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| A large pot of Zuppa Toscana soup made at home. So good and we had 5 meals out of it since I froze 4 meals worth after enjoying some the day I made it. |
Time for a way overdue update on how I am doing on my grocery challenge for this month. Rounding my total up, I am at $70. I have been trying to stick to just buying the things we need at the moment but I did hit the Grocery Outlet store while we were in Coeur D'Alene over the weekend and they had some deals I just could not pass up!
The grocery items that I have been buying down here have been bananas, milk, oil, flour to make bread, lots of fresh produce and a few treats thrown in here and there. Jeff eats 1-2 bananas a day so I am always having to get those. We have been going through a lot of milk lately and I needed the oil and flour to make bread and other snack items with. Salad making supplies have been pretty expensive lately so I have been trying to find deals on things like sweet peppers to throw in to both stretch the expensive lettuces and to add some crunch and great flavor to it.
The Grocery Outlet store had some amazing deals on produce like kale and asparagus. I got a huge bag of Kale for $2.99 and 3 bunches of asparagus for .79. I also found some marked down hot Italian Sausage so I cooked up a huge batch of Zuppa Toscana with that, half the bag of kale and and some potatoes I had here at home that needed to be used. I froze 4 meals worth for future dinners along with us having some on Sunday. One of my favorite scores of the day there though were some Betty Crocker Mint Chip Brownie mixes. We are throwing a baby shower for our Rachel next month and I thought that would be perfect for one of the treat plates. I'll cook up 3 of the boxed mixes for that and serve it along with a nice fruit platter or salad to go with the cake that Heather is making. I also found huge bags of organic whole green beans so I bought one of those since Jeff and I love stir fried garlic green beans. We did get some other snack type things and a large 2 pound block of Pepperjack cheese for $4.99.
Today while I was making room in the freezer for the 4 containers of soup that I was freezing, I pulled out a reduced priced rotisserie chicken. I'll be making meals this week with that and then using the carcass to make more soup. I need to use the asparagus this week also and use up our salad greens. With all the rain we are having, it sounds like this is the perfect week for comfort food!
Sounds like you are coming along well with your challenge! I know you didn't post a target amount for the month, so I don't know if the $70 you spent is where you want to be at almost half way through the month or not. But it sounds like you are doing well. That's a good price on the asparagus! It's selling for $.99/lb. here, this week. I went shopping today (well, Monday; it's already Tuesday morning as I type!) and spent just under $22. So far, I have spent $27.40 on food only. But this is for 1 person, only, so I am buying small amounts and just enough for a week to 10 days. Hope the rest of the month goes well for you and you continue to keep the grocery spending low.
ReplyDeleteHi Bless, I purposefully did not post a target goal for this month because I figured there would be some great deals that I would run across and stock up on this month to save money in the long run. A great example were the brownie mixes. :) I think you are doing great with your spending keeping it so low. You always impress me there and with the wonderful meals you come up with. :)
DeleteYour challenge is not only a good target, but your food is healthy! That is hard to do! I eat a banana a day...I'd be sad if they ever disappeared! Your soup looks delicious! I looked it up and bookmarked the recipe...that is my husband's favorite at Olive Garden (although we haven't gone there for a decade!) so I will have to make it! Andrea
ReplyDeleteHi Andrea. :) We are trying to eat healthier meals. Just a hint on the soup, most of the recipes that I have seen online for this soup call for cream...I use 1 % milk and we like it better that way. You save calories and money! ;)
DeleteI have never thought to freeze a rotisserie chicken. Excellent idea. Soup looks great.
ReplyDeleteThanks Chrissy. That chicken was part of our dinner tonight. I was having a bad fibromyalgia flare aggravated by stress so my hubby was able to just slice some of the chicken, make some Stovetop Stuffing and heat up some green beans. Dinner was served! Be blessed!
DeleteLooks good, Debbie! It's hard to stay in budget with produce this time of year. And it's even harder to pass up good buys at they discount grocery store!
ReplyDeleteHugs
Jane
YOu know it Jane! I like to buy when the prices are low and stock up. When I find good deals on produce, it is hard to hold back though and not buy more than we can eat now or I can preserve for later. With my Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia, I can never count on having a great day with lots of energy, so I am starting to try to buy more reasonable amounts. ;)
DeleteI have never eaten Zuppa Toscana soup but it looks delicious! Dont you just love when you cook sonething and you have enough to freeze for future meals. :)
ReplyDeleteYou are doing wonderful with your grocery budget and meals, Debbie! I wish we had a grocery outlet store nearby, they can be such a blessing to help cut costs, but I am thankful that we at least have an Aldi within a 40 minute drive- it is more reasonable, costwise, than any other store in our vicinity and for that we are grateful. :)
I hope you have a wonderful rest of the week, my friend! :)
Dawn, it is as sausage, potato and kale soup that is so delicious! I have not met anyone yet who doesn't like it. :) I wish we had an Aldi near us. I keep hearing about the wonderful deal people find there. Our Winco is similar to an Aldi I think. I hope your week is wonderful as well!
DeleteThat soup looks so good - especially today while I am looking out at a huge blizzard!!! You're doing well on your grocery challenge - my grocery bill is through the roof lately, with all the fresh fruits and veggies I'm eating on Weight Watchers. Oh well, it is what it is, and at least I lost the weight so it was worth it!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your weight loss Deborah! If you make the Zuppa Toscana and use 1% milk in place of the cream that most recipes call for, it is lower in fat and calories and we actually prefer it to the "fattier" versions. It also freezes well. :) How much snow did you end up with? Stay safe!
DeleteThe soup looks really good right now! I need to get to the store myself, but I'm avoiding at the moment obviously lol You always amaze me with your savings and it's inspiring.
ReplyDeletexo,
rue
Hi Rue. :) I know you don't like going to the store and neither do I when it is crowded. However, when it's not, I actually enjoy seeking out the best deals and bargains...it has become a guilt free pleasure because we need to eat so I can justify spending money. ;) Be blessed my friend!
DeleteHey, Debbie,
ReplyDeleteDo I read correctly that you have used up your potatoes? I can help with that problem:) I have a few left. Of course, transportation might be an issue:(
I love Grocery Outlet. My sister went there yesterday, and found some really good stuff. It varies so much, it's like a treasure hunt. And, when you find "it", you'd better buy "it" because "it" won't be there in a couple of days. I didn't go because I'm on this grocery challenge. I would have spent extra money, I know. But, I reminded myself that part of the purpose of this challenge is to use up odds and ends that I got on a really good deal at Grocery Outlet in the past, so I passed up my opportunity.
Today, I did go shopping at Safeway and Fred Meyers and used the rest of the money from last week and this week that I wanted to spend. They had things on sale that I wanted, and I turned it into a school exercise for the girls--to count up their spending in the store, buy the most important first, and then decide what to do with any leftover money. Needless to say, there was no money for pop or goldfish crackers this time. But, they learned a lot. That brings me up to 1 month on the challenge since I started the 4th week of February, once I finish this week next Monday night. That was keeping it down to $25 per week, so I do have money left to play with if we get into a bind in the next few days.
Have a great week!
LOL Becky, thanks for the offer on the potatoes. ;) I still have a few left that need to be used up, but my supply is quickly going down and that is a good thing with the way they are sprouting. ;) You are right about the Grocery Outlet being hit or miss. I went in looking for Pastrami but they didn't have any this time but they did have those brownie mixes and the marked down asparagus! Great lesson to teach your girls on the shopping today. I'm so proud of you for how well you have done on your challenge!
DeleteThanks! I think 4 weeks is a lot for us (because we started the last week of February), which doesn't say a lot for our endurance. Or our self control. Or a lot of things. But, I am glad we did it. I had thought of extending it, but we want to feel a little more free during spring vacation week. So, I think for us, it will end at one month, next Monday night. Still, I don't plan to go hog wild. I'm delighted at the progress I've made on the shelves, cupboards, pantry, etc. and there's more items I want to use up. I'm thrilled that I still have around $100 of the grocery money, and don't plan to spend more than that for the rest of the month of March. That will feel like a fortune after what ended up to be $25 per week. I hope the rest of your month goes great!
DeleteWhen I lived on the west side of WA state, I used to shop at Grocery Outlet. Loved that store. It's not in my part of western Canada,unfortunately.
ReplyDeleteYou did well with this challenge. And that soup looks yummy. Good job! SJ
Hi SJ, I love Grocery Outlet. Did you ever shop at Trader Joe's on the west side of the state? We used to love to go there because even they had some amazing bargains (and still do on certain items). We now have a Trader Joe's up in Spokane that I go to about 4 times a year. Be blessed my friend!
DeleteGood morning - yes, I would go to Trader Joes some times but the town I lived in during the week had the Grocery Outlet so I'd go there almost weekly. For three years, I'd work in WA state during the week and commute home on the weekends. Good thing I like to drive!! I also miss Fred Meyer.
ReplyDeleteHaving an up and down week. Took my pup to the vet's on Monday. Looks like his kidneys are having a problem. It's hard for me when my fur-baby is sick. Will know more in 2 weeks when he gets retested. The good news is that I may just need to change his diet.
Having dinner with my Senior's group tonight. So that should be fun and hopefully not too tiring. Cheers, SJ
SJ, I'm praying for your sweet pup. I hope the change in diet helps. I'm up here late at night with my Caesar who has an upset stomach. He is not happy and is afraid of getting sick or pooping on the floor and I'm desperate for some sleep but I know he needs me close. It's going to be a long night here.
DeleteHello Mrs. Debbie,
ReplyDeleteI think $70 half-way through the month is really great. I'm looking forward to hearing how the rest of the month goes. Thanks for sharing.
Blessings,
Mrs.B
Thank you! I am hoping to keep it at an additional $70 or less for the rest of the month.
DeleteSorry to hear that Caesar was sick, or getting sick. It's so hard when they're having trouble. Mine wasn't having a very good night for part of last night. A big thunderstorm came up and my guy just falls apart with thunder. Firecrackers don't bother him but thunder does. Fortunately the storm was quick moving and only lasted about 10 minutes.
ReplyDeleteHe goes back to the vet on the 27th for a second set of tests. If the results come back like this last round, I'll have to switch him to a different food. It may actually be a blessing as it may explain his low energy. I thought maybe the cancer was back so this could actually be good news.
Hope you can get some rest today. Cheers,SJ
SJ, I'm so sorry that you boy falls apart. Caesar is not a fan of thunder but it's firecrackers that scare him to death! Praying for your pup. Oh, Caesar finally ate today after I bribed him with some chicken and that got him primed so he ate his dog food. :) Be blessed!
DeleteYou are doing amazing Debbie! That is a great budget so far this month, and you did find some really great deals at the Grocery Outlet. We are not far from CDA, and I have been to the Grocery Outlet in Spokane, but not the one in CDA. I tend to stock up mostly at Costco, and then use our local grocery stores for things like bananas and milk. We go through a lot of bananas and milk in our household, lol. Hope your monthly challenge continues to do great! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you! I really like the Grocery Outlet in CDA and it is just a few stores down from Harbor Freight which makes my hubby a very happy man. ;) We will be in Spokane this weekend and I'm sure I will stop at one of the many Grocery Outlet stores there. I really like the new one out in Airway Heights...it is so clean and well organized but smaller than some of the others. Be blessed my friend!
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