Somewhere along the line, we reduced our reliance on grocery stores and increased what we bought from our CSA and our regional food bag.
Like our combinations at Friends and Farms.
The Protein and Dairy bag.
Today we got monkfish, ground chuck, eggs, cheese and turkey filets. Instead of milk, I pick extra produce. Today it was arugula.
Arugula was also in my sample produce bag, which I went on line to choose. My CSA doesn’t start until next week so I went on line to order a produce bag.
One with a protein option. Shrimp.
You can customize all kinds of combinations with this company. And buy extras at the warehouse.
Like yogurt and ice cream and apples and rice. Meat options too, which I saw on the blackboard. Whole chickens. Beef brisket. Specials every week as they try to keep the inventory in the freezer at a minimum.
Most of our food comes from here, and our CSA. No recalled foods from small local suppliers. No vegetables with possible listeria contamination. No meat products with wood, metal, plastic or whatever in them. I am a true believer in buying from small local companies, and knowing who processes your food.
Just to show how easy it is to come home and make an awesome dinner.
I sautéed that monkfish. Added it to a skillet of rice and vegetables.
Made a fish stew that will go into my regular rotation. It was that good.
This was simple. Yesterday I made a couple of cups of rice in my rice cooker. The leftovers from dinner become an addition to tonight’s dinner. I sautéed onions, garlic, and asparagus in olive oil. Added a container of crushed tomatoes. A container or spicy kale and bean soup. A teaspoon of sugar. A half teaspoon of salt. A splash of wine. After sautéing the monkfish I finished it in this mix.
Served with this.
A locally produced merlot.
Between the local markets, farms, CSAs and Friends and Farms, I don’t need to go to grocery stores. Unless I need toilet paper.
Yeah I forgot to photograph the final dish. It was served over arugula. Which was in my produce bag and my sample bag.
A double dose of arugula.
AnnieRie Unplugged 
Looks tasty! If plain milk needs to be avoided, have you thought about making your own yogurt or fresh cheeses with it? Both are pretty easy. Or if you can substitute fresh cream for the milk, you could make your own butter.
I can’t digest milk very well, but do OK with hard cheeses and yogurt. I just don’t have enough time to make cheese or yogurt every week.
Since Friends and Farms gives us options to substitute for milk, or for bread, or for pork, or shellfish, I am always happy to see their surprise item for me when I get my bag.
My husband does use milk in coffee and on cereal. I find that a fresh quart of whole milk, bought about every 8-10 days is just the right amount.
The half gallons available from F&F are just too much for his use.