Hello Monday!
Last week was a good one in the simple meals, let’s use up what we have so I don’t need to step into a store a week before Christmas department.
But then when I was down south getting my eyes examined, I was like… wait a minute. Isn’t there an ALDI nearby? And suddenly I was craving our favorite pita crackers and chili beans and had to stop. You know, just to look around and see if I had been missing anything these past few years living up in the boonies.
Eggs were $1.73 a dozen. {How much are they where you are?}
And a gallon of milk was only $2.55 gallon.
We tend to buy Oakhurst milk even though it runs about $2.00 more a gallon in our local stores. Personally I think there is a huge difference in taste and it’s one of those things I’m willing to pay more for. Luckily it takes me a while to go through a gallon of milk.
ALDI $13.30
In the end, I only picked up a few things from ALDI. {Did they offer pfeffernusse this year? I couldn’t find any.} The pita crackers and chili beans are pretty much my favorite things from ALDI. Those beans over rice… Yummaroo!
Specialty Food Shop $27.47
I also popped into a specialty food store and loaded up on rations for an upcoming pickety bits tray. Expensive, but totally worth it for our Christmas feast.
Trader Joe’s $???
I was also near a Trader Joe’s too, so I loaded up on freezer meals/treats and supplies. Oh how I wished I lived near a Trader Joe’s. I love that store. Ever since revisiting the store a few months ago, anytime I am near one nowadays I just have to stop in.
I didn’t buy any house plants this time around, but I did see peonies!!!
But I lost my receipt and I don’t remember how much the total was. I’m always so good about hanging on to my receipts too! I guess the next time I’m in there I’ll have to jot down the prices of the items I bought and add them to my grocery total.
Every time I go into that store I want to get one of everything. It’s addicting!
Did I mention all I want for Christmas is a gift card to Trader Joe’s? Man oh man I love that store. I like the size of the packages/portions too. Has anyone tried those potato pancakes? Or those cream cheese pastries?
It was a good week! Now all I need is a dozen eggs so I can get some baking done. I don’t know about you, but I plan on doing a lot of baking this week.
Have a good one,
~ Mavis
Total Spent This Past Week on Groceries $40.77 + a trip to Trader Joe’s {I lost my receipt}
Total Spent in December on Groceries $50.02 + 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 $1,581.82 for our $100 a month grocery budget for 2 + a trip to Trader Joe’s {I lost my receipt}
Connie Lewis says
I love Trader Joe’s and aldi. 5 hours away where a daughter lives.
There is a Costco 1 1/2 hours away.
So you’re not alone. I watch videos for new items before we visit!
Merry Christmas!
Jennifer says
Our eggs and milk at WM here just north of Charlotte are within pennies of your Aldi’s. I have one just a few miles away but tend to go to WM because of convenience, plus I Spark so proximity helps with that.
Lana says
Eggs took a big jump in the last two weeks. Two weeks ago we were paying 1.79 for 18 and last week they were 2.85 at Lidl. Noooooooooo………
renee says
3.99 for a dozen for white large Stop & Shop eggs. South of Boston suburb.
Julie says
Mavis, have you tried the chocolate croissants from Trader Joe’s? They are in the freezer section. I think they are really good! My family does too.
Mavis Butterfield says
No, but I’ll look for them next time!! 🙂
Honeybee says
The choclolate croissants from Trader Joes are a Christmas morning tradition. I pop them into a cool oven over night then bake them in the morning to go with tea and coffee.
Annette says
They have some other chocolate ones near the brookies.
Donna says
We eat the chocolate croissants and love them. We are actually having the cream cheese pastry for breakfast in the morning with fruit. We love these also.
Margo says
Eggs are 2.99 a dozen at most stores in San Diego area. Pastured or organic are $5.99 to $8.99!
Ashley Bananas says
I put together a sales/coupon/rebate haul at Publix this Friday and messaged my son if he wanted anything…Doritos, chips, more chips, varieties of chips, and then fish sticks…and more milk and chocolate milk, the bougie kind, not the store brand. His requests plus my planned items ended up being about $65. Not bad considering I left with a trunk of food.
For Christmas we’re doing a pot pie I made after Thanksgiving with left overs from the Thanksgiving meal. I will have to buy a can of cranberry sauce to go with it. As well, I will be making sugarfree pudding with mint protein powder and low fat milk. I made this for Thanksgiving and we both liked it. It’s a slightly healthier dessert than say chocolate pudding pie or who knows what else. I will serve them in ramakin bowls, whip cream available if you want it.
Have a great week!
Lana says
Publix deals are awesome this week. We will go on Wednesday so we can get the senior discount, too.
Cindy Brick says
$4.38 for 18 eggs at Safeway, here in Colorado. (We’ve moved from the wealthiest county in the state — Douglas — to the poorest one — Costilla. Yet the prices, if anything, seem a bit higher.) They had milk on sale last week ($1.97) and I bought 4 gallons. But usual price is around $3.85.
You forgot the windmill almond cookies at Trader Joe’s — I would practically kill for those! And when I was there a month ago, they had rosemary ‘Christmas trees’ for $10.88 — half what other places were selling. I’m a big fan of their orange chicken, too…though I usually buy Sam’s version, as well — then save some of Trader Joe’s wonderful sauce to drizzle on a batch of Sam’s orange chicken. Yum.
Christmas-wise, we will be alone this year. One set of kids is going to his parents; the other set has to work late on Christmas Eve. I am thinking maybe a steak and ale pie, from an Irish cookbook, and probably shrimp cocktail to start. We will see the kids on the 29th, for our traditional ‘Seven Fish Dishes’ meal.
You adapt when you have to. That’s life, isn’t it. Merry Christmas, by the way!
Mavis Butterfield says
You can never go wrong with a steak and ale pie!
Patti Vanderbloemen says
I bought 18 eggs for $4.99, on sale. I am in Northern Virginia just outside of Washington Dc, where everything is overpriced.
BTW…I made your recipe for Christmas Stollen yesterday and it was OUT OF THIS WORLD DELICIOUS!! I was going to give away 3 of the loaves to neighbors for gifts, but shoved them in my freezer instead! They will get pumpkin bread…
Mavis Butterfield says
The Kiln Guy and The Chef said tehy made 8 loaves!!! It’s a keeper. Glad you liked it. 🙂
Pamela Sheppard says
Where I live in S Jersey at a regional store lg store brand eggs are $2.19
Aldi $1.25
The organic pasture raised are $8.99
Store brand milk gallon is $3.99
Name brand organic is $10.99
Marti says
Eggs at HyVee are 77 cents all month long–limit one each time you go.
Robin says
The potato latkes are delish! Especially with a dollop of sour cream or applesauce or BOTH!
Holley says
I concur about the TJ’s chocolate croissants! My son loves them! Aldi did have pfeffernusse this year! We’ve gone through quite a few packages of those because they are my favorite! The potato pancakes from TJ’s are very good! So much easier than making them from scratch!
Tanya says
I see you bought olive tapenade. Have you ever made it yourself? I used to work for a caterer that made it and it’s super easy!
1 can black olives, drained
1 jar pimento stuffed green olives, drained
A couple cloves of minced garlic (measure with your heart!)
Put all in the food processor and pulse until fine. Add a couple teaspoons of olive oil to help stick it together.
My BIL loves this stuff so much he will eat it with a spoon!
Laura says
Thank you for sharing! I love olives!
Allison Kitfield says
Mavis, have you been to the Stonewall Kitchen outlet in Kittery? Deals to be had!!!!
Merry Christmas.
Gigi says
Aldi has a good black olive tapenade as well. Making it is just as easy also. (7 oz olives, 1 Garlic clove, Herbs such as thyme or rosemary or oregano, black pepper, garnish with capers)
Jamie says
You will be back for more of that Black Olive tapenade, addicting!!!
andrea d says
Wow! I was just at our Aldi tonight- south east Pennsylvania- eggs were $1.85 per dozen and milk was $4.25.