Most
of us like fresh fruit and veggies; because of faster and more efficient shipping
methods than even 20 years ago, out-of-season produce is often available, but at what cost? Taste is a big issue for
me, especially tomatoes. Blehk!! Hot-house-grown
tomatoes leave a lot to be desired. You really don’t have to have tomatoes to
make a good salad.
One
of my favorite supper salads includes diced apples, chopped nuts, diced cucumbers,
finely chopped sweet onion, diced bell pepper and shredded carrots. Add an Asian Sesame Dressing, or a simple oil
and vinegar and dinner is ready.
Frozen
fruit and vegetables are a good alternative to over-priced and hot-house “plastic”
varieties. These cold winter months are
a great time to purchase frozen produce.
Generally speaking, fruits and veggies are packed at their peak, so the
selection will be good.
Be
very careful to rotate and exchange foods in your refrigerator-freezer on a
regular basis. The ‘frost free’ feature
in your appliance will play havoc with food left for any length of time. Don’t purchase an abundance of any frozen
food product unless you have an upright or chest-style freezer in which to
store your cache as you are risking losing some food. If you just have to purchase a huge amount
because you just can’t pass up a good bargain and have no extra freezer, plan
on using that food within 2 to 3 weeks.
Check
with your local County Extension office to find out what is fresh during these
cold months, and year-round. A county
agent can be your best friend. That
agent can identify bugs and other vermin, wild varmints, soil condition, water
safety and much more.
“White
sales” used to be very popular ‘back in the day’’ and linens usually are on
sale at this time of the year. Other good buys in this off-season include
carpeting, motorcycles, cell phones, furniture and luggage. You probably should wait until mid February
to purchase new televisions and home theaters.
I
hope your week is filled with Country blessings.
© 2014 Cat Brennan
