If you want to talk to someone about a heated topic, just ask them how much they spend on groceries. Watch their faces – the way their lower lip trembles, and the corner of their eye twitches just a bit too rapidly. No one wants to admit how much they really spend or actually throw away. Weve become a nation of wasters.
Taken from dinewithoutwhine.com/refundcents the average family of four spends $244 per week – thats PER WEEK – on groceries. I heard a husband talking somewhere, not sure if it was a store, restaurant, or where the whispered words came out – but the gist was that they spent around $1000 per month on groceries for their family of four. He not only confirmed what the average was, but the words came out easily. So easy that it seemed it wasnt a big deal. After I recovered from my little spying/listening-in session, I sat down to think about what this really meant.
What it means is this: Either weve become a nation of blind over-spenders, or we really, REALLY, dont know how to find grocery deals.
I cant say that Ive ever been in the position to be able to spend $1000 per month on groceries. When we started out, our little family didnt need a lot of groceries. It was just George and I, and we could get by on much less. Then we started growing. First daughter number one, four and a half years later daughter number two, and less than eleven months later our son – which made us a family of five. If the national average is $1000 per month I dont even want to consider what it would be for a family of five. Im sure youre thinking, Missy, chill out. People spend, they stock their pantries, they cook, they toss leftovers (or give them to the dog), they throw out food when it goes bad, and they head to the store again.
This is what the Herrera household spends on groceries per month: $500. Ive taken into account the quick run-ins to the market for milk, bread and eggs, which fall outside my regular grocery runs. I usually make one big trip per month, and fill in after that where necessary. I try very hard, to purchase items my family will eat. I would like to get to the point where we dont buy so many frozen items, although Ive admitted before that my kids love freezer food. This is an area where I could cut even further. All those Totinos pizzas, chicken nuggets, and so forth – out of my cart – would slash our bill even more. This is where the coupons come in handy. Im able to get a lot of these things half price with coupons. Better yet, if you shop somewhere like Aldi, less than half of what another store would have it priced at. Im sure Ill continue to purchase frozen items, because whats better than a Hot Pocket after school?
Ive never made a commitment to go the whole food route. Healthy all the way, not processed, yada yada, yada - to steal a phrase from Seinfeld. Im sure all you non-processed foodies are going beserk knowing I have all those frozen pizzas and tater tots in my freezer. I will admit to them because I feel no guilt. I would feel guilty, though, knowing I spent $1000 on my monthly grocery bill. Its a trade-off Im willing to make. Cooking for your family is the best way I know to make sure the food we purchase goes to good use. I know plenty of people that spend tons of money on groceries, just to have it spoil while they go out to eat five times a week. Im all about eating out, but not at the expense of the good food thats waiting to be created into something nourishing and tasty.
If you find yourself overloaded with food in your pantry and fridge, and still find that your kids tell you theres nothing to eat – you know you overspend. They see the food, eat what they like, and when that item is gone think theres nothing to eat. An idea worth trying, and one I incorporate at least once a month, is declaring a were-going-to-eat-everything-in-the-fridge-or-freezer-without-going-to-the-store week. It gets your creative juices flowing, makes you plan around what you have instead of thinking of everything else you need for a recipe. I find that some of the tastiest dishes have come from these weeks. That package of ground chicken in the bottom of the freezer? Last week I turned it into the most savory Russian chicken cutlets I have ever tasted. It was a hit with the kids and George. It will now become a part of my rotating recipes I use. Creativity, not running to the store every day, is a key ingredient in slashing your grocery bill. Declare this week a week of non-grocerying – youll find the pressure to supply will totally fall away.
Taken from the website http://lizscookingblog.blogspot.com
Russian Ground Chicken Cutlets (Kotlety Pozharskie)
1/4 c. milk
2 lb. chicken breasts, boned & skinned (I used one pound ground chicken)
5 slices white bread
1/4 lb. butter
3/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. white pepper
2 c dried bread crumbs (I used crushed Townhouse crackers)
10 T. butter (dont skimp on this step)
1. Put 5 bread slices in a bowl and pour in the milk. Soak the bread for 15 minutes. Squeeze the bread dry being careful not to tear it up.
2. Grind the chicken fine then combine with the bread slices. Gradually beat in the 1/4 lb. of butter that you have softened, along with the salt & pepper, until the mixture is smooth.
3. Make 6 patties from this mixture. Roll them in the bread crumbs coating them completely.
4. Take the 10 tablespoons of butter and clarify them in large skillet over a low heat. Remove from heat and allow to sit for 3 minutes so the whey will settle out. Spoon off the clear butter, dump the whey, and return 6 tablespoons of the butter to the skillet. Place over a medium- high heat and when hot fry the patties for approx. 5-6 minutes per side or until done to suit your taste.
5. Serve at once pouring remaining butter over the patties. Very good with a dollop of plain yogurt or sour cream on each patty.
