86/365 Where’s the Beef?

We used to buy our beef locally, a side at a time. I have no idea if we got the left side or the right side, but I used to look out my window at work to see the cow in question looking back. It’s a rancher’s thing to be proud of the ability to look lunch in the eye without flinching, and a relief to me to know what I ate was well cared for.

There are all kinds of reasons for buying food in bulk. For me the best was knowing I never had to worry about getting to the grocery store to get more. I simply went out to our chest freezer and brought in however much we were going to need.

For Mr. Al it was the joy of being able to afford to eat expensive cuts. You don’t actually save much money buying a cow at a time. Especially if you count the cost of electricity. We paid about $4 a pound, once you take into consideration waste at the butchers. That’s high for all the hamburger, but very low for the file mignon.

It’s more than just beef. You’ve seen my cereal supply. I get canned goods and baking supplies at the same rate – just this side of spoiling. In the long run it saves me a pile of money, and in the short run keeps me from having to dash off to the store at the worst moments. Except Thanksgiving. I always come up short on Thanksgiving.

How about you? Do you buy in bulk? Do you dash to the store a lot? Live out of restaurants? Simply eat what’s placed before you? How do you handle your food?