Grocery Shopping 12/6/16

The place where I spend the most money and think I could control the spending better is food. Is this the case for everyone?

What will you see below? Ingredients for holiday treats, some items that were missing from the last shopping trip, and all gluten free.

2 avocado's $1 each
7 gala apples $2.55
6 pack of Danimals $2.99 (The kids like these in their lunches and for snacks, but I wonder if I could find a better options)
2 bags of salad mix $1.79 each (This is non-negotiable. The kids will eat it everyday)
2 bags of potato chips $1.79 each (Husband loves him some chips and I will take a bag to a holiday party with some dip)
Dynamite Doritos $2 (Can't live without them. It's a problem)
2 chobani yogurts $1.25 each (This is a splurge. I love them, but I could make cheaper choices)
Tillamook sour cream $1.69 (I could get cheaper sour cream, but this is local and all natural. Sour cream doesn't need to have weird ingredients)
1 bottle of wine $9.79 (I drink about a bottlish a month)
2 lunchables $1 each (could save money and the environment by making our own)
1.5 gallons of milk $1.89 and $2.69 (2 gallons would have been cheaper, but I don't want to waste)
Butter spray $2.99 (I cringe when I buy this, but it is a convenience for the kids that we haven't given up yet)
2 packages of Hillshire Farms sausages $1.99 and $3.29 (one was on clearance)
2 boxes of chex $1.99 each
Shredded wheat $1.99
Ritz crackers $1.99
Wheat thins $1.99
Q-tips, 300 for $1.50
Corn tortillas $1.87
2 packages of ground turkey $2.50 each
2 cans of mixed beans $1 each
Frosting $0.79
Peppermint extract $3.29 (because every Christmas needs some homemade peppermint marshmallows for hot chocolate)
Clear corn syrup $2.69 (I repeat...marshmallows)
Syrup $1.99
2 bottles of Gatorade $1 each (skiing and snowshoeing makes us thirsty)
Canola oil $1.99
2 Cans tomatoes $.73 each
Mayonaise $2.50
Hot and Sweet pickes $1.99 - Every sandwich and quesadilla needs them.
2 packages gelatin $1.69 each
3 cans of chili $1 each - For lunch emergencies
1 can enchilada sauce $1.69

Total = 97.62 

I was hoping to spend less. I even grabbed one of the smaller carts, so I was a little disappointed. I can see where I could have cut some corners, but I am always trying to remember that if I don't buy enough food, we will end up going to restaurants. Currently we eat out about once a week.

I will be back at the store this weekend for remaining ingredients needed for a party and supplies or a school project. 

Baked Potato Bar

When I need to get rid of odds and ends in the fridge or just failed to plan well, I like to go to build your own meals. A favorite in our house is the baked potato bar.

Potato's bake best if they soak in cold water overnight. But, as long as they are scrubbed and baked they turn out just fine. Sometimes I will rub them with olive oil and seasonings.

I think the toppings for baked potatoes are pretty much endless. On this night we have chili, ham, butter, sour cream, and cheese. Plus a salad to go along with it.

This is a nothing fancy, budget friendly, avoid going out to eat kind of meal.

Peanut Butter Oat Blender Waffles

These waffles are full of flavor. The outside is crispy with a soft inside. I love that there are no flours involved just one whole grain. Plus the kids love them. You can use any favorite waffle topping but with the peanut butter bananas and honey is very good.

Ingredients:

2 c. milk or milk alternative
2 1/4 c. oats
1/2 c. peanut butter or other nut butter
2 tbsp. brown sugar or maple syrup
1/4 tsp salt
2 tsp baking powder

Optional: Vanilla, cinnamon, chocolate chips...

Directions:

Add all ingredients to your blender. Blend for about a minute. Pour into the waffle iron and cook according to the waffle irons directions. Serve.

Healthy Potato Skins

I was recently suggesting to a client that she increase the potassium in her diet to reduce the occurance of muscle cramps. I suggested bananas and potato skins. She responded that potato skins are really unhealthy and packed with calories. Well, this can be true in a restaurant but they definitely don't have to be unhealthy at all and provide some great nutrition for your body.

Directions:

Take as many russet potatoes as you would like and scrub all of the dirt off of them with cold water.

Prick each potato a few times with a fork and bake for about an hour on 400 degrees.

Let the potatoes cool.

Cut each potato in half and dig out the insides (save the insides for something like potato salad or breakfast potatoes).

Place the potato skins skin side up on a cookie sheet and spray with a little cooking spray. Season as desired. I make a potato seasoning with coarse sea salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, and dill.

Bake at 450 for about 15 minutes or until they start to get crispy.

Pull them out of the oven and fill with your favorite toppings. Here are some suggestions:
Green Onions
Homemade Chili
Tomatoes and Basil (maybe a drizzle of balsamic vinegar)
Shredded Chicken or Pork
Guacamole
Tossed Salad

I could go on all day! Just keep the toppings healthy and you are good to go.

Gluten-Free Cinnamon Muffins

I love these muffins. Sometimes I just make them as a quick bread, but when I am feeling brave enough to clean the muffin tin the kids get spoiled with muffins.

Ingredients:

1 3/4 cup Pamela's Baking Mix (this can probably be substituted if needed)
1/4 c. coconut oil
1 cup milk
1/4 cup granulated splenda (I guess you could use sugar if you wanted to)
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp cinnamon

Directions:

Mix together milk, melted coconut oil, eggs, and vanilla. In another bowl mix together the flour, splenda, and cinnamon. Then mix the two together. It's pretty simple...dry, wet, combine, bake.

Add fruit if desired. My daughter is not a fan of fruit in her bread so we have to go plain. But I love a good blueberry or strawberry or mixed berry muffin.

Now I try to avoid things like shortening, but between the evil muffin tins and gluten-free baking it is a must here. You could use cooking spray if you want to stick with the healthy theme though.

Bake at 350 until the tops start to turn a golden brown. 20 minutes or so for muffins and more like 40 for a bread pan.

Oven Fried Ranch Chicken

This was a winner. Served with PW's skillet cornbread and a salad. Scored points with the family.

First, a note on the cornbread. I swap the flour for Pamela's baking mix and butter for the shortening. This is a big hit with the fam and a great option for gluten-free eaters.

Onto the oven fried ranch chicken:

This is a simple meal. Great for a busy evening as long as there is time for the baking part.

Ingredients:

• Chicken. I used 3 chicken breasts. But you could use any part or combo that you would like.
• 1 cup Cornmeal
• 1 packet ranch dressing mix

Directions:
Pre-heat the oven to 400 degrees.

Put the cornmeal and ranch mix in a plastic bag or seal-able container.

Add the chicken and shake. This reminds me of being a kid. We made shake and bake chicken all of the time when I was a kid.

Bake until the chicken is cooked through. It depends on the size of your chicken pieces, but it will probably be about 40 minutes.

Groceries, Mostly Healthy, Mostly Gluten Free

Here is my weekly grocery shopping. Today I went to Trader Joes to hold me over before the next Costco trip.

Here is the receipt breakdown:

Baked onion rings: 1.99
Plain Bagels: 1.69
GF Bagels: 4.99
GF Oats: 3.99 x 2
Rice Crisps: 1.99
Romaine Hearts: 2.49
Sugar snap peas: 2.49
GF pizza crusts: 1.99 x 2
1 lb GF Pasta: 1.99 x 2
3 lbs apples: 2.99 x 2
Fresh basil: 2.49
2 lbs fat free greek yogurt: 4.99
12oz shredded cheddar cheese: 4.29
6 oz Canadian bacon: 2.49
Cream cheese: 1.69
Eggs, 1 dozen: 1.79

Looking at the receipt I have some thoughts. The basil is expensive for what I am getting and what it adds to my meals. I love fresh pesto but I will have to decide if the cost is worth it. I grabbed the wrong bag of cheese and it cost more than I had planned. Also, the bagels were a treat that we don't normally buy.

Total was $53.31. Not too bad if I can stretch it out over the week.