Market Basket $211.65
Not the best picture {it’s hard to see many of the items} but Lucy was flipping out so I decided it was just easier to set everything on the counter instead.
We went to Market Basket about mid week for our neighbors and since we were going to be there, we decided to pick up a few things as well. So on the way to the store, I made a list fully expecting to shop with the HH. But as soon as we got there, he suggested we use different carts, and I do the shopping for the neighbors and that he would get the things on our list.
I requested: 2 cans of cream of chicken soup {so I could make 8 can chicken taco soup}.
And when we got home I noticed he grabbed: 2 cans of Chunky Creamy Chicken and Dumplings Soup. What!?
I also wrote down “pasta sauce” totally expecting him to grab the $1.29 a jar Market Basket brand that we always buy. But instead when I checked the receipt I noticed he had paid $4.99 for 1 bottle of sauce! What in the world?
HH: They were swarming the pasta sauce!!!!
Mavis: Who. Who is they? Who was swarming the pasta sauce?
HH: I DON’T KNOW…. PEOPLE. I just grabbed something quick.
Mavis: Oh Please.
So there you have it. That’s why we have a counter full of snacks and groceries that costs over $200 and the only meat we came home with was 2 packages of hamburger and 1 frozen turkey breast and a package of weenies. I don’t know what else to tell you.
But apparently regularly sliced hot dog buns are called Coney Island Buns here. Weird.
Costco $84.43
Someone we know was going to Costco and asked if we wanted anything and we said yes! I have a feeling none of us will be making any trips to the market in the next week or two so I sent in my request. G U A C A M O L E Yum-a-roo!
I also think we will be having a few no spend food months once this whole thing is over so I’m not worried about our grocery budget right now. I did check the dates on the Spam though… and it should last for 3 years. 😉
Local Bakery $53.19
I would imagine it’s pretty tough for any food establishment {other than grocery stores or pizza delivery type places} to stay open right now. And even though I’ve said it before, although we aren’t going on road trips or out exploring any new bakeries or towns these days, it’s important to us to continue to spend what we normally would at the exact same establishments we usually frequent to help our local economy.
I know it’s not a lot, but when you see your local shops have had to cut their staff down to a bare minimum, and have cut their hours of operation down to so few, it breaks my heart. Especially when you can see all the mom and pop businesses all over town are trying… anything… just to stay afloat. After all, people are still continuing to support my little business, so I feel like now more than ever is the time to make sure I am doing my part to help theirs.
One of the more creative things I’ve seen a few bakeries do recently is to offer common foodstuffs like flour, eggs and butter that can be hard to find at the local grocery stores {especially in the smaller towns}. Treats in Wiscasset has now even added fresh produce to their weekly offerings. Easter candy too!
Also, making dinner meals for curbside / back porch pick up {something a lot of bakeries would normally never offer} is becoming a new thing around here as well. Mainers. You gotta love their creativity!
*****
Monday
- Breakfast: Lava Cake
- Lunch: Big Salad
- Afternoon Cuppa & Dove Chocolates
- Dinner: Pork Fried Rice
Tuesday
- Breakfast: Oatmeal Cookies
- Lunch: Soup From the Freezer
- Afternoon Cuppa & Raspberries
- Dinner: Salmon, Beans Pork Fried Rice
Wednesday
- Breakfast: Bagel and Cream Cheese
- Lunch: Asparagus Soup {the neighbors made it for us}
- Afternoon Cuppa & Digestives
- Dinner: Asparagus and Scalloped Potatoes
Thursday
- Breakfast: 1/2 Bagel and Cream Cheese
- Lunch: Big Salad
- Afternoon Cuppa & Digestives
- Dinner: Scalloped Potatoes and Beans
Friday
- Breakfast: Cream of Wheat
- Lunch: Weenie, Chips and Apple Pie
- Afternoon Cuppa & Granola Bar
- Dinner: Pickety Bits
Saturday
- Breakfast: Nada
- Lunch: Chicken Soup
- Afternoon Cuppa & Lime Tart
- Dinner: Smoked Brisket, Sweet Potatoes and Apple Slaw
Sunday
- Breakfast: Bagel and Cream Chese
- Lunch: Tuna Croissant & Chips
- Afternoon Cuppa & Digestives
- Dinner: Chicken Chili
I ate WAY too much food last week. But whatever.
What’s new with YOU? Are you eating like a horse these days too? Are you finding staying at home a challenge, or enjoying it? Curious minds want to know.
Keep Calm and Carry on,
~Mavis
Total Spent This Past Week on Groceries, Bakery Treats We Brought Home $349.97
- Total Spent in April on Groceries and Bakery Treats $349.97
- Total Spent in March on Groceries and Bakery Treats $446.03 {includes a $50 gift card}
- Total Spent in February on Groceries and Bakery Treats $416.98 {the fridge and freezer are packed!}
- Total Spent in January on Groceries and Bakery Treats $346.47
- Total Spent on Groceries and Bakery Treats in 2020 $1558.75
You can go HERE to read more Shopping Trip Stories
Mel says
You can make homemade “cream of whatever in a can” if you need it for the recipe.
https://tastesbetterfromscratch.com/condensed-cream-anything-soup/
I’m doing okay with staying home, but we are due to grocery shop tomorrow (first time in three weeks), and that is stressing me out. I saw new guidelines saying not to go out even for groceries the next few weeks, but I unfortunately need to go out at this point in order to keep staying home. We’re out of pet food, milk, fruit, etc., and we’re low on many other things. I’m also afraid that those guidelines are going to drive people right back out such that the store will be extra crowded (and the shelves extra empty) tomorrow. Last time I went, it was terrifying how pushy people were. We do have a decent stash of freezer meals now, but I’m trying to save those in case we get sick.
On the bright side, I did solve the egg surplus issue. I’ve been leaving eggs (and homemade bread or whatever else we can share) in a cooler at the end of our driveway for my boss, a former student, and a friend to pickup. It doesn’t violate our stay-at-home order since you’re allowed to pick up food, and everyone has a different pickup day, so I can disinfect the cooler each time. Our store is also now limiting how much pasta you can buy (which makes sense for weekly shoppers, but I haven’t been there in 3 weeks!), so I might just use some eggs to switch to homemade pasta.
Mavis Butterfield says
We had to wait 30 minutes in the checkout line last week. 🙁 I would think the lines would be shorter this week though.
Mel says
The lines actually weren’t bad last time, but NO ONE kept their distance. I hope people know better by now.
Mavis Butterfield says
They wouldn’t allow anyone to use their reusable bags either. I forgot to mention that. Good luck! I hope you find everything.
annie says
we have to wait 30 minutes in line in California to get INTO the store.
Donna says
Several stores here allow you to order online and do a pickup. They come and put it in the car/trunk. While I prefer to pick out my own meat and produce, right now I’m thankful for pick up. WalMart, Kroger, and Meijers in my area are doing pick up. I usually order and then my pick up time is two days from order date.
Mel says
A few of our stores have that option, but they are flooded with requests right now, so no spots have been available. I’m okay with waiting on lines or entrance like Mavis and Annie said, but it’s people running into me, reaching over me, allowing their small children to pull on my arm, and packing already full aisles that seems ill-advised right now.
Claudia says
Have thought about seeing face masks for hospital workers?
Sarah says
$4.99 is cheap for Rao’s brand! I spend $7.99 for their sensitive formula with no onion or garlic for my son. I’ve been trying to buy ahead for that since it’s made in Italy and I suspect production has stopped.
Krista says
I was coming here to say the same thing! Under $5 is a stock up price for Rao’s for me.
Naomi says
Me too! At that price I would be stocking up. It’s usually $6.99 – $7.99 here in Columbia, SC. I do like their marinara sauce, but only buy it once in a while.
Patti says
I live in NE Florida and paid $9.45 for a jar of their marinara at Publix I make my own sauce, but we were making a care package for our poor son and DIL who live in Brooklyn and I know it is the sauce they normally buy. I would have never had spent that kind of money on a jar of sauce, but my husband told me to just get it. We have moved a lot over the years and I did some of my shopping at a Market Basket when we lived in MA. Their prices are hard to beat and the store I shopped at had a nice selection of organic foods too.
Heather says
I was reading a cooking magazine recently and that brand of pasta sauce was rated number 1 out of 10 brands so it must be good. It’s 8.99 a jar here in New York City so I’ve never had a chance to try it.
Deborah says
I’m totally enjoying staying home. I’m sewing face masks for family, friends and neighbors. I’m staying in contact with family by phone or email. It’s pretty much business as normal here at home. I do go to the grocery store less often. But when I go, I spend more money, but then, I’m buying more at one time. I’m saving more money by staying home. LOL We are making do, or doing without. And mending what needs to be mended. I’m actually liking this. Not the disease, but the lifestyle we’re living.
Chris says
Carb loading is my new hobby! I’ve been baking a lot in the last 3 weeks. The King Arthur Baking cookbook is helping to keep me sane. I’ve made 3 loaves of oatmeal bread, 4 batches of their “Beautiful Burger Buns” ( which are awesome for sandwiches!), 1 loaf of rye & 3 loaves of banana bread. It’s a good thing I have 3 men in my house to feed! I love that Costco has been stocking KA flour since last fall.
Ramona says
From your photo’s it looks like you are able to get most of the same food products you have in the past. I usually drive 30 miles each way to get my groceries where there are more stores. Now I am having to shop at our only store in town. The prices are higher and not everything on the shelves. One week I went shopping very little fresh vegies, no frozen vegies except okra, no bread, no meat except expensive cuts. Went another time there was meat but I was limited to 6 lbs ground beef, More vegies , and bread that trip. Haven’t seen tp in the store for 3 weeks. Before our state had it’s first confirmed case , we were one of the last few, you could find most things in the store. I did buy extra of things like canned tuna, dried beans, oatmeal etc. No flour or sugar on shelves at all. I have made things stretch. As far as staying home, I didn’t go out much anyway except to grocery shop or out to dinner once in awhile. So staying home doesn’t bother me. My husband is going stir crazy. I always have stuff to do outside on our 2 acres but husband doesn’t like yard work, digging to plant garden, or mowing so he just takes his daily walk around the property for exercise. He did mention he will help me mow though.
Ramona says
opps this was supposed to be in Mondays comments when you posted your weekly shopping trip.
Beth says
Happy Monday! I have worked from home a lot over the last 20 years so that isn’t different but not going in office at all or seeing my clients is weird and my employer just extended the Stay at Home through May 1..ughh.. My college age daughter is also doing school from home- thank goodness our house is big enough so we can work in different spaces.
As for food- I took a “vow of comfort food” after we had an earthquake last Tuesday evening that shook Boise Idaho pretty good for a bit- apparently we needed more than just a pandemic to keep our life exciting…after that I made 2 kinds of soup, cornbread, lemon bars, and a chocolate layer cake and last night I made a couple of favorite casseroles so we are good for a bit. We also ordered takeout a couple of times from local restaurants for the same reasons you mentioned in your post. I also got a fabulous deal on raspberries and strawberries at a local fruit and vegetable stand this weekend so I will be making jam tonight and continuing my binge watching of Bewitched…
MaryG says
I just completed a big trip for two weeks’+ worth of food for both my family and my elderly mother. I never like shopping, but it’s best avoided these days. I just have to add that your husband shops like my guy. I do about 75% of our food/household shopping, we do about 20% together, and he does maybe 5% by himself–and it’s that last category that can be scary. He always seems to buy name brands when they, of course, are not on sale. A couple of weeks ago, a trip to get two half-gallons of milk ended up costing $25–and all he got was the milk and string cheese! Crazy!
Vicki says
I tried to get milk, hamburger and eggs at the store yesterday, but they were out. They have been emptying our shelves as quickly as things come in. The new rules start today limiting people in the store. They already have the arrow making the aisles one way. We will see how it goes. We are in the Kansas City area. We are doing lots of projects around the house, staying home except a quick run to the store.
Yma P says
How was the apple slaw? Same dressing as a coleslaw?
Mavis Butterfield says
The apple slaw was excellent! I’m not sure if the dressing is exactly the same as coleslaw. I will ask next time as it’s usually something they sell in the summertime.
Carolina Cooper says
I see by the products that you shopped at Market Basket last week. I shopped the “senior hour” 10 days ago (6 am – 7 am)—easy peasy, only about 12 people or so in the store. However, I had to back tract several times, as some shelves were empty, and they were being stocked as I shopped. By 6:45 when I finished, there were lots of people entering the store and it was very crowded, like any busy Saturday, mid day. This week, according to a neighbor, Market Basket (here in NH) is only allowing TEN people in the store at a time, and there is a local police officer there to enforce the rule!!! Though I am going again tomorrow at 6 am, I am dreading it! I wonder if these new rules are in force where you live in Maine?
Mavis Butterfield says
In Maine the stores have to go by square footage. So I think Market Basket here could have 100 shoppers at a time.
LaceFaerie says
Costco in Bellingham WA has been limiting entry to 30 shoppers at a time and it’s a huge costco! My sister staying with friends in deserted Las Vegas say Walmart has tape on the floor at the register that mark where to stand 6’ apart in the checkout line.
Lace Faerie says
And I should add that my HH went to Costco 30 minutes before closing on Sunday when he stopped for gas and saw the line to get in was down to a dozen people. Still no flour, sugar, yeast, pasta but did find a couple bags of Jasmine Rice (one for us and one for a our daughter’s family). There were plenty of fruits & veggies, eggs and butter. Lots of snacks, too. He didn’t look for paper products, so I can’t add anything in that department.
Janice says
I love spending time in the kitchen and baking but normally my days are pretty full with activities that have now been cancelled. I feel like social distancing/self isolation is giving me permission to do what I love without having to make excuses for not leaving the house. We live on Vancouver Island and I’ve always been good about being prepared in case of an earthquake – to the point my friends and family have always kidded me about having enough to provide for the whole neighborhood. Well, no one is kidding me any more and some have even borrowed items from my pantry – which I’m happy to share 🙂 They are also enjoying the results of my marathon baking episodes… My adult son told one of his friends that “it’s like my mom has been preparing for this her whole life”. That really made me chuckle.
Sue says
As seniors and a husband with medical issues, I have been keeping my freezer stocked with veggies from the garden, make my own pasta sauce and freeze.
His favorite soups I freeze in portions. I freeze in bigger muffin tins, pop out and wrap in freezer paper. So then can take out what is needed for a meal.
I’v watched Mavis eating the dehydrated foods and we have some of that.
My tip for dried beans and rice, put in glass jars with a bay leaf and will keep without bugs. I also buy extra Flour and meal and put in containers with bay leaves.
I don’t hoard, this is way I have done a long time, sharing now with neighbors
Thank you, Mavis for the long time advice on growing food for freezing, canning and freezer meals.
Katherine says
Several restaurants in my area are taking orders in advance for ready to cook or roast meals. One is a local steakhouse that is selling a 3 lb ready to roast prime rib with 4 ready to bake potatoes, house salads with choice of 2 dressings and a dozen fresh baked rolls with honey-cinnamon butter for $59.99. Not a bad deal.
Shirley says
My husband is on week 5 of wfh, and I’ve been home since March 14. I’m in Santa Clara County, CA, the ‘Hotbed” for the state. A month after people in my city went crazy and hoarded toilet paper, that’s still rationed and there are no clorox wipes to be found. Yeast, flour, and dried beans are still also hard to find. My HH had been walking down to Safeway almost every other day to see what was happening. Plexiglass at the checkstands, tape marking 6’, everyone wearing masks, lines to get in the stores to minimize crowding, and bad hair.
I ordered plants from Burpee’s around 3/20 and they haven’t shipped yet. Stay well.
Noel says
Hi there,
Saw your spaghetti sauce price and laughed. Here in Canada (Ontario ) in the market that I work in the cost of it is $9.98 a for the same size jar. So you are really getting a deal. Cheers !
Kris says
Hi Mavis,
The Rao sauce is $7.99 at my store so, nope, I have never tried it. LOL! Do tell us how you like it and why it is rated so high.
We are soldiers and prison guards and we are getting too old for that. 😉 That is just my opinion as dh disagrees. We are both working tons of overtime due to other employees staying home. Today is our day off and we went to Grocery Outlet. They had everything on my list. I shopped for the next 6-8 weeks. Due to the husband being in tow, I spent $305.00. He was putting chips and beer and lunch snacks in our cart that I would have skipped over by myself. For the first time since this whole pandemic started – there were no paper products in the store. Not even Kleenex.
I have been baking at night. last night I made oatmeal batter bread, Calico beans, and oatmeal chocolate chip bar cookies. I miss my grand kids! I send them cards and letters and lots of busy bee schoolwork sheets, story books, and coloring pages.
Mel says
Oooh do you have a recipe for the oatmeal batter bread? I love oatmeal, and that sounds divine.
Susie Janov says
Mel, in case Kris doesn’t see your response, I found several recipes online but I know The Spruce Eats has good recipes. https://www.thespruceeats.com/oatmeal-batter-bread-483485
Mel says
Thanks!
Kris says
Thanks Susie ! Mel – by coincidence The Spruce Eats recipe is the one I used. Lol It is very good. My mom had a WWII recipe for oatmeal batter bread that she always baked in her yellow Pyrex mixing bowl. If I find it I will post it on here. It was really easy and it worked every time.
We bought an abandoned foreclosure. We have been our own contractors for almost a year now so some of my things are still packed to protect them from sawdust.
Renay Bennett says
Hi! Mavis can you please tell us the name of the gal who does those amazing mugs? Thank you!!!
Mavis Butterfield says
Sue Tirrell. Here is her Instagram link: https://www.instagram.com/suetirrell/
Rita says
Is the spam for an emergency? Stay well Mavis and family.
Wendy Steele says
I grew up eating SPAM one night a week for dinner. I loved it!!! Think I’ll get it again!
Laura Reinhart says
This year we were having our younger son and his gf for passover seder, alas it will postpone till next year. I work in a middle schools as a tutor and I miss my students. It’s crazy I dream of math problems to do with my kids. I am retiring in June and I doubt I will get to see them at all this year. People dont realize how much we miss your kids and our daily work with them. Please encourage them to read.