Grocery Shopping

[Anna N]

No problem, Anna. I am a 4-H youth specialist, and I know the young man who is raising the hogs. Some day, I will raise my own, but right now I am too busy for that (I have a couple dozen chickens, 4 dogs, 2 cats, a mother, and a huge garden to tend right now, as well as trying to do my job!)

So--instead of impulse buying the two little piglets that Austin brought to the fair, I just asked if he would feed one of the ones he had at home out for me. Since they are feeding a couple for themselves, it was no trouble to do one for me.

I talked to him about these hogs, so I knew they were smaller. That is a good thing, since I have a small freezer and it is only the two of us eating. They are also being raised on pasture, with some supplemental organic feed and no hormones or antibiotics.

I buy a locally grown side of beef each year, too. The beef is a Corriente steer, used in roping competitions at the fairgrounds. I know the rancher, and I know he does not use hormones or routine antibiotics with his stock. These calves are 'finished' with feed after their time on pasture. The Corrientes are small cattle--again, a good thing for me. (And the meat is lovely, very flavorful, and the custom processor does a good job with it.

Thank you so much. Sound as if you have some very good eating to look forward to. I hope you share your experience with us. Anna.

[Panaderia Canadiense]

Last Sunday's haul:

Simón Bolívar Fish Market

A single, perfect 2 lb Lenguado (black sole)

Mercado Mayorista - Feria Libre

2 lbs Sachataxo (wildcrafted banana passionfruit, probably P. mollisima tripartata but possibly P. mixto)

1 lb paiteña onion (a sweet red type)

1 head butter lettuce

4 avocados, Patate type

5 long white onions

1/4 lb small shallots

1/4 lb garlic, in peeled cloves

3 lbs carrots, medium sized, Nantes type

3 lbs large beefsteak tomatoes, probably Brandywines (if previous experience with the seller holds)

10 lbs panela raspadura

Mercado Mayorista - Naves Mayoristas

25 lbs unbleached wheat flour, strong

1 lb whole walnuts, peeled

1 lb almonds, peeled

1 lb macadamia nuts, in shell (very fresh)

1 lb Cariamanga coffee, medium roast, in grain

2 lbs mother of chocolate

1 lb baking powder (this is about 2 week's worth)

2 lbs black raisins

Puro Pollo

2 lbs ground chicken

2 large chicken breasts

2 lbs chicken livers

12 drumsticks

[huiray]

Looking forwards to updates on that guinea hog(let), sparrowgrass!

[huiray]

Nice list, Panaderia. Sent me off to the Google again, you did! :-)

Those paiteña onions - are they these?

Looked up the Sachataxo passionfruits too - Interesting. I presume they will be for flavoring some of your bakery products?

[Panaderia Canadiense]

Paiteñas are these.

The sachataxo are partially for my own personal enjoyment - they make a beautiful shake with vanilla helado de paila - and partly as cheesecake topping.

[pastameshugana]

avocados (which I wanted to slap the checkout girl for throwing into the bag with a satisfying - to her- clunk as they hit)

There's not a court on eG that would convict you for slapping her...

[huiray]

Friday/Saturday shopping this weekend:

Goose the Market:

– Fresh Pacific white shrimp (harvested Friday; Bedrock Springs Seafood Farm).

– Fresh Blue Marlin "steaks".

– Local Folks Food stone-ground Xxpress mustard (has jalapeno peppers in it).

Broad Ripple Farmers' Market:

• Funny Bone Farm – broccoli florets, Red Chard.

• Silverthorn Farm – Black-type (indeterminate) tomatoes, Red Russian Kale, Black Cherry tomatoes.

• Yeager Farm Produce – Shishito peppers, Angled Loofah, small-sized Indian Chu Chu eggplants.

• Eden Farms – big head of collard greens (hydroponic).

• Fields Farm Fresh – orange sweet mini munching peppers, Japanese Black Trifele tomatoes.

• Earthly Delights – Roma beans.

• The Apple Works – Green-shelled eggs :-), from Miller's Fresh Eggs (packed 9/4/13).

• Incredible Edibles – Various tomatoes: Black Heart, Breast of Venus, Big Cheef, Siberian Tiger.

Kincaid's Meat Market:

– A nice chunk of Top Sirloin Cap, fat left on.

[huiray]

Here's what I got over Thurs-Sat. I might have gone a bit overboard...but a lot of the stuff from the Chinese grocery were restocking or stock-addition items. :-)

Asia Mart:

Fresh skinny wonton noodles

Fried tofu puffs [Phoenix]

Fresh quail eggs

Soft tofu [Hinochi]

Shoyu ramen (nama ramen type) [ Sun Noodle]

Mung bean vermicelli (cellophane noodles) [Long Kow]

Preserved plum "snacks" (Chan Pui Mui; 陳皮梅) [summit Import Corp.]

Shoyu instant noodles [Myojo Chukazanmai]

Chinese BBQ pork buns (frozen) (Char Siu Bau) [Prime Food]

Ground bean sauce [Koon Chun]

Hoisin sauce [Koon Chun]

Fermented soy beans (whole bean) [Dragonfly]

Gai-lan

Fresh young ginger (this is actually really fresh stuff)

Spring bamboo shoots (packaged) [Yes! Produce]

Chinese chive flower (buds)

Chinese celery (this was for a vendor at a local Farmers' Market)

Malunggay leaves (Moringa oleifera)

Watercress

Scallions/green onions (@4 bundles/$1)

Coriander leaves (@3 bundles/$1)

Napa cabbage (Wong Nga Pak) (@29¢/lb)

Fresh wood-ear fungus/"mushrooms" (Muk Yee)

Fresh Tung Koo (Chinese-type thick-cap shiitake-type mushrooms)

Fresh galangal

Fresh Thai basil

Taiwan A-choy stems^¶

Garlic (Chinese)

Gnarly-skinned limes

Fresh lotus roots

Chinese-cut pork spare ribs

Fresh whole beef shins

Fish head (salmon) + fish bones (salmon)

Half a Cantonese roast duck

Chinese/Cantonese BBQ pork

Maxim (美心) ( a famous Hong Kong bakery) mooncakes;^§ lotus seed/double duck egg yolks

^¶ The thick, succulent, de-leaved stems of what would normally be sold as leafy Taiwanese A-choy

^§ The Mid-Autumn Festival is upon us...

Broad Ripple Farmers' Market:

Eden Farms - Tuscan kale, hydroponic, 1 head

Norman Mullet Farm - Music fresh garlic 10 heads

Fields Farm Fresh - Bicolor corn ears

Yeager Farm Produce - baby okra, shishito peppers

Compean & Sons - 1 head of cauliflower

Funny Bone Farm - 2 leeks, reallllly long white parts

Carmel Farmers' Market:

Van Antwerp Farm - Poblano peppers

Bading Farm - Jolokia (Ghost) chilli peppers

Brotgarten - 1 Epi wheat-stalk loaf

Middlefork Farm - 4 yellow zucchini

Daily Farm - Chinese-type long skinny eggplants, 2 dark purple/2 light purple

Farming Engineers - Green & purple Chinese long beans (Vigna unguiculata subsp. sesquipedalis)

[Anna N]

So I attempted to find out a little more about Malunggay leaves and concluded that they will cure anything but the common cold (and perhaps even that!) but what culinary purpose do they serve? Thanks. Anna N

Edited for typo. It's too early in the morning!

Edited September 15, 2013 by Anna N (log)

[huiray]

So I attempted to find out a little more about Malunggay leaves and concluded that they will cure anything but the common cold (and perhaps even that!) but what culinary purpose do they serve? Thanks. Anna N

One uses them like a vegetable in certain dishes or soups. If you like, take a peek at the culinary section of the Wikipedia article for a quick run-down from various cuisines. :-)

[Anna N]

So I attempted to find out a little more about Malunggay leaves and concluded that they will cure anything but the common cold (and perhaps even that!) but what culinary purpose do they serve? Thanks. Anna N

One uses them like a vegetable in certain dishes or soups. If you like, take a peek at the culinary section of the Wikipedia article for a quick run-down from various cuisines. :-)

Thank you. Don't know how I missed that. I'll blame it on Sunday morning Danish coffee.

[Lindsey]

I am game for this! With winter rapidly approaching the Highlands of Scotland and, now being semi-retired, my purse strings are quite tight. Trying DH out with the idea of a lot less meat but locally sourced, so veg is high on my shopping list. Greengrocery shops are so few and far between here now, nearest one would be about 20 miles away, so supermarkets, sadly, are my go to.

I kg vine tomatoes

1 punnet cherry tomatoes

2 sweet potatoes

1/2 kg baby spinach

1 kg white onions

2 cloves garlic

8 fresh chillies

5 courgettes

2 aubergines

1 head celery

3 baby gem lettuce

6 cooked beets

large bag mixed peppers

1 swede

4 kg local Maris Piper potatoes

1 kg 'dirty' carrots

1 cauliflower - huge

1 broccoli - equally huge!

4 lemons

3 limes

bunch coriander

bag of black beans

bag of green lentils

200 gm parmesan

400 gm well aged Cheddar

250 gm smoked Ayrshire bacon

1 ltr Local Rapeseed Oil

no fruit as have been given a potato sack full of apples - lucky me! Will make my bread and have some fun discovering the delights of vegetables lol

[Panaderia Canadiense]

Lindsey: how many tomatoes in a punnet? It's a term I haven't heard since my Gran passed, and she was always very vague about it....

[Lindsey]

Sorry - yes it is a very vague term I agree LOL In the case of the toms it was 300 gm which, actually, is a very generous punnet indeed. I would say 200gm would be the norm unless you are talking 'pick your own' but that is totally another kettle of fish

[huiray]

Lindsey, glad you could join us. I appreciate reading about how you stretch your budget in your circumstances, and have read some of your posts in other threads that touch upon the subject as well. It's something close to my heart, and please do continue to post.

That's a nice haul you describe there - would it be typical of what you would be able to get in your area at this time? Or at other times? I myself find that I hanker less for meat for various reasons although I do go the carnivorous route still on a regular basis, though!

PUNNET - so that's what those thingies are called! I never knew that term until now, and Googling returned a mixed set of results which I had to wade through. Learned something today. However, I would question the description in the various online definitions of this term that it is primarily a UK term and/or that it is used mainly in the UK - these things are ALL OVER THE PLACE in the US at both regular supermarkets as well as Farmers' Markets and all sorts of places elsewhere.

Edited September 16, 2013 by huiray (log)

[Lindsey]

Huiray, thank you for the welcome. My list is pretty typical of what I can get at say Lidl or our local supermarket right now. Sadly this far North we are unable to grow courgettes, runner beans, tomatoes etc without a very decent greenhouse and then we have trouble with light levels, this makes farm shops a pretty dismal affair! Mostly, had we to live on local produce, it would be Swedes, potatoes, cauliflowers, massive cabbages, and carrots. That would be it really. Easy to see why the older Scottish diet was mostly protein and oatmeal based. Up until 10 years ago local supermarkets only stocked Olives at Christmas - they were not to be enjoyed willynilly!!!!!

Many things like this made me laugh hugely when I first moved here

Edited September 17, 2013 by Lindsey (log)

[Anna N]

Here's my on-line grocery order that will be delivered between 6:00 and 7:30 am tomorrow. Thought it might be of interest to some

1 Longos Whole White Mushrooms 228g $2.49 Each

1 Large Celery Stalks Each $1.99 Each

1 Large English Cucumbers Each $1.79 Each

2 Kiwi Fruit Each $0.75 Each

1 Large Iceberg Lettuce Each $2.49 Each

2 Cooking Onions 908g $1.99 Each

1 Parsnip Package 1lb Bag $2.49 Each

1 Waxed Turnips (Rutabaga) 650g $1.42 Each

2 Chinese Lettuce 300-400g $0.87 Each

2 Western Family Whole Smoked Oysters 85g $2.19 Each

1 Fresh Express Spring Mix 142g $3.99 Each

1 Greenline Green Beans 340g $3.99 Each

1 Packaged Bean Sprouts 500g $1.79 Each

1 Large Brown Eggs Pkg of 12 $3.49 Each

1 Cookin Greens Frozen Chopped Spinach 500g $4.99 Each

1 Large Green Cabbage Each $2.29 Each

1 Sweet Nantes Carrots 454g $2.29 Each

1 Planters Peanut Oil 750mL $6.29 Each

2 Large Red Plums 150g $0.66 Each

2 Brunswick Sardines in Tomato Sauce 106g $1.19 Each

2 Banana Each $0.43 Each

2 Yams 250g $0.82 Each

2 Zucchini 200g $0.88 Each

2 Bok Choy 455g $1.00 Each

1 Broccoli Bunch $1.99 Each

1 Brussel Sprouts 455g $3.03 Each

[Porthos]

Anna - where do you buy your meat?

[Anna N]

Anna - where do you buy your meat?

It depends. I am fond of finding meat that has been reduced because it is close to its sell-by date. Whatever store/market I happen to be in I will check for reduced meat. (I don't buy reduced ground meat of any sort.). I also buy meat from Costco and pork from one of the Asian markets. I don't order meat on-line except for bacon and occasionally sausages. I do not routinely have groceries delivered but sometimes health issues dictate how I will shop.

[huiray]

Interesting, Anna. Thanks for sharing that list. I've never done general grocery shopping over the web before, just for specific items - like vanilla beans/pods, Red Boat fish sauce, misc specialty items, that sort of thing. I've considered trying out one or other of the "supermarket-shopping-by-phone-or-web" services in my area but have yet to do so.

Heh, I had to look up what "Brunswick sardines" were. Ah, a brand.

What is the "Chinese lettuce" you got?

[Anna N]

Interesting, Anna. Thanks for sharing that list. I've never done general grocery shopping over the web before, just for specific items - like vanilla beans/pods, Red Boat fish sauce, misc specialty items, that sort of thing. I've considered trying out one or other of the "supermarket-shopping-by-phone-or-web" services in my area but have yet to do so.

Heh, I had to look up what "Brunswick sardines" were. Ah, a brand.

What is the "Chinese lettuce" you got?

When I get a minute I will post a photo for you.

[Anna N]

Interesting, Anna. Thanks for sharing that list. I've never done general grocery shopping over the web before, just for specific items - like vanilla beans/pods, Red Boat fish sauce, misc specialty items, that sort of thing. I've considered trying out one or other of the "supermarket-shopping-by-phone-or-web" services in my area but have yet to do so.

Heh, I had to look up what "Brunswick sardines" were. Ah, a brand.

What is the "Chinese lettuce" you got?

When I get a minute I will post a photo for you.

[huiray]

Interesting, Anna. Thanks for sharing that list. I've never done general grocery shopping over the web before, just for specific items - like vanilla beans/pods, Red Boat fish sauce, misc specialty items, that sort of thing. I've considered trying out one or other of the "supermarket-shopping-by-phone-or-web" services in my area but have yet to do so.

Heh, I had to look up what "Brunswick sardines" were. Ah, a brand.

What is the "Chinese lettuce" you got?

When I get a minute I will post a photo for you.

image.jpg

Anna, thanks. Those are Taiwanese-type long wong nga pak (Napa cabbage), as compared with the more common squatter ones found more ubiquitously. :-)

[i also showed a pic of this type of cabbage here some time back]

[Anna N]

Interesting, Anna. Thanks for sharing that list. I've never done general grocery shopping over the web before, just for specific items - like vanilla beans/pods, Red Boat fish sauce, misc specialty items, that sort of thing. I've considered trying out one or other of the "supermarket-shopping-by-phone-or-web" services in my area but have yet to do so.

Heh, I had to look up what "Brunswick sardines" were. Ah, a brand.

What is the "Chinese lettuce" you got?

When I get a minute I will post a photo for you.

image.jpg

Anna, thanks. Those are Taiwanese-type long wong nga pak (Napa cabbage), as compared with the more common squatter ones found more ubiquitously. :-) [i also showed a pic of this type of cabbage here some time back]

Thank you. I always welcome a chance to learn the names of Asian greens.

[liuzhou]

I always welcome a chance to learn the names of Asian greens.

Yes. But you'll soon find each one has dozens of names.