Shopping

Today was a shopping day. Five hours of it. I realized yesterday that I wasn't going to make it through 500 and some recipes in a year if I didn't make around 10-12 per week. This past week I managed six. Not so good.

So, this weekend I'm planning on making some pickles, jam, ghee, and yogurt. Chutney on Monday, and then we're having friends over for dinner on Tuesday. That should get my count up. I needed a nonreactive pan to pickle the limes in, so I went to Hartwick's (an upscale kitchen store) and got an enameled stainless steel stock pot by Le Creuset. Fifty bucks! Later, I was at the Mexican/Middle Eastern grocery and saw enameled pots for $15. Live and learn, I guess.

Overall, it was a day of buying many things. I started at the farmer's market and stocked up on chiles and green beans, carrots and tomatoes, cauliflower and cilantro. Then, I went to Hartwick's for the pan and some canning jars (I got two, one for each of the pickle recipes, but forgot to get one for the mango jam....just realized that). I also got some nice tongs and a few other things. Next up was the Mexican/Middle Eastern grocery.....where I bought a coconut. Never bought one before and I'm a bit nervous about it. Also got key limes and a mango. I had to go to another store (Down to Earth) for cheesecloth, because Hartwick's was out. Then, off to Vishnu's for jaggery (giant, brown sugary-salty cubes), kalonji (which Yamuna calls "nigella seeds"), and sesame oil.

Should be an interesting few days. Tomorrow: pickled lime, pickled jalapeños, homemade yogurt, and mango jam.

PS--I had wanted to make gooseberry chutney, but couldn't find gooseberries anywhere. I know I saw them at the farmer's market last week. The woman at the supermarket said they have a short growing season. Guess I'll have to wait until next August to try the gooseberry chutney....