primitives blow gaskets over spinach

[franksolich]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=236x53166

Oh my.

Phoebe Loosinhouse  (1000+ posts)        Tue Jan-13-09 11:27 PM
Original message
 
I'm about to blow a gasket over spinach!!!!!!

You used to be able to buy loose spinach, just like other greens. Yes, you had to wash it, but that just came with the territory.

Then we got bagged spinach. You still had to wash it and now you had to buy set amounts by the bag because the loose spinach disappeared.

Then we got baby washed ready to eat spinach in a much smaller bag at a higher price. But you could still choose which type of spinach you wanted to buy based on what your use would be.

NOW, I see just baby washed ready to eat spinach in a teensy weensy little bag (same high price but the bag is smaller) and the other kind has disappeared!!!!

(I made Greek Chicken Spinach Orzo soup last week and the Spinach was the most expensive ingredient!)

So, is spinach hard or easy to grow?

TreasonousBastard  (1000+ posts)      Tue Jan-13-09 11:53 PM
Response to Original message
 
1. It's not difficult to grow, but does have...

a long growing season. And fresh spinach isn't easy to transport. Farmers around here sell it fresh on their stands as a fall crop, but it's only around for a few weeks and the latest, unsold, stuff gets kinda hinky sitting out there.

I usually just get frozen-- loaded up at the buck a box sale this week.

(On a related note-- for Thanksgiving and Christmas I made Brussels sprouts, and had to go to the supermarket since the stuff at the few farmstands open was dried out and moldy. The supermarket sprouts just came in from California and were beautiful and actually cheaper than the farmstand stuff.)

Vinca  (1000+ posts)      Wed Jan-14-09 08:34 AM
Response to Original message
 
2. Spinach is the first thing I plant in the spring. 

Over the winter I buy mostly frozen spinach because fresh is so expensive. I do have a soup that uses a bag of baby spinach and I justify buying it because it's a main meal at our house.

hippywife  (1000+ posts)      Wed Jan-14-09 12:12 PM
Response to Original message
 
3. I'm still able to get it from my coop. Apparently they are extending the season with hoop houses. Since it's organic, I pay $4.00 for a quart bag. It's been wonderful having it for salads while there is no lettuce.

Uh oh.

Grandma has me worried now.

The 0bamareich's not underway yet, and already one is having to substitute?

I've always found fresh lettuce and fresh spinach available at the same time, and in copious amounts available for sale.

TygrBright  (1000+ posts)        Wed Jan-14-09 04:24 PM
Response to Original message
 
4. I often substitute young beet greens--very similar in taste, but a little tangier...

...and a little less "fresh green". I suppose you could balance that out with a little flat-leaf parsley?

Oh man.  I'm worried now.  "Beet greens"?  We already got shortages, and 0bama's not even president for four days yet?

eleny  (1000+ posts)      Wed Jan-14-09 11:12 PM
Response to Reply #4
 
5. Swiss chard is similar to beet greens and often available

I use it in soups that call for spinach and for my hot beet soup when I'm using canned beets.

Warpy  (1000+ posts)        Wed Jan-14-09 11:19 PM
Response to Original message
 
6. You should have seen me making the rounds looking for leeks for a pot of potato soup last week.

It seems variety is beginning to be sacrificed all over the place as stores turn to the boring crap they know will sell out every week.

Oh now, the warped primitive is just being silly, and knows it.

Stores turn to "boring crap" because the primitives want cheap food.

If the primitives were to spend a little bit more on food, and a little bit less on pharmaceuticals, I'm sure the stores would be happy to provide the most varied of varieties of food.

[debk]

They need to stop shopping at those "organic" stores....and their spinach won't be too expensive...

[Chris]

They need to stop shopping at those "organic" stores....and their spinach won't be too expensive...

Went grocery shopping earlier today.  I saw all this "organic"-labeled crap.  I didn't compare prices, but I skipped it.  I did buy some awfully expensive "natural" maple syrup in a glass bottle.  Also, O'Charley's has these candied pecans they put on their salads.  They're excellent if you have one in your neighborhood (they also have a decent ribeye -- my preferred steak).  Skip the prime rib if it's after 6pm.

[debk]

I made cinnamon spice pecans and almonds for Christmas presents. They are more for just munching. I have made the other kind like for the salads.

In a saute pan, put some butter, brown sugar and cinnamon, melt it all together. Add a bit of white Karo syrup or if you don't have any, a wee bit of regular pancake syrup. Make sure it doesn't burn but you want to make sure that the sugar is all melted and not grainy. VERY, VERY carefully taste a smidgeon on a spoon...to make sure your proportions make it taste ok.

Toss in the pecan halves and make sure they are all covered. Lay out on wax paper until they are cooled. Or you can serve them warm on salad.

These are also really good broken up and put on top of whipped sweet potatoes (with butter, cinnamon, little bit of honey, bit of orange juice) in a casserole dish and then baked.

[Chris]

Warpy  (1000+ posts)        Wed Jan-14-09 11:19 PM
Response to Original message
 
6. You should have seen me making the rounds looking for leeks for a pot of potato soup last week.

It seems variety is beginning to be sacrificed all over the place as stores turn to the boring crap they know will sell out every week.

I have no trouble finding loose spinach, fresh greens, or leeks at my eeeevil capitalist Kroger store across the street.