Collards and $ense

Here we are, beginning another autumn week. I was excited to receive my weekly circular from Key Foods last Friday, because they have two deals that are perfect for me to take advantage of:

Folgers coffee (including my favorite, French Roast), 10-11 oz can, $1.99
Muir Glen Organic Tomatoes (crushed, etc), 34 oz can 2 for $4.00 (must buy 2)

I’ll pick up 2 cans of coffee along with my 2 cans of tomatoes since the price is so good. I won’t start using the coffee until next week because my beloved bag of Eight O’Clock brand ($5.59) hasn’t run out yet. The Folgers will last me about 2 1/2 weeks and the tomatoes 2 weeks (I like to use them in place of tomato sauce).

To the roundup. I made my grocery list for this week literally 5 times. There were some luxuries I really wanted, and I had to keep rearranging and making compromises in order to get all my wants and needs to work together.

Here is what I purchased:

Whole Foods:

Meyenberg Low Fat Goat’s Milk $3.79 (oops, forgot my coupon! Will use it next week. I should mention I typically buy whole milk because I like undoctored foods, but I am going to make high-calorie pudding with this milk. Low fat works to lower the overall ‘calorie expense’ of the pudding, which I’ll be enjoying daily)

Whole Foods Market raw shelled pistachios, 9 oz $7.99 ($2.66 counting for this week since I will use about 1/3 of the container)

Whole Foods Market cage free extra large eggs $2.89

spreadable goat cheese, 6 oz (1 oz per remaining days)$4.99

3 4-slice packages of Eli Zabar’s pecan raisin bread $8.97 (I know! Like I said, I really wanted some luxuries and I didn’t have time to go Zabar’s on the Upper West Side to buy this in a cheaper full $7 loaf)

3/4 lb Applegate Farms deli roasted organic chicken breast $7.59 (processed, but not very much as deli meats go)

-0.10 Go Green bag refund (because I shoved everything in my giant purse and my empty-post-work lunch bag)

Whole Foods total: $33.46

Fruit & Vegetable Market

4 N.Y. State Cortlandt apples $1.67 (I have a couple left from last week too)

6 large plums $3.02

8 bananas $2.19

Fruit & Vegetable Market Total: $6.88

Have already from last week:

avocado
the apples I mentioned

Still need to buy:

2 bunches of spinach or 1 package baby spinach (est. $4.00)
Muir Glen tomatoes ($4.00, $2.00 counting for this week)
Folgers coffee ($4.00, $0 counting for this week)

Tally for the week: $46.34 (under my $50 budget!)

Here is what I am planning to do with all of it:

Menu Plans (incorporating staples and leftovers):

Breakfast: oat-yogurt pancakes with goat cheese, pistachios, and sliced bananas; coffee with milk and sugar

Lunch: chicken and avocado sandwich on raisin pecan bread

Snacks: plums and N.Y. State Cortlandt apples

Dinner: polenta with olive oil, poached egg, crushed tomatoes, and spinach

Dessert: chocolate chocolate-chip pudding (homemade, using – among other things – cornstarch and goat’s milk butter

What’s on your menu this week?

Tania