Sunday, May 25, 2014

No More Grocery Shopping - For Real This Time


Last week, "Mom, are we doing some crazy food experiment you haven't talked to us about?" Caleb, 13, asks earnestly. 

"If we are, it's unintentional.  Between school stuff, work stuff, multiple lacrosse games and practices, and the 8 hours I spent in drs offices this week with sick and injured kids, I just haven't gotten around to grocery shopping.  Plus, it is sort of an interesting challenge, don't you think?"

"Well, I have to totally scrounge every time I'm hungry. Mostly, when I get home from school I have to choose ramen or Mac & cheese. And, now, we don't even have any milk."

"But, we do have cream and that makes awesome Mac and cheese."

"Yeah, I'd rather have milk."  He is good-natured and not as grumbly as this may sound.  

Days ago.  "Mom, are you going to go grocery shopping soon?" Caleb asks.

"Yeah, as soon as we run out of food."

"What?  How much lower do we have to go?  The fridge is full of condiments, but that's about it.  We have no milk, bread, eggs, or cheese.  We just ate the last of our salad stuff. So, other than onions, cilantro, and peppers, our only fruits and vegetables are canned or frozen.  What is the deal?"

"I don't know. But onions, cilantro and peppers would make a great salsa if you added a can of tomatoes.  I'm just trying to see how creative we can get with what we have. Think of all the stuff we've made that was good in the last two weeks."
 
"I don't really remember," he says.

"Well I kept a list," I say, referring to my list.  "We've had 

Tacos with ground meat, salsa, onions, cilantro, cheese
Pasta, salad, bread
Sandwiches
Rice with sauce, broccoli, chicken and pasta, carrots
Quinoa with almonds  broccoli, cooked carrots
Freeze dried cream of potato soup, flat bread
Brocoli cheese potato frittata, canned peaches/applesauce

That's a lot of stuff.  We also ate out on the cheap a couple of nights.  Plus, somehow you guys had lunches every day.  Chips and hummus or salsa, frozen burritos, bagels and cream cheese, peas and carrots, sliced apples, PB and honey sandwiches...all that stuff was in your lunches."

"Yeah, I just really wish we had some milk," is his reply.

Today.  "I know what we should do today," Caleb, says in a bright tone.  "We should go grocery shopping." 

"What's all this 'we' you're talking about.  You mean me.  You want me to do the grocery shopping.   Have you gone hungry the last two weeks, Caleb?"

"No, but I have to fully make a meal if I am hungry.  There are no snacks, no cereal, no sandwich stuff or even just fruit to grab."

"True," i say, "it is pushing the boundaries of our creative problem solving."

"I'm already a good problem solver."

"Yes, you are.  And so am I.  Did you see I bought eggs last night? It's because i wanted to make cake and I could get them at the corner market."

"You know what goes great with cake? Milk.  Do you think you could do the same for milk?" He asked.

"Dad could make some powdered milk tonight."

"Sick!"

"What!?!  can't we live off of our food storage?" I press.

"Can't we live off of our food storage and buy milk at the corner?  I am a growing kid!" 

"Good point.  Done.  I'll buy milk at the corner today."

"Awesome!"

And, so it goes.  Pressing the limits of my creativity and my pantry.  Saving time I don't have and money that can go other places right now.  I think this is the hardest experiment we have run.  Maybe because it was totally unintentional and unplanned for.  

Usually, I set myself up pretty well if I know an experiment is coming.  I inventory the fridge, freezer, pantry and store room.  I menu out meals and make a shopping list to prepare us for not shopping.  This time, I was just slammed by life. No prep, no warning, just a whiplash injury to a boy in a lacrosse game, and a girl who woke with shingles one Sunday morning.  That, along with performances, board meeting, end-of-year school presentations and planning a week-long camp for 60 girls and leaders.  No time for grocery shopping.  Only keeping our heads above water and staring into the depths of my freezer and food storage every night.  Sometimes, this is what it is to be prepared.  And, guess what!   Caleb made an awesome salsa to go with his breakfast this morning.