Market Basket $58.04
After two months of spending just under one hundred dollars a month on groceries, it was time to splurge. And splurge we did!
Out first stop was Market Basket to pick up few basic rations.
One of the things I craved the most while I was pinching pennies, was meatloaf. Ever since coming across the recipe for Stove Top Stuffing meatloaf, it’s been the only one we want to eat.
This time around we doubled the recipe and popped the extra one in the freezer.
I don’t know what’s better, meatloaf, or meatloaf sandwiches the next day. Hmm. It’s a tough one.
Costco $238.25
Our second stop on grocery day was Costco.
We were out of SO MANY things!! Nuts, dried fruit, sugar, condiments, pasta, eggs, bacon and so much more.
Fact: The oranges were total duds!!!
The condiments were $9.49 {not sure if that was a good deal so much as a hey, let’s just buy it so we have enough for the rest of the year sort of thing}. The celery salad!! Oh how I’ve missed it.
I was going to get my favorite Mediterranean Crunch salad mix but it didn’t look that great so I passed.
We tried the stuffed shells. They’re pretty good. At $10.49 I think it’s a deal.
Pasta was on sale $8.39 for 6 17+oz packages… a decent price if you ask me.
I wandered off to look at towels and when I had come back the HH had put the pizza, mac and cheese and the beef bourguignon in the cart. And more Heinz beans!
I just looked at everything and laughed. We should have eaten something before we went into the store!! Oh well.
I know I’ve said this before but I could eat the Costco celery salad everyday for a year. It so good and filling too!
The best part of this past week though, was our overnight trip to Boston for my birthday.
The HH asked me what I wanted to do for my birthday this year and I told him I wanted to go to Boston and eat pastries.
So that’s what we did!
The first stop was Beacon Hill Books and Cafe for cream tea.
Next stop was The Harvard Natural History Museum to look at rocks and taxidermy.
I loved the color combo of this one. I think colors would look great in a rug.
The next stop was L.A. Burdicks for cake. 🙂 Because seriously, what is a birthday without a piece of cake? Or four.
After L.A. Burdick’s we walked around Newbury Street, thought about getting a Smashburger and then decided to stop by Tatte and Trader Joe’s for pickety dinner supplies instead.
We ate in our room, watched a movie and then went to bed early.
The next day we went to the Boston Museum of Fine Arts so I could look at one of my favorite things there… A tea table. 🙂
Isn’t it beautiful? I have to stop by the Americana’s wing every time we’re there and have another look.
After the museum we stopped by another bakery for more pastries before hopping on the train and heading home. I can’t believe I’m saying this but I think I’m good on pastries for a while.
At least a solid month. I’ve had my fill. 😉
It was a good week for eating though. A soup party at a friend’s house, meatloaf, celery salad and lots of pastries.
I suspect this coming week will be a sort of sugar detox though.
How about YOU? What was the best thing you ate last week? Curious minds want to know.
~Mavis
Nancy Settel says
Well now Mavis a belated Happy Birthday to you and yes you had the best birthday ever! Oh oranges can be so hard to figure out once in a while. We have been getting Cara Cara oranges and they have been oh so good. Going through them like crazy. Never had the celery salad but want to try it now. Must find someone with a Costco membership now. By the way that tea table I would fight you for it. Have a great weekend.
Mavis Butterfield says
I LOVE that tea table!! Wish I knew someone who could make one for me. Then the tricky part… Finding 14 people to invite over for tea so we could use it.
J in OH-IO says
Nancy, we made your (pork, sliced onions, apple pie filling, and dried cranberries) crockpot meal- it was DELICIOUS! Thanks for sharing your recipe it will be a repeat!
Nancy Settel says
Oh how kind of you to write and tell me. It sure has been a great one for us we love doing it. What did we ever do before crock pots? So glad you enjoyed it. Nancy
Sue S. says
Ditto, and it was such an easy recipe to make, thank you Mavis! Belated Happy Birthday wishes. The train is such an easy way to go isn’t it.
Brianna says
I just bought a dud from Costco too and actually made a return it was so bad…Nestle Tollhouse semisweet chocolate chips. They tasted and smelled like a combination between rancid and a plastic pool float, I cannot describe it. Not a hint of chocolate at all, they were so far off. Everybody in my house agreed and the cookies were inedible and the chocolate chips were the issue. So now I am researching chocolate chips for baking.
Jennifer says
If you live near an Aldi’s we swear by their dark chocolate chips!
Laura says
Yes, Aldi’s chips are very good and great price. We use semi sweet minis, regular size morsels and also the dark chocolate. Melt nicely for dipping berries too.
jes says
Happy Birthday! I understand what you are feeling! In the last 2 weeks we have had my 50th bday and my twins 21st birthdays! We have had homemade tiramisu, almond poundcake and rich chocolate brownies with peanut butter frosting as birthday celebration treats. Then at a surprise 50 party my aunts amazing scratch cut out cookies and a local stores white almond cupcakes. While I love a good carb and sweet.. I am kinda done with most food-lolol
Mavis Butterfield says
I think I need to eat oatmeal for a week. Ha!
J in OH-IO says
Mavis, Happy belated Birthday! What a wonderful birthday celebration! Thank you for sharing your lovely blog with all of us- I always look forward to reading it!
Mavis Butterfield says
You are very kind. Thanks J in OH-IO. 🙂
Margo says
I am surprised about the oranges, but maybe this isn’t a great year for them. I have a Mandarin orange tree and a naval orange tree. The mandarins are delicious, but the naval oranges aren’t too good. Still haven’t found the reason why, it’s not been a problem in the past. Love the “pastry edition” of your blog this morning. Think my blood sugar went up while reading! Happy belated birthday!
Mavis Butterfield says
Thanks Margo, I’m glad you are getting some good homegrown mandarins this year.
Ashley B says
I’ll have to look for the dry salame at Costco next time I go. I haven’t noticed that package at my store yet, and we are big salami people!! We continue to try and be frugal and eat what we have and let very little hit the garbage can at the end of the week. It’s been challenging, and I know I too will have to stock up on certain items at some point. Or, buy items when they are on sale a bit more to enjoy the lower price.
Laura says
Husband and I took a cruise out of Miami in January and I could not get enough of the oranges. Loaded on the ship in Miami so assume they were local. Let my husband drink OJ each day while I peeled and devoured sweet juicy oranges! Even copped a couple to take home. The oranges we get in Seattle just cannot compare.
Millie Martin says
One time I noticed strawberries were on sale for $2.50 a pound so I bought two. Then I went home and ate them both. Bad idea.
KC says
Happy birthday!
Q: what do you think of the Costco probiotic apricots? I’ve been curious but haven’t made the plungs…
Mavis Butterfield says
I didn’t notice the word probiotic on them until you mentioned. They taste like dried apricots to me. I usually eat 5 or 6 at a time and they are great! Nice and soft.
Anita says
I don’t live near a Costco, but your celery salad looked intriguing so I looked up a copycat recipe and made it for lunch. It is delicious!! I’ll definitely be making it again! (I didn’t have kale, so I used fresh spinach)
Someone also mentioned anadama bread in a comment a week or two ago, so I looked up a recipe and made it too! We loved it as well, and I love adding some new to us foods to our meals
Thanks for the inspiration!
Mavis Butterfield says
That salad is a winner!!
Julie says
Happy late birthday!!
Mavis Butterfield says
Thank you Julie!
Nancy D says
Never a dull moment! Happy Birthday Mavis!
Jaime says
Hi Mavis! Hello from Idaho. I love to check in on your adventures! I thought it was interesting you mentioned the Mediterranean salad didn’t look great. I have purchased this salad for quite a while too, it always grab some when I’m in. But, the last couple months, I have noticed a couple of my bags haven’t been the freshest. Makes me wonder if they changed their process.
Mavis Butterfield says
I’m glad I’m not the only one to notice. I hope thye figure it out soon because I really love that salad!!
joely says
Happy belated birthday! You celebrated well. The pastries look amazing.
Judy says
Happy Related Birthday Mavis! That to me was an excellent celebration and a bonus with the train trip.
I’ve been laid up for the last 2 1/2 years recovering from a broken neck. It happened during a car accident, my 1st after driving for 46 yrs. So my husband has been buying groceries ever since. He buys an embarrassing amount, constantly, like a zombie apocalypse is coming. The freezers & pantry are jammed. Ridiculously expensive here in Canada. Anyway, he’s been cooking as well. I suggested an old favorite of ours, your butternut squash chicken casserole. So good.
Lastly, I definitely need a tea table in my future. I so love all my different teas, teapots and china. And I also want to tell you Mavis how much I appreciate you and your blog. I’ve been attentively following you, your adventures and your excellent recipes since your kids were teens. Please never stop, we love you.
Mavis Butterfield says
Thank you Judy! And yes, I think we all need a tea table. Glad to hear your husband is taking good care of you. As far as the food gathering goes… Maybe he knows something we don’t. 😉
Charla says
I’ve gotten to the point that I smell my produce before buying to avoid flavorless food. If it doesn’t smell like the fruit then it won’t taste like it either