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Tag: family

Grocery Hauls / Haul Videos

Costco, Trader Joe’s, & Whole Foods Grocery Haul 1-17-2015

Today was a HUGE haul for me! My mother in law came to town to take us shopping. (She lives 45 miles away from us, so it’s a big deal) So when she comes over, we always go to Costco.

At Costco I spent a total of $207.87 , I couldn’t show you the receipt because she paid for everything and then I just gave her cash. It’s easier than having to split the groceries up, it tends to confuse the cashiers and causes it to take longer. Here is what I got:

  • cat food $19.89
  • Brussels sprouts $4.49 X 2
  • 1/3rd pork loin $6.84
  • 1/2 bag kale salad kit $2.54
  • butter $6.99
  • 1 avocado 91¢
  • tomato $1
  • romaine $2.24
  • molasses $4.89
  • tomato paste $6.69
  • black beans $6.59
  • kidney beans $6.59
  • 3 dozen eggs $3.59 X 2
  • oatmeal $7.99 X 2
  • big can of green beans $3.29
  • frozen broccoli $5.99
  • 1/2 container of bread $2
  • 2lbs ground beef $7.38
  • 1/3rd beef roast $11.91

As for none food I am VERY happy to say I was able to purchase a special pressure cooker set for $79.99 . Normally when you got to the store, or look online, you can get an 8qt pressure cooker for $99, well I was able to get a set that has a 4qt AND an 8qt pressure cooker PLUS a steamer basket and a glass lid all for only $80. I was really needing one of these so I am so happy. I used it to cook beans yesterday and love it!

Next place was Whole Foods. Unfortunately my husband was rushing and left the bag in my mother’s car so I didn’t receive it until today actually. (THANKFULLY she had to come back to Omaha today for something else) She was able to freeze/refrigerate what needed to be kept cold so the food is still good. The croissants might go bad before we eat them all, but nothing I can do about it.

  • Bob’s red mill cream of wheat $3.69
  • Bob’s red mill masa harina $3.69
  • Luna chocolate coconut bar 99¢ x 3
  • bulk bin ginger snaps $1.90 ($9.99/lb)
  • Luna smores bar 99¢
  • Luna caramel nut bar 99¢
  • bulk bin organic oregano 48¢ ($23.99/lb or $1.49/oz)
  • bulk bin organic garlic powder $1.28 ($15.99/lb or $1/oz)
  • Applegate farms uncured pepperoni (from deli) 77¢
  • 365 deli Havarti cheese 1/2 pound approx $4.54
  • 6ct package of Whole Foods Croissants $6.99
  • 365 frozen organic cauliflower $1.99 X 2
  • 16 ounce brewed coffee $2.00
  • 20 ounce brewed coffee $2.25
  • bulk olive bar $4.07 ($10.99/lb)
  • bulk bin organic chives $2.46 ($40.99/lb or $2.56/oz)
  • credit of 10¢ for bag refund

Total @ Whole foods was : $44.35

Finally we went to Trader Joe’s. (I told you it was a huge grocery haul day!) I had to refund some items, because I didn’t like them. That’s the great thing about TJ is there “if you don’t like it, bring it back” policy. No one else is better. In total I got $11.97 back from returns, so that’s already taken off the total.

  • Organic free range chicken broth $1.99 X 4
  • TJ Soy sauce $2.99 X 2
  • Baking cocoa $2.49
  • TJ Sriracha roasted garlic BBQ sauce $2.99 X 2
  • can of TJ coconut cream $1.49
  • TJ traditional marinara sauce $1.49
  • TJ organic ketchup $1.99
  • can of black refried beans 99¢
  • TJ beets in vinaigrette – $1.69
  • TJ unscented deodorant $3.49
  • organic red palm oil $5.99
  • Luna nutz over chocolate bar 99¢
  • Luna smores bar 99¢
  • cliff peanut butter bar 99¢
  • TJ corn and chile salsa $2.49
  • linguine pasta 99¢
  • bananas 19¢ X 9
  • organic carrots 99¢ X 4
  • carrots of many colors $2.49
  • Zipline beer $1.34
  • TJ madras lentils $1.99
  • TJ sliced almonds $3.99
  • TJ frozen raspberries $2.69
  • Golden potatoes $2.49 X 3
  • Red wax Gouda cheese $3.18
  • Turkey jerky $5.99
  • Natural whole roaster chicken $9.05

Total @Trader Joe’s was $81.76 (if you take off the credit it would be $93.73)

All in all, don’t think I’ll be grocery shopping til next month. My freezer is completely full. I’ll probably buy like milk here and there, but that isn’t video worthy. Yikes… did the math and I spent a total of $333.98 O_O oh my…

Uncategorized

Sweet Cranberry Wine Sauce – gluten free + vegan

Ingredients:

1 bag cranberries (12-16 ounces)
1 750ml bottle of sweet wine (*See note*)
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
pinch salt

Directions:

In a medium stock pot add your sugar. Turn your burner onto medium high. Wash your cranberries well under warm running water, shake most the water off. Add your cranberries to the pot and stir well to mix with the sugar. After about 60 seconds of stirring, lift your pot off the burner and away from the flame and slowly add some of your wine. Adding only a little at a time will help prevent boil over, when working with alcohol this is important as a boil over could produce flame (never good!). Once you get enough in the pan to coat the bottom of the pan with at-least a 1/4 inch or about a centimeter, you can return the pan to the stove and add the remaining wine. Save that wine bottle though as its a great way to serve your sauce that’ll have your guests wondering!

Bring to a boil while stirring. You want to stir your sauce mixture until all the sugar is dissolved and you no longer feel the sugar at the bottom of the pot.

Once the sauce is boiling, turn the heat down to a simmer or just a little higher. You will want to reduce your sauce down depending on how thick you want your final product. If you want something closer to a jelly or jam, reduce it down by half. If you want something more like a slightly thickened sauce, 1/3 – 1/4 will do just fine. (I reduced by 1/4) Just make a mental note where the sauce started, so you know when you get there. Let it cook uncovered until your desired thickness, make sure to stir every 2-5 minutes just in case, other than that it doesn’t require much effort.

After your sauce is your desired consistency, use an immersion blender or transfer tinto a blender continer. Blend on high until the sauce is a very fine puree, you can optionally strain the sauce if you want.

As this sauce cools down it will thicken up a good bit due to the pectin in the cranberries, so keep this in mind while making it. If kept in a tight fitting glass container this sauce will keep up to 2 – 3 weeks. (photo was taken after sauce was 2 weeks old!)

*NOTE* Make sure you ONLY use a wine you would drink plain. Cooking this wine concentrates the flavor, so if you don’t like the wine to start with, this won’t make it better. I suggest a sweet white wine like a moscato d’asti or a riesling. A sweet red like a rose wine would also go amazingly with this.

CAUTION: If you’re making this for someone who is gluten intolerant or a vegan. Please make sure that the wine you’re using is gluten free and contains no animal products. Most wines are finished with isinglass, this is a concentrated substance from the bladder of fish. Some wines are made with wheat and wheat like products. When it doubt call the producer of this wine or choose a different brand.