Dear All, On the 1st of Nov, my Food Stamps balance was $204.31, as I had $176 come in, & had $28.31 left over from Oct.  

I bought half-off Halloween candy (Dove dark chocolate) -- 5 9.5 oz packages @ Rite-Aid for $12.50, leaving me with $191.81.  (Unfortunately, the price would have been better had I gone to Walgreens FIRST, but I failed so to do.)  Anyhow, a piece is so smooth, it's like chocolate ice cream, there's no desire to eat a second piece, it's so satisfying. 

This aft, we shopped at an Indian ethnic store.  I had already bought tamarind paste last week, & I had mustard seeds & fennel seeds & ground cardomom (for sweetness in baking) in the house already.  I bought packages (mostly about 3 oz) of all of these:  fenugreek seeds, dried red chilis, ground cumin, garam masala, curry powder, kalonji/nigella seeds, ground amchoor (another tart taste, like but unlike tamarind), ground asafetida (a digestive aide, as well as a seasoning -- similar to the impact of turmeric), & whole cardomom pods.  I used to cook almost exclusively Indian vegetarian food -- let it go for some years, but am now resuming my avocation.  (I used to use the called-for ghee or clarified butter.  Now, I'll only use peanut oil or canola oil; the prospect of atherosclerosis doesn't excite me.)  All of that cost $27.96.  My Food Stamps balance then was $163.85.  (BTW, I have a kitchen full of legumes for the cooking.)

Then, we went to Whole Foods.  I noticed that my stock-piling had paid off BIG-TIME with one of my favorite foods, canned tuna.  About 3 months ago, a can of the 365 store brand cost 99cents no-salt, or 1.09 with salt, so of course I bought the no-salt.  Yesterday, the price was -- tada! -- $1.39!!!

I bought 2 lb of vanilla fat-free yoghurt ($2.49), veggie burgers that had not 1, not 2, but THREE Kosher certificates on the package.  Unfortunately, I can take them or leave them, having had one for supper, but the $3.79 price for 4 burgers isn't outrageous (the reason I don't like them is that they have large pieces of veggies; I find mashed veggies much tastier.).  I bought for $2.99 sprouted 7-grain English muffins.  I bought a 79-cent lemon.  I bought 3 jalapeno peppers for 87cents.  I bouught a 33.8 oz bottle of extra-virgin olive oil for $8.99.  I bought freeze-dried chives for $3.99.  (There would be freezer burn long before I could use up fresh chives, especially since for the only use I make of them -- omelets -- the old place in water in an ice cube tray trick won't work -- who wants a soggy omelet?!)  I bought 32 oz of pure pomegranate juice for $4.99.  I bought 3 lbs of sugar pumpkin for $4.53 -- the staff cut it into 4 pieces for me -- that kind of free, old-fashioned service is why I love Whole Foods.  I had a $5 coupon off a purchase of $25 or more, so my total cost was $28.43.  This left me with a Food Stamps balance of $135.42.

There are good loss-leaders at both Safeway & Cala this week, so I'll be shopping tomorrow & Tuesday mornings.  I'll keep you posted.

Yours in HIm, Deb

Dear All, I stopped by at Whole Foods this morning, but found out that the sale I had anticipated on Muir Glen tomatoes was on the 16-oz (rather than the 29.5 oz) cans.  So, no out-go there.

Cala had a loss-leader of $1/lb for red onions.  But there were only 2 left & I didn't like the way they looked. 

At Cala, I found out that I'll save $1 on each package of cranberries that I buy at Safeway tomorrow ....

I bought the Zip-Lok 2 lb package of C&H dark brown sugar ($2.45), 3 cans of 14.5 oz Libby's sauerkraut (on sale from $1.49 to 99cents), 2 12-oz cans of Hunt's tomato paste @ $1.69, & loss-leader red leaf lettuce (50cents/lb).  I had $1.50 in coupons, but I forgot to hand them in.  The clerk generously gave me cash for them afterwards!

I had $135.42 in Food Stamps before this shopping trip, spent $9.25, & now have a balance of $126.17 until 12/1.

Yours in Him, Deb

 Bought tortillas today fo $3.50.  $26 left until 11/13.  Wrote my grocery list for November-parmesean, fruit, bread, milk, lots of cheese, brown sugar, powd sugar, sour cream, coffee creamer, cottage cheese, yogurt, carrots.  I'll keep adding.  

 Tracy, have you ever made brown sugar? Take white sugar and add a spoon of molasses. I have done that for years. If you want it darker just add more. Cheaper I think once you have the molasses. A jar of that last for years. Babs

Dear All, Today I shopped at Safeway for loss-leaders.  I also bought with a $1 coupon, for the sale price before coupon of $3.99 ($1 off), with a $1 coupon, & with a full rebate of the $3.99, Smart Start cereal, type strawberry oat bites.  So, my net rebate considering my coupon is $4.99.

I also did buy the loss-leaders, 5 - 12-oz packages of fresh Ocean Spray cranberries @ $1.99, & crushed Dole pineapple in cans, 4/$5.00.  (Besides the Thanksgiving cranberry sauce, I can make cranberry dishes all year long from the freezer.)

I had $135.42 in Food Stamps before this transaction, spent $17.94, & now have $108.23 left until 12/1.

Not so bad if I do say so myself!  Yours in Him, Deb

Dear All, Cala/Ralphs/Krogers had brown onions on loss leader today, 50cents/lb.  They are very nice, all the skin is intact, and they are short & squat.  I bought 4 (3.47 lb), & paid $1.69.  My Food Stamps balance was $108.23, & is now $106.54 until 12/1.  Yours in Him, Deb

 Bought two packs of swiss cheese and a bag of french fries for the vegetarian reuben, french fries, and fresh pears dinner last night.  Wanted to have a good dinner, dh was leaving at midnight for a few days.  We eat cheaper when he's gone, should be a cheap few days now.  Only plan to buy milk in the next couple days.

$17 left until 11/13.   

Dear Tracy, I pray that the $17 will last you for the next 5 days.  Love in Him, Deb

Dear All, I went to Whole Foods for yoghurt (@2.49 for 2 qts).  I found that comice pears -- so buttery & smooth, my favorites -- were on loss-leader @ $1.50 lb, so I bought 2 for  total price of $2.04.  (To stretch them out, we cut them up & serve just a few T a day.  We cover the pears in a bowl with lemon water.  Then I drink the water at the end.)  Pickles were on sale (organic) 24 oz for $2.99, so I got those too. 

I had $106.54 in Food Stamps before this grocery shopping trip.  Afterwards, I have $99.07.

BTW, SOME things at Whole Foods are exorbitant.  Imagine a caramel apple, no matter how delectable (& organic) for $3.99!!!!!

Yours in Him, Deb 

Spent $52 of money at the store today, dh got paid.  It was great to go buy a few things. 

Deb, Whole Foods chain was in the top 7 for healthy chains in the country, along with Harris Teeter, Safeway, and Trader Joe's.   There was one in the northeast I can't remember, I think it started with H or F. 

Dear Tracy, I can believe that scorecard, with Whole Foods ranking right up there!  Love in Him, Deb