raeoflyte
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Post by raeoflyte on Jan 12, 2013 18:21:28 GMT -5
I made a yogurt based sour dough starter today. It has to sit for 48 hours and then hopefully I'll be making my permanent starter pot. I love sour dough and would love to make my own whole wheat version.
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twinmama85
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Post by twinmama85 on Jan 12, 2013 18:24:50 GMT -5
I made a yogurt based sour dough starter today. It has to sit for 48 hours and then hopefully I'll be making my permanent starter pot. I love sour dough and would love to make my own whole wheat version. I went here: www.culturesforhealth.com/water-kefir and learned a little..don't know if I want to dive into it or not, but I guess you can make "soda" out of it
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Sam_2.0
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Post by Sam_2.0 on Jan 12, 2013 20:01:27 GMT -5
Reporting back on the Aldi items. I was able to get some cheerios for DD, pasta & sauces (sauce in glass, no HFCs or salt!!). I wish they would do no-salt canned items on their regular canned goods. But they now have some glass-jar options (instead of the cans) so that is nice. And they have fruit cocktail in juice with no added sugar/HFCs. I will admit I cheat and feed DD canned foods instead of baby foods since they are soft and she loves them.
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twinmama85
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Post by twinmama85 on Jan 13, 2013 0:31:44 GMT -5
Reporting back on the Aldi items. I was able to get some cheerios for DD, pasta & sauces (sauce in glass, no HFCs or salt!!). I wish they would do no-salt canned items on their regular canned goods. But they now have some glass-jar options (instead of the cans) so that is nice. And they have fruit cocktail in juice with no added sugar/HFCs. I will admit I cheat and feed DD canned foods instead of baby foods since they are soft and she loves them. Just be careful with the BPA in canned foods... if it is in jar, you should be good to go, but a majority of canned foods has a BPA liner inside the can
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dakota4600
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Post by dakota4600 on Jan 14, 2013 9:36:50 GMT -5
My citrus vinegar is still in process. you take oranges (I used peels only you can also juice the orange and throw the remains in. Then cover with vinegar and let sit for two weeks. Strain the mix with equal parts water and put in a spray bottle. Mine has another week to go.
Yesterday I found a good soap scum remover. Heat vinegar in the microwave for 90 sec then mix with equal part dish soap and spray on the tub, let sit for an hour, then wipe clean. It was much easier to get the ring off the tub using this method.
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Sam_2.0
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Post by Sam_2.0 on Jan 14, 2013 11:34:56 GMT -5
twin - Oh, yeah! Good thing to think about. Google tells me that most Aldi canned goods don't contain BPA (white liner). The cans I have are all shiny metal on the inside (fruits & veggies). I have noticed that Aldi seems to share suppliers with TJ's even if the labels on the items are different. TJ's has most canned items BPA free.
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Wisconsin Beth
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Post by Wisconsin Beth on Jan 14, 2013 11:54:00 GMT -5
The white liner part is interesting. Didn't know that. Thanks!
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twinmama85
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Post by twinmama85 on Jan 14, 2013 14:51:50 GMT -5
twin - Oh, yeah! Good thing to think about. Google tells me that most Aldi canned goods don't contain BPA (white liner). The cans I have are all shiny metal on the inside (fruits & veggies). I have noticed that Aldi seems to share suppliers with TJ's even if the labels on the items are different. TJ's has most canned items BPA free. I'd be careful about that as well: As you can imagine, we have received quite a few BPA-related inquiries as of late, and it is important to us that you feel educated and empowered when shopping at Trader Joe's. On that note, here is the deal with BPA: Regarding foods packaged in Tetra, all Tetra Pak is BPA-free. The same goes for all of the plastics we use (i.e., our plastic water bottles, cookie tubs, etc.) All of our canned fish, chicken, and beef are now in BPA-free cans EXCEPT: sardines, crab, Cherrystone clams, & oysters. Our suppliers are working on a 2012 BPA-free solution for these exceptions. All of our canned fruits and vegetables (including but not limited to tomatoes, beans, and the organic canned pumpkin, which is a seasonal item) are in BPA-free cans EXCEPT: mandarins, hatch chilies, artichokes, organic baked beans. We are working on an early 2012 BPA-free solution for these products, as well. Coconut Milk is also in a BPA-free can. All pet food is in BPA-free cans. Some further info: every glass jar item has a metal lid. All metal lids DO have a layer of BPA coating, but there is coating of another material put on top of the BPA coating. Thus, there is no direct contact of BPA to food. We have conducted multiple supplier testing results showing there is no BPA detected from metal lids. Finally, all of our canned soups and stews (including Joe's Os) are in cans that DO have a BPA lining. Some of our suppliers are expecting they will be able to make transition next year. I hope this helps! Sincerely, Rachel Customer Relations Trader Joe's Children are especially susceptible to BPA toxins, you are better off just steaming fresh/froze veggies and giving it to her
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kittensaver
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Post by kittensaver on Jan 14, 2013 15:29:32 GMT -5
Twinmama - check out this website. I get my grass-fed beef and organic chickens from here. Maybe there's a farmer's market near you that he attends? Otherwise, you can order online: www.bestbeefever.com/
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Sam_2.0
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Post by Sam_2.0 on Jan 14, 2013 16:47:39 GMT -5
Hahah, kitten, that URL could benefit from some spaces. I read it as "Best Bee Fever" instead of "Best Beef Ever" ;P
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twinmama85
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Post by twinmama85 on Jan 14, 2013 21:51:22 GMT -5
Twinmama - check out this website. I get my grass-fed beef and organic chickens from here. Maybe there's a farmer's market near you that he attends? Otherwise, you can order online: www.bestbeefever.com/They actually go to the farmers market in Vandenberg Village, so this Sunday I will def check it out., thank you!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 15, 2013 8:48:08 GMT -5
Aldi and TJ's are owned by brothers, but they are not technically the same company. I have noticed though that they share some of the same products just with different labels. Which is what I suspect the new organics line is. While I could beat some of the Aldi prices with sales at other stores (cherry picking), overall I get the best money value and time value by shopping there. It keeps me from over spending since the choices are streamlined. I do like that TJs gives you bags though. And they are the nice paper bags with handles. So I go to TJs first, unload the groceries, then take the bags to Aldi why don't you just buy reusable bags?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 15, 2013 8:53:15 GMT -5
Twinmama - check out this website. I get my grass-fed beef and organic chickens from here. Maybe there's a farmer's market near you that he attends? Otherwise, you can order online: www.bestbeefever.com/I plan to check that site out. I order my grass fed beef from la cense beef in montana. haven't switched to organic chicken breasts yet.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 15, 2013 9:00:07 GMT -5
We have lots of options locally for sustainably/ organic/ beyond organic meats. I've never had to order... Do you all lack local options?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 15, 2013 10:29:13 GMT -5
We have lots of options locally for sustainably/ organic/ beyond organic meats. I've never had to order... Do you all lack local options? I've found la cense to be cheaper than our local amish market. haven't compared their prices to wegmans - but don't know if wegmans is grass finished since according to a lot of people who have posted about grass fed beef, they are finished on corn. I like la cense also because it comes to my front door frozen in individual servings (meaning I don't have to touch raw meat).
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kittensaver
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Post by kittensaver on Jan 15, 2013 13:20:44 GMT -5
Twinmama - just a little forwarning: Dey Dey's beef is NOT cheap! No quality product ever is. One way to make it more affordable is to buy it in bulk (a half or a quarter cow). When you do it this way, the price comes in at around $7 per lb. If you buy individual cuts they can be astronomical in price. Organic, grass-fed beef tenderloin can run $25 per lb. or more (waaaaaay out of my budget!), but when it comes as part of a bulk purchase for $7 it's a happy day. Twice a year (or so) I buy a quarter cow and put it in my chest freezer. Depending on the cuts I get (they vary each time, depending on what part of the cow I got that time), I then go hunting for recipes for those cuts. Costco sells small chest freezers for about $125 - they are small enough to fit in the back corner of a garage, laundry room or even on a back porch with a tarp thrown over it. Another option would be to split part of a cow with one or more friends (and borrow their freezer space). Good luck to you!
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twinmama85
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Post by twinmama85 on Jan 15, 2013 15:24:00 GMT -5
Twinmama - just a little forwarning: Dey Dey's beef is NOT cheap! No quality product ever is. One way to make it more affordable is to buy it in bulk (a half or a quarter cow). When you do it this way, the price comes in at around $7 per lb. If you buy individual cuts they can be astronomical in price. Organic, grass-fed beef tenderloin can run $25 per lb. or more (waaaaaay out of my budget!), but when it comes as part of a bulk purchase for $7 it's a happy day. Twice a year (or so) I buy a quarter cow and put it in my chest freezer. Depending on the cuts I get (they vary each time, depending on what part of the cow I got that time), I then go hunting for recipes for those cuts. Costco sells small chest freezers for about $125 - they are small enough to fit in the back corner of a garage, laundry room or even on a back porch with a tarp thrown over it. Another option would be to split part of a cow with one or more friends (and borrow their freezer space). Good luck to you! I need a freezer because I cannot afford their prices at all (I shopped online) it almost makes me want to go vegetarian, simply by default. I do not know anybody that would go in with me on a cow, I would love to do that, buy 1/4 cow..How long do you think that would last 2 4 year old boys and me? I cook nightly, but not necessarily is it cow (have had beef in a while, I ran out and refuse to buy more until I have a supplier) I heard that Spencer's Fresh Market sells a grass fed beef called Sommers. I have yet to goto Orcutt to see if they sell it there or not. I know Costco also sales Sommer's brand as well, but I am unsure if they sell it in Santa Maria or not (they have it online).
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Apple
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Post by Apple on Jan 15, 2013 15:30:55 GMT -5
Only have a second. Talk to the farmer, they may have amount potential buyer who just wants a portion of a cow (and you can cowpool that way )
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kittensaver
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Post by kittensaver on Jan 15, 2013 15:53:55 GMT -5
Well twinmama - I hear you loud and clear. For both financial and health reasons, over time the animal protein served in our house has gone from the star of dinner to a supporting role (and sometimes even a bit player). There's just DH and I, and I serve beef probably twice a week - and one of those nights is some form of ground meat/hamburger meat (pasta sauce, meatballs, meatloaf, homemade raviolis or dumplings, soups or casseroles, etc etc). A quarter cow will last us a little over 6 months. Large cuts of beef get turned into braises and stews that will last for a couple of meals, and the "leftovers" can be put into soup. The "good cuts" get saved for visiting family or company dinners. It all just depends on what cuts I get from that purchase (they vary depending on which 1/4 "part" of the cow I happened to get). So you see it can stretch pretty far if you have the time and energy to "work" with the cuts you get. For example, a 1/2 lb. steak will stretch really far when thinly sliced and tossed into an Asian stir-fry with lots of vegetables and rice. For health reasons I would rather we eat smaller amounts of unadulterated meats (fed a natural diet, open pasture grazed, no hormones, antibiotics or other chemicals, humanely harvested) than ingest big-ag feed-lot beef and all the adulteration that goes with it. But to each his (or her) own. PS: have you tried ground bison/buffalo? My uber-picky DH tried it and now almost prefers it to beef hamburger. Costco sells it for less than organic ground beef. It's not organic, but it's a lot less "messed with" than conventional beef. and PSS: yes, I have to discipline myself and save up monthly for my next "cow purchase." But when I spread the cost across the budget months, I feel like I'm getting a good deal for the quality.
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kittensaver
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Post by kittensaver on Jan 15, 2013 16:00:42 GMT -5
Apple has an excellent suggestion - the producer is likely to know who else wants to make a bulk purchase that can be split. You might also post something on the community board of your local health food store. Also see if there's a local chapter of the Weston Price Foundation in your area: www.westonaprice.org/local-chapters/find-local-chapterThese chapters are a wealth of information and suggestions for organic, non-organic but unadulterated and locally sourced high-quality foods [my local chapter helped me find Dey Dey's]. Perhaps you can connect there with someone who would like to "cowpool." Good luck to you!
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speechchick71
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Post by speechchick71 on Jan 15, 2013 18:44:51 GMT -5
is there anyone in the Orlando FL area that would want to go in on organic veggie boxes? If you get 3 (or is it 4) people getting a delivery to the same place you get a 10% discount. Send me a message if interested. I'm in the Kissimmee/Celebration area and I work in Ocoee. If I'm the one to get the delivery, I would prefer the delivery to be in Ocoee because that's where I spend most of the day.
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twinmama85
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Post by twinmama85 on Jan 15, 2013 23:27:36 GMT -5
cowpool Anybody ever try oil pulling before? I have...its a bit, strange..you swish sesame or sunflower oil in your mouth for 20 mins and then spit it out (DO NOT SWALLOW). Supposedly it is good for helping cure disease, clean the mouth, and an added cosmetic benefit of teeth whitening
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Post by Deleted on Jan 16, 2013 8:25:23 GMT -5
Around here you just have the option, quarter, half, whole... I don't buy beef that way only because between venison, and this year moose, I don't need that much red meat... I usually have some lamb too, and since I prefer chicken and pork, don't need much beef on top of those other red meats... Occasional steak, roast or ground I've gotten just by piece or thru CSA.
We also eat a lot of salmon. There are local people who go o Alaska each year NSA ash freeze they also sell in bulk.
Love my chest freezer.
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twinmama85
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Post by twinmama85 on Jan 16, 2013 21:42:03 GMT -5
Around here you just have the option, quarter, half, whole... I don't buy beef that way only because between venison, and this year moose, I don't need that much red meat... I usually have some lamb too, and since I prefer chicken and pork, don't need much beef on top of those other red meats... Occasional steak, roast or ground I've gotten just by piece or thru CSA. We also eat a lot of salmon. There are local people who go o Alaska each year NSA ash freeze they also sell in bulk. Love my chest freezer. Oh I love beef, its amazing but I just need to get some of it..I am assuming if you go with a side of beef, you have to grind it yourself, correct? I am sure I can probably get my hands on a manual grinder if need be. Made half wheat, half all purpose flour cinnamon rolls..sooo amazing! I really love organic brown sugar because you can cut back on home much you need to use because it is so strong. Earlier this year my mom had ended up getting acidosis (bcuz of her diabetes) and her body is still messed up, despite her 180 degree turn around..well shes got the flu, like BAD and I advised her that she should probably go on the GAPS diet to repair her gut bacteria and repair her overall health
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Apple
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Post by Apple on Jan 16, 2013 21:49:56 GMT -5
When I get part of a cow I can request some of what I want--I pretty much go with steaks, roasts and ground beef. He'll also cut up the bones into portions I could use to make broth (but I've been giving them to the dog, they make her happy ) The cuts I get are HUGE, so I've found that asking to portion as a two steak size will feed my son and I for at least two meals.
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Apple
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Post by Apple on Jan 16, 2013 22:12:13 GMT -5
Oh, another tip with buying beef by the side...
Pay attention to how they charge. They will sometimes charge by hanging weight, which means all the bones, etc, so the actual meat weight will not match after cut and wrap. Find out if butcher's fees are included in the price. Some sell by the weight of the final product. You'll want to know how they sell and what you will actually be getting.
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whoisjohngalt
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Post by whoisjohngalt on Jan 16, 2013 23:04:17 GMT -5
So, when is the best time to buy a cow? And any recommendations on chest freezer? I think I am getting on during President's day sale.
Twinmama, I heard something about doing that with oil. Or may be it was something else?? I can't remember.
My mom has been doing this crazy thing with garlic - first thing in the morning, keeping it in her mouth and then spitting it out - again suppose to clean out something or other??
I know I don't have the discipline or time or desire? to do it, so I don't pay much attention to that
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whoisjohngalt
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Post by whoisjohngalt on Jan 16, 2013 23:07:28 GMT -5
OK speaking of Wegman - their organic beef is not from US, it's from Uruguay - in case it matters.
I would love to find local, organic beef and buy half a cow.....
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Apple
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Post by Apple on Jan 16, 2013 23:43:51 GMT -5
Around here most of the farmers butcher the cows in the fall (so they don't have to pay to feed them over the winter), but you may just have to ask around your area.
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Wisconsin Beth
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Post by Wisconsin Beth on Jan 17, 2013 8:42:47 GMT -5
I like bison. And my Woodman's has a few chest freezers in the meat section that have assorted "specialty" meats like bison, elk, and grass fed beef - generally around $9 a lb. The bison farmers tend to sell their ground bison for around $5-6 a lb. at the farmer's markets. There's also a state bison association. They used to produce a map showing everyone with them in the state and what they did with their bison. So we used the map to find the ones who'd sell us meat when we were on vacation. :-) Maybe California has something similar?
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