I had a late start yesterday, and what a difference that makes. Trader Joe’s was already a mad house (at 3pm ish) -and the line was wrapping around the store to check out. That scene makes me so anxious, and really sucks the fun out of grocery shopping - but the prices are too good not to suffer through. I’m curious to see if any traffic will be alleviated when the Brooklyn Trader Joe’s opens. This week I’m making 2 meat dishes, and I think this is the LEAST amount I’ve ever spent on a weeks meals. I bought almost everything from the farmers market, but I also wasn’t buying a lot of dairy, which might be my key, and my downfall. But I bought organic chicken from TJ’s, and free range, grass fed, local beef cubes for the stew, rather than lamb. When I got to the farmer’s market around 4:30, things were winding down, and it was a bit panicked, but I got some great things, but no artichokes! I saw them on Saturday, but they were no where to be found (fresh) at the market or Whole Foods. Hmmmm…. baby artichoke shortage? So that is still on my list to acquire, but otherwise here’s the totals for this week. Oh, I bought some vitamins at TJ’s - I wasn’t going to include them in the totals, but I just noticed I wasn’t charged for the Gruyere cheese I bought, so I’ll keep the vitamins in and call it even, even though the cheese was a bit less.

Farmer’s Market Totals:

Organic, free range Beef: $13.00

Organic garlic (this garlic is so much sweeter and aromatic) : $2.00

Swiss Chard: $2.00

2 small Pumpkins: $7.00

Fresh Peasant Loaf of Bread: $4.50

Carrots: $2.50

Total: $31.00

Grand Total: $75.58/2ppl/10 meals = $3.78/person/meal!!