Local General Store $24.97
With temps in the mid 80’s last week, pretty much the only thing I wanted to eat was apples and ice cream. I don’t do well in the heat, anything above 70-75 and I feel like I’m melting. 65 degrees is my happy place, and strangely enough, the HH is starting to feel the same way about the heat as I do.
I heard him say TWICE last week that summer was his least favorite season. This from the guy who 25 years ago told me he never wanted to live somewhere cold. Ha ha ha. Oh how the years can change a person. At least now I know that when we’re old and grey, we won’t be moving to a warmer climate. Maine and it’s 6+months of winter, we love it. And we can’t imagine wanting to live anywhere else {living on an island would be nice though, and I’m still holding out for that}.
Online Order $9.27
For the luxury items the general store doesn’t sell. 😉
BBQ season has arrived, and with it means Lucy is GLUED to the HH’s side anytime he walks into the kitchen. That dog, she doesn’t want to miss a thing.
5 pounds of beef tips.
Last night’s linner. It’s a good thing all I had eaten for breakfast was an apple. 😉
Lucy’s dinner bowl.
The leftovers.
The HH cooks. Not once, not twice…
Not three times…
Not four times…
But FIVE times last week! Goody gravy, I think that’s a record.
And hey… check it out… we harvested our first crop of baby lettuce greens and French breakfast radishes. It felt good after such a long winter to finally be able pick something from the garden. And Ritz cracker chicken, if you haven’t tried it yet, here’s a link to the recipe.
So what have you been eating these days? Crock Pot meals? BBQ? Big salads? Do tell. 🙂
Have a great Monday everyone,
~Mavis
Strawberry Pudding Cake Recipe
Total Spent This Past Week on Groceries, Bakery Treats We Brought Home $34.24
- Total Spent of Groceries and Bakery Treats We brought Home in June $34.24
- Total Spent in May on Groceries and Bakery Treats $256.47
- Total Spent in April on Groceries and Bakery Treats $1083.55 WOWZA
- 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 $2582.94
You can go HERE to read more Shopping Trip Stories
Looking for ways to save on your grocery budget? Back when the kids were in school, I used to cook loads of freezer meals in bulk, and preserved as much food as possible from my vegetable garden. I have written about the list of pantry staples I always have on hand and The Best Foods for Eating Well on a Tight Budget. I’ve also written about How to Cut Your Grocery Bill in Half and even did a series on 52 Ways to Save $100 a Month.
Mel says
We’re also leaning towards cold things and the grill, but we’re also still limiting grocery trips, so we’ve been using what we have. This week I made pizza with chorizo and peppers, shrimp salad on homemade burger buns, pizza pasta salad with tomato vinaigrette, breakfast for dinner (pancakes and sausage), something I can’t remember, and pasta with peas, carrots, and bacon in Parmesan cream sauce.
We also picked up doughnuts from a local bakery (it has very limited hours, so we can’t always get there to support them), and I made homemade Oreos to mail to family. I also made carrot and zucchini muffins.
We’re probably due to shop this week for the first time in about a month, and I’m curious what will be in stock. Last time we shopped, meat was sparse (and limited to two per customer), fresh produce was pretty picked over, and frozen veggies were completely cleaned out.
Mama Cook says
I’m with Mel! We’ve been shopping once per month and using what we have on hand…I’ve cut the shopping bill in 1/2!!!! $400 for a family of 9!!! (This includes cleaners/paper products!). Who knew?!!!!! Bah! It’s embarrassing to think I used to spend more and not bat an eye!!!
I do need some input though…our strawberries are going crazy…not enough per day to make jam though…what do people do? Freeze them until I have enough? Super small batches? Eat them daily and forget about putting any up? Help!
Mel says
We’re shopping once a month, and it was cheaper at first, but I think it’s evened out now. We had to switch to local meat because of the shortages and rationing, so that is FAR more expensive, and we’ve had to order online and pay shipping for some things. We also aren’t able to eat as many vegetables, although we still have our CSA delivery. Funny how it all shakes out!
I don’t like strawberries, but we grow them for my husband. Ours are slow this year, but last year they went crazy, so I used a lot in strawberry shortcake (Mavis’s recipe, I ate mine without berries), and I also froze them in 1 lb portions completely pureed for later use in strawberry ice cream and jam. Freezing strawberry syrup (for ice cream, pancakes, maybe even mixed into lemonade, etc.) is also an option.
Mama Cook says
Great idea!!!! Thanks!
Tamara says
Do you have a recipe for the shrimp salad? Thanks!
Mel says
Sure! It’s really simple and from this site. https://www.onceuponachef.com/recipes/shrimp-salad.html
Old Bay is popular in Maryland, but if you don’t have it, I bet a Creole seasoning would work.
Jennifer says
Dh and I have always loved in the Deep South – weeks and weeks of highs over 90 were common. Last year we moved to the mountains of NC above Boone. We had 4 days above 80 last year, but low humidity and a mountain breeze. I thought I would hate the cold, but I loved it. It was in the teens for a full week, but our little house was cozy. We had a few light snows,but nothing like normal. A few years ago, they got 23″ in one storm, but we never got more than 6″.
We went to the beach last weeks and it w as absolutely miserable. Heat and humidity? Not for me!!
Katie says
I’ve lived in southern Louisiana, and then Texas for all of my life so far. 70-75 would be a dream! Low to mid 70’s and sunny is my happy place 🙂 My husband and I would like to live in a location that truly has all four seasons. That’s something we’ve never experienced. Fall is my favorite season, but nice weather can be hit or miss.
Lana says
Italian Chopped Salad was the best meal I made last week. I am going to make it again in a few days since I only used half the salami. Yum!
Susan Backus says
Thanks for reminding me about Ritz cracker chicken. Now I know what to make for dinner.
Maureen says
Mavis, Would you please share the Beef Tip Marinade/recipe? They look delicious!
Donna B says
Me too. I what to know about the steak bites. Yumm!
Kris in Eastern OR says
First BBQ of the year for us. I grilled hot dogs and pork chops from the freezer. I served with a salad plate and an upside~down strawberry rhubarb cake. IT FINALLY FEELS LIKE SUMMER. 🙂 Been getting down into the 30’s at night making my tomato plants and petunias shiver. We are to stay in the forties from here on out.
Mavis – Miss Lucy sure does know how to live life to the fullest and make each day count!
Vivian says
LOVE the picture of sweet Lucy!
JoEllen says
Interesting that you can’t get Grape Nuts at your store either—I’m in MD and they haven’t been available at the Safeway I pick up my groceries from for nearly 2 months now. My niece in southern MN says they aren’t available in her town either. Most of the stuff the stores have been out of makes sense, but Grape Nuts?
Patti says
Here in South Carolina it is so hot and humid in the 90s even I am dripping by 8 AM. Hoping for a rain tonight to cool things off. We are eating “light” or “cool” which means lots of squash and zucchini because our garden is overflowing. We eat it every night – just steamed mainly but I have already made a Chocolate Zucchini Bread that I think you would love because it is so good. We gave it away to our neighbors and they raved about it, too. I also will be spiraling the zucchini for use in a Greek Salad recipe, making roasted veggies, a stir fry, and I even have a recipe to make zucchini “crab cakes” by using Old Bay Seasoning. If we don’t eat it all, we’ll freeze some for use during the winter although we have a lot in our freezer from last year. So – the rest of our meals is coming out of the freezer because I have to make room for our garden produce. It has been funny to see what we have in there that we totally forgot. Not everything is labeled properly so it is a mystery until it thaws. Fun times!!