19 February 2010
Review: Door to Door Organics (aka Organic Produce for the Lazy)
This past Tuesday, my sis and I got our first delivery from Door to Door Organics. Here’s what came in our “Bitty Box” (for $23):
3 ea. Murcott Tangerines
2 ea. Navel Oranges
1 ea. Meyer Lemons
1 ea. Spinach
2 ea. Gala Apples
1 lb Potatoes
2 ea. Fuji Apples
1 ea. Romaine Lettuce
2 ea. Cucumbers
1 ea. Broccoli
We also had the opportunity to buy additional items like cherry tomatoes, rainbow chard, and avocado (we didn’t buy any this time). Doing the math, we figured that we’d probably pay around $20-25 for the same amount of organic produce at a grocery store, so I think we’re getting a good deal. And the best part? It’s DELIVERED TO OUR DOOR. Lazy people, rejoice!
So far, I’ve tasted the spinach (ya think?), apples, cucumbers, broccoli, and tangerine. They’ve all been very good. That’s not to say we won’t occasionally get bruised apples or wilted lettuce, but I’d say the quality is slightly above what you can find in a traditional grocery store. The quantity also seems just perfect for two people. We’re only getting a box every other week, so we might have to supplement a little, but this is a good exercise in using all that we have — no more, no less.
You can customize what produce you get by indicating your likes and dislikes on the website. I think you can get fruit-only and veggie-only boxes as well. All in all, if you live in Colorado, Kansas City, Michigan, or on the East Coast, you should at least try it out! You can subscribe and cancel at any time, so there’s really nothing to lose. I promise they didn’t pay me to say anything of these things, I’m just all about this concept. Anyway, check out the website for more info.
8 February 2010
For L.A.-ers: Visit the Spice Station
I just got this tip from Kallah Maguire via comments. She says:
For anyone in LA, I just visited an amazing spice store today in Silver Lake. It’s called the Spice Station (http://spicestationsilverlake.com) and they have an amazing selection and really reasonable prices. They hubby and I picked up some white peppercorns, long black peppercorns, sweet smoked paprika, and ghost pepper salt. We got to smell and taste everything before we bought, and they owner is really knowledgeable.
So if you’re in LA or passing though I highly recommend visiting the Spice Station. It’s also the cutest little store with a beautiful courtyard and fountain in front.
I really want some of that sweet smoked paprika… yum! I’ll try to post a recipe that incorporates it. Thanks for the tip, Kallah!
5 February 2010
Upgrade Your Pantry Staples
I love Real Simple’s latest article about which staples to splure on. I totally agree with their calls:
Black Pepper
Pepper is one of the last things you add to a dish, so its flavor has a big impact. Always grind your own.
The upgrade: Tellicherry black peppercorns ($4 for a four-ounce bag, penzeys.com).
Butter
Use creamy European-style butter on the rare occasions you use butter for cooking. Buy unsalted to control the sodium.
The upgrade: Organic Valley, Horizon Organic, or Land O’ Lakes Ultra Creamy Butter ($3 to $3.50 for eight ounces, in supermarkets).
Canned Tomatoes
Organic tomatoes come in enamel-lined cans, so there’s no metallic taste―just a fresh, natural flavor.
The upgrade: Muir Glen Organic tomatoes ($1.50 for 14.5 ounces, in most supermarkets and health-food stores).
Chicken Broth
Broth from bouillon cubes is overly salty and suspiciously yellow. Low-fat, low-sodium broth is ideal.
The upgrade: Swanson Natural Goodness 100% Fat Free ($3 for 32 ounces, in supermarkets).
Eggs
Spring for organic eggs from free-range chickens. The yolks are bright yellow-orange, not a muted yellow, and the taste is full, rich, and downright eggy.
The upgrade: Greenbrier or Trader Joe’s ($2.50 to $3.50 a dozen, at health-food stores or Trader Joe’s, traderjoes.com for store locations).
Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
There is a huge difference in quality between the big-brand varieties and oils made by small producers. A flavorful extra-virgin olive oil can transform a simple salad into something spectacular.
The upgrade: Lucini Italia ($19 for 500 milliliters, lucini.com) or Bertolli Gentile ($6 for 500 milliliters, in supermarkets).
Parmesan
Bypass the canned version. The best-tasting Parmesan is from a specific region in Italy and has the Parmigiano-Reggiano stamp on its rind.
The upgrade: Authentic Parmigiano-Reggiano ($9 to $18 a pound).
Peanut Butter
The kids’ stuff is loaded with sugar. The natural kind contains only peanuts and salt.
The upgrade: Smucker’s Natural Creamy Peanut Butter ($3 for 16 ounces, in supermarkets).
Salt
Kosher and sea salt are clean-tasting and easy to control with your fingers.
The upgrade: Maldon Sea Salt ($7 for 8.5 ounces, thespicehouse.com) or Diamond Crystal Kosher Salt ($3 for three pounds, in supermarkets, or call 800-428-4244).
Tuna
Italian-style light-meat tuna packed in olive oil delivers a double dose of good fats. It has more calories than the all-white-meat, water-packed kind, but it doesn’t need a lot of mayo when made into tuna salad.
The upgrade: Genova ($2 for six ounces, in supermarkets).
Vanilla
Use pure (not imitation) vanilla extract and you’ll be wowed by its complex, heady perfume.
The upgrade: Nielsen-Massey Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Extract ($20 for eight ounces, kingarthurflour.com) or McCormick Pure Vanilla Extract ($7 for four ounces, in supermarkets).
1 February 2010
Local, Organic Produce for the Lazy: Door to Door Organics
Door to Door Organics
Before you guys get offended by the title of this post, know that “lazy” is mostly in reference to myself. I admit, in the winter, the idea of getting up early on a Saturday morning to go to my local farmer’s market is pretty unappealing. I also don’t like making five stops each time I go grocery shopping. There has to be a better way to get local and organic produce! There is, friends, there is.
If you live in Colorado, Kansas City, Michigan, or on the East Coast, that way is Door to Door Organics. For a mere $23 a week (or biweekly), you can have fresh, local, seasonal, and organic produce delivered right to your door. The $23 will get you the “Bitty Box” (the smallest size they sell), which they say is appropriate for an individual, couple, or roommates. I ordered that box to come biweekly. Here’s a sample menu of the Bitty Box:
- 4 Bananas
- 4 Bosc Pears
- 2 Braeburn Apples
- 3 Orlando Tangelos
- 2 Cucumbers
- 1 Romaine Lettuce
- 1 Celery Heart
- 1 Sunburst Squash
- 1 Sweet Baby Broccoli
You can also customize the box according to your taste. I’d say getting all of that organic produce delivered to my door is worth more than $23. You can also get bigger boxes if you go through more produce. I’m thinking that this $50 worth of produce each month means we’ll barely have to buy any at the store. Sister, aren’t you excited?! (My sister/roommate hates shopping for produce, for whatever reason.)
10 November 2009
Tips for Your Health: The Secret to Avoiding Premature Spoiling of Fruits and Veggies
Don’t you hate when you try to be all healthy by buying a bunch of produce, but it goes bad before you can even eat it? Annoying. The key to preventing spoilage is separating ethylene-producing and ethylene-sensitive produce. Learn which is which here, and never make excuses for skipping the produce again!
