kayb

Did my grocery shopping today and loaded up on fruit and veggies. As Monday is generally a kitchen day for me, I may cook several different kinds of grains, cool, package in half-cup servings in plastic bags, and freeze. Speaking of which, what's the difference in a Mandarin orange and a clementine? Other than the fact one was a lot more expensive than the other at the grocery today? And are either of them the same as tangerines, which is what we always called them when I was a kid?

Here's another one I forgot about until I found some in the fridge; because of the high preponderance of vinegar in it, it keeps forever. Lightly blanched asparagus, cut in one-inch chunks Raw sugar snap peas, cut in 1/3 inch slices crossways Whatever other raw thing you want to throw in; I have added slivered carrot, and cauliflower florets cut up small. Should not be a watery vegetable. Dressing: 2:1 some sort of relatively light vinegar (white wine, distilled white, etc.) and sugar, heated until sugar dissolves and poured over veggies while hot. You can add whatever herbs float your boat. I will sometimes throw in fresh tarragon, but I love just the crispness of the vinegar with the crunch of the veggies. You can also adjust the sugar to your liking.

@shain, do you have a recipe link or text you can share for that pudding? I dearly love Indian style rice pudding, and that looks marvelous.

H'mm. Interesting. Thanks!

@Anna N -- Inquiring minds want to know. What constitutes Danish style remoulade?

Welcome home. As always, enjoyed the trip! Hoping you'll come through my part of the world some day.

We've had "local," if by local you mean from the central and southern part of the state, berries since about the first of April. These were about the first I've seen from up here in the "frozen northeast." Color balance on that pic is horrible, but they were WONDERFUL berries, for which I'm grateful, as I bought two quarts of them. Need to make some fresh yogurt and some more granola tomorrow. These came from the Farmers' Market in Memphis, as ours up here doesn't start until next week. The good news is they way they're staged, I can eat Central Arkansas berries until they play out and then have more for a good while up here! And then it'll be peach time!

LoStrawberries, yogurt, brown sugar. Wanted something sweet, but light. First trip to the Farmer's Market, as we were Memphis bound anyway. Also scored asparagus, baby bok choy, and goodies from my favorite Lebanese vendor...grape leaves, hummus, pita. Dinner tomorrow.

I think I may have to order the dead tree edition of this book.

And made even better by the view.

While we're on that bean salad kick...one of my summer favorites has always been cooked, drained and rinsed black beans; fresh corn kernels, cooked just a little; red onion, quartered, sliced, and soaked in ice water for 30 minutes, then drained and patted dry; chunked avocado; chunked, drained tomatoes or halved cherry tomatoes. Dressing of lime juice, a neutral oil, and smoked paprika. Love it with any kind of grilled meat, or just by itself with a side of tortilla chips.

Score another one for @Toliver. Since the local Indian restaurant closed, I'm reduced to either cooking my own or going to Memphis or Little Rock.

I had hoped to get out and garden with my grandson this afternoon...bought my tomato plants, pepper plants and herbs yesterday, as well as some asparagus roots, onion sets, seed potatoes and, for the first time, horseradish root. But a stomach bug, which we shall hope will be of short duration, has laid me low, so grandson has gone home and gardening is put off until tomorrow.

Having learned how to ferment my own half-sours, I can assure you I am never without them now. I can and keep a variety of pickles, but half-sours, to preserve the great crispy snap, I make fresh all year long and keep in the fridge. Recipe here.

So glad you ordered their rice grits. I love rice grits; a different taste and texture from corn grits. Soon as I need some more, and a few more varieties of rice, I need to order just so I can add Sea Island red peas to the list.

Ooohh. I hadn't thought about drying pineapple. And I love dried pineapple. On my list for the next time Aldi puts them on sale for 99 cents apiece.

Don't know that I can go with the sports car metaphor, but I really do like farro. Particularly when it's toasted first in a butter/olive oil mixture.

I have not, though I understand they are the gold standard for dehydrators. I have an off-brand (Ambiano) that I bought at Aldi for $19.99 that works fine; how much better the Excaliburs are, I couldn't testify. But there ain't much more humid than the Mississippi River Delta in the summer (we hover in the upper 90s), and the cheapie worked well.

Only fell for one this time. Ginger Pig Farmhouse Cookbook.

Excalibur has a sale on its dehydrators on its website. $40 off the smallest version, $60 off the biggest one. Clickety

A friend picked up a 2-liter Mortier Pilon fermenting crock at WalMart for $9 the other day. I check Amazon and they're $40. I told her to get me one if there are any more there. Might keep an eye out at your local big-box store. I checked the WalMart website and there are no sales on them, but the crocks aren't listed, just the storage jars. They may be discontinuing.

For dried beans, there is no better source than Rancho Gordo. Amazon has a reasonable stock of dried fruits, as does Brandless. You can get a cheap (or an expensive) dehydryator and try your hand at drying fruit and veggies and making jerky yourself. I paid $20 for mine at Aldi (an Ambiano brand, four shelves), and it seems to work fine, or you can buy a $200 Excalibur, or you can use baking sheets in a low oven. I dry cherry tomatoes every year, bag them and stick them in the freezer. I think I may preserve some in oil this year, just to sample the difference. I think I'm also going to try my hand at drying herbs.

My very favorite "I'm by myself, I'm a grownup, and I don't have to eat a balanced deal if I don't want to" meal: A bowl or potato salad.

It's been my experience that Dollar Tree foodstuffs are things that are odd-lotted out from other stores or store chains, maybe near a sell-by date, maybe something they're discontinuing, that the chain gets, and then sells, at a big discount. I know when I was in breakfast fruit smoothie world, I used to buy my frozen fruit there; $1 for a small bag (about two smoothies' worth) that was $2.79 at Kroger. So it may be good, or not. Bear in mind that the vast majority of diners in the US have never had fresh pasta, or even pasta from Italy; their experience is limited to Ronco from the supermarket.

Now you have me thinking about making huevos rancheros, with leftover refried beans from the fridge, tomorrow morning. Pinto beans are also great as a side to migas.