I have been listening to some great food ideas on NPR during my homeward commute this week. They are running a spot all week where the challenge is to feed a family of four for $10.00 or less. In these fiscally responsible times it’s a great idea, plus it’s nice to get away from spaghetti and meatballs for a while.

Monday night was a Spanish dish, Spinach with Chick Peas. As these are two ingredients we are seldom without and it’s a vegetarian dish I figured I’d give it a shot. It’s served with a fried egg and even the kids ate it!

Last night it was Chicken Fried Rice on Wilted Spinach. I subsituted the chicken for some minced up Quorn Tenders and it was great. I have never seen the kids eat so much spinach.

I’m looking forward to tonight’s recipe, hopefully it will be as good as the first two.

Just wanted to add a note  about Quorn. It’s great, we first ate it back in the UK. The range of products seems a little more diverse over there. It’s actually fermented myco protein, more like beer that soy.

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I’m a big potato chip fan.  I’ve always been.  But I am picky.  I hate the greasy ones, the vineager ones and the over-salted ones.  Not a big fan of the flavored ones either.  Some years ago, Lays came out with a Natural chip, made with: potatoes, salt and corn oil.  They are quite yummy, not greasy and I have to keep them away from my kids otherwise, there are none left for me. 

Well, sometime over the summer, maybe July…I noticed that they were out of stock at my local Scarborough Hannaford. They are always in the same section of Nature’s Place.  I thought it was a fluke and kept checking…weeks go by and there is still the empty place on the shelf.  One day in August, I happen to chat up the fellow restocking some shelves nearby (noticed his name tag said Steve) and ask about the chips.  He promises to look into it and jots down the item number.

Another month later and I see Steve again, and we chat about those chips, and perhaps they were discontinued…bummer because they are the best chips ever!  But he’ll follow up with the Frito Lay guy who is due in the next day, he assures me.

Low and behold, last week, as I make my rounds through Nature’s Place, I see my friend Steve again…and just as I’m about to ask him if he ever found out what became of my favorite chips, he pulls down a bag and hands it to me!  Oh JOY!  I thank him profusely for his help.

I wonder if they would have turned up again if I had not asked the question.  Oh well.  Now, if only I can get them to restock my favorite pickles…Vlasik Snack Umms!  Out of stock since summer as well.

Can’t have a good sandwich without my pickles and chips!

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Word out on the street is there is a new Taco/Burrito vendor frequenting the corner of Market and Commercial. Today we managed to get a first hand report on the quality of the 3 bean soft taco with fresh salsa. The overall visual impression was favourable and the sprig of fresh Cilantro (Corriander (Eur.)) and slice of lime made for an appealing presentation.

Unfortunately this is one taco that didn’t score highly on the taste test despite a catholic measure of what the vendor was touting as a Salsa Picante and a dolop of Daisy. Your own reports on “Street Food” are welcomed, so let’s have ‘em.

Overall rating 2.5 flying rats out of 5.

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