$106

[Squatch]

- Celery (bunch)
- Red peppers (2)
- Garlic (1 bunch)
- Parsley (1 bunch)
- Carrots (1 pound)
- Onions (2.5 pound bag)
- Shallots (1 bunch)
- Watermelon (1 melon)
- Fish heads (2 pounds for stock)
- Squid (1 pound)
- Hot chorizo (1 pound)
- Queso fresca
- Mussels (2 pounds)
- Flour tortillas
- Pita bread
- Bottle of cheap-ass wine

$106
:wow:

I splurged a little with the $9 bottle of wine. Now, we're not hurting in my family in terms of being able to buy groceries, but seeing as how I bought mainly veggies and fish heads, I think I'm starting to see how a lot of people across the country are starting to feel the pinch.

If this cost me over $100, and it represents a fairly balanced diet (less dairy or eggs), what are people buying who can't afford extravagances like vegetables? (sarcasm, obviously) How is the dietetic health of Americans changing with increasing food costs?

[Reader Rabbit]

1. Chorizo? I'd kill for some chorizo right now!

Most of Oregon still hasn't figured out how to make it properly. :(

[Squatch]

5. Then you're going to hate this:

I grilled up the chorizo, chopped it up, then wrapped it in a flour tortilla with ranchera-style salsa and queso. *Then* I grilled that puppy.

Oh, man...that hit the spot. Crunchy tortilla with a nice smoky salsa, melted cheese, and hot chorizo.

[Toasterlad]

15. What the Hell is Chorizo?

I'm series.

[Squatch]

21. Spanish sausage.

Spicy pork sausage with (sometimes) smoked peppers.

[Toasterlad]

25. Sounds Delish!

I'll have to try some.

[Quantess]

32. Be forewarned: it's extremely greasy!

It's also spicy and the combination of greasy+spicy could cause gastrointestinal unease in the uninitiated. ;)

[Toasterlad]

34. Oh, I Eat That Stuff For Breakfast (Literally).

My expansive waistline can attest that I'm no stranger to grease, and I likes me food spicy as all get out.

[stevedeshazer]

29. You alien.

I'll bet you hate assisted gasoline delivery and no sales tax, too.

Sincerely,

Arrogant Fifth-Generation Oregonian

:)

:hi:

[King Coal]

50. I would like to see that itemized.

[Hestia]

2. Are you kidding? Should there be a sarcasm tag?

Who buys watermelon out of season? Who in the heck buys squid? or mussels? This is not even close to an average grocery purchase. They are buying beans, rice and potatoes, along with tomato sauce, pasta, and fruit and vegetables in season. Those purchases are what the Farmer's Markets are for.

[Squatch]

4. Not kidding...

I bought this stuff from Global Foods in Woodbridge, VA.

Save for actual farmer's markets, Global Foods has the best selection of fresh vegetables and seafood in Northern Virginia. They're typically more expensive with respect to typical groceries: milk, eggs, etc, so I buy those at Costco.

[dysfunctional press]

23. the vegetable stores i go to are all cheaper than regular grocery stores...

and they have terrific selections.

yoou REALLY need to learn where and how to shop .

[leftofthedial]

45. the stores, markets, etc. with vegetables cheaper than the grocery store

don't exist here. :shrug:

even in season the farmer's markets cost more than the store, except for one or two local specialty crops like canteloupe or corn or peaches for a few eeks each.

I could drive 50 miles out of the city and find cheaper, but Im not sure a 100-mile round trip in a car to buy vegetables is very eco-friendly.

[tridim]

7. All of the staples you mentioned are way up

I just saw an article the other day about people stealing rice from farmers because it's become so valuable.

As an example, green onions used to cost 50 cents, now they're a dollar. That's double the price in about 4 years. Has minimum wage doubled in 4 years? How about your salary?

[Quantess]

35. I generally don't shop that way, either.

You have a point. Most people don't usually shop that way.

However, I could see scenarios where this shopping list would happen, especially if you're planning a dinner party with a bunch of impressive dishes that you're going to serve.

[EOTE]

44. I don't know about watermelon, only buy it in season.

But squid and mussels are pretty damn cheap. Considering that a total of 3 lbs were purchased, it shouldn't effect the total bill all that much.

[bdamomma]

3. putting the noose around Americans necks tighter and tighter each day.

when is enough enough.

[rucky]

6. All of our bills are through the roof.

There's no fucking way. Every month - i don't know how (or how long) we can keep doing this.

[Kittycat]

8. How much did the Squid & Mussels cost?

My DH doesn't eat anything living in water - so I don't tend to buy those things, but I would imagine they were a little pricey.

Veggies are pricey though. I think red peppers are $3.99/lb right now. That's just insane! We grow as much as we can of pricier veggies that we love, but can't afford otherwise, here in the summer, to help out.

[Squatch]

9. They were about average. $4.50 for the squid, $3.99 per pound of mussels.

Peppers were through the roof.

We've taken to growing our own herbs (especially perennials like rosemary, etc).

[Kittycat]

10. Not too horrible. Are you near water?

I don't think I could get those at that price here. Not fresh at least.

I hear you on herbs. That's one area, where I supply the neighborhood, LOL. We have a great southern exposure for growing herbs, tomatoes and other sun loving plants. My Basil the first year turned in to a bush - with some serious trunkage. Last year it still went crazy, but I kept it in a smaller spot to minimize it's growth. Dill & sage are the two I have to figure out something else for this year. DH has already started all my seeds in the basement, so maybe I'll cut the bottom of a throw-away pot, and plant it in the ground, to help mange the off shoots from seeds and keeps the roots smaller.

My peppers are a different story - I have green all summer long, but have a hard time getting to the red stage before the cold sets in (chicago short seasons). Since we started them early, I'm hoping I'll have red peppers by mid-summer. I want to roast and can them this time around, for the winter.

[Squatch]

11. We're in northern Virginia...the Chesapeake is only a hop, skip, and jump away.

I wish I had the acreage for a backyard garden, but living in a townhome, we're kinda limited to the type and amount of stuff we can grow.

[My Good Babushka]

12. Something else stomach-churning

My husband was let go with zero notice last week from a mutual fund company. I had always thought we were lucky even living hand to mouth, we spent less than $300 a month on groceries for four people. Now that we are filing for unemployment compensation and foodstamps, I find out we will be getting TWICE the money for groceries that I used to spend in a month. Why is it we can eat better on foodstamps than with a job my husband worked for ten years? It's sick.

[aikoaiko]

13. This is why I shop at Wal-mart..... $50 - 55 would have bought your list.

- Celery (bunch) @ Wal-mart 1.98
- Red peppers (2) @ Wal-mart 4.86
- Garlic (1 bunch) @ Wal-mart 0.50
- Parsley (1 bunch) @ Wal-mart 0.67
- Carrots (1 pound) @ Wal-mart 0.84
- Onions (2.5 pound bag) @ Wal-mart 1.94
- Shallots (1 bunch) @ Wal-mart 1.18
- Watermelon (1 melon) @ Wal-mart 6.98 (seedless was 3.47)
- Fish heads (2 pounds for stock) @ Wal-mart couldn't be found
- Squid (1 pound) @ Wal-mart couldn't be found
- Hot chorizo (1 pound) @ Wal-mart 2.84
- Queso fresca @ Wal-mart 3.12
- Mussels (2 pounds) @ Wal-mart 4.28
- Flour tortillas @ Wal-mart 1.98
- Pita bread @ Wal-mart 2.19
- Bottle of cheap-ass wine @ Wal-mart 9.14 Clos Du Bois

Grand Total (albeit without fishheads and squid) = $42.50

Did I do my math right?

eta: I forgot to say that I saw your list just before I left for wally-world and thought I'd dosome comparison shopping. I know brands and quality matter, but still....

[Zywiec]

14. Thanks for the research. That is why I also shop at Walmart

Not to mention I love their cajun nut mix with my beers.

[Art_from_Ark]

26. If you went shopping in Wal-Mart's home town

which, depending on the way you look at it, is either Rogers or Bentonville, Arkansas, you wouldn't have been able to buy the cheap-ass wine.

And $9.14 would be able to buy 3 bottles of really cheap-ass wine (called "happy wine") here in Japan.

[aikoaiko]

40. Its true, many a dry county in the south.

I got the 9 dollar bottle because the OP did too. I just wanted to show what 9 dollars could buy. The Australian whites at Wallyworld are between 5 - 6.

[lonestarnot]

27. Where did these products come from dumpster divers behind el taco and fish market?

[aikoaiko]

41. not bottom of the dumpster, but not top of the line either.

Just good old fashioned average supermarket fair. It would appear that the local Mexican immigrant population likes the Mexican choices since they are always depleted.

[mitchtv]

30. I do better than Wally World at food for less

anf our local Cardenas market . Got avocados for .88 the other day',lettuce for 1.00, chorizo costs about 1.59 per lb ((the best Carmelita from LA) cilantro for .10 oranges for 8lb/1.00 and russerts too. you have to eat this food fast tho, it's not prime like Albertsons and Safeway, but neither is Wallymart.

[aikoaiko]

42. Sure there is cheaper, but the products are nearly as fresh as most supermarkets

In my experience.

They are cheaper markets here too, but their selection is far worse that WM and as you say the fruits and veggies are on the down side of their good eating period.

[tjwash]

43. Food for less is the best.

The same stuff I get for 150 at Safeway runs me 60 or 70 there.

[Theres-a]

16. Fishheads! Fishheads!

Roly-poly fishheads! Fishheads! Fishheads! Eat them up,Yum!

All kidding aside,I cook alot from scratch,too and it's unbelievable how much it still costs.Used to be $10 would buy you a dozen eggs,a gallon of milk and a loaf of bread,and you'd get change. Nowadays,you can barely get 2 of those items for your $10.:-(

[Squatch]

20. Well, with my $106, I was able to

- cook a fresh cioppino that will last us the next 2 nights (and then we'll still have plenty to freeze for a couple meals in the future).

- steamed 2 pounds of fresh (and delicious) Rhode Island mussels with white wine, garlic, and Thai garlic pepper sauce.

- make 25 cups of fresh fish stock with virtually no salt added (part of the reason I make my own stock is to control the salt...the off-the-shelf stuff is PACKED with sodium and recipes invariably end up way too salty).

- make some pita crisps that we paired with a hummus made from garbanzo beans we had in the pantry.

All told, even though the price was kinda steep, we actually filled our freezer and had a wonderful, fresh, and filling meal tonight.

But, I think I'm going to be a little more careful in my future shopping trips to pare down the food costs.

[Theres-a]

46. Do you post in the cooking group?

Check it out sometime,if you don't already.

[Breeze54]

17. You're getting ripped off bad, dude.

You need to learn how to shop! Seriously.

what are people buying who can't afford extravagances like vegetables? (sarcasm, obviously)

:sarcasm: You think it's funny people can't afford fresh vegetables? :wtf:

You have no clue what 'real' people are up against, if you think that's a joke.

[Squatch]

18. Sarcasm does not necessarily equal humor.

The sarcasm was directed at my use of "extravagances". Omit that word, and the question becomes: "what are people buying who can't afford vegetables".

If people can't afford staples like veggies, are they buying cheaper, unhealthier stuff? And, for the record, I think none of this is funny.

[Breeze54]

28. I misunderstood.

Sorry, my mistake.

:hi:

[dysfunctional press]

24. frozen vegetables are just as nutritious as fresh.

and they're generally picked/frozen at the peak of their freshness/flavour.

[Ilsa]

19. Queso fresca? Does that mean

fresh cheese?

Wow, I fed a big group here, nine of us, on about $30, tops. That was for salad, shepherd's pie, blackberry pie, coffee and tea. But I'm in south Texas.

[dysfunctional press]

22. did you shop from a list, or did you shop for sale items?

we eat terrific, and our grocery bills haven't gone up that much at all. i NEVER shop from a list- and i ALWAYS buy what's on sale. last week fresh broccoli crowns were 48 cents/lb...YUM!

[tuvor]

31. Care to name the establishment? n/t

[SoCalDem]

33. I hear you.. I spent $165 the other day and got very little

two trips to the car..and the only meat I got was some ground round.. I paid $5 for 2 doz eggs..not even x-lge.. $3.49 lb for tomatoes.. $1.59 lb for apples..
the only bargain I got was some 50% off hersheys easter candy for my husband's candy jar at work

[Guaranteed]

36. Fishheads, squid and mussels?

You know, your local bait shop might have better prices.

;)

[SammyWinstonJack]

48. ...

:spray:

[Skittles]

37. LOL

carrots are the only thing on that list I would eat

[Contrary1]

38. Well, why not Boone's Farm?

I mean, c'mon. You could have bought a gallon for 9 bucks, and thrown a party. :sarcasm:

I splurged at the store too. Bought a bottle of Mogen David Concord. I love the wine spritzers, so I mix it with Diet Sprite. Being diabetic, the wine is a no no, but I just can't help myself sometimes.

I wouldn't even know what to do with most items on your list. Maybe a few more wine coolers will give me some ideas.

[HuffleClaw]

39. roly poly fish heads ? n/t

[Theres-a]

47. First thing I thought of,too

Now I can't get that song outta my head!

[Jennicut]

49. I spend about $200 a week in groceries for a family of four

Granted, my two younger ones are only 2 1/2 and 3 1/2. They eat mac and cheese, soup, cereal, and pb and j. I usually manage to get plenty of fruit (we all like apples). I have been trying to buy more fresh veggies lately. I am a diabetic and need to eat healthy food. No junk food for me unless you count triscuts- it all has to be whole wheat grains. I am more a vegetarian but I buy chicken and turkey burgers and salmon for my husband, he likes meat and fish. We do okay but it is getting more expensive. Bread is closer to $3.00 and milk is closer to $5.00. We live in CT so I think food prices in general are more expensive here but I used to spend more like $180 last year.