Mega food shopping

My name is Sister P and I am a bulk shopping fanatic.

Costco, Sam’s Club…I love them. Now that I cook from scratch, it really requires well stocked cupboards. Having plenty of dry spices and root spices like garlic, onions and ginger allow me to switch up a menu on a moment’s notice. Four pound bags of tilapia and 3 lb bags of salmon keep me from running back and forth to the market. Flour, baking powder and butter are a must and buying a 7 ½ dozen box of eggs makes it easy for me to prepare lots of non-meat dishes each month like quiche, casseroles, stuffed eggs, egg burritos….I guess you can tell I love food.

Plus, with us growing so much of our own produce it keeps me out of Kro-ger and Wally World so much.

Now I can take my bulk shopping to a WHOLE new level. The Nation of Islam’s Ministry of Agriculture has a staple goods program. It's not just for Muslims. Anyone can locate their local representative on the website and ask about the next order. (Disclaimer: The program is in its infancy and often has delays, so if you're not patient this may not be the thing for you :o)

We just got in our shipment. This round we bought:

50 lbs Wheat Flour (fresh from Muhammad’s Farm)

50 lbs Navy Beans

50 lbs Red Lentils

2 – 25 lb bags of Brown Rice

6 – 3lb jugs of Honey

Last shipment we bought toilet paper from Black owned Freedom Paper Company and raw sugar too.

Storage is pretty tough so I have to get really creative, but that can be another post on recycling containers that can be used for storage. Here is a link too:  http://www.noimoa.com/programsactivities/staplegoods/staple-goods-storage/

If you’re big shopper like me, people tend to try to use you as the “corner store’’ and ask if you have some extra’s for sale. I try to not be niggardly about it but I have to keep my house stocked for disaster preparedness and daily consumption. So my first priority is always my family’s comfort. So most times I try to be a sister and share but it always comes with a speech from Sister P ;o)

Are you a bulk shopper?

Trader Joe's, eh, sorta cute

Big City Wanna Be, Kentucky just got a shiny new toy, Trader Joe's.

How can I describe this place? It's Kosher heaven, basically. Kosher meats, kosher breads, kosher pizza crusts, kosher crescent rolls. It has prepared foods that we normally can't buy because of fear of pork by-products.

My husband describes it as the healthy junk-food store. They have all kinds of treats that are organic, healthy or Kosher too. Like, chocolate covered pretzels, pork free chicken sausage, etc.

They don't have a butcher in house and the store is tiny.

So, after walking through there 3 times really slowly and deliberately, I think we could find a few things there for the monthly shopping list. But it's definitely not a regular destination.

My favorite find so far?

Since my child has never had peanut butter, I thought this would be a fun treat. We've tried it on graham crackers and she likes it. It's expensive, and needs to stay refrigerated but it's a cool occasional item. 

So I'd give it a "thumbs up'' for variety and selection of permissible foods for Muslim's. I'd give the produce section a "thumbs down'' and the meat section only gets a ''thumbs up'' because of the Kosher brand of meat. 

Now, what I'm really waiting on is Costco! I was sad to leave my Costco behind when we left Chicago.

Ramadan 2011 Iftar Menu

As-Salaam Alaikum! Ramadan Mubarak!

I sincerely hope that all who are reading these words are doing well and enjoying the best of Allah's (God's) blessings today!

Each year I can see how my menu planning is improving as I learn more about custom, culture and diet. Of course I utilize the wisdom in How To Eat To Live Books 1 and 2 and use that as the guide as I consider the likes and dislikes of my husband and myself to create an enjoyable menu for all each day.

The last post I did on this blog for an Iftar menu was in 2009. I noticed immediately that the meals did not include fruit.

For 2011, I am striving to make sure that my meal is VERY balanced and includes at least one cleansing vegetable or fruit. Also, we have the added benefit of our family garden that provides additional variety and herbs that had not been previously available. Below is basil pesto made with basil from our garden and a salad featuring our bounty of sweetie tomatoes.

On to the menu :o)

Bean Soup w/green onion garnish
Farina Bread
Salad and Fruit

Spinach and Basil quiche
Salad and Fruit

Veggie Sandwiches (avacado, lettuce, tomato, onion)
Black Bean Dip (made with left over black bean soup)
Milk

Baked Tilapia Sandwiches
Cole Slaw
 Fruit

Baked Chicken
Cabbage w/peppers
Stuffed (deviled) Eggs

Black Beans and Rice
Broccoli
Fruit

Farina Dressing
Cabbage w/peppers
Bean Soup

Garden Veggies Sauteed in Olive Oil w/garlic
Rice
Soup

Basil Pesto
Salad
Soup

Mini Salmon "burgers"
Corn on the cob
Cole Slaw
Fruit

Our drink of choice is iced tea sweetened lightly with raw sugar with lemon and cloves added.

Sort of Green Monday - Vegetarian Bread at Kroger

Happy Monday!

So I decided to stretch the legal limits of "Green Monday" today.

My entry is around bread.  Where is the meat free bread?  In my opinion, anyone who tries not to eat pork or pork by products is challenged most by BREAD and CANDY.

Both often have deceptive labeling and rarely have symbols.  So my recent hunt for Kosher (pork free) hot dog size buns lead me to this discovery.

My bread brand of choice is Brownberry/Arnold and in my area there are hoagie rolls but not hotdog size buns.  (You can do a zip code search to find products in your area.  There are not hot dog buns within 20 mi. !!)

However, I did see a new labeling system on Kroger bread. It said, "vegetarian".  So I went online only to find NOTHING about whether they are indeed meat (including pork) free.

So I emailed and got this response:

Dear Sister P:

Thank you for contacting Kroger. I am sorry that you are having trouble finding Kosher buns. Products that are labeled vegetarian contain no animal derived ingredients except eggs, milk or both. Vegan products would contain no animal derived ingredients. All of our bread products are vegetarian.

Thank you again for taking the time to write to us. If you have any further questions or comments, feel free to contact us again.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Diggs, Consumer Affairs

Reference: 9154874

So, no animal derived ingredients.

*The above information is provided for informational purposes only and not intended to substitute the advise of your religious leader* 
(chuckling as I type but that was necessary for some)

Green Monday PlusUpdates

To be "green" this week, I vowed to use public transit and walk during my big city vacation.  Mission Accomplished!

Here's my garden update:

Broccoli- One plant was decimated by caterpillars.  This one is about to grow a real head!

My cucumber plants are progressing nicely. Two are looking great and two look ok...

What have you done "green" today?

Ramadan Prep 2009 - What's for dinner?

During Ramadan we usually go straight ovo- lacto-vegetarian and exclude meat and fish from our diet and make a weak attempt to refrain for the rest of the year.

I'm working on my list for dinners which I'll continue adding to as I double check them against How To Eat To Live Books 1 and 2

I'll post pics and recipes as I make these dishes. Some haven't been made since last Ramadan (so sad).

One:
Navy Bean Soup - Garnished with cheese and chives
Sides: Tomato and Onion slices and farina bread

Two:
Curried zucchini made with coconut milk served with jasmine rice
Sides: Salad and cup of soup

Three:
Eggplant Parmesan Casserole
Side: Salad and cup of bean soup

Four:
Spinach Quiche
Side: Salad cup of bean soup

Five:
Vegetable Fried Rice
Vegetable Egg Rolls

Six
Vegetarian Enchalada
Black Beans and Rice

Seven
Veggie Sandwhiches
Guacamole and Chips

Help me! What do you have on tap?
(No pasta suggestions please)

Ramadan Prep 2009 - BabyGirls meals (Children's meals)

Since my daughter is 4 (and will turn 5) during this Ramadan, fasting is not required.  In How To Eat To Live Book 2 the Hon. Elijah Muhammad says that children should not fast and should eat 2 - 3 meals per day and not one meal as is prescribed for adults.

However, I'd like her to get some of the experience of fasting as she learns about Ramadan. My husband and I have decided that she will eat only breakfast and lunch without any snack. (She will only be missing her fruit snack that comes between breakfast and lunch.)

Considering dinner, we thought that she would be challenged to refrain from eating after her nap until we break fast. She normally wakes around 3 and we eat before 5.  Now dinner will be after 8pm EST.  We have decided that she will eat at 6:30 p.m. and have her dessert while we eat our meal.

To make it less tempting for me I'll make a standard meal for her:

Weekday Breakfast: Milk, fruit or yogurt, boiled eggs and bread (either farina muffin, wheat rolls or wheat toast)

Weekend Breakfast: Raisin bran or Honey Shredded Wheat cold cereal

Lunch - Bean soup w/cheese or salmon salad (like tuna salad) either with wheat crackers or wheat bun.

I chose these items because they won't dirty lots of pots (as does her regular oatmeal and scrambled eggs) and won't create a lot of aroma, which can be tempting to the fasters.  Also the breads can be baked and stored.  Bean soup prepared and frozen.  Pouches of skinless boneless salmon, mayo, relish, and mustard can be purchased in advance and we always have DOZENS of eggs in our home.

Again, my goal is EASE this Ramadan in the food department.  I have MUCH more to focus on than the mundane (but necessary) tasks of eating and cleaning!

What will you do for your young ones meals?

Eating to live

As I have quietly recommitted myself to my faith, I am re-reading books that will keep me on the right path.
First up has been How To Eat to Live Book 2.

My menu plans were WAY out of order, LOL!

So as I come up with a meal that is TOTALLY according to the teachings prescribed by The Honorable Elijah Muhammad I'll post them so I can have a reminder when I'm running about like a crazy woman on menu planning day.

Breakfast (for Baby Girl)

Oatmeal with sun dried raisins
Bannana
Organic or raw milk

Dinner

Spinach-Carrot Quiche
Navy Bean Soup
Homemade Wheat Rolls w/honey butter
Decaffeinated (fresh brewed) Iced Tea w/Turbinado sugar