Joining a food Co-Op.

I have been interested in joining a food co-op for several years now. I have heard so many good things about them. Recently, I received an e-mail newsletter from Bread Beckers stating that they were going to join a produce co-op that would deliver to their store and that customers could join. I explored the web site for "Natures Garden Deliver
ed" and thought I would give it a try.

The produce is mostly organic and if not, it is natural/local produce. I chose to have produce delivered every other week because it will be for just 2 people and I don't want it going bad. On Friday morning I went by and picked up my box. Opening this box was like Christmas morning! I mean, you kinda know what's in it because you can set your preferences and there is a label with the list of contents, but the produce is beautiful!


My husband doesn't really get on the organic train because he really doesn't believe that it makes that big of difference. However, he grabbed one of the beautiful banana's and took two bites, looked at me and said, "you know this tastes like a real banana." I'm thinking, "it is a...real banana..." But then he says, "You know like when you get something that has a banana flavor, like Laffy Taffy and you think, this doesn't taste like a banana, this banana taste like banana flavor." I think he is about to come around.

This week I have made green beans, potato soup, mashed potatoes, and guacamole out of what I got. What I really hope comes from my experiment is that we will eat a greater variety of fruits and vegetables in our diet. I love cooking so it is challenging me to get out of my dump it from the can, or pour it out of the steam-able freezer bag routine. If you have the time, I highly recommend giving a co-op a whirl. Thus far, I'm really liking it.

The Netti Pot for your...well.... snot....

Okay, so for years I have heard rave reviews on the sinus clearing Netti pot. My mother tried to tell me about it and I have been terribly skeptical. My number one reason is that I cannot imagine pouring water into my nostrils and that turning out well, ever. I mean, as my friend put it best, I have to hold my nose when jumping in the pool. I hate that burning sensation of water running from your nose to your throat. It always makes me choke.

However, after a day of feeling like my sinus cavities were stuffed with marshmallow fluff including a just overall hazy feeling, I decided to break down and buy one from Target. Mine was around $13.00.

I got the thing home and followed the directions as closely as possible. I have to admit, I felt a little ridiculous pouring a plastic tea pot full of saline solution through my nostril and waiting for it to come out the other nostril while holding my head over the sink. At first, it just filled up my nostril then started running down my throat. I coughed and spewed it. Then I read the directions again and leaned my head further forward over the sink. Second time was a success. You feel a slight pressure pushing through the top of you sinus cavity and then water begins to (in my case) drip out of the other side.

Then you switch sides. Once you have done this you just blow your nose and all the bad stuff comes out. It is now several hours later and my nose is completely cleared out and I am breathing with my mouth shut. So I totally think that this, combined with a little prayer worked!

I shall use the Netti again.

As far as using it on your children, I would read the directions carefully. My mother has used it on my 8 year old nephew but honestly, I can't imagine a kid being able to do it correctly without totally gagging when they swallow a bit of saline solution.

Apple Pickin' Tips!

Last Friday my best friend and I drove to Ellijay, GA to pick some apples. It was a beautiful day for traveling and the leaves had started to change. Ellijay is about 40 minutes from my house and we left around 9:30 AM. Traffic was a breeze. But here is the catch. If you actually want to enjoy going to Ellijay, take my advice all you stay at home ladies, GO ON A WEEKDAY! Weekends are going to get you stuck in traffic. Also, if you want to enjoy the experience, don't go on the weekend of the apple festival usless you love crowds, traffic, and your husband wanting to turn around as soon as he see's the 2 miles of cars ahead attempting to turn into an orchard.

Our plan was to can...yup...that rhymes.

So we did a little research. Here is some valuable info we discovered before and after going...

1. Determine what apples you want (since different apples are used for making different things) and check online to see when they are in season in that area.
2. If your going to can them in some way, ask for the "drops", "seconds", or "culls". These are super cheap (or even free if you hit the right orchard) and are the not so pretty apples. The ugly applings if you will. But they taste great and you get way more for way less.
   
3. Go on a weekday.
4. Call ahead and make sure that the orchard you are driving to offers "picking" during the weekdays. (We found that the orchards already had the reject apples bagged and ready to sell. We did not have to pick any.)
   
5. If they make fun of your GA Tech sweatshirt...just go to the orchard down the street.
6. If your looking for a very "theme park" like experience at your apple orchard, look for one with a fancy schmancy web site.
7. My friend and I visited about 5 orchards and discovered that the best ones were the ones in little shacks with small orachards behind them. We got everything that the other "big" fancy orchards had at around $1 less per item. And we knew we were helping these small business owners out which I kinda like (especially after the sweatshirt incident).
8. If you are going to an orchard with live music, bring yourself an umbrella because there may not be any shady seats left.

I hope these are helpful! Happy fall adventures!
Apple butter canning...to be continued!