I finally perfected my chocolate chip cookies!

Quite proud of that. I mean they are perfect.

Not too sweet, not too bitter, or cakey, or gooey, or hard, or soft or too anything. I'm very happy by it too. I've been working on the recipe for a while tweaking it just so. I'd say some of the largest changes were allowing the oils to reach room temperature on their own, not by heating them up, and a couple of table spoons of vital wheat gluten.

Plus, minimal damage to the sink area. Great!

This month's food stamp allotment $207

3/07/11 Food 4 Less total: $32.03

I am never buying fresh produce from this place ever again. Seriously. I decided to make my soups (cauliflower and corn chowder) using fresh cauliflower and corn. BOTH times I had the runs when I finished eating them. When I used frozen or canned veggies, no problem. I've bought veggies fresh from many places but never have I been so consistently sick when I bought them there. So never again.

3/09/11 Trader Joe's total $49.86

Just got some staples.

I have also been working on what to do with potatoes this week. I tried my hand at tater chips. I wanted them baked, so I sliced them thin and broiled them. When I took them out for their turn over, they looked pretty good. I guess I let too much time go by, and they got charred! Aw well.

I'll try again soon.

My next grocery venture will take me to Fresh & Easy where I'll get some supplies for the recipes I'm eyeing in Veganomicon.

End of last month's food.

Food Stamp Total: $207

*sigh* I was able to shop.

It was nice being able to go and get groceries.

My cupboards were bare. I stocked up on beans. I love the 99¢ Store for that.

2/19/11 Trader Joe's total: $95.27

As a treat to myself, I decided to make some trail mix. I bough walnuts, cranberries, raisins, almonds, pecans, and a few other goodies. When I worked I made this stuff all the time. LOVED it! But dried fruits/nuts are pricy, so it's been a no go lately.

2/22/11 Ralphs total: $9.47

I hate shopping at regular grocery stores. They are always so overpriced. This 5lb bag of potatoes was $4! If I had gone to the 99¢ store, I could have gotten a 3lb bag for $1. It's astonishing how much I save by hopping around to different places. I don't drive so I either take the bus or walk, and I'm glad I live in an area where I 'm about half a mile from a couple of grocery stores. I'm down the street from a Trader Joe's, yeah!

2/23/11 Fresh & Easy total: $45.73

Okay, the little fruit candies are my weakness. I really like them. they are not over sweet and I have missed gummy bears since I can't eat those anymore. These are a good sub, and I love putting them in the freezer and snacking on them when I want something sweet.

2/24/11 Food 4 Less total: $37.20

Apparently Heinz has a new ketchup now, 'Simply Heinz' made with real stuff. Wow, novel idea. No HSFS, which is one reason I went without for a long time. This stuff has a cleaner taste, and I really can taste a difference.

2/28/11 99¢ Store total: $7

These olives are terrible. Waxy on my teeth and tough. Ick. Not everything at the $1 store can be good.

This coming month I kind of want to get creative. Because it took so long for the bennies from Feb to clear, I have a lot of last month's food left so I feel I can get creative.

A friend gave me a copy of Veganomicon and I kind of want to take a crack at some goodies in there. I think it will be fun.