Pinewood Castle

Too Good Not to Share

Paleo on a Budget

 

Taming That Grocery Bill

Can you sense by the use of the word "that" in the title that I am at odds with our grocery bill? Are you? Can anyone really believe that a grocery bill can be as high as a mortgage payment? Personally, I think it's a crime to have to pay so much, especially for organic food. Some advocates of organic food claim that it is simply "honestly priced" food after factoring in government subsidies and eventual health care costs of conventionally grown food. But still. I think something is wrong with our food system when a bag of grapes (even non-organic) costs exponentially more than a fast-food hamburger.

I tackle the grocery budget from time to time, especially after reading message boards where I see that other mothers of many somehow spend half of what we do, even with twice the number children. I really don't know how they find food at the prices they claim to have found. I'm still figuring that out!

Some moms save big by using coupons and matching them with store sales and double coupon days. To me this sounds like hours of work and running from store to store beyond the already time-consuming task of menu planning and list making. What I hear from several friends is that while some coupon deals can't be beat, other discounts still total a price higher than the store brand. I just have not felt called to play the coupon game. Lazy me.

After doing some price comparisons, I am about ready to give up certain organic items since they cost twice as much as the non-organic versions. We have been in the habit of buying organic milk, yogurt, eggs,and butter, as well as some fresh and frozen produce on the "dirty dozen" list. For beef we buy locally raised grass-fed meat and whole chickens are also from a local organic farm.

My biggest accomplishment of late is overcoming my Fear of Aldi. Their prices are less than half of the grocery store across the street. If I shop there first, our grocery bill is easily lowered several hundreds dollars.

However, I was surprised to find that Costco's prices are often lower per ounce than Aldi's. The problem, of course, is quantity. Purchasing a three month's supply of pantry items quickly runs up the tab. It is difficult to check out with less than $300 worth of provisions at Costco. At Aldi I rarely spend over $100 - usually closer to $50 a visit. 

Here are the few items at Aldi I have found priced less than Costco:

• pasta sauce .075/oz
• rice .56/lb
• crackers .14/lb
• canned tomatoes .55/can
• sour cream 1.29/lb
• parmesan .40/oz
• canned salmon .13/oz
• ice cream .052/oz

These items are priced about the same:

• chicken broth cartons 1.40/32oz
• white sugar .57/lb
• brown sugar .75/lb
• chocolate chips /15/oz
• honey .18/oz
• milk (non-organic) 2.63/gallon
• eggs (non-organic) 1.55/dozen
• cottage cheese 1.32/lb
• cereal .10/oz
• tuna .21/can

Costco beats Aldi's prices on most everything else from nuts to tortilla chips to disposable items.

Aldi, on the other hand, carries wonderful European dark chocolate. I am not aware that any of their other products are from Europe. I wish they were - Europe has stricter standards when it comes to GMO's and pesticides.

I am putting together lists for comparison shopping. One with Costco's prices, one for Aldi, one for Azure, one for Trader Joe's and another for other local stores. Someday when they are more complete maybe I will post a pdf link. Photos will have to do for now!

Fortunately, my husband does the shopping at Costco and Trader Joe's since it is on his commute home. I am in charge of the local shopping. We don't buy much at Trader Joe's, but their price on 32 oz. organic yogurt and whole bean French roast is the best we can find. And the wine - definitely budget friendly!

What are your favorite secrets for eating well on a budget?

Love to All

Our Valentine's breakfast this morning was lovely.

I can't believe I got flowers and jewelry this year. I must be doing something right these days. I have no idea what - I think I must be rather difficult to live with when I'm pregnant. Especially for a guy. Maybe my suffering has garnered me some TLC points.

I gave my husband a CD set of Focus on the Family: Best of 2009. I hope he likes it. I also hope he gets through it fast so I can listen to them too!

This evening we are getting cozy by the fire, watching a fresh coat of snow fall as well as an annual viewing of The Song of Bernadette. We meant to watch it Thursday but were busy making Valentine's. There's a great blessing before meals in that movie - have you kids picked up on it?

"In the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Ghost, whoever eats the fastest gets the most!"

This scene will most likely be re-enacted for the next week, complete with a chiding sibling warning the blasphemer of the fires of hell.

My husband just went outside with his boots on.

What, might you ask, is he doing shoveling snow in the yard?

Shoveling a path to the grill, of course - to grill steaks for our Valentine's dinner! I am oven roasting some potatoes just how he likes them. The kids are looking forward to the jam-filled shortbread cookies.

Hope you are having a wonderful day!

Food on the Brain

You know where my husband is? He's gone to buy a 2nd freezer. I am nesting and have baby-moon food on my mind. As in easy dinners to pull out of the freezer when the baby has fussy time.

Because Saturdays in March are filling up I am using February to prepare. Last night we took a family outing to Costco. After polishing off one of their large (and delicious) $10 cheese pizzas we did our shopping and quickly filled up two carts, all the time wondering how much extra space we had in our basement freezer. I have bags and bags of frozen fruit, lots of beef from our annual quarter-of-a-cow, and other assorted items from buying club.

While I put the kids to bed, DH unloaded our groceries and determined our freezer was already filled to the brim. Some items had to spend the night in the garage. Yes, you can do that in Minnesota - use your garage as an extra ice box. But not forever. Spring will come. Eventually.

As I wait for his return I am agonizing over what to make for this new freezer in which to store our goods because all my nursing babies have been a bit fussy and sensitive to foods in my diet. This first was colicky for ever and ever. Numbers two and three were not bad until they got thrush and were crabby for a good three months. The fourth - she was pretty good until her temper came out, then she just got mad about certain things. All have seemed sensitive to dairy and acidic foods. I really do love babies, but I will admit that my own newborns make me a little nervous.

Looking through my freezer meal cookbook I see mostly recipes that rely on tomato (acid), pineapple (acid), or cream of mushroom soup (dairy). In spite of the inclusion of some of these ingredients I am planning today to make several bags of meatloaf mix, marinate lots of chicken tenders before freezing, and do something with 18 pork chops. 

So I have two questions for you if you have a minute today:

• What foods do or do not give your new nursing babies trouble?
• Can I take out frozen beef, transfer it to a zip-loc bag with marinade and put it back in the freezer? Would this thaw the meat too much?

Happy Saturday to you - off the the kitchen. I think I will start with a double batch of pumpkin cake!

Movie Night

I apologize ahead of time for not posting pics or links about this movie but I don't want to attract  visitors (not regular readers) that might be looking for blog posts or links on this topic with the intent of leaving harassing comments.

The movie is Food, Inc. Have you seen it? Heard of it? It is now available through Netflix and I am so glad to have finally seen it. Last year I read The Omnivore's Delimma by Michael Pollan and had my eyes opened pretty wide about the food industry. Even though I have been convicted about organic food for years, this book provided so more more information about what really goes on in factory farms than I ever wanted to know. Food Inc. brought it all to life. 

Here are a few things I learned:

• The role of corn and oil in our food production.
• All Cows Eat Grass - why the mnemonic device we learned for bass clef space notes is no longer true.
• What e.coli has to do with feeding cows corn.
• The politics of industrial farming.
• How the seed company really works (Monsanto).
• How animals are treated in meat packing plants as well as why so many illegals are employed by them.
• Why chickens are grown in crowded windowless barns and can walk only a few steps before falling.
• Why most food is not honestly priced.
• Why organic food might cost more, but is honestly priced.

And much more.

Before you tune out please know that I know that you are doing your best to provide food for your family within your budget. I am too. I still buy the majority of our food from the regular grocery store and from Costco. I know you shop at Sam's and I am not recommending that you quit any time soon. Trying to buy all our food locally would require more time and gasoline than most moms have.

Even if you have no intention of changing your shopping habits, I would still recommend this movie to anyone who buys food, just so you know where the food comes from and how it is produced. It is temping to bury your head in the sand and resist learning things that might disturb you as you shop, but I truly believe in making informed decisions. Stores do cater to customer's buying habits and this DVD shows that our grocery dollars still count as votes.

If you are inspired to do something different after watching this DVD, here are a few easy ways to begin:

• If you have an extra freezer, buy a 1/4  or 1/2 of a grass fed cow from a local farmer.
• Take a drive on some county roads and find a place to buy fresh eggs, preferably eggs from hens who spend time in the pasture. Or look for better eggs in the natural section of the grocery store. Even $4 a dozen is a good price considering all the protein and nutrients you get.
• Check around for local farmers with non-enclosed. non-antibiotic chickens.
• Schedule time to visit a Farmer's Market when they start up again.
• Find other places to buy local food. This is easier in some states than others. Here in MN we have  Minnesota Grown directory and website. 
• Patronize locally owned restaurants that use fresh, local ingredients.
• Join a food buying club like Azure Standard for discounts on organic food. Buying items like grains, beans, canned goods and frozen fruit in bulk can result in big savings.

Last year I began by just asking around and ended up with a two page list of local food sources to share with the members of my book club and buying club. A little effort can go a long way!

For Tomorrow

Feast of St. Martin de Porres - Peanut Butter Mice!

Tasty Autumn Treats

Have you enjoyed Sarah's fall finds? Here are a few we have enjoyed in the last week:

• Archer Farms Caramel Apple Pancake Mix
• Archer Farms Pumpkin Spice Pancake Mix
• Archer Farms Fall Yogurt flavors (don't like the aspartame, though!)
  
• Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte

Tracy's Favorite Bread Recipe

Multi-Grain Bread
I think this came from the New Basics cookbook

4 ^1/2 tsp. active dry yeast (great price at Costco)
1 C warm water
1/2 tsp. sugar
3 C white flour
1 C wheat flour
1 ^1/2 C granola (no raisins!)
1/2 C seven grain cereal (I like Bob's)
2 tsp. salt (I like Real Salt)

2/3 C warm water
1/4 C canola oil
1/4 C honey
1 ^1/3 C cooked grain (barley, rice, wheat berries)

Measure warm water and stir in yeast and sugar. Let mixture stand until the yeast starts to foam, 5-10 minutes.

In a large bowl combine the flours, granola, cereal and salt. Stir well then add the yeast mixture, other water, oil and honey.

Turn dough out onto a floured board and knead 10 minutes.

Lightly oil bowl and turn dough to coat. Cover and let rise 1 hour. (I put it in the oven with only the light on)

While the dough is rising, grease the loaf pans and cook the grain. Let cool.

Punch dough down (my kids' favorite part). Knead once or twice and sprinkle with cooked grain. Knead grain into dough added more flour to prevent stickiness.

Shape into two loaves. Put in pans, cover and let rise one hour.

Remove pans and preheat oven to 375. Bake 30 minutes. Cool on wire rack.

Tracy's Favorite Smoothie Concoction

Basic:

• unsweetened Almond Breeze (or rice or soy)
• some plain kefir if you have it (plain = less sugar)
• some frozen strawberries (great price on a big bag at Costco)
• some frozen blueberries (great price on a big bag at Costco)
• frozen sliced banana, about a half (peel and slice before freezing)

Power:

• 2-3 scoops of GNC Wheybolic protein powder - vanilla (2 scoops = 40 grams of protein)
• scoop of psyllium husk
• generous squirt of flax oil

Use "ice crush" feature first, if you have one. Add more liquid if needed to blend. Pour a tall glass for yourself and give the extra to your husband and children. Enjoy!

Sore Throat Smoothie

Place in blender:

• frozen sliced banana
• frozen blueberries
• frozen strawberries
• slippery elm powder (I empty a few capsules into it)
• juice from half a lemon
• some flax oil if you have it

Pour in rice or almond or soy milk to cover.
Press the "ice crush" button and add more milk if needed.
Press blend and add more milk if needed.
Add honey while the blender is going.

Hopefully this concoction along with Zicam and Oscillococcinum will ward off what I am feeling this morning!

First Communion Celebration Fair

Catholic Cuisine is hosting a First Communion Celebration Fair - stop by for a visit!

1st Holy Communion Breakfast

Have you checked out Catholic Cuisine? This is my entry for their upcoming fair.

It's a quick and easy breakfast for a busy 1st Communion morning:

For the host: save some white frosting from the cake you just decorated, put it in a sandwich bag and clip the corner and pipe a cross onto frozen (toaster) waffles.

For the chalice: fill a goblet with juice. We used OJ, only because I thought of this idea while lying awake at 11pm the night before, but grape juice or raspberry might be a better choice!

Food

So, could you guess what we had for breakfast from the photos?

• Green eggs and ham
• Green almond milk, warmed
• Doughnuts

On the dinner menu:

• This recipe for Irish Stew
• This Irish Brown Bread
• Homemade Shamrock Shakes
• Girl Scout's Thin Mint Cookies

Outing after tomorrow's Palm Sunday Mass:
Day of Irish Dance