Week 4: As usual, the first part of the list is just like the first three week’s shopping: bread, peanut butter, cereal, milk.  and so on.  Remember to check your supplies for other things like Zip loc bags and add them to the list if you are running low.  The brownies keep their permanent place on the list and the fruit is the same: bananas, pears, apples, etc. but add in peaches or mangoes, depending on the season.  Changes on this week’s list are for the recipes for week 4.

Cost Check: Once again, the total cost for the week’s shopping will be about $150-160 for four people.  On June 10,  2010, I shopped at Fiesta and found everything except the Spanish Rice seasoning and the brand of shredded cheese I  prefer (Weight Watchers 4-Cheese Mexican Blend).  I purchased those items at Kroger.  The total bill between the two stores was $144.72 and includes the purchase of a sifter ($6), Chefmate vegetable peeler ($7) and sturdy cookie sheet ($7). I did not buy the pasta and sauce because I still have the unopened packages from the first two weeks’ shopping trips.  If you are spending more than $160 per week on groceries at a cost-efficient store like Fiesta or HEB, double-check your receipts.  The items that jack up your bill are typically Cokes and other beverages, prepared food like frozen meals and pizzas, and snacks like chips, candy, and cookies.  Get these out of your “real food” shopping basket and use your “entertainment” money on the junk food.

DON’T PRINT THIS PAGE: This blog page is too long to print in its entirety, so copy the shopping list to Word, Excel or some other print-friendly application if you need a hard-copy list.

• 1 loaf sliced bread (white or wheat)
• 1 jar peanut butter (creamy or crunchy)
• 1 jar jam or preserves (grape, strawberry, or apricot)
• 1 jar Nutella
• 1 box Ritz crackers
• 1 box microwave popcorn (6-10 bags)
• 2 boxes different kinds of cereal (Frosted Mini Wheats, Pops, Apple Jacks, or granola)
• 1 gallon milk (whole, 2%, 1%, skim, or soy)
• 12-18 or 24 eggs (use 6 in Frittattas, 2 in Banana Bread, 2 in brownies, 1 in each batch of cornbread)
• 2 boxes Betty Crocker Supreme Brownie Mix with Hershey’s syrup
• 1 12-16 oz. package dry pasta (spaghetti, rotini, bow-tie, etc.)
• 1 24 oz.  jar Classico sweet basil marinara sauce
• 8 apples
• 8 oranges
• 8 bananas (buy slightly green)

• 1/2 cup (usually one package) fresh basil; herbs are often found in the packaged salad section of store
• 4-8 ears fresh corn in shucks in season
• 3-4 peaches or mangoes in season
• 4 medium yellow onions
• 1 pod of garlic cloves
• 2 cups fresh green beans
• 1 bunch celery
• 4 bell peppers
• 1 package whole carrots
• 5 medium to large Russet potatoes
• 1 bag Fresh Express BLT Supreme complete salad mix (or other flavor) – use only half the dressing and toppings, save the rest for the other package of lettuce
• 1 bag Fresh Express hearts of romaine or other salad blend – use your two salads with the chili and the grilled chicken meals.
• 1 large tomato (for Frittattas)
• 3 Roma tomatoes to add to salads
• 2 lemons
• 1 bunch green onions (also known as scallions)
• 1 bunch cilantro
• 1 package Wick Fowler’s Two Alarm Chili mix
• 2 cans diced tomatoes (about 12-14 oz each)
• 1 bottle of Fish Sauce (look in Asian section of store)
• 1 bottle soy sauce
• 1 small jar Chili paste (look in Asian section)
• 1 can chicken or vegetable broth (12-16 oz.)
• 1 can tomato sauce (8 oz.)
• 1 pound bag dried lima beans
• 1 box regular white rice (about 1 lb.) – I like Adolphus because it is locally grown and processed in the Houston area
• 1 bottle Bolner’s Fiesta brand Spanish Rice seasoning (Fiesta doesn’t carry this brand, look for it at Kroger, HEB or Randall’s)
• 1 jar ground cinnamon
• 1 can baking POWDER (you bought baking soda before, this is different) – I usually buy Calumet or Clabber Girl brands
• flour and sugar (check your supplies, you probably have enough left for this week’s cooking but you might need to restock)
• cupcake or muffin cup liners (24)
• 1 small bag yellow cornmeal (don’t buy a mix by mistake)
• 1 bag (12-16 oz.) medium-wide egg noodles
• 12-16 oz. shredded cheddar cheese
• Walnut pieces – about 4 oz. or 1/2 cup
• 1 small (6 oz bag chocolate chips)
• 1 spray bottle of Pam
• 1 small bottle extra virgin olive oil or other vegetable oil like corn oil or canola oil (check your pantry to see if you still have some left before you buy more)
• 2 foil pie plates (for frittattas)
• 1 foil cake pan (for cornbread)
• quart and gallon-size Zip-loc bags
• 1 sturdy cookie sheet (to place under foil containers this week and in the future, and eventually to make cookies on!)
• buy a vegetable peeler if you don’t already have one.  Spend about $7-10 to get a really good one.  Your hands will thank you!
• buy a sifter this week
• 2 8×8 or 1 9×13 foil cake pans (for brownies)

Meat?  Check with your roommates to find out if you can buy chicken, ground beef (at least 95% lean), or pork.  If you add meat to this week’s cooking, buy the following:

• 1-pound package chicken tenders (for Thai Stir-Fry)
• 1-1.5-pound package chicken thighs (for Chicken Noodle Soup)
• 1 pound to 1.5 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts (Grilled Chicken Breasts)
• 2 pounds extra lean ground beef  or turkey (for Wick Fowler’s Two Alarm Chili)
• 12 oz to 1 pound low fat or light beef kielbasa or other link sausage (carnivores, slice, saute, and add to Lima Beans while they cook for a hearty meal)

Vegetarians: buy additional quantities of celery, onion, and bell pepper and saute 2 cups of mixed, chopped vegetables to replace  meat in recipes

• 2 bunches celery
• 4 onions
• 4 bell peppers
• 1-1.5 pounds fresh broccoli

Necessities that don’t go in the pantry

• toilet paper (buy a minimum of 1 roll per person per week)
• 1 roll paper towels (if using as napkins with meals, buy two rolls)
• recycle your plastic grocery bags as trash can liners or buy can liners
• air freshener for bathroom and kitchen