Publix & Farmer’s Market – March 2, 2013

     I survived my first week at the new job, working full-time.  While I would be fibbing if I said it wasn’t a major adjustment (waking up at 5 everyday AND eating lunch without my favorite pooch), it wasn’t as bad as I expected it to be.  We both had clean clothes to wear all week, dinner was on the table every night by at least 6:30, and we both had a lunch of hot leftovers for work the next day.  Mission accomplished.  Waking up at 5 o’clock all week made sleeping in on Saturday impossible, so we headed off to Publix and the farmer’s market at 7:45 am.  I was able to get a large majority of meal prep for the week done before lunch time on Saturday.  I am hoping for another smooth week of getting dinner on the table.  Below is a list of my menu plan for the week and you will notice that many items have “(freezer)” listed beside them.  These are things that I am pulling from my freezer, which I either made yesterday or a few weeks ago.  I have recently fallen in love with my tiny freezer and I find it comforting to come home after a long day to find that dinner is practically done.  Many of these recipes will be coming soon to the blog, but for now here is my menu plan for the week:

Sunday

·         Herbs de Provence Chicken

·         Broccoli Rice Risotto

·         Sautéed Cabbage

Monday

·         Easy Pea Soup (premade on Sunday)

·         Whole Grain Corn Muffins (freezer)

Tuesday

·         Roasted Chicken

·         Black Bean Tomato Rice (freezer)

Wednesday

·         Veggie Burgers (freezer)

·         Cornmeal Griddle Cakes (freezer)

·         Roasted Brussels

Thursday

·         Breakfast Casserole Bites (freezer)

·         Stir-fried Broccoli & Carrots

·         leftover whole grain corn muffins

Friday

·         Leftover Breakfast Casserole Bites

·         Waffles (freezer)

Saturday

·         Leftovers

·         Dairy

o   ½ gallon Publix Greenwise Organic milk @ $3.99

o   (1) 8 oz. block Cabot Vermont Cheddar Cheese @ $2.50

o   Silk Almond milk @ $3.35

§  $0.55/1 manufacturer coupon - $2.80

o    Eggs @ $4.00 (farmer’s market)

·         Grocery

o   (1) Publix Greenwise Organic Toasted Oats Cereal @ $3.79

o   (2) Publix Greenwise Organic Oats @ $3.98

o   Publix Greenwise Organic Coffee @ $5.99

o   (1) 15 oz. can Muir Glen Organic fire roasted tomatoes @ $1.34

o   Vlassic Farmer’s Garden pickles @ $2.99

§  $1.00/1 manufacturer coupon - $1.99

o   (1) 6 oz. can Muir Glen Organic tomato paste @ $1.09

·         Meat

o   Publix Greenwise skinless chicken thighs @ $2.69/lb. – $11.89

·         Frozen

o    (2) Cascadian Farm broccoli @ $4.98

§  (2) $0.75/1 manufacturer coupons & (1)$2.00/2 Publix coupon - $1.48

o   (2)Birds eye frozen peas @ $1.99

o   (2) Birds eye frozen Brussels sprouts @ $2.45

·         Produce

o   Organic Bananas @ $0.99/lb. - $1.95

o   1 head green cabbage @ $2.15

Total before coupons              $63.33

Less: coupons used                   (5.05)

Total with Tax                        $58.28

Publix – February 21, 2013

     This Monday I start my new full-time job at the University of Alabama.  For the past 1 ½ years I have been studying for my CPA and doing part time work at three different places.  I am looking forward to the consistency of working the same hours at one place, five days a week.  With my other jobs, I never knew when I would be working, so I could squeeze in a load of laundry or baking a batch of muffins if I had part of the day off.  I will not really have the opportunity to do that anymore.  My wonderful husband has offered to take over doing laundry, so that leaves all the meal preparation up to me.  J.T. and I like to eat dinner between 6:00 and 6:30, because this gives us more time after supper to watch tv and relax.  On rare occasions when we eat after 7, it feels like by the time we eat dinner and clean up, it is time for bed.  If we want to continue to eat at our usual time, I will have to get dinner on the table fairly quickly after I arrive home from work.  Each week I always have a menu plan, but I have decided to get as much prep work done over the weekend as possible.  For example, if I know we are having soup one night, I will make the cornbread muffins and freeze them over the weekend.  This leaves only the soup for me to cook that night for dinner.  I have been doing this for the past few weeks and it has worked successfully.  Yesterday, I took the day off work for myself.  I spent all day in the kitchen and our freezer is busting at the seams!  Today, my body aches and I am very sore all over from standing on my feet all day.  However, I know it will be worth it next week when much of supper has already been prepared.

·         Dairy

o   ½ gallon Publix Greenwise Organic milk @ $3.99

o   Publix Greenwise Eggs @ $4.29

o   ½ gallon almond breeze almond milk @ $2.50 (not pictured)

·         Grocery

o   (1) Publix Greenwise Organic Toasted Oats Cereal @ $3.79

o   (2) Publix Greenwise Organic Oats @ $3.98

o   2 lbs. Gourmet House organic brown rice @ $2.70

·         Meat

o   Publix Greenwise Chicken thighs @ $3.48

o   Publix Greenwise Chicken drumsticks @ 3.48

·         Frozen

o   (2) Green Giant valley fresh steamers (sugar snap peas) @ $2.59

o   1 lb. Publix whole okra @ $1.69

o   (2) Cascadian Farm broccoli & Spinach @ $5.18

§  (2) $1.00/1 manufacturer coupons & (1)$2.00/2 Publix coupon - $1.18

o   (2) Cascadian Farm peas @ $4.98

§  $1.75/2 manufacturer coupon & $2.00/2 Publix coupon - $1.23

·         Produce

o   Organic Bananas @ $0.99/lb. - $3.08

o   1 organic green bell pepper @ $2.99

o   Publix Whole mushrooms @ $1.99

o   3 lb. bag yellow onions @ $3.29

o   2 lbs. Publix Greenwise Organic carrots @ $2.58

o   5 lb. bag grapefruit @ $2.50

o   1 garlic bulb @ $0.39

Total before coupons              $64.83

Less: coupons used                   (7.75)

Total with Tax                        $57.08

Publix – February 14, 2013

     I am a few days late posting my grocery blog for the week.  Over the weekend, J.T. and I, along with my parents, my brother, and his fiancée, traveled to South Carolina.  We helped my grandfather, Granddaddy Ed, celebrate his 96^th birthday.  It was a short trip and J.T. and I were exhausted after returning home last night, but it was worth the lack of sleep to be able to see Granddaddy and other family members.  Of course, Otis was in tow for our road trip.  That dog loves riding in the car and going places.  I think he was happy to be coming home yesterday since he is very routine oriented, just like his Mama.  We returned home around 5:00 and this gave me enough time to unpack, wash a load of laundry, bake a batch of brownies, and line a few other things up for the week.  I was pleasantly surprised to find the new items I ordered from UKonserve waiting at my doorstep.  I ordered a lunch box, 2 sweat proof icepacks, and a stainless steel water container.  One of the ice packs is for J.T.’s lunch box, but everything else is for me.  I needed something to pack my lunch in for my new full-time job, which I begin next Monday!  I am looking forward to having a job with daily, consistent hours and am excited to begin something new J

·         Dairy

o   ½ gallon Organic Valley milk @ $4.29

o   Publix Greenwise Eggs @ $4.29

·         Grocery

o   (1) Publix Greenwise Organic Toasted Oats Cereal @ $3.79

o   (2) Publix Greenwise Organic Oats @ $3.98

o   Publix Greenwise Organic  Coffee @ $5.99

o   (2) 28 oz. cans Muir Glen Whole Tomatoes - $4.00

§  $1.00/2 Publix coupon - $3.00

o   (1) 8 oz. can Muir Glen Tomato Sauce @ $0.89

o    (1) Crisco extra virgin olive oil @ $3.00

·         Meat

o   1 ¾ lbs. ground chuck @ $7.00 (farmer’s market)

o   1 ¾ lbs. ground pork @ $7.00 (farmer’s market)

o   1 ½ lbs. pork chops @ $6.00 (farmer’s market)

·         Produce

o   Organic Bananas @ $0.99/lb. - $2.51

o   Organic Celery @ $1.99

o   2 lbs. Publix Greenwise Organic Carrots @ $2.58

o   1 garlic bulb @ $0.32

Total before coupons              $60.79

Less: coupons used                   (1.00)

Total with Tax                        $59.79

Publix – February 7, 2013

     Today is my brother’s birthday and we will be celebrating tonight with family and friends at my parent’s house.  Guess who was in charge of the menu plan and cooking?  If you guessed me then you would be correct.  Eight people will be at Christopher’s birthday dinner tonight, so I knew I would be planning for many different taste buds.  My parents normally have steaks every Saturday night.  This is a major family tradition on both my mother and father’s side of the family.  I am not sure if it has something to do with the time period in which they were raised, or if it is a coincidence that both of their families had this routine Saturday night meal.  My brother requested that we have a different meal for his birthday than the usual steak supper.  Although he said steaks were fine, he wanted different side dishes and something besides a dry rub on the steaks.  I turned to one of my most reliable sources – Ina Garten.  No, Ina and I have never met, but sometimes I feel like we could hang out together.  I have every single one of her cookbooks and have read all the notes and tips that she suggests throughout her books.  I know her recipes are always successful or “Foolproof,” which is the title of her newest book.  After browsing through several of her books, I came up with this menu:

·         French Bistro Steaks with Provencal Butter

·         Olive Oil Mashed Potatoes

·         Green Salads with homemade Buttermilk Ranch Dressing and homemade Vinaigrette

·         Strawberry Cheesecake

Of course, I am still very much committed to our real food, organic diet, so everything is being made from scratch – right down to the homemade graham crackers I made for the Cheesecake graham cracker crust.  My parents and I are both providing the food for tonight’s meal and luckily they are taking care of the steaks.  Steaks for eight people would certainly blow my budget!  I will blog about the cheesecake later, because I still have to make the topping this morning.  I am crossing my fingers that this birthday meal turns out great! 

·         Dairy

o   ½ gallon Publix Greenwise Organic milk @ $3.89

o   1 lb. Publix Greenwise Organic Butter @ $5.69

·         Grocery

o   (1) Publix Greenwise Organic Toasted Oats Cereal @ $3.79

o   (2) Publix Greenwise Organic Oats @ $3.98

o   Publix Greenwise Organic  Coffee @ $5.99

o   1 lb. Gourmet House Organic Brown Rice @ $1.35

o   (3) Chicken of the Sea canned salmon @ $3.75

§  (2) $1.00/1 manufacturer coupons - $1.75

o   Lindsay Capers @ $1.69

o   Spice World Coarse Ground Black pepper @ $1.34

·         Meat

o   Springer Mountain Farms boneless, skinless chicken breasts @ $4.99/lb. - $10.28

·         Frozen

o   (6) Green Giant boxed peas @ $5.97

§  (2) $1.00/3 manufacturer coupons - $3.97

o   Cascadian Farm Organic Strawberries @ $3.49

§  $1.00/1 manufacturer coupon - $2.49

o   Publix Greenwise Organic Vanilla ice cream @ $3.50

·         Produce

o   Organic Bananas @ $0.99/lb. - $2.38

o   1 head green cabbage @ $2.07

o   3 lb. bag yellow onions @ $3.29

o   1 lb. Publix Greenwise Organic Carrots @ $1.29/lb.

o   1 bulb garlic @ $0.45

Total before coupons              $69.38

Less: coupons used                 (10.00)

Total with Tax                        $59.38

Publix – January 31, 2013

     Since July of 2012, I have been blogging about my grocery trips to Publix and for the very first time I went over budget.  I knew it was going to be very close, but there were items we needed that I refused to go another week without.  At first I was a little upset that I went over my $60 limit, but it was only by $0.59 cents so I let it go.  I purchased staple ingredients such as flour, sugar, cheese, and olive oil.  If you missed my last post, the cheese will be enough for another month’s worth of J.T.’s Cheese Crackers.  I am so thankful that it is the beginning of a new month.  This means my budget numbers get refreshed and I get to see how we did overall for the month of January.  An excel spreadsheet helps me keep track of our month to month expenses.  There are fixed costs such as rent, power, cable, gas, water, cell phone, and insurance.  These costs are around the same amount each month – with the exception of power.  I about flipped a lid when we received our power bill in July!  Our variable expenses are broken down in more detail.  Food covers how much we spend at the grocery store, on meals dining out, and Otis (our doggie).  There are also separate categories for prescription drugs, over the counter drugs, and toiletry items.  The remaining expenses include fuel (& other car expenses), doctor co-pays, and miscellaneous.  When too many miscellaneous expenses accrue a red flag goes up.  Over the last nine months of marriage, I have learned that there is a fine line between sticking to the budget and enjoying life.  J.T. and I have been blessed, so we try to be good stewards of our money.  We don’t use credit cards and everything is paid for by cash or check.  However, if we have the money saved, it is okay to take a random trip to the beach or to go over budget during a weekly grocery store trip.  My Mama always says she wants the last check she writes to bounce, because when you leave this world you can’t take the money with you!

·         Dairy

o   Silk almond milk @ $3.35

§  $0.75/1 manufacturer coupon - $2.60

o   Publix Greenwise Organic Eggs @ $4.29

o   (2) Cabot Vermont Cheddar Cheese @ $5.00

§  $1.00/2 manufacturer coupon - $4.00

·         Grocery

o   (1) Publix Greenwise Organic Toasted Oats Cereal @ $3.79

o   (2) Publix Greenwise Organic Oats @ $3.98

o   1 lb. Publix lentils @ $1.49

o   (1) 5 lb. bag King Arthur White Whole Wheat Flour @ $3.99

o   (1) Florida Crystals Organic Cane Sugar @ $4.29

§  $0.55/1 manufacturer coupon - $3.74

o   (2) Pompeian Extra-Virgin Olive Oil @ $6.65

§   (1) $1.00/1 manufacturer coupon - $5.65

o   Publix Greenwise Flaxseed @ 20% off - $1.59

·         Meat

o   6 lb. Springer Mountain Farm (antibiotic free) whole chicken @ $1.69/lb. - $10.06

§  $2.00/1 manufacturer coupon - $8.06

·         Frozen

o   (1) 10 oz. bag Cascadian Farm Organic Broccoli @ $2.49

o   (3) Bird’s Eye steam fresh Frozen Brussels @ $3.68

§  (3) $1.00/1 manufacturer coupons - $0.68

o   (1) 16 oz. bag Publix Whole Okra @ $1.69

·         Produce

o   Organic Bananas @ $0.99/lb. - $2.46

o   1 lb. Publix Greenwise Organic Carrots @ $1.29/lb.

o   Sweet Potatoes @ $0.79/lb. - $2.92

Total before coupons              $68.59

Less: coupons used                   (8.00)

Total with Tax                        $60.59