friends with cars

Thank God for friends with cars! Although I relish my car-free lifestyle 99% of the time, every once in a while, it's nice to have friends with cars. Like tonight, for example -- after I treated both of us to Chipotle for dinner, my friend Ann was kind enough to drive me to the co-op! See why?

I needed a LOT of staples. How is it that I always seem to run out of EVERYTHING, at the SAME TIME??? Anyhow, here's what I bought:

BULK:
half a pound of local, raw, sliced almonds
pound organic walnuts
3 3/4 pounds local, organic, whole-wheat pastry flour
3 1/4 pounds local "white" flour (bran removed, but germ in tact)
1 pound locally-roasted, organic, fair-trade coffee
2 pounds organic, long-grain brown rice
1 1/4 pounds organic, fair-trade dark chocolate chips
3 1/3 pounds organic, fair-trade natural sugar
dried sulphured apricots
dried cherries

FROZEN:
organic sliced peaches
organic pineapple

HERBS & SPICES:
organic, local garlic powder

PACKAGED GROCERY:
Reed's crystalized ginger
organic, vegetarian worcestershire sauce
organic white vinegar
organic canola oil
organic extra-virgin olive oil
organic brown rice vinegar
baking powder
organic, no-stir peanut butter
organic apple cider vinegar
organic tomato juice
fruit-sweetened ketchup
Ener-G egg replacer
organic, low-sodium tamari
organic light agave nectar
organic firm Mori-Nu tofu
2 rolls Seventh Generation toilet paper
big bottle Seventh Generation dish soap
unbleached parchment muffin liners
egg noodles

PERSONAL CARE:
Kiss My Face soap
three recyclable "Preserve" toothbrushes
NatraCare pantiliners

PRODUCE:
6 organic bananas
two organic golden kiwi
local, organic, mini yellow watermelon
two organic lemons
6 organic white nectarines
3 heads local, organic garlic
1/2 pound Michigan cherries
organic mixed baby greens
local, organic white button mushrooms
two organic yellow onions
two organic russet potatoes
local cherry tomatoes
fresh figs!

REFRIGERATED GROCERY:
Silk soy creamer
Earth Balance
local, organic soy milk
local, organic light sour cream
local, organic plain yogurt
local hummus
local wholegrain pita

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You may notice that there are a few items in this list that disqualify me as a strict "five or fewer" follower . . . I needed a couple of special items for recipes, and no, there's nothing wrong with my soymilk maker. I need a large-ish quantity of soymilk for a secret baking project, and am worried about homemade milk curdling when heated. So there -- I broke down and bought commercial soymilk!

Obviously, there will be some cooking this weekend. Until then!