Shopping day! I’ve compiled my list of ingredients from the recipes.  Here’s what I need:

• Potatoes
• Butter
• Heavy Cream
• Celery Root
• Rib Roast
• Sausage
• Onions
• Celery
• Carrots
• Leeks
• Yams
• Bell Peppers
• Chicken Stock
• Pork Shoulder
• Red Potatoes
• Tomatoes
• Cabbage
• Salad
• Corn
• Cranberries

My dad once told me that I should organize my list before I go shopping at the grocery.  He said by doing so, you’ll keep your frozen food frozen and you’ll walk less.  While I try to do this, there are times when I head to the grocery just to relax and walk off some stress (I know I’m weird).  But here’s the revised list:

Fruits and Vegetables (Aisle 1)
Potatoes
Celery Root
Onions
Celery
Carrots
Leeks
Yams
Bell Peppers
Red Potatoes
Tomatoes
Cabbage
Salad
Corn
Cranberries

Other
Chicken Stock (Aisle 4)
Stuffing mix (front of the store)

Meats (in the back store)
Turkey
Sausage
Pork Shoulder

Dairy (in the back of the store)
Butter
Heavy Cream

Yes, I put which aisles these items are found.  As you get to know your stores you’ll know where the items are kept (they hardly change).  Take a look at this picture.

Does it look similar to your store?  These are universal concepts in store layout and design.  You’ll notice that most of the items you need are in the outer edges of the store.  I’ve noticed that I’ve reduced the number of steps and in-store time by 75% by planning ahead–it was part of an experiment where a friend and I shopped for the same items except that I planned ahead knowing the general location of each item.  We both wore a pedometer and timed ourselves.

Remember to take inventory of your ingredients in stock, and then make your organized list before you go shopping.