I have shopped.

It was a remarkably uncomplicated shop as half of it was done at the butcher’s. This butcher appears to be a local institution. You’ll often find him mentioned on menus in restaurants around here: “Made with John Harbour Porterhouse Steak,” that sort of thing. Apparently he grows and butchers his own beef and pork and he clearly loves his trade.

I spent  just under $40 on meat with which to stuff the freezer. There are:

• 6 English pork sausages,
• 500g chuck steak,
• 600g Osso Bucco and
• 3 of their own saveloys ! (the largest saveloys I have ever seen!)
  

  Doesn’t look all that appetising, does it?

  Now, I could have bought an awful lot more for that $40 at Aldi, but it wouldn’t have been of the same quality. I had the money to spare this fortnight, so I spent it. This is going to make at least 12 meals, if not more, so around $3 a meal. Which means it’s actually affordable.

This is the rest of my purchases.

First, I stocked up on pasta and sauces and from Woolworths I bought:

• 1 x 5 kg bag Laucke Multi-grain Bread mix   $12.57
• 1 x 250 ml Chipotle sauce                                     $2.79 (my new thing this shop)
• 1 x 500 g  Molasses                                                    $3.49
• 1 x 320 ml  Hoi Sin sauce                                       $2.39
• 2 x 500 g “curls” macaroni                                    $4.90
• 1 x 500 g “Risoni” pasta                                          $1.10

Total = $27.24

Then I popped into Aldi to get the rest of my bits and pieces. These were all pantry staples being replaced or topped up. So:

• 1 x 250 g Shredded parmesan cheese   $3.69
• 1 x 500 g Dairy spread                                   $2.99
• 1 x 500 g unsalted butter                            $2.59
• 1 kg brown onions                                         $0.99
• 4 x 400 g tin diced tomatoes                     $2.36
• 2 kg white sugar                                              $1.79
• 1 kg sweet potatoes                                      $1.99
• 2 x 400 g tin kidney beans                           $1.18
• 1 x 200 g Bicarbonate of soda                   $1.79
• 2 x 250 g Microwave Brown Rice              $2.98
• 1 x 500 g squeezable honey                       $5.49

Total = 27.84

So that comes to $95.08 all together. I have yet to buy eggs, which will use the last of the money allotted.

However, I’ve decided to go over a little anyway.

I want to go to the market on Saturday and stock up on some beans and grains. But, even if I go utterly berserk, I won’t spend more than $20 there AND those things will last for months.

Ahem.

You may have noticed a lack of fresh veg. Well, our crisper is still well-stocked and we have oodles of frozen vegetables as well. Don’t fret.