A writer's Random ramblings
Have you ever wanted to cook more with what’s in season? Wish there were plenty of veggies to freeze for later, but no time to garden? What do you do? Along the eastern seaboard of the United States, and in a rapidly growing zone, we join Misfits Market. What is this, you ask? Misfits rounds up fruits and veggies from farms, some even with the certified organic identification labels, that are deemed “unworthy” of selling at stores. They place these pieces of produce in crates and ship them to members or the curious. First-timers can send gift boxes to themselves or others. This comes out as a little more expensive and only comes in the 10-pound Mischief Box. Those who decide to sign up for the service can request either the Mischief Box or a roughly 20-pound Madness Box. Subscriptions can occur on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. One can also pause the subscription any time necessary, and charges leave the subscriber’s account on Sundays. My family comprises 4 people. We found that our “gift” Mischief Box used to try out the service fed us all for a little over a week, not counting a few things we chose to freeze. Starting in the summer, we received Roma tomatoes, baby potatoes, baby zucchini, carrots, beets, plums, large green bell peppers, limes, broccolini, onions, a mango and baby bok choy. This allowed us to try several things we had not seen at the local grocer’s and others that we would not have thought of buying there. Some of the fruits and vegetables even allowed us to make more than one recipe. For instance, some broccolini went into stir fry with the bok choy, while we froze the second portion of it. We enjoyed the mango as a summer treat after eating a pot roast made with the potatoes, carrots, and onions.
When linking into the Misfits site ( http://misfitsmarket.refr.cc/veronicabergschneide), the easiest way to find items is to navigate to the bottom of the page. Their Gift boxes and Subscriptions come up better here. The main landing page describes what they do, and how they do it. Signing up is free using an e-mail address and creating a password. For those who don’t live where Misfits currently delivers, they have an option to be included in the waitlist. The service then emails when they expand to the new area. The produce comes in an appropriate-size box with plenty of chill packs and cushioning, all of which recycle. We chose to put the cold packs in the freezer to use as ice when someone gets hurt. Thus, one can see that affordable options do exist in finding fruits and vegetables. Even ones deemed “ugly” by grocers taste great and work fine in recipes. Visit http://misfitsmarket.refr.cc/veronicabergschneide and learn more about how to start your own subscription and build your family’s health. Adventurous palates, the doctors cheering for your health, and homeless fruits and veggies will thank you for trying this new concept in grocery ordering.
0 Comments
As I write, much of the world’s Northern Hemisphere finds itself gripped by a heat wave. This makes many of legal drinking age crave a good, cold beer. How do we know what to try when the mercury climbs and the store has an overwhelming variety? After all, even within one given type of beer, we can often find many styles.
Take Indian Pale Ale, or IPA, for example. In general, one of the most refreshing beer types on the market, we can find it in its original form, with or without traces of fruit flavor, extra hoppy, and even “double.” As in the world of wine, begin by deciding whether you would prefer to drink the beer by itself or with food. After all, some beers feel heavier in the mouth than others, and sometimes the flavor may match one food better than another. I found one of my favorite recent discoveries while on vacation in Rehoboth Beach. Evolution Brewery’s Pine’hop’le goes well as a nightcap or with food. The first time I tried it, I had a salad of mixed greens with heirloom grape tomatoes and fried soft crabs. Thanks to the lightness of both and the slightly tropical flavor of the beer, this turned out to be a culinary match made in heaven. Since then, I noticed that it serves well as a nightcap with late-night TV. It also pairs well with homemade pepperoni pizza. This beer would work for dessert time with cheesecakes or pies due to its fruity undertones. Sometimes, a heavier, more hop-oriented beer will fit better. For these times, I found 3 with odd-sounding names that fit the bill. Elysian Space Dust, Troeg’s Field Study, and Dogfish Head American Beauty Beer. For those who may not recognize the bears or other items on the label, Dogfish Head’s entry here pays tribute to the Grateful Dead, an important band to those raised in the 1970s and 80s. All three of these beers lean slightly more bitter than Evolution’s, due to the extra hoppy character. They make nice nightcaps or could serve as chasers for a heavier, meat-oriented meal. For those who prefer several beers in a pack by one brewer that fits a cookout, Sierra Nevada makes a variety pack. It comprises Helle’s in the Tropics, Ruthless Rye IPA, and Tropical Torpedo. As with other brewers, this pack provides a convenient way to try more than one flavor. In this case, the Helles in the Tropics and Ruthless Rye only come in the sampler according to Sierra Nevada’s website. Each flavor presents the slightest of notes to differentiate it from the others in the pack. Tropical Torpedo has mango, papaya, and passionfruit notes from its proprietary Torpedo Hops. Helles in the Tropics has juicy hops to give it more a more citrusy taste. Ruthless Rye presents itself as a dry peppery rye balancing out citrusy flavors with malt and hop flavors. These beers provide a nice entry into the IPA market. They also serve well for those drinkers seeking a new form of the varietal. However, this only scrapes the surface, presenting beers I recently encountered. Happy hunting, fellow beer lovers! The height of vacation season makes many people scratch their heads. How can they stretch a budget to afford great food, amenable accommodations, and all the fun they seek? Any one of these elements can sink a budget in a hurry, but needing to tackle all 3 at once? Can the vacationer also take in the local flavors while minding the budget?
Yes, it is absolutely possible. A few tricks will keep food prices around what one might pay in his or her hometown. To begin the day, eat at the hotel’s provided breakfast, if there is one. If not, take advantage of the mini fridge provided in even budget motels. Stop in a local grocery store or farm and pick up a small container of milk. Also buy some cereal if you haven’t brought it from home. On a recent vacation, I used frozen yogurt tubes to keep cookies and other treats cool and fresh on the three-hour journey to the beach. I picked up cheap breakfast pastries before we left, thinking they would be gone by the time we arrived. The children even brought some back with us. For lunch, pack your favorite shelf-stable staples and pack a picnic each day. Most destinations are amenable to this, and places such as the beach or mountains seem to encourage picnicking with their picturesque settings. A little research, either before or at the destination, can turn up great local places. As at home, look for in-season, local favorite dishes. Either on the restaurant’s website, or their menu at arrival, look for the daily or weekly specials. These generally bear a more budget-friendly price and will be fresher. Many restaurants utilize local produce in their salads and as sides. In these cases, dishes vary by season and can surprise even the pickiest eater. These have the most flavor, and when paired with local proteins for carnivores, provide hearty meals. Often, by dining on these items, a table will not need a starter or dessert, saving even more money. A great bonus to this comes in the ability to discover new favorites of every type of food and drink. On the drink scene, stick to soft drinks and other items made locally as well. The less shipping distance from producer to seller, the lower the consumer’s price. Often, drinks like iced tea-lemonade mixes or plain water tend to refresh the palate the most. Many beer and wine lists tell the consumer where a product hails from, so a knowledge of the local geography can save sometimes a dollar per drink. By sticking to one adult beverage and then water, one can lower the bill. Thus, yes, a person or family can save money on food while having a great vacation. One need not eat out or stick to expensive places all the time. Food can follow the vacationer from home. Picnics and eating in-season from restaurants, stores, and farm stands solve the problem. |
AuthorStuff about me: Archives
June 2020
Categories |