# GROCERIES

This weekend I couldn’t get to the farmer’s market, so I resorted to the grocery store. Having found rhubarb at a Homeland on the other side of town made me go back again, hoping to score some celery root. No luck this time, but while checking out, the teenage cashier said to me:

_“Ma’am, I’ve never seen anyone buying so much fresh food, the only thing you can’t eat here is the laundry detergent”!_

I hadn’t noticed. But, back in the comfort of my kitchen I realized he was absolutely right (well, except that he missed the issue of Everyday Food ;-)).

This, my friends, is the way to start the weekend…

  1. looks like the start of a few delious days.  
Ak-maks-I wondered all these years who else bought them.

The clerk’s comment is a sad reflection on what is the usual purchase in grocery stores, even after several years of attempts to change American eating habits.

     * We always have Ak-maks – that and Finn crisps are always in the pantry. I tried to make Ak-maks from scratch once, but it did not turn out very good, so I abandoned that project.  
You are right, the clerk’s comment reflects a sad situation as far as American shopping habits go – way too much processed stuff, all you have to do is look inside the carts as the shoppers pass by. Sad, sad, sad…

  2. Yes it is, friend Sally. And I hope it’s grand… 🙂

     * It’s been a nice weekend so far, and dinner prep is not even started! 😉

Hope you are having a great time too…

  3. Love love love Ak-Maks!

     * It was my beloved who introduced me to those years and years ago – former hippie, you know… 😉

  4. Your bounty looks great! We went to a store that opened a new branch, their third location, and also bought only fresh produce and bread, had to tell the cashier what 1/2 of the vegetables were so she could look up the codes! That’s so sad! I get that parsley and cilantro can be confusing but zucchini????

     * Jim, it’s amazing how many veggies leave the cashiers with a question mark look on their faces… Celery root is one, they don’t even like to handle it, afraid it might bite 😉

  5. Finn Crisps I know but what is Ak maks? 

I guess we are lucky in that we have a real live ‘greengrocer’ round the corner, he doesn’t sell the most exotic of veg and it’s not organic, but it’s fresh and unpackaged and a lot of it is grown within 50 miles or so. For organic you have to go to the supermarket or have a veg box delivered. Is there a local veg box scheme you can tap into maybe? What did you make with your lovely veggies anyway?

     * Hi, Joanna

Ak-mak means “the best cracker in the world” …. no, just kidding… 🙂  
You can read about it here  
http://www.akmakbakeries.com/

Nothing tastes quite like it, once you get hooked into it, it’s hard to be happy with any other cracker. Not sweet, not salty, just right!

Unfortunately, where I am now we don’t have veg boxes going, but once we move to CA that will change (but, then… so is my cooking situation…)

I am slowly going through my treasures of the weekend… some of it will definitely pop up on the blog soon 😉

  6. What is that ak-mak (the one in that box), looks pretty tempting. Also curious what are those two paper wrapped item, fish? meat? Seems like you are going to make superb dishes.

  7. Hi, Elra

Ak-maks are delicious crackers, I bet you would love them! see my reply to Joanna above

the wrapped items: center-cut pork chops (already made for dinner last night… might blog about depending on the photos… 🙂 and boneless chicken breasts

  8. That is sad that the cashier rarely sees so much fresh food being purchased. But, it looks like you have the makings of some great meals!

  9. I have to add my amazement at seeing your box of AkMak crackers. I grew up on them and my favorite lunch is a pile of those cracker with some Goat Gouda cheese and a Fuji Apple. 🙂