Shopping for cooking!

[clevermanka]

This weekend I had the delightful opportunity to spend a lot of money on spices and such. I got some basics at the Penzey's in Overland Park, and was directed from there to The Tasteful Olive, just a couple doors down. The sales help there can be a little annoying/overbearing, but their products? Oh, my. I can't wait to use the coconut balsamic vinegar. I'll certainly be going back for some of the more exotic olive oils, but I thought I should practice some restraint and bought a standard manzanilla oil that was on sale.

I should note that even mckitterick, who is very impatient with shopping at anyplace other than Ace Hardware or Target, enjoyed himself at the Olive store (there was some small griping at the strong smell inside Penzey's, but he was a trooper). It's a great store, if a tad pricey.

Imagine my surprise when the spices I'd ordered from Zamouri Spices were waiting for me when we arrived back home. I placed the order on Friday! I noticed on the return address label that they are based in Olathe. Considering the online store was recommended to me by an acquaintance in Austin, and we'd just returned from seeing a movie in Olathe, I appreciated the irony. Lovely small world. I'm going to ask if I can visit their store or if they only ship out of a warehouse. I'd very much like to look at their tagines in person before I buy one. Someday. Not this month!

This morning, I browsed around the Tropical Traditions website adammaker mentioned this weekend. I ordered some of the Coconut Cream Concentrate to try as a dairy alternative, and some more coconut flour since it was on mega-sale.

Now that mckitterick is back home after the July CSSF activities, I'm looking forward to cooking for us again. It was nice to be lazy for a while, cooking for one (leftover baked chicken thighs for the third night in a row? No problem!), and it will take me a week to get back into the swing of meal-planning again, but I'm looking forward to it. And how fortuitous that it coincides with my August Whole30 commitment. Tonight, Coconut-Lime Salmon with Melicious's Mashed Butternut Squash and a side salad topped with the amazing new coconut balsamic vinegar and some walnut oil.

Comments

[redheadfae.livejournal.com]

MMmm... spices~!

Tell me.. what is the secret to cutting up one of those squashes? I love the stuff but hate trying to pry into one.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

I cut it in half, and from there, it depends on how I plan to cook it. If I'm roasting it, I scoop out the seeds, put it in a pan of water in the oven and bake it for 30-40 minutes. Then I scoop it out.

A lot of times, though, especially in the summer, I'll peel it (with a really good vegetable peeler), then halve it, scoop out the seeds, chop it into half-inch chunks, and saute it with either butter or coconut oil.

Butternut and spaghetti squash have the easiest skins to deal with. Acorn squash is a PITA and not worth the effort, IMO.

[redheadfae.livejournal.com]

I cut it in half,

You see, that's the part I have the trouble with.. Seriously, unless I'm just getting crazy thick skinned squashes, I can't begin to even cut through them.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Huh. I don't have any problem with them. What are your knives like? This chick recommends using a serrated blade:

[redheadfae.livejournal.com]

I did use a huge serrated knife like that, but it was an organic butternut squash from the Merc, and it was me or the squash at that price!

I was ready to give up and go get Jbird's sawz-all out of the garage.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

HA! Poor thing. I've never had problems with a butternut like that. Maybe it wasn't ripe?

[redheadfae.livejournal.com]

I never thought of that! I just meekly gave up on them at that point.
But I did get that bugger cut up and baked, and it was awesome, smothered in butter and parmesan.

I wish I had the pix with me that I took of Ymir's investigating it.

[stuology.livejournal.com]

If you have a hard time peeling before cutting, then blanch it first.

I put it in my huge stock pot with water than had just been boiling and let it sit with the lid on, turning every now and again because it floats to the top.

Then I take it off the stove, drain out the hot water and run cold water and throw ice on it.

That cooks just the very top later of the flesh so that it peels really, really, really easily.

[redheadfae.livejournal.com]

Aha, that's what I needed to know.
Boil that bugger!

The last place I checked said to microwave it first, but I'm anti-microwave unless I absolutely *have to*.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Ooo. That would probably cut down on the cooking time, too. Nice.

Zamouri Spices in Olathe

[redheadfae.livejournal.com]

oh, they have argan oil too! Niiice.

and eeek. 9% tax on KS orders. (http://www.zamourispices.com/info.html)
I'd be tempted to have it shipped to M'Chelle.

Bad me.

Re: Zamouri Spices in Olathe

[miischelle.livejournal.com]

why? I don't mind.

Re: Zamouri Spices in Olathe

[tama-grey.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I about died when Olathe's sales tax went up this summer. All the more reason to stop buying anything. Ever.

[rougewench.livejournal.com]

arkhamrefugee and I managed to literally stumble into The Tasteful Olive when we went on a Penzey's run a few weeks ago.

He picked up one of the olive oils and a Chocolate Balsamic Vinegar (which ended up as part of dessert - drizzleed over strawberries with a topping of whipped Shatto cream).

That store is fabulous.


D.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

managed to literally stumble into The Tasteful Olive

Maybe you should mention something about that doorway problem to management before they get slapped with a lawsuit when someone gets injured!

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

Yum! Now if only we can figure out how to cook without using the oven: Today we'll be seeing 101°F....

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

It's a good thing "we" don't cook, eh?

phthtttth.

If you wanna get a replacement propane tank and hook up the grill, though, I'll be happy to give it a try tonight!

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

Ooh, great idea! I can't believe I forgot that while at Ace Hardware yesterday....

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

I forgot, too. We were tired!

Wanna go after work? I'm off at 4:00.

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

If I'm still here! Hoping to get the Vespa to KC tonight....

[miischelle.livejournal.com]

Have I ever mentioned that you put together the bestest menus....

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Aw, thanks! Cooking is a fun hobby.

I plan to be posting menus and recipes during Whole30, so get out your planner and jot down combos that look appealing. =D

[miischelle.livejournal.com]

More likely to bookmark recipes. I have a rule that I never try more than one new recipe a day - more than that will result in explosions and burning myself. The butternut squash is very tempting for tonight - Taj has been much more open to new foods lately, even ate a cup+ of cherry tomatoes last night.
Of course, home grown makes a big difference...

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

That's faboo that he's expanding his culinary horizons. Good for him!

[miischelle.livejournal.com]

Hrrrm.....I take it back. I'm making this (http://www.rachaelraymag.com/Recipes/rachael-ray-magazine-recipes/mucho-gusto-latin-recipes/Mexican-Chicken-Lime-Soup) instead, sans the tortilla chips.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Yum! I ran out of canned chipotles a long time ago and never replenished my stock. Thank you for the reminder!

[royal-spice.livejournal.com]

Linktastic! I see some online shopping in my future.

I have a Penzey's catalog all marked up, and just need to find time to sit down and order it all--and, maaaaybe narrow the list down a little... ;-)

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Ha! That's how I shop Penzey's, too. Mark up the catalog, then go to the website (or store). Because both their stores and their site are so very poorly arranged, but the catalogs are great. How is that?!?

[royal-spice.livejournal.com]

Completely different marketing professionals for web and catalog, I imaging, is how that happens. And, probably letting the programmer organize the website.

But you are totally right--the catalog is the best way to peruse their stuff.

[tama-grey.livejournal.com]

Zamouri (http://www.zamourispices.com/) is just down the street from my house! They look to be basically a warehouse only place, *but* if they allow for pick-ups, I'd be more than happy to swing by for you - since I come to Lawrence every week or two anyway it'd save you shipping.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

That would be awesome! I'll look into it. Thanks!