Fresh fruits and veggies

[psr13]

Can you pick them locally when they’re in season then freeze some? That’s the least expensive way I can think of to keep berries in my diet. Of course, planting your own would be cheapest, if you were able to.

I would have to go quite a distance for that. I live in Orange County, California. As such, everything here is developed pretty much. There isn’t anywhere to pick berries. When we move to Ohio this summer I hope we will be able to live not too extremely far from somewhere to pick things.

 

[bluerose]

You still have half of your green chiles left? Gee, I only have three bags left and I have already supplemented with frozen from the store .

I used to buy 3-4 15 lb. sacks every year, but DH’s stomach can’t take the heat as much as it used to, so we scaled back considerably! I get the Big Jim’s because they’re so much meatier and flavorful than the regular mild or hot and they’re easier to make rellenos with! This year’s batch was quite hot (and no, they’re not from Hatch, got 'em from Artesia this year! Really good!)

another thing I bought this week is nopal, (cactus paddles) friend is going to show me how to cook it, but I am leery because it is a bit like okra, which I hate, it is boiled and then scrambled with eggs and chilis a traditional lenten dish (and good for diabetics, I am told).

puzzleannie, did you read my post in the “UR flavor; Duz not want!” thread? Good luck with the nopalitos! I never could get past the smell to enjoy them, but my mom and aunt made them every year for Lent!

Updated in-house produce inventory!
apples (Fujis, couldn’t find Galas. LOVE Gala apples!)
oranges (fifty-eight cents each! Ack!)
grapes ($0.99 a pound!)
**strawberries **($2.50 a pound and they actually TASTE like strawberries–made the mistake of buying some last month. Strawberries should NOT be crunchy!)
**lemons **(seventy-eight cents EACH!)

I’ve been on a fresh fruit kick the last few days, and I realized that I should take advantage of my Wal*Mart associate discount on fresh produce more often–10%! I wish I could get that on all my groceries!

 

[hasikelee]

I was chatting with a friend of mine and we got on the subject of grocery shopping and how expensive it is. I said that I couldn’t believe how high fruit had gone…grapes were about $5.00 a pound and I had paid nearly a dollar a piece for apples…

She said she doesn’t buy fresh produce…it’s too expensive!

This is a mother of 2 young children. I was shocked and, honestly, aggravated with her. Somehow, I managed to hold my tongue. We’ve been friends for years and years, since before either of us were mommies. Her kids are in private school, one plays ball on a very expensive traveling softball team (over $5,000 last year) and the other takes dance classes… and she smokes…which is an expensive habit. Yet, they can’t seem to find the money for strawberries and squash?

I was cutting up some pineapples for dessert tonight and I started thinking about it. I’ve heard that Americans, in general, don’t eat enough fresh fruits and veggies. So, lets kinda take a friendly little poll…for everyone…not just the Americans …

What FRESH fruits and vegetables are in your house right at this moment? Not what you generally buy/have, but what you have NOW.

Holy COW $5 a pound? What state are you in, if I may ask?

Everytime I get homesick for the West coast, I try to keep these things in mind.

Has she considered growing anything? My family has half their suburb yard turned into a nice garden. Lettuce, tomatoes, corn, peas, asparagus, zuchinni, melons, peppers (hot and regular), swiss chard, collards, you name it we grew it, and enough to feed 10 little mouths. Besides being way cheaper and more convenient than shopping, it was a fun experience. We had little outdoor bunnies, too. It was a farm in the suburbs!

 

[Ghoti]

Hey! I found an orange! Add that to my list.

Whoops…gone now…(yum)

 

[puzzleannie]

I would have to go quite a distance for that. I live in Orange County, California. As such, everything here is developed pretty much. There isn’t anywhere to pick berries. When we move to Ohio this summer I hope we will be able to live not too extremely far from somewhere to pick things.

plenty of places in NE Ohio to pick your own strawberries, apples, grapes, corn, tomatoes and other produce. also an abundance of farmer’s markets, and farm produce stands (although the number is shrinking as development takes over farmland).

 

[psr13]

Yeah, I saw that online. We’re going to be moving near Akron most likely. We don’t mind driving some distance. Being from California we’re used to driving. Today we bought raspberries. I don’t ever eat berries, so we’re trying different kinds. So far out of blackberries, raspberries, and blueberries, my favorites are blackberries. We also bought oranges. We ate the last of the others last night. Oh yeah, we bought a mango. My husband is Filipino and loves mangoes.