A Day Late and a Dollar Short

I got a little too ambitious when I said I was going shopping the next day. Apparently, getting sidelined by a fibro-flare up is more common in the colder months. I disapprove. But, the move did happen. It just took me this long to set up my new kitchen. But, I have learned a few things since moving; 1- Amy's Organic frozen meals are not a bad shortcut when you can't find your cooking supplies, and 2- my freezer holds exactly three of them, so this won't happen often.

My shopping trip went surprisingly well, though I do say so myself. I started with the spice cabinet. If you have a well-stocked spice cabinet, your food can never truly suck, and you can quote me on that. I was serious when I said I was going all organic. I even bought organic spices! While I thought I would blow my entire food budget on this endeavor, I was pleasantly surprised by the deals I got.

For starters, the key is to never buy prepackaged spices...EVER. You will always pay through the nose for the packaging. So, I went to Cost Plus World Market and bought myself reusable glass spice jars for 99 cents apiece. Then I found a coupon for 25% off. Day = MADE.

Then, I went to Lifesource Natural Foods. I love this place. I want to live here. If it were a man, I'd marry it and have its little organic babies, but that is beside the point... I made a beeline for the bulk foods. Lo and behold, a most splendid selection of organic herbs and spices. Word of the wise: never look at the price per pound for spices. Just don't, you will have a mini heart attack. You will see herbs and spices for 20, 30, and even 40 dollars a pound. Just don't read the price tag. You will purchase maybe an ounce at a time. The most expensive thing I bought was whole nutmeg. It sells for $61.99 a pound. I bought 5 whole nutmeg and it came to $3.72. I purchased 27 different seasonings for about $32.

I smile just looking at this. Seriously.

Next order of business was to buy my dry goods that will keep quite nicely on a shelf, which is good because my fridge is the size of a small dishwasher.

I found that buying pantry staples is ridiculously different when you're shopping clean and gluten-free. No sugar, flour, white rice (which I don't like, anyway). It's like learning to shop all over again. Back to Lifesource I went. I wanted to avoid the prospect of GF baking in the beginning. I can only handle so many projects at once, so I skipped the flours in the bulk foods section and went straight to the whole grains. I bought GF oats, amaranth, sorghum, kasha, quinoa, brown rice, wild rice, and millet. I have cooked with exactly 3 of those. I also got some quinoa pastas for those times when only comfort food will do. A must-have for a girls who really can't afford organic, free-range meat -- beans and eggs. I think I just accidentally  went vegetarian...

I rounded out my shopping trip with some onions, garlic, shallots, apples, and some winter squashes. The wheels in my head are already turning with yummy edibles.

Grand total for my starter groceries: $78.33. Not too shabby, plus all I have to do is buy produce and refill my dry goods. I can do this.

Well, I am home from work and starving like I haven't eaten in weeks. I'm going to try a recipe I've been mulling over today that will use what I just bought. I'll try it out and post it tomorrow.

Stay hungry, my friends.