Anytime you go to the supermarket, you need some of those red little papers with lots of 000s on them.....
However, if you do as Chip00 has said, with variations...you can eat well.
We feed a lot of people here at the Hovel and we spend somewhere between $700-$800 for the main meal. How many? Anywhere between 14 and 20 on an average day. We eat "fresh".. ? la Subway!!
Today, "carne mechada" , guandules guisados, white rice, lettuce, tomato and cabbage salad, fried green bananas (just like tostones) and ripe bananas for dessert. What more could you ask for????
BUT: when we go to PriceSmart once every two months, its 15,000+....
Huge box of Splenda
2 lt Extra Virgin Olive Oil
half a case of large cans of tomato paste
biggest catchup in the place
half a ton of spaghetti
10-12 pounds of beans
Same for sugar
Huge jug of salt
gallons of vinegar
Huge bundle of TP
Another of disposable plates for sending food to people
2 or 3 lbs of bacon
3 or 4 cartons of eggs
2 lbs of ham
3 of cheese
something for the grandkids (always!!)
Some bread.
Bags of onions, garlic, lemons
We used to buy Caf? Santo Domingo but that was Before Melo!!! Ah good coffee!!
Oh yes, we do not buy rice. It comes from the factory to our house each month, not quite enough to last a month but close--125 lbs....
How's that? All it takes is 45 years of know how!!
HB