Squash blossoms and mixed baby greens from the garden
Have I mentioned how much I love my garden? Maybe once? Twice? Yeah. Love it. We spent $123.20 this week for the three of us. I was worried we’d go over budget because we ran out of a lot of staples at one time: dried beans (I went for pinto beans and black-eyed peas this time, a change from our usual black beans and adzukis), dried chickpeas, brown AND white rice, soba noodles, and tahini. What I got will carry us through a few weeks, so over the course of the month it will work out budgetwise, but I was sure I’d blown it for this week when the first shop came out to $55.40 and we were still going to need more fruit, yogurt, and peanut butter, etc as the week went on. Well, we cut it close, but we squeaked in underbudget. It wouldn’t have been possible without the garden.
This week we ate kale, mixed baby greens, baby zucchini and their blossoms, filet beans, turnips, turnip greens, and basil from the garden. I bought one head of broccoli, a bunch of celery, some carrots, and three onions, but otherwise all our vegetables came from the garden. (And soon our own carrots will be ready for harvesting, and next year we’ll have onions.) We could have had a super cheap week, even though the staples cabinet needed restocking, but I bought a lot of fruit. Hey, it’s summer. Have you had any peaches yet? There is no reason whatsoever to walk past a stack of peaches without buying any if the budget allows. And the budget allowed. And we ate some peaches. And damn, they were good.
Oh yeah. And I spent six bucks for two avocados. I know, I know… It was a moment of weakness. I should just boycott avocados until either the price comes down or they decide they’re willing to grow in Portland.
The challenge for next week? I mean, besides the whole budget thing. Next week I’m going to try my hand at making paneer, and if I get really brave maybe I’ll make some bagels, too.
#1 by Anna at July 17th, 2009
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Paneer is fun to make, don’t be afraid. I have not found it to be much of a budget thing though. The price of milk is too high (esp for organic etc). Add that to the time to make it and heating up the kitchen in summer, I don’t make it very often. It’s indisputably fun though (I think kids would enjoy the process, seeing how much I enjoy seeing the curds etc). Also don’t burn yourself handling the curds (when you are trying to compress it). I’ve done that more than once.
#2 by cari at July 17th, 2009
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Ouch! Hot curds. Duly noted.
#3 by S.A. at July 21st, 2009
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I used to make paneer as a money saving technique, but unlike the previous poster, I think it is a savings. Of course it depends on if you have the time. The paneer I buy at the store was like 5-6 bucks, compared to a gallon of milk, and about 30-40 minutes of your time. I am not sure it was fun though except the first time, but easy, yes! Try and and post back please!