Category: Shopping

Andrew’s Local Honey at the Rockefeller Center Farmer’s Market

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Today at the Farmer’s Market I was lucky enough to arrive before the crowd, and had the opportunity to talk to some vendors. One vendor in particular, Andrew of Andrew’s Local Honey, — a very charasmatic and enthusiastic man by the way– struck up conversation with me. I was really intrigued by his bee farming technique– he places hives on rooves all over 3 of the 5 boroughs (Brooklyn, Manahattan and Queens) boroughs and cultivates honey from the cities own honey bees!

Andrew has many honey, pollen, and honey comb-based products including: soap, fresh pollen, pollen and honey blends, and a variety of types of honey. Some of the honey’s are simple, generic, natural and local. However, others are flavored. Still my favorite has to be the very unique and delicious Whipped Honey with Cinnamon ($10 for 12 oz jar).

 

All of the products range from $6 to about $25, pulling in an average at $15– and they are worth it! As I posted earleir this year, I recommend eating lcoal honey ebacuse it helps with allergies. But beyond his normal honey I loved his natural soaps and adored the fresh honey comb. Plus, as I stated earlier, how often is it that you can have whipped cinnamon honey?! YUM!

 

Andrew can be found most often at the Westport Farmers’ Market on Thursdays, or the Greenwich Farmers’ Market on Saturdays.

Overall, I think this guy has a really great thing going, and I encourage everyone to go pick up a jar between 8:00am and 5:00pm on one of the next 5 upcoming Thursdays. Not only will your visit make for a peppy, enthusiastic, and overall boggling conversation, but it will also provide you with yummy deliciousness for your pantry. Or, why not pick up some early Christmas gifts? Hey, it’s never too early to start right?

Hammond Dairy Farm– Farmer’s Market at Rockefeller Center

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First of all, I must admit that I did not attend the Farmer’s Market Thursday or Friday last week, so I didn’t meet any new vendors. But, this morning on my way through the marketplace I did get to stop and sample some delicious yogurt from Hammond Dairy Farm. The farm located not so far away in Duchess County, definitely has my approval and utmost support!

The owner of the farm is a veterinarian– not only does this give him a much better understanding of his cattle, but it also means that he has love and respect towards his livestock. Just that little fact alone made me trust the farm more than other organic companies!

Also, the philosophy behind Dr. David Hammond’s farm is truly inspiring. This farm is exactly what our country is lacking right now, and proves how much hard work, determination, and a solid ethical and humane outlook on food and animal protection can make anything possible (no matter the size of the budget). In fact, here is a little quote from the site describing the treatment of their beloved livestock

              “We have a herd of 200 Holstein cows (those beautiful black and white cows), and treat them like family. Each cow has her own name, her own place on the farm, and is treated in the best of conditions. Our cows are fed all natural grass, and range contentedly on our beautiful green pastures. As Dr. Hammond is also a practicing veterinarian, we guarantee the excellent care of our animals.”

Dr. David is the exact sort of man who I want to multiply and set up all around the country. With clean, honest food, not only do we protect ourselves, but we also protect our livestock and our land and Earth– what I call farming with integrity. Although this sort of farming still exists in parts of the country, and usually on a very small-scale, it is also dying (right along with our own countries economy). Farmers need to stand together, and more importantly, consumers need to stand by their farmers and support them!

This brings me to my next point. Hammond Farm’s dairy products are affordable… and damn good. Just this morning, I was given two generous servings of yogurt to taste before purchasing a regular 6 oz cup for $2. That is less than I pay for Brown Cow and Fage yogurt– and they are not authentic farm raised organic brands! Not to mention, they had a deal today -buy 2 f0r $3– how awesome!

More importantly though I would like to point out that I usually find that at Farmer’s Markets, especially in the city, sellers try to raise their prices. This happens  for a variety of reasons: it is a long commute for the farmer so the produce price is raised to meet the needs of the owner; sellers try to raise the prices to match the target allowance of their consumers; or sometimes they are just big old jerks who like to rip off innocent people whose eyes are glazed over gazing upon the bounty before them. Either way, Hammond Dairy Farm does anything but rip you off. Dr. David’s yogurt was some of the best I have ever had in my life. I would have gladly shelled out a few more dollars just for the taste! Never mind that it is much fresher and purer than most of the things that I eat!

Moreover, how about we all decide to start supporting our wonderful, honest, hardworking farmers and shell out a few dollars a week extra to keep their farms safe, sound, and healthy.

Please stop by and support these wonderful people who help to keep our land, our bodies and minds, and our economy strong.

Rockefeller Center Summer Farmer’s Market

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Today is the first day of the Rockefeller Farmer’s Market. I urge you to at least go and walk through the market. It’s not often that this area of town sees so much greenery, and smells so fresh! The market, which will occur Wednesdays through Fridays (8am-5pm) from today until September 2nd, holds host to at least 15 vendors who feature anything from fresh herbs, to organic, local breads, produce and cheese. Most of the vendors come from the Hudson River Valley, but I met some who came as far as Lancaster PA from Amish farms.

I think that anyone who appreciates good, clean food, and supporting our farmers, economy and passionate growers should stop by and spend just a few dollars to keep our community and selves healthy and growing!

I know that I’ll be back at lunch to pick up some fresh lavender and ripe pecorino cheeses! Special shout out to Valley Shepard for reproducing gorgeous artisanal, Italian, Spanish and French inspired local cheese.

Check out the website.

I’ll be sure to keep you updated about special finds there…

Arugula and Steak Salad

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Steak and arugula are two are my favorite things, so naturally, combining the two is sublime in my opinion. This is a great recipe for a light lunch or dinner; it is fast, filling, and crisp. I usually make this with small steak filets, maybe 2-5 oz at most, and a big pile of salad to balance out the lack of meat portion. Also, I don’t use fatty steak like hanger or strip; rather I buy center cut pieces for a nice fresh lean piece of meat.

I really enjoy this dish because I don’t feel guilty after eating it, and I can buy the steak in packages of 3 thus leaving two more pieces for another night. Arugula also usually lasts about a week in the fridge, so buying a big bag every week if you enjoy it is a great way to save because you can either eat it alone or add it your regular salad for a peppery taste.

Also, I usually have all of the filler ingredients in this dish in my fridge and pantry so all I need to buy is the steak and the salad. So, if you buy the steak in bulk and then freeze the extra pieces, and also buy arugula every week, this meal could be an easy fix that is always available if you want it!

Lastly, if the steak that you plan on using is frozen, make sure you take it out the night before you want the steak to ensure that it is defrosted. Also, it is alright to add the marinade to the frozen steak so that it marinates while it defrosts.

-Ingredients for marinade-

1 filet steak

1 tsp dijon mustard

1 tsp balsamic vinegar

1 tsp lemon juice

-Preparation-

Marinate steak for 24 hours. When ready to cook, put a small fry pan on medium high and let it heat up for about 3-5 minutes until scorching hot. Spray pan with Pam, and place steak on for about 2 minutes per side. Repeat once for an overall time of about 8 minutes; this makes steak about medium rare. If you want a more well-done steak add one more turn making it 10 minutes total. After steak is cooked, let rest for about 5 minutes and then slice it thinly.

-Ingredients for arugula salad-

2-3 cups arugula

1 tbsp lemon juice

2 tsps olive oil

shaved parmigiano-reggiano cheese

salt and pepper to taste

-Preparation of salad-

Place arugula on plate and drizzle with lemon and oil. Then, add shaved cheese and salt and pepper. Place sliced steak alongside salad on plate and serve!

Enjoy!

Five Minute Fried Rice

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At times it is very diificult to want to come up with an entire elaborate meal, especially on such small food allowance. Fried rice has become a staple in my diet, for a light lunch, snack, or small dinner at times when I don’t have enough time, ingredients or energy to cook. My recipe uses minimal ingredients, and some pre-cooked food to cut down on cooking time. It also uses ingredients that are most likely always in my fridge and cabinet.

Next time you go to the Grocery Store, pick up some pre-cooked rice for about $2-3 a piece (each box is one serving). Buying rice pre-cooked saves a lot of time and energy, and is well worth the investment unless you eat a lot of rice each week and can make enough fresh-cooked at a time.

The ingredients that I use, such as carrot and egg, can be subsituted for other ingredients like peas and tofu if you wish. This recipe feeds one person.

-Ingredients-

1 package pre-cooked rice (sticky is preferable)

1/2 carrot, finely chopped

1 egg, scrambled

2 tbsp. finely chopped white onion

2 cloves garlic, chopped

2 tbsp. soy sauce

1/2 tbsp. butter

1/2 tbsp. canola oil

1 tsp. pepper

salt and sriracha to taste

*I also use a tsp. of hot sesame oil if you have som

-Preparation-

First, put pre-cooked rice in microwave to heat (follow box instructions). Then put oil, butter, onion, carrot and garlic in pan on medium heat to simmer for 3 minutes. Add the egg, salt and pepper and scramble into mixture (takes about 1 minute). After the rice has finished cooking add to the pan with the soy sauce and sriracha. Once the ingredients are combined and cooked to your desired amount(for me it’s about 30 seconds), remove from heat and serve.

Veggie & Steak Stir Fry

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I love making stir fry, it’s easy, it’s healthy and you can make it with a wide variety of ingredients. Stir fry is one of the most versatile styles of cooking, allowing you to create a sort of potluck with your fridge and turn it into salty, steamed goodness. I usually cook my stir fry with fresh broccoli , carrots, steak or chicken, and snap peas. However, any variety of veggetables and meats would work also. While I tend to buy fresh veggies because I eat them so quickly, I also recommend buying frozen because they won’t go bad, and are already cooked.

Whether you use my ingredients, or your own, make sure to cook your meats and veggies seperately at first, and then combine them in a fry pan later. For example, if I am using steak and frozen broccoli I would cook my steak first in canola oil with some salt and pepper. I would also defrost the broccoli. Then, I would slice the steak and combine the ingredients together in my stir fry pan.

This is a quick frozen veggie stir fry recipe that includes my favoriet ingredients:

-Ingredients-

 1 head broccoli, chopped and steamed

1/4 cup sliced white onion

1/4 cup sliced red pepper

2 carrots, sliced thin long-ways and then cut in half

3 cups snap peas

1 6 oz steak, fully cooked and sliced thin

2-3 garlic cloves, crushed and chopped

1 tbsp. canola oil

1 tsp. sesame seed oil (optional)

1 tsp. fresh grated ginger

2 1/2 tbsp. soy sauce

1 tsp. sriracha hot sauce (optional)

2 cups cooked udon noodles/ or 2 cups cooked white/ brown rice

–Preparation–

First, put water on to boil for the noodles. Then, cook whatever meats and veggetables you are using as directed above.

Then, put oils in pan with garlic, onion, and ginger at medium heat; let simmer for about 3 minutes, or until the onion softens and  you can begin to smell the garlic. Turn up the heat to medium high.  Add veggies and cook for about 3 minutes to soften them. Lastly, add the noodles and steak. Then, immediately add hot sauce and soy sauce. Stir together for about 30 secs-1 minute.

Serve immediately.

Look out for a fast, easy Fried Rice recipe and an easy way to switch up my stir fry recipe in the next week!

Buying Cheap Organic Food Is Possible

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Gettysburg College is in the middle of rural farmland PA giving college students like myself access to a plethora of farms and whole-foods products. What’s more, Giant (the local Grocery Store) has an entire section dedicated to organic and whole-foods. Here’s the kicker: Giant’s prices, while still not completely discounted, are much lower than those of let’s say Whole Foods or Fairway. In fact, Giant has much lower prices while offering most of it’s competitor’s available products.

The organic section of Giant is located on the far right of the store, immediately to the left of the produce section. In two aisles one can find anything from crackers and cereal, to frozen foods, milks and cheeses, even medicines and bath products.

I don’t shop in this section for the bulk of my food items, however, I do keep an eye on some of my favorite products to watch for sales. Also, I buy things like bath products in this section because the higher price guarantees that the products are not tested on animals and contain as few chemicals as possible.

Basically, I break down my shopping like this: anything that is an essential part of my diet, and lasts a long time in my fridge or cabinet, should be bought organic because I am making an investment. Not only am I keeping my body as healthy and chemical free as possible, but I am also supporting local farms and smaller companies. Then, for things like fruits and veggies I try to buy seasonal and fresh (unfortunately even organic foods can be effected by GMOs) so I just use my best judgment. Also, for items like meats and milk and cereals, crackers and baking mixes I read the packages and information and just try to get the best deal. Unfortunately, even the best known companies are run by corporations like Tyson and Perdue so there are not many ways to avoid buying from them unless you buy directly from a farm, or from a very small business.

For more information about organic foods and how the food industry is evolving I would highly recommend watching the film Food Inc., it completely changed how I eat and perceive the food industry, especially the FDA.

-Simple breakdown of what to buy-

1) If you really want to break it down easy, I’d say it is most important to buy things like honey, flour, sugar, eggs, and oil organic. This is because these products are best bought without any processing, and the more they are processed the less nutritional value they will have.

2) Another thing to note is that it is important to try to buy products that have been processed as little as possible. This means you should read labels on everything you buy, and even do a little bit of research about the companies you are supporting. If you stick to these two rules than you should be just fine.

3) On that note, I would recommend cooking with coconut oil because it is much leaner, and can be cooked into a variety of foods easily. Furthermore, I recommend buying local honey (helps with allergies), and purchasing organic nut products and oils to cook with.

Look out for more tips and recipes this Thursday, including Panko Grilled Chicken and uses of Coconut Oil.

-BerryGoodEats-

Shopping on a $20 Budget

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Having trouble spending within your budget every week? Try some new tips for buying foods that taste great, and last.

I am notorious for being a compulsive shopper, but working 7 hours a week has quickly taught me that in order to stay afloat I have to cut costs. Currently, my weekly shopping budget is $20 and my weekly pocket-money $10 (or under for saving purposes!). Shopping on a small budget can be a really difficult adjustment, especially when you love to cook as much as I do.

However, there is one simple trick I have come to live by: as needed, buy only your staple foods (pastas, milk, cheese, some hearty veggies like spinach and broccoli) and then work into those foods some extras that match. For example, I eat a lot of pasta, a lot of mozzarella and parmiggiano cheese, and a lot of vegetables. Therefore, I buy the cheapest pastas on the shelf, cheese when it is on sale, and veggies that will last the longest in my fridge. Then, I buy some meats that go with a variety of dishes that I make. Usually I pick up a package of hot italian sausage (Giant brand to save $) and some chicken (whichever is both the cleanest and cheapest). I put the meats promptly in the freezer and they can last up to 2 or 3 weeks. If there is any money left over on that trip I buy things like shrimp (frozen and fully cooked already about $5), some garlic, lemon, soy sauce, and potatoes.

It’s important to buy foods that can be mixed and matched with each other for different dishes. For example, I often cook pasta with cheese, or broccoli, or spinach. Or, I can cook pasta with my frozen chicken, sausage, or both. Furthermore, I can mix either meat with any of the above cheese and vegetable options giving me a lot of variety with only a few ingredients.

Most often, I buy the specialty items once every 3-4 weeks, and the meats every 2 weeks. Therefore, I am buying things like veggies, milk and pasta every week. If you rotate spending like this than the $20 gets spread out a bit, leaving room for some extras and favorites like eggs, brownie mix, tortilla chips and salsa, wraps, and chocolate. To make this money go even farther, I put whatever money is left on the side so that I can go back and buy those favorite things.

TIP: Try putting a money jar in your desk, and after shopping throw your change in there rather than in your wallet. If you don’t carry the change with you, you won’t be tempted to spend it until you really need it.

What’s more, I budget my extra $10 into hanging out with my friends. If I know that I am going to the Parrot during the weekend, and also want to go to Pitchers or Mama’s on a Tuesday or Thursday, I usually break my ten into two fives. Then, when I go the bar I only take one 5 with me so that I don’t overspend. It may sound lame, but it is actually super effective. Plus, you’d be surprised how many people will split a pitcher with you, and what kind of specials and promotions you can for under $5 if you look. 

For example, splitting a dessert at the Parrot is $3.50 each. Also, a Long Island Iced Tea at Mama’s is $2.50. Not to mention, the Pub has$3 pitchers on Tuesdays, and the Parrot serves some full drinks for under $4. So, as you can see there are plenty of ways to buy under your budget.

Finally, if you keep a change jar to collect extra cash every week, then you’d be surprised how much you can accumulate. Sometimes when I know I want to spend a little extra I dig into the jar and don’t feel guilty afterward.

Good luck, and enjoy!

 

Save Money on Valentine’s Day

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-How it All Began-

I think it’s safe to say that most people, single or not, end up spending money on Valentine’s Day. If you are in a relationship, costs can be infinite from spending on cards, gifts, dinner, drinks and so on. For single people, Valentine’s Day can be a money drainer also. A lot of people still find themselves celebrating this Hallmark holiday even if they don’t happen to like it. You may send a few cards, go out to dinner and/ or drinks with friends, or even drown your sorrows in a box of chocolate a McDonald’s take-out bag. Often in our culture, it seems like we are all trapped in this cycle of spending money. Why is it that we have all of these holidays that  pressure consumers to spend in order to feel satisfied? Better yet, what has convinced us that we must spend on others in order to feel included, appreciated and validated?

There are ways of getting around spending a lot on holidays like this one without feeling like you’re letting yourself down, or anyone else that you may feel pressured to oblige.

-Ways to Save Money-

Now prepare yourselves, these might seem devastatingly obvious…

First of all, rather than going out to dinner or drinks why not just make something together, it’s more fun anyway. Sangria, by the way, is a great drink to make with friends when you’re on a budget because the main ingredient is cheap red wine (get a bottle for no more than $6). By the way, the link attached happens to be my all time favorite Sangria recipe. 

Second of all, there are tons of sites online that you can make photo collages on. In fact, you can put these collages on calendars, computer covers, picture frames, and even mouse pads. One of my favorite things about this particular site is that there is a little bar on the top left corner where you can gauge how much money you want to spend. I most recently used gifts.com for my mom’s birthday when I made her a mouse pad for under $15. Not only did this gift save me a lot of money, but it was also thoughtful and personal (and she loved it!).

Lastly, rather than doing something like going out to the movies, why not rent a movie. Or better yet, if you’re on campus here at Gettysburg, why not rent a projector screen at the library and have a romantic movie night back at your dorm room? You can even pick up snacks at the commons and Bullet beforehand. Furthermore, if the weather is nice it might not be a bad idea to go for a walk into town or out to the Peace Light.

On the other hand, if you do happen to have some money to spend I would recommend the Pub, the Blue Parrot, Dobbin House Tavern or O’Rourke’s Pub. The Tavern is offering a Valentine’s Day Brunch menu for Sunday for $21.95 a person,  and the Parrot and Pub have seasonal special desserts and drinks.

No matter what you end up doing with your time and money this Monday evening, make sure you have fun.

-BerryGoodEats-

Catoctin Mountain Orchard

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Just fifteen miles south of Gettysburg College on Route 15, there is a small gem; the Catoctin Mountain Orchard.  At this orchard one can find anything from a selection of gourds and pumpkins, to apples and preserves, to fresh-baked pies. I love to go to this market for  specialty items like honey, cheese and seasonal produce. Not to mention, walking the orchards in the fall air is a wonderful bonus, and incentive to my friends, for a weekend trip down.

At this wonderful market one will be astounded by both the variety, and small-town freshness, while not spending an exorbitant amount of money. Just last weekend, after a great baby-back rib-filled lunch at Chubby’s Barbecue, my friends and I ventured over to the market for some fall fun. There, we picked out gourds and mini pumpkins (3 for $2), apples, cider, and what turned out to be much more.

Hint- come here for your Christmas shopping. Not only are all of the products fresh and beautiful, but they are home and hand-made! Some of the items are a little expensive, but other’s are a great deal. Ok, here’s the official run-down of what I saw…

Foods like:

Apples, plums, cheese (yes, home-made cheese!) and cider. Not to mention fresh-baked goods and jams, honey, honey butters and their own array of hot sauces!

Items:

Photos taken by locals, home-made wicker baskets,  home-made candles, pumpkins and other seasonal decorations.

While there I had a $30 budget to buy my sister’s birthday gift, some fall decorations, and a treat for myself and my friends. This might seem a hard task on so little money, but all of the options the market offered made it fun to choose! Between 3 gourds, two full-sized pumpkins, honey, hot sauce, a candle, a photograph, jam, apples, cider and a jar of nuts I just made my budget. What I’ve eaten so far has been delicious, and I can’t wait to brag about where I got my home-made candle!

During allergy season one should pay attention to some holistic options. Eating local honey is both soothing and delicious, and also has powers against allergies. When you eat local honey, you ingest the pollen that bees cultivate which helps your body to build-up an immunity, making allergies a lot less serious. Therefore, go to this great market and get some delicious honey! What a yummy way to take medicine… take that Mary Poppins!

Go soon before all the good pumpkins are gone!

-Berrygoodeats