It's Sunday already, so here's a quick rundown of the rest of the week. Despite the big batch of pesto I made and largely froze a couple of weeks ago, my basil plants still have quite a bit left on them. With temperatures currently expected to get as low as the upper 30s Wednesday night, my focus for the beginning of the week will be ruthless stripping of those basil plants. Tomorrow night will be zucchini, corn, and basil fusilli with bacon from Gourmet magazine, making my own pesto again instead of the prepared variety in the recipe, and praying that I can still get my hands on some Munson's corn.
Since I seem to have a hard time stripping off every last basil leaf, I know I'll have enough left on Tuesday for shrimp risotto with baby spinach and basil from Bon Appetit. The baby spinach will come from the bulk bins at either Sprouts or Whole Foods, and this time, it really will be curtains for those basil plants.
With all that basil stripping, we'll move our reheat of something big, which this week is tonight's New England seafood chowder from Bon Appetit, to Wednesday. A salad on the side, and it's dinner.
I'm impressed with Sprouts having 100% grass-fed organic ground beef at $3.99 a pound through Wednesday, and since I haven't yet fit it in, I'll catch it by then to do chipotle sloppy joes from Cooking Light on Thursday. I prefer it on organic baked (read microwaved) potatoes instead of a roll, kind of heresy for a sloppy joe.
Which gets us through to Friday, when I'm afraid we'll be thinking more fall than summer produce.
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Saturday, September 29, 2012
Munson's Corn Update
I was at the Pearl Street Whole Foods yesterday, expecting to catch some Munson Farm sweet corn along with the rest of my purchases, and lo, the store had no Munson's corn. I asked the produce person, who said, nope, no more Munson's corn (eek, shades of the season ending). So I trekked out to the Munson stand at 75th and Valmont (usually done happily, but it was a bear on tight time yesterday), only to find that they had no picked corn either. Per the woman manning (womanning?) the stand, the irrigation ditches were open when our recent (most welcome!) rains came through, and it got so wet, "the raccoons were surfing the ditches." The corn is still out there, and intrepid types armed with boots went out and picked their own. They expect to have picked corn back at the stand today, and I'd hope at today's Boulder Farmers' Market as well (8 to 2), but I would have loved to see a raccoon surf a ditch.
Friday, September 28, 2012
Weekend Dinner Ideas
Super quick post. For tonight, beef short ribs from Sprouts' 50% off ribs festival sound good, especially since they are great both out on the grill, or done in the oven, if we should happen to have the luck of another rain shower. Being on a roll with both fresh corn from Munson's and freshly roasted chiles everywhere, the side's creamy stovetop corn with poblano chiles from the New York Times.
For tomorrow, in conjunction with hitting the Farmers' Market, I'll detour a couple of steps to Alfalfa's to get more of that great fresh domestic swordfish they have on sale for $13.99 a pound through October 2nd. Some pancetta-wrapped figs may have to go on the grill along with the swordfish. The Munson's corn fest will continue with succotash of fresh corn, lima beans, tomatoes, and onions from Bon Appetit, which I think is great with edamame instead of limas.
We'll do a big chowder on Sunday, which in my first acknowledgement of autumn, with be New England seafood chowder from Bon Appetit. This is my first bow to using butternut squash (99 cents for organic at both Sprouts and Whole Foods) for the season, with a long winter of it to come. And organic kale is everywhere, plus Sprouts has haddock available at $4.99 a pound, so it just seems like the week to jump in with it. (Although the cod and corn chowder from Food and Wine, no time to grab that link, is still calling.)
More to come for the weekdays.
For tomorrow, in conjunction with hitting the Farmers' Market, I'll detour a couple of steps to Alfalfa's to get more of that great fresh domestic swordfish they have on sale for $13.99 a pound through October 2nd. Some pancetta-wrapped figs may have to go on the grill along with the swordfish. The Munson's corn fest will continue with succotash of fresh corn, lima beans, tomatoes, and onions from Bon Appetit, which I think is great with edamame instead of limas.
We'll do a big chowder on Sunday, which in my first acknowledgement of autumn, with be New England seafood chowder from Bon Appetit. This is my first bow to using butternut squash (99 cents for organic at both Sprouts and Whole Foods) for the season, with a long winter of it to come. And organic kale is everywhere, plus Sprouts has haddock available at $4.99 a pound, so it just seems like the week to jump in with it. (Although the cod and corn chowder from Food and Wine, no time to grab that link, is still calling.)
More to come for the weekdays.
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Hatch Chile Fest At Centro
Here's an interesting confluence, since it's no secret that I love freshly roasted chiles and am a fan of Taos, too. Boulder's Centro Latin Kitchen and Refreshment Palace (what a great name) will be holding a three-day celebration of Hatch green chiles October 5 through 7, interestingly enough, sponsored by the town of Taos. You can check out all the details, including menus, a green chili cookoff, and a hot pepper eating contest at Centro's page on the festival.
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Cooking Demo Tomorrow In Superior
Plus a book signing with the demoing chef. Tomorrow, the 27th, the Whole Foods store in Superior will hold a book signing and cooking demo with Alan Roettinger. Here's what Whole Foods says:
Book Signing and Cooking Demo
Thursday, September 27th
6:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Superior Cafe, Free
Join us at the Superior store in our Cafe and meet Private Chef and world traveler Alan Roettinger as he shares his kitchen wizardry to create great tasting, healthful vegan dishes. He will be making a healthy Green Curry Salad and Napa Cabbage and Tuscan Kale Salad. Alan combines quick, easy preperation with palate- pleasing results.Purchase your book in our Whole Body dept. and have it signed. Please sign up at Customer Service to reserve your spot today.
Book Signing and Cooking Demo
Thursday, September 27th
6:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Superior Cafe, Free
Join us at the Superior store in our Cafe and meet Private Chef and world traveler Alan Roettinger as he shares his kitchen wizardry to create great tasting, healthful vegan dishes. He will be making a healthy Green Curry Salad and Napa Cabbage and Tuscan Kale Salad. Alan combines quick, easy preperation with palate- pleasing results.Purchase your book in our Whole Body dept. and have it signed. Please sign up at Customer Service to reserve your spot today.
This Week's Hot New Grocery Deals (IMHO)
We have new specials starting today at Sprouts (incorporating the former Sunflower) and Whole Foods. Here's what's appealing to me in a quick look.
Through October 3rd, Sprouts is offering a Rib Festival, with a whole bunch of cuts of beef and pork ribs all 50% off. Grass-fed organic ground beef also looks really quite good at $3.99 a pound, and regular stew beef is also $3.99 a pound. In fish, previously frozen wild caught haddock (great for fish chowders) is quite low at $4.99 a pound, fresh, albeit farmed, Atlantic salmon is just $5.99 a pound, as are 26/30 count peeled and deveined raw shrimp, those being previously frozen.
In organic produce, I'm glad to see my weekly purchase of one pound bags of baby carrots back down to $1.25 a bag (usually $1.99 elsewhere), acorn, butternut, and spaghetti squash, and also red or jewel yams are all 99 cents a pound (same at Whole Foods for the squash), three pound bags of yellow onions are just $1.99 each, red or green leaf lettuce is $1.29 a head, green onions are 69 cents a bunch, and their bulk spring mix salad is just $3.99 a pound.
At Whole Foods through October 16th, very fine air-chilled whole chickens are notable at $1.49 a pound (nearly half off), and Norwegian salmon (that typically means farmed, but with the finest pedigree) is $13.99 a pound for fillets. In organic produce, acorn, butternut, and spaghetti squash are all 99 cents a pound (same at Sprouts - welcome to winter squash season), red or green cabbage is also 99 cents a pound, and gold Delicious or Jonathon apples are $1.49 a pound. Beware the red bell peppers on sale for $1.25 each; when organic isn't specified, as in this case, conventional is assumed, and those are three for $1 at Sprouts this week. In the Bakehouse, pumpernickel bread looks good at $2.99 a loaf, and in Whole Body, Avalon Organics shampoos and conditioners are nearly half price at $4.99 each.
Through October 3rd, Sprouts is offering a Rib Festival, with a whole bunch of cuts of beef and pork ribs all 50% off. Grass-fed organic ground beef also looks really quite good at $3.99 a pound, and regular stew beef is also $3.99 a pound. In fish, previously frozen wild caught haddock (great for fish chowders) is quite low at $4.99 a pound, fresh, albeit farmed, Atlantic salmon is just $5.99 a pound, as are 26/30 count peeled and deveined raw shrimp, those being previously frozen.
In organic produce, I'm glad to see my weekly purchase of one pound bags of baby carrots back down to $1.25 a bag (usually $1.99 elsewhere), acorn, butternut, and spaghetti squash, and also red or jewel yams are all 99 cents a pound (same at Whole Foods for the squash), three pound bags of yellow onions are just $1.99 each, red or green leaf lettuce is $1.29 a head, green onions are 69 cents a bunch, and their bulk spring mix salad is just $3.99 a pound.
At Whole Foods through October 16th, very fine air-chilled whole chickens are notable at $1.49 a pound (nearly half off), and Norwegian salmon (that typically means farmed, but with the finest pedigree) is $13.99 a pound for fillets. In organic produce, acorn, butternut, and spaghetti squash are all 99 cents a pound (same at Sprouts - welcome to winter squash season), red or green cabbage is also 99 cents a pound, and gold Delicious or Jonathon apples are $1.49 a pound. Beware the red bell peppers on sale for $1.25 each; when organic isn't specified, as in this case, conventional is assumed, and those are three for $1 at Sprouts this week. In the Bakehouse, pumpernickel bread looks good at $2.99 a loaf, and in Whole Body, Avalon Organics shampoos and conditioners are nearly half price at $4.99 each.
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
One-Day Sale At Whole Foods Tomorrow
As is the norm, our local Whole Foods stores will offer a special Wednesday sale for tomorrow only, the 26th, this time a duo of them. I'm not familiar with either of them, but if the Rubicon cinnamon bread is anything like the Greenlee's also carried by Whole Foods, I can say that one's outrageously good. Here's what Whole Foods says:
Tomorrow, Wednesday, September 26th only:
Rubicon Bakery - 18oz.
Cinnamon Bread
$3.99/ea
(save $2.00/ea)
Fresh Pack Soups
All Varieties - 24 oz.
$3.99/ea
(save $3.00/ea)
Tomorrow, Wednesday, September 26th only:
Rubicon Bakery - 18oz.
Cinnamon Bread
$3.99/ea
(save $2.00/ea)
Fresh Pack Soups
All Varieties - 24 oz.
$3.99/ea
(save $3.00/ea)
Monday, September 24, 2012
Excellent Swordfish At Alfalfa's
While I was at the Farmers' Market on Saturday, I strolled over to Alfalfa's, and discovered that they have fresh wild swordfish from the USA on sale for the very good price of $13.99 a pound through October 2nd. That's $2.99 off their regular price, which is already very reasonable for fresh domestic swordfish. This discovery caused an immediate deviation from my prior menu plan; swordfish went on the grill that night, and it was wonderful.
Alfalfa's also has some of the best prices in town on organic produce, as well as a selection from local farms that practically rivalled the nearby Farmers' Market. I used to shop at the original Alfalfa's regularly, back when it and the old Crystal Market were pretty much the only natural food stores in town. With so many additional choices in 21st century Boulder, and so many stores I'd pass to get that far west in town, I rarely get there for my shopping any more (I've even seen in print that they consider their customer base to be west of Folsom, which definitely isn't me). A new option may be looming, however, as there's a possibility that Alfalfa's may open a second store in the old Safeway location in Louisville. That might be greater mileage for me, but probably a quicker drive than fighting the traffic all the way across Boulder.
Alfalfa's also has some of the best prices in town on organic produce, as well as a selection from local farms that practically rivalled the nearby Farmers' Market. I used to shop at the original Alfalfa's regularly, back when it and the old Crystal Market were pretty much the only natural food stores in town. With so many additional choices in 21st century Boulder, and so many stores I'd pass to get that far west in town, I rarely get there for my shopping any more (I've even seen in print that they consider their customer base to be west of Folsom, which definitely isn't me). A new option may be looming, however, as there's a possibility that Alfalfa's may open a second store in the old Safeway location in Louisville. That might be greater mileage for me, but probably a quicker drive than fighting the traffic all the way across Boulder.
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Weekday Dinner Ideas
Good lovely Sunday morning, Boulder. My dinner plans for the rest of the week are in place, and keeping with my theme of simplifying life, they're modest and easy. They also emphasize chicken, since boneless skinless ones are just $1.97 a pound in the value pack at Sprouts through Wednesday, and Whole Foods has really excellent, even though frozen ones from Nature's Rancher on sale for $6.99 for a two pound bag through Tuesday. My only slightly ambitious plan is for tomorrow, which will be spicy stir-fried chicken and greens with peanuts from Bon Appetit. Yesterday's Farmers' Market was loaded with greens choices, but they're also widely available at Sprouts and Whole Foods too.
Tuesday will be the essence of simplicity, sauteed pork chops with microwaved "baked" potatoes on the side, topped with Straus European-style nonfat plain yogurt, which is so creamy, you can hardly believe it isn't full fat sour cream. Sprouts has the boneless chops for $2.99 a pound, and they also have organic russets for 99 cents a pound.
Wednesday will be our easy reheat of something big made over the weekend, which this week is tonight's white bean soup with tomatoes, zucchini, and basil. My recipe comes from my old Mediterranean Light cookbook, but is nearly identical to that link, except mine starts with dried beans. They soak overnight, but it's not like one has to put any effort into that.
We'll finish off the planning with another easy dinner, sauteed chicken breasts dressed up a bit with the mushroom sauce from Cooking Light that's been such a hit around here, even though it's so easy to make. The side could again be those baked potatoes from the microwave, or perhaps some noodles for variety.
Which gets us through a very easy week of barely cooking.
Tuesday will be the essence of simplicity, sauteed pork chops with microwaved "baked" potatoes on the side, topped with Straus European-style nonfat plain yogurt, which is so creamy, you can hardly believe it isn't full fat sour cream. Sprouts has the boneless chops for $2.99 a pound, and they also have organic russets for 99 cents a pound.
Wednesday will be our easy reheat of something big made over the weekend, which this week is tonight's white bean soup with tomatoes, zucchini, and basil. My recipe comes from my old Mediterranean Light cookbook, but is nearly identical to that link, except mine starts with dried beans. They soak overnight, but it's not like one has to put any effort into that.
We'll finish off the planning with another easy dinner, sauteed chicken breasts dressed up a bit with the mushroom sauce from Cooking Light that's been such a hit around here, even though it's so easy to make. The side could again be those baked potatoes from the microwave, or perhaps some noodles for variety.
Which gets us through a very easy week of barely cooking.
Saturday, September 22, 2012
Chip 'N Sip Today
Here's an unusual one, but involving a confluence of several favorites: wine tasting, the Boulder Humane Society, pets, and good deals. Boulder Humane will be hosting a Chip 'N Sip event today at Liquor Mart, where you can get your adored pet microchipped for the insanely low price of $10, while you taste wines courtesy of Cru Vin Dogs. Somebody really got creative with that one. Here are the details from the Humane Society:
Join us on Saturday, September 22 at Liquor Mart for a unique event for wine lovers and pet guardians!
GET PEACE OF MIND WITH LOW-COST MICROCHIPS
For $10, your pet will receive a mini-microchip implant (registered with 24PetWatch) performed in a private area by a licensed veterinarian.
...A microchip is one of the best chances for you to be reunited with your pet should he or she get lost. Secure a happy reunion by participating in a low-cost microchipping event.
SNIFF, SWIRL & SAVOR AT OUR FREE WINE TASTING
The fabulous folks of Cru Vin Dogs Wine Group will be standing by to please your palate with a free tasting of several varietals. Plus, for each bottle of Cru Vin Dogs wine sold, the Humane Society of Boulder Valley will receive $1. Stock up for entertaining, gifts or just for yourself!
No tickets or appointments required. All pets welcome (must be on leash or in a carrier). For more information, please email kaitlyn.anderson@boulderhumane.org.
WHEN: Saturday, September 22, 2 - 4 p.m.
WHERE: Liquor Mart
1750 15th Street, Boulder
Join us on Saturday, September 22 at Liquor Mart for a unique event for wine lovers and pet guardians!
GET PEACE OF MIND WITH LOW-COST MICROCHIPS
For $10, your pet will receive a mini-microchip implant (registered with 24PetWatch) performed in a private area by a licensed veterinarian.
...A microchip is one of the best chances for you to be reunited with your pet should he or she get lost. Secure a happy reunion by participating in a low-cost microchipping event.
SNIFF, SWIRL & SAVOR AT OUR FREE WINE TASTING
The fabulous folks of Cru Vin Dogs Wine Group will be standing by to please your palate with a free tasting of several varietals. Plus, for each bottle of Cru Vin Dogs wine sold, the Humane Society of Boulder Valley will receive $1. Stock up for entertaining, gifts or just for yourself!
No tickets or appointments required. All pets welcome (must be on leash or in a carrier). For more information, please email kaitlyn.anderson@boulderhumane.org.
WHEN: Saturday, September 22, 2 - 4 p.m.
WHERE: Liquor Mart
1750 15th Street, Boulder
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