Farmer’s Markets hate single people. There. I said it. I’ve been doing quite well cooking for one, but shopping is a whole different story.
No. I do not need 6 zucchini. Nor do I need that many tomatoes. And what will I do with a bag of onions?
That, sir, is a shit ton of peppers.
I realize I could start shopping with a friend and splitting the bounty, but one of the great joys in my life is shopping for ingredients. Alone. Always has been.
I either need to start using more of the veg in creative ways, or shopping only at stores that let me buy only the amount of produce I need.
But I’m stubborn and love shopping in the market. So it looks like I’ll be freezing and pickling and canning in small batches just so my veg doesn’t go off. Or making food for my neighbours…
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July 24, 2012 at 1:44 pm
M De Vito
Jodi – there’s no such thing as “too much” fresh produce… 6 zucchini? Just enough for savoury muffins or a lovely loaf (which can be frozen as well – no pickling or canning required
xoxo
July 24, 2012 at 2:08 pm
MeShell
When I was single I ended up doing a lot of freezing. Actually, I still end up doing a lot of freezing.
Raw recipes, and juicing, burn through fresh vegetables like nothing else too, if you’re feeling it.
That is a shit tonne of peppers, but they make my mouth water. I would sun dry the heck out of those.
July 24, 2012 at 2:28 pm
Don (@foodiePrints)
Feel free to make me food!!!!!
Or come shopping with us and we’ll split the bounty!
July 24, 2012 at 3:19 pm
Kylie
I feel your pain. Sometimes you just want a pepper or two and don’t feel like spending the rest of your day canning, pickling, or baking.
July 25, 2012 at 8:44 am
Wanda (@ottawaoperadiva)
FWIW I usually make a menu plan for the week. Saturday and Sunday I make dishes with my market finds then freeze the leftovers. The meals I plan for the following week are designed to use up the leftover veggies – salads, stirfries and the like. BTW chocolate zucchini cake tastes awesome!
July 25, 2012 at 9:57 am
simplyfreshottawa
You had me at ‘chocolate’.
July 26, 2012 at 11:54 am
Jim
Oooh, I’m intrigued by the “more juicing…” perhaps I’ll try that.
July 27, 2012 at 9:44 am
Mark W
Ha! I’m doing this too now in my temporary bachelorhood. I bought a head of cauliflower and will steam the whole thing and then use whatever I don’t eat right away as a base for a nice soup. Soup is like magic — it inhales left over veggies! A bigger challenge would be smoking a pork shoulder for a party of one.
August 13, 2012 at 4:59 pm
billco
Well your choices are: pay exorbitant grocery-store prices for small quantities of low-quality produce, or learn to freeze/pickle or otherwise preserve the tasty, fresh and bountiful market goods. This is where a small chest freezer comes in handy. What I’ll often do is pre-chop a bunch of veggies, set aside what I need for that night’s meal, and freeze the rest in small portions. The rest of the week, I can microwave a few bags while frying or grilling the meat. Cheaper, fresher and more varied than any store-bought frozen veg. Heck, some nights when it’s late or we’re just too damn lazy, we’ll make a quick KD and throw in some frozen peas at the last minute, for a pseudo-healthy junk food snack
August 18, 2012 at 4:22 pm
Pickles
We’re two and still have that problem. I get imaginative and freeze things.