Grocery Store Adventures

Honestly, I haven't been grocery shopping since the last time I commented on our adventures (9/2). It really has been 23 days. Ok, well, I can pick up the basics before I leave work, such as bread, milk, frozen dinners; I can buy everything but fresh fruit, vegetables and dinner meats (steak, chicken, ground beef etc). So our pantry wasn't that barren. Ok...but the fridge was another story.

Do you know the comedian that does the jokes...."so, there's your sign!" Bill Engvall. Well, if you don't he says the punch line...and then adds in "there's your sign" afterwards. It implies that if you had seen something, you should have known because of the "sign."

My son recently started asking for "fren fwies" at the dinner table. I looked in my refrigerator and we had more take out boxes and wrappers and leftovers than actual home cooked leftovers. There's your sign. It was time to go grocery shopping again.

It helps that we have company coming this weekend too; a little motivation. :) So, I made out the menu...worked up my list so I didn't spend too much...and off JMS and I went to the store. Well, did I mention that our Kroger's is going through a remodel? Lately, it hasn't been an issue to comment on, because the construction had not impacted my life. So, they moved the eggs over one aisle, and closed the pharmacy temporarily...not a big issue. Today was a different story.

We walked in the "IN" and now it is the "OUT" and the produce section, bakery, and deli which used to be on the left of the store is now on the right of the store. So, the cookie that I had promised my son was not where it should have been. We made our way to the right side of the store...and don't get me wrong, it was beautiful. The fruit was pyramided, the colors were bright, the glass on the cases was sparkling....this was the first day that this side of the store had opened. We made our way to the bakery...and yes, they are still giving out cookies...thank goodness, and a whole bunch of other stuff. At the pyramid of oranges, there were orange slice samples, at the fruit salad section, JMS got strawberries and blueberries. We went by the salsa bar and he had chips...the pastries...he had a donut sample...the meat counter...hamburger bits and cajun chicken...he had lunch just on these new sample trays that are on display every four feet. That was a blessing, because finding what I had on my list was not as easy as in the past. I had my list in the order of the store (as it had been). So, we made several laps and then several more laps. This whole adventure took me 1.5 hours....when normally I can be done and home in 45 minutes. I did like the store. It is taking on the Fred Meyers look and feel. (Olympia, WA) They even expanded their natural food section...so Rescue Remedy is now within my reach.

So you are probably wondering what my menu consists of for the next few meals. Or, if you are like me, hoping I'll post my grocery list and menu so that you don't have to make one yourself. Just print mine and away you can go. I am using Rachel Ray's 365: No Repeats cookbook for some of the main courses.

Dinners:
1)Sweet sausages, baked potato wedges, and corn on the cob (RRR#34)
2)Nacho bread and tortilla chips (RRR #364)
3)Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf, smashed potatoes and green beans (RRR #332)
4)Pork chops and scalloped potatoes (Mother-in-law's recipe)
5)Frozen Pizza

Breakfasts:
1) bagels
2) yogurt smoothies
3) waffles and sausage links
4) biscuits
5) scramblewiches (RRR #1)

Lunches:
Sandwiches and leftovers

If you truly want the grocery list...email me. :)