Food, glorious food!
Thanks to a tip from a reader (thanks, Lisa D!) I finally made the trip to the San Antonio produce terminal. It was a long way from home but very near hubby at work, and I was going to be in the area anyway so it cost almost nothing extra in gas. By God’s good grace, I was able to go with a friend, another mother of a large family. We found that many of the crates of produce available were just the right size to split and hoo-boy the prices were right too!
For less than $50, I came home with:
- 12 lbs. of broccoli florets (Florets, people - trimmed and ready! No waste! This was blanched and frozen last night.)
- 4 quarts of strawberries (We ate one clamshell and froze the rest of the berries last night.)
- 5 lbs. of peaches
- 5 lbs. of seedless grapes
- 25 lbs. of carrots
- 15 lbs. of cucumbers
- 12.5 lbs. of tomatoes
- 20 lbs. of bananas
The bananas are delicious - far more flavorful than the ones we get in the grocery store. I suspect they were picked riper. We’re a little light on them for the week, but I think we can scrape by with the help of our peaches, grapes and strawberries. Next week, I hope to bring home some eggs at $1.15/dozen, though I’ll somebody to split 30 dozen.
My friend and I returned to our husbands glowing with excitement at the food we brought from afar. I think we’re going to enjoy this new diet.
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Thats a great savings, it is nice to have someone to share with. Groceries are getting so out of hand where I live the cost of living went up 9% last year so hubby’s 3.5% pay raise didn’t cover that not to mention the benifits keep getting less and less. We are lucky he got a raise I know many people didn’t.
I looked at your previous post from above titled monthly grocery list for 9 and I am wondering how close you still are to spending just $600. If you still do that you are a master shopper!!!
Wow!! Can you tell us what you will do with all those tomatoes and cucumbers????
Jen,
Your question reminds me - back when tomatoes and cucumbers were affordable, we used to dice them and mix w/italian dressing: tomato and cucumber salad. mmm. We’ll definitely be doing *that* this week!
Wow that is quite the deal! I can’t wait until our farmer’s market opens back up
http://neatokimmo.blogspot.com/
Have you read *The Maker’s Diet,* by Jordan S. Rubin? You might enjoy it. It’s a biblically-based, whole-foods approach–not extremist.
Your new diet resembles a lot the mediterranean one: more veggies and fruits, that’s good! Keep the great effort, I’m sure your entire family will benefit from it
All my love
E
I want to try them out. What is the best way to go about this. Do you have to buy a minimum. I checked out their website, but can’t seem to find info on prices etc. Can you let me know a little more. I have 6 kids and I have been trying to get some fruits and veggies into the diet. For grapes alone, I spent $8 and strawberries were another $8 for very a very little amount. If I could get more veggies and fruits AND eggs for less money I am all for it.
Thanks.
Tomamto and cucumber salads are staples in the Russian diet. They slice them small and add a bit of oil, salt and dill to it with a sliced onion. I do not eat onion, but the onion flavors this so good, I still don’t eat it, but like the flavor! Eat that with mashed potatoes for a full meal……
Suggestion for the eggs. Make waffles and muffins and other baked stuff that will freeze adequately for a short period of time. Your tribe can take a waffle or muffin out & toast in the toaster oven for a snack. Also something to put the strawberries & other fruits in if you don’t just eat them outright beforehand
The tomatoes might also ‘can’ for later. We usually can stuff cuz we don’t have that much freezer space for that stuff and our power is iffy during ’storm’ season. High acid stuff like tomatoes can be canned in a boiling water bath, much easier than pressure canning.
Kim,
I’ve been to the p.t. but don’t get there very often as it’s not in my normal route. We’ll split vegies and fruits with you if you need anyone to go in on things with you. And if the hens keep on laying we’ll have extra farm fresh eggs for you.
Laralee
http://www.PlymouthRockRanch.com
Recording the Faithfulness and Provision of God for Future Generations