Personally, I failed horribly when I’d planned to cook 1 new recipe each week in 2024 — like, not even close… so that will be on the agenda again for the coming year, as I have only acquired new recipes to try. Of course I did
I also want to finally get to know my Primo XL grill for smoking & grilling, roasting, baking, pizza, etc.
This is not a lot, but given how badly I did with my one and only ‘resolution’ last year, I think that’s plenty.
What are your plans? Trying to learn a new technique? Purchase a kitchen gadget you always wanted? Explore a new cuisine? A bucket list food destination?
That last one reminds me that I am hopeful to visit HK for the xmas holidays, with (hopefully) a detour to Singapore.
And maybe Istanbul / Turkey or revisiting Greece in the summer.
Thanks for the link, I did (kind of) perfect my pizza dough method and recipe (which was one of my goals). I baked more breads and I learned how to make tortillas. I didn’t make bagels or soft pretzels this year, so I did fail on that aspect.
For 2025, I’d like to make more vegetarian meals and “try” to prepare/serve less meat.
Oh… and try to stay on budget with food purchases. I did pretty good with that in 2024, but there is room for improvement.
One thing I’d like to do is try harder at staying within my grocery budget. I’m usually pretty good at it but the last five or six months have been hard. I do have one big food budget expense in January since that is when I pay for my CSA so that will be the exception. Other than that expense I would like to try harder at staying within budget.
I was fairly successful at one of my goals, use up what’s already in the house. But then I bought new stuff. I guess it’s a perennial problem. So, recommitting in 2025! I also didn’t tackle challah so that too
That is actually a goal of mine as well: shop “as usual” in January, but keep track of all the expenses (food & booze-related… I already know which expense is going to be higher hahaha). Then use February to make some cuts and be more budget-conscious.
I try to get a preview of what is going on sale. In my area, the preview sales circular is available (on-line) on Tuesday and most items go on sale on Wednesday. So I do my meal planning, get up early Wednesday, post my digital coupons and try to get there when they open (the real goods stuff sells out fairly quickly).
I always check the “clearance” area for meats and vegetables. If its a good deal, the meats go into the freezer. The vegetables get utilized quickly or get made into a soup and frozen (for later meals).
I have to admit there hasn’t been much on sale lately, other than potatoes. I have two bags in stock and have two meals planned this week where potatoes are the main ingredient.
If there is absolutely nothing on sale, I’ll dig the freezer and see what I can put together.
I have been making my own bread (both white and wheat) and recently started making my own tortillas. This has actually helped quite a bit with my budget.
Also making homemade pasta has been fun and inexpensive. I can add spinach or jalapenos or habaneros or whatever to the dough to make for some fun and interesting dinners. Sunshine likes spinach pasta the best, so that works.
My plan is similar. Our grocery store flyers where I live run from Thursday through Wednesday and they are posted online on Wednesday - the day before the sales start. I usually have my menu plan finalized by then with a list of the items I need then take it from there. While I am in the store I usually check the “reduced rack” (that’s what I call it) in the fruit and veggie section so slightly bruised apples morph into apple sauce, tomatoes that have been reduced will get cooked down into tomato sauce, etc. I also check the meat and fish counters since any products expiring that day will be marked down by 50%. (Some stores have less of a discount so I shop at the one with the biggest discount.) We don’t seem to have as many coupons in Canada as in the US but if I can find some I will use them.
There are a few items I won’t compromise on though so I have to factor that into my budget. I get eggs from a local farm that are far superior to the ones that are available in the grocery store and I’ve found them in a few shops in town. I checked out the price at a few stores on my shopping route and they are cheapest at Whole Foods of all places. And one store I frequent sells really good smoked bacon as well as peameal bacon that is already sliced. They are a little more expensive than the name brand bacon and they don’t go on sale very often but I only eat bacon with my eggs on Sunday morning and I am shopping for one so a pound of bacon lasts awhile.
One thing I’ve changed is that I’ve given up drinking so I’ve been trying some different alcohol free beverages. I usually have a glass of milk or sparkling water with dinner during the week. However I will have a fancy drink with dinner on Saturday night as something to look forward to like an NA beer or kombucha or something. I’ve been including it in my grocery budget whereas I used to have a separate budget for alcohol. Alcohol free beverages are cheaper than alcoholic beverages so in the long run I am saving a bit but it’s still eating into my grocery budget. I may change things when I plan my budget for 2025 but I have a few weeks to decide.
And it was very inexpensive… one dented clearance can of Spinach, 3 eggs, 2 cups of all purpose flour, a splash of olive oil and a dash of salt. This makes about a pound of pasta. I ended up freezing some for a later date.
