If you are new to Black Tie and Jam, I shop for most of my groceries once a month. I do not have a farmer’s market, access to farms to butcher meat, hunt for wild game or use paper coupons unless online. I do shop sales at different stores in my area and familiarize myself with local pricing. I consider myself regular, city-dweller shopper. Once a month grocery shopping saves me money by using up what I have, comparing prices at different stores, stocking up on items I use frequently and saving me time spent in the store. If you are interested in how I do this, click here.
This month’s grocery haul is a doozy! I have worked on this post for quite some time, but because of its length, I have gotten stuck on it for a while. I decided to crank it out and finish it by disregarding some of its aesthetics. Sometimes you have to say “ENOUGH ALREADY!” and set aside perfectionism.
I am starting to think of our road trip vacation next month, but I have also picked up some items to store, freeze and dehydrate along with some purchases I made for crafting and home needs. When I post my once-a-month grocery hauls, my intention is more about the products available and where I got them than prices because prices are different around the country. If I get a killer deal, I will list it because I am excited about it! Everybody likes a great deal! Let’s get to it!
Aldi
1 bag Roma tomatoes
1 bag large lemons
1 package of 4 zucchini
1 bag yellow onions
1 bag spinach
1 package of 3 mixed bell peppers
1 package of 3 green bell peppers
1 large container Spring mix salad
1 package of 2 broccoli heads
2 packages white mushrooms
2 packages portabella mushrooms
1 package grape tomatoes
1 package Keto Hamburger Buns (These are awesome!)
5 packages Happy Farms cream cheese (These are a staple on a keto diet)
1 package Babybel White Cheddar cheese snacks (These are new at Aldi)
3 Friendly Farms Half and Half (At 85 cents, these are a great deal and a regular purchase)
1 gallon jug Tuscan Gardens distilled white vinegar (we use this for cleaning and other purposes)
1 container crumbled feta cheese
1 container shredded cheddar cheese
1 5-lb. chub ground beef (a repurchase at $1.59 lb)
2 pouches Nature’s Gardens Keto Salad Toppers (new product at Aldi)
3 pouches Benton’s Keto cookies: 2 chocolate chip and 1 snickerdoodle (repurchase)
Simm’s Chicken Snack Stick (no added sugar – new item)
1 family pack chicken breasts ($1.65/lb)
2 containers Carlini Extra Virgin Olive Oil (repurchase)
2 Daily Care Hand Sanitizers
1 large bottle Nature’s Nectar Lemon Juice
1 package Boulder napkins (repurchase)
1 package Boulder 30-count gallon freezer bags
1 package Boulder 40-count quart freezer bags
2 bed pillows (needed new for my guest room)
4 cartons Simply Nature chicken broth (regular repurchase)
2 cans Tuscan Gardens black olives (regular repurchase – they changed the packaging)
3 cans Happy Harvest diced tomatoes (regular repurchase)
2 pouches Stonemill Garlic Herb and Wine marinade mix
1 container Burman’s Real Mayonnaise (regular repurchase)
1 bottle Burman’s Classic Yellow Mustard (regular repurchase)
2 pouches Mesquite Marinade Mix (new product)
1 bottle Simply Nature Organic ketchup
1 package Southern Grove raisins
1 share bag M & Ms (right now these are the cheapest price I have found at $2.65/bag – it’s not always the cheapest)
1 pouch Southern Grove Coconut Chips (new product)
2 cans Carlini original cooking spray
1 can Carlini olive oil spray
4 cans Casa Mamita Diced Tomatoes with Green Chilies (regular repurchase)
3 jars Priano Pesto (regular repurchase because my son says this is the best he has tasted)
2 jars Tuscan Garden Spanish Manzanilla Olives Pimiento Stuffed (regular repurchase)
1 bag Southern Grove Chopped Pecans (regular repurchase)
1 bag Southern Grove Sliced Almonds (regular repurchase)
Meatball Mold (new item – I LOVE THIS THING!)
HEB
2 bunches Italian parsley
1 pack center-cut sirloin steak
1 package Sola hot dog buns
1 bag Lily’s dark chocolate baking chips
1 pouch Keto and Paleo cornbread mix
1 package Shitake mushrooms
2 containers McCormick mesquite seasoning
1 carton fresh chopped cilantro
2 King Arthur Flour gluten-free dessert cups (this was a new product I had not seen before)
4 cases Caffeine Free Diet Coke (I bought these for my 85-year-old mother because she should have anything she wants)
1 bag HEB Hearts of Romaine
1 package Sola hamburger buns
1 package Zero brand bagels
2 large onions (I ordered 2 large shallots, but they gave me onions)
3 containers McCormick Montreal Chicken seasoning
1 container Killen’s BBQ seasoning
1 carton prepared diced jalapenos
1 carton chopped fresh parsley
4 cans Hill Country Fare red enchilada sauce
1 bottle Marsala wine
1 jar HEB piquillo peppers
Kroger
Sometimes a store gives their pickup customers a gift. I have never received one from Kroger before. It is a nice gesture.
Primal Kitchen ketchup
1 can LaCroix Black Raspberry sparkling water
1 sample pack of Ritz Cheese Crispers
1 bunch radishes
2 half-moon Longhorn cheese (these were on clearance, but I had to return them because they were spoiled)
6 Kroger handpies (2 lemons, 2 blackberries, 2 apples)
1 bag peaches
1 sharing bag M&Ms
1 container Roasted Red Pepper Hummus (on clearance)
5 Suave Body Wash (.99 with their buy 5 deal)
2 Vlasic dill pickle relish (part of the buy 5 deal)
3 Kroger butter (1.99 as part of the buy 5 deal)
1 large container chocolate sprinkles
1 Ardell Nail Addict Press on Nails
1 Gallon of milk
3 packages Applegate Farms Uncured Turkey Pepperoni (on clearance for .99 per package, making these the deal of the day. They went straight into the freezer)
3 packages Oreo cookies (1 gluten-free to share with friends, 1 regular flavor, 1 vanilla cookie flavor; all part of the buy 5 deal, making them 1.88 each. A great deal for Oreos)
5 packages fresh strawberries (another great deal at .95/package)
1 Louisiana Cookin’ magazine
2 packages chevre cheese (on clearance for .99)
5 Lady Speed Stick (part of the buy 5 deal)
2 tubes Colgate toothpaste $1 each
1 Family size box of Cheezits
2 Nutella and Go snacks (part of the buy 5 deal)
2 packages Amore Anchovy paste (on clearance for .89 each)
2 boxes Nut Thins (part of the buy 5 deal for $1.50 each)
4 Kroger 32-ounce Nice n Cheesy processed cheese (another great deal on clearance for 1.49 each; they went straight to the freezer)
4 bags goldfish crackers (part of the Buy 5 deal for .99 each)
Lily’s Sea Salt Extra Dark Chocolate Bar
Milky Way Caramel Fun Size Pack (for vacation)
Oscar Mayer Beef Hot Dogs
Simple Truth Organic Ketchup
5 Classico Pasta Sauce (part of the buy 5 deal(
1 pouch Swerve brown sugar
1 tube Peridontax (I only buy when there is a coupon)
2 jars Mt. Olive Roasted Red Peppers
2 Oscar Mayer Deli Fresh sliced ham
1 can Cutter Insect Repellant
1 Kroger Mild Buffalo Sauce
1 container Blue Plate with Olive Oil Mayonnaise
Chips Chips and more Chips…for our vacation:
2 bags Fritos
1 bag Chex Mix Muddy Buddies
1 bag Gardetto’s snack mix
2 bags Doritos
1 bag Bugles
3 Captain Crunch Cereal Cups
2 bags Kroger coleslaw
2 bunches Italian flat-leaf parsley
1 bag jalapenos
1 bag limes
1 bunch asparagus
1 package Private Selection Extra Sharp white cheddar cheese slices
Walmart
2 packages Great Value Hickory Smoked Bacon
1 spaghetti squash
4 cans Dynasty sliced water chestnuts
1 wedge El Cortijo Manchego cheese
1 large celery
2 pouches Bake Believe Chocolate Chips
1 small bottle Tabasco
1 bottle Tuong Ot Sriracha sauce
2 24 oz. Daisy Sour cream
1 package Great Value White American Cheese Slices
1 bag Great Value Fiesta Blend shredded cheese
2 cans Dynasty sliced bamboo shoots
1 can Bumble Bee Lump Crabmeat
2 boxes Wonderworks Keto cereal (this is a new item at Walmart and I have not seen it at other Walmart stores)
1 box Bandaid fingertip bandages
2 Birch Benders Frosting
1 small cat bed
The cutest cat apron EVER!!!
Dollar Tree
Reynolds Wrap Foil Sheets
Crunch n Munch (for vacay)
Jug of window cleaner
2 movie theater boxes M&Ms
2 pink packet sweeteners
1 A1 Steak Sauce
1 package cupcake liners
2 jars Pantry Essentials pizza sauce
1 La Choy soy sauce
4 bags Movie Theater Popcorn (This is the best popcorn ever!!)
3 cans Home Store Heavy Spray Starch
1 bottle The Works toilet cleaner
1 jar Pampa Banana Pepper Rings
1 small Germ X hand sanitizer with crab clip
1 pack of 2 Simply Venus razors
1 LA Colors Bronzer
1 LA Colors Highlighter
1 Speed Stick Body Wash for men
1 Speed Stick Body Wash for women
1 LA Colors Light Contour Stick
1 LA Colors Bronzer Contour Stick
2 packets Rave Deep Repair Hair mask with Coconut Oil and Keratin
1 LA Color brown eyeshadow palette
1 Sassy and Chic nail polish holder
1 TAG Sport Body Wash
1 Power Stick Face and Body Shave Gel
1 LA Colors Setting Spray
1 Crafter’s Square Fastener Dots
2 packages Crafter’s Square galvanized icons: rectangle and flower shapes
2 gift wrap bows
1 Craft Decor chalk writer in silver
2 package Floral Garden Fabric Roses: one brown and one red
4 18″ metal wreath forms
1 spoked wreath form
Several different types of artificial florals
1 plain wood plaque
1 package Crafter’s Square jump rings
1 package reindeer moss
1 package mini tape runners
1 bag mini pine cones
1 package dimpled practice golf balls
1 package Crafter’s Square stickers
1 package Crafter’s Square Butterfly embellishments
1 crafting rope
1 package floral foam
1 crafting rope
4 plastic cylindrical containers
3 small Downy Unstoppables
3 rolls ribbon
1 Crafter’s Square burlap lace ribbon
1 Sassy and Chic cuticle trimmer
1 package Sassy and Chic Press on Nails
4 packages of 8 gel pens (I love how these pens write, but they don’t last very long)
4 glass stackable jars
1 pack of 3 mini composition books
1 package of a set of 2 notebooks
1 journaling notebook
6 cans Azul coconut milk
1 small bag Ortho Fire Ant Killer (If it ever stops raining the fire ants will come)
Dollar Tree has the best reusable bags. They have Disney-themed bags quite often. The designs they use are very pretty. I love this blue one! You can use them for groceries, gift bags or totes.
1 Rotisserie Chicken cooking magazine
2 sets of socks (I love Dollar Tree Socks)
`1 set ice cube trays
2 Sharpie markers
3 small size Jot notebooks
2 pizza pans
1 package plastic parfait cups
2 decorative sunflower plates
3 heavy glass votive holders
2 pairs garden gloves
1 package of tea lights
1 package skewers
1 rug mat
1 mini paint roller
Costco
1 bag Kirkland Almond Flour
1 bag Earthbound Farms Broccoli Florets
1 bag Nature’s Intent Sugar-Free Dark Chocolate Seed and Nut Bombs (This was a new product at Costco)
1 bag Earthbound Farm Celery Sticks
1 bag Mission Carb Balance Tortillas
2 bags Tapatio Salsa Picante Mixed Nuts (These are sooooo good)
4 bottles Kirkland’s Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc
Green Wave Farms Organic Brussels Sprout
1 package of 3 different lunch meat
1 jar Kirkland’s minced garlic
2 bags Keto crackers
Two rotisserie chickens are a regular repurchase. Sometimes I buy three. If I buy three, I shred two of them to keep in the freezer and have one for dinner on the day that I purchase it. We call rotisserie chickens “lucky chickens” because you are lucky to get something for dinner. Costco lucky chickens are quite tasty! After I pick the chicken, I place the bones in a pot of water along with any veggie remnants (onion and celery tops, brussel sprout stems, carrot tops, green pepper tops, etc.) that I have from meal prepping to make homemade chicken stock that I place in quart Ball jars and keep in the freezer. One day I will learn how to can it, but a cook needs special equipment for that.