Bulk Foods (And not the kind you get at Costco)
There’s a secret hidden away in the back of your local natural food store/organic market: the bulk foods aisle. A little intimidating at first, bulk foods are ultimately easy, cheap, and earth-friendly.
For a long time I walked by these rows of tubs and bins filled with grains, nuts, and other staples and wondered what kind of a maniac bought this stuff. I am now that maniac.
Buying long-storing staples in bulk is a great way to save money, and canisters filled with grains and the like can often be an inspiration for a quick dinner without having to make a big shopping trip.
Some of my favorite items are:
rice
other grains – quinoa, kasha, etc.
dried beans and other legumes
flour
popcorn
coffee beans
quick oats
nuts
dried fruit
Not every grocery store stocks bulk foods, but most that lean toward natural/organic products do. Unless you really live in a small town, you can find a bulk foods aisle somewhere nearby.
Having these items on hand gives you and arsenal to use when throwing together last minute meals (and really, that describes 90% of the meals I cook).
Over next few weeks, I’ll provide you guys with some recipes for some of the stuff above, and as I make new discoveries in those rows of bins, you’ll be the first to know.
Here’s a bulk food friendly recipe: http://nomusing.blogspot.com/2008/04/barley.html
So, I have literally never noticed one of these bulk food aisles (except at Sahadi’s, my favorite store in the world). I think I probably just glide past without noticing them.