So… this happened today (disregard my concentration face).
February 16, 2015
So… this happened today (disregard my concentration face).
Adventures In Budget Paleo Cooking – Week of February 9 – 15
This Week’s Menu
Monday
Breakfast: Green smoothies
Lunch: Leftover meatloaf & cabbage from last week
Dinner: Thai Brussels Crunch Salad with Chicken
Tuesday
Breakfast: Green smoothies
Lunch: Leftovers from last night
Dinner: Sweet & Spicy Oven Roasted Pulled Pork Tacos with Broccoli Slaw
Wednesday
Breakfast: Green smoothies
Lunch: Leftovers from Monday + leftover pork from last night
Dinner: Paleo Butter Chicken with Broccoli
Thursday
Breakfast: Green smoothies
Lunch: The last of Monday’s big salad + the last of last week’s meatloaf
Dinner: Leftover Pulled Pork with Baked Sweet Potatoes and some of the dressing from Monday’s dinner
Friday
Breakfast: Green smoothies
Lunch: Paleo Butter Chicken
Dinner: Out
Sunday
Breakfast: Sweet Potato & Jalapeño Hash with Eggs
Lunch: Out
Dinner: Ground Beef with Broccoli & Balsamic Vinegar
This Week’s Grocery List
2 lemons ($1.50 @Amazon Fresh)
Boneless pork shoulder roast ($14.99 for 3 lbs. @Amazon Fresh)
Red grapefruit ($1.29 @Amazon Fresh)
Just BARE boneless skinless chicken breast filets ($5.25 for 14 oz. @Amazon Fresh)
Organic broccoli slaw, 9 ounce bag ($2.25 @Amazon Fresh)
Baby spinach, 9 ounce bag ($1.99 @Amazon Fresh)
Just BARE boneless skinless chicken thighs ($5.49 for 20 ounces @Amazon Fresh)
5.75 inch white corn tortillas, 30 ($1.69 @ Amazon Fresh)
Black peppercorn grinder ($1.22 @ Amazon Fresh)
Once Again organic sunflower seed butter ($4.99 for 16 ounces @ Amazon Fresh)
Organic white sweet potatoes ($2.46 for 2 @ Amazon Fresh)
An item with no label on the receipt ($2.09 @ Amazon Fresh)
Yellow onion ($0.59 @ Amazon Fresh)
Hunt’s tomato sauce, 8 ounce can ($0.44 @ Amazon Fresh)
Sun Luck hoisin sauce, 8 ounce bottle ($2.49 @ Amazon Fresh)
Cento crushed tomatoes, 28 ounce can ($1.78 @ Amazon Fresh)
Native Forest organic unsweetened coconut milk, 13.5 ounce can ($1.86 @ Amazon Fresh)
Smoothie Supplies
4 avocados ($4.49 @Amazon Fresh)
Bag kale ($5.99 for 16 ounces)
Baby spinach ($1.99 for 9 ounce bag @ Amazon Fresh)
Simply Orange orange juice, 59 ounces ($2.99 @ Amazon Fresh)
5 Apples ($3.95 @Amazon Fresh)
1.5 lbs. limes ($2.77 @Amazon Fresh)
Zico Natural coconut water, 1 liter ($2.39 @ Amazon Fresh)
Totals
$78.72 @ Amazon Fresh
Budget Breakout
This week, I spent $78.72; $21.28 under budget. Another ‘it’s too cold to mess with schlepping groceries’ week of delivery from Amazon Fresh. And way under budget, too! Score!!
Leftovers From This Week
At the end of the week, I have two languishing radishes, a hand full of jalapeños, possibly some ground beef, the grapefruit, some cabbage, and a bunch of tortillas left over. I need to incorporate these items into my menu for next week.
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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.
February 15, 2015
Cataloging.
February 14, 2015
Architecture love at the Fulton Street subway stop.
Whipped Garlic Brussels Sprouts
This is me attempting to re-create a mind-blowing brunch side dish I had awhile back – and mostly succeeding. This isn’t quite the same, but it’s still pretty fantastic and gives me a good excuse to re-visit Marietta for another taste.
Gluten-free, vegetarian, paleo
Whipped Garlic Brussels Sprouts
1 pound brussels sprouts
Olive oil
Kosher salt
Black pepper
1 head garlic
1 clove garlic
2 tsp. granulated garlic
2 tsp. olive oil
2 tsp. ghee
First, you’ll need that head of garlic to be caramelized. Chop the top (non root) end off, drizzle with a little olive oil, wrap in foil, and bake at 400 degrees F for 45 minutes.
Remove from the oven and unwrap to cool.
On to the brussels. Wash your brussels, cut the stem ends off, and halve or quarter (you want them all a uniform size). Add to a cast iron skillet. Toss with 2 good glugs of olive oil, a couple generous pinches of Kosher salt and a few grinds black pepper.
Bake at 400 for 30 minutes, or until roasted and browned.
While your brussels are going, add the caramelized garlic, fresh garlic (grated), granulated garlic, 2 tsp. olive oil, 2 tsp. ghee, and a couple more pinches of Kosher salt to a small bowl (or mortar) and mash together to form a paste.
When the brussels are done, add the paste and toss to combine. Taste, and add a bit more salt if needed.
Serves 2, maybe 3 as a side dish
February 13, 2015
DJ Skritchety-Scratch got beats.
February 12, 2015
For the little guy.
February 11, 2015
New project.
February 10, 2015
Another knitting project complete!
February 9, 2015
Lazy girl happy place.
Gastography 