MsRetro's Profile
Do all farmers markets in Florida stink?
Not quite a farmers market, but, Dunedin folks can get local organic produce in season from the Dunedin Co-op. You order what you want on the webpage, then pick it up or have it delivered on Friday. http://dunedin.locallygrown.net/market/
The co-op is closed right now, but should open again as Florida vegetables start ripening.
Things kids think are "normal" these days...
We use a filter on the faucet, and that works fine. My kids avoid bottled water because of environmental concerns.
Things kids think are "normal" these days...
Not so! I'm a dirt-poor freelance writer, and my kids get all of the above, plus other foods that many would regard as exotic. Prosciutto & smoked mussels are pungent enough foods that a tiny bit is enough, especially if there are other (cheaper) dishes available. I live just south of Tarpon Springs (highest Greek-American population of any city) so, good olives can be had for just a few dollars a pound. Sushi is cheap when you make it yourself. We also have access to Mexican, Asian, Indian and Middle Eastern markets for affordable ingredients.
We don't have a lot of money for traveling, fancy cars, or a big home, but, I can spend a few dollars and cook a world class meal. These are very affordable luxuries, and I'm helping my kids develop sophisticated palates.
Best store-bought ramen noodles?
Another belated vote for Nong Shim. I buy it by the case when it's on sale.
Cooking Lettuce
When I have too much in the CSA basket, I throw it into soups. Comes out like spinach, but a little more tender.
Cheese on Seafood?
I grew up eating pasta with clam sauce with Parmesan passed at the table. I like it that way.
Ramen Noodles
I sometimes eat it with a quickie peanut sauce made with peanut butter, soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, pepper flakes, some garlic and a little of the cooking water from the pasta.
My usual go-to ramen recipe: toss in some chopped veggies in the last minute of cooking. Drain when cooked, then season with 1/4 of the seasoning pouch, some soy sauce, rice wine vinegar and sesame oil. It's good with some cubed tofu thrown in, too.
What do 5-year-olds like to eat?
I agree with this. My kids are 10 and 12 now, and they have always eaten what we eat. We also had a "five bite" rule for new/unfamiliar foods that they balked at eating. A good amount of the time, they would either discover they liked the food and eat it all, or, eat it without complaint the next time it was served and they were more accustomed to the flavor.
Overwhelmed by CSA... need ideas!
I'd make kimchi or saurkraut with the cabbage. I've also made kimchi with bok choy that was really good.
Emergency Food Supply Kit....do you have one and what's in it?
I have emergency supplies in the house, but, not in the form of one of those buckets. I stock up on items I use regularly whenever there is a good sale. We have about 3 months worth of canned and dried goods on hand, along with several gallons of potable water and propane to run my camp stove if we're without power.
The best thing to do is determine what sort of disasters your area is prone to, and prepare for that. For instance, here in Florida, we are more likely to go through hurricanes than earthquakes or ice storms.
Ready.gov, the federal disaster preparedness site, recommends that you have three weeks worth of shelf stable food on hand. It's much better to have that than to risk having to wait in the FEMA and Red Cross lines waiting for MREs if something happens.
Canning in an oil bath instead of a pressure cooker?
Many pressure canners can also be used for hot water bath canning.
If you are short on space, my advice would be to find one of those, and swap that out with your water bath canner.
under-used treasure or garbage? what ingredient do you think people are wasting?
Spinach contains oxalic acid, which can leach calcium. I think you'd have to eat an awful lot of it for it to have that affect, though.
Doctoring canned baked beans. Suggestions?
Yes, "rattle snake" is a variety of bean, very similar to pinto beans. I use them in chili when I can find them.
Is there a way to get rid of this spammer?
xinyue19652 is back at it in the veggie chili comments:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/667060
Dinner for twenty, $100 budget
Because the type of person who would work non-profit is the same who be more to more ethical food choices?
which products have you stopped buying because of price increases or volume decreases?
Add Breyer's Icecream to the list. I was okay for awhile when they shaved six ounces off the half gallon; but now, it's down to 48 ounces, and I won't buy it unless it's on sale buy-one-get-one-free.
Certain brands of canned tuna have dropped down to 5 oz drained, but have not shrunk the can. As a result, you wind up with a very watery product. I'm finding that the cheap stuff from the off price grocery store is a better product these days.
Healthy Recession Meals?
Add me to the list of dal lovers! I usually make mine with red lentils, but I sometimes use split mung beans (cheap at the Asian grocery) or split peas (even cheaper).
See if your natural foods store has spices in bulk bins. Many are pennies an ounce, and much fresher than what you'd get in jars at the supermarket.
We eat a lot of potatoes (had a wonderful potato and cauliflower curry tonight), a lot of rice and pasta. I stock up on different kinds whenever there's a sale. We also eat quinoa, couscous, grits (shrimp and grits is a great meal), polenta and tortillas and flat breads. All of these are reasonably inexpensive in the healthfood store's bulk bins.
We have a share at a local CSA, so, we'll eat whatever fresh veggies are harvested. When we aren't getting produce there, I buy carrots, cabbage, bok choi and whatever other veggies I can get under a buck a pound. And also frozen spinach, corn and french cut green beans, which don't seem nearly as mushy as the whole ones.
I find that going into the store with as general an idea of what I want as possible lets me get better quality foodstuffs for less money. For instance, picking out the cheapest and best looking produce, instead of specifically going in for green beans.
Southern vegetarian cooking
I was just about to recommend her book "Heart of the Home." Awesome veg recipes, mostly dairy-free, too.
Kimchi on a hot dog
Kimchi spaghetti is indeed amazing. Add some parmesan on top, and I am in heaven.
Non-pork chorizo and bacon?
I don't eat pork, either. When I want the flavor that smoked pork brings, I use liquid smoke and a bit of molasses. In the right recipe, veggie bacon bits such as Bacos or Bac-Uns can work. Do you eat turkey? Smoked turkey necks are good for throwing in stews, too, to get a smoked meat flavor.
Unexpected Vegetarian
I think the quinoa salad is an excellent suggestion. It's a side that is substantial enough to serve as a main course for those abstaining from meat.
Why do vegetarians want to eat meat flavoured stuff?
The Publix in-house "Greenwise" brand makes a really good frozen sausage patty.
What are your personal faves in the Tampa/St Pete/Clearwater area?
Strachans has a location in downtown Dunedin now, too. Sooo good, and I love eating in the park next to them.
What are your personal faves in the Tampa/St Pete/Clearwater area?
I've never tried the McMullen Booth location, but, I've always been pleased with the Indian Rocks one. The seared ahi is the best and most generous I've had in this area.
Daytrips from Tampa (Lutz) area? Dives, Shacks, etc.
Are you a beer fan? Check out the Dunedin Brewery. The beers are excellent -- I especially like their Lowland Wheat Ale -- and the food menu has expanded. The fish tacos are always excellent. If they have the duck fingers -- they don't always, it's a special -- grab them. They're delicious.
Do all farmers markets in Florida stink?
Not exactly a farmer's market, but, I've always had great luck at the Mustang Flea Market in Pinellas Park. There are usually about 1 or 2 rows of produce right by the entrance. Lots of really good tropical and Asian produce.
It's also worth checking out Sweetwater's Sunday market. It's a CSA that sells some of their excess produce, along with some stuff from outside vendors.
I've just joined a new CSA, Gateway Organic Farm, in Clearwater. So far, the size of the shares is small, and the quality is so-so, but, I like supporting an organic farm that is 15 miles from my home.
Do all farmers markets in Florida stink?
I like that one a lot. Be sure to get someone to hack open a chilled young coconut for you to drink while you are there.
interesting/innovative ways to serve kohlrabi?
I made kimchi with it once. Came out delicious, crispy & spicy.
Frozen Chili on a Stick
*doh*
Chili, not chile.
I'd eat the latter, but not the former.
I was actually expecting something like this: http://www.bobspicklepops.com/index.htm
EARTHQUAKE -- THE BIG ONE, What to Eat?
Absolutely. People need to be thinking of all of these in advance: have a meeting spot, know where to look for news of one another, make sure that you have adequate food and clean water.
