The Month Without a Shopping Trip…

I am already starting to panic.  That feeling of desperation is closing in.  I don’t know if I can be strong, but I’m going to give it the old college try.  Again…  Why do I do this to myself?

What is the mission that has me so frazzled?  It’s a rough one.  My second annual “No Groceries Month”.  Let that sink in…  NO.  GROCERIES.  For four whole weeks.  I know! It’s insanity.  The purpose of this exercise is pretty straightforward: I habitually over-buy if I’m in a grocery store.  I easily have enough food in this house to survive three zombie apocalypses, a typhoon, and 10 Super Bowl parties.  But I just KEEP BUYING MORE!  My cookbook projects and my impulsive nature set me up for failure when it comes to keeping a simplified, reasonable-sized pantry.  And freezer.  And refrigerator…  Ok, two refrigerators and three freezers, if you want to get all technical!  Yes, that’s a “spare” 20 pound turkey and two cases of Pepsi.

Last year I set a goal to see just how long I could go without hitting up the supermarket for anything other than perishables.  Because seriously, it’s tough to justify an average of five trips a week to Safeway, Sprouts, King Soopers, and the occasional specialty store! It was good for the pocketbook, but tough on the soul.  To give some perspective, my grocery bill for January is already at $350.  So far…  I reconciled myself to the experiment by a) knowing I certainly would not starve myself or the kids, and b) flexing my creativity muscles trying to find uses for all the stuff I had stored up.

I am not completely going off the food grid for February, but there are a few self-imposed rules to abide by.  I am forbidden to see something I simply MUST make immediately and run out to purchase canned clams, arugula, or goji berry juice.  No impulsive recipes!  Give me strength Lord…  I have to survive off eating the food I have already, seeing as I have pounds and pounds of frozen meats, poultry and seafood, some frozen fruits and vegetables, and enough dry pasta to stock an Italian restaurant.  And don’t even get me started on the freezer meals I have put aside from the past year’s Ree recipes.  She had a whole chapter!  And I made them all.  I have Lasagna Roll-Ups.  Baked Ziti.  Minestrone.  Chili Con Carne.  Pre-roasted chicken breasts that I can utilize a dozen different ways.  I even have a couple cans of Spaghetti-O’s with Meatballs and boxes of Kraft Mac and Cheese just in case I get tired of “real food”!

I also have some security blankets in place to make sure I can make it the whole four weeks:

1.  Royal Crest Dairy Delivery.  They come every week and bring me milk, cream, eggs, cheese, and bread if (when) I need it.  They even have cookie dough and bottled water, though I have never willingly paid money for water, and I think buying cookie dough would somewhat defeat the purpose of trying to use up my current supplies.  I can just bake my own cookies!
2. Schwan’s Home Delivery.  Now before you go and call me a great big cheater, I cannot order pre-made meals or sides!  Trust me, I already have plenty sitting in my freezer…  However, I may break down and order salmon fillets or the like.  I’m not planning to use this option, but knowing it’s available keeps my hyperventilation in check…
3. Butcher Box.  I recently placed my very first order with this home delivery service for quality proteins, set to deliver the first week of the month, and I look forward to telling you all how it goes!  It will be a last resort to actually cook with these steaks and other beef products in February though.  I intend to use the oldest and most forgotten groceries that have been overlooked for so long.  Once the clean-out has occurred, I can celebrate with my organic, grass-fed, yoga-practicing, essential-oil-wearing, spa-going beef cuts!
4. Lunch hour.  Yeah, exactly what it sounds like!  If I get a craving that just won’t quit, I’m allowing myself to indulge it as a single serving, versus coming home and making the tempting recipe in a batch guaranteed to require Tupperware later!

So that’s my plan…  I’m stocking up and trying to knock out recipes that call for weird ingredients before January runs out.  My goal of completing the Dinnertime cookbook may not make much progress in February, but I guarantee we will not be losing weight in this house.  Stay tuned for that March 1st post, because I’m probably going to make something over the top!  Wish me luck…  I’m going to need it!