Note: There are affiliate links which benefit me and with Instacart both of us.
We are a “shop local, think global” family and so always recommend shopping locally. However, our ‘regular’ grocery store may not have a particular ingredient and no one has time to drive all over the county to find it. Never speak with your favorite store manager. You would be amazed how often that works = particularly in today’s competitive environment.
Using one of my often hard to find ingredients: Bob’s Red Mill Vital Wheat Gluten
If you would like to search without giving up too much personal details, your first step will be to look up the street address of your nearest Post Office. plug in your zip code and copy the address
The following links includes codes which may, if you buy something benefit us both. If it just makes your life easier by helping support local business without gallivanting all over – that is fine with me too.
next go to Instacart https://www.instacart.com/?code=WCARR1801EE
You will need to supply an address, so be ready to paste the Post Office address for privacy or use your own “if you don’t care” then just use your own.
Once you save the address, to Instacart will display a search bar (and a list of various stores served in your area.
Type in the ingredient – for example “Vital Wheat Gluten” hit return and poof, InstaCart will show you the stores in your area have be listed Vital Wheat Gluten in their on line offerings.
If you are lucky, you will see your regular store. If not, well where’s your spirit of adventure, expand your shopping horizons – visit a new to you location.
You can then click on each listing to compare pricing.
If all else fails, there is always using a search engine like https://duckduckgo.com/ Duck Duck Go or Amazon https://amzn.to/48Bvm6N Where I have a list that includes ingredients always likely to be in my pantry. Caveat: Amazon, but that is increasingly the most expensive option. and quite often you need to look at more than one – the most expensive option is usually listed first.
FRUGAL TIPLET: Instacart has added so many stores, and individual arrangements various quite a bit, for ingredients I always try to find those with “InStore Pricing” or, sometimes using the Retailer “dot com” may give you a better price.
Last but not least, I “threw this together” because of a question in our FB Bread machine group: KBS Bread Maker Tips, Tricks, and Recipes – still needs work, so in you are not fluent in “speaking in Wheat” – your comments and questions are welcome.
If you are Delivery Dependent, planning to have foods on hand if it cannot be easily delivered is an essential part of our life. It is easy to set aside concerns for weather outside of the “usual” winter things.
It is not just winter weather that effects availability of delivery services those who rely on such services should plan ahead – including maybe a small camp or buffet gas stove to heat foods like soups, etc.
“Weather analysts at Colorado State University’s Department of Atmospheric Science in Fort Collins estimate that the 2022 Atlantic hurricane season will be an active one that produces 19 named storms, nine hurricanes and four major hurricanes (reaching wind speeds of 111 mph and up). “If the model goes as predicted, this would be our seventh above-normal hurricane season in a row,” said research scientist Dr. Phil Klotzbach at CSU.” Source: Eldersburg Patch
Ingredients I use often include Amazon Affiliate Links that may benefit me should you purchase thru Amazon.
Using Drogeheri and Alimentari Organic Tuscan Herb Seasoning in any recipe calling for Italian Seasoning. Is only the beginning of how it earns it place in the Pantry InMySmallKitchen. I have tried at least three other brands and was not pleased with the final flavour. Still, if there is another you prefer – of course – substitute as needed.
The D&A Tuscan Herb Seasoning contains: Marjoram, Rosemary, Basil, Thyme, Savory, Oregano and Sage. (edited to add) This mix with perhaps one or two other ingredients is found in many recipes – including some of my favorite Eastern European recipes – Ukrainian, Polish, Russian and yes even several German.
For most Italian dishes, it does need Garlic (especially InMySmallKitchen where Garlic is a food group), I keep a container with a 3 parts Tuscan to 1 part Garlic granuals handy to sprinkle anywhere I would use a more garlic forward blend.
When a Greek or Mediterranean Seasoning is needed (like my Gyro Meat) 1/4 tsp each of lemon Zest along with 1/8th tsp of mint is pleasing to most
To make an excellent Sicilian Dipping Sauce Add 1 Tbl Tuscan Blend plus 1 tsp Garlic and 1/2 tsp Red Pepper Flakes and 1/8th tsp Coarse Ground Black Pepper to a pint of an Olive Oil Vinaigrette (2/3 cup Olive Oil to 1/4 cup Wine Vinegar of your choices) It is also our daily go to for Salad dressing or Subs/Wedges too.
Swap the Oil for Mayo of your choice and you have a creamy dressing or dip
Thus far, the Amazon Price has been consistently the best (I check when reordering this size about every 3-4 months.
Pantry Planning: Jiffy Corn Mix is one of those things worth having even if it does now include soy. The almost ready to eat handiness of Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix variations is certainly worthy of it space InMySmallKitchen.
Wisk 1/2 tsp Apple Pie Spice into dry ingredients.
SUB 1/3 c Apple Sauce (replace Milk)
Pour into well greased 9 in pie pan
Let it rest for at least 3-4 minutes.
Bake according to package directions until center is clean tooth pick done
WHY a pie pan? its a twofer = we like a bit of crispy edge and wedges look nice on the plate. (I know cast iron is better if not always possible)
It is a toss up depending on freezer space. Jiffy Corn Muffins freeze well, or you can weigh and make only 1/2 box at time if you are
Shopping tiplet: Most stupid markets seem to have sale on individual or 6 packs on a regular basis. So a stock up every few months is easy to plan.
As part of planning your Pandemic Pantry – do check the “best by date” – and yeah, sure I could make the mix up myself, but the shelf life would be much shorter,
