10/22/2026
Are you already thinking of the holidays and baking and all the things? We are! And this year is going to be both our tastiest AND healthiest holiday. If you follow us, we're going to be sharing recipes and food suggestions to make it so that you can also have the tastiest and healthiest holiday season. Plus, we're going to be focusing on keeping the price down - so it's a win-win-win!
This is the first of several posts so I thought I'd start just by sharing how I go about my holiday shopping.
1. I look for local and see what I can make around local ingredients. Can I get a turkey or chicken local? Do I know a spot to pick some last-minute cranberries for sauce? I always have apple pie filling and apple c***r in the freezer so we've got all the apple things covered. Think about what you can get local and secure that first.
2. I shop Azure Standard almost exclusively for everything else. I've explained in several posts why we love azure but the bottom line - we're not putting up with sub-standard, crappy food anymore. Dollars are hard earned and there is no reason to support companies that offer food with unhealthy ingredients and foods that shouldn't pass as food.
So now that I know where I'll be shopping, I start making my menus - then my list fromt the menus.
Menu Examples:
Thanksgiving with Family:
I'll take rolls, deviled eggs, apple/honeyberry pie, pumpkin pie, and an overnight salad
Friendsgiving at our house:
Turkey or smoked chicken
Ham
Green Bean Casserole
Overnight Salad
Cheesy Bread
Rolls
Cranberry Sauce
Deviled Eggs
Charcuterie for munchies
Pumpkin Pie
Apple/Honeyberry Pie
Chocolate Pie
Once I've made my menus, I'll do a breakdown of the ingredients and make a list. I also have to decide things like - do I want to make homemade pie crust or do I maybe want to try Azure's new line of frozen pie crusts?
Here is an example of the pie crust from Azure vs a store brand:
AZURE PIE SHELL INGREDIENTS:
AZURE INGREDIENTS:
organic whole wheat pastry flour, organic all purpose flour, water, organic unsalted butter, organic shortening, himalayan Salt, organic apple c***r vinegar
STORE BRAND INGREDIENTS:
ENRICHED BLEACHED FLOUR [WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, IRON, THIAMIN MONONITRATE (VITAMIN B1), RIBOFLAVIN (VITAMIN B2), FOLIC ACID], SOY FLOUR, Corn Starch, Wheat Starch, Benzoyl Peroxide, Tricalcium Phosphate, WHEAT STARCH, LARD AND HYDROGENATED LARD WITH BHT ADDED TO HELP PROTECT FLAVOR, WATER, SUGAR, CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF: SALT, SODIUM PROPIONATE (PRESERVATIVE), XANTHAN GUM, CITRIC ACID, POTASSIUM SORBATE (PRESERVATIVE), CORN STARCH, YELLOW 5, Ammonium Acetate.
See? It can be convenient but WAY healthier just by shopping Azure!
That's the simple way to start!
If you're interested in joining our Azure Standard drop, first you make an account here: https://www.azurestandard.com/?a_aid=1tgPd1lZHA
Then you would join the
09 COMMON GROUND COMMUNITY DROP
(you have to include the 09 to find it)
And do your shopping!
We have an order closing on Sunday at 3 pm that will include frozen, chill, and dry so you can get anything your little heart desires (and your wallet can afford) Haha!
You pay azure for the groceries and pay us for shipping when you pick up. Dry is around .50/lb and frozen and chill are around .62/lb.
I can't wait to start sharing recipes! But in the meantime, get your menu started so you can make sure you're well prepared this season!
