Publix – 7/26/2012

This week J.T. and I did our grocery shopping a day earlier. We normally go on Friday but have had a good bit going on this week. Last night we were servers for a program at our church – "Strollin' Through the Decades." It was a great program and we loved being able to help. We helped serve food, one of my favorite things to do. If you haven't figured it out by now, I love anything that has to do with food.


Every week I struggle with meeting the $50 budget for our groceries, but somehow it always comes together and works out. I plan our menu for the week, so I know exactly what I will need to purchase. This menu, of course, is planned around what is on sale. I have a general outline for Monday through Friday to help me plan our meals:
    
    Meatless Monday
    Chicken Tuesday
    Zoe's Kitchen Restaurant on Wednesday
    Breakfast for Dinner on Thursday
    Burger Friday


I always cook meals that serve 4 and we eat the leftovers the next day for lunch. I also have my parents over every Sunday after church for lunch. Dessert is ALWAYS served with Sunday lunch – I don't think my dad or J.T. would show up if it wasn't. This can be tricky to work into the budget at times because butter, organic eggs, and organic ice cream are fairly expensive, but I always come up with something. Most of our desserts are served a la mode (J.T. and my dad share a special bond over ice cream). I absolutely love planning and cooking Sunday lunch every week.


My total this week spent at Publix came in at $50.62. Of this total, $48.45 was spent from our grocery budget and $2.17 came out of our "over the counter drug" budget. My total for the month of July for groceries was $192.76. This was a little under budget, so I was very happy about that!

• Dairy
  • (1) Publix Greenwise Organic Milk @ $5.99
  • (1) Publix Greenwise Organic Eggs @ $3.99
• Grocery
  • (1) Greenwise Organic Oats @ $1.99
  • (1) Mt. Olive Pickles – BOGO @ $1.20
  • (2) Chex cereal @ $7.38 or $3.69 each
    • (2) $1/1 manufacturer coupons & (2) $1.50/1 Publix coupons - $2.38 or $1.19 each
  • (2) Crisco Canola Oil Spray @ $5.78 or $2.89 each
    • BOGO Publix coupon - $2.89 or $1.45 each
  • 1 bag Goya coarse ground cornmeal @ $0.99 on clearance
  • (2) Nestle Juicy Juice Fruitfuls (8 Pack) – BOGO @ $3.25
    • (2) $1/1 manufacturer coupons - $1.25 or $0.63 each
• Meat
  • 3 ¾ lb. Publix Greenwise organic whole chicken @ $1.99/lb. - $9.79
  • 1 ½ lbs. Publix Greenwise organic chicken thighs @ $2.29/lb. - $4.16
• Produce
  • 2 lbs. Bananas @ 0.69/lb. - $1.49
  • 1 Vidalia Onion @ $1.49/lb. - $0.83
  • 3 Mangoes @ $1.00 each - $3.00
  • 2 ½ lbs. sweet potatoes @ $0.79/lb. - $2.05
  • Earthbound Farms Organic lettuce - $3.99
    • $0.75/1 manufacturer coupon - $3.24
  • Garlic – 1 bulb - $0.36
  • 2 lbs. cabbage @ $0.79/lb. - $1.64
• Other
  • (2) Ziploc sandwich bags (50 count) @ 2/$3.00
    • $1.00/2 manufacturer coupon and $1.00/2 Publix coupon - $1.00
  • Bayer Aspirin (125 count) - $4.99
    • $3.00/1 manufacturer coupon - $1.99
  
   
  $5.00 off $25.00 purchase Save-A-Lot competitor coupon
  
   
  Total before coupons        $71.26
  Less: coupons used           (20.64)
  
  Total with Tax                  $50.62    
  

Falafel Burgers

Behold, the newest edition to my kitchen - THE Cuisinart Elite-Collection 12-Cup Food Processor. I waited and waited for the July Belk Wedding registry completion event, so that I could save 20% off this fun new gadget. The wait was well worth it. So far I have made these burgers and peach sorbet – both easy and excellent. I am looking forward to using my processor in many more recipes to come!

 

  Recipe adapted from Rachael Ray's The Book of Burger

 

 

  

Ingredients

• 2 (15 - ounce) cans chick peas, rinsed, drained, and patted dry
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, finely minced
• 3 to 4 tablespoons brown rice flour
• 1 teaspoon dried parsley
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 1 tablespoon ground cumin
• 1 tablespoon ground coriander
• 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• ¼ cup canola oil

Directions

1. Combine the chick peas, onion, garlic, brown rice flour, parsley, chili powder, cumin, coriander, salt, and pepper in the bowl of a large food processor. The mixture should have a very thick consistency. If the mixture is too wet, add the additional tablespoon of flour. Pulse until combined. Shape into 6 patties.
2. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook the patties 3 minutes a side. Serves 6.

Publix – 7/20/12

     J.T. and I just returned from a fun two day getaway to Atlanta. We ate at some great restaurants and saw the Braves play yesterday. I made my grocery list and planned the meals for the upcoming week before we left town. My planning and couponing paid off big this week. I had $32.20 in coupons – making it the largest amount I have ever had to date in one purchase. A large majority of these coupons were due to a great sale that Publix had on Centrum vitamins. Given that we both take a mutli-vitamin daily, I made sure to grab one for each of us.


     I learned something new this week. Organic bananas last much longer than regular bananas. Normally my bananas begin to turn brown after only a few days home from the store. However, last week I bought 7 organic bananas – enough for 1 week. I ate my last one this morning and it was still good. I have also noticed how much smaller organic food is in relation to inorganic food. Have you noticed that a pack of regular chicken breast can contain only three breasts but weigh in at 2 ½ pounds?  Two weeks ago I purchased my first package of Greenwise organic chicken breasts.  One package containing two chicken breasts only weighed one pound. This was perfect, since most recipes call for 8 ounce breasts.


     When J.T. and I decided to start purchasing as organically as our budget would allow, I was worried about how tight our budget really would be. I can honestly say that we have spent less money and saved more money with coupons since we made the switch. It is amazing how many organic companies offer coupons for fresh produce, dairy, and meat. This week I spent a total of $51.29. Out of this total $43.68 was deducted from our grocery budget and $7.61 came out of our "over the counter drug" budget.

• Dairy
  • Organic Valley milk @ 2/$7.00
    • $1.50/2 manufacturer coupon - $5.50
  • Smart Balance Spread @ $1.80
    • $1.60/1 coupon - $0.20
  • Almond Breeze Almond milk @ $2.50
    • $0.55/1 manufacturer coupon - $1.95
• Grocery
  • 1 lb. dried Garbanzo beans @ $1.99
  • 2 lbs. Publix brown rice @ $1.89
  • Caribou Coffee @ $4.99
    • $1.00/1 manufacturer coupon & $1.50/1 Publix coupon - $2.50
  • Blue Diamond Oven Roasted almonds @ 2/$6.00
    • $1.50/2 manufacturer coupon & (2) $1.00/1 Publix coupons - $2.50
  • Kellogg's Cornflakes @ 2/$3.98
    • $1.00/2 manufacturer coupon - $2.98
  • Kellogg's Rice Krispies @ $1.99
    • $0.50/1 manufacturer coupon - $1.49
  • Lance Sandwich crackers - $2.34
    • $0.55/1 manufacturer coupon - $1.79
  • Publix Tomato paste @ $0.60
  • Publix canned mushrooms @ $1.59
• Meat
  • 1 1/3 lbs. Publix ground pork - $3.16
  • 1 1/3 lbs. Publix Ground Turkey - $3.95
• Produce
  • Bananas @ 0.69/lb. - $0.45
  • 2 lbs. Publix Carrots @ $1.89
  • 2 ½ lbs. cabbage @ $0.69/lb. - $1.70
  • 1 lb. Onions @ $1.29/lb. – FREE because the price rang up incorrectly
  • Organic Girl Romaine Hearts - $3.99
    • $1.00/1 manufacturer coupon - $2.99
  • 1 bulb Garlic @ $2.99 lb. - $0.30
• Other
  • Charmin Ultra soft toilet paper (6 pack) - $3.99
    • $0.50/1 manufacturer coupon & $1.00/1 Publix coupon - $2.49
  • Viva Big Roll paper towels @ 2/$3.00
    • $1.00/1 manufacturer coupon & $1.00/1 Publix coupon - $1.00
  • Centrum Vitamins (100 tablet Women's Daily & 100 tablet Men's Daily) @ 11.99 each - $23.98
  • In store 25% off promotion - $17.98
  • $5.00/2 manufacturer coupon & (2) $3.00/1 Publix coupons - $6.98 or $3.49 each
  * used a $5 off $25 purchase Save-A-Lot competitor coupon
  
   
  Total before coupons            $83.49
  Less: coupons used                (32.20)
  
  Total w/sales tax                   $51.29
  
   
  
   
  
   

Skillet Blondie

 

Recipe adapted from Basic to Brilliant, Y'all

 

 

Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt
• ¼ teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ pound (1 stick) unsalted butter
• 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions

1. In a large bowl whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt and baking powder. Set aside.
2. Heat the butter over low heat in a 10-inch cast iron skillet. Once the butter melts, stir in the brown sugar until it dissolves. Add the melted butter mixture to the large bowl of dry ingredients and stir until almost combined. Allow this mixture to cool slightly. Then stir in the egg and chocolate chips. Cover the batter and let it cool overnight.
3. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Add the chilled batter to a 10-inch cast iron skillet. Bake for 20 minutes. Serves 8.

Publix - 7/11/2012

I have a confession…I love to coupon. No, I am not one of those people that have a massive stockpile with fifty boxes of pasta and thirty-five bottles of toothpaste in their basement, but I do love getting a great deal. I love grocery shopping equally as much as I love cooking. There is something about picking out the food I am going to prepare that is comforting. I am the girl who stares at the bananas for a good five minutes before picking out the perfect bunch.


I started couponing before J.T. and I were married. I have only recently improved my skills and realized just how much I can save by purchasing items while they are on sale and combining coupons with these sale offers. I am taking classes and studying for my CPA exam, in all actuality my full-time job at the moment. I feel as though couponing is my way to contribute financially to our income.


I enjoy following various couponing blogs. In these blogs, many authors post a picture of the items they purchased along with how much they spent and saved. I have noticed on numerous occasions that people are not buying "real" food. One cannot survive on packaged processed food alone. Where is the meat and produce? Surely people do not exist on Ore-Ida frozen French fries and Go-gurt yogurt. I think not. I have challenged myself with showing people that you can coupon and eat real food - J.T. and I certainly do. You may be shocked to know that we eat at home for 3 meals a day, with the exclusion of our weekly Wednesday date to Zoe's Kitchen. There are instances where we must eat out, and when J.T. is teaching school he takes his lunch with him. Occasionally we go out on Friday night, but why do that when we have food that we can make better and cheaper at home. Too many people settle for mediocre food. J.T. jokes that I have corrupted his love of average food.


The last item I have challenged myself with is buying organically. If you haven't seen Food, Inc. you should watch it ASAP. It changed the way J.T. and I eat and what products we purchase. While we cannot afford to buy all our grocery items organic, we try to purchase as much as our budget will allow - in particular milk, eggs, chicken, beef, and the dirty dozen. We also have a grocery budget - $50 a week. Many of you will look at the total on the post and think "she blew her budget." A few other factors to consider are that I spent under $40 last week, so this gave me room to buy more this week. I also do not include hygiene items in this budget – they have a separate budget of $100 a month. For anyone who is counting, I still have $0.95 cents to spare!

• Dairy
  • 1 gallon Greenwise Milk @ $5.99
  • Silk Almond milk - $3.00
    • $1/1 manufacturer coupon - $2.00
  • Publix Greenwise Organic Eggs - $3.50
  • Land O'Lakes unsalted butter - $2.50
• Grocery
  • Eight O'Clock coffee – 1 - $3.49
    • $1/1 manufacturer coupon - $2.49
  • Kellogg's Frosted Flakes Cereal – 2 - $4.69
    • $1/2 manufacturer coupon - $3.69 or $1.84/box
  • Total Raisin Bran Cereal – 1 - $2.50
    • $1/1 manufacturer coupon - $1.50
  • Publix Bran Flakes - $2.67
    • Penny item coupon - $0.01
  • Pompeian Extra Virgin Olive Oil – 1 - $5.88
    • $1/1 manufacturer coupon - $4.88
  • Dreamfield Pasta - $1.67
    • $1/1 manufacturer coupon - $0.67
  • Mott's applesauce - $3.34
    • $1.10/2 manufacturer coupon - $2.24 or $1.12 each
  • Greenwise Oats - $1.99
  • Publix semisweet chocolate chips - $2.29
• Meat
  • 2 ½ lbs. Greenwise Chicken thighs @ $2.29/lb. - $5.73
  • 1 ½ lbs. Center-cut Pork chops @ $3.49/lb. - $5.79
• Frozen
  • Greenwise Vanilla Ice cream - $3.50
• Produce
  • Organic Bananas @ 0.99/lb. - $1.83
  • Mangoes @ $1 each – 2 - $2.00
  • Onions @ $1.89/lb. - $2.82
  • 2 lb. Cabbage @ $0.69/lb. - $1.43
  • Earthbound Organic celery - $2.49
    • $0.75/1 Manufacturer coupon - $1.74
• Other
  • Viva Big Roll Paper towels @ $1.50 each – 2 - $3.00
    • $1/2 manufacturer coupon & $1/2 Publix coupon - $1.00 or $0.50 each
  • Colgate toothpaste – 1 - $1.45
    • $1/1 manufacturer coupon - $0.45
  • Pantene Pro-V shampoo @ $3/$10 -2 - $6.67
    • $5/2 manufacturer coupon - $1.67 or $0.84 each
  • Banana Boat Sunscreen (10 oz.) - $7.99
    • $3/1 manufacturer coupon & $2/1 Publix coupon - $2.99
  • Publix Mouthwash - $2.99

Total before coupons                                                          $91.20
Less: Manufacturer and Publix coupons                           $23.51
Less: Save-A-Lot $5/$25 purchase competitor coupon      $5.00

                    $62.69

                                                       Sales tax                         $5.64
                                         Total                            $68.33

 

 

Peach & Blueberry Crumble

 

Recipe courtesy of Barefoot Contessa: At Home

 

 

Ingredients

For the fruit:

• 2 pounds firm, ripe peaches
• 2 teaspoons lemon zest, grated
• 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• ¼ cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup fresh blueberries

For the crumble:

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• ¼ cup light brown sugar, lightly packed
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt
• ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ¼ pound (1 stick) cold unsalted butter, diced

 
Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Bring a large pot of water to boil. Immerse the peaches in the boiling water for 1 minute. Then place the peaches into a bowl of cold water immediately. The skins should now slide off the peaches easily. Peel the peaches and cut them into thick slices, placing them in a large bowl. Add the lemon zest, lemon juice, sugar, and flour. Stir the mixture until the peaches are thoroughly coated. Gently stir in the blueberries until just combined. Let sit for 5 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, for the topping, combine the flour, sugars, salt, cinnamon, and butter in a large mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Mix on low speed until the mixture resembles the size of peas. Break up any large clumps with your hands.
3. Spoon the prepared fruit filling into a large baking dish or 6 individual ramekins. Sprinkle the crumble on top of the filling. Bake 40 to 45 minutes, or until the top is browned and the filling has bubbled through. Serves 6.