Shoppin' Trip Meme

This is the perfect meme for me today. I shopped and cooked today for a couple of hours since it was raining. Very cozy. Thanks for the tag, Caroline. Check hers out at food for thought.

Here are the rules for the meme:
Pick a recent shopping trip -- for clothes, shoes, groceries, doesn't matter. The only guideline is that it will be easier to play if you purchased at least a few things. Now tell us, about your purchases:

1. What are you proud of?
2. What are you embarrassed by?
3. What do think you couldn't live without?
4. What did you most enjoy purchasing?
5. What were you most tempted by? (This last one may or may not be an actual purchase!)

I went to Tower Market, which is now owned by Mollie Stone's but for 63 years was an independent grocery store owned by a Greek immigrant with a deep connection to the neighborhood. Mollie Stone is kind of trying to keep the "neighborhood" aspect of it--at least the sign outside still says "Tower Market"--and did a much-needed reorganization of the store, but the place has lost some of its quirky charm. It always catered to the carriage trade, but now some of the prices are just outrageous. I have to watch myself and always bring a list. Today, after the checker ran up my purchases and said "That's $106.88," the woman bagging said, "Hey, that's pretty good!" I told her when I get out of there for under $100, that's good.

1. I am proud of the four cans of Progresso soup--two of chicken and wild rice and two of black bean. October is earthquake supplies replenishment month so I have been half-heartedly picking up cans of soup here and there. I just don't like canned soup. It's hard to find things that last for at least a year that I really think I'm going to want to eat. And things like pasta and rice and dried beans don't count because you have to use water to cook them.

2. I am embarassed about two cans of sardines in olive oil, for the earthquake supplies. Is that what we're really going to want to eat when the big one hits?

3. We could not live without our jugs of milk. I have to maintain at least a full gallon of milk in the refrigerator at all times. I'd say we go through a half-gallon a day. The sight of all those milk jugs nestled in the door makes me feel prepared, if not for an earthquake, then at least for the next few days.

4. I enjoyed buying the Las Palmas red chile sauce! I add some ingredients to it to make my enchilada sauce. It is good enough that I don't think I will ever make homemade chili puree again since it is so time-consuming. Here's the enchiladas, in a modified recipe from Jacqueline Higuera McMahan's California Rancho Cooking. They are filled with chopped cooked chicken, sauteed onions and cheddar cheese. The ones with olives on them have olives inside. There's a whole other baking dish of them besides this one. You know you've done right when your son opens the refrigerator, sees the dishes, and gives out a cheer.

5. I was tempted by the beautiful delicatta squash and bought it, although it wasn't on my list and my sons don't like it. They look great sitting on top of my pears. I guess I'll cook them...or maybe they'll just be a table decoration. I was also tempted by the Cafe Fanny granola which I love but the price brings me to my senses and I think, "I'll just make my own." I didn't get to that today. There are many many wonderful cheeses and chocolates and organic berries to be tempted by at Tower Market but today I was a woman with a mission--enchiladas--and a list.

So, I tag anyone who is reading this. Please post a comment back here with a link to your blog if you play.