This is my only “regular” weekly post, and it revolves around stores in my area, and food that we eat. We practice “Eat what you store, store what you eat”. Since I try to eat “Paleo”, this means very little food that includes any grains, legumes, or refined sugars.

This week, a little change, I will pick a single item from my local stores, then outline uses, recipes, etc. Not everyone can buy $100 of “extra” groceries each week. This will be a “Baby steps” method of getting you started.

I will also be buying in bulk, typically 20 or so of the items highlighted, in order to save over a longer period. I saved over 20% of my food bill last year buy buying in bulk, and eating food purchased at the previous year’s prices. Some items may require processing of some sort, canning, dehydrating, etc.

• Stores I will be choosing from will include Publix, Winn Dixie, SaveaLot, and WalMart. With most sale information being pulled from SouthernSavers.com.
• I will also include some version of this intro every Wednesday.
• Let’s get started!

There are some CRAZY deals this week! Publix has Lucky Charms, Trix, Cookie Crisp, Reese’s or Kix cereal for $0.39 per box or Peter Pan Peanut Butter for $0.74 when coupons are applied correctly! Look here.

However, this week’s item is a no-brainer, at least for us:

Valley Fresh White Chicken, 10 oz, at $3.09 ($1.54)
-$1/2 Valley Fresh Natural Chicken Breast, SS 8/05
-$1 off Valley Fresh Natural Chicken Breast, SS 8/05
(use $1 off, makes it 54¢)

I am unable to find the $1 off coupons, so am using the $1/off 2. This makes the total $1.04 can and $1.66 per pound. This is about as cheap as you’ll ever find it these days. And we use it a LOT! (Coupons can be found on eBay, sort on distance from your zip, and order early enough to get them here before the sale ends)

Canned chicken is a main staple of ours. It goes in pasta or grain dishes, we make dip from it, use it for tacos, etc.  My 12 year old will take a can of chicken, a can of sliced black olives, and a can of  diced tomatoes and brown it with various spices and eat it, saving none for anyone else. While that may not be gourmet fair, it is something she can make for herself, and she has pride in making something she likes to eat. There is nothing wrong with empowering a child to cook for themselves. (And it’s actually pretty good.)

Here is a recipe for a regular stand-by we make. As mentioned in the recipe, I’ve swapped in rabbit for the chicken before, and folks raved about it, even a few that “would NEVER eat rabbit”, unknowingly tried it, LOVED it, but then wouldn’t eat any more once they found out what it was. For the record, I did NOT try to mislead anyone, I just didn’t get a chance to let everyone know. My bad. 😛