Shopping Trip!

I haven't blogged in a while, and I'm going to get back in the swing.  This is mainly going to be to keep me accountable (because honestly, who wants to post that they ate at McDonald's three mornings this week).

Today, I went grocery shopping with a dream in my heart that I won't eat out this week.  This goal is for my health, my weight loss goals, and my pocketbook.  The only budget item I consistently bust every month, by a lot of moolah, is eating out.  UGH.  Just so tempting because it can be a time saver.

So, I wanted to post what I bought at the store today.  I'm currently budgeting $225/month for groceries, which is quite generous.  I did that in hopes of being able to buy organic for dirty dozen items, farm eggs, buying quality grass-fed milk (raw when I can pick it up), and grass-fed meats.  All of this is, let's face it, expensive!  The eggs, especially.  What are conventional eggs at the store, like $1.50 a dozen?  Mine cost at least about $4.50.

I would love some tips from other consumers or ideas for recipes with what I bought!  If you have a better source for getting what I get, let me know. :)

Saturday 5/11/13 Shopping Trip:

[Dierberg's]
*Daisy Sour Cream - $2.19
*Simply Lemonade - $2.79
*Shredded Parmesan Cheese - $2.50 (sale)
*1 lb. baby carrots - $1.99
*2.49 lb. Fresh Broccoli Crowns - $2.49 (sale)
*1 head Cauliflower - $2.50 (sale)
*Organic Ranch Veggie Dip - $3.99
*Organic Strawberries - $6.00 (sale, 2 quarts)

[Trader Joe's]
*Fruit Frenzy Frozen Bars (oh, impulse buy!) - $1.99
*Whole, peeled garlic cloves - $1.99
*2 bags Organic Fruit Berry Medley - $6.98
*2 bags Organic Vegetable Foursome - $3.38
*Organic Whole Milk Vanilla Yogurt - $2.99
*2 Kerrygold butter - $5.98
*3 pkg. Organic Chicken Drumsticks - $10.28 (sale, $1.99 lb.)

[Whole Foods]
*1 bottle Kombucha (experimenting...) - $3.69
*Organic Strawberries (before I knew they were on sale at Dierbergs, boo) - $4.99
*Organic Fuji Applies - $5.98
*Organic Celery - $3.01
*Organic red Leaf Lettuce - $2.92 (sale)
*Grass-Fed Organic Milk - $4.99 (overpriced, but worth a try)
*Naturally Fermented Red Cabbage Sauerkraut - $5.69 (experimenting...)

[Vaccaro's] - (local produce stand)
*3 sweet potatoes
*3 yellow onions
*4 oranges
*4 lemons
*5 avocados
*3 slicing tomatoes
***Total: $11.36

Other things to note...I have some meat in my freezer that I need to use up.  In fact, I have a lot of stuff in my freezer that I want to use up.  So, I didn't plan on buying those drumsticks today, but they were on a decent sale.  So, I stocked up a little bit.  I realize I got screwed on the organic strawberries at Whole Foods, but now I know they are on sale at Dierbergs.  Now, I need to meal plan and decide what I'm going to do with all this stuff.  I feel like I bought tons of produce, which is good, but also a challenge.  And, yes, I'm working backwards this week.  I shopped before I meal planned.  BAD Mary, BAD.  However, I'll work it out! :)

What do you think?  What essentials am I missing from my list?  What can I make with all this?