Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Our Trip to Whole Foods!

      We went to Whole Foods in Birmingham this past weekend and man, was it busy! I should have known by how full the parking lot was, that the store would be elbow to elbow! The prices have really gone up since we were there last! I went ahead and bought organic Swiss chard, kale, beets, and strawberries. I have cooked the chard and been very pleased, but the strawberries were sour! I hate sour strawberries! I guess they'll go in my smoothies so I won't taste it. My smoothies always taste sweet, even when I use less sweet ingredients! 

      Even though Trader Joe's is a much smaller market, I find their prices to be somewhat less than Whole Foods. I was surprised, since Trader Joe's is in a much larger city. I guess Whole Foods has the monopoly in Alabama since they are the only one with no competition. Still, I'm glad we have Whole Foods, and I hope one day we'll have a Trader Joe's! I also wished we had an Azure Standard pick up in this state, especially close to me! Maybe one day! At least I've found out about a somewhat local food co-op that goes to the bulk food store I visited when we went to the Amish country. It would take about four hours to drive there, but I only have to travel about an hour to pick up from the co-op. Can you tell I'm trying to feed my family better?

      I am reading a book by Tamar Adler: An Everlasting Meal Cooking with Economy and Grace. At first I was disappointed that it wasn't a regular cookbook and didn't read much of it. I decided to try it again, and I am so glad! It has changed my perspective of cooking! She explains about cooking in a way I never thought about, with simplicity; and using what you have, not wasting anything! She even uses the stems, leaves and core of cauliflower, and stems of the Swiss chard, beets, turnips, etc., in a pesto! I haven't tried that recipe, but I bet it's delicious!  I found another recipe, http://www.jrorganicsfarm.com/beet-greens/dont-throw-out-the-beet-greens/ that cooks the beet greens pretty much the way I did the Swiss chard. I like greens, even though the Swiss chard was a little strong. The next day after I sauteed the Swiss chard, I turned it into a gratin! Thanks to the above mentioned book! It wasn't a recipe I followed, just a method, I guess you'd say. I am about to roast the beets and some sweet potatoes, and I will cook the beet greens tomorrow. Would you eat Swiss chard or beet greens?

      With all of these vegetables, I hardly eat meat! Last night I did make a meat dish using local ground pork that I made into Italian sausage. I then cooked it and added a jar of home-canned tomatoes and Italian seasonings, that I had pureed in the Vita-Mix. I cooked some Ziti noodles, and mixed everything together in a casserole dish, sprinkled mozzarella and Parmesan cheese on top and baked for about twenty-five minutes in the oven. It turned out delicious! It will taste even better tonight, plus we'll have some home-made bread to go with it. I also made some more of the delicious cinnamon-raisin bread. I like it toasted. This is what I do. I love cooking and being in the kitchen! I love shopping for healthier foods! I also love keeping my great-nieces! They were here this past weekend, too. I will let you know more about my cooking escapades soon! Blessings from Bama!

I don't know what they were watching, but they sure were into it!

The last of the Vidalia onions that I caramelized in the crock-pot.

I actually like brown rice!

Whole Foods, Birmingham, is a very large market!



Sauteing the Swiss chard.

I also cooked some Fava beans. They have a very unique flavor.

Rising dough.

Sauteed chard on brown rice, delicious! The Swiss chard had some of the caramelized onions mixed in with it.

My new favorite book!

The dough is just about ready!

Swiss chard and brown rice with bechamel sauce.

Baked Ziti.

Gratin idea from the book.

Another book I love!

14 comments:

  1. Again, your food looks good. I tried Fava beans - you are right unique is the word. I love brown rice too. I mix it with wild rice. Do you like wild rice? Or maybe it's just an up north thing?
    Blessings from Wisconsin.

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    1. Hi Jacky! Thanks! It's not just an 'up North thing'! I like it too, I just don't cook with it often.

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  2. I actually have that book on my book list. I'm going to look for it tomorrow at the library and at least put it on hold.

    I've never had Fava Beans. I had never even heard of them until recently. Okay, you need to show us how to carmalize the onions in the crockpot. Yum...

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    1. I hope they have it for you, MamaHen! Just slice onions, add butter, put in crock-pot. Walla!

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  3. You sure are cooking up a storm! We don't have a Whole Foods or Trader Joes near us and I wish we lived close enough to an Azure route! Good job. Nancy

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  4. That looks like a great book, thanks for sharing. We have a Whole Foods in the city next to us, and i do go some, but you are right, they do seem to be expensive. We have a locally Grown market that I order from which is nice for things I don't grow myself.

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    1. Hi Rachel! That's great that you have a locally Grown market to order from! Thanks!

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  5. Hi Bama Girl!
    I applaud you in your search for healthier foods! Yea! I, too, love brown rice, etc. Your pics made me want to make up a batch of fava beans...how did you cook them? AND...carmelized onions make just about everything taste so much richer and better...'ceptin maybe chocolate chip cookies! :( I love that you love family, kitchen fun, cooking, gardening, animals, homesteading! Love it! Yasmine looks better, yes? Hope so! Have a great week, my friend! Hugs, Cheeryshirley

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    1. Eating healthy and exercising is what I need to do more of this year! I just soaked the fava beans overnight and cooked them in some chicken broth until done. I started to use the pressure cooker but I wanted to see how long they took, just to cook them 'regular'. Probably only a couple of hours. The caramelized onions have butter, yum!
      Thanks Shirley, Yasmine is a LOT better! Thanks for all the nice comments!

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  6. Hi again! I just saw a comment left by you on Stacy Makes Cents and was glad to see it! :) I don't know how you have the time to do all that you do and still go online! You remind me of my dear Grandma...people-oriented, homemaker (and proud of it!), hard worker, interested in the world around you! You are absolutely amazing! Hugs, Cheeryshirley

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    1. Oh, that is so sweet, Cheeryshirley! It seems you are that way as well!

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  7. Good old healthy food. Looks like great cook books. You are an awesome cook.
    You are always so busy. Enjoy....

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