That's Just Me

Library Monday

20 May 2013 at 16:55

debbie @ That's Just Me

This weekend, I borrowed a few more books from the library. What would I do without my library!

Oldies but goodies:
My FAVE!

Put ‘Em Up by Sherri Brooks Vinton (and I just noticed that she now has a a new Fruit book!)
The Smitten Kitchen by Deb Perelman- read my review!
Food Matters by Mark Bittman
Kitchen Express by Mark Bittman

New to Me:
Delicious Simplicity by Anna Tourkakis
and Gwyneth Paltrow’s new controversial book It’s All Good

The author of Delicious Simplicity, Anna Tourkakis, was speaking at a nearby library this morning, so I was lucky to find her book at one of the local libraries beforehand. She had a lot of good recipes and ideas. My mother and my mother-in-law both came with me to the talk.

I didn’t agree with everything the author said, but for the most part, she was giving good advice to everyone. I let my mother in law take the library book home so she could look at it. I think she needs it much more than me, and I hope she can get some good ideas from it, especially on grains and salads and such.

Anna made a quinoa salad for us. She cooked the quinoa in chicken stock, which is such a good idea, something I always forget to do! Then she added raisins, dried cranberries, and sliced almonds. It was so simple and delicious. The stock really adds a boost of flavor; even my picky mom liked it! ;)

Salem NH Farmers Market

19 May 2013 at 13:28

debbie @ That's Just Me

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Drove up to the Salem NH Winter/Spring Farmers Market this morning. It was the last market of the season, so I really wanted to check it out.

There was a good selection of products, but probably not as much as previous weeks.

There was even raw dairy products: cheese, milk, cream, buttermilk, kiefer, yogurt, cottage cheese, etc. from Brookford Farm. I was tempted, but I didn’t partake. Isn’t it funny how we become so brainwashed by the govt to be scared of certain food products. Maybe this summer, I’ll get brave enough to try raw milk!

From Arrowhead Farm, I bought some awesome tender young swiss chard and mizuna greens (each batch was $3.75). The chard was excellent in my salad for lunch today! They had a very diversified selection of greens, including tatsoi, mustard, and lettuces. They even sell mushrooms!

I also purchased a dozen eggs from Hurd Farm for $5.

I’m really looking forward to summer! Life is good!

Gardening Diary: Peas, Beets, Greens, Plus 2013 Plans

17 May 2013 at 14:28

debbie @ That's Just Me

food

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I planted my first seeds a week ago Monday (May 6th) so I figured I’d better post something, along with some gardening plans.

I had three rows of garden last season, along with countless containers. This season, I’m planning on the three rows, and a few containers.

In the row that grew tomatoes last season, I planted my cool-weather crops.

Peas, Beets, Asian Greens

I had opened pea seed packs from last season, so I used those up first. This time I set up the trellises first and then planted the seeds in front and back of each trellis. Last season, my pea plants were all over the place, and they were a jumbled mess.

So, one small row of shell peas in front of first trellis, and snap peas in back of the shell peas, and then more snap peas in two rows front and back of the second trellis. Next week, for the remaining two trellises, I will plant a new batch of snap peas, to help stagger the harvest times.

shell and snap pea sprouts garden May 2013

From last season’s opened seed-packs, I planted beets on the far right end, and then scattered Asian mixed greens seeds over the middle area.

Asian greens just starting to peek:
asian mixed greens from seeds garden May 2013
Beet greens popping up:
beets from seeds garden May 2013

The oregano plant looks awesome again this season. It’s so easy to grow, and it just keeps coming back. This will be the third season!

oregano plant garden May 2013

Here’s a full shot of the garden:
full view of garden May 2013
It’s difficult to see the first two wire trellises for the peas, but they are on the far left, first row, next to the white trellises.

My plan for the summer is to plant pickling cukes, tomatoes, cabbage, green beans, more beets, and perhaps peppers. I had such bad luck with the peppers last year, I am not sure if I want to try again.

I’m thinking tomatoes along the back fence, and I’d love to put the cukes in the front row, maybe dispersed with the greens and beets. I wonder, by the time the cukes are spreading out, the greens will be spent? I’ll have to look back at my last season photos and figure out how big the cuke plants were in late June.

My containers from last season are a mess with all sorts of weeds growing in them. I’m thinking of removing all weeds, dumping all the soil into my wheel barrow, mixing it up, maybe adding some compost, then adding it back to the containers for new plants.

Anyone have any ideas or plans for their veggie garden this summer? Life is good!

I Gave In – Strawberries That Aren’t Local

16 May 2013 at 11:05

debbie @ That's Just Me

food

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I usually don’t purchase strawberries unless they are local or CA organic. Today, I caved. Hannaford was having a 2/3.00 sale so I bought one pack. It’s been slim pickin’s around here with apples and oranges going out of season, and I desperately needed fruit.

So tonight we’ll feast on long-traveled, pesticide-sprayed California strawberries. I’m sure they will be delicious, despite my horrible assessment of them! ha!

Local berry season can’t come quickly enough!

UPDATE: The strawberries were good. I sliced them and mixed them with fresh-cut pineapple. There was enough for us to have a bowl for lunch today too!

Library Monday

13 May 2013 at 16:23

debbie @ That's Just Me

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I’ve decided to start a weekly series of posts regarding my weekly library finds.

Today, I scored!

As I walked in, I noticed a copy of “Mastering the Art of French Cooking” by Julia Child in the donated book box. How can you beat spending 50 cents for a classic!? It’s in great condition and inside it states that it’s the 14th printing from 1967! I’m thrilled!

I also borrowed two old standbys: “Jamie at Home” by Jamie Oliver and Michael Pollan’s “Food Rules” along with “What to Eat” by Marion Nestle, which I didn’t finish last time I borrowed it.

When Did Cream Become Something Else?

03 May 2013 at 14:15

debbie @ That's Just Me

food

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I purchased a carton of “heavy cream” the other day, and was shocked when I looked at the list of ingredients.

It’s not just cream anymore, it’s a bunch of other stuff too, like carrageenan, diglycerides, and polysorbate 80.

Here’s the ingredients list from Hood brand heavy cream:

CREAM, CARRAGEENAN (HELPS HOLD THE WHIPPED CREAM PEAKS), MONO & DIGLYCERIDES (HELPS PUT AIR INTO CREAM AS IT IS WHIPPING), POLYSORBATE 80 (HELPS CREATE STIFF PEAKS)

I had previously read about specifically avoiding “whipping cream” because it could have extra emulsifiers, but I truly thought you could still buy 100% pure cream. Not anymore. Even Organic Valley and Stoneyfield brands both contained carrageenan!

What’s wrong with this picture!?

Thankfully, there is a local dairy farm (Shaw Farm) that does sell cream, and other milk products, including non-homogenized whole milk. I will be looking into their products from now on!

PS: The heavy cream WAS very easy to whip into whipped cream, using my Kitchenaid mixer. It was actually the first time I attempted it! It did not get watery, I assume that was due to the additives. It was delicious though and everyone enjoyed it.

UPDATE: Good news, I was at Trader Joe’s the other day, and they sell cream that was JUST CREAM. Unfortunately no organic offering though, but I believe it’s rBGT free.

I also found the local Shaw’s Farm sells cream at a farmstore I visit, so I might try theirs next.

My Healthy Food Budget: Month End April, 2013 + 6 Month Update

01 May 2013 at 09:03

debbie @ That's Just Me

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April Week 4 Healthy Food Budget: $103.47 spent, for a total of $381.98 for the month. (See below for 6 month update)

Yay! I was able to stick to a lower budget this month! Awesome!

I have to admit I sort of cheated…but not really. I needed fruit (for one last day of April). But why waste fuel for a second trip to the store a day or two later when I could pick up everything in one shot (including some non-grocery items). I applied just what I needed to April’s budget, and will carry the rest over to May.

My plan for purchasing local flour this week was put on hold for now. I had plenty of Bob’s Red Mill flour, so better to be frugal and eat from my pantry instead.

DH was craving fried seafood (he works so hard, I can’t say no), so we splurged with a larger-than-normal-take-out dinner. I had a coupon for $10 off a purchase of $45 or more, so I added in a small Italian calzone to freeze for a dinner next month.

My pantry is getting really low! I was shocked to find I only had a few tablespoons of brown rice left, and I used the last of the quinoa. I’m going to need grains in May for sure. I also ordered (2) coconut oil & (2) coconut cream (BOGO) from Tropical Traditions and tuna will be delivered from Amazon, so that will also be a big hit to my May spending.

March Food Spending

Dining Out: $61.02 / Total $140.43
Groceries: $42.45 / Total $241.55

Most of my spending this week was for take-out! Wow! Ha! So much for my “unspoken” $100/month dining out budget!

I tried to eat from my freezer and pantry, and hit the grocery store mostly for produce; we still ate very well for the most part!

(Mon) Whole Foods Market & Market Basket $8.92 for Theo 70% chocolate bars, bok choy, and broccoli

(Wed) Market Basket $14.56 for pineapple, asparagus, organic Fuji apples, red grapefruit, minneola oranges, and bananas.

(Wed) Open Meadow Farm $8.32 for yummy boneless pork chops (meat from farm is pre-paid in full, so technically no real money is actually spent, but I apply the cost to my budget as we consume it.)

(Sat) Market Basket $5.79 for mango, grapefruit, minneola oranges, organic Fuji apples, bananas

(Tues) Market Basket $4.86 for grapefruit, avocado, and minneola oranges.

Where I Spent My Grocery Dollars for April: $241.55

MARKET BASKET 95.39
Whole Foods 43.51
Trader Joe’s 29.38
Open Meadow Farm 28.77
Amazon.com 28.40
Seven Acres Farm 7.50
Jones Farm 5.60
Aubut’s Liquors 3.00

6 Month Budget Update: $2299.06

Dining Out: $720.96 (31%)
Groceries: $1550.04 (67%)
Supplements/Vitamins: $28.06 (1%)
Total: $2299.06

I’m 6 months into the budget (nov-apr) and so far so good. I’m pretty sure I won’t be able to continue the lower budget totals in the warmer months, but I am hoping to stick to my original $400/month. If not, I’ve got an excess of at least $100 to play with.

It’s comforting to know that my grocery spending is 67% of my food spending and more than double that of my dining out spending. I’d like to continue that trend!

Where I Spent My Grocery Dollars 6 Month Update

Grand Total $1,550.04

MARKET BASKET 393.80 (25%)
Whole Foods 387.36 (24%)
Trader Joe’s 268.73 (17%)
Open Meadow Farm 134.25 (8%)
Amazon.com 65.31 (4%)
Ocean State Job Lot 59.88
Seven Acres Farm 59.75
Mann Orchards 37.04
Wilson Farm 33.24
Winchester Winter Farmers Market 30.65
Brookline Farmers Market 21.70
Tropical Traditions 20.97
Four Star Farms 15.00
iHerb.com 13.27
Hannaford 11.04
Jones Farm 5.60
Vitacost 4.94
Penzeys Spices 4.25
Aubut’s Liquors 3.00
WALMART 0.99
Credits (20.73)

Interesting that Whole Foods and Market Basket are just about even. Soon, I’ll be heading to local farms more, so the % of Whole Foods spending will surely go down in the next half.

All in all, it’s been a very good 6 months. We’re eating well, with regular decadent splurges thrown in. Life is good!

About My Healthy Budget

My healthy budget goal is to eat seasonal (local if possible,) home-cooked meals while sticking to a ~~$400~~ $385 monthly budget for all food including groceries, dining out, ~~entertaining~~, vitamins/supplements, and gardening.

There’s two of us eating (mostly) 3 meals per day. DH occasionally eats take-out lunch at work, & that $ comes out of his personal cash stash.

Boston Strong!

20 Apr 2013 at 09:47

debbie @ That's Just Me

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Boston Strong

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

My heart goes out to the all the victims and their families of the Boston Marathon bombing.

Martin Richard, Krystle Campbell, Lu Lingzi all died from this heartless act. MIT police officer, Sean Collier, who was ambushed and killed by the two bombers early Friday morning, along with Richard Donohue, the MBTA officer who was wounded by the suspects.

So many self-less courageous people stepped up to help the wounded, moments after the blast. Their minds, along with the many witnesses (including children) are permanently engraved with memories of a warzone. Memories that no one should have to keep.

I am so grateful to all those involved that brought a swift end to the ordeal. Our brave law enforcement, Massachusetts governor Patrick and Boston Mayor Menino, who should have been recovering in a hospital bed, all worked tirelessly to ensure our safety.

A special prayer of thanks goes out to the Watertown citizen who alerted police after he was brave enough to peek under the covering of the boat in his backyard, finding the injured suspect! I can’t imagine how lucky this man must be feeling this morning. Lucky that he wasn’t harmed or killed by the suspect, and lucky that he didn’t wait until morning to look in his backyard, as the suspect could have escaped or perhaps died overnight.

I think God was certainly watching over Boston this week!

One Fund Boston charity
A fund has been set up for donations for bombing victims. I can’t even imagine the struggle some of them face in the coming months and years. It breaks my heart. *** onefundboston.org***

One last thought. Our Boston tragedy has overshadowed the devastating explosion in Texas, and my thoughts are also with those victims.

Peace!

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
Martin Luther King, Jr.

My Healthy Food Budget: Week Three April, 2013

20 Apr 2013 at 09:09

debbie @ That's Just Me

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April Week Three Healthy Food Budget: $77.19 for a total of $278.51. That leaves $106.39 for the rest of my monthly budget.

I’ve reduced my April food budget to $385, which will bring the total year estimated food budget down to $4700 (down from my original $4800 projection). It would be nice to drop it another $100 by the year end, but we’ll see.

So, there are 11 more days left in the month, I’m planning to purchase some local grain flour from Four Star Farms next week, with a trip to Whole Foods Market in Cambridge, and possibly more veggies at a Farmers Market this weekend. There shouldn’t be any problem sticking to my revised budget amount, but the temptation of take out does mess me up sometimes! Ha!

Grocery Spending Details

Dining Out: $32.39 / Total $79.41
Groceries: $44.80 / Total $199.10

(Mon) Market Basket $18.84: Applegate Farms deli chicken breast, (1) avocado, minneola oranges, bananas, Kerrygold swish cheese, Organic Valley half & half, Teddie organic peanut butter (sale $3.99)

(Wed) Whole Foods Market $4.31 for organic Fuji apples

(Wed) Seven Acres Farm $7.50 for 2 dozen jumbo eggs. Note: I bought a couple of cartons of eggs from the grocery (Pete & Gerry’s and Born Free) and I’ve found I like my farm fresh eggs better. They’re JUMBO huge eggs, and fresh as could be. I’m sticking with Seven Acres farm! And they’re celebrating their 75th year! Gotta support our local farmers!

(Fri) Market Basket $14.15 for Applegate Farms Sunday bacon (sale $4.99), 2lb bag o’ clementines, organic apples, minneola oranges, and bananas.

About My Healthy Budget

There’s two of us eating (mostly) 3 meals per day. DH occasionally eats take-out lunch at work, & that $ comes out of his personal cash stash.

Teddie Organic Peanut Butter – Grown in USA?

16 Apr 2013 at 13:40

debbie @ That's Just Me

food

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I’m very careful when I buy nut products, always checking to find the country of origin. A lot of nuts (organic and conventional) like cashews are grown in Asia and I rather spend a little more and buy nuts labeled as grown in the USA.

Peanuts are no exception.

Recently, I have been learning that conventional peanuts are very bad for us. A lot of pesticides are used when growing conventional peanuts, and there is even talk of GMO peanuts being grown to help with allergies. Ugh.

So, we’ve been eating almond butter, which is yummy. I’ve been buying Trader Joe’s almond butter. It’s not organic, but it’s delicious with no added oils or salt.

This week Teddie brand organic peanut butter was on sale for $3.99.

Teddie organic peanut butter front label

I love Teddie peanut butter; it tastes fresh and delicious, and it’s offered in glass containers. A lot of peanut butter is sold in plastic.

Funny, I distinctly remember disliking Teddie peanut butter as a child, it didn’t taste like the normal salt/sugar-laden Skippy and Jif because it was “all natural” – probably the ONLY all natural peanut butter available at that time. I remember my mom buying it in a large tub.

Anyway, Teddie peanut butter is made by a local company here in Massachusetts and the label for their regular natural peanut butter states that the peanuts have been grown in the USA. All good, right?

Teddie organic peanut butter back label does not state country of origin

Well the label on their organic peanut butter is missing any information on country of origin. I checked their web site, and they state:

We are proud to note that our products are market leaders in the areas we serve. Teddie Old Fashioned Peanut Butter, the Number 1 selling natural peanut butter in the Northeast, contains 100% fresh roasted and ground, USA grown peanuts providing the most wholesome peanut butter available.

It made me curious that they didn’t specifically state that “all their peanut butter…” so I phoned Leavitt Corp this morning and she was very adamant that ALL their products were made with peanuts grown in the USA.

After I hung up, I was happy, but then my paranoia set in again. Why didn’t their organic peanut butter label state USA grown? What if the person I spoke to didn’t really know, and was only stating what she thought was fact?

I viewed their web site again, and noticed the caption at the top left of their peanut butter page:

For over 100 years, we at Leavitt Corp, purveyors of Teddie peanut butter, have devoted ourselves to providing our customers with premium peanut butter made from only the highest grade USA grown peanuts that will consistently deliver great taste. Nothing less.

That makes me feel a lot better, but I still wonder about their organic label.

For now, I only purchased one jar of Teddie organic peanut butter.

We’ll continue to use peanut butter once in awhile, but I think we’ll also concentrate on other nut butters, like almond butter, hazelnut butter, sunflower butter.

I need to find a way to make almond butter at home. I tried once in my food processor, and it was a failure. More googling is needed, but maybe I need to roast the almonds prior to grinding.

That's Just Me

Library Monday

Salem NH Farmers Market