haha Lena. Actually, I rarely run low on fat. Mostly it's on my "veggie days". Veggie days are days when I eat only fruit and vegetable products until 5pm, then I eat normally again. So I run low on fat when I'm eating like that, but boost it up with a couple tablespoons of creamy peanut butter. Yum!
Dance4joy, I honestly suspect that you may have THOUGHT you tried a Fuji at some point, but that it was something else (there are several cooking apples that look like Fujis). I've been buying Fujis for years--on both sides of the Mississippi. They used to be really hard to find, but they have always been my first choice because they're CRISP and have that perfect apple taste. Fujis are classified as *eating* apples, not cooking apples (which is why I think somebody must have mis-classified them wherever you bought a supposed Fuji). Here's an interesting site on a ton of apple varieties: http://www.naturalhub.com/grow_fruit...apple.htm#PARK
Oh hey...Less of Lena...have you ever tried an Asian Pear? They're pricey and I always consider one a real treat. They're sort of a cross between apples and pears--very crisp, VERY juicy. I didn't peel them initially, but have started doing that lately (the skin can be like a very "tough" pear").
I've never even heard of an Asian Pear! Sounds intriguing!
There is a "non-farmer's" produce market about 15 miles from where I live (they sell mostly produce but they don't actually grow it themselves). They have a lot more varieties than the average supermarket -- even more than the super-duper supermarkets. I don't shop there often because, well, because it's 15 miles away and because, up 'til now, F&V weren't high priorities on my shopping agenda!
I was heading in that direction today. I think... no, scratch that... I am going to stop there and see what's what! They may have gained a new customer!
Lydia, do you like the crunchy at all? I love it, but DS hates it, so I end up buying the creamy.
Lena: I'll eat the crunchy if there's nothing else, but I have this weird thing with textures. I don't like conflicting textures most of the time, so if I'm having PB&J (100% fruit spread and whole wheat bread, so it's at least SOMEWHAT okay I still love my childhood foods) I HATE having crunchy peanut butter. Love love love creamy peanut butter. My dad likes the crunchy stuff, though, so we always have some in the house. Actually, crunchy peanut butter if good as a snack all its own. Kind of high-calorie, but it does help tone down hunger pangs better than most stuff I know.
Mmmmmm crunchy, creamy. Forget the fruit, now I want a good, ol' fashioned PB&J (on 100% whole wheat, of course!). And a big glass of cold milk (1%, of course).
Well, I went to the produce market this afternoon and found it wanting... it was so dark in there, I couldn't see the fruit! I got some things but couldn't really see what they looked like until I got outside.
I don't think I'll be making the 15 mile trip back... at least not JUST to go there.
On the plus side, I got a Pink Lady, an Asian Pear, a Kiwi and a couple of Fujis. Went back to my local supermarket (which has proper lighting ) and found out they have Pink Ladies, too! And about 8 other varieties as well. And nice looking cantaloupes (got one) and kiwi and mangoes. But no Aisian Pears. Aw well.
Now I've got to dig into all this fruit before it goes bad on me!
Dance4joy, I honestly suspect that you may have THOUGHT you tried a Fuji at some point, but that it was something else (there are several cooking apples that look like Fujis).
Trust me... I live in Washington State... I know my apples they were Fujis. IMO they have absolutely NO taste. LOL actually I bought some a while back by mistake... the store had a different sign over them but they had Fuji tags on them. I took them to work and gave them away to someone who would eat them!!
I hope you like the asian pear Lena Used to be, they were only available a couple weeks out of the year...and only if you lived near someplace that grows them. Frankly, Fujis used to be that way too (which gives me hope that someday it won't cost $2 for 1 AP!). Anyway, they might really be seasonal where you live so it's just something to watch for. I don't know if you have Costco (or Sam's Club). They are popular enough now that both those chains get them when the price is right. Even then, they're packaged just 6 or 8 to a "crate" and each is carefully cradled in a little foam container.
Too bad your farmer's market is such a dud. I don't know what might be near you, but if you decide to get really adventuresome with your produce selections, you might be interested in a CSA (community supported agriculture). I recently discovered this option myself and since I'm really trying to up my F&V intake too, I've managed to find a farm near me. CSAs are small farms (usually family run--often organic) that grow a variety of seasonal produce and people can purchase a "share"--you pay a weekly amount and you get a share of whatever is harvested that week. Most places strive to grow a wide variety of vegetables. Some also have fruits, or have relationships with other (perhaps even smaller) farmers and you can purchase an additional "fruit share". I like this website: http://www.localharvest.org/ (btw, if the link doesn't make it to the post, google for "Local Harvest")for good information and you can search for CSAs (or even farmer's markets) near you based on your zip code. I know it would push me to try things I don't normally buy at the store, plus I really like the idea of that connection to a local effort. Oh yeah, the place I found also allows share owners all you can eat/pick access to a couple of bumper crops during the year too (like...green beans, which I really DO like).
We actually have an organic farm about a mile from here that sells "subscriptions" for veggies during the season. Of course, in Alaska we are limited to what can be grown. As DH and I grown our own veggies, we don't subscribe, but they are open every Fri evening for a couple hours and I often go up to see what goodies they have that I don't grow, esp if it's something I don't want a lot of, but just a taste, or one or two (like kohlrabi - DH likes them, I don't, and when we grew them mostly they went bad). We also have a downtown market on Fridays from mid-May through late August, right across the street from where I work, so I often go over there at lunch. There are lots of veggies and plants sold there (along with crafts, and some awesome Mexican food )
The crop that seems to be grown most around here is corn. What can I say, it's the midwest! But it's some dang-fine corn!
I haven't seen any farmer's markets around (except when people sell corn off the backs of their trucks). When I lived on the East Coast, they were all over the place. Of course, back then, I didn't take advantge of them!
Pink Lady down. And she was mighty fine, too! So now I have 3 to choose between. This is getting to be fun!
Haven't tried the Asian Pear yet, but I love its little spongie overcoat! Quick question -- am I supposed to peel it? And, I assume I'm supposed to peel the kiwi, too? Such a fruit newb!
Oh, and back to the pineapples... $5 each here. Yikes .
I've never seen (no less eaten) an Asian Pear, but I found an article on good ole wikipedia about it. Their "real" name is actually the Nashi Pear, and according to the article it's eaten like an apple. So to peel or not to peel is your choice!
Kiwifruit on the other hand are normally peeled. I tried eating one without peeling it and umm... it was like eating fur, hahaha. So I'd definitely peel it.
Trust me... I live in Washington State... I know my apples they were Fujis. IMO they have absolutely NO taste. LOL actually I bought some a while back by mistake... the store had a different sign over them but they had Fuji tags on them. I took them to work and gave them away to someone who would eat them!!
I think you just got a bad one. Did you ever try them again, maybe at a better point in the season? Fujis are only mealy and tasteless when they are old and dried out (same with most apples). Fresh ones are very crisp, juicy and sweet. Trust me. I know my apples too.
Last edited by 1TiredGradStudent; 03-14-2006 at 01:42 PM.
I still love my childhood foods) I HATE having crunchy peanut butter. Love love love creamy peanut butter. My dad likes the crunchy stuff, though, so we always have some in the house. Actually, crunchy peanut butter if good as a snack all its own. Kind of high-calorie, but it does help tone down hunger pangs better than most stuff I know.
they were Fujis. IMO they have absolutely NO taste. 
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