18483 Thu Jan 24 14:21:34 -0800 2002 101 1 San Francisco Bay Area 0 58631 some things I like to eat that are just "regular" grocery store things: * Albertson's fruit on the bottom yogurt * CPK Portobello Mushroom frozen pizza * Don Pomodoro vodka pasta sauce (actually, I've only had this once, but it was yummy--I now have a jar on my shelf waiting to be used) * Peek Freans Ginger Crisps * Stoned Wheat Thin Crackers (or whatever it's called--it comes in a package with a white and blue background) what are some of your favorites? PLEASE--take this in the spirit in which it is offered. I'm not trying to put forth Albertson's house yogurt as superior to WXYZ Artisanal Organic Yogurt--just saying that for the price and availability, I think it's pretty good stuff. I love finding great hole-in-the-wall places, but I shop at supermarkets too. so why not try to find better stuff if you can? :) (also realize the potential derision one exposes oneself to by posting to Chowhound about mass-produced foodstuffs!) km Thu Jan 24 14:21:34 -0800 2002 0 km 1 58634 I'm a sucker for Post cereals. *big grin* Thu Jan 24 14:29:43 -0800 2002 58631 0 Limster 2 58653 -Grape Nuts cereal, with chunks of Dole juice-packed canned pineapple and milk. Mmmmm. -Nancy's non-fat plain yogurt. Not too sour, not chalky-tasting, nice and smooth. -Morningstar veggie sausage patties. Amazingly meatlike and tasty. And of course, the secret loves... -Pepperidge Farm frozen raspberry turnovers. Totally flat when raw, they puff up into lovely golden flaky puffs filled with hot raspberry jam. A childhood favorite that's still good. -Kozy Shack chocolate pudding--nice tasty straight-up pudding, with no weird chemicals or anything besides the basic milk, sugar, cocoa, etc. In a pinch, Jell-O cook n serve chocolate pudding. As a kid, I used to think those little paper-wrapped tins of Underwood devilled ham were the coolest things, even though we never bought them. Thu Jan 24 17:10:31 -0800 2002 58634 0 dixieday 3 58670 The Kozy Shack Flan is yummy as well. Thu Jan 24 18:00:49 -0800 2002 58653 0 Gatun 4 58675 Not to mention their most famous product: their rice pudding. Yummy! Thu Jan 24 18:30:04 -0800 2002 58670 0 Ruth Lafler 5 58679 Pepperidge Farm Caeser salad croutons--giant sized with a great salty / cheezy flavor. Michelangelo frozen Lasagna--best frozen zag out there.I get em at Costco. They have other good stuff too. Thu Jan 24 18:51:36 -0800 2002 58675 0 Ken Hoffman 6 59948 Just a back-up to the Michelangelo frozen lasagna kudo - it REALLY is fantastic. I'm not a frozen/fast food buyer, usually make everything from scratch, but had this at a friend's house and it was delicious. Now, that was the spinach vegetarian one - I haven't tried any other (if they make other types). Wed May 24 12:29:11 -0700 2006 58679 0 jack 3 58912 I second the Morningstar Farms veggie sausage patties (we like them a lot because they are less greasy than real ones and just as tasty.) and the Pepperidge Farms Raspberry Turnovers. Yum! (careful not to burn yourself on the jam!) Fri Jan 25 21:57:59 -0800 2002 58653 0 Kim Cooper 4 58977 I got kind of sick of the Morningstar Farms sausage patties, because they started tasting too much like meat! But now I'm in love with the Breakfast Strips (which I should have mentioned in my original list, because my freezer is always full of them) -- I eat them almost every day for breakfast. Sat Jan 26 21:47:18 -0800 2002 58912 0 LisaPizza 4 59308 If you like the veggie patties, try Lightlife's Gimme Lean Sausage. I think it tastes better, and you can form your own patties or just fry it up like ground sausage for a veggie "meat" sauce. Wed Jan 30 11:18:46 -0800 2002 58912 0 RedRob 1 58635 ** those little pizzas ** spagetti-o's yea thats right spagetti-o's Thu Jan 24 14:33:48 -0800 2002 58631 0 Gatun 2 58647 Good for you for mentioning the spaghetti-o's! I personally have always had a very difficult-to-defend weakness for Swanson's Meatloaf dinner, although I haven't had one since Swanson's RUINED it by substituting mashed potatoes for the tater tots it used to come with! Thu Jan 24 16:32:46 -0800 2002 58635 0 SF Native 3 58650 Yes spagetti-os(with meatballs) rock! I usually pair it with a good zin ;-). Yes I remember the swanson dinners with tater tots as well. Thu Jan 24 16:45:33 -0800 2002 58647 0 Gatun 1 58638 - OK, since Wendy admitted it first... I'm a sucker for spaghetti-os and milk maid pudding cups when I'm sick. - Brown Cow yogurt is mass market, but better than any brand. That cream on top is yummy. - "Just Nuts" dried fruits and veggies (in a tub - the blackberries are the best!) - GOLDEN GRAHAMS Thu Jan 24 14:41:28 -0800 2002 58631 0 Fatemeh 1 58640 Here's my list: Safeway Select makes good: --pesto --cola (I really can't tell the difference between this and Coke) --cookies (especially extra chocolate with nuts) Other things I like at my Safeway: --Langer's Raspberry Lemonade --El Torito Cilantro Caesar salad dressing --Quaker 100% Natural cereal --Oatmeal Raisin Crisp cereal --frozen cookie dough that is already perforated and ready to go in the oven (I'm THAT lazy); Pillsbury's is just okay-tasting and takes forever to cook, but it's great to pop in the oven when I have some friends over at night Thu Jan 24 14:55:38 -0800 2002 58631 0 Kathleen Mikulis 2 58645 El Torito is finally bottling that dressing! I love that dressing -- it's the only reason to go to El Torito. Thanks for the tip, Kathleen! Thu Jan 24 16:21:00 -0800 2002 58640 0 Ruth Lafler 3 58655 I just saw it at my Safeway for the first time about a month ago. I've been living on the stuff. Now if only Spaghetti Factory's creamy pesto dressing was available in stores... Thu Jan 24 17:22:41 -0800 2002 58645 0 Kathleen Mikulis 3 58660 Here is that recipe, now you can make it at home. Check out the calories and fat content, that's why it's so good! EL TORITO'S SOUTHWESTERN CAESAR SALAD ------------ -------------------------------- 2 Corn tortillas Oil 1 large Head romaine lettuce -- rinsed and spun dry Cilantro-Pepita Dressing 1/2 cup Grated cotija cheese Roasted -- peeled red pepper strips Or 1 Red pepper -- roasted and cut into julienne strips 1/2 cup Roasted pumpkin seeds -- (pepitas) ---- CILANTRO-PEPITA DRESSING----- 1 medium Anaheim chile, roasted -- peeled and seeded 3 tablespoons Roasted pumpkin seeds -- (pepitas) 1 large Clove garlic 1/8 teaspoon Freshly ground black pepper 1/2 teaspoon Salt 3/4 cup Oil 2 tablespoons Red wine vinegar 3 tablespoons Grated cotija cheese 1 small Bunch cilantro -- stemmed 3/4 cup Mayonnaise 2 tablespoons Water Cut tortillas into matchstick-size strips. Heat oil for deep-frying and add tortilla strips. Cook a few seconds until crisp. Remove with slotted spoon, drain and set aside. Tear romaine lettuce into bite- size pieces. Place greens on six salad plates and ladle Cilantro- Pepita Dressing on each salad. Sprinkle each dish with cotija cheese and tortilla strips. Arrange four red pepper strips like spokes on top of each salad and garnish with pepitas. Makes 6 servings. Each serving, without dressing, contains about: 407 calories; 489 mg sodium; 13 mg cholesterol; 37 grams fat. Note: If cotija cheese is unavailable, use any hard grating cheese, such as cacique or even Parmesan. CILANTRO-PEPITA DRESSING *** Place chile, pepitas, garlic, pepper, salt, oil, vinegar and cotija cheese in blender or food processor. Blend about 10 seconds, then add cilantro, bit by bit, until smoothly blended. Place mayonnaise and water in large stainless-steel bowl and whisk until smooth. Add blended chile mixture and mix thoroughly. Place in airtight container and refrigerate. Dressing may be stored up to three days. Makes about 2 cups. Thu Jan 24 17:45:32 -0800 2002 58645 0 Marilayne 4 58664 Cool! I already forwarded it to a friend and plan to print it out for myself. Thu Jan 24 17:51:32 -0800 2002 58660 0 Kathleen Mikulis 4 58669 Thanks for the recipe -- it does look good! It reminds me of a conversation we were having at lunch today, though, talking about how sometimes it's not only easier but cheaper to buy prepared foods, since you don't have to go out and buy lots of ingredients you don't usually have on hand. I think I'll try the bottled version first. Thu Jan 24 17:59:50 -0800 2002 58660 0 Ruth Lafler 2 58656 Frozen cookie dough already "perforated" (that is, not the tubes) can be darn good--we've found the Nestle Toll House variety is the best available at the Safeway. Peter wells@emusic.com Link: http://www.burkeandwells.com Thu Jan 24 17:23:04 -0800 2002 58640 0 Burke and Wells 3 58659 Good to know! I've been wanting to try the Nestle Toll House stuff. (At the time I had a bunch of Pillsbury coupons and found their product to be inferior yet still able to be recommended for its convenience.) I'll be sure to try Nestle next time. Thanks! Thu Jan 24 17:40:38 -0800 2002 58656 0 Kathleen Mikulis 1 58651 McVitie's Digestive Biscuits are a plain British cookie with chocolate on one side. Not available everywhere, they come in cylindrical paper packaging that is in direct contact with the cookie. Great with or dipped in ICE COLD skim milk. Link: http://www.joy-of-ireland.com/mcvitdigcook.html Thu Jan 24 16:49:51 -0800 2002 58631 0 Ken Hoffman 2 58720 You find those at the supermarket? I have to go to a little Asian grocery that stocks some English products to get them here! That is my absolute favorite cookie! But only the dark chocolate ones. Thu Jan 24 22:45:58 -0800 2002 58651 0 LisaPizza 3 58817 Oh, duh. I just realized that you are probably in the UK, where McVitie's ARE in the supermarkets! Lucky! Fri Jan 25 14:58:25 -0800 2002 58720 0 LisaPizza 4 58823 No I am here --I get them at Zanotos Family Market in San Jose. Fri Jan 25 15:14:00 -0800 2002 58817 0 Ken Hoffman 5 58890 Like I said, lucky! It's not like I have to go that far out of my way to get them, but they're definitely not something I can just pick up with my regular groceries. But I remember when I couldn't find them anywhere; after I came back from London in 1986 and had become addicted to them. Had to wait a few years for even the little specialty markets to carry them. Fri Jan 25 19:53:26 -0800 2002 58823 0 LisaPizza 4 58844 I have seen them in Ratto's in downtown Oakland. Fri Jan 25 16:29:57 -0800 2002 58817 0 Gatun 1 58652 canned button mushrooms. straight from the can. not picky about the brand - safeway brand is just fine. Thu Jan 24 16:58:49 -0800 2002 58631 0 jen maiser 1 58657 Pop tarts (Smores or Frosted Cherry) and the fried chicken strips from the deli counter at Safeway. Thu Jan 24 17:32:07 -0800 2002 58631 0 notmichaelbauer 2 58666 Smores pop tarts are good stuff. I actually eat pop tarts every day for breakfast at work. But I can't eat the Smores ones - too much like dessert. Thu Jan 24 17:54:55 -0800 2002 58657 0 Kathleen Mikulis 1 58658 My list is long, and I bet Burke has a list of his own. I'll try and get him to post it here. For now: Stouffer's Frozen French Bread Pizzas--best of breed for frozen pizza, I've always felt. The Wolfgang Puck pizzas are a second. Cocolate covered chocolate Milano cookies from Pepperidge Farms. 'Nuff said. Breyer's Vanilla Fudge Twirl ice cream. My mother grew up a good Jewish girl from the Bronx, which means she was weaned on Breyers. The stuff they make now doesn't compare, of course, but for Supermarket-available ice cream it's still my favorite--that andthe Mint Chocolate Chip (which is thankfully NOT green, a color always achieved by artifice in the supermarket). I prefer Breyer's to the "superpremiums," because I like an icier, less heavy/creamy ice cream, but I don't like over-aerated stuff like the cheapo brands. Spaghetti-O's? I say BEEFARONI! Seabrook Farms frozen creamed spinach. A childhood favorite of mine--yes, I ate my spinach! Best Foods / Hellman's mayonaisse. Honestly I prefer it to home made! At least the home made I've managed. I'll put Hellman's in the highest quality lobster salad and not feel I'm doing it an injustice. Chop some fresh tarragon into Best Foods mayo and go to heaven. Swannson TV dinners have come up, so I'll put in a vote for my favorite, the Fried Chicken with mashed potatoes. Haven't had it in ages, though, so who knows if it still matches my memories. Safeway brand chocolate chip cookies from their bakery really are good. Sometimes they're crispy, sometimes chewy--it's cookie roulette, but I've rarely had a bad batch. That's it for now, but I'm sure to think of more later. Ciao! Peter wells@emusic.com Link: http://www.burkeandwells.com Thu Jan 24 17:35:43 -0800 2002 58631 0 Burke and Wells 2 58662 I've been eating Stouffer's Frozen French Bread Pizzas for years, but I've never seen a shout out for it. Good stuff! I especially like the deluxe. I remember about 7 years ago there was a white cheese version (also good) that has since disappeared. And I would agree that Wolfgang Puck frozen pizzas are second. I go to Wolfgang Puck Express in Macy's about once a week so I can get them out of my system. Thu Jan 24 17:47:28 -0800 2002 58658 0 Kathleen Mikulis 3 58690 While we're praising Stouffer's, I'll put in a vote for the spinach souffle. With or without homemade cheese sauce. Thu Jan 24 19:33:09 -0800 2002 58662 0 C. Fox 4 58751 In 1984 this was gourmet food for me! How things have changed. :) Fri Jan 25 09:27:56 -0800 2002 58690 0 John 1 58663 - Michelina's frozen pasta entrees, especially linguine with clam sauce and four cheese lasagna. I need to eat at least 2 though to fill me up. - Tony's party pizza has an flaky, crispy pastry-like crust unlike anything you'll ever get at a real pizza place. Great change of pace. Tombstone's is similar. -Campbell's condensed chicken noodle soup. I got hooked on this stuff 4 years ago when I was collecting the labels (with Michelle Kwan on them) for a commerative mug signed by the 3 US ladies' figure skating Olympians. Sure doesn't taste like chicken soup but it definitely has its own charm. -Columbo garlic bread. Loads of butter and cheese. A slightly artifical taste but who complains when there's so much buttery flavor. Thu Jan 24 17:51:19 -0800 2002 58631 0 Yvonne 2 58665 I eat Columbo garlic bread, too, but there's so much butter/herbs on it that I actually scrape off almost all of it. What's left DEFINITELY gives the bread flavor without all the fat. Thu Jan 24 17:53:57 -0800 2002 58663 0 Kathleen Mikulis 2 58672 Ah ha! Another skating fan (did you e-mail me once about this?). I still have label-less cans of soup in my cupboard (at least I remembered to mark the cans before I took off the labels so I know what they are). I always liked the Colombo partial-bake sourdough. Warm bread is a goodness! Thu Jan 24 18:06:38 -0800 2002 58663 0 Ruth Lafler 3 58676 I'm glad Michelle Kwan was on the chicken noodle since I won't drink tomato or cream of mushroom. :) Thu Jan 24 18:31:03 -0800 2002 58672 0 Yvonne 4 58682 I don't either, but they can be useful in a culinary emergency. Actually, I think I gave the ones I didn't like to my roommate. Hey, as long as I got my two soup mugs I didn't care (I think the soup was on sale, too) PS Maybe I can say "go Michelle" in this forum and the SkateGods won't see it [g]. Thu Jan 24 19:04:56 -0800 2002 58676 0 Ruth Lafler 5 58702 I gather you two are in training for the Olympics next month; sitting in front of the TV with a fine white wine and your knitting..Oops, sorry, that's me!!!! Thu Jan 24 20:12:22 -0800 2002 58682 0 galleygirl 6 58708 Does Trader Joe's count as a "supermarket" for purposes of this topic? 'Cause I took a whole carryon (yes, a whole carryon) of goodies to Colorado Springs for Skate America (I knew at some point we were having a room party). The big hits were the Terra Red Bliss Roasted Garlic and Parmesan chips (my current fave chip), the chocolate dulche de leche balls, and the Mint Chocolate Cookie Joys. Someone asked where I got them, and when I told her she said, "Ah, Trader Joe's: where all good things come from." I think hot chocolate goes better than white wine with skating, but if the judging at the Olympics is anything like the Grand Prix Final, I may be hitting the single malt scotch! Thu Jan 24 20:31:48 -0800 2002 58702 0 Ruth Lafler 7 58709 Hot chocolate at the rink; sauvignon blanc in front of the TV.. Thu Jan 24 20:47:21 -0800 2002 58708 0 galleygirl 8 58719 Now this brings up the question, "Is anyone interested in watching the ladies' long program together on Feb. 21?" Unfortunately, I'll be on a plane during the short program. But I'd love to host a potluck/take-out night at my Berkeley apartment for that Thursday night. Any attendees will need to be devoted fans who appreciate silence during the programs themselves. Any takers? Thu Jan 24 22:43:45 -0800 2002 58709 0 Yvonne 9 58725 Yeah, I'd love to be there, but I'm gonnah be sitting in front of my t.v. in Boston..(g) But I'll raise a glass of something good in your honor! (and I'll be very quiet!) Thu Jan 24 23:03:51 -0800 2002 58719 0 galleygirl 9 58764 The real question is: does anyone have a system that gets the East Coast TV feeds so we can see it live? By the time they show it here I will undoubtedly have succumbed to the temptation to "spoil" myself with the results (in '98 the first thing I heard on the radio when I got up the day of the ladies final was the results -- ruined my entire day). The internet can be a mixed blessing. Actually, being at someone's house, away from my computer and all other media sources, sounds like a good idea, so count me in. Fri Jan 25 11:57:28 -0800 2002 58719 0 Ruth Lafler 10 58774 I'm very interested in getting together for the long program. Please send me an e-mail when it comes time for it. I saw the Examiner headline in the afternoon before the '98 ladies final was broadcast. It was huge (as always) and impossible not to see: "Lipinsky Wins." I was very upset that the Examiner gave away the results. Fri Jan 25 12:25:21 -0800 2002 58764 0 Kathleen Mikulis 1 58667 Well, my supermarket is either Ranch 99 or Lion which emphasizes on Asian foods. My favorites are probably exotic to some but they can be found easily on these Asian supermarkets that are abundant in my area(Fremont, Union City, Milpitas) -Es cendol: the vietnamese makes them just like in Indonesia. These are those green jelly beans with coconut sauce. -Calamansi drink in a can -Asian pears -Sekoteng: this is a ginger based drink mix with colorful jellies. You mix this with hot water and feels like home anytime, anywhere. -Halo-halo ice cream: never got tired of it -Cheese steam cake: this is Japanese I think. Oh boy, are they gooddd. That's enough for now. Thu Jan 24 17:57:07 -0800 2002 58631 0 Han Lukito 1 58677 Annie's Brand Mac and Cheese Haagen Dazs Bars : vanilla with dark chocolate and almonds Muir Glen canned whole plum tomoatoes Frozen Edamame (any brand) in the shell (my husband and i frequently eat ginat bowls of these with tuna fish sandwiches for dinner.) Pepperidge Farm Goldfish Peanut M&M's Pepperidge Farm Geneva cookies with the dark chocolate and the pecans. Chunky brand chicken corn chowder and of course, when i am feeling blue and homesick: Spaghettio's and Frosted Blueberry Poptarts Thu Jan 24 18:36:38 -0800 2002 58631 0 Jupiter 2 58705 Blueberry is my favorite of the fruit poptarts, but have you noticed they're almost impossible to find - frosted or non? Safeway only cares their Safeway Select brand ones, and though I was touting the good name of Safeway Select before for other food items, their poptarts just don't stand up to Poptarts(tm). Any suggestions on where they can be found? I actually found the unfrosted blueberry ones the other day in a random store and was in shock. Thu Jan 24 20:24:30 -0800 2002 58677 0 Kathleen Mikulis 3 58753 Have you alsoe noticed that BLACK CHERRY JELL-O is almost impossible to find as well? whenever i see it in a store i stock up and buy at least 10! why are certain foods disappearing? The loss of my childhood foods is disparaging at best....I feel so old sometimes for being the only person at work that remembers Count Chocula and Boo Berry cereals. Fri Jan 25 10:46:20 -0800 2002 58705 0 Jupiter 4 58772 What? They don't remember Count Chocula, Boo Berry, and Frankenberry? My boyfriend was Frankenberry for Halloween one year (the box had a mask on the back). Target usually carries these cereals but I think only near Halloween. That is, in case you are looking for them. To reminisce about your favorite cereals - existing or not - check out the link below. Oh, and black cherry jello kicks ass. Link: http://www.emptybowl.com/ Fri Jan 25 12:20:10 -0800 2002 58753 0 Kathleen Mikulis 5 59227 You can always console yourself with IBC Black Cherry soda. I just bought a six-pack because it looked so delicious on the supermarket shelf, and when I got it home -- it WAS delicious! Don't know if it's available on the West Coast, though... Tue Jan 29 15:28:56 -0800 2002 58772 0 C. Fox 1 58717 I'm seriously partial to: *Cara Mia marinated artichoke hearts *Freschetta pizza (my favorite of the frozen pizzas, especially the primavera with garlic sauce) *Riesen's chocolate caramels Thu Jan 24 22:18:11 -0800 2002 58631 0 webgeekstress 2 58803 I grew up on Cara Mia artichoke hearts, and all other brands taste weird to me -- something about the marinade in the Cara Mia that I prefer. Fri Jan 25 14:15:34 -0800 2002 58717 0 Ruth Lafler 3 58816 I can only eat "unmarinated" artichokes now, ever since my college days, when every care package from my mother contained a couple jars of Cara Mia artichokes! I loved them at the time, but eventually got so sick of them that a marinated artichoke will never enter my house again! Fri Jan 25 14:56:18 -0800 2002 58803 0 LisaPizza 4 58824 ooh, ooh... i got one. Hearts of Palm... straight out of the can. yum! Fri Jan 25 15:15:09 -0800 2002 58816 0 Fatemeh 5 58886 Oh! I had some hearts of palm at the food show, and was craving them so much when I got home, that I made a whole meal/salad around them last night! Yum! Fri Jan 25 19:49:38 -0800 2002 58824 0 LisaPizza 4 58838 This is so weird, my mom was always tucking Cara Mia marinated artichokes into my college care packages too! I give them a wide berth at salad bars today. (g) Fri Jan 25 16:14:36 -0800 2002 58816 0 Melanie Wong 5 58887 Maybe the 80's were when they became a big thing (at least that's when I was in college -- don't know about you). I remember thinking I was so sophisticated to be eating such a gourmet food item. :-) Fri Jan 25 19:51:19 -0800 2002 58838 0 LisaPizza 6 58935 I stopped at the Marina Safeway tonight on my way back from dinner to get some juice. Your post made me stop on the vegetable aisle to find the Cara Mia. I pulled a jar off the shelf to look at it, but didn't put it in my basket. (g) This discussion did make me a little nostalgic for my childhood growing up in Salinas. I found a bio on the web for one of kingpins of the artichoke canning business. Visited Dolores and Hugo's home many times as a teenager. Link: http://www.artichokes.org/grower.html Sat Jan 26 03:10:54 -0800 2002 58887 0 Melanie Wong 7 58975 I like his advice to eat more fruits and vegetables, not because he's a grower, but because he thinks it's healthy! I know I should follow that advice. :-) If only I could find good artichoke bottoms already prepared but not preserved in some solution in a can. I'm WAY too lazy to do my own. Sat Jan 26 21:44:18 -0800 2002 58935 0 LisaPizza 8 58980 Have you ever tried frozen artichoke hearts? I haven't, but know they exist. Wonder how the quality is. Sun Jan 27 00:23:00 -0800 2002 58975 0 Melanie Wong 9 58982 I did a halibut, potato, olive and artichoke heart recipe that called for them,(a frozen package of artichoke hearts...) and they worked out great. Much better texture than the canned, unmarinated ones, and without that tinny taste...I haven't tried defrosting them and eating them straight, but judging by the finished results, tastewise and appearance-wise, I wouldn't hesitate to use them for anything...I had never even HEARD of them til I tried that recipe.... Sun Jan 27 01:15:38 -0800 2002 58980 0 galleygirl 10 59003 Where (what kind of store -- supermarket, asian grocery, natural foods. . . ) did you find the frozen artie hearts? And were they "hearts" or "bottoms." The "hearts" always seem to have lots of lower leaves attached and are very small, whereas the "bottoms" have no leaves attached and are bigger -- although as I said, I've only found them canned. That recipe sounds good, by the way. :-) I'd try it with some fake "fish" that I found at the asian market. Would you mind posting or e-mailing it? Sun Jan 27 15:26:37 -0800 2002 58982 0 LisaPizza 11 59006 Frozen artichoke hearts are great. They're in the frozen veggie section at most supermarkets, and they're hearts, not bottoms. They're expensive, for a 10-oz box, but no more so than the ones canned in water, and firmer than the canned ones. This makes them much better for cooking, and, as galleygirl noted, they don't have that "canned" taste. Not like fresh, of course, but definitely a step up from canned. Sun Jan 27 15:56:17 -0800 2002 59003 0 Caitlin McGrath 12 59022 Maybe I'm not looking at the right supermarket. We have recently opened the most enormous Ralphs grocery store ever in SB. There is a whole "natural foods" section and tons of organic produce. I bet they have frozen artichokes. I try not to shop there because I don't want to take business away from the gourmet/natural foods LOCAL business where my husband works. :-) Sun Jan 27 23:37:44 -0800 2002 59006 0 LisaPizza 13 59055 Most large chain supermarkets do carry them in my experience (I have a lamb stew recipe that calls for them that my mother started making over 30 years ago, so it's not a new thing, either). If you practice the helpful supermarket technique of looking for "odd" items on either the top or bottom shelf that might help. In my experience many grocers organize their frozen vegetables (as well as the canned ones) alphabetically by package type, so if you look at the section where the boxed frozen veggies are (as opposed to the bagged ones) on the top shelf at the very beginning, you'll probably find them. Frozen artichoke hearts are immensely superior to canned. Does anyone know of anything the canned ones are good for? Also, once I started doing it, I've become reconciled to paring down the fresh ones -- it really doesn't take as long as you think it will. I just hack off the tops so I don't rip my fingers on the thorns, and then break off the outer leaves several at a time until I get to the tender inner ones. Once I even picked up a package of distressed large chokes (50 cents for four but the leaves had fuzz on them), trimmed them down to the bottoms, scooped out the choke, sliced and sauteed the bottoms in butter and garlic and ate them all by myself. It felt very decadent. There used to be a small diner in Pescadero that made deep fried artichoke bottoms. One day when I drove up there was a huge box -- maybe 6x6x4 feet -- of large artichokes fresh from the field and two guys with big heavy work gloves standing there ripping all the leaves off the chokes. Again, it seemed very luxurious. Final tip: artichokes are the best reason to buy veggie wash -- to get that nasty bitter sap off. An artichoke vendor at a farmers' market once told me her mother used to rub artichokes on her fingers to keep her from biting her nails. Mon Jan 28 16:14:13 -0800 2002 59022 0 Ruth Lafler 14 59079 There is only ONE reason for the existance of canned artichokes---hot artichoke dip!! Right up there with all those embarrassing "60's housewife" recipes, but if you don't tell people what's in it, (and can get over the idea of the ingredients yourself!!), they will swoon. You drain a can of arichoke hearts, and mix with equal parts grated cheese, (something cheddarlike and some parmigian) and an equal part of mayonnaise...You put it in a dish and bake it at around 375, I think, til it's all brown and bubbly around the edges(almost an hour, if I recall.)...Then you pull it out of the oven, and watch your friends descend like locusts to scoop it up with crackers...It's truly amazing..Please don't revoke my hound status for posting this (really, it's the only thing like this in my repetoire--I used to make it when I cooked downeast on a schooner!)... Mon Jan 28 18:23:22 -0800 2002 59055 0 galleygirl 14 59135 I have occasionally cleaned my own artichokes, but I always feel like I'm doing too much work for what I'm getting (like shelling fresh favas, for example). They are EXCELLENT when done fresh and added to my "paella" but I usually just feel too lazy to do it. I do like the idea of buying "old" or "distressed" artichokes, as you mentioned. They sure don't have to look pretty to taste good! A confession: I never wash my veggies. Sometimes rinse them quickly in the running faucet, but that's about it. Mon Jan 28 20:56:22 -0800 2002 59055 0 LisaPizza 11 59007 I found them in my normal supermarket; if I recall correctly, they were packaged by Birdseye, or some very mainstream co. They came in a 10 oz. pkg, which all the recipes seem to call for,( how convenient)...They were hearts, not bottoms, they almost reminded me of the baby arties you get "fritto" in some Italian places..In fact, I'm sure they're be great fried, but what wouldn't? I'll scan the recipe and send you a jpeg; it's too long to type (okay, I'm too lazy..) Let me know if you can't open it..Anyone else want it, just email me..It was REALLY good!! Sun Jan 27 16:04:20 -0800 2002 59003 0 galleygirl 11 59190 I get the C & W brand of frozen artichoke hearts at my regular supermarket in San Francisco. These are California "baby" artichokes. C & W stands for California and Washington. I think that this is an excellent product. Tue Jan 29 12:18:19 -0800 2002 59003 0 Nancy Berry 10 59020 The frozen ones, when thawed, are a little tough. Cooking them, either as has been described here or frying them takes care of that, but if you want to use them in a salad, I dont think they are the best option. In salads, or dips that dont require cooking (spinach-artichoke dip, eg.) I use the canned, unmarinated, which I rinse off and season liberally. jake Sun Jan 27 22:44:35 -0800 2002 58982 0 jake pine 5 58908 Is this a UC phenomenon? It was a family friend who gave me a ton of Cara Mia marinated artichoke hearts to stock my dorm room. I didn't get burnt out on them, though, because I didn't eat that many; my roomate aould get stoned and eat them all when she got the munchies. Fri Jan 25 21:09:25 -0800 2002 58838 0 Caitlin McGrath 6 58934 Hey, you were up the street from Castroville and my mom was down the street. There were cases and cases of artichoke hearts passed around from employees of the packing sheds. Don't know if these were bought at employee discount or five-fingered. Did you ever try the marinated asparagus tips? Yuck! Sat Jan 26 03:01:51 -0800 2002 58908 0 Melanie Wong 3 58905 My mom's spice drawer is filled with about 30 of the regular, small-size Cara Mia jars, with labels on the lids. She adopted this strategy when I was a kid because the jars are the perfect height to fit in a shallow kitchen drawer. She fills them with bulk herbs and spices from the Bowl, of course [g]. Fri Jan 25 21:06:27 -0800 2002 58803 0 Caitlin McGrath 1 58724 Infrequently purchased: OreIda tater tots and Stouffer's Mac and Cheese(eaten together as comfort food with steamed broccoli stirred into the M&C) Ralphs' bakery cinnamon rolls Hormel vegetarian chili (yummy over a baked potato with grated cheddar cheese) Ralphs' canned apricots in pear juice Regularly purchased: Bush's vegetarian baked beans Nutri-Grain bars (in bulk from Costco) Any Pepperidge Farm cookies! Haagen Dazs vanilla ice cream/Hershey's chocolate syrup (purchased in bulk from Costco) Laura Scudder's peanut butter Asian noodles Thu Jan 24 23:03:01 -0800 2002 58631 0 LisaPizza 2 58731 I'm a sucker for those nutri grain bars too. Usually load up on one right before heading to the gym. Fri Jan 25 00:39:53 -0800 2002 58724 0 Limster 3 58818 Yes, that is my traditional pre-gym meal, if I have one at all. I used to carry them in my car for those super busy days when I felt like I couldn't stop to eat. Fri Jan 25 14:59:40 -0800 2002 58731 0 LisaPizza 2 58786 Oh wow. Mac & Cheese with broccoli, huh? OK, I really hope it rains this weekend so I have an excuse to try that! Fri Jan 25 12:54:41 -0800 2002 58724 0 Fatemeh 3 59005 It's raining in SB; is it raining for you? :-) Sun Jan 27 15:31:41 -0800 2002 58786 0 LisaPizza 3 59229 Or cauliflower, or mushrooms, or (even better) all 3. Tue Jan 29 15:47:53 -0800 2002 58786 0 C. Fox 1 58734 Famous Chocolate Wafers. Canned sardines. And anchovies. Matzoh! a fine delivery system for many kinds of cheese. When I used to live in the Mission, I'd go to the bodegas and get Maizoro brand corn flakes--one-third the price of Kellogg's, thicker and rougher and more corn-flavored. Last time I had them, though, they weren't quite as good. Mexican chocolate, too. Fri Jan 25 01:35:25 -0800 2002 58631 0 heidipie 1 58754 I ALSO TOTALLY FORGOT TO ADD PAUL NEWMANS MICROWAVE POPCORN! THE BEST! THE BEST! THE BEST! (This is also frequently dinner with some steamed edamame when i am too tired to deal.) Fri Jan 25 10:52:03 -0800 2002 58631 0 Jupiter 1 58793 Hershey's TasteTations chocolate mint candies (remind me of the old LifeSavers choc-o-mint) Safeway's Goo-Goo Cluster ice cream Fri Jan 25 13:25:01 -0800 2002 58631 0 Christine Vallejo 1 58801 Sorry to post again, but I thought of another, and this is truly, truly sad. I am pathetic. Frozen, pre-cooked...WHITE CASTLE HAMBURGERS. Yes, I love White Castle. I know, I know. But I grew up in New Jersey, where we could GET some. Out here I have no fix. Speaking of, does anyone know of anything that can succor a poor White Castle junkie like myself here in the Bay Area? Peter wells@emusic.com P.S., Due praise for the superior tastebuds of Burke--he can't STAND White Castles and thinks I'm mad for liking them. Link: http://www.burkeandwells.com Fri Jan 25 14:06:13 -0800 2002 58631 0 Burke and Wells 2 58926 Peter, I know what you mean about White Castle -- several years ago there was a renegade branch in Burlingame, and I got addicted to them. Unfortunately, I think I was the only customer and they closed. Coincidentally, guess what I saw on the menu at Max's Diner on 3d today? Basket of Sliders! It's on their appetizer list. Unfortunately, I only noticed it after ordering a full size burger (I was on a burger binge today -- one for lunch at South Beach Grill, and the next at Max's on my way to the parking garage tonight). I'll try them next time I'm there -- let us know if you get to them first... Sat Jan 26 01:03:49 -0800 2002 58801 0 Zach Georgopoulos 2 59121 Hey Peter, I hear you about the White Castles (Buy 'em by the sack). Having grown up in NY, we used to buy 100 of them for parties at $0.13 each. So they were $13. FOr a fix, White Castles are served at the Old Pro in Palo Alto. I live in Mountain View. If you ever want some company in eating a thousand or so ;-) let me know. Mon Jan 28 20:25:41 -0800 2002 58801 0 Lotech 3 59210 Tell me of this Old Pro. How can they serve White Castles if they are not themselves White Castle? You're giving hope to the hopeless, Lotech, bless you! Peter wells@emusic.com Link: http://www.burkeandwells.com Tue Jan 29 13:44:45 -0800 2002 59121 0 Burke and Wells 1 58846 almost forgot, but reminded by my above post: * Casa Sanchez salsa (available at Safeway) great to see all these leads! thanks all. Fri Jan 25 16:34:28 -0800 2002 58631 0 km 1 58944 Ghirardelli Fudge Brownie Mix -- it's so good that I don't make brownies from scratch anymore. Sat Jan 26 10:22:00 -0800 2002 58631 0 Nancy Berry 2 59044 Oh my gosh... How could I have forgotten these?? I underbake them by 2 minutes or so... they are chewy and fudgey and not at all cakey like most of the brownies out there. they are heavenly. Mon Jan 28 15:16:04 -0800 2002 58944 0 Fatemeh 1 58968 Thanks, your posting has just given me a jones for Kozy Shack tapioca pudding. Sat Jan 26 19:11:59 -0800 2002 58631 0 Chino Wayne 1 59004 I just have to say that this is one of the most fun threads I've followed so far. I am having the greatest time reading about all these "secret" supermarket finds! I'm making a list at this very moment! Sun Jan 27 15:29:32 -0800 2002 58631 0 LisaPizza 2 59048 This is a glorious thread! But beware, there are dangers here. Burke and I went shopping after I read this thread (he hadn't, so he thought I'd gone mad). I was tossing in all kinds of things, PopTarts and frozen pizzas and strange items we never normally buy. On impulse, I included a box of Froot Loops. Froot Loops. How I loved them as a kid! Forget the milk, just reach in and munch them right out of the box--sweet and crispy, not quite as tear-up-the-roof-of-your-mouth as Cap'n Crunch. They were awful. Sickly sweet, gummy after the initial crunch, gagging. They hadn't changed, but I had! It really is true, as a child one has different tastes than as an adult. Literally, it's impossible to go back again. I must say most all the things I've tried that were suggestions from this board were very neat! But any of the treats I attempted to recreate from my childhood suffered the same fate as the Froot Loops. C'est la vie. Peter wells@emusic.com Link: http://www.burkeandwells.com Mon Jan 28 15:34:28 -0800 2002 59004 0 Burke and Wells 3 59056 I got addicted last year to the snack versions of cereals they put out in the last couple of years: cannisters of jumbo size Froot Loops, etc. They palled fairly quickly, but I still have a cannister of the marshmallow krispy (I think that's what they are called) ones. Mon Jan 28 16:20:10 -0800 2002 59048 0 Ruth Lafler 3 59136 I've had the same experience with Spaghetti-O's -- I expected to LOVE them like I did as a child (usually sick in bed -- that's the only time we would get them), but they are so sweet and acidic that I could barely stand it. I haven't shopped from this thread yet, so we'll see if I can control myself. :-) Mon Jan 28 20:59:18 -0800 2002 59048 0 LisaPizza 1 59167 Tim's Cascade Chips, Sea Salt & Vinegar flavor. When I'm done with the bag, I lick my fingertips and scoop out the salt and crumbs, which taste better than the chips IMO. Link: http://chowhound.safeshopper.com/ Tue Jan 29 00:48:02 -0800 2002 58631 0 Nikel 2 59206 Tim's chips are good, but the ones I crave are the Zesty Dill Pickle flavor. Before you go "Ugh" just think: they're basically salt and vinegar with dill, onion and garlic added, all of which also are traditionally good on potatoes. Tue Jan 29 13:24:08 -0800 2002 59167 0 Ruth Lafler 1 59253 The world's best cookies live at Trader Joe's. My favorites are the oatmeal chocolate chip and the ginger snaps. Both are made with just butter and the basics, no hydrogenated oils or other gunk. The ginger snaps have little bits of crystalized ginger in them. Yum! Tue Jan 29 19:09:24 -0800 2002 58631 0 Leno Clark 1 59270 Thanks to you hounds, my little trip to the supermarket for toilet paper turned into a detailed search for exciting mystery items. Came home with my favorite Tilda basmati rice (which I forgot they even carried, since I've been getting it from the Asian market), a $.99 bottle of srirachi sauce (the cheapest one and the only one without preservatives), black pepper in its own grinder (my grinder sucks), yet another brand of canned artichoke bottoms (no, my supermarket DEFINITELY does not carry frozen), a few other herbs and goodies for my latest Vietnamese/Thai food fetish, and oh yeah, toilet paper. Thanks a bunch! :-) Tue Jan 29 21:07:26 -0800 2002 58631 0 LisaPizza 2 59274 Oops, sriracha sauce. :-) Tue Jan 29 21:19:20 -0800 2002 59270 0 LisaPizza