I Haven't Grocery Shopped in Two Weeks and It Feels Like an Eternity

I just have not had time. I miss time. The interesting thing, though, is how much food we actually have in the house. That last shopping that I did two weeks ago wasn't even a big shop. It was just a couple of items that I thought would get through the next day or two. And then the ignition on my car broke.

I ran out of liquid milk on Saturday. I've been mixing up powdered milk as we've needed it. I am all out of any commercial milk that I can have.  So I made a quick batch of coconut milk yesterday, for my own consumption. We are all out of fresh fruit and are now relying on frozen berries, prunes, and canned pineapple. The fresh veggie supply is limited to 2 carrots, 1/4 head of cabbage, several onions, 3 or 4 lbs of potatoes, and whatever I can scrounge from the garden. I do have canned yams, pumpkin, tomatoes, and corn, still, plus a couple of meals of frozen spinach. It is slim pickins around these parts. Oddly, the kitchen freezer continues to look very full. I keep digging around in there to find goodies. Yesterday, I found another container of pineapple liquid (saved from draining canned pineapple). I've been sick since Saturday, so that tasted good, and helped rehydrate me.

I am wondering just how long I can stretch this limited shopping. Tuesday is Senior Discount day, so I will be adding a milk supply, as well as some fresh produce, tortillas, hot dogs, and cheese.

How about you? Are your grocery supplies dwindling for the month? Just a few more days as the month draws to a close. Be back tomorrow morning!

The Quick Supper Survey Results (with the staples list for items to keep on hand)

That quick meals survey . . .
(By the way, my favorite part of that survey was the image at the top of each page. I don't know if you caught this, but stuff moved in the image, such as the salad was tossed, the wine in the glasses swirled around. I thought that was amusing.)

There were 41 respondents. Here's the breakdown of how the results ended up.

From the moment that you walk into the kitchen until dinner must be served, can you estimate how much time you usually have?

22.2%  20-30 minutes
36.1%  30-45 minutes
41.7%  45 minutes or more

Are you and your family. . . ?

97.2% omnivores (we eat a variety of foods, including animal products)
2.8%  vegan (strictly no animal products)

What are some of the tricks that you employ to keep dinner prep-time to a minimum, when you are busy? (this was a check all that apply question)

44.4%    I prepare make-ahead meals for the freezer, to heat and eat on busy nights     
41,7%    I cook extras on the weekend, we eat leftovers throughout the week      
61.1%    I cook extra on night one, we eat leftovers on night two   
5.6%      We eat a lot of commercial/convenience products, or get take-out often   
72.2%    I prepare simple meals, using minimal, but fresh ingredients   
16.7%    Someone in the family gets dinner started before I return home, then I help as I am able 
47.2%    I use a crock-pot or Sabbath mode on my oven, to start dinner prep before I leave in the morning  
19.4%    We eat non-traditional dinner foods, or peanut butter sandwiches 
13.9%    Other   (take a day to chop fresh vegetables for the week; we usually eat what is in the garden at the time, and we usually eat vegetarian or fish; I batch cook grains, beans, potatoes on the weekends; I use my electric pressure cooker)

What staples do you think would be most handy to have on hand for quick meals?
Listed in descending order:

19 dried pasta,

18 eggs

17 frozen veg (one specified like veggie blends)

15 beans, canned or dry, or frozen, refried or plain and 1 lentils (I listed separately because they’re quick cooking, which makes them good for fast meals)

11 rice

10 cheese

9  pre prepped cleaned fruit/ veg/ salad items, salad mix

8  pre-portioned cook frozen beef, ham, poultry

8  fresh vegetables:including broccoli, cabbage, tomatoes, onions

7  ground beef or ground turkey

6  canned tomatoes, tomato paste, rotel, puree

5  potatoes

4  frozen rice portions, orzo

4  canned or frozen soup,

4  convenient fruit/veg sides (applesauce, canned, frozen or whole fresh fruit, etc.)

4  baking supplies such as flour, sugar etc.

4  tortillas, pitas, wraps, taco shells, tortilla chips

4  frozen fish (defrost ahead of time), or frozen shrimp,

3  homemade or jarred of marinara

3  milk 

3  frozen chicken breasts, or boneless skinless chicken thighs

3  canned tuna or salmon

3  bread

3  frozen chicken breasts, or boneless skinless chicken thighs

3  butter

3  sausage,turkey smoked sausage or kielbasa, chicken Italian sausage

2  quinoa, polenta, couscous

2  frozen pesto and other sauces

2  pre-made homemade chicken or vegetable  stock,

2  frozen meat,
2  frozen chicken

2  sour cream,

2  frozen pizza dough/bread,or garlic bread

1  frozen lemon juice in ice cubes

1  unsweetened nut milk

1  saved bacon/ham fat
1  dehydrated potatoes
1  whole turkey breasts and chicken,(for crockpot)
1  proteins
1  cooked fruit and vegetables

1  grilled cheese fixings/panini

1  quick cooking grains

1  cream of mushroom soup (hangs head in shame

1  precooked onions

1  variety of spices and herbs

1  homemade frozen soffrito

That's some list! Look it over and see what jumps out to you. Just because something was only listed once doesn't mean that it's not valuable. It could be one of those ah-ha moments when you think, yes, that would really benefit me. And notice those items that you do probably already keep on hand, but that you never think to use for quick suppers. I listed things in groups where I felt they belonged together. Some things which are vey similar, I listed separately, because I felt they could be used in different ways, or offer more convenience, pre-seasoned, etc.

I will get to the other question in the survey tomorrow or the next day. These compilations take some time, as we all use different words for similar items. Have a great day!