weekly food shop

before i get to my normal business of listing what i bought today, I'd like to announce that I will be maintaining this blog after I move. I'd also like to give a special thanks to Beverly-your kind words really mean a lot to me, and it's great to know that this blog is making a difference for at least one person out there.

today, I went food shopping at whole foods and trader joe's.

here's what I bought at Trader Joe's:
2 gala apples
1 cantaloupe
1 red bell pepper
1 cucumber
organic baby carrots
organic bagged baby spinach
lite shredded mozzarella cheese
total: $14.62

this is what I bought at whole foods:
1 piece of ginger
nasoya extra firm tofu
bean sprouts
green onions
red curry paste
8 organic apricots
total: $13.52

stay tuned for some new recipes!

The Future of this Blog

I want to make it clear that I am unsure at this point what will happen with this blog once I move. The move is happening in a little over two weeks, and it is likely that I will not qualify for foodstamps in New Jersey, since I will be working part-time and am applying to substitute teach at a local school district.

the way I see it, there are two options:
1. I can continue to maintain the blog and post recipes and open threads, except I will no longer be purchasing food with an EBT card. I will still be on a tight budget, but I will be purchasing food with money instead of foodstamps.

2. I can retire the blog.

I'd like to take this opportunity to take a poll on what you, the reader, would like to see happen. Please leave a comment with your opinion.

Things I've learned on the Road

I just got back from vacation in the south, during which I learned a few interesting things about myself and my food stamps. this is what I learned:
1. health food stores are your best friend when you travel as much as I do and refuse to pay $10 for a plate of fries at the airport bar.
2. half a pound of couscous, a fruit leather, and a protein bar can become a satisfying meal.
3. no, that wasn't sarcastic.
4. at some point in the last two years, major airlines stopped being courteous enough to give a free in-flight snack.
5. prepare accordingly for this.
6. in Georgia, you can use your food stamps to buy deli products.

there was a health food store/deli near my friend's apartment that we went to on my last day for lunch. while there, I also decided to buy some dried lavender and a few other things that weren't from the deli counter, along with my sandwich and couscous. when I asked the girl at the register if they take ebt, she told me that I can only use it to buy food. imagine how excited i was to learn my tofu sandwich and israeli couscous were covered, too! I told the girl that we have different rules in Wisconsin, and she told me that only a few delis take it. Regardless, I was an excited person.

Cheap Food I Love: Lentils

Lentils are the epitome of cheap, nutritious food. They can be bought in bulk for very little money and can be used in a variety of ways-soups, curry dishes, etc. A friend who studied in India for a semester told me that the reason they're so popular there is because they are cheap and filling, thanks the high amount of fiber they carry. Yes, they are a bit time consuming, but I think it's totally worth it. Soaking them definitely makes a difference in the cooking time.

Cheap Food I Love: Bulgur

Bulgur is a fantastic grain to work with and can be cheap when purchased in bulk (I've found it in the bulk section of whole foods). Though it is commonly used in tabouli recipes, I've used in vegetarian chili to add some texture to it.

Cheap Food I Love: Seedless Grapes

Grapes may not be as versatile as some of the other food I've mentioned in this mini-series, but they are my favorite thing to snack on when I want something sweet. They're great for car trips and are a welcome addition in salads. When it's hot out I love to stick them in the freezer as a summer treat.

Cheap Food I Love: Portobello Mushrooms

Portobello mushrooms can do no wrong in my eyes. I love the tough, meaty texture of them, which makes them perfect for grilling. During a recent camping trip, a fellow veg and I grilled them and ate them on burger buns topped with cheese. They're also a perfect addition to vegetarian chili.