September 23, 2015

This month’s Nerd Fitness Academy secret card exchange card & triceratops.

  

September 22, 2015

When in doubt, dogs. This happened to be from our lunchtime cuddle time. He was overly concerned about what was going on outside.
  

September 21, 2015

Filming involves a bunch of people and standing around.

  

September 20, 2015

Bagpipes competing with bluegrass competing with a dude in a monkey suit with a bo staff competing with Hare Krishas competing with protesters competing with a pet expo in Union Square today.

  

Adventures In Budget Paleo Cooking – Week of September 14 – 20

BudgetPaleo

This Week’s Menu

Monday

Breakfast: Green smoothie

Lunch: Leftover chicken laab salad

Dinner: Delivery Indian

Tuesday

Breakfast: Green smoothie

Lunch: Rotisserie chicken with tomato & peach bowl

Dinner: Sweet potato hash with rotisserie chicken and fried egg

Wednesday

Breakfast: Green smoothie

Lunch: Rotisserie chicken with tomato & peach bowl

Dinner: Ground beef, okra and corn bowl

Thursday

Breakfast: Green smoothie

Lunch: Leftovers from last night

Dinner: Thai-inspired ground pork, cucumber and corn bowl

Friday

Breakfast: Green smoothie

Lunch: Out

Dinner: Out

Sunday

Breakfast: Out

Lunch: Out

Dinner: Out

 

This Week’s Grocery List

Rotisserie chicken ($8.99 @ Whole Foods)
Okra ($2.79 @ Whole Foods)
Grapes ($2.85 @ Whole Foods)
Peaches ($2.91 @ Whole Foods)
Grass fed ground beef, 1 lb. ($7.49 @ Whole Foods)

Smoothie Supplies

Ginger ($1.08 @ Whole Foods)
Coconut water ($3.50 @ Whole Foods)
4 Apples ($3.94 @ Whole Foods)
5 limes ($3.75 @ Whole Foods)
5 Avocados ($12.50 @ Whole Foods)
Bagged kale (1 lb.) ($2.99 @ Whole Foods)
Bagged spinach ($4.49 @ Whole Foods)
Turmeric ($2.16 @ Whole Foods)

 

Totals

Carryover from last week: +$26.30
CSA veggies: $25.50
CSA meat: $44.29
Whole Foods: $61.28

 

Budget Breakout

This week, I spent $131.07; $4.77 over budget. Whoo hoo! Only $5 over for the week.

 

Leftovers From This Week

At the end of the week, I have a bunch of CSA veggies and meats left over. I need to incorporate these items into my menu for next week.

—

Think eating healthfully is too expensive for you? Think again. According to the USDA, to ensure a nutritious diet as of December 2014, a family of two aged 19-59 years should spend between $388.90 and $776.10 on food per month, or $89.80 – $179.30 per week. Source 

For my family of two adults, I spend roughly $400 a month on groceries or $100 a week – and we eat well. Not caviar and lobster well, but I do manage to serve a predominately paleo diet with little to no processed foods, and I get to throw in a few luxuries here and there (like expensive snacks for the hubbs and the occasional ridiculously expensive bag of coffee). We even manage to buy “good” meat (grass fed beef and free-range chicken) most of the time – and I make this budget work even on the weeks we pay for convenience by getting delivery groceries. I make: 10 breakfasts, 5 lunches, and 10 dinners a week – plus enough snacks to satisfy and fuel two active adults.

I’m hoping that this series will help shed a little light on the day-to-day things a “paleo” person really eats — and how that way of eating can work on a budget. I want to nudge anyone sitting on the fence right over the edge by showing that it *can* be done and that you don’t just eat meat, meat, meat and more meat. 

Braised Chicken Leg with Vegetables

This homey and comforting dish makes the best of late Summer’s vegetable bounty. It’s delicious, a nice light dinner, and is relatively hands-off, once the chicken is browned.

  

 

Gluten-free

Braised Chicken Leg with Vegetables

2 chicken leg quarters, bone-in and skin-on
Fat Of Choice
1 small onion
4 stalks celery
1 ear corn
1 medium sweet potato
1 large clove garlic
Splash white wine
3 bay leaves
1/2 bunch thyme
1c. bone broth
Kosher salt & black pepper

Preheat your oven to 350 F. Salt and pepper the chicken on both sides. Place a large cast iron or other oven-safe skillet over medium high heat. Add a Tablespoon of your favorite fat and bring to temperature.

When hot, add the chicken. Brown on both sides, making sure to leave alone in the pan 3-5 minutes per side so it can do its thing.

While the chicken is browning, chop the onion and dice the garlic. Set aside.

Chop the celery, take the corn off the cob, and peel and chop the sweet potato. Set aside.

When the chicken is nice and brown, deglaze the pan with a splash of white wine. Add the onion and garlic, and stir for a minute. Add the rest of the veggies and stir. Let cook while you gather your stock and herbs.

Add the stock, herbs, and chicken (nestle the chicken in the veggies so it touches the bottom of the pan).

Braise 40-45 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and the veggies are tender.

Serves 2 for dinner, with enough leftover veggies for lunch. 

September 19, 2015

An ex bowling lane

  

September 18, 2015

Wall St.

  

September 17, 2017

One cool dude.

  

September 16, 2015

Man, that’s a dirty window.