This Week's Menu 3/21. The Potato Edition

(this week's Bountiful Basket)

 The new fridge is going to be delivered this Friday, so that gives me another week to use up more freezer items. I also discovered that about 30 pounds of potatoes that I have downstairs in my storage room (it's nice and cold down there) are starting to grow sprouts. I need to hurry up and use them before they are to mushy to eat. I will be incorporating a lot of potato dishes into this week's menu. Thank goodness the troops like potatoes; hopefully there won't be too many complaints!

This week's Bountiful Baskets was full of great produce. It is still lacking the usual lettuce (most of the lettuce crops in Mexico froze last month), but it is almost time to plant my lettuce seeds here in Idaho.  If you don't have Bountiful Baskets available in your area, I would encourage you to check out other local produce co ops or your local farmer's markets. I am thinking that local resources will probably be the cheapest options for buying produce this spring and summer. This week's menu will consist of:

Sunday

 Leftovers

Peach Mango Cobbler

Monday

Pork Roast 

Mashed Potatoes and Cauliflower 

( the troops are cauliflower haters,so I boil the cauliflower with the potatoes and mash them all together. 

No one has ever figured it out!)

Green Beans

Tuesday

Taco Rice and Beans

Tomatoes and Lettuce

Wednesday

Chicken and Noodles

Green Salad 

Parker House Rolls

Thursday

Venison Steak 

Baked Potatoes (baking extra potatoes for Friday's dinner)

Asparagus

Friday

Hash browns (made from yesterday's baked potatoes)

Creamy Sausage Gravy

Poached Eggs

Cantaloupe

Saturday

Simply Baked Pasta  

(using the other half pound of sausage from yesterday's sausage gravy, instead of hamburger)

Garlic Bread (using any leftover rolls)

Broccoli

Since, grocery prices seems to increase every time I go to the grocery store and my grocery budget has not increased, I am really trying to eliminate food waste. I am also trying to stretch meat into two meals. Hopefully, this week's menu incorporates that!

How have you been stretching your grocery budget?

Bountiful Baskets

I haven't posted about Bountiful Baskets for awhile, so I thought I would show you all what was in this week's basket. I am still loving that I can get all of this produce for $15.00 (plus $10.00 for 5 loaves of bread that is made with all natural ingredients). This week Mother Lode included:

• A giant head of leaf lettuce
• Three tomatoes
• The artichokes
• Two (1 pound) bags of carrots
• Three red peppers
• A head of celery
• Two pounds of green grapes
• One pound container strawberries
• Eight gala apples
• Three pound bunch of bananas
• Ten kiwi
• One cantaloupe

The only item that is baffling me is the artichokes. I am not quite sure what do to with them. Any suggestions?

This Week's Bountiful Basket and Volunteering Fun

I haven't posted our Bountiful Basket bounty for a while, so I thought it would be fun show everyone this week's haul! I know I have mentioned my fondness for Bountiful Baskets before, but it really is a great opportunity to take advantage of low cost, high quality produce. This week we received:

• A large head of leaf lettuce
• a large bag of spinach
• a head of cauliflower
• 3 butternut squash
• a bundle of white asparagus (A great delicacy. The kids won't touch the green variety, but were fighting over the white....does that make them vegetable snobs?)
• a 3 pound bunch of green grapes
• 4 mangoes
• 5 bananas
• 9 peaches
• 8 giant plums
• 10 limes
  

I always split my basket with my dear friend. If this might be to many fruits and veggies for your family, only order every other week or split the cost with a friend or neighbor, too.

As I have mentioned in a previous post, Bountiful Baskets Co-op relies on volunteers to make each site successful. Bountiful Baskets is NOT a business. It is a voluntary organization. They do not make any money from this venture. In fact, the sites main coordinators (Sally and Tanya), who are based in Arizona, do this as a volunteer service. Most co-op's I have heard about require that participants help run the site (to keep costs down). That is why if you want to participate in Bountiful Baskets you should plan to help out at least one Saturday every other month (but feel free to go as often as you can!)

I decided to practice what I preach, and went to volunteer this morning! I showed up bright and early at 6:45 a.m. (with a LARGE Diet Coke stowed in the Suburban). I have to say it was a blast! I made some new friends. Got a semi aerobic workout (helping lift boxes of produce out of the semi truck, dividing out fruits and veggies, and squatting to load baskets into participants baskets). Visited with a few participants and volunteers. Got a bonus produce item in my basket for helping out, and scored the perfect cardboard boxes for storing empty quart canning jars in! Here are some important things to remember when you go to volunteer:

• Dress for the weather!
• Wear clothes that can get dirty.
• Wear close toed shoes. It really hurts if you drop boxes on naked toes!
• Show up at least one hour early. Check The Bountiful Basket web site for the time volunteers should be at your site.
• Be prepared to stay the entire time the site is open (it will take about 2 hours).
• Have FUN!
  

Bountiful Basket Update

Don't forget that if you live in Idaho, Wyoming, or Utah log in time to order a Bountiful Basket is 8:00p.m. (Mountain Standard Time), 9:00 pm if you live in Texas! Also, my friend who helped start Bountiful Baskets here in Pocatello reminded me how important volunteers are to the success of the co-op! If you are a participant you are expected to volunteer at least every 3 months. To volunteer just show up at your designated site one hour before pick up time. The more volunteers there are on Saturday morning; the easier and quicker the site can function! Oh, and as an added bonus, if you volunteer you get to pick one extra produce item as a bonus, and who doesn't love free food!

P.S. If you do not pick up your basket it is donated to charity (and you will still be required to pay for it), but you are not banned. I apologize for the misinformation (I got it off the Bountiful Basket website, but several other B.B. participants let me know that is incorrect. Thank goodness!!!).

Bountiful Baskets Co-op 101

I have had several friends recently ask me about Bountiful Baskets. I always love sharing about my latest frugal finds, so I have been singing it's praises far and wide. So, when Sakrina at Saving Cents asked me to explain a little bit about it, I was thrilled!

Basically, Bountiful Baskets is a non for profit produce co-op based out of Arizona. They have contracted with small farms all over the Southwestern United States and Mexico to buy fresh produce directly. The co-op provides produce to sites in Arizona, Idaho, Nevada, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming, and because they buy their fruits and vegetables in very large quantities they have a buying power that allows them to purchase the produce at wholesale. This allows them to provide the service at such a reasonable price. A basket of 50% fruit and50% vegetables is $15.00 ($25.00 for an organic basket)!

On Monday or Tuesday (depending on which state you live in) at a specified time (which are available on their website) the offerings for the week are posted. Each week, in addition to the basic basket, they sometimes offer side items. Generally, 9 Grain bread is offered each week, but they have also offered granola, bulk quantities of carrots, strawberries, and peaches, snack bars, tortillas, Italian vegetables and herbs, and Mexican vegetables and herbs. Side items change weekly. If you log on to the site you can view the weeks offerings.

To purchase a basket you need to:

• Go to Bountiful Basket's website and log on at your state's specified time.
• Click on your state's icon located on the home page.
  
• Select the location site where you want to pick up your basket.
  
• Select how many baskets you wish to purchase (you can order up to three). Fair warning though, you will get a lot of produce in just one basket (to get an idea of what is included in an average basket click here)!
• Select any sides you want to purchase.
• When you have finished making your selections, go to checkout to pay and receive your confirmation number.
  
• You must pay for your basket with a Visa or Mastercard (you will be charged a $1.50 handling fee each week when you purchase your basket).
• Print off your receipt.
  

The first time you visit the site to purchase a basket, you will be required to create an account and password. You will also be required to pay a(one time) $3.00 fee to join the co-op at checkout. Only a certain number of baskets are available at each site. When all of the baskets at each site have been purchased that site will disappear from the list of locations. Baskets are picked up at the location you selected on Saturday at the time posted next to the location. Don't worry, you receive an email from the B.B. teams reminding of your location.

Important info. you need to know if you want to participate:

• If you want a certain location log on and a purchase your basket as soon as it is your state's turn.
• You need to bring the printed copy of your receipt with you to pick up your basket.
• Bring your own "basket" to take your produce home. I recommend a large laundry basket, or several large reusable grocery bags. Something with handles works best.
• Show up on time to pick up your basket.
• If you can't pick it up yourself, send someone to get it for you. If you don't pick it up it is donated to charity (at your expense) and you are banned from participating forever.
• Dress for the weather. Most locations are outside and you will have to wait in line for a few minutes.
  
• Make sure to pick up all of your items. Side items are located at a second table.
  

Here is an idea of the price for items that have been offered since I started participating in B.B.:

• Basic basket $15.00
• Basic organic basket $25.00
• 9 Grain Bread (5 loaves for $10.00)
• 7 dozen tortillas (3 dozen large flour, 2 dozen small flour, 2 dozen small white corn) $10.00
• Mexican pack $7.50
• Italian pack $7.50
• Tropical granola $10.00
• 30 cranberry bars $10.00
  
• A flat of strawberries $6.00
• 24 pound box of peaches $12.50
• Ciabatta bread (5 loaves) $10.00
  

I have to admit I was skeptical when I first heard about Bountiful Baskets, but after participating several times I was very impressed. All of the produce I have gotten has been very fresh. It has lasted much longer than the produce I have bought at the grocery store. The price can't be beat; if you bought the same amount of produce at the grocery store (even on sale) it would cost two or three times as much. You do not get to pick what is in each week's basket, but I have never been disappointed. There is usually one or two out of season items included (a.k.a. mini watermelon in February, and oranges and clementines in June). I have to say that it is kind of a kick in the pants to see what's in your basket each week and decide how to incorporate it into the weekly menu! I am hooked on the 9 grain bread and tortillas! Both are made without preservatives (which means they can be frozen and they will maintain there quality). I have been trying to incorporate healthier bread options at my house and these have allowed my to do so without breaking the bank.

If you live in Pocatello, Idaho there are currently four locations available:

• Holt Arena parking lot
  
• Westwood Mall parking lot
• Wilk's Funeral Home parking lot
  
• a private home in Chubbuck(sorry, I can't remember the address)
  

Bountiful Baskets is entirely voluntary! To keep costs down they rely on volunteers to run the sites each Saturday. People are needed to portion out baskets, break down boxes, run the check in tables, and direct participants. To volunteer show up at your site one hour before pick up time. If you have questions you can go to the website. There are links that answers questions, explains how to start a B.B. site in your area, and explains co-op policies.

This Week's Bountiful Basket

The last few weeks have been crazy (I guess Summer is just like that), but I am back on track!
This morning I picked up my Bountiful Basket. I didn't realize how much I missed it! This week's offerings were wonderful. This week we got(for the bargain price of $15.00):

• Two large head of leaf lettuce
• 1 cantaloupe
• 1 bunch of broccoli
• 1 bag red grapes (about 3 pounds)
• 1 bag bing cherries (about 3 pounds)
• six bananas
• 20 plums
• 2 avocados
• 4 tomatoes
• 10 peaches
• paper sack full of string beans
  
• 1 pound bag of baby carrots

They have added a new site in Chubbuck. It is located in the Wilk's Funeral Home parking lot, and pickup is at 8:00 a.m. They have also added new locations in other areas, so be sure to check the Bountiful Basket blog site Monday night!

This Week's Bountiful Basket and A Handy Tip

Here is this week's yumminess! We were very excited that the 9 grain bread was offered this week! It is totally delicious, and very good for you! I just read the ingredients list on the bag. They are: Wheat flour, Organic Whole Grain Wheat Flour, Water , Honey, Rye Flakes, Barley , Oats, Vital Wheat Gluten, Cracked Wheat, Corn, Rye, Millet, Flaxseed, Sea Salt, and Yeast. Absolutely no preservatives (yeah!!). Each slice is: 50 calories, .5 g fat, 75 mg sodium, 10 g total carbs, 2 g fiber, 2 g sugar, 5 g protein. This week we got:

• a big head of leaf lettuce
  
• 3 pounds Granny Smith apples
• 3 pounds bananas
• 3 navel oranges
• 1 coconut
• 5 avocados
  
• 1 (6 oz) container blackberries
• 1 pound strawberries
• 8 tomatoes
• 2 yellow summer squash
• 2 cucumbers
• 8 peaches
• 5 loaves of 9 grain bread

Total cost:
$15.00 for basket
$10.00 for bread
$1.50 handling fee
$26.50 total

Now for my handy tip that is totally unrelated to Bountiful Basket's, but just popped into my head, because I am having Dear Hubby's whole clan over for a BBQ tonight. When you are making punch or lemonade for a crowd freeze part of the punch/ lemonade in ice cube trays, or empty Cool Whip containers. Place the ice in the punch bowl or beverage dispenser, and pour the rest of the beverage over it. It will keep the punch cold without diluting it. If you are serving it in gallon pitchers; fill the pitcher 1/3 full of punch/lemonade and freeze. Then add the rest of the beverage in the pitcher before serving. Both ways will keep your punch cold for hours. If you are serving lemonade in a pretty bowl float a few slices of lemon on top. It will look like a gourmet concoction (and no one will guess it's just Country Time drink mix) .

This Week's Bountiful Basket

This week's Bountiful Basket haul was fabulous! Since I picked it up this week, I photographed our entire basket. I wasn't kidding when I said it filled a large laundry basket! I have very impressed with the quality of the produce. Most everything lasts a week or longer in the fridge. Our $15.00 ($16.50 including the handling fee) bought us:

• 1 giant head of leaf lettuce
• 3 pounds of apples
• 11 peaches
• 5 mangos
• 3 pounds of bananas
• 10 limes (hello Diet Coke with Lime )
• 13 brussel sprouts (I am so excited to cook these)
• 6 tomatoes
• 1 pound package of baby carrots
• 2 small butternut squash
• 7 ears of corn
• 1 personal sized watermelon

If you live in Wyoming, Washington, Utah, Texas, Nevada, Idaho, or Arizona check Bountiful Baskets blogspot to see if there is a location near you!

Bountiful Baskets

(MY HALF OF THE BOUNTY!)

My dear friend and neighbor, Stacy and I have been participating in Bountiful Baskets for about a month now, and I have to say it has been one of our greatest finds! Every Monday night (log in times vary by state so check the site for your time. Idaho's time is 8:00pm.) we log on to the Bountiful Baskets website, and place our order for a basket(actually two small laundry baskets worth; one of fruit and one of veggies), which costs $15.00. In addition to fruits and veggies, there are other items that can be purchased. Usually, there is 9 grain bread (5 loaves for $10.00). I was worried my family wouldn't eat it, but it has been a hit. It is very tasty, and freezes well. There are also seasonal items that can be purchased. So far (since we have been participating), there has been flats of strawberries, packages of salsa vegetables, (7 dozen) assorted tortillas (also freezes well), and gallon cans of extra virgin olive oil. Bountiful Baskets co ops with small farms to purchase in bulk, and relies on local volunteers to keep the costs down. On Saturday, with laundry basket in hand (You have to bring your own container to bring your food home in. I would recommend a Rubbermaid tote or laundry basket. Cardboard boxes got heavy, and were hard to hold on to!), we go to our designated site at the time appointed (for us it's 8:00 am) and wait in line (for about 15 or so minutes). When it's our turn we show our voucher (which you print off of the computer from an e mail you receive on Friday), and sign the log book. Then we get our basket (if you signed up for extras you go to a second table to show your voucher and sign a second log book). Since, Stacy and I, split a basket and whatever else we purchase (which feeds two families, one with six and one with seven,for one week) our average cost is about $13.50 each. For instance this week we got:

• A BIG head of Romaine lettuce
• A BIG bunch of Spinach
• 3# of bananas
• 3# of apples
• 1 cantaloupe
  
• 1 honeydew melon
• 2 cucumbers
• 8 tomatoes
• 8 kiwis
• 2 small bags of radishes
• 3 (6 oz) containers of blackberries
• 2 artichokes

This would definitely have cost much more than $15.00 at the supermarket! Each week brings a different variety of fruits and veggies. It has been kind of fun for me because of the variety of produce we get. I wouldn't usually buy blackberries, kiwis or honeydew right now because they aren't really in season, and I have never bought fresh artichokes in my life until now. In fact, I have a blackberry/ strawberry pie in the oven (and it smells HEAVENLY!). I have also been very impressed by how fresh everything is, and how long it keeps in the refrigerator. So, THANK YOU to all the great people who have worked hard to bring Bountiful Baskets to our area!! I have to give them a two thumbs up for sure!!!

P.S. Pie anyone?