Little nearby markets are the best! Also, odds are the hummus and flatbread and all are better healthier calories than scary frozen burritos. :)

And don't feel bad, I buy for one + 1 cat + 1 parrot, and I get funny looks too. All my friends from large families mock me when they see my groceries for the week.

-Sarah and her Zoo

pennsylvania is an inferior (and terribly inconvienent) state where one cannot buy alcohol in the grocery store. i am forever amazed to hear people in better states can.

Wow...what a cool grocery store...I want some of that hummus...

mmMmMmmmmmMmmm...

LOL at the shopping for 1 + 4 cats...heh...people can always tell I have teenagers at home....

frozen pizzas galore...bagel bites...cookies....snacks...much more food than I could ever eat.

I'm so tired of that project. I can't wait for it to be O.V.E.R.!!!

No time for SNB or Blogstalking! You must look into getting a new job - this one is just taking up too much of your time.

At least the Hummus and Flatbread seems healthier than the Frozen Burrito.

Ethnic groceries rock! You can travel the world and never leave your neighborhood.
My SO (or is that SOSLQ?) loved your Dad's comment. Hope the bad luck runs out really soon.
p.s. At least you don't live in Wisconsin, where (in my city) you can't buy carry-out alcohol after 9:00 pm. You'd think we were mini-Utah or something.

Hummus is very, very good for you. It's chickpeas (right?), which are legumes, and olive oil, which is all about the healthy, and garlic, which people take in supplements all the time. And the flatbread is a grain, so...fiber! And the wine is from grapes, so...fruit! I suppose you should finish it off with some ice cream, to make sure you get dairy, but I think it sounds utterly delightful.

Ah yeah, the Single Woman Plus Two Cats None Of Whom Can Cook grocery shopping! It's what I do so I feel your pain. Luckily I've never had The Marrieds comment on my cart's contents. Though I did once have The Grocery Checkout Clerk say "oh, so I see you're single" (*lewd wink*). Hello?! Can you say "creepy"??!

i've been so busy as of late all i eat is canned soup and peanut butter sandwiches. sometimes i heat up the soup, sometimes not so much. hummus and flatbread sounds very appealing.

do not buy pickled garlic. buy more wine instead.

Honestly, when I'm buying my Married groceries - Pull-Ups, 3 gallons of milk, shaving cream and the 5 lb tray of chicken breasts - I do note with a smile the single people buying thier Shiraz, sushi, Scharffen Berger chocolate and Vogue Magazine. It's not a smug married smile. It's more like, Oh my god, she's going to get to read an actual magazine! Probably all in one sitting, if she wants. She's going to get to eat the sushi all by herself. No one will insist they like California roll, and then spit it back out into the tray.

It's just green old envy. Not to worry.

And chocolate cake is milk, eggs, wheat!

rb - oh I am so happy you posted that!

Arabic markets are great. Right up there with Asian and Mexican markets. And you're right. No calories=no guilt!

Imagine singles groceries sans cat food - I just pretend I have a bitchin' social life that prevents me from planning meals. As in "Honey, I may have to go out to the Cape to meet Phillipe for dinner..."

You can't have too many kinds of roasted garlic. And hummus, pita and Shiraz sounds like a good dinner to me. More olive oil means more flavour (and hummus is made from chick peas so is a good source of protein).

Hey, give yourself a break. You are getting the budget under control. One thing at a time, girl.

I love that market - Go all the time for the flatbread and hummus as well as the tahini and great olives for the kidlets. Wine selection is good. I also like the rice selections and spices are out of this world.

Miss you, love hummus! I survived college on flatbread and hummus and 39 cent fava beans from my local Lebanese deli. I would have starved without them.

You're not coming to SnB tonight? What!!!? I'm with Drew. I'm sick of this project!!

Girl. I am contemplating a bottle of wine for dinner (the Mercury in retrograde thing is ... whoa.) I am picking my dinner based on this: http://www.healthyweightforum.org/eng/calorie-counter/wine_calories/ IT TELLS YOU HOW MANY CALORIES IN A WHOLE BOTTLE OF WINE. I love it.

That last photo is the best -- because I am eating the exact same dinner right now. At this very moment. Sabra's HoummousPinenuts and pita bread. Lovelovelove it.

In Jersey City we have the fun of the huge grocery store... but I have no car with which to transport the groceries. You can't buy wine in the grocery store (though mine gets around it by having a little nook in the back with a separate register), but even if I could buy wine, it's a bitch to carry. And my single-girl-with-two-cats groceries would call for about 50 Lean Cuisines and two cases of seltzer, except, yep, too damn heavy.

Ah...the Single Girl with No Car Shopping Blues...that's why I stopped drinking so much diet coke and orange juice--both a bitch to carry home. I am always willing to put forth the effort to haul wine home, though. Funny.
Glad the budget's working! I downloaded one a while ago and inputed all my info...though, um. I've been less than good about actually using and sticking to said budget. But hey! August is just around the corner! I'm totally going to turn over a new leaf in August [just wish I hadn't heard about the new yarns at knitpicks...]

kat, honey...you know you can come to my house for home-cooked food anytime! which i notice you never pass up on when i invite you...

laurie - another fabulous place is Trader Joe's. they have really good pre-prepared foods. which also work well even for us not-so-smug-marrieds who just don't want to cook all the time.

mmmm, hummus, flat bread, wine??? Who says your not eating well?? Right up may alley! In fact, I think I'll go for some Pinot now (it's already happy hour here on the east coast, 5:00 p.m.)

Congrats on the budget. And, oh, someone mentioned Trader Joes...she forgot to mention the 2 buck chuck...wine that fits right into any budget.

I had to stop reading when I read Comfort, Texas and add a comment. That's where I was born. There's someone else from there, too, or did I read that incorrectly?

Interesting. Your Quick Market spells its name in Arabic with a 'K' not a 'Q'. Yes, I am a geek. Why do you ask?

ck! Trader Joe's is great, but at rush hour it's just as crowded as the regular super market. I'm with Laurie...stick with those ethnic markets...you can't go wrong and you may just learn about some fascinating new people and recipes.

I'm with Drew and Faith....I hate that darn PROJECT you've been doing at work! Enough already! The WeHo SnB misses you!!! Come back soon.

Hugs!

I love that food. I live in a neighbourhood with dozens of Arabic grocery stores, and a pita bread bakery a block from my house. Just in case my new neighbourhood in Georgia doesn't have an Arabic population, I'm planning to take at least a dozen cans each of hummus and baba ghannoush with me. And some tahini. And grape leaves in brine. And sumac for the fattoush salad; do you think US Customs will confiscate red powder at the border?

Aha! It was you! I'd forgotten who'd posted that budget thingy. Thank you!

mmmmmmm...hummus
Trader Joes is good for single person shopping, although it can be very crowded and theyre only open until 9 pm.
However, their frozen gnocchi is WONDERFUL, very easy to prepare and the nutritional value is pretty good - not too high in fat or calories. While not authentic, their hummus is pretty good as well and I love their meringue cookies.

wow, who knew trader joe's was so popular? We just got one in town (although it is a good 30 minutes away) and it is never too busy. Ahh, the benefits of living in the Midwest. (i'd still trade with ya'll though! CA or OH...hmmm, tough decision)

Soooo nice to know I am not the only one with grocery cart full of alcohol, appetizers, and pet supplies. My fav dinner is a big ol' martini and something in the nibbles department...hummus is good but goat cheese will set you free!

Comfort, Texas did something kinda neat recently, tho it had a sad beginning.

Posted it on my blog, under:

Tribute, and why I love Texas small towns

http://nancysgardenspot.blogspot.com/

I just went to the grocery store - my single woman with teenager and ringworm purchase: one yellow onion, one jar pasta sauce, one bag rotelli pasta, one small bottle bleach. It's better than yesterday's shopping, which was anti-fungal cream and a package of biscuits (the British kind, not American). It's not that I don't sympathize, but at least your cashier isn't looking at your $20 bill trying to figure out what part you have touched so they can avoid touching it, and if they should call a manager to come sterilize it and everything you have come into contact with.

If you haven't tried it yet, find some Halvah. The food of the gods it is, and should be in your Q market.

and don't read the nutritional information. Low-cal it is not.

Uh, Taral ... duh! When all I've got at home is half a jar of peanut butter and a case of Top Ramien packages (curses to Costco!!), you think I'm gonna pass up a home cooked meal invite?!! Oh HELL NO!

:)

TRADER JOE'S ROCKS!!! I'm actually planning on moving out of California in the next couple years (because I'd actually like to OWN a home someday!), and if the city I'm checking out doesn't have a Trader Joe's, I won't even consider it.

I was going to say the same thing...Mrs. Married Groceries is JEALOUS! You get to eat your 49 cent burrito and $13 wine without anyone screaming "Mommeeeee!!!! He HIT meeeeeeee!!"

I would never mock your shopping...I dream of the day when I don't have to buy 5 gallons of milk, ridiculously large packages of meat, bread by the ton, etc, etc for my voracious-appetite-sporting progeny...What? My grocery bill will be less than $150? You're kidding. Hey, a girl can fantasize, now can't she. Actually, it'll be reality soon enough. Like, 3 years from now. Not that I'm counting. And maybe then I will actually get to eat a couple peanut butter oreos before the whole freakin' package is gone!

Nancy, that Comfort, Texas page made me cry. I love the south so much. So much goodness there. I remember when I read about that boy getting killed in Iraq -- and where he was from -- if I knew him, but he was actually a relative newcomer (meaning his people hadn't lived there forever and a day) and still... the amount of support! Amazing. Bring a tear to a glass eye.

One thing you can count on in a small town. When the going gets tough, the town will rally around. And I bet the whole thing had not one person "running" it, just a whole town talking and deciding to show it's love and support to a family, even "newcomers".

btw: Arabic food rocks! I love stuffed grapeleaves and am going to make some, as soon as I can rationalize that much work for something only I'll eat (hubs doesn't do grapeleaves...) But I get hummus whenever I go to the Central Market and some of the best pocket bread you can get, made here in Houston.

While shopping at the Q Market, keep in mind that you are eating Mediterranean food (Ah, the Mediterannean diet - doctor's have been recommending it for years). That hummus may be full of oil, but it's olive oil, not bacon grease, and the chick peas in it are also good for you. It's always good to keep that in mind while shoveling it down. It's heart-healthy! So, shovel away.

Married groceries? Now I know why you don't sleep, you're up all night thinking up funny shit like that.
OK, shopping at the Persian market is fun, but grocery stores is where guys practice some of their best pickup lines. Whatcha been hearin' at the Q?

I have not tried the No english=No calories! I had always gone for the Broken food=All the calories leaked out. You know, throw the tortilla chips/cookies on the floor and OOPS they got crushed. You can see the calories jumping outta there, then you can eat all you like.

That's why cheesecake and ice cream and flatbread and olive oil have so many calories. You can't crush the box and let the calories out. See?

I'm totally jealous that you can buy alcohol in your grocery store. I live in a dry county, yes, that's right, a DRY county. You can't purchase any alcohol anywhere in this county. So, hypothetically, if I wanted to purchase frozen burritos and wine, I'd have to drive 25 minutes to the next town, buy the wine, and then drive 25 minutes back to buy the burrito. Lucky you! :)

You just crack me up!!! But not all married people cook. Thankfully my teenagers can fend!!! I do think Crazy Aunt Pearl should have her own column of which we would all look forward to reading. Like Dear Crazy Aunt Pearl... Keep your wonderful humor!

Hey sweetie - I'll be right over in my Purple PT cruiser then we can road trip it to TX (post evil-project), drinking shiraz and Brooklyn Lager all the way. Jacques can drive. Watch out, Drew.

(Now who's stalking whom?)

Hello??? Work has been insane for me too. What the hell?? Don't people realize it's summer in So Cal and we are in a heatwave and it's just too goddamned hot to work on anything more than the norm??? Duh!

As for the flat bread and hummus...YUM! I am dying right now for some delish cheesy, oily, garliky spread on flatbread. I work in South OC and it's definitely not the best place to find "multi-cultural" or ethnic cuisine, let alone markets. Must.Get.Home.To.Long.Beach.

Love your blog...read it all the time, but I am generally just stalking...

Aunt Purl - Lover your blog - it is one of the best. I'm a blog stalker who likes to knit. You have a wonderful sense of humor and courage and I love the pictures - especially of the cats.

I second (or third . . or fourth) that . . Ms. Married Groceries is TOTALLY jealous.

Yay ethnic markets! In my part of the Oklahoma City area it's Indian/Pakistani markets - the prices are great and my money goes right back into my community instead of into the corporate machine and out of state.

You really do enjoy living on the edge! :)

I feel so happy about your writing when I read it that if you wanted to charge me a nominal fee for the privilege, I wouldn't even mind. Please don't charge me. My job ends as of Aug 31.

Hope you are doing ok girl.

Where's our CAP? We miss her.

(Though we've heard you hosted a party over the weekend...are you still recovering? Ohhh, stalk, stalk, stalk.)

Comments-people just HAVE to make them. I'm skinny, so sue my butt, and while i would NEVER look in horror at shopping cart contents of other people let alone make body size comments i get them all the freakin time here. Once when my mother was coming to town-perhaps you know her? (Mrs. i need doughnuts with my coffee and where is that bowl of candy i thought i told you i had to have it within reach of every chair i sit in and what the hell is broccoli anyway a doorstop?) i ran to the store and stocked up on nothing but junk. Entire cart. Full of it. And the comments i got were pretty mean. You're so damned skinny! How can you eat all that and stay SKINNY. Bitch, bet you think you're great, huh? skinny bitch, etc etc etc.

Gets a leeeetle old. Funny i never get those comments when i go to the ethnic stores so i shop them a LOT.

And you are all so fortunate to have access to Trader Joes! Embrace them for me. sob sob choke, sniff whine whine sniffle.

Just dropping by to let you know I added your link to my blog. I have been reading you for a while, but just hadn't put you on there yet. I have been a very lazy blogger.
:)

You had me near freakin' tears laughing about the no calories thing. I have a market like that too and I'm usually like, "do you have garlic?" and they show me not only the garlic, but the wonderful meat that goes with it and the Shiraz (I'm evil too) and everything! It's like having a personal shopper.

ARGHHHH! Day 4 without new C.A.P. post! I can't take it anymore! I can't! Must have new post. Must! Having withdrawals ... here come the shakes!!!

p.s. I'm not a Scary Stalker. Really, I'm not! ;)
p.p.s. Here's hoping all is good with you and you've just been preoccupied with New Cute Guy or Airplane-Hanger-Huge Warehouse of Yarn Blowout Sale!

Loves ya!

please write more often!!! :-)

Crazy Aunt Purl? Hello? (echo....) HELLO!!!! Your stalkers are missing you!!!

I remember a grocery trip where I only bought kitty litter, toilet paper, disposable diapers, and tampons. The clerk was practically hysterical.

Where are you???? I can't start my day without a crazypurl fix.

How can I get my daily dose of Purl, when you are too busy with your flesh and blood life to post? Hmmph. :)

Poor Purl, that big ol' work project must be sucking the life out of you. Hope things slow down soon!

Hey Miss Laurie,
Hope you are surviving your big work project. We miss you and hope you are hangin in thar!

Honey, you takin' a long weekend?? Your peeps are missing you!!

Come back come back!!!! I'm forgetting how to laugh out loud at work!

Miss your commentary, Purl. I hope the rat bastards let you out of the work-cell sometime soon.

Did you know that sign says, "7-Eleven" in Arabic? Really!

where are you? i've found you through "she walks..." and am hooked. come back! if it serves as a bribe, i can direct you to a terrific middle-eastern deli. best olives in all of san francisco!

Is she back?...sigh......we miss you CAP!

I'm a transplanted southerner on the east coast, and I swear I can hear your accent when I read your blog. You make me laugh till I cry, and that's no small feat. I never tire of telling the world about Javier and Raimundo and the crackheads. Please come back soon! And...oh! Horseradish hummus with sesame flatbreads! Thank you Trader Joe's!

With one of the biggest Chinatowns in the U.S. here in Houston, I've become hooked on the giant Asian markets we have here. My co-workers never know what I'll bring to work next!

You are missed!!

I sure hope all is ok and you're just working hard or better yet, having some fun!

Write soon so we'll all know!

Whoa -- almost did a double take there. Just got back from Jordan and all the signs are bilingual... but they usually also say something stupid like "Open 25 hrs". The literal translation of the arabic writing is "kyoo market" So the arabic letter for Q would have been less appropriate I think. Also, in response to another commenter, I noticed my local safeway had the Halvah in the cheese case. I asked the cheese monger if she'd tried it and she says "Yes, it's a gritty sort of cheese that tastes a little like brown sugar." I stared at her for a moment and then I said "maybe that's because it's not cheese, it's a middle eastern dessert." I had to just leave it at that before I busted out laughing.

Hummus and flatbread rocks. With red wine -- even better. But in my case, it's usually best eaten when hubby is out of town. Man does it give me a case of gas that is unparalleled... anyone seen the Bean-O?

"Where O where has our Crazy Purl gone,
Oh where O where can she beeeeeee?
With her posts cut short and
her days cut long,
let's hope she still has A.C.!!"

hummus...that's like dirt right????

Please come back, we miss you!!!!!

I don't understand... I am back. The site has been updated a lot since July 29. Could someone explain to me why some people don't see it? Are you going to the main website URL?