General Store $34.04 {$9.50 of it was the hot steak sandwich}
Now that we live in the boonies, I keep little sticky notes on the side of the fridge for things we need {one sticky for food and one sticky for the hardware store}. And when the HH feels like he needs to get out of the house for a little human interaction/conversation {I never have this feeling} he peels off the sticky notes and sets off.
And every time he goes to the general store, he comes back with one of their hot lunch specials for us to share and a story about being embarrassed because he had to ask for something that was on my list that the store didn’t carry.
Last week it was spreadable butter and frozen turkeys.
This week it was lint rollers. Apparently no, they don’t sell lint rollers {Hasn’t she heard about tape? The guy behind the counter asked my husband.}. But then the man behind the counter went on to say that 2 people in the last 3 days have come in looking for them… So maybe, maybe they should think about ordering some.
This is the kind of thrilling conversation that goes on in small towns.
You don’t get this kind of attention at Target, I can guarantee that.
Market Basket $51.60
I didn’t go in armed with a grocery flyer or really a plan, I just ran in and got what I wanted since I was in the area for an appointment but still, I thought the prices were a little high at Market Basket this time around. Brussels sprouts $2.49 a pound? And those frozen turkey breasts were $10.99 each {2.75 pounds} and 3 pounds of baby potatoes $5.49.
Maybe it’s just my imagination because I don’t grocery shop on a regular basis anymore, but to me, it seems like the price of groceries {at major stores} have gone up quite a bit this year.
Or maybe it’s all in my head. Who knows.
Here are some of the meals we ate last week:
Breakfast in bed! Bacon and eggs with my favorite hoisin sauce mixed in.
Salmon {with extra garlic} Brussels sprouts and baby potatoes.
Big salad with salami, cheddar, hard boiled eggs, tomato, cucumber and apple.
Big salad with bacon, apple, goat cheese, dried cranberries, cucumber and tomato.
Afternoon tea and cookies.
Mississippi pot roast {have you tried it yet?} Amberlina’s sweet potato casserole and peas.
And then there was pasta night with Rao’s marinara sauce {best sauce on the planet!}. The HH made 4 slices of Texas toast to go with the pasta.
Mavis: Why did you make 4 slices!?
HH: It seemed like a waste to turn on the oven for just 2 slices.
Mavis: Are you going to eat 3 slices?
HH: No, I only want 1.
Mavis: Well you just asked me 5 minutes ago and I said I only wanted 1.
HH: Oh here, just eat another one.
Mavis: I don’t WANT another one!
And then he muttered something about saving the extras for later {WHEN IS LATER? BREAKFAST TOMORROW??} and then what do you know, as we were cleaning up the dinner dishes he stood there at the kitchen counter and ate the 2 leftover slices {so now he had eaten 3 slices} and then was moaning that he shouldn’t have had so many pieces of Texas toast 10 minutes later.
Guys. They’re so weird. 😉
This whole getting used to feeding just 2 people at a time thing… it’s a work in progress.
So how did you do this week? Is all your Thanksgiving shopping done? Do you think the prices at grocery stores are way up? Curious minds want to know.
Have a great Monday everyone,
~Mavis
Total Spent This Past Week on Groceries, Bakery Treats We Brought Home $32.16
- Total Spent in October on Groceries and Bakery Treats $85.64
- Total Spent in October on Groceries and Bakery Treats $871.38
- Total Spent in September on Groceries and Bakery Treats $71.47
- Total Spent in August on Groceries and Bakery Treats $426.99
- Total Spent in July on Groceries and Bakery Treats $222.60
- Total Spent in June on Groceries and Bakery Treats $194.12
- 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
- Total Spent in January on Groceries and Bakery Treats $346.47
- Total Spent on Groceries and Bakery Treats in 2020 $4453.86
You can go HERE to read more Shopping Trip Stories
Alice Damsteegt says
The leftover garlic bread is awesome for breakfast the next morning with fried or scrambled eggs on them! All nice and toasted first, of course.
Mel says
We picked up a local turkey from the farm up the road for the first time this year. You pay a deposit and then go pick it up and pay the rest. It was advertised as being 15-20 lbs. How big did it actually end up being? Oh, just TWENTY-THREE lbs. I am very glad my husband will be grilling it because there is no way it would fit in our oven (maybe spatchcocked–maybe). Fitting it into the fridge to thaw will also be exciting.
I’m in a bit of a cooking rut just because my telework setup is at the table, so I spend all day in the kitchen and don’t really feel like spending more time in there to cook at the end of the day. But, I made egg rolls in the air fryer last night, and that was fun and delicious.
I haven’t noticed grocery prices being higher, but most of our produce comes through a CSA delivery, and we’re going to the actual grocery store pretty rarely these days.
Kirsten G. says
Grocery prices have gone up this year. Everything has gone up across the board by small amounts. It adds up pretty quickly when I’m shopping for my family of 6!
LaToya says
We aren’t quite empty-nesters yet (I think I’m a year older than you, but my kids are a few years behind yours) and my college boy lives at home but rarely eats with us, and the high school girl works fast-food and often eats there or picks up something here and there. So, I’ve been nagging my husband about cooking less. I absolutely HATE waste and seeing a big tub of spaghetti sitting in the refrigerator for a week and then getting thrown out drives me MAD. We need to work on that ….
We have Thanksgiving pretty much taken care of – we have (2) turkeys in the freezer from last year’s grocery store promo – except for potatoes which HAVE gotten expensive and cream (will pick up at Costco).
I think prices have gone up, for sure … but they still have pretty good sales at Fred Meyer and Albertsons – like this week it’s buy 10 or more of these items and get 50-cents off each which makes the Campbell’s cream of mushroom soup 49-cents – that somewhat makes up for it. I haven’t really changed the way I shop – sale shopping and stock up prices is still the thing for me.
Have a great week, Miss Mavis!
Virginia says
If you don’t already have one, a toaster oven might be appreciated by you empty nesters. I don’t like heating up my oven for a small amount of food either. Our family of 5 uses our toaster oven all the time. It can even accommodate a regular-sized pizza. I think leftovers heated in a toaster oven taste better than those heated in a microwave, too.
Gayle says
Our air fryer is fantastic to reheat pizza slices.
Toni says
I agree we love our toaster oven! We use it everyday!
Karen S Picoult says
I agree… we have always had a toaster oven and use it a LOT! I can bake a pizza in it, do a couple slices of Garlic Toast or Breadsticks in it, and reheat in it. I seldom turn on our big oven.
Yma says
A small toaster oven — smaller than one that can fit the whole pizza — is my vote for what you should get HH for Christmas this year. 🙂
I would much rather have a toaster oven than a microwave – just because they are so much better at reheating leftover pizza slices. And you can bake only 2 biscuits without having to heat up the entire oven. Plus you can take the toaster oven outside during the hot summer months to make small batches of baked goods without having to heat up the entire oven.
Annette says
I would get a toaster oven and air fryer combo. Cusinart has a nice one.
Frances says
I bought a DeLonghi toaster oven last month. We now use it all of the time.
Diana says
I agree that grocery prices have gone up. That’s why I started growing some winter vegs – could bear to pay so much for a bag of spinach.
As for the Texas toast – do you not have a toaster oven? If not, it may be a good purchase. I cook for just one, most of the time, and it handles what I need to do without turning on the big oven.
Diana says
couldn’t*
Dee says
I think the prices are due to corona and the weather problems. in my country (in europe) certain things, like vegetables, got more expensive due to droughts and foreign field workers having problems entering the country because of corona.
Marianne M Lewis says
Grocery prices most definitely have increased – in some types of food, quite drastically. My husband and I own a restaurant and watching our costs climb through the roof has become a new hobby 🙁
Kari says
My nieces and nephew raised turkeys for the fair, and they plan for extras to be used for the holidays. My SIL called yesterday to see what size I wanted for Thanksgiving. My choices were 21#, 32.5#, or 36.8#!!! What would someone even do with a 36 pound turkey?!?! Needless to say, I opted for the 21, as I’m not sure the others would even fit in m oven.
The rest of the trimmings seem to have risen a fair amount. Brussels sprouts are 2.49/lb at Fred Meyer. I haven’t broken down and bought any yet. Looking at your roasted sprouts with potatoes, however, I’m thinking I’ll break down this week and get some.
Wishing you a beautiful Thanksgiving in your new home. I’m jealous of your view. I’m not sure I’d want to leave home, either.
Mel says
That really puts my 23 lb turkey problem in perspective. Perhaps all the turkeys were stress eating in quarantine this year?
Kari says
Weren’t we all stress eating? Ha ha!
Kathy G says
Prices have increased in our area by 25%. I follow the sales cycles and have a stockpile which helps. This time of year holiday provisions are usually loss leaders so I am preparing my pantry for the upcoming holidays and potential lockdown due to COVID-19.
I too struggle with cooking for fewer people. I’ve combatted that by sharing meals with family members and freezing portions for future lunches. Less need to make messes in the kitchen, to cook once and eat a few times for the effort.
Leanna Thompson says
Are you reliving October? 😉
YES, prices have gotten higher. Supply and demand? More people cooking at home.
Speaking of turkeys, this year we are having thanksgiving (just us) at our house (first time in 31 years of marriage) and I ordered a turkey at Walmart. Oops 28# one. Guess we’ll have lots of leftovers. 🙂
JoAnn Moran says
Grocery prices have gotten higher. Here’s an article if you’re interested
https://www.supermarketnews.com/issues-trends/fmi-helps-consumers-understand-rising-grocery-prices-amid-pandemic
Rebecca Briscoe says
I keep asking people, “don’t you think groceries have gone up?” Everyone just says, “I “don’t know”. I think everything has definitely gone up, even at Aldi’s. And yeah, cooking for 2 is sometimes a challenge. Espiecially pasta. It never looks like enough, but I measure it,and it is always just enough.
Rosaleen says
Agreed, pretty much everything is more expensive. IF you even can get what you want.
Also, yes, get some sort of at toaster oven or whatever.
Frances F Lengenfelder says
Have prices gone up? Yes!! Last week at Safeway head lettuce was $1.79 each. This week, $2.49. Holy cow!
Sandy says
I have not used my 1923 Magic Chef stove in a year-all in the Breville toaster oven. Pricey but best purchase ever.
After a “mind of it’s own” Magic Chef never knowing what the temp would be-this is a relief.
YES-prices have skyrocketed here in Southern CA!
Marcia says
Prices have probably gone up, but I really don’t know. With COVID:
1. I stopped “shopping around” for the best prices. So, I go mostly to the local store, and I buy what I need. And once/ month Costco. I could save more by shopping around. But I stopped.
2. My kids are home 24/7 and they are eating a ton. They used to get free lunch at school.
3. My teenager is now taller than me, and that boy can EAT.
So my grocery bill, ugh, it’s gonna be over $10k for the year. Sigh. But hey, I spent nothing on vacation??
Marcia says
Oh, and I got my turkey this weekend (we were going to go on vacation, but COVID. So…12 dollar/ 12 lb turkey is cheaper than $1100 hotel room for several days…)
I still need to buy the rest this weekend – a green veg, potatoes for mashed potatoes…
Elise in the SF Bay Area says
We’re doing Thanksgiving just the 4 of us and my mom, who pods with us. We decided that since none of us really LOVE turkey, we’re doing a duck!!! WooHOO!! AND, it’s a reason to pop into one of the Asian groceries in The City too! (Across the bridge, HUGE outing!) Bonus 🙂
AND, ANOTHER vote for a toaster oven of some sort for the HH. Aren’t you glad we’re here to offer unsolicited opinions 😉
Lace Faerie says
Prices for groceries other than meats have gone up. Produce has definitely gone up, guess lack of field workers has made things less available/cost more. But I shop sales to stock up on ingredients, so I have the luxury of deciding when to buy. Meat prices are pretty good here. We’ve even seen Prime cuts at lower than normal Choice cuts of beef. I’m guessing it’s because the restaurants are buying like they once were.
Here in Northwestern WA we go back on lockdown at 11:59p tonight for 4 weeks. The stores this weekend were crazy! Costco is out of tp, wipes and disinfectants again. Here we go again…
Laura L. says
Mavis, just wondering what dressing you generally use on your delicious looking salads? Thanks for sharing.
wil says
The prices of food and many other things have become higher in many countries, including here in the Netherlands, but this already happened before the Corvid, only it is now faster.
We are therefore very happy with our vegetable garden and polytunnel. Almost year round we eat our own potatoes, vegetables, many fruits and herbs.
In addition, I cook everything myself as much as possible and make use of very nice offers that I can save, this means that we can live a lot cheaper without having to leave anything
Valerie says
Heat up frying pan, drop toast in for a few minutes like a grilled cheese.