We found some interesting stuff last night in addition to the new toy for the cats (which they are playing with now). Our local health food store had one pound bags of kelp leaves. I grabbed one immediately and tossed it in the cart. The one pound packages are much cheaper than the two ounce bags on a per pound basis. If you are local the big bags are on the bottom shelf below the small bags of sea vegetables. They aren’t the easiest to see. You can expect to see more kelp with recipes going forward. Also for those of you with felines ours love nori and kelp. We allow them to have a little as a treat every once in a while.
In addition to the kelp the health food store had yacon root powder. Since this has been turning up on a lot of raw food blogs and is low in calories, sugar and has a very low GI so I grabbed a bag. Since we don’t use much sugar I am expecting the bag to last a very long time. As soon as I crack into it I will let you know what we think.
The Natural Market also had frozen wheat grass juice. I almost bought some but decided we could wait for mine to grow at home. My poor husband, how does he put up with me?
The remainder of our shopping trip was uneventful. Many bags of dried beans (about 20 I think). Wegman’s has a nice selection of organic dried beans so I always stock up when we are there.
I was also surprised to see that Wegman’s has expanded their Indian food section. At least they have at the Hunt Valley location in Maryland. If you are looking for Indian food you may want to take a look. Since I have been buying fresh curry leaves as Wegman’s recently too so it does make sense that they have expanded the Indian spices, condiments and beans.
I also picked up a couple pounds of organic millet, which is my hubbies favorite grain. There were also a few packages of water packed tofu, and lots of fresh produce.
This brings me to a question. How do you grocery shop? What I mean is to you work from a list, or do you buy the produce that looks good and then build meals from there? When I shop I have a short list of pantry items we need. Other than that I buy what looks good. This only works because I keep a very well stocked pantry at home. My hubby calls it my home grocery store. If it weren’t for that I wouldn’t be able to make meals without planning. I would love to hear how you shop and cook. I have always envied people who can plan their menu for the week and actually stick to it. That never happens at my house no matter how much I want it to.
Unrelated Note:
Since I have no idea what I making for dinner, I need to go flip through a cookbook or two for ideas. I am thinking of Japanese tonight, undoubtedly inspired by the kelp. However, there is a good chance I will change my mind before dinner. Whatever it turns out be I will let you know.
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I always go in with a list, but then, low and behold, about mid-way through the shopping trip, the list kind of goes out the window :-)
ReplyDeleteInteresting products!
Anna,
ReplyDeleteI think making dinner on the fly is much more "exciting". Especially tonight that is, since it is 5pm and I have no idea what I making. ;)
Alicia
I love kelp--I get it in the bulk section of my local co-op, which makes me happy because it is expensive by the bag!
ReplyDeleteI grocery shop much like you do except that I shop the sales--I do go by what looks good in terms of produce, but I look over all the local flyers before going to the stores and build my list around that. If broccoli is on sale this week and gala apples are on sale too, I will chose those things over say, cauliflower and pink lady apples that week simply because they are on sale (regardless of the looks of the other produce).
Courtney
Courtney,
ReplyDeleteI wish we had a co-op. You are so lucky! The only one that I know of around here is in a dicey neighborhood where I don't want to stop the car let alone get out.
Shopping the sales is very logical. I should do that too.
I would love to hear how you use kelp.
Alicia
We pretty much have a "staples" list that we always use. Then, of course, there are the add ons for new recipes to try or those things that happen to jump into the basket! I write out a list of optional dinners based on the groceries. The list used to rarely change, now, however, it's all over the place. But it's fun!
ReplyDeleteHeather,
ReplyDeleteThanks for weighing in. I knew your grocery list had to be ever changing.
I thought of you last night at the store. Wegman's had the red palm oil Tal Ronen uses. I didn't buy it because I knew it would go back before I got through the jar. If you need to know the brand let me know and I will jot it down the next time I am there.
Alicia
i NEVER plan ahead:) but i have my things that im "into" for the moment
ReplyDeleteMichelle,
ReplyDeleteThat happens to me too! At the moment I am in my "raw phase" where lots of things revolve around that concept. Who knows what it will be next. ;)
Alicia
wow i read that yacon has HALF the calories as sugar! and the fact that its GI is low IS really cool, im geting into that also. the kelp well,...maybe in the future:) i found yacon syrup also which i thought was pretty neat. and this stuff isnt to expensive either
ReplyDeleteMichelle,
ReplyDeleteI bought this because it was low GI. I am guessing the powder will last longer than the syrup, but I don't know that for certain. It was reasonably priced. The 8 oz bag I bought was $12.99. I will let you know what we think as soon as we try it.
I hear you on the kelp. We first started eating it for health. But we find the flavor to be very mild. It isn't like some of the more assertive sea vegetables.
Alicia
I'm totally jealous of your grocery expeditions!
ReplyDeleteDid they have dulse leaves along with the kelp leaves?
I always take a detailed grocery list that my husband and I have painstakingly added to and double checked on my once-a-week trip to town, whereupon I promptly lose it (usually by my 2nd stop, if not before), and I end up buying a combination of things I remembered from my list, things I can't remember if I need so I'd better get one (only to find I already have three of them at home), and things I buy because they look good, they're on sale, or just on impulse. And then when I get home I realize I completely forgot some obvious staple, along with several ingredients I needed for the meals I'd planned, and I have to improvise. I don't know why this happens to me, but I'm pretty sure the rings of Saturn are made up of my missing shopping lists. :-)
I am boring...I like to sprinkle kelp here and there--on my salads, mixed into chickpeas to make a "tuna" salad (gives it a little fishy flavor), etc. Nothing brilliant or exciting, but I enjoy it :-)
ReplyDeleteCourtney
Lalo,
ReplyDeleteWe are fairly lucky in the shopping department. The Asian store has some great stuff but it is the opposite direction so I only get their every couple of months. You will really enjoy that trip.
They did have large bags of dulse too. I almost bought one but the hubby thought 1 pound of dried sea vegetables was enough for one shopping expedition. What is wrong with him?
My grocery lists are never complete to start with because I keep far too many things on hand in "the pantry". I miss the obvious staples frequently too, you aren't alone.
Love your Saturn ring theory. LOL!
Alicia
Courtney,
ReplyDeleteThanks for reminding me to use kelp to make "Tuna" salad. I haven't done that in ages. That sounds really to good to me right now. It is a shame I don't have any cooked chickpeas around.
Alicia
You found yacon! I'll be interested in reading about your experiences with it.
ReplyDeleteBeatrice,
ReplyDeleteI was very excited about the yacon. Isn't it amazing the little things that make us happy? I may use it today if I have time.
Alicia
I'll have to add yacon and kelp to the list of things I know nothing about - yet! I'm a very new vegan so am still learning. But it's quite the adventure!
ReplyDeleteDeborah at DebzTalkin
Deb,
ReplyDeleteYacon is a low GI sweetener that is natural. I bought it since we have all but eliminated sugar from our diet.
Kelp is good for trace minerals and iodine. Because we don't use iodized salt we try to include either nori, kombu or kelp to make certain we have adequate iodine in our diet.
Vegan food can be healthy, or unhealthy. I concentrate on healthy vegan food. If you have any questions please feel free to ask. I remember how difficult it was when we started eating this way.
Alicia