I read something today that totally resonated with me. It was the motto of the Kitchen Sisters, who are featured on NPR.

Talk with strangers.
Especially strangers bearing produce.

As we approach farmers market season, I plan on taking this advice to heart. Go visit your farmers markets and do the same! I am anxiously awaiting our farmers market open date. I thought I stocked up on enough of Noel's Huckleberry Jam to last all winter, but alas we ran out a month ago.
I was reading another article on NPR's website this morning. I love their food section. The article was about gourmet cooking with items from the dollar store. You can read it here. Who knew I was cutting edge?

I enjoyed reading about the revelation of food shopping at the dollar store. We may not shop at an official dollar store (I do not think I have ever been in one, to tell the truth), but I do hit the local bargain store every week for groceries. It is my go-to place for cereals and refried beans. I know that I can find organic salad dressing there for $1 or less, coconut milk for 35 or 65 cents, Annie's macaroni and cheese for 35 cents, Fruitabu for 10 cents. The range of organic foods can vary greatly, but if I am willing to look, it is surprising what I can find. Just yesterday I picked up organic microwave popcorn for $1.25 (no, we did not buy a microwave, Vincent likes it for art class), organic chips for 75 cents, Kashi cereal for $1.75, homeopathics for $1, and a small bottle of olive oil for $1.75. I have to take a minute to check dates, but the bargains are fantastic. Once I bought a bottle of 12 year old balsamic vinegar for $2, and I pay only $7 for a gallon of olive oil.

I have a friend who jokes that there are two types of people who shop the bargain store. There are the ones simply looking for standard american diet foods at a lower price and then there are the foodies who know what a great bargain those Mi-Del gingersnaps and balsamic vinegar are and who know what to do with oyster sauce or that coconut milk.

I do take issue with their statement that it is difficult to make a three course meal for a family of four for less than $20. If using convenience foods, sure it could be tricky. However, a three course meal made from scratch for a family of six usually costs me less than $10, $15 tops if we are having something pricey. Flour, sugar, eggs, seasonal vegetables, meat bought in bulk are not that expensive, even organic. However, you have to know how to cook them. I abhor the loss of cooking skills in our country, but that is an entirely different post.