If you lived in Middledenowhere, Texas, what would you buy @ Whole Foods?
I do live in Middledenowhere, Texas and I'm getting a trip to San Antonio for my b-day the beginning of February (the first weekend past the actual day.) I'm going shopping at Whole Foods there and I'm trying to compile a list of things that I can't get here and that would enhance my range of cooking choices. I've got a bit of time to work on my list so I want to cover as many bases as possible. I'd like to be able to cook more Asian-type dishes. I can get tofu, red miso and more common grains/beans here. I already have seitan, tempeh, yellow miso, nutritional yeast, some different seaweeds and vegan Worcestershire sauce on the list. I plan to look in the produce section for interesting fresh veggies but of course, I'll have to use them that week so I can't get a lot. I'm looking more for staples that I can keep in the fridge or pantry that'll keep until the next trip to SA which will probably be Spring Break in March (my DH is a school teacher.) Any things that you can think of that you would need to get if you were trying to cook a wide variety of vegan dishes out here? I was vegetarian in the '80s and have recently come back to it and there are so many more things than there were back then. ;)
Tahini, if it's difficult to find at home. If you're interested in making sushi, as I am, you might consider adding pickled plums (umeboshi), pickled ginger, and/or wasabi. Other Asian sauces-- hoisin sauce, Sriracha, black bean sauce, etc.-- sometimes make my list.
Bulk grains/beans you can't get at home are always a good bet-- cruise the bulk goods.
Got all the kitchen gadgets you need? I always, ALWAYS grossly overbuy interesting veggies when I go on a big shopping trip; a couple of the bags or mats that preserve freshness in the fridge aren't a bad idea if you do it too.
I shop the same way-- when I rent a car. I'm just delighted with the beautiful way tempeh freezes. I can stock up when I get to civilization and then just pull it out of the freezer as needed. :)
I didn't know tempeh freezes well. Do you repackage it for freezing or just chunk the packages in the freezer as is? Your ideas are very good. I'll have to look at my stocks of grains. I can get quiona here but of all things I couldn't find bulgur wheat as a "standalone". I had to buy a package of Tabooleh mix and discard the spice pack. Of course, I went shopping on a Sunday and the health food store was closed so I was shopping at H-E-B. I figured I'd pay a lot more at the health food store anyway so, since I didn't need a whole lot for that recipe, that surficed. Other than bulgur wheat, brown rice, quinona, barley, oatmeal, kasha and millet, what other grains would be good to keep on hand? There's probably a grain out there that I'll go "D'oh!" when someone mentions it but for right now that's all I can think of.
Hmm... that sounds like pretty much everything I make, grain-wise. Sometimes I like to get Israeli couscous (they're like pearl tapioca sized balls!) or whole wheat couscous, or bulgur wheat, too.
As for tempeh, I just heave the packages in the freezer unchanged. They do great!
Ooh, I love Whole Foods-- I've got a Trader Joe's that's close to me, and usually cheaper, so I go there 90 percent of the time, but I love stopping into Whole Foods just to peruse the more unique things. Here's what I usually pick up:
1) "Weird" varieties of lentils -- red ones cook really fast, and the black ones look really cool. Thai, Indian, Moroccan, and Egyptian dishes often call for unique varieties of lentils, so they're nice to have around.
2) Soy yogurt -- Whole Foods is the only place I've seen that sells Wildwood, which is so far the only brand I've found that is truly plain; the rest of them are usually loaded with sugar. :(
3) Vegan Cheeze -- Follow Your Heart brand, all the way. If you're into substitutes anyway.
4) Powdered soy milk -- it's nice to have around when you run out of the normal kind.
5) Blackstrap Molasses -- their's is organic and unsulphured, and ridiculously high in iron and potassium. Good stuff.
6) Aseptically packed tofu -- ya know, the stuff in the little boxes. For some reason, TJ's doesn't have it around here; and it's good for puddings and smoothies.
7) Pretty much anything in the bulk bins -- their variety is amazing. Ours has vegetarian "chicken" broth powder, nutritional yeast, nuts, grains, pastas, exotic dried fruits-- just go and drool for a while. :D
8) Canned beans -- I know these sounds like something you could find cheaper everywhere else, but they sell unsalted/organic ones; I'm a huge fan of "no salt added" canned goods, so I'm rather happy with them.
9) Dried Figs -- again, you can find these other places, but this is just a shameless plug for them. I love them. If you have only had them in cookie format, try them in their natural form sometime. :D
10) Nut butters -- We have sunflower and soynut butter at our normal grocery store, but they carry tahini, cashew, almond, hazelnut (occasionally)-- tons of them. I know they're easy to make on your own, I just haven't done so yet.
Anyway, you're in for a treat, so enjoy your shopping spree! :D
Mdvegan, are you sure your Amy's Soy Cheese/Rice crusts pizzas are vegan? As far as I know, the soy cheese that Amy's uses has casein in it. It'd be cool if they switched, but their website makes it look like they're still using their old stuff. :(
Where Middleofnowhere Texas? I lived in Midland for about a year and half (a long time ago) and I didn't think it could get any more remote than that! ::) Everything I'd get has already been listed.....so good luck and half fun on your trip!!
Also, what does "DH" stand for? ???
Ooh, that is a new pizza! Sorry, I didn't see it on their original pizza list, maybe I glanced over it. That sounds great, thanks for the recommendation!
I was actually boycotting Whole Foods for a while, but even here in the Big City there were things I had grown accustomed to and had to eventually relent and go back (albeit to a different store). They have: vegan marshmallows, ecover automatic dishwasher tablets (not easy to find everywhere), whole kids organic smooth peanut butter (must have in my house); 365 organic unsweetened applesauce (which is better than the Vermont brand I used to use); big glass gallon jugs of maple syrup; agave nectar (which is actually more expensive than at other health food stores); phyllo dough; and all sorts of organic frozen veggies. They have a good selection of organic grains and baking products, including tvp and tsp (I buy Bob's Red Mill TSP). I also try to be sure to stock up on organic raisins and other organic dried fruits. And if you don't have tamari, toasted sesame oil and brown rice vinegar in your pantry, that is a good place to stock up (just get a little bottle of the vinegar and the oil).
For herbs, spices and other interesting ingredients, here is a link to one of the premier specialty food stores in NY that sells a huge assortment of spices and other hard to find ingredients. They also do mail order:
http://www.kalustyans.com
Have fun!
Where Middleofnowhere Texas? I lived in Midland for about a year and half (a long time ago) and I didn't think it could get any more remote than that! ::)
I'm in Uvalde County, Texas. I grew up in Big Spring which is 30-35 miles east of Midland. The Permian Basin is remote and so is Uvalde Cnty. I have a friend who lives in Terlinqua. That's about as remote as you can get! But for Uvalde it's the stone age mentality that gives me the most trouble!
I'm the same person as TinTexas. I set up an account for my home computer for reasons I stated in another post.
MDVegan - Thanks! I'm in the CG and my DH told me that he has seen military spouse boards where "DH" meant dumb husband. I didn't think it meant that here before I started using it. My hubby isn't dumb. ;)
SameTinTexas - Hahaha! ;D I know exactly where you live and are from! Man...I really didn't care for that area. Austin, on the other hand was a great home to me for another year and a half.
Well, I'm trying to "grow where I'm planted." ::) I lived in Austin from July 1983 to October 1985. Frankly, it ate my lunch. I had a car committ suicide on MoPac, I got burglarized and one of my neighbors (who was an electrician) messed with the wiring so I was paying his electric bill as well as mine. My Darling Husband and I went to the Austin City Limits Festival and drove around seeing a few things. I don't think I'd want to live there now. If we ever move, I hope it's to one of the town around (and in) San Antonio or San Marcos would be nice (in between SA and Austin).
I loved it, but there areas you listed are nice too....more laid back than Austin. New Braunfels is cool too....especially if you like the river!