Tag: food

Asian Market Grocery Haul 1-24-2015

This grocery haul was all about stocking up on the essentials that aren’t that common. Of course we need our staple: rice, but also things like sesame oil, and kimchi making supplies. My main reason for going was to purchase pig fat to render into lard, that video will be coming soon I promise!. Life has been fast paced lately so I apologize for not uploading recipes this week.

My total was $84.49

15lb bag of Sweet rice $16.49
jicama $0.53
ginger $1.35
Japanese sweet potato $2.15
yellow onions $1.45
assi noodles $1.49
rice noodles $1.39
Chinese style noodles $0.99
rice stick noodles $0.99
crushed red pepper $3.99 (for kimchi)
potato powder (starch) $1.49
glutinous rice flour $0.99
tapioca starch $0.75
young Thai coconut $1.59
Napa cabbage $1.82
2 green onions $1.50
cilantro $0.50
red onion $0.31
Tianjin (yali) pear $0.32
burro banana $0.20
daikon radish $1.57
sesame oil $15.99
pork fat $4.89
bento box $12.99
bamboo skewers $1.99
Bonito flakes $3.99
Chinese soup spoons $1.38

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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…

Simple Cornbread Recipe


Simple Cornbread Recipe
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
Cornbread can be made quickly, simply, and without a lot of fuss. Importantly it tastes AMAZING. Low calorie is a plus!
Author:
Serves: 8 slices
Ingredients
  • 1 cup cornmeal
  • 1 cup whole wheat flour
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 tablespoon vinegar
  • 1 large egg
  • ½ cup water
  • ½ cup unsweetened applesauce
  • 1 tablespoon oil for batter, can also use melted butter
  • 1 tablespoon oil for greasing pan
  • ¼ to 1 cup of sugar (see notes)
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
Instructions
  1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, this is approx 200 Celsius. If you are using a cast iron skillet, and you SHOULD, put that in to preheat as well.
  2. Add your milk and vinegar into a bowl on the side and let this set for a few minutes, this makes faux buttermilk. If you want you can just use buttermilk instead without the vinegar.
  3. Mix together all the dry ingredients in a bowl, if you want to sprinkle some sugar on top reserve about 1 tablespoon.
  4. Add your remaining liquid ingredients to the milk mixture. DO NOT mix the liquid into the dry until the pan and oven are preheated.
  5. Once your pan is well preheated, remove from the oven and add your 1 tablespoon oil. Spread around CAREFULLY with a heat resistant spatula.
  6. Now you may mix the dry and the wet together, try to remove all lumps. Once your mixture is smooth pour it into your pan. Scrape the bowl out and smooth the mixture in the pan if needed.
  7. Bake for 25-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. For me this takes 25 minutes but in my old apartment is took 40, so use a toothpick please!
  8. Let cool for 10 minutes. Slice into 8 pieces and serve with butter and honey, yummy!
Notes
I suggest using less sugar for normal cornbread, unless you intend on it being dessert style. If this is the case add more and also include ½ - 1 tablespoon REAL vanilla extract.
For a yummy texture, take one tablespoon of your sugar and set to the side. When you poor your batter in the pan, sprinkle it on top.
Nutrition Information
Serving size: 1 piece Calories: 212 Fat: 6 Saturated fat: 1 Unsaturated fat: 4 Trans fat: 0 Carbohydrates: 38 Sugar: 15 Sodium: 273 Fiber: 3 Protein: 5 Cholesterol: 29
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Look how yummy it looks! 

Want to know more about why we use both baking soda AND baking powder, check out this article from epicurious.com – CLICK HERE

Tip Tuesday: Storing Ginger

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Okay guys you’re going to think I’m nutty, but this is so simple It only took me a minute to explain it in video! Do you often find yourself buying fresh ginger for an extra kick to a stir fry or maybe you tried that old fashion recipe for ginger snaps and then just had extra? Here is a great tip to save you money on ginger! Peel a large piece of ginger and put it in a zip lock bag. Then when you’re ready to make stir fry or cookies, use a fine grater to shave some off. The texture is often nicer AND you won’t waste money on molded or dried out ginger again. It works great I promise!

If you have any tips for a tip Tuesday please leave me a comment or send me an email. Thanks!

Love With Food Unboxing January 2015 – Deluxe Box

If you would like to get your own snack box for free, all you pay is $2 shipping. Click HERE or go to: http://lovewithfood.com/invite?m=r&ref=213t . Full disclosure: If you do use my link I will get 500 points for merchandise in the future. This is no gimmick, if you don’t like the box just cancel your subscription. It’s super easy. =)

I was SOO looking forward to my love with food box. I didn’t peek this time so my honest reactions are seen in the video. Some things I’m really excited about and some things not so much. For the most part the items are healthy, but the Mac n’ Cheese chips have yeast extract in them, which is msg basically, I will survive though! Here is a list of all I received in the deluxe 2015 box:

2 packets Dark Chocolate Cacao Nibs by BRITT
2 Chocolate Dipping coconut Mini bars by LUNA
1 packet Energy Kettle Cooked Apples by Big Slice
2 packets Somersaults by Somersault Snack Company
1 package Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bliss Ginnyminnis by GinnyBakes
1 packet My Super Cookies, blueberry flavor. By Super Foods Co
2 tea bags – Breakfast in Paris Black Tea by Stash
2 packages Cassava Pops by Wai Lana
2 Velvet Truffles by Alter Eco
1 Black Truffle by Alter Eco
1 packet Crunchy Mac N’ Cheese by Eatrageous
2 packages of In-shell Almonds by Bobalu (not onions haha!)

19 items!! AWESOME!
Also got several coupons AND a gift card to hellofresh.com and a gift card to urban remedy!

ps.. I ate 1 of the velvet truffles while editing all of this, OMG! sinful!

I also just noticed that all but two of the choices (cacao nibs and super cookies) were actually gluten free. Love with food does offer a gluten free box but it costs more. This box was worth the money I think.