I spend so much time in the grocery store that the Kroger employees often ask me where to find stuff.
“French fried onion rings? Sure, they’re right next to the green beans on Aisle 7.”
I’ve often thought of going to work at a grocery store, but I want to keep my amateur status intact in case they ever make grocery shopping an Olympic sport.
But I’m getting too predictable in my buying habits – same stuff, week after week – and all the associates at the self-check-out lines know what I buy.
“Buying whole milk today, Mr. Brewer? I thought you were still on a diet, and by the way, Chock full o’ Nuts Coffee is going on sale next week.”
Last week I decided to turn over a new spinach leaf in the produce department. I went to the store with no grocery list whatsoever. I had two meals to prepare and didn’t have the foggiest idea what they would be. I decided to case the joint, then decide on the menu.
I was a little disoriented at first. I generally have a plan in place, knowing which aisles I’ll need to shop, and I always start at produce, but this time I headed straight for the meat department. That would determine my meal choices.
Most stores, but not Wal-Mart, will feature end-of-the-counter meat specials each week. This week Kroger’s had a three-pound package of ground beef for about four bucks. That was one choice, right there. I rummaged around and saw they also had a 12-pack of Johnsonville Brats for about five bucks. Bingo.
Now for my menu.
I decided to do a Baby Potato, Fresh Carrots and Brat casserole topped with a bit of olive oil and a package of Lipton Onion Soup and Dip mix. They had avocadoes on sale, so I picked out three to go with a couple of sliced cukes and some Kraft Avocado Ranch Dressing Mix. For the hamburger entrée, it would be a Meat Loaf paired with Mixed Asian Vegetables and mashed potatoes.
Waiting until you hit the grocery store aisles to decide what to prepare can be a little stressful, but what a great way to stretch a budget. I saved a ton on groceries that trip, and the food turned out well.
The most popular dish I served, however, was the kids’ favorite – Pepperoni Rolls. They are hard to beat at any price.
