Periodical Food-Snob Report

So, currently, we are buying

• milk, ground beef, and amazing fresh cream from a local co-op.
  
• I buy cheese from Trader Joe's and my husband brings some home on the weekends after selling it at local Farmers' Markets. (Sorry, ALDI, your cheese is absolutely flavorless.)
  
• For some reason I'm not too picky on chicken. Maybe because I didn't notice an incredible taste difference over conventional when I tried the organic variety.
• If we got steak ever, it would be from Trader Joe's and organic (you can't beat the fresh, alive flavor).
• Veggies come from Windy City Produce Mart or Andy's Fruit Ranch (and so does some chicken) -- both local produce marts.
• Canned goods that are not overly processed (like single-ingredient items) come from ALDI (as do a surprising number of miscellaneous household goods -- we are buying an air conditioner and digital camera there tonight).
• Eggs no longer come from ALDI. I got some Rose Acre Farms brand from Windy City one day and realized how much healthier the shells looked. They were thoroughly opaque instead of sort of mottled opaque and translucent. Husband came home with some 18-in-a-pack from Dominicks that unfortunately looked very similar to ALDI's.

And with all this snobbery, last week's bill was up above $140 again. Can't afford that on a weekly basis, so I may have to cut out some things like organic apples -- unless we compensate with what Andy is making "working cheese" this summer. But the majority of that needs to go on the credit card. Anyway, more to come.

(Photo: freefoto.com)

Mashed Potato Omelet

4 eggs
oil
blob of leftover mashed potatoes
green tops of green onions, sliced thin (or chives)
plain yogurt or sour cream

Heat pan with a couple of tablespoons of oil in it. Mix 4 eggs thoroughly with fork. When pan is hot, add eggs. Do not disturb until edges have solidified. You may then swirl the pan a little to get the liquid egg towards the edges so it will cook.

Briefly warm (45 seconds in the microwave?) the blob of mashed potatoes and the green onions (or chives). When eggs are nearly solid but still a little runny in the middle, add mashed potato mixture on top of one-half of the eggs. Salt and pepper the mashed potatoes if you like. Carefully loosen the other side of the eggs from the pan and fold over onto the mashed potato side. Let cook a few seconds longer. Turn off heat. Slice the omelet into two pieces and remove from pan. Top with sour cream or yogurt.

Serves two normal people or one woman who is breastfeeding two and sharing some with the toddler.

(Photo: freephotos.com)