Category Archives: Food Budget Challenge

Frugal Cooking Focus: Kale {Fulton St Farmer’s Market}

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fulton st farmers market

This morning I met up with Jen from The Big Binder blog at Fulton St. Farmer’s Market.  There really are lots of frugal foods there. Some are from Michigan, some aren’t. They had cantelope for $1.00, lots of local asparagus for around $2.00/lb, and so much more.  Jen talked me into buying some kale (only $3.50/lb), but beyond using it in a salad I was at a loss. Luckily, we have some West Michigan ladies to the rescue!

Frugal Cooking with Kale:

  • The Big Binder suggests making Kale Chips. Brush with olive oil, sprinkle with sea salt, and put in the oven on 200 F until crunchy. Great for kiddos and super easy!
  • The Local Cook has a How to Cook Kale post with her top 10 ideas to get you started.  I love that Wendy frequently shares recipes using ingredients that are a bit unfamiliar to me. Great resource for using up some of your CSA items!
  • Vegan Bon Vivant has a great recipe for Kale & Lentil Soup.  Adrienne assures me that kale keeps well in the refrigerator for a long time if it’s kept dry.

west michigan farmers markets

Check my list of popular West Michigan Farmers Markets for times and locations.

What’s your strategy for shopping farmers markets? Do you just buy whatever looks good or do you stock up on the cheapest items to can/freeze/preserve?

Popular West Michigan Farmers Markets {New YMCA Farmers Market, too!}

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grand rapids ymca farmers market

It’s almost farmers market season! I was excited to read about a new farmers market at the David D Hunting YMCA because it’s a convenient downtown Grand Rapids location with plenty of parking.  My absolute favorite farmers market is Rockford, but this YMCA location will be closer to me once I move. What’s your favorite farmers market? Is it on this list? If not, please leave us a comment!

Popular West Michigan Farmers Markets:

  • Ada Farmers Market (Ada) – Open Tuesdays from 12pm – 6pm, June to Sept. *Accepts bridge & debit cards.
  • Knapp’s Crossing Farmers Market (GR) – Open Mondays from 2 – 7pm. SW corner of Knapp/East Beltline. Does anyone have more details on this one?

The Greater Grand Rapids Food Council has a complete listing of West Michigan Farmers Markets, but it hasn’t been updated since 2009 so please be sure to call or email ahead. Someone you know may qualify for UCOM’s Double Up Food Bucks program, so please check that link, too.

How does shopping at a farmers market impact your grocery budget?

This post is linked to West Michigan Link Up.

Frugal Cooking Focus: Dried Beans {Plus, A Bean eCookbook Deal!}

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kitchen stewardship everything beans

A good chunk of my $25/wk Food Budget Challenge has been dedicated to buying in bulk: oatmeal, rice, and beans. I love beans and had previously always used canned beans, but dried beans are less expensive. Now I’m up to my ears in 25# of dried black beans and I love them!

My two biggest tips are:

1.  Don’t salt the water while you’re cooking dried beans. It toughens the skin. Season beans while preparing your recipe.

2.  Beans love to be cooked with fat. I add olive oil to the boiling water and the beans cook so much faster and come out so perfectly soft.

When Katie at Kitchen Stewardship published “The Everything Beans Book” (click here to view more details), I knew it would be a great resource. It’s 95 pages of everything you need to know about beans including 30 recipes. (I even printed it out and put it in a 3-ring binder for easy reference. I know, I know it’s supposed to be an “e”book.)

I’ve always wanted to make black bean burgers so I’m starting with Mexican Black Bean Burgers when I get back from the blogging conference on Sunday.  With summer coming up, it will be a great vegetarian alternative to burgers on the grill!

At only $9.95, I feel it’s a great deal for a quality cookbook. Plus, it supports local #realfood blogger and writer who cares about our West Michigan community.  Thanks for clicking through my links. Please see my disclosure policy.

$25/wk Food Budget Challenge: I Don’t Get to Shop This Week!

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$25/wk Food Budget Challenge

I don’t get to shop this week. Last week, I wanted to show you a great resource for frugal, bulk foods in West Michigan and went a bit crazy with the spending. May I please have a little break? I get all excited in new grocery stores and health-food stores. haha  You can keep tabs on me and the $25/wk Food Budget Tally if you wish.

So, this week I eat from the freezer, pantry, and refrigerator! Here’s what’s on the menu:

  • Oatmeal {bulk oats, MI maple syrup, walnuts}
  • Greek yogurt {12g of protein! Still a great price at Meijer this week}
  • Black beans and basmati rice {dash of soy sauce and it’s so yum}
  • Whole chicken in the slow cooker
  • A dozen hard-boiled eggs

I also have about 2.5# of carrots to use up. Any ideas?

Save Money on Produce: Organic vs. Conventional

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organic vs conventional produce

We’d all love to purchase all organic foods all the time, right?  The problem is that little thing called a “budget.”  So, if you have to pick and choose when to buy organic produce and when conventional produce will do, how you do decide?  Here’s what has been suggested by EWG’s Dirty Dozen vs Clean 15:

Go Organic:

  • Apples
  • Celery
  • Strawberries
  • Peaches
  • Spinach
  • Nectarines (imported)
  • Grapes (imported)
  • Sweet Bell Peppers
  • Potatoes
  • Blueberries (domestic)
  • Lettuce
  • Kale (collard greens)

    Conventional is ok (lowest in pesticide):

    • Onion
    • Sweet Corn
    • Pineapples
    • Avocado
    • Asparagus
    • Sweet Peas
    • Mango
    • Egg Plant
    • Cantelope (domestic)
    • Kiwi
    • Cabbage
    • Watermelon
    • Sweet Potatoes
    • Grapefruit
    • Mushrooms

    What is your strategy for buying organic vs. conventional produce?  Aside from growing/canning/etc your own, how do you find ways to save?