I love the farmer's market!

I used to visit the local farmer's market back home in a big city every so often, more like every blue moon and usually to just try some new desserts and get out.

But now I go every weekend to our miniscule tiny farmer's market, like 10 tents total. I go with $20 cash and stock up and it usually lasts me the week. It totally beats buying the same old stuff from Walmart, I get to try new veggies and fruit I've never seen before, and they don't go bad so quickly since they are so fresh.

Here is last weeks purchase for $19.50. I can't say I'm not proud of my purchase.

Here's what I ended up making. I ate the blueberries for breakfast. I used this huge cucumber for the two recipes found below: Honey Vinegar Cucumber Salad and Cucumber Salmon Crackers. I sliced and peeled the purple haze carrots and drizzled them in olive oil, they were so good as is. I chopped the tomatoes and onions in halves, roasted for about 30 minutes, and ground then up into roasted tomato salsa! SO GOOD! I also roasted two of the garlics. I steamed the rattlesnake green beans with some garlic. I made grilled onions with the last onion and sliced the chocolate cherry tomatoes and made a sandwich for lunch. I also made bruschetta with french bread, olive oil, the cherry tomatoes, the roasted garlic, and fresh basil.

And finally, I am now making white bean garlic soup. Recipe to follow.... I also plan on boiling the corn tomorrow or later and making a roasted garlic butter sauce for it with the leftover garlic. Yum! Can't wait for tomorrow's visit :D

Groceries on a budget

Tonight is my hubby and my 14 month wedding anniversary. I know, kinda lame to celebrate each month but I try and do something special. Money has been extremely tight this month (that is an understatement actually, it's practically nonexistant - don't worry, we'll be okay). So I got groceries yesterday, about 10 bags for $30!!

Here is what I got, in case you are a broke grad student too (or on a budget):
- 9 packages of ramen noodles (at 22 cents each, what a bargain - just make sure to throw out those sodium-laced awful seasoning packets and make your own sauces)
- 4 packages of 50 cent mac and cheese twists, thanks Walmart.
- 2 bags of frozen veggies (99 cents each) really so easy. Add dehydrated onions and spices (like garlic salt, soy sauce, parsley) to frozen peas and microwave. It tastes much fancier than it really is.
- Eggs
- Milk
- Toilet Paper
- Cereal
- Frozen pizza - as you can see below, I am a big fan of fancying up very cheap $2 frozen pizzas (add mushrooms, corn, tuna, zucchini, cherry tomatoes, balsamic drizzle, pesto, basil, fresh mozarrella, whatever is in your fridge leftover that kinda makes sense, just not all at once)
- frozen pancakes
- firm tofu
- frozen breakfast potatoes
- frozen bean burritos (eight for $3, it's pretty amazing, and you can chop up fresh tomatoes, add salsa, guac, sour cream, etc)

I may have forgotten a few other items, but we should be good for atleast a week on all this. Thank goodness, our fridge was absolutely empty.

Anyways, I am SOOO excited to make dinner tonight for our anniversary. I must again thank pinterest for the wonderful ideas I am going to create. Hubby has no idea I am going come up with such a nice meal out of the seemingly pile of crap items I purchased. No offense, it wasn't the most nutritious at first glance.

Here is the menu, I'll post pics and recipes later, after taking the dog to the park this afternoon:
1. Teriyaki Baked Tofu Steaks
2.  Asian Sesame Zucchini
3. Peanut Sauce ramen noodles
4. Salmon Croquettes

Who needs to go get sushi? Not meeee........ although I would, if I could.