Annie_H

Interesting to see this link. I started looking over the holidays and have a file started. A NYC store Korin is on the short list. I purchased a couple bowls from Ikea a few years ago to test the size. Straight flared sides, not too deep and at least 8 inches across at the top.

^it is an impressive wine selection. We are well stocked via our local. I was hoping for a two-buck-chuck type white or red for cooking. (five buck Misfit). Interesting they went that direction. Excellent prices as far as I noticed.

^pink sous vide pork, pink rack of lamb, med-rare-on-the-rare-side beef---burgers, steak. We prefer. Storm freezer shopping. Tuesday sloppy Tacos, Hump Day Dogs. Found a package of TetonGrassFed. A bit on the salty side but some quick pickles helped. RG beans and rice. Found two nice packages of BoSaam pulled pork.

Storm food. Snow then freezing rain/ice. Meatball success last night. With Vodka Sauce. Thursday night burgers. On Martin's diner rolls so more like sliders.

^Yes, newspaper and cardboard are great insulators. Foil bags with re-freezable ice packs---I keep mine in zip-locks in case of leaks. Frozen foods in the bottom of your cooler with ice packs and top with a couple layers of cardboard. Then any cheeses, veg...not frozen stuff but needing fridge temps above the layers of cardboard. Ice packs just under a layer of cardboard will keep all that fridge cold. I can travel three days with frozen and fridge foods in a cooler. (a bit more planning but can be done). I keep insulated bags in my car for my shopping bags. If I have multiple errands I toss in a few ice packs. *Walden local meat share are recycling their canvas insulated bags again but all 2020 they did not want them back. Before covid I purchased a couple similar on Amazon. I save the foil pack bags from Misfits and deliveries that use them. We have had whole chickens, a turkey, and various meats arrive solid frozen delivered fed-x. Sometimes two days in transit. The last pastured raised chicken from Misfits took three more days to thaw in the fridge after delivery. We have been off our homemade bread game for about a year now. I'm not a TJ shopper for many reasons but really want the scallion pancakes!. I have a good recipe but at that price, yum.

I managed a total hack/fail with sushi. It was 'extra credit'. The meal was planned dumplings. A big side salad. I was not set up properly for sushi but went for it last minute. It has been a while. I forgot all the tricks. (bowl of warm water for hands, etc) I had more sticky rice on my hands than the rolls. The flavor was there. Good trial run for the next dinner guests whenever that will be. (a couple friends have teens---nasty winter colds passing around and we don't need that) ...with SeaBeans...

I really like Walden. Not sure how they pull it off with free shipping with their own vans at such a reasonable price. We have the customizable, to a point---select some key desirables for 89$. A few add-ons. My next delivery is the end of this month. Easy to put it off for a while----our last delivery was pre-thanksgiving. I just added, this morning, lots of ofal,--- chicken paws, necks, and various bones for a master stock. ...and they answer their phones if need be.

We have been snacking the sea beans as a garnish. Had some with sushi and dumplings last night. I'm not usually tempted by oddities but glad I did. I stock a few dried seaweeds and bonito flakes having a great shelf life...but yes, a really good fresh crunchy treat. My Misfits box came a day early, 🤪. I was not prepared but dealt with it. Gorgeous and so fresh...they sent double cilantro and extra purple sweet potatoes---both were small so they doubled. Three giant leeks. Huge celery with a boat load of tender leaves. Thought a perfect box---then just realized they left out the avocados. 🙄. Bummer. I've been ordering the bag of six minis. Always firm and ripen over 10-12 days but not all at once. Very dense for their size, so easy to judge and fridge the few that are a bit soft. Three big bunches of scallions!

I wish they had perforated punch handles on each side. I just take outside my fabric insulated handled bags from the local meat share and divide into pantry, freezer, and crisper/fridge. Leave the boxes on the porch for recycling. Saving the foil insulated bags for the food pantry. I had to try the sea beans as well. Crunchy and salty like the sea. I just keep forgetting I have them. Sushi planned tonight so need to remember to pull them out. I was religious about photographing the unboxing until recently. It really helps menu planning to have the loot in my photo file. And to check what is missing. Misfits gives a couple days to add and delete before shipping. My next box is only veg, no pantry. Except for a bag of organic brown rice from the penny shop. I really need the 3 bunches of scallions but that is one thing they often screw up. Multiples of any one item. The fermented jar of seaweed salad is from another vendor from an order of oysters and lobster. Big box of veg for 50 bucks including shipping... I still have another giant watermelon radish, and a red pepper, most of the fennel, cucumbers for salads and slaws for now.

Spicy Goat Milk RedMiso Veg Roasted Chicken Curry

My last curry adventure was 2016. Found the three 1/2 pints in the back of the freezer last year and shuddered. Awful. A few months ago I revisited. Fantastic trying a new recipe. We both agree on this one. In the past I would order my favorite and DH would get his non-curry dish at a favorite restaurant. I got sucked into a curry base via a blog post. Not good. Package directions...5 minutes in minimal water. They swell up quickly. I made 1/3 the pack for two. If I needed a next day lunch...might make the entire package...probably super for a cold sesame noodle. (the usual suspects...toasted sesame oil, toasted seeds, etc). I have the multi-nut and grain/seed nut butter. Should make a nice cold sesame noddle dish.

Fortunately the glass component for the roaster is not very expensive. I'm as cynical about ingredients as just about anyone---organic moringa powder. Some superfood of the moment. All I care about is the texture and that works for us. Color can be a plus if a chef, but we are home cooks. Still fun having a variety at good Misfit prices. I had to look... I do have many rice noodles from HMart. Pale pinks, purples, and greens using various roots.

Black bean Chicken Noodle Soup. Friday night storm prep. We had shrimp and salmon thawing but it was getting dark. Roasting coffee beans, the pups got the zoomies and took the cord out---roaster crashed to the deck during cool down--- beans and glass went flying. Bummer. Too late and dark to bring out the back-up poppers. (back-up roasted half pound in the freezer). 😜 Freezer shopping found a pint of chicken in master stock and a pint of spicy Oaxaca black beans. He wanted pasta, I wanted rice. Compromised with a new-to-me rice noodle. (misfits) Nice 5 minute noodle. ...even after holiday gifting I have so many RG beans to go through. No complaints. I like the choices.

Roasted a pasture raised chicken Wednesday---storm prep. Usually a Sunday meal. Chard and collards. Smashed potatoes. Extra credit a frozen packet of wild rice stuffing from the holidays. Then a stock from the carcass. Last night a chicken and wild rice veg ginger soup. 5 pints of chicken soup for the freezer and 4 1/2 pints of stock. Storm prep, check, done. Lots of choices if we lose power. Pantry and freezer good. Stuffed. My stupid odd grain obsession I just want a good white basmati or anything simple. Nada. Lots of noodle choices so that is good. A bag of 'sticky rice'.

NYTimes has had many LunarNewYear recipes featured recently. Looking forward to trying some new things next week. NYTimes Nonya Hokkien Stir-Fried Noodles Not possible to post the entire e-mail menu of recipes...

I did the same recently. I paid close attention, process pics and took notes...they totally fell apart so it became a ragu. Then made another batch that were excellent. Did not pay attention. So good we had them again the next day. No idea what I did differently, 🙄

Busy Saturday. Not as busy as it looks. Tasks spread out throughout the morning/afternoon. 3 different RG beans, 2 pounds of stew beef in the oven to braise low and slow. Had a successful Japanese chicken curry a few weeks ago, so made a big batch of Garam Masala. Melisa Clark's Za'atar chicken marinated, then roasted. (boneless skinless thighs) for the curry. Had that Saturday night, no pic, but made up a few with beans for the freezer for lunches or an easy dinner. Sunday a chickpea spicy Korean stew and Monday a beef, veg and noodle thing. Ended up with 8 pints total for the freezer. Nice to have a couple days to clean the kitchen, 😂

I did not have much trouble with Baldor. Used them every 3-4 months. Less now. Not really necessary with the few deliveries we are happy with. Never had an issue with 'home' quantities. But that might be NYC. I was just pointing out what to look out for. Unexpected added fees. I've not been in a Walmart that I'm aware of. Not at all a convenience here. We all seem to have worked out our comfort zone for grocery shopping. Minor adjustments trying new vendors. All our shopping trials happened the first have of 2020. My Misfits delivery yesterday---the eggs are 2.99, the tomato paste, 1.99. every veg and pantry staple is 1-2 dollars cheaper than even Walmart. 35 items. That adds up. Bragg's AC vinegar, Vermont creamery butter and cheese. Things I have always purchased before covid. Not a club. No order, they do not send. FreshDirect is a big deal in NYC for at least 20 yrs. Most of our friends use them.

Decent. Not pasture raised like WaldenLocal. But familiar I have purchased before.

We used insta-cart a couple times local. During the 'freak-out' phase. Baldor, only NYC, is next day but different now with restaurants being open-ish. Some of the add-on fees with insta-cart were a surprise. Heavy load+10 bucks, etc. Baldor is free shipping. (we do tip heavy)...really nice guys delivering. My Misfits just showed up on my front step. My parents, with my brother and his wife visiting them from Idaho just got their boxes and my SIL and MIL who now live together in Charleston just got their Misfits gift boxes I sent. All saying via text---better than Christmas!, 😂 My yogurt exploded under a whole roaster chicken. Only one exploded yogurt sent---should be two. Three dozen eggs sent---I ordered one. Organic extra virgin olive oil I did not order. (not a brand I like)...other choices they have I would order. Not sure how they keep screwing up in my favor, 😜 Shipping is 4.50$ flat with Misfits. Two giant boxes today. I snacked-up, lol. And a boat load of greens. Cilantro looks like hell. My 13 day old is still fresh so no guarantee. My SIL texted an oddity in their box. One can of fancy tonic water. Saw it in the penny shop....but I sent a box of penny soup... "tonic, my fav, but no gin!"....my reply...."if there is gin in the house, your husband, my brother, diluted it 50 years ago".

I had trouble finding anything not written by the company. But some yelp or some such reviews have some pics posted. Seems some locations have a pick-up or delivery for 7bucks. One customer posted a layout of their loot....a bar of soap, one root veg I think a radish and two tiny garlic bulbs. So tiny they should really have been planted in October to for next years harvest. And I think a bag of meatballs. Might be valuable if you are familiar with your local vendors. Would prevent multiple shopping stops. Like a familiar farmers market. Imagine a smart kid videotaping a walk through the UnionSquare market once a week and shopping for you, then delivering. Or starting a collective and gathering local produce in one location and shipped or delivered from there. I've photographed rooftop greenhouses in Brooklyn. If someone put together my favorite NYC things and local greenhouse produce I'm all in. What makes WaldenLocal HudsonValley work so well is having their own vans and delivering in each area just once a month. Except when our second bag never showed up April 2020. No door pic. Delivered to the wrong door obviously but no-one fessed up. They did reimburse but could only re-deliver a few weeks later. Bummer since we really needed it at that time. Baldor to the rescue. So many great things made right here in the NY metropolitan area. It would take days to gather all of it. This is pretty great, posted recently in the NYTimes, Katz's get well soon package

I've said here and elsewhere multiple times...if someone said I would be ordering on-line veg pre-covid I would stink-eye them insane. We never shopped via delivery. Nothing but good experiences via local meat farm shares and Misfits. No box deliveries are a commitment. Even ButcherBox or my local. No issues suspending for a few months. My freezer is stuffed with seafoods and local quality meats. No pressure from any suppliers if we hold off for a few months. With a freezer full of seafood protein and some meats...Misfits provides the best deal on veg. I just made some humus and my 10 day old cilantro is still great from Misfits. Learning how your fridge can keep veg fresh is key. Like ovens our fridge crispers are different. My misfits veg lasts weeks. Never would I have done this pre-covid. But so thrilled with the quality.

I got caught of-guard by the monthly fee charged to my credit card with ThriveMarket. I recall it is 9$ ? a month. That seems old school 80's where shipping and handling was often more than the ordered item. Most of their advertising is on social media where the recipients are given free and endless product. Sponsored. Paid. I would be surprised if Misfits ever cancels. They are 'thriving' after the CBS SundayMorning feature a couple months ago. They are working so hard and smart to make the company work. Misfits claims to not leave out anyone located in a food dessert. They seem very transparent. Any zip code. Imperfect declined to be interviewed in an article I posted months ago. They make more money in a higher income area...city centers. Misfits sets up their warehouses in low income areas and hires locals. Most without cars or transportation for employment and hire those difficult to get jobs. Fresh out of prison. Walking distance. Giving them a chance at honest employment. Just a personal observation having hired similar.

Thrive has an audience I guess. I signed up April 2020 and was immediately charged without ever ordering and became a big ass pita to cancel and get out. The prices are a bit less but not by much. Very vegan, keto, and gluten-free, organic positive, and that is fine but a bit heavy handed. We are 90% organic fresh whole food plant based but not strict. Lots of wiggle room here. As you know Misfits gives you a couple days to shop so check back before 8pm before the day charged and shipped. My location out of south NY transfer has garlic. I really like the new system. Just ordering what you want and not sending replacements at all. If my order does not hit 30$, it is not sent, no questions. No mysteries. No zip-code is denied. Good for a two family household. I'm ordering twice a month or every three weeks. So fresh. Misfits has eggs and my favorite yogurt now. Good avocado mayo and always something new to try without too much $$ temptation. If you see the SuperReds soup in your penny store...so good. 32 ounces is huge and shelf stable. Good ingredients. Not anything I would purchase in a market but for a penny....I used it in a Japanese curry last night. The rest I froze in 1/2 pints. I seem to always get something free. I did not order the salsa verde. (I make my own) If the three red onions ordered are tiny I get an extra, etc. Something off or funky so easy to contact and quickly refunded without question and no picture needed.

I love both as well. I do have a box of salt cod purchased over the holidays. But this is fresh. I salt it overnight for 10-12 hours. It draws out moisture and firms the flesh. A rinse under water and a milk/yogurt/water soak until ready to poach. Is not salty at all. Salt will 'pull' water until about the 18-24 hour mark, then start to enter the flesh and start the salt cod curing. At that point it is called a 'pickle'. I like soaked salt cod for Mediterranean seafood salads. Dream about it...capers, olives, celery, cucumber....