I live, write, and garden in the PNW with my husband of 27 years, disabled daughter, college-aged son, and my 84-year-old mother. We have paid off $250,000.00 worth of debt (if you include the interest) in the last fifteen years and as of 6/12/2020 are 100% DEBT FREE!!!!
Today was our trip down to Skagit River Ranch to buy our organic, sustainably and humanely raised protein. Originally we were going down every four weeks, but it's spread out to about every six weeks now as we realized the amount of meat we were buying was lasting that long or a bit longer. Today I spent $290 there. For that amount I got 4 2.5 pound beef chuck roasts, 1 4.5 pound chicken, 18 pork chops (each pack of two chops averages 1.2 pounds), 3 packages of bacon, 4 1 lb packages of hamburger and 2 1 lb packages of ground pork.
I still have some bacon, hamburger, sausages, stir-fry beef, a chicken and a couple of steaks from previous trips, so it will definitely be a good six weeks before we go down again, I think. I think I probably could have waited another two weeks, but the kids and I just really needed to get out of the house today and away from the misbehaving nephews for a decent amount of time. Thankfully they go back home tomorrow.
I have decided we will likely not get a turkey from them this year. The smallest they are figuring on having is the 15 to 20 pounds range and I don't like to buy a turkey more than 12 pounds and that's hard enough to get used up even with my various recipes for soup, enchiladas, cacciatore, quesadillas, subs, turkey TV-style dinners, etc. And at $7.85 pound we're talking $118 for the minumum weight. I can get a good, organic, turkey locally for $50, so I can't justify the cost out of our current budget. Beef maybe, but turkey, no. No one likes it enough for that kind of cost and we are trying to do this sustainable thing without breaking the budget completely.
One of the things I am considering is maybe getting a larger turkey and asking the butcher to cut it in half and wrap each half and then maybe making one for Thanksgiving and the other for Christmas. It would be a way of not having so many leftovers all in one go and seems like perhaps a more economical solution than buying two 12 pound birds, since the meat to bone ratio is better on a larger bird. Either that or maybe we'll just have duck for Christmas. No, not one of our ducks! But a $20 organic duck would leave us with very little in the way of leftovers, plus provide a carcass for soup that will reasonably fit in the crockpot.
We have a duck in the freezer that we should try before the holiday and make sure we like it. Wouldn't want to ruin the holiday with a meat no one will enjoy. Another solution might just be two large chickens with all the trimmings. I'll have to think on it.
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I am making the attempt to get myself back off the soda. Even if the cola I am drinking does not have high fructose corn syrup in it, that doesn't make it good for me. I've felt tired ever since I started it up again. And it does get to be an expensive habit at 2 cans a day. So today is day one. So far I still really, really want it.
Ranch Day
September 9th, 2012 at 12:33 am
September 9th, 2012 at 01:15 am 1347153336
I don't think you'll be happy ordering a large, organic turkey split and roasted in two parts for Thanksgiving and Christmas. It's just doesn't come out as succulent with impressive presentation when halved no matter where it's purchased. I suggest buying a smaller and roasted chicken thinking everyone will enjoy that more than turkey twice in 6 weeks. I know you have more challenges due to allergies and medical issues. Do you make berry tarts or fruit flan for the holidays?
You haven't commented so I hope that means DS has fully recovered from the concussion and has his head better positioned. Good on you for reducing consumption of cola. It really isn't healthy and doesn't set the example you're wanting for DKs.
September 9th, 2012 at 01:18 am 1347153504
September 9th, 2012 at 01:20 am 1347153643
September 9th, 2012 at 01:25 am 1347153908
September 9th, 2012 at 02:52 am 1347159151
DS is doing better in a lot of ways. I'll do an update post about it soon.
Laura--That's something to think about. Although I save all my change as it is, right now for the freezer fund. Maybe for everytime I don't buy a case of the sugar soda I'll put in $6.
Starfishy--Thanks, I'll certainly try.
September 9th, 2012 at 07:53 pm 1347220419
Have you tried freezing the leftover meat instead of trying to eat it up? We freeze several quart zip lock bags and if I am feeling particularly energized I put the carcass in the crockpot and leave it overnight, then strain and chill, then freeze that too.
If it's too dry, add more gravy! Ha!
September 9th, 2012 at 08:09 pm 1347221389
September 11th, 2012 at 12:38 am 1347323895