shopping, shopping, and more shopping

I have been away from the blogosphere for a variety of reasons: life/work/being insanely busy, having no food in the house (and subsequently, not cooking,) and just not having much to say. My apologies. :) However, I'm back, with a full kitchen's worth of groceries, and a picture of the largest avocado that I've ever seen (and ever purchased!)

This is called a Simmons avocado. I'm not sure what I'm going to do with it yet -- probably just an insane amount of guacamole. (Need to cut up some tortillas and bake some chips, too!)

My co-op has started doing the coolest thing -- listing the total dollars spent and percent of purchase on local products/companies on your receipt. Isn't that cool? Yesterday, I spent $40.97, or 28.2% of my total purchases on local items. Not too bad, since I wasn't even trying. :) Next time, we'll see if I can get that number even higher!

I discovered the greatest website/resource the other day -- Vitacost.com! A friend of mine had told me about this website ages and ages ago, and I have just not gotten around to checking it out . . . and placing an order. They have a ton of natural health and beauty products at super-deep discounts (we're talking anywhere from 30% to 70% off retail price,) and charge a flat $5 shipping rate, no matter the size of your order. (As an example, the face moisturizer I use is so cheap on Vitacost, if I buy just one of those, the shipping pays for itself, plus I still save, like, two bucks.) Check it out!

I need to head down to the store after work tonight to buy a new stick blender. My old one died, (it literally fell apart in my hands while I was using it,) and I have been sorely missing it! I want to make soup and smoothies and hummus and other great stuff!

I have very little to do this weekend, other than clean up the kitchen and turn around and mess it up again. Cooking projects planned over the next couple of days:

tabouli (to take to a baby shower for one of my coworkers,)
spring rolls with peanut dipping sauce
tomato soup (to pop directly into the freezer,)
gnocchi with roasted eggplant
lasagna rolls with roasted red pepper sauce
falafel
possibly a giant batch of guacamole (I'm so excited about the ginormous avocado!)

I also may cook up a bunch of the dried beans that I bought at the store yesterday. But, I've been eyeing several recipes in Madhur Jaffrey's "World Vegetarian," and she often calls for the bean cooking liquid, so I may just wait for now. :) We shall see . . . stay tuned!