it!!! 🙂 Thanks for letting us all know Lauralli.
Rosaleen says
I’m happy someone brought up brown bread. Beans and brown bread are a NE traditional throw back to the Putitans, I think. Somewhere along the way that became beans and franks. Maybe because it was easy. The tradition stayed on. Because baked beans could be started over the fire and stay warm for a couple of days with no work, Puritans could have them on the Sabbath without breaking rules. I’m so happy to be living now, rather than then!
A side note to your wood stove cooking: Your cooking and perhaps keeping a pot or kettle of water going should help to prevent the air in your home from becoming too dry.
Pauline in Upstate NY says
I’m blind!! The can of B&M brown bread (with raisins!) was in your picture! So glad you already heard about that, Mavis.
Marybeth says
We love Braeburn apples or pink ladies. Try them all. I love going apple picking in the fall and we try all the different kinds.
PSU06VAL says
I grew up in north central PA. And the local orchard and the only kinds of apples my mom would buy would be Mac’s, machine, and Cortland! Yum!
Helen in Meridian says
Did the 4 weenies cost $14.00?
Mavis Butterfield says
YES! Crazy crazy. This weeks weenies are Ball Park though…. for 8 for $1.00. 🙂
Pat says
Were those weenies or Italian sausages?
Ellen in Clackamas says
love the brown bread in a can–but you can find it here in the PNW too..Freddy’s has it right by the Boston Baked Beans in a can. Growing up we could never have one without the other. I’m excited to see how many new apple varieties you come up with.
Kim O'Dongohue says
Portuguese culture is big in parts of New England my grandmother made baked beans every Saturday with pigs feet in them. We loved the meat it fell off the bone (feet). Not sure i would eat it today? So glad you love NE I feel like you’re my neighbor☺️
Valerie Barbeau says
I love reading about your New England adventures! Never knew that beans were a must on Saturday noght!
Kari says
Try the Macoun apples in the fall – they are the best for eating!
Nancy D says
Thanks for sharing your adventures! What a neat cast iron pan! Maybe it’s the photo but the sides looked sloped. So happy for your hard work to become a reality!!!
chickengrandma says
While you are digging a new garden, we, in Wisconsin, are getting about 10 inches of snow ! When will we see bare ground again?? I will get some inside cleaning done.
We have a great wood stove too. But since propane is cheaper to use than wood this year, we are not using the wood. But it is there if the power goes out.
Small town living is great. When we call the feed mill to order chicken feed, they recognize my husband’s voice.
I am kind of new to $100 a Month. What is “$100 a Month” ?
Leslie says
Macs are beyond my favorite apple. They are my only apple! There is even a u-pick near Portland (where I now live) that has them, so I can get my fix each fall. Whenever I visit family I bring back a bag of them. Or if anyone visits me, I always request a bag.