Many of you know that due to medical issues, I don't go to the grocery store. There is a really good volunteer service that shops and delivers groceries where needed.
I make my grocery list ahead of time to have it all ready when the order taker calls every other Monday. I generally browse the online sale ads for the store the service uses.
Prices have become so outlandish that I found only one item in the ads I was interested in or could afford. Family size boxes of Little Debbie Nutty Bars for $1.99 each. And because I have an unquenchable sweet tooth and because I know that life is good if one has Little Debbie Nutty Bars, I ordered 3 boxes!
Little Debbie Nutty Bars aside, I find myself changing the way I order my groceries.
I have been in the prepping world for a number of years and have stashed the required rice, beans, etc. There are shelves holding home canned foods and shelves holding dehydrated foods. There are boxes holding powdered milk and flour and sugar and as many other staples as I could think of.
My rent has increased along with other bills. Perhaps now is the time to use some of my food storage.
I spent some time this morning looking through my recipe file for items I can make at home rather than buying at the grocery store. The only ones I have tried are hot chocolate mix and a couple of gravy mixes. But because I cook for only one, I'm thinking maybe some of the seasoned rice mixes might be good.
Just for fun I took a look at the ingredients list on a bag of Knorr Rice Sides. No surprise to find at least half a dozen ingredients with names I can't pronounce. I am not a health nut as attested to by my love of all things 'Little Debbie,' but I think I would rather make my own convenience mixes where I know what's in them. A Google search brought up several websites for homemade mixes. Pretty sure I can find some that will fill the bill.
This morning, I also set up my bread machine. These arthritic hands don't do well anymore, kneading bread dough. The last loaf of bread - the cheap stuff - cost me about $4. I can make my own bread for pennies. And it tastes better. And I can use the machine to stir up and knead dough for cinnamon rolls or burger buns or whatever else appeals to me. Take that, miserable inflation!!
We are preppers. We find ways around the high prices. Some farm. Some garden. Some raise livestock. And for those of us who are past our prime and simply cannot work like that anymore, we figure out how to do what needs doing any way we can.
Especially now - stack when you can. Pray always.
Howdy!
ReplyDeleteCan you re-run your recipes for sandwich meats/luncheon meats? I know I had printed them off but for the love of God, I can't find them now. We had a good year hunting and I've got lots of ground meat that I need to find new ways to use and I remember those recipes sounded real yummy!
Thank you!
Diane
You must be thinking of someone else. I have no recipes for those items.
ReplyDeleteYour summer sausage recipe???
DeleteSJ
Oh, crap...forgot all about that one and the one for summer sausage.
DeleteYes, this sounds like a great time to use up some of your reserves.
ReplyDeleteThe higher grocery prices go, the more I am digging into my stash. After all, we prep for hard times and here they are!
DeleteYou go, my friend. Looking forward to new recipes from you (maybe?).
ReplyDeleteI too broke out the bread machine a few months ago. Not looking to buy store bought any time soon.
SJ now in California
SJ...I'm sort of tied up today and tomorrow, what with groceries being delivered Thursday. But Friday's post will be all about recipes. Maybe the ones I use and a couple that are on the list to try out.
DeleteI love my bread machine. I'm thinking that there might be a batch of cinnamon rolls in my near future. :)
Hi Vicki. I find I’m starting to use what’s in my stockpile more often. Lots of times I just don’t feel like going to the trouble of cooking. It’s nice to be able to just heat up something. Also my crockpot has become my best friend. Put it in and forget it.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter and I went to the store today and found a good bit of marked down meat. There was another lady there getting it to. We were there early and beat the crowd. I also bought a dozen gold nuggets, formerly known as eggs. Use what you got replace what you use as best you can. Take care…Jan
Jan...Finding meat on sale these days is pure gold! Whenever I see something in the store sale ads that I know I will use, I generally buy lots.
DeleteI totally get the part about not wanting to cook. And about the crockpot. Last night a couple of chicken drumsticks, a potato cut into chunks and some onion stewed in the crockpot all day. Made some gravy and supper was served!!
As long as prices are headed skyward, I plan to use what I have instead of paying the outlandish prices. Take good care.
Indeed, Vicki, my wife and I are ALWAYS looking for a way around today's inflated prices! I don't need to tell you that prepping isn't "stuff," but a MINDSET. Folks like us GREW UP with "Use it up, wear it out. Make do, or do without." A lot of what folks now call "prepping" is what WE called and STILL call "everyday life!"
ReplyDeleteLike you, much of what we're eating right now was bought MONTHS ago, usually when it was on sale. Whenever possible, if something we use often goes on sale, we buy DEEP. Heck; I've unearthed vacuum-sealed meat in my chest freezer dated two or three years back that's still perfectly good, and most likely cost HALF what we're paying now. We eat this stuff in the hope that it'll go on sale again... Pay for tomorrow with today's dollars...
God bless you and yours!
Pete...I get it. Lifestyle is exactly what this prepping thing is. I grew up tending the family garden. We canned or froze everything we could in order to survive a long Minnesota winters. Later when raising my own family, blueberries, wild raspberries and wild plums were picked and preserved along with the garden produce. Chickens were butchered. Deer were turned into venison roasts and hamburger meat. Whatever we could do to feed the family.
DeleteI've been working to clear out freezer space and have found all sorts of long since forgotten foods, including meat purchased at prices much lower than now. I still have food in jars that were home canned at least 5 years ago and are still perfectly good.
Mother taught me how to darn holes in socks, how to mend torn clothing in addition to the art of preserving food. Without those skills, we might be in a world of hurt like I fear many will be before long.
God bless and keep you and yours!