I really want this stuff to last. I want to see if we can go 1 month on what we have in the house and what I use the 100$ on. THis is my challenge! So, what should I put on my list?

I don't need beans, I have enough to last all year. I dont need milk either, I have 5 gallons in the freezer. Everything else, I need. Here is my start

8 cans tuna
5 lbs pasta
2 really big cans of tomatoes
4 loaves bread (bakery thrift store)
8 lbs chicken
4 lbs ground turkey
2 lbs cheeze
Big Jar O garlic
Bag of potatos
Bag of onions
Bag of carrots
Bag of flour
bag of masa (corn flour)
doz eggs (already have 1 and a half dozen)
6 lbs rice (jasmine in 3lbs bag)
fresh fruit, apples, oranges, cantalope
veggies, spinage and brocoli to steam and freeze
yuca
plantains
big box of raisens
2 cans of coconut milk
some on sale fish
2 bricks of Pilon coffee (yummy cuban coffee) on sale for 1.69 right now!
celery

Ok, help! what else???? I like whole foods, don't do much with mixes, would like to have some snacks for Gab, he is a picky eater. Also, I want to spend some of it on freezer containers so I can put some stuff up.

When we go grocery shopping, we start with a list of meals (usually around 15 main meals and some extra lunch stuff). Then we write down everything that we'll need for those meals on the grocery list. After we shop and have bought what we need, we put the list of meals on the refrigerator and cross them off as we go... it's really cut our grocery bill down. We only stop for milk and stuff like that once a week...

Hope this helps.

Fruit of some sort? What sort of things does Gabe snack on? My 22 mos old DS gets Graham crackers on occasion (I buy the huge box and it lasts a couple of months), lots of fruit, string cheese and cottage cheese.

What about flour and eggs? Butter?

Good luck mama! We have such a hard time keeping our grocery expenditures reasonable.

You can FREEZE milk??

:eek: Okay tell me everything I need to know about doing this-how long will it last, etc what about taste?

:D My life just got easier I think...

Originally posted by By The Sea~
You can FREEZE milk??

:eek: Okay tell me everything I need to know about doing this-how long will it last, etc what about taste?

:D My life just got easier I think...

I was getting so much milk from WIC that I started freezing it. I think we are going to loose our WIC now so it's a good thing I did, lol! I also like having the freezer full, it uses less energy.

The only thing that freezing milk does is make it separate a bit. I just shake it up like a mad woman and it's fine. I dont drink milk from a glass so the way it looks is not an issue. I use it for cooking or cereal or coffee. The flavor does not change that I have ever noticed. I still have some milk in the freezer from 6 months ago. I move the oldest to the front to use and it was fine!

I would say more eggs--you can do a lot with them.
~Rice (if you like it)
~crackers for Gab (you can top them with various things)

That's all I can think of. Your list looks pretty comprehensive to me!

jar of garlic? Isn't it cheaper to buy garlic bulbs? Never compared, but I would assume it is.

I buy veggies that last a long time - carrots, celery, onions (plus you can add them to lots of things).

Originally posted by arasmama
jar of garlic? Isn't it cheaper to buy garlic bulbs? Never compared, but I would assume it is.

I buy veggies that last a long time - carrots, celery, onions (plus you can add them to lots of things).

The big jar of garlic is 2.99 here. It's a 32 oz jar. Fresh garlic runs .25 a blub here, so the price is not too much different. Any $$ that is lost in the price is made up for in the time it saves, kwim? A jar will last about 3 months for us. Celery! that is a good one to add to the list. Im trying to think in terms of foods that will keep. I need to track down a farmers market here.

OK MOna,

I want to hear what you will be making with these itesm. Do you think you'll be able to make it for a month? or you'll have to go back for bread, milk, eggs? My kids eat apples like crazy, but they can go bad quickly, esp. in heat. Do you have an extra freezer? Did you have any recipes????

I am going to the coop today. Here is my list, menu at the bottom. Keep in mind I haven't grocery shopped in 1.5 months and we are out of EVERYTHING. I was trying to clean out the cupboards, so I didn't shop and forced us to eat interesting meals :) We do have apples, oranges, and polenta left - couldn't figure out a dinner from that though.

Bulk:
black beans
black eyed peas
kidney beans
pinto beans
flour
rice
sugar
baking powder
cumin
thyme
quinoa
elbow pasta
spag noodles
spiral pasta
kalamata olives
cornmeal
penne noodles
cereal
peanut butter
frozen peas


veggies:
carrots
celery
onions
potatoes
leeks
bananas
green onions
mushrooms
spinach
garlic
2 red peppers
cucumber
lime

fridge
eggs
cheese (ricotta, parmesan, cheddar)
tortillas (corn and wheat)
sour cream
edamame
yeast
whipping cream
ground turkey (dh's one request)
whipping cream

other:
crackers
preztels
coconut milk
buns
3 - 15 oz cans spaghetti sauce (not the kind for putting over spaghetti, just the plain stuff with only tomatoes)
bread
almond milk


Menu:
Leek quiche with potato crust
Black bean soup w/ cornbread
Polenta lasagna
Tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches
Burritos and refried beans
African beans
Sloppy Jois
Spaghetti
Bean Salad
Tofu Enchiladas
Quinoa salad
Mac and cheese
Feta cheese turkey burgers
Peanut butter spirals
Salmon patties
Black bean pasta
Spinach enchiladas
Lentil Soup
Potato Leek Soup

yum allison! Can I come to your house and eat :)

Sarah

Thanks for posting your list Allison... I am in the process of making a meal plan/bulk shopping list ~ we just moved closer to a wonderful natural foods store and I want to order some things in bulk.

Would you mind posting your enchilada recipes (tofu & spinach)?
I posted a really wonderful quinoa loaf on the Veggie board ~ Quinoa Loaf (http://www.amitymama.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=27800)

Allison,
I'm coming to your house!!!!!! Everything sounds FABULOUS!!!

Come over anytime, ladies!

Tofu Enchiladas (this is my friend Niri's recipe, she is an incredible cook)

Directions:
freeze, thaw, squeeze and tear into bite sized pieces, 3lb of tofu
16-20 corn tortillas

whip together:
1/4 c soy sauce
2T tomato paste
2T peanut butter
2t onion powder
1t cumin

mix together with tofu and brown in 1/2 c oil turning often

Tomato Sauce
saute -
2T oil
1c diced onion
7 cloves garlic

when cooked...

add
3 15oz cans tomato sauce
3 1/2 c water
5T chili powder
1T cumin
2t salt
simmer for 1/2 hour

fry each tortilla for 2 seconds, wipe off excess and dunk into tomato sauce. Put 1/3-1/2 c of tofu in tortilla and roll. Pour layer of sauce in 9x13 pan and arrange rolled tortillas. Cover with remaining sauce. Bake for 20-25 minutes. Top with onions or olives.

Now, I don't roll, I just layer everything like you would lasagna. It is sooo good! Great for dh's that don't like tofu. They will never guess it is tofu!

The spinach enchiladas I will type up later.

I spent $175, but everything except the kalamata olives was organic and I stocked up on the bulk stuff. Plus, I bought a few on sale items (lots of soy milk, organic olive oil, organic mac and cheese).

Spinach Enchiladas

Ingredients:
Filling-
1 bunch of spinach, chopped
1 8oz. ricotta cheese (or 1/2 pd of tofu, frozen, thawed, then shredded)
1/4 c. parmesan cheese
2 eggs



Directions:
Mix all ingrediants. You can add other stuff. I like to add onions and mushrooms.

Put enchilada sauce in bottom of pan (recipe below). Put some mix in each tortilla. Put rest of sauce over the top. Add shredded cheese and diced onions on top.
Bake for about 35 minutes at 350 degrees.

Enchilada Sauce

2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3 - 4 T chili powder
2 cups water
1/4 cup tomato sauce
salt to taste
garlic powder to taste

Directions

1 Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the flour and cook for 1 minute, then add the chili powder and cook for 1 more minute. Gradually stir in the water, mixing well with a whisk to make sure you get out all the lumps, then stir in the tomato sauce and season with salt and garlic powder to taste.
2 Reduce heat to low and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes. (Note: If sauce thickens too much, just add a little water to thin it out a bit.)

Thanks Allison :)
They both look wonderful! ~ and the enchilada "sauce" recipe in the spinach recipe is a big help... I often see recipes that call for "a can of enchilada sauce" and I haven't been able to find it here.
I think I might make the tofu recipe this weekend when my parents come for dinner :)

[QUOTE]Originally posted by arasmama
[B]Come over anytime, ladies!

LOL, ive been threatening to pack up the fam and move in with Allison for quite some time now..

Just wanted to say, allison, you rock!! she is such an amazing person!! thanks for your wonderful posts!
rebecca

Allison, just out of curiosity--how long with this trip last you? How often do you grocery shop?

Your menu looks *fabulous*

Originally posted by StarBelly
Allison, just out of curiosity--how long with this trip last you? How often do you grocery shop?

Your menu looks *fabulous*

I do a large grocery trip (usually $100 - $150) once a month, so this trip is it for this month. I will go back in two weeks and get a few things that we are out of, like perishables, usually spending about $40. I go to the farmer's market 2 - 3 times a month to get veggies and fruit, usually spending $20 each visit, of course, that includes the $2 for a balloon animal for each child.

This trip was extra big because I didn't do a big grocery shop last month and we were out of a lot of staples (beans, pasta, canned tomatoes, etc).

I also go to trader joes every other month and stock up on things that are cheaper there - organic tomatoes, organic butter, organic soy milk. I just went today and spent $50.