I love to grocery shop, do you?
My mood and what I’m in need of determines which store I pick.
Oh, and there’s always the vegetable garden in the summer.
One of my favorite memories is watching my daughter, Amaron, during one of her visits home from college, head to the garden with a gigantic stainless steel bowl in search of tomatoes and cucumbers. She returned with her bowl brimming with produce- so full she could barely carry it!
Ah... summer’s bounty.
Anyway, back to spring shopping.
Start by cleaning out your fridge first! I have 2 fridges- the pantry fridge holds ALL of my produce and extra eggs, condiments and back up dairy. The kitchen fridge is the hot spot for daily cooking and ready to eat leftovers.
My method is to take everything out, shelf by shelf, wiping jars, checking dates, consolidating extras and rotating anything that needs to be eaten first. I do a super clean of the surfaces as well. If there are bits and pieces of items that need to be eaten… 2 stalks of celery, a few carrots, a bit of tofu, a container of cooked brown rice. some extra tomato sauce- a few chunks of good cheese, I’ll whip up a stir fry and have it for lunch at the office.
The six one-week-old apples become a cinnamon nutmeg applesauce, the yogurt and ripened bananas- along with the remaining blueberries, strawberries and end of the mango juice whir into a fruit smoothie. I check for what I need to restock- coffee, mustards, tomato products, dry goods..and make a mental list. I buy much of the same produce and fruit. Somehow, when the fruit bowls on my center island are full of colorful fresh fruits, we eat more and enjoy it more. No one has to worry about eating the last banana because there are always more!
In between work, picking up kids, client meetings, a yoga class, I steal an hour or so. Where I shop depends completely on my mood, and somewhat what I need to buy. I know, price should matter too, which it does, but somehow my shopping decisions are cleaner, more concise, and more creative all at the same time when the environment fits my mood. Yesterday, I chose Busch’s. Last week I hit Arbor Farms twice.. Two weeks ago it was Meijer (only in the wee hours of the morning when it’s quiet and empty!) . Sometimes I choose Target for a late Sunday afternoon shop with my son Brian- we stock up on beverages and pantry items (I love his help unloading!!). If I happen to be on State street, the Produce station beckons me- for the small market rush I get looking and smelling the produce.
I admit, much to much of my monthly spending is at the grocery store. But it makes me feel good!! I love the spontaneous dinner party- the ability to always have something to cook with- the feeling of complete organization- and that ready for anything mode I feel with a well stocked fridge and pantry.
Hey... can you come for dinner tonight?
My mood and what I’m in need of determines which store I pick.
Oh, and there’s always the vegetable garden in the summer.
One of my favorite memories is watching my daughter, Amaron, during one of her visits home from college, head to the garden with a gigantic stainless steel bowl in search of tomatoes and cucumbers. She returned with her bowl brimming with produce- so full she could barely carry it!
Ah... summer’s bounty.
Anyway, back to spring shopping.
Start by cleaning out your fridge first! I have 2 fridges- the pantry fridge holds ALL of my produce and extra eggs, condiments and back up dairy. The kitchen fridge is the hot spot for daily cooking and ready to eat leftovers.
My method is to take everything out, shelf by shelf, wiping jars, checking dates, consolidating extras and rotating anything that needs to be eaten first. I do a super clean of the surfaces as well. If there are bits and pieces of items that need to be eaten… 2 stalks of celery, a few carrots, a bit of tofu, a container of cooked brown rice. some extra tomato sauce- a few chunks of good cheese, I’ll whip up a stir fry and have it for lunch at the office.
The six one-week-old apples become a cinnamon nutmeg applesauce, the yogurt and ripened bananas- along with the remaining blueberries, strawberries and end of the mango juice whir into a fruit smoothie. I check for what I need to restock- coffee, mustards, tomato products, dry goods..and make a mental list. I buy much of the same produce and fruit. Somehow, when the fruit bowls on my center island are full of colorful fresh fruits, we eat more and enjoy it more. No one has to worry about eating the last banana because there are always more!
In between work, picking up kids, client meetings, a yoga class, I steal an hour or so. Where I shop depends completely on my mood, and somewhat what I need to buy. I know, price should matter too, which it does, but somehow my shopping decisions are cleaner, more concise, and more creative all at the same time when the environment fits my mood. Yesterday, I chose Busch’s. Last week I hit Arbor Farms twice.. Two weeks ago it was Meijer (only in the wee hours of the morning when it’s quiet and empty!) . Sometimes I choose Target for a late Sunday afternoon shop with my son Brian- we stock up on beverages and pantry items (I love his help unloading!!). If I happen to be on State street, the Produce station beckons me- for the small market rush I get looking and smelling the produce.I admit, much to much of my monthly spending is at the grocery store. But it makes me feel good!! I love the spontaneous dinner party- the ability to always have something to cook with- the feeling of complete organization- and that ready for anything mode I feel with a well stocked fridge and pantry.
Hey... can you come for dinner tonight?
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