Friday, November 4, 2016

Secret Subject Swap: Serial Wanderer

Welcome a Secret Subject Swap. This month 12 brave bloggers picked a secret subject for someone else and were assigned a secret subject to interpret in their own style. Today we are all simultaneously divulging our topics and submitting our posts. Read through mine and at the bottom you’ll find links to all of today’s other Secret Subject participants.

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My subject is: Do you wander around when you go shopping, or do you have a list and stick to it?
It was submitted by:  Minette of Southern Belle Charm. I'd like to say a word about Minette before I start. Minette's husband was airlifted to Duke two weeks ago. The situation has been difficult to say the least, the issues multiple and serious. Minette is a kind and thoughtful person and friend. My heart is with hers in that hospital room. Please, any thoughts, prayers and good wishes sent Minette's and Mike's way would be greatly appreciated.

On to my subject: wander around or stick to a list? That depends, are we talking intent? Or actuality?

Before having kids I enjoyed going grocery shopping. I'd take a list of the few staples that needed replacing in the pantry, and ingredients for a dinner Hubs may have requested, but when it came to the rest of the week's meals, I'd meander up and down the aisles assessing what looks good or what new food I might like to try.

Then the kids came along and everything changed. I'd better make a list because I'd be taking my life (or my sanity) in my hands if we didn't have chicken nuggets, frozen waffles, peanut butter and fruit snacks in the house.  

As the boys got older I not only became somewhat immune to temper tantrums, but when it came to food they actually had fewer of them.

But OMG, could they eat. Growing boys. Two of them. Yikes. My food bill doubled. And then doubled again.

So now I do make a list. It's a lot of work. Takes me about an hour a week. That's because not only do I try to be more diligent in planning meals, but I price match and coupon. I keep two lists online at all times, this week's and next week's. Sometimes if this week's list gets too long and starts to give me shpilkis (nerves), I'll push some less essential items (meaning not toilet paper) onto the next list.

On Wednesdays and again on Sundays when the week's circulars come out, I type notes next to any listed item denoting price, brand, and which store has it on sale. Then I go through my coupons. Anything I have a coupon for, that notation is made on the list in red.

I print my list, use a highlighter for all price match items and off I head to the grocery store committed to follow the list and not waver. Price match items in the front of the cart, everything else on the list towards the back.

Yeah I admit it. Good intentions aside, I wander. A few inescapable delectables make it into my cart.

Not only that but, sadly, after all that work I can end up doing all my shopping, checking out, loading and unloading the car, putting the groceries away, go to make dinner and I do not have the ricotta I need for my Loaded Garlic Bread. I swear I had put it on the list. I know that's going to bother me so I go through the trash, find the list and there it is: ricotta. Getting old? Preoccupied with all that yummy stuff not on the list? Either way I have to head back out to the store. And although I may be guilty of coming home with more than just the ricotta, at least I did get it this time.


Loaded Garlic Bread, an Italian loaf packed with flavor for a delicious accent to any meal | Recipe developed by www.BakingInATornado.com | #recipe #bread

Loaded Garlic Bread
Loaded Garlic Bread, an Italian loaf packed with flavor for a delicious accent to any meal | Recipe developed by www.BakingInATornado.com | #recipe #bread



Added bonus: I now know that the store carries Biscoff Cookies. I LOVE Biscoff Cookies. I'd had them on airplanes before but have never seen them in a local grocery store.

And no, they're not in the ricotta aisle. Turns out I may be a serial wanderer . . .




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Loaded Garlic Bread
                                                                          ©www.BakingInATornado.com
 
Printable Recipe
 
Ingredients:
1
Italian Loaf
1 stick butter or margarine, room temperature
1/2 cup ricotta cheese
2 tsp garlic powder
1 TBSP Italian seasoning
1/4 cup grated parmesan
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella
1/4 cup chopped pepperoni

Directions:
*Cut the Italian Loaf lengthwise. Wrap in tin foil and freeze.
*Beat the butter or margarine with the ricotta, garlic powder, Italian seasoning and parmesan. Mix in the mozzarella and pepperoni.
*Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
*Remove the bread from the freezer and separate where cut. Spread as much of the butter mixture onto both sides of the bread as you choose. Any leftover butter mixture can be frozen.
*Close the loaf again, slice, and wrap completely in tin foil.
*Bake for 35 - 40 minutes.

18 comments:

  1. I admit it. I'm a terrible shopper. I need something. I go to the store and get it. Pay. And leave. Then get home and realize I probably should have noticed I also needed . . .
    Sigh. Husby does all the shopping for our family. That is how we stay fed and with firvolous things--like toilet paper-- in the house.
    Wander? The only wandering I do is when I don't know where the item is I came for.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. OK, you have me stuck at your husband doing all the shopping. I'd end up with everything and anything that happened to look interesting and nothing at all that I need for meals.

      Delete
  2. Wow, you are putting a lot of work into your grocerey shopping, I am impressed!
    We have really small fridges in Switzerland (ask any American ex-pat!) so I have to pick up groceries at least twice a week if not more often. Of course it has also to do with the fact that I refuse to do meal planning.
    I recently came across this blogger / vlogger http://funcheaporfree.com/ she's very knowledgable AND entertaining, (addictive) - check her out :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Really small fridges? I don't think I could survive under those circumstances. I have 2 fridges and a freestanding freezer and I'm often out of space!

      Delete
  3. You are so danged organized! I make a list and lose it between here and the grocery story. I get home and the things I needed most aren't there. I only shop once a week because I still don't drive and when hubby goes the cost doubles!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh yeah, my husband costs me an extra half hour and an extra $50!

      Delete
  4. I like to wander around the shops when I go shopping but it isn't something I could do with young children which is why I would rarely take my girls with me when I went shopping when they were young, leaving them with either my sister or with Tim

    ReplyDelete
  5. You're a way better, and more responsible shopper than I am. I'm envious of your skills. I'm a reformed wanderer. I'd probably still be a wanderer, if my health permitted it. These days, I'm grateful to just get out with my needs. Sometimes, I'm unable to finish the shopping. So, I leave with what I've gathered, and Chad returns for the rest. Occasionally, if I'm having a really good day, or Chad is with me, so I feel less at risk if anything happens... I'll wander. I enjoy it. I'm a great window shopper. This bread looks AMAZING. Thank you for sharing!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wandering kind of depends on my mood. Sometimes I just want to get the heck out of there and other times, like you, if the timing is right, I'll wander.

      Delete
  6. Also... By 30 degrees, do you mean 300?

    ReplyDelete
  7. We stick to a list when shopping for my elderly mother in law. For us, anything goes. Be it reduced meat (never had an issue in the store we go to), or unexpected sales, we try to leave ourself open to opportunity. Now, that loaded garlic bread - except for the pepperoni (which I leave to my son), it sounds so yummy. What an imagination you have! Alana ramblimwitham.blgspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I do a little of each, mostly go by the list but am always open to what's on sale too.

      Delete
  8. Never added the ricotta cheese to my garlic bread but.....I'm thinking about it. It sure looks good. I am completely focused to the task at hand, whether it is shopping or anything in life. I rarely wander (except once when I was asleep) And my grocery lists -- I make them down to the store and aisle!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. YES. My list is by aisle as well. The store I go to the most just moved things to different aisles (so people like me are forced to look around) and I was furious.

      Delete
  9. I rarely make a list. I don't coupon, much and I only go to one store. However, I almost always buy what's on sale or markdown and make a menu from that. It's backwards, but it works for me. It's also how I end up with 4 bottles of mustard in the pantry!

    ReplyDelete

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