Pain at the grocery store

lucille · 04-22-2008, 11:45 AM

I had to pick up a few things at the grocery this morning. I noticed eggs were finally down below $2 a dozen but that was about the only thing that has gone down.

We buy very little in the way of prepared food and have tried to refocus our food purchases toward things that are cheaper like pork instead of beef or more lentils and rice instead of bread. But it seems like our grocery bills are still creeping up.

Has anyone found any good tricks? Anything that is still running at fairly cheap prices but is healthy? Were planning a fairly good sized garden this summer to hopefully help out but going grocery shopping is just starting to give me a headache.

kickchk · 04-22-2008, 12:29 PM

We've already started part of our garden this year. Salads are cheap for us, plus we planted our own greens this year. I can't wait to see how everything does this year.

saint tim · 04-22-2008, 12:46 PM

We joined a CSA (community support agriculture) that helps greatly during the growing season. Though the CSA we hooked up with other local producers; dairy and meats. It ties your hands on when you get the food but it works out to be cheaper than buying it at the store, not to mention you know EXACTLY where it came from.

The rising costs of bread has forced my hand into making my own. We just started this, we have a couple loaves in the freezer if we fall behind on baking. But I've been able to keep the fam fed in bread of my own making without too much labor.

lucille · 04-22-2008, 01:05 PM

Unfortunately our one CSA is more expensive that the grocery store, coop or anyone else in town. They have some really neat heirloom organic veggies but that really doesn't help the bottom line of food costs. The local meat vendors that show up at the farmers market are all higher than the grocery stores by quite a bit. We may look at getting a couple of hogs butchered via the same farmer we got a cow from last year with some friends since supposedly pork prices are pretty low right now.

Ironically we live in the middle of ag country. But finding anyone local to buy eggs or dairy from is next to impossible. Anyone who does any volume is contracted to the big conglomerates. I am surprised none of the hobby farms have started selling eggs. I actually have seen less of this that you did maybe five years ago. But I have noticed a couple of houses in our subdivisions now have chickens.

saint tim · 04-22-2008, 01:37 PM

thats what we did. we ordered a whole cow, pig and lamb. We are splitting the cow and pig with friends and family. It works out on the price per pound.

Our veggies break down to $21 a week, which is really good for us

starshard0 · 04-22-2008, 03:39 PM

My grandma grows a vegetable garden, and in addition to fresh veggies most of the year, she also saves on buying them at the store. If you live in a place that allows it, raising your own chickens can be an interesting experience.

pidgeon92 · 04-23-2008, 10:37 AM

I'm cutting down some by making my own bread. The initial startup cost was a bit (really all you need that is special is a baking stone), I picked up a nice dough rising tub and a good dough whisk; I already owned the stone and a pizza peel.

I hadn't made bread before I heard about and bought this book: Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day. The title is a little misleading, but the bread is amazing. You make up a quick batch of dough, 5 lbs worth, let it rise for a couple of hours, and you can leave it in the fridge up to two weeks. Anytime you want bread, grab a hunk of dough, shape it, let it sit for a half hour, then bake for a half hour. It's so good, and so cheap to make. Since there is just the two of us, I can make the loaf as small as need be so I don't have any waste.

It also makes excellent pizza dough. Friday night is now pizza night, any straggly veggies go on the pizza, and I keep some chicken sausage on hand if we want meat on it. I generally use an olive oil base vs. tomato sauce. I can't wait until the garden veggies start coming up, they will be great on the pizza.

Here's a link to the book, I know my local library has a copy as well:
http://www.amazon.com/Artisan-Bread-...8975365&sr=1-1

saint tim · 04-23-2008, 10:54 AM

I'm going to have to check out that book.

what is a pizza peel?

starshard0 · 04-23-2008, 11:18 AM

That sounds really yummy. I made pizza from scratch a few times, but I've never really done any sort of cooking regularly.

lucille · 04-23-2008, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saint tim

I'm going to have to check out that book.

what is a pizza peel?

The big flat wooden paddle they use to get a pizza out of the oven.
I got one for $9 at a cooking store. A restaurant supply store would probably
also have them.

04-22-2008, 11:45 AM	#1
lucille Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 676 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts Reputation: (38)	Pain at the grocery store I had to pick up a few things at the grocery this morning. I noticed eggs were finally down below $2 a dozen but that was about the only thing that has gone down. We buy very little in the way of prepared food and have tried to refocus our food purchases toward things that are cheaper like pork instead of beef or more lentils and rice instead of bread. But it seems like our grocery bills are still creeping up. Has anyone found any good tricks? Anything that is still running at fairly cheap prices but is healthy? Were planning a fairly good sized garden this summer to hopefully help out but going grocery shopping is just starting to give me a headache. __________________ Dark Style Blog http://darkstyleblog.blogspot.com/

04-22-2008, 12:29 PM	#2
kickchk Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Alabama Posts: 65 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Reputation: (10)	We've already started part of our garden this year. Salads are cheap for us, plus we planted our own greens this year. I can't wait to see how everything does this year. __________________ Blog: Southern Blog My Shop: Organic Suds Coupon code "save5on20" and save $5 off order $20+

04-22-2008, 01:05 PM	#4
lucille Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 676 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts Reputation: (38)	Unfortunately our one CSA is more expensive that the grocery store, coop or anyone else in town. They have some really neat heirloom organic veggies but that really doesn't help the bottom line of food costs. The local meat vendors that show up at the farmers market are all higher than the grocery stores by quite a bit. We may look at getting a couple of hogs butchered via the same farmer we got a cow from last year with some friends since supposedly pork prices are pretty low right now. Ironically we live in the middle of ag country. But finding anyone local to buy eggs or dairy from is next to impossible. Anyone who does any volume is contracted to the big conglomerates. I am surprised none of the hobby farms have started selling eggs. I actually have seen less of this that you did maybe five years ago. But I have noticed a couple of houses in our subdivisions now have chickens. __________________ Dark Style Blog http://darkstyleblog.blogspot.com/

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04-22-2008, 12:46 PM	#3
saint tim Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Lee's Summit, MO Posts: 33 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Reputation: (12)	We joined a CSA (community support agriculture) that helps greatly during the growing season. Though the CSA we hooked up with other local producers; dairy and meats. It ties your hands on when you get the food but it works out to be cheaper than buying it at the store, not to mention you know EXACTLY where it came from. The rising costs of bread has forced my hand into making my own. We just started this, we have a couple loaves in the freezer if we fall behind on baking. But I've been able to keep the fam fed in bread of my own making without too much labor.

04-22-2008, 01:37 PM	#5
saint tim Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Lee's Summit, MO Posts: 33 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Reputation: (12)	thats what we did. we ordered a whole cow, pig and lamb. We are splitting the cow and pig with friends and family. It works out on the price per pound. Our veggies break down to $21 a week, which is really good for us

04-22-2008, 03:39 PM	#6
starshard0 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Monterey, CA Posts: 615 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Reputation: (13)	My grandma grows a vegetable garden, and in addition to fresh veggies most of the year, she also saves on buying them at the store. If you live in a place that allows it, raising your own chickens can be an interesting experience.

04-23-2008, 10:37 AM	#7
pidgeon92 Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Waukegan IL Posts: 32 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Reputation: (12)	I'm cutting down some by making my own bread. The initial startup cost was a bit (really all you need that is special is a baking stone), I picked up a nice dough rising tub and a good dough whisk; I already owned the stone and a pizza peel. I hadn't made bread before I heard about and bought this book: Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day. The title is a little misleading, but the bread is amazing. You make up a quick batch of dough, 5 lbs worth, let it rise for a couple of hours, and you can leave it in the fridge up to two weeks. Anytime you want bread, grab a hunk of dough, shape it, let it sit for a half hour, then bake for a half hour. It's so good, and so cheap to make. Since there is just the two of us, I can make the loaf as small as need be so I don't have any waste. It also makes excellent pizza dough. Friday night is now pizza night, any straggly veggies go on the pizza, and I keep some chicken sausage on hand if we want meat on it. I generally use an olive oil base vs. tomato sauce. I can't wait until the garden veggies start coming up, they will be great on the pizza. Here's a link to the book, I know my local library has a copy as well: http://www.amazon.com/Artisan-Bread-...8975365&sr=1-1

04-23-2008, 10:54 AM	#8
saint tim Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Lee's Summit, MO Posts: 33 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Reputation: (12)	I'm going to have to check out that book. what is a pizza peel?

04-23-2008, 11:18 AM	#9
starshard0 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Monterey, CA Posts: 615 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Reputation: (13)	That sounds really yummy. I made pizza from scratch a few times, but I've never really done any sort of cooking regularly.