text:
- Join Date
- Apr 2007
- Location
- Townsville
- Posts
- 37
Posted On:
4/02/2007 2:07am
Style: Goju, Ex Shotokan--
Lothar Lee in Australia
I would like to bring to attention the problem of imposter black belt instructors as I have just had the misfortune of encountering one. Looks like this site would be a good place to expose this man.
His name is Mr Lothar Glen Lee & he claims to be a 5th Dan (Godan). Somehow he managed to run a registered SKIF/SKIA dojo in Townsville, Australia for 18 months before his scam was discovered. He used very well forged dan grading certificates that were traced back to Hong Kong to gain registration & he used his old age as an excuse to why his technique was so poor, he is in his 60's. Lothar is a German immigrant to Australia whose German instructor that supposed to of graded him to 5th Dan does not exist. He certainly talks the talk & knows most of the terminology, this is how he managed to go undiscovered for so long. His knowledge does not go past Heian Yondan though & he knows next to nothing about Kihon Ippon Kumite. Lothar makes up his own way of performing techniques & teaches these incorrect ways to his unwary students which can be very dangerous. This practice can not only cause injury in training but could give the students a false sense of being able to defend themselves which could prove fatal if the need arose. Not to mention the embarrassment for the students if they trained in another dojo with faulty techniques & poor knowledge. I know of one 1st kyu student who would of looked like a right propper tool if he had a shot at the Shodan grading, luckily Lothar was exposed before this happened.
Mr Lothar Lee also traveled to Japan for the world championships. Somehow he managed to film the event when this is not permited, make his way into private functions & even get his photo taken with Kancho Kanazawa himself. This is a major embarrassment not only to Kancho Kanazawa but also to SKIA & I can only apologize for the intrusion personally on my behalf. This man is a complete pest & needs to be stopped.
Lothar is still claiming to opperate as a registered SKIF/ SKIA Shotokan instructor & is activly trying to recrut unwary students to his dojo. Legal action is in the pipeline at the moment but hopefully this web site can help expose this charlatan & stop him attracting new students.
Graviora Manent
- Join Date
- Jun 2006
- Location
- Lincolnshire, England
- Posts
- 6,887
Posted On:
4/02/2007 3:28am--
Hi Kumite Junky...
Does his school have a web-site? Does he have an email address? Can you get any literature where he states he's a 5th dan S.K.I and maybe scan it in and post it?
I know a 6th dan SKI and I could ask his opinion on it, but with the greatest respect, I'd like to see some evidence of Lee's claims beforehand.
I'm sure you understand.
Also, have you done the obvious things like emailed the Aussie branch of the SKI etc?
Just for reference
Nothing else turns up on google."To sin by silence when one should protest makes cowards out of men".
~Ella Wheeler
Dark Overlord of the Bullshido Underworld
- Join Date
- Jan 2003
- Location
- New York, NY USA
- Posts
- 5,601
Posted On:
4/02/2007 7:25am--
Hello Kumite Junky.
Will you be providing some evidence of your allegations shortly?Calm down, it's only ones and zeros.
"Your calm and professional manner of response is really draining all the fun out of this. Can you reply more like Dr. Fagbot or something? Call me some names, mention some sand in my vagina or something of the sort. You can't expect me to come up with reasonable arguments man!" -- MaverickZ
"Tom Kagan spins in his grave and the fucking guy isn't even dead yet." -- Snake Plissken
My Bullshido fan club threads:
Tom Kagan's a big hairy...
Tom Kagan can lick my BALLS
Tom Kagan teaches _ing __un and bigotry?
Tom Kagan: Serious discussion here
Lamokio asks the burning question is Tom Kagan a ***** or just cruising for some
I'm Dave the gay Kickboxer from Manchester and I have the hots for Tom Kagan
World Dominator 'Kagan' in plot to lie about real Kung Fu and Martial Arts
Tom Kagan just gave me my third negative rep in a day
I am infatuated with Tom Kagan
Tom Kagan is a fat balding white guy.
Evidence? That's crazy witch talk. Burn the witch. Burn the witch. At any rate for a start:
1- Have you personally met this man?
2- Have you officially trained with him?
3- Do you run your own school? If so, is his in competing range for customers as your?
4- Does your school in which you train comete with his school for customers?There is no cheating, there is only jiu-jitsu.
Registered Member
- Join Date
- Feb 2007
- Location
- Canada
- Posts
- 85
Posted On:
4/02/2007 9:09pm
T3h R34l Gangnam Style!
- Join Date
- Aug 2005
- Location
- Indianapolis, IN
- Posts
- 3,540
Posted On:
4/03/2007 10:51am
Registered Member
- Join Date
- Aug 2006
- Location
- NSW, Australia
- Posts
- 97
Posted On:
4/03/2007 11:59am
Style: Battojutsu--
If I get the chance I'll pop down to the local post office and check up a QLD Townsville yellowpages to see if by chance this Lothar fellow has an advert for his school (which I can prehaps copy). At least then we can verify whether such a person exists.
So far the online yellow pages pulls up:
Shotokan Karate International Australia Inc (listed twice with same details, but under name SKIA - Karate)
23 First St Railway Estate QLD 4810
ph: 0404 357 097
JkA Shotokan Karate
23 First St Townsville QLD 4810
ph: (07) 4728 4561
Probably the same group, which is odd to have 3 entries, two with the same mobile number. Possibly the group this fellow is referring to. Whether this is a genuine complaint, or merely mud throwing - who knows.
Any other aussies care to offer some thought to the matter.
EDIT: googled the mobile number, found this link, confirming Lothar Lee's existance as a shotokan teacher
Also found references to the same Mobile number(0404 357 097) & address (23 First St Townsville) advertising discounts for a "XanGo - Mangosteen Fruit", which i then looked up to be some supposed anticancer elixir that is sold in one of those networked (pyramid) marketing schemes.
I get the feeling that that this might be a genuine complaint. Will provide links to the XanGo crap on request.
Last edited by BloodMagus; 4/03/2007 12:14pm at .
Registered Member
- Join Date
- Aug 2006
- Location
- NSW, Australia
- Posts
- 97
Posted On:
4/03/2007 1:47pm
Style: Battojutsu--
Crossed my mind. Another was calling the guy up.
I agree the OP has a fare few more blanks to fill in, But I was just seeing whether the whole thing had any merit or as suggested should be moved to Trollshido.
I think it has some merit and shouldn't be moved to TS, yet.
Some more digging came up with:
got a yahoo account of firstname.lastname@example.com
He's got a Budoseek account. Generously provides his DoB and age.
found another two websites: http://nqldshotokan.tripod.com/ &
Ironically, they don't list mister Lothar Lee on:
But, if you look up a cached copy of the page through google, he IS listed there for townsville.
here's a link they've deleted:
Last edited by BloodMagus; 4/03/2007 1:52pm at .


text:
pretty intense post, love it.
O.K. first I am a novice with these shorties. Hell I am a novice with the longies.
So me and tiny, my brother, hit the range yesterday and go for broke.
The range "Ocala gun" is pretty well marked. So it was going too work. Or a new gun whipping record was about too be officially set.
I brought 4 lowers, 2 uppers. 2 Rock River lowers, 2 Smith&Wesson.
Think their the same damn thing with a different name stamped on them.
- Hammer spring. Dont buy junk. Get a good strong one.
- Break in. As advised. These things have too be broken in. I sat for hours working the bolt back and forth. Back and forth. Fired it, cleaned it, lubed it, fired it. Bolt back and forth again. I could feel the kharma, the love, of everything wanting too come together, knowing its fate if it didnt.
- Magazines. "C" productus, not anti tilt. "P" mag with anti tilt. I guess you yougguns call it.
Ammo- Marked "Tula" and the other, that XM stuff.
We did a mix and match on loading the mags for testing purposes. Wanted both too work.
Results- 300 rounds with one stove pipe with the S&W.. Both the C and P mags worked flawlessly. I put a stronger spring in the S&W, but still feel I, definitely, need that more heavy duty one, BBill spoke of.
So I am guessing here. Break in, heavy spring for the hammer. The Rock River has the heavy spring "ProjectGuns put together"
I guess?? Their is different qualities on the internals, hammers, springs. But it seems you get what you pay for. Buy quality. Especially that damn hammer spring.
These ARs, seem too be a lot more temperamental, on everything working together as versus the AK.
Accuracy- Well Us old guys hit the 4 foot square target at 50 yards. So we were happy. In the rite hands. With a younggun shootin. I would bet these things could be pretty darn accurate out too 100 yards or more.
Anyone else out their with shorties jump on in, please. I even made sure these were dirty when we took them for the test run. They still worked.
Thanks all for their advice and answering my novice questions.
My brother "Tiny" has a bad back. So I know I would have won the AR toss.
Thanks guys. 4th..
"Man needs but two things to survive alone in the woods. A blow up female doll and his trusty old AK-47" - Thomas Jefferson 1781
LOL 4th!
holy shit batman-- i think we may have found the red herring!
if you got a batch as bad as the tula 223 i got from CTD that wouldn't run in anything reliable , even the 5.56 AK didn't like the stuff--
i don't think all of the tula is as bad as that batch, but i won't run tula in any iron i haven't tested and know it works right to start with so i can go straight to ammo if there is a problem.
the batch of tula 223 i got was very under powered , hell i had to pull the bullets and re-load the stuff with good powder to get it to run with to stop the stove-pipes.
had i not known my AR's were right that tula would have had me pulling my hair out! LOL!
i did buy some tula 45 acp recently it shoots OK but is dirty and some what under powered it has just enough push to cycle the OSS with the 18lb recoil spring --but no more. the stuff is right on the edge of not working--LOL
When you buy a washing machine. 2 companies make the damn things.
T.V.s I think 1 company makes them, in China.
Bluejacks relatives.
Ford, Chevy. Hah. 1 company. Their just putting different names on the things.
- American Eagle Tactical XM193. Made in Minnesota. Yeah rite.
- .223 Rem. 55 GR. FMJ.. Comes in a kind of rich peoples looking box. Very fine print on the bottom, marked "Tula works Russia." So small I had too have my niece read it too me. Cute little girl. but she can see and read. Swears like a Sailor. But not when I'm around.
Sorry. But all this ammo is the same. Oh yeah.
They have 20 illegal aliens chained too a bench in Montana making this stuff. Little midget feeds and whips them. I have been allowed in the factory. Oh yes. I saw it.
Kinda sad. But hey. What the hell. I didnt tell them too sneak in our Country, sorry about their luck.
So you helped me. See. Now I am helping you.
Dont buy the rich peoples looking box. The expensive stuff. It is all the same commie crap.
Ever since I put 400 rounds through these ARs and learned how too take the bolt out.
I have become a Mall Ninja expert with them. Yup.
Think I will P.M. Gunco Bob and ask too start a new forum here.
"Just ask 4th and his drunk friends."
Myself and the drunks that visit here, do not have a question we cannot answer. It may not be what you want too hear. But we will answer.
Yes Sir. Trust us, will be our motto.
O.K.. Were ready for the next question. I think we covered the ammo issue fairly well.
Next question. Were ready. Shoot.
"Man needs but two things to survive alone in the woods. A blow up female doll and his trusty old AK-47" - Thomas Jefferson 1781
OK- here's the first question. When flinging either a AK-47 or a AR-15 for distance, should I lock my wrists or try to snap and fling??
We have all watched the Olympics. You know those guys who toss that frizbie plate thing.
Watch them. Their good.
3 spins and a release. Arms must be locked and straight. Make sure the weapon is unloaded and grip the end of the barrel with both hands.
Most we can get is one spin, cause were drunk and get dizzy.
But oh yeah, she will fly. Most we could get was 120 feet. But you young guys shuold be able too get er out there.
Very good question.
"Man needs but two things to survive alone in the woods. A blow up female doll and his trusty old AK-47" - Thomas Jefferson 1781
Oh yea, not that young-56
american eagle made by tula in russia?
man the world has gone insane!--LOL
yea 4th as flaky as that batch of tula 223 was that i got from CTD i wouldn't doubt that the 7" super-short didn't like the stuff one bit.
i thought you had real US made m193 ammo--
if you have some of that serbian made ammo that AIM or Copes sells "hot shot"? or PPU match - the brass cases stuff in 69gr and your low pressure woes will be gone.
or find some real US made m855 or m193 mil surplus. it is still around thought i don't think wally-world has any--
PS don't toss it to the gators just yet!
besides you wouldn't want to throw your shoulder out like a friend of mine did!
Not the American Eagle j4 that says made in Minnesota.
The .223 Rem is the Tula one. 55 grain FMJ..
Case it came in marked 5.56x45 on the outside. .223 Rem on the inside boxes.
Marked JSC "The Tula Cartridge Works" in very very tiny print on the individual boxes.
You really do need a microscope, too see the print.
I tried too avoid the Tula after reading your post.
Bought the case from Centerfire as .223 Rem. The sneaky devils never mentioned "Tula."
Like I say. My little niece spotted it.
"Uncle Tim. Whats Tula mean?"
WHAT? Give me that box you little. Sorry honey dont cry. Give me the box honey. Let uncle Tim look at it.
All the sites must have read your post. Now they are putting Tula in smaller and smaller print.
j4. You may have bankrupted the company. Ah their damn commies anyway.
The American Eagle shoots good. The Tula shoots, but about a foot high at 50 yards. Then a foot low.
Guess I will just aim them low. Then high. Eventually it will hit something.
"Man needs but two things to survive alone in the woods. A blow up female doll and his trusty old AK-47" - Thomas Jefferson 1781
well 4th if it will function on the tula-- that is about as low as you can go in the world of 223 ammo so it must be pretty close to "on the money".
yea thats how i got the tula 45acp from center-fire systems. it just said russian made 45 acp, hell i thought only wolf made the 45 acp so i ordered a half case -- 500 rounds.
so far the 45 seems a bit underpowered but it will cycle and function all my 45 pistols and dirty but it ain't all bad as at least it goes bang--so far----LOL
i figure on the 223 and 7.62x39 tula ammo that there were batches of bad ammo shipped. i was one of the unlucky ones that got a batch with bad powder.
others have had reasonably good luck with tula 223 and 7.62 so maybe their lucky.
i might still try another batch of tula one day but before i buy another i am sure going to look and ask around if any bad lots are being shipped--LOL
i don't care much for "lottery ammo" so next time when i see some bad ink , i"ll be paying attention, i don't want to get stung like last time!
Last edited by j427x; 02-19-2011 at 08:51 AM.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Smith Makes Ten Saves In AMCC Loss
- Release Date:
- October 17, 2012
- Contact:
- The Office of Sports Information
- (716) 649-7900 ext. 333
BUFFALO, NY – After playing 57 minutes of a scoreless AMCC soccer match, Hilbert surrendered three goals in the game's final thirty-three minutes as the women's team lost to D'Youville College October 16. Erin Smith {in photo to right} made 10 saves while giving up two scores for the Hawks, who dropped to 0-6-1 (2-11-1 overall). Rebecca Alvira chipped in one goal and one assist moving the Spartans to 4-3-1 and 8-5-1 overall.
Alvira scored her eight goal of the season at 57:02 and less than four minutes later Melissa LaVere took Alvira's lead pass and snuck it past Smith for a 2-0 advantage. Ariana Scheidt finished the final twenty minutes in net for Hilbert and gave up one tally with two seconds remaining in the contest.
Up next, the Hawks will honor their seven seniors prior to the La Roche College 2-3-2 (6-6-3) game on October 20 at 1pm. Then, they close-out their season Tuesday, October 23 when they host Penn State Behrend, 5-1 (7-8) also at 1pm.
Hilbert College, located in suburban Hamburg, N.Y., south of Buffalo, is a private four-year college founded in 1957 in the Catholic Franciscan tradition. With nearly 1,100 students, Hilbert is a dynamic Western New York college that offers career-focused majors, including one of the top criminal justice programs in the region, and more than 50 minors and concentrations. The college's engaging, student-centered campus community offers numerous leadership, internship, and service learning opportunities from which students launch successful careers while making positive changes in their communities. The Hilbert Blueprint promotes a well-rounded student experience over four years – starting with the Foundations Seminar in the freshman year, followed by Sophomore Service, Junior Symposium, and culminating with the Senior Capstone. Hilbert has expanded its academic offerings with the college's first graduate programs and new Accelerated Degree Programs geared to adult learners.
Upcoming Events
- First Year Student Orientation
- Aug 14, 2015
- Summer Session A2 Ends
- Aug 21, 2015
- First Year Student Orientation
- Aug 28, 2015


text:
Logo Sweetheart Racerback Tank - BEBE SPORT ONLINE EXCLUSIVE
Style # 214069
AVAILABILITY: Unavailable for immediate shipment.
Made from our new BE-FIT fabric and sporting a chic open back design, this comfy striped BEBE SPORT tank is sure to keep you looking stylish throughout your workout routine. Racerback cut allows from more movement. Try yours with a matching bottom to maximize your look.
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Rated 5 out of 5Āby 1 reviewer.
Rated 5 out of 5Āby lvnfood sexy ;) I felt pretty hot and like a sexy Easter Peep when I debuted (SP?) this in the gym yesterday! ;) April 1, 2013
1-1 of 1


text:
American Heart Association
Heart Rhythm Society
Health Canada
Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada
American College of Cardiology Foundation and the American Heart Association. ACC/AHA guideline update for implantation of cardiac pacemakers and antiarrhythmic devices. American Heart Association website. Available at:
http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/106/16/2145.full.pdf+html. Accessed June 30, 2015.
DiMarco JP. Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator.
New England Journal of Medicine.
Implantable cardioverter defibrillator. Heart Rhythm Society website. Available at:
http://www.hrsonline.org/Patient-Resources/Treatment/Implantable-Cardioverter-Defibrillator. Accessed June 30, 2015.
Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). Stanford University School of Medicine Medical Center website. Available at:
http://stanfordhospital.org/cardiovascularhealth/arrhythmia/treatments/icd. Accessed June 30, 2015.
Pacemakers and defibrillators: Frequently asked questions. University of Iowa Virtual Hospital website. Available at:
http://www.uihealthcare.org/2column.aspx?id=16240. Accessed June 30, 2015.
Reiffel JA, Dizon, J. The implantable cardioverter-defibrillator: patient perspective.
Winters SL, et al. Consensus statement on indications, guidelines for use, and recommendations for follow-up of implantable cardioverter defibrillators.
Journal of Pacing and Clinical Electrophysiology.
11/19/2008 DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance
http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed: Lee S, Ransford B, Fu K, Tadyoshi K, Maisel W. Abstract 662: electromagnetic interference (EMI) of implanted cardiac devices by MP3 player headphones.
This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.
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text:
Courses: Methods of Literary Study (ENGLB250002)
Spring 2014
Class Number: 1189
We will explore the power of language in a variety of linguistic, historical, disciplinary, social, and cultural contexts, focusing on the power of the written word to provide a foundational basis for the critical and creative analysis of literary studies. This course will help to broaden our ideas of what texts and language accomplish socially, historically, and aesthetically. Students will thus refine their faculties of reading closely, writing incisively and passionately, asking productive questions, producing their own compelling interpretations, and listening to the insights offered by others. Limited to sophomores and juniors.
Div: III; Haverford: Humanities (HU)
Enrollment Limit: 15;
Fulfills: Class Nbr: 1189 Div: III; HU


text:
*image shown is 5 x 8 or larger rug
*smaller sizes will not show complete pattern, will be scaled down to fit.
Name: STUDIO SD42 BLACK Area Rugs
Manufacturer: Dalyn Rugs
Collection: Studio
Material: Acrylic
, Polyester
Construction: Hand Tufted
Colors: Blacks/Greys , Tans/Browns/Rusts
Origin: China
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Other Related Patterns You Will


text:
What's the Greatest Software Ever Written? by Charles Babcock of InformationWeek is an article I completely missed last month. Very interesting, as he considers industrial and scientific software, not just desktop software, and he goes way back, too. Here's the conclusion; you decide:
10. Apollo guidance system
9. Excel spreadsheet
8. Macintosh OS
7. Sabre system
6. Mosaic browser
5. Java language
4. IBM System 360 OS
3. Gene-sequencing software at the Institute for Genomic Research
2. IBM's System R
1. The Unix operating system
Whaaa? I can't believe Windows 1.0, RealPlayer, or WinFax didn't make the list!


text:
Consultants provide many different plant, process or application audits and surveys. They also provide a comprehensive survey of the chemical application, processing equipment or overall application in water or paper processing. Examples of applications include: raw & waste water, boiler water, cooling water & papermaking. Examples of industries include: paper processing, chemical processing, metals, petroleum & refining, municipalities. Consultants also determine the equipment/process performance relative to industry norms & benchmarks.
Ecolab is the global leader in water, hygiene and energy technologies and services. Every day, we help make the world cleaner, safer and healthier – protecting people and vital resources.


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$79,690 – $79,690 Invoice
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Enter your information and a representative will contact you for this 2011 BMW 750Li !
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text: Machida has some of the best TDD that I've ever seen. Weidman was able to outstrike Anderson Silva who I believe had slowed down considerably. Machida is much more elusive and a great counter striker. Very interesting match up. Machida has been KO'd and sub'd which Weidman could do both.


text:
Making lights shine bright
From now until March 12, shoppers at Food Lion can donate to Easter Seals, a non-profit organization that helps people of all ages living with developmental, physical or mental disabilities or other special needs.
Sanford served as the kick-off location for Easter Seals' Shop and Care program, with regional officials from Easter Seals and Food Lion joining with local officials, as well as families whose children and loved ones benefit from the group's assistance. The campaign technically began Wednesday, although Thursday was the day of the launch.
In the fund-raising campaign, shoppers who make a $1 donation will receive a coupon book with $9.50 worth of deals. Also, whenever people buy either Food Lion brand water or specially marked cereal boxes from General Mills — which makes Cheerios, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Lucky Charms, Total and others — those companies will donate money as well.
Last year, the company raised $4.5 million from shoppers: a record haul for the program that is going into its 22nd year.
In addition to Sanford being chosen as the location for the program's media launch, two local children were chosen as faces of the campaign and will have their photos on boxes of cereal as well as fliers and other promotional materials.
Faith McNeill, 7, and Isaiah Johnson, 2, both live in Sanford and have families who credit Easter Seals for helping them make huge steps in their development.
Faith suffers from Down syndrome, and her mother, Lisa Britt, said she never would have been able to handle Faith's special needs, while also trying to raise other children as a single mother, without help from Easter Seals. Stepping Stones Children's Center, the daycare program that Easter Seals operates on Kelly Drive in Sanford, was the only day care program in the area that would take Faith, Britt said.
"As soon as we walked in the door ... they weren't just willing to keep her; they were excited to have her," she said.
Faith literally took her first steps at Stepping Stones, Britt said, an apt metaphor for how the group helped her grow and develop. Now, Faith is in the Harnett County public school system, and Britt said she misses the care Stepping Stones provided.
Isaiah, on the other hand, is still enjoying that care. He was accompanied to Thursday's event by his grandmother, Sheila Seymore, who said the boy has a mild form of cerebral palsy, and that she and his mother can't imagine trying to raise him without the care provided by Stepping Stones and Easter Seals.
"We couldn't have done anything about him without them," she said, smiling at the boy as he "signed" the cereal boxes with his picture on it by scribbling with a magic marker. She said those very motor skills he was putting on display were something the program has really helped him with, as well as his speaking skills.
Earlier in the morning, as proof of that point, Faith took the microphone from a presenter and sang something before handing it to Isaiah, who grabbed it and followed with a verse of his own. It was clear the boy had no trouble displaying his motor and verbal skills for a crowd.
Jeff Smith, the chief communications officer for Easter Seals operations in North Carolina and Virginia, said the group helps about 20,000 children and adults each year in that region. In Lee County, it operates a home for special needs adults in addition to Stepping Stones. He said that while the group's help lights up the lives of their charges, the light couldn't go on without community support and donations.
"That light shines bright every day when you see our kids at the center preparing for school," he said. "And your help makes that light shine bright."


text:
A lot of tuna recipes qualify as classic comfort food. Creamy tuna casseroles, cheesy tuna melts, mayo-laden tuna salads. Sure, they taste great, but I wouldn't exactly call them healthy. And even if you wanted to indulge in some of those tuna tempations, it's kind of hard to find quality tuna these days. My mom… [read more]
Recipe: Tuna-Stuffed Tomatoes with Apples and Tarragon #OceanNaturals
October 17, 2013 by 31 Comments


text:
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You may return or exchange your jewelry within 60 days of purchase if you are not satisfied with it. The jewelry must be returned in its original condition for a refund or exchange. Engraved, personalized, photo, monogram, name and initial, chocolate and clearance items are not returnable or exchangeable.


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Kate Middleton may be able to rest a little easier at night knowing that the Irish tabloid editor who published photos of her topless is now out of a job.
Michael O'Kane, the editor of the Irish Daily Star, resigned today following his September decision to publish photos of the Duchess of Cambridge sunbathing sans bikini top.
The resignation comes after O'Kane's suspension, various tensions with shareholders, and the tabloid owner's threat to shut down the newspaper entirely.
"As a result of the publication on 15 September 12, issues arose with the shareholders of Independent Star Limited," the Irish Daily Star wrote in a statement to the BBC. "Having considered those issues in tandem with Mr. O'Kane, it is Mr. O'Kane's decision to resign as editor of the Irish Daily Star."
Source: E! News, BBC
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Key findings from Scotland:
In the last five years
Since this study was first conducted in 2007, Stonewall has produced a range of high-quality, age-appropriate resources to help teachers combat homophobic bullying. Stonewall has also been working directly with schools, local authorities and national agencies, among others, to develop strategies for tackling bullying. Across Britain, the 2012 study show the encouraging results of this work:


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A crucial part of dealing with ice and snow involves making sure that your car can handle the punishment storms can dish out, and how to stay safe.
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Towing reviews in Livingston
to Indianapolis. I rode with him in the cab. He was incredibly friendly and it was a safe drive. He definitely made the bad experience as good as it could be!
Hopefully I won't have to use him again anytime soon, but I would I highly recommend him and I'd use him again if I find myself stranded in the middle of no where.
Hopefully I won't have to use him again anytime soon, but I would I highly recommend him and I'd use him again if I find myself stranded in the middle of no where.
I had gone shopping at a store that was about 15 miles from my home. My husband who is not well and uses oxygen wanted to ride with me just to get out of the house. He remained in the vehicle while I went inside to purchase my items. When I came out, with my packages I motioned for him to unlock the doors and the electric locks would not work. When I got inside the car and turned the key - the battery was dead. I do have AARP Roadside Assistance and when I contacted them they connected me with
He sure saved the day for an older couple!
On a personal note, it did not hurt that he ended each conversation with wishing me "a blessed day".
He sure saved the day for an older couple!
On a personal note, it did not hurt that he ended each conversation with wishing me "a blessed day".
I had a long wait for Triple A to arrive. When the technician arrived he had no idea how to deal with a hybrid Toyota Prius. Someone (who was totally unknown to me)eventually came over and showed the call-out technician where the battery was! If it had not been for this considerate person who was observing what was going on (while he waited for his wife to finish her shopping) I could have been left without any transport. I have a 1st grader who needed to be collected from school and I was pretty frantic as apparently no one knew why the vehicle was unresponsive. Ultimately the car was started--by the stand-by person not the Triple A responder. The kind person who directed the very young & inexperienced responder also told me where to go to ensure the battery (not the regular battery but the Prius battery) could be charged. Apparently only a few dealers have the ability to do this. The Toyota dealer where I bought the car would not come out and look at the problem; they said to take it to the Nissan dealer--which I did. The story continues please contact me at email@example.com for the full and complete story! It was a nightmare!"
I called and told them where the car was and where it needed to go. It was a short distance, and they apologized for the minimum be placed. The whole thing was finished within an hour of my call. Their service was quick and easy.
I told them I had an appointment earlier in the day, and I would make sure to be there at a certain time to give them the key. They claim that they knocked on my door, but they never did. I heard the truck pulling away, so I quickly called. She was rude and said that they that this was a scheduled pick up, not a repo! She said someone was out my door, but then I heard them honking and back in my parking lot. She then said they "
At first it still would start even with the jump pack applied. But to me.
They showed up quickly and changed the tire. They put on my spare tire but it needed air and they did not have a pump. I called the office to complain and they seemed surprised that the service tech did not have an air pump but then said well, not all of the trucks have them. I asked for at least a partial credit because I then had to drive 1/2 hour to my car and back with an air pump to pump up the tire. He refused to give me any discount and said he changed the tire and so his service was completed. I told him it would have been completed if the tire had been filled with air so that it could be driven. I would not ever recommend this company.
Towing Services in Livingston, MT
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Auto Transport - United Freight Of America
1844 N Nob Hill Rd
Auto Transporters Online
25108 Marguerite PKWY, Ste A-353
270 Automotive Ave
Crash Towing
427 N 13th St
Fast Motion Auto Transport
1300 McGowen St
Montway Auto Transport
4740 N Cumberland Ave
Move My Automobile
5573 Bryan Drive
Reliable Carriers Inc
41555 Koppernick Rd
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My birthday's TODAY (August 4th)! If you wanted to get me something, the best gift you can give is by becoming a Defender or renewing your Defender membership! Since before Kickstarter and Patreon existed, you guys were keeping this comic a-running and there's nothing I'd rather do! Except maybe nap. And you guys can't buy me a nap. So instead become a defender! And THANKS! Happy b-day to me!
Intervention6 is just TWO WEEKS AWAY! August 14-16, at the Hilton Washington DC/Rockville! I've got two panels Saturday morning (at 10 and 11!) and one on Sunday! My eldest daughter Leah will be with me selling doodles and doing commissions and raking in the dough like she did last intervention! I hope you guys can come by and us!
We STILL seem to have a RANDOM ARCHIVE GLITCH where clicking on the next comic will take you to the next comic page, but oddly display a comic from a totally different date. Hitting Refresh sometimes helps. We're working on it!


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A murder was solves in downtown Yadkinville on Oct. 6.
The Yadkinville Downtown Business Association held its second Dinner and Mystery event at Allison Oaks on Main St. in Yadkinville to a crowd of 65, a slight dip from their audience of 72 in February.
The play titled The Playboy Murder was written by Lisa Reavis Drum and performed by Cindy Austin, Lisa Drum, Jim Drum, John Hutchens, Wayne Matthews, Becky McCarron, Tony McCarson, Trish Todd and Bobby Todd.
The event brought in a profit of $975 for the DBA, allowing the organization to pay off its debt for the courthouse project. The DBA also donated gift baskets that were awarded to two the two audience members who guessed the correct killer.
Trish Todd's character, Agatha Crabbit, was the guilty party. Crabbit was the victim's longtime housekeeper and had a dirty little horse race gambling addiction. When her boss decided to fire her for stealing and feeding him horse meat she decided to make him disappear.
Wayne Matthews provided the surprise for the night. He kept his participation in the play a secret from everyone except the other players. It was his first stage performance.
Matthews wasn't the only new starlet on the stage, however. Cindy Austin wowed the crowd with her ingenue performance as Trixie Blue, the victim's latest marketing intern with some questionable morals.
Brenda Brown, DBA treasurer, said that the event was another huge success. She says that the DBA hopes to continue the event next year and make it a yearly occurrence.
Brown said that the DBA would like to thank Jean and Pam Renegar at Allison Oaks for hosting the event again, Lisa Reavis Drum for writing the play, Southern Bride for providing the costumes and Regal Catering for providing food for the event.


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Pick out the produce yourself, rather than have the vendor chose. Avoid produce that is wrapped in plastic. By fully seeing what you're buying youŌĆÖll bring home less waste & can select the plumpest & freshest.┬Ā Some produce stands have a strict ŌĆ£No pick!ŌĆØ policy, enforced by beady-eyed vendors scowling like hovering hornets.┬Ā My policy is that I donŌĆÖt buy fruit or vegetables that arenŌĆÖt fresh, so I like to pick my own.┬Ā By selecting each piece of produce yourself (each cherry and green bean) you will quickly learn how to select the freshest, bruised- & blemish-free best, insuring maximum value.┬Ā Preparations begin with cleaned produce, and this is the section that details cleaning & cutting.
That said, it isn't a bad idea to stock your freezer with a variety of frozen vegetables, absent any added sugar, salt, additives, chemicals or preservatives (freezing is a food preservative, that's the point of freezing.)┬Ā Buying frozen is an easy way to acquaint yourself with a variety of different vegetables.┬Ā You don't have to clean or cut them.┬Ā Steaming frozen vegetables is quick on the stove or in the microwave; add your own butter, seasonings and spices accordingly.┬Ā Frozen vegetables are handy to keep at the workplace (if you have a freezer) for a quick addition to lunch.┬Ā Add them to prepared soups or salads.┬Ā Store in a grip-lock storage bag & cook only the amount needed.
APPLE ŌĆō Crispen, Delicious, Empire, Fuji, Gala, Granny Smith, Honey Crisp, Macintosh, Mitsu, Rome — the list is endless!
SHOP┬Ā Fall through winter
Look for apples that have a bit of shine on them, as well as lack of bruising.┬Ā A wrinkled skin means theyŌĆÖre way too old.
With small, sharp paring knife, cut apple in polar half, then each half into polar half.┬Ā Cut out center core from each quarter with a small, sharp paring knife. If the apple is fresh, the core will pop out nicely. Slice each quarter into polar slices.┬Ā Of course, apples donŌĆÖt have to be cut to be eaten.┬Ā Great for an on-the-go snack.
Apples retain their crispness when cold; I keep mine in an open basket in the refrigerator crisper.
Apples are plentiful year round, no reason to freeze.
Saute, bake.
SHOP┬Ā Apricot – May through August; Aprium & Red Velvet Apricot – June
Skin has a soft, delicate, velvety texture.┬Ā Select fruit that is just beginning to soften.┬Ā Hard fruit indicates premature picking.
APRICOT┬Ā Look for deep yellow to orange color with a little blush & no signs of green.┬Ā Light yellow color means theyŌĆÖve been picked prematurely.┬Ā Dark spots or wrinkles indicate age.
APRIUM, RED VELVET APRICOT┬Ā Look for a light red color with a gold highlights & no signs of green.
Do not clean until ready to eat.┬Ā Holding gently, run under spray of cold water.
Store in fruit bowl for up to 2 days.
SHOP ŌĆō May through October
Look for a dull green color, with minimal browning.┬Ā Artichokes are never brightly colored, but the amount of brown does indicate freshness, with the freshest produce having little or no brown.┬Ā Browning begins at the tip of the leaves and works its way down to the stem.
CLEAN & CUT ┬ĀDo not clean until ready to use.┬Ā Rinse in running tap water, then turn upside down to remove water.┬Ā Cut the stem flush with the artichoke so it sits level on the plate.
Store in refrigerator crisper for up to a week, depending upon its freshness when purchased.
ARUGULA (Fresh basil is similar in selecting, cleaning & storing, but not in flavor)
SHOP┬Ā Early spring
Select leaves that are moist & green with no yellowing.
Best cleaned just prior to use.┬Ā Arugula is grown in sandy soil, so unless you buy pre-washed, arugula will have a lot of sand clinging to the leaves. ┬ĀThe only way to remove all of the sand is to soak it out.┬Ā Argula is a delicate plant, and too much water can bruise it.┬Ā Bruises will look like dark green areas of the leaves.┬Ā Put leaves in a large light-colored bowl filled with cold tap water.┬Ā Let soak a minute.┬Ā You will see the sand begin to fall to the bottom of the bowl.┬Ā Lift out the leaves, dump the water and sand, and refill the bowl with water. ┬ĀRepeat until you see no more sand fall to the bottom of the bowl.┬Ā Drain and dry before using in a wire basket or on paper towels.┬Ā Tear leaves for use in salads or sandwiches.
Store arugula, unwashed, in an air-tight container in the refrigerator.┬Ā Washed arugula will keep for a day; unwashed for less than a week.┬Ā If condensation forms in container, open & let dry; then cover & return to refrigerator.
SHOP┬Ā Early spring to early summer.
Look for narrow, green stalks and tips of a soft, faintly purple color.┬Ā The smaller the spears, the younger the plant.┬Ā Any presence of moisture or sliminess in the tip, or wrinkling of the stalk indicates advanced age.
Lay stalks in a shallow pan of water for a few minutes to dislodge sand from the tip.┬Ā Rinse.┬Ā Repeat until no sand is visible on the bottom of the pan.┬Ā Break off the large ends of each stalk.┬Ā It will naturally break where it becomes fibrous.┬Ā You shouldnŌĆÖt have to peel the large stalk ends unless they are larger than 1/2″ in diameter.┬Ā Let air-dry before roasting.
Do not clean asparagus until ready to cook.┬Ā Store in a plastic grocery bag in the crisper of the refrigerator; use within 2 days.
AVOCADO -Haas (bumpy skin) & Florida (smooth skin)
Of the two types of avocados, I much prefer the Haas.┬Ā They are the ones with the bumpy, rather than smooth, skins.┬Ā While they are smaller, they are more flavorful and their ripening is more easily determined.┬Ā Most avocados arrive at the market with green-colored skins.┬Ā As they ripen, they darken to black.┬Ā Once they have turned black, their shelf life is very short.┬Ā DonŌĆÖt buy a blackened avocado unless youŌĆÖre going to eat it that day.┬Ā Ripe avocados are often cheaper than unripened, but if surface waviness is apparent, the fruit has already begun to rot inside and will already have begun to turn brown.┬Ā Avoid them; you'll be disappointed at any price.┬Ā Avocados are ripe when black and you can detect a slight softening of the inside to gentle pressure.┬Ā Buy avocados with a tiny bit of stem at the narrow end; an easy way to tell if they are ripened is to press your thumb against the stem.┬Ā If it comes off easily with a very little bit of pressure, it is ready to eat.
Cut in polar half by easing a small, sharp paring knife around the large pit at the center.┬Ā Before removing knife, use it as a lever against one cut side to separate the fruit from the pit.┬Ā If you slice through the seed, it will be harder to remove.┬Ā Especially if the avocado is soft, slicing through the pit may squash against the soft pulp making a mess of it. ┬ĀThe whole pit will remain attached to the other half of the fruit.┬Ā Hold the avocado in one hand (as if you were squeezing a sponge) and jab the knife blade into the hard seed at an angle with your stronger hand.┬Ā Twist the knife and the seed will come out easily.┬Ā Pull the seed off the knife and discard the pit (or place in water to sprout; it actually makes a nice house plant!)┬Ā Peel the tough skin from the fruit using the knife or your fingers.┬Ā If it is perfectly ripened, the flesh will be just firm and the skin will pull easily away.┬Ā If fruit is soft you can scoop out the pulp with a spoon.┬Ā Acting as little bowls, the ripe avocado halves can be eaten right out of their skin cups.
Keep unripe avocados at room temperature.┬Ā If you are not ready to eat a ripened avocado, store it in the refrigerator but donŌĆÖt forget about it!┬Ā It will keep for only a day or two. ┬ĀIf using only half of an avocado do not remove the pit.┬Ā Store the half with the pit intact; only exposed surfaces of the fruit will darken.┬Ā Drizzle a drop of lemon juice or vinegar over the entire cut surface and store in airtight container in the refrigerator.┬Ā Eat within a day or two, slicing off the cut edge which may have begun to brown slightly.
DonŌĆÖt even think of freezing an avocado!
Buy bananas in their green state if you can wait a day or two for them to ripen.┬Ā Choose yellow peels with slightly green ends for eating. ┬ĀBananas are best eaten before developing any brown spots on the peel.┬Ā DonŌĆÖt buy more bananas than you & your family can eat in a few days; the more you buy, the greener they should be.
No cleaning necessary, and never put bananas in the refrigerator.┬Ā ┬Ā They will almost immediately turn brown.
Store in the fruit bowl at room temperature.
Fresh looking sprouts are firm, crisp and white, with no traces of brown.┬Ā They should not smell.
Run under cold tap water & drain.
Store┬Ā in airtight container in refrigerator for up to 2 days.
Add to wok, soups.
SHOP┬Ā Winter
Select smooth but rugged-looking (even dirty-looking) beets with tops attached.
Cut tops close to the beet, leaving long root end attached.┬Ā Rinse well under running water, dislodging dirt.┬Ā They have been pulled from the earth!
Keep in loosely tied plastic grocery bag in vegetable crisper.
SHOP┬Ā Early to mid-summer
Larger berries tend to be sweeter.┬Ā Turn containers upside down and inspect for whole, dry berries.┬Ā Avoid buying tiny blueberries as they will be quite tart and hard.┬Ā Older blueberries have begun to weep and may have formed a white, fuzzy mold.
Put in a colander & rinse under spray of cold water.
Store in a small fruit bowl for up to 24 hours, or longer in refrigerator.
Blueberries can be frozen after rinsing & air drying.┬Ā Frozen blueberries can be added to a fruit salad prior to serving.┬Ā They will keep the other fruit a little cooler as they come to room temperature.
Select firm stalks with deep bluish-green tops, or just the florets.┬Ā Age shows in a limp stalk and a yellowing of the tops.
Cut broccoli into two parts:┬Ā the stalk and the flowers.┬Ā The stalk can be peeled to remove the outer layer that may be tough, then sliced laterally into rounds less than ┬ĮŌĆØ thick for cooking.┬Ā Separate the flowered tops into bite-sized florets for cooking or dipping raw as crudites.
Store chilled in airtight container.
Steam, stir-fry or use in soup.
CABBAGE Primo, Red, Chinese, Savoy, & BRUSSELS SPROUTS
SHOP┬Ā Winter
Look for tightly-wrapped compact heads with no wilting or brown edges. ┬ĀSavoy and some Chinese cabbages can be found in smaller heads for a smaller quantity, or use Brussels sprouts.
Just rinse Brussels sprouts in water, and trim the stem end before cooking whole or cut in half.
For cabbage, peel off loose, outer leaves that may be brown or pulling away from head.┬Ā ┬ĀWith a small, sharp paring knife, cut out core at an angle.┬Ā Slice in polar half, then chop each half into large squares, about 1ŌĆØ square.┬Ā For coleslaw, cut in polar half, then slice each half into thin slivers.
Store in refrigerator crisper drawer.┬Ā Cabbage & Brussels sprouts will keep about a week.
SHOP┬Ā Winter
If you are tempted to purchase peeled carrots in cellophane bags, be aware that e-coli bacteria has been found to grow in packaged fresh vegetables.┬Ā If you simply must buy carrots in cellophane, make sure that they are dry coming out of the package.┬Ā Any wet, slimy feel indicates that bacteria has begun to form inside the air-tight environment.┬Ā Because vegetables are so quick and easy to clean and cook, it doesnŌĆÖt really make much sense to pay a premium to have carrots peeled for you.
Select loose carrots, either with or without tops.┬Ā Surface should be relatively clean, free from splitting and dryness.┬Ā Eyes, like those of potatoes, are where shoots are sent out, so if you see any shoots those carrots are definitely too old.┬Ā I prefer larger carrots:┬Ā they are easier to grate (for salads) and make nice large, round slices (for raw snacking or dipping).
Peel carrots because the skin is a little on the bitter side.┬Ā Holding carrot in one hand, run vegetable peeler ŌĆō away from you ŌĆō along surface of carrot in the other hand.┬Ā Rotate carrot as you peel.┬Ā With sharp paring knife cut off large end.┬Ā Cut laterally into rounds, 1/4″ thick for raw snacking or dipping.┬Ā Cut smaller carrots into strips 2 to 3ŌĆØ long, then in half lengthwise if needed.┬Ā For cooking, carrots can be sliced into rounds or cut into strips, whichever looks best on the plate.┬Ā For use in soup or broth, slicing into rounds better enables capture by soup spoons.┬Ā A small bowl of carrot rounds is ideal for snacking while preparing meals.┬Ā Children love them, especially if┬Ā called 'carrot candiesŌĆÖ.
Cut off green tops and store airtight in refrigerator or in crisper drawer.
SHOP┬Ā Winter
Select a head with white, tightly-packed, unblemished florets surrounded by firm green leaves.┬Ā Age shows in browning of the top of the florets and dryness on the cut area.
Remove the green leaves & discard. With a sharp paring knife at an angle, cut the core out of the bottom of the head.┬Ā Head can be cooked whole, or cut into florets for cooking or as crudites.┬Ā With the tip of the knife beginning at the bottom of the head, cut & separate large florets, then separate into bite-sized florets for cooking or dipping raw.
Will keep for 3 days stored refrigerated in airtight container or in crisper drawer.
Steam, stir-fry or add to soups & stews.
SHOP┬Ā Spring
Select a bright light green head of celery, with no brown on stalks or leaves.┬Ā As celery ages, it will begin to go limp, but age is not always readily apparent until the head is cut opened and the inner stalks are seen to be turning brown.┬Ā Know your green market to avoid vendors selling old produce.
Cut off about 1ŌĆØ from the bottom end of the head, separate individual stalks and rinse away any dirt, rubbing if necessary.┬Ā Cut off any brown leaves or dried ends.┬Ā Leaves can be used in soups and stocks; small, tender shoots for crudit├®s, salads & snacking; and larger stalks cut up for ingredients to dishes like curry and stuffing.
Store in air-tight container in the refrigerator or in crisper drawer.┬Ā Wilted stalks can be revived by spritzing & chilling.
Fresh chives will be firm but delicate reeds of dark green with no hint of limpness.
Do not clean until ready to use. ┬ĀChives donŌĆÖt usually need much cleaning, simply run briefly under cold water and shake off moisture.
Put in plastic grocery bag and store in refrigerator crisper.
Select healthy green leaves & stalks.┬Ā Yellowing is a sign of age.
Twist off root ends, rinse well under running water and drain until dry. ┬ĀTear off leaves and use whole ,or tear or chop into smaller bits, depending upon use.
Store in air-tight container in the refrigerator.┬Ā Wilted leaves can be revived by spritzing with water & chilling.
SHOP┬Ā Winter
The clementine comes out just before the end-of year holidays and have a relatively short season.┬Ā This easy-to-peel citrus is like a tiny tangerine with a slightly tart flavor and (few or) no seeds.┬Ā They are often sold in small wooden crates or net bags, and make a colorful addition to any fruit bowl.┬Ā Select bright orange skins with a little sheen.┬Ā If dull and beginning to wrinkle with age, they will be difficult to peel.
No cleaning necessary, just peel, remove the few white threads & separate the sections.┬Ā Easy enough for a five-year-old.
The fruit bowl on the kitchen counter-top or the dining room table!┬Ā Clementines, in a bowl of pine cones, help cheer the winter solstice.
SHOP┬Ā Grown in hot, sunny, tropics, imported coconuts are available most of the year
Look for medium brown, dry, hairy coconut shell with no cracks. Shaken, if you cannot hear the coconut milk inside, the coconut is too old & dry. The presence of white mold also indicates advanced age.
No cleaning necessary. If you want, you can drain the milk inside by drving an icepick into two of the three 'eyes' wiht a hammer.┬Ā On a hard surface like a floor or patio or holding the coconut in one hand, use a hammer to tap on itŌĆÖs equator, rotating around until it splits open, catching the undrained milk in a bowl.┬Ā You may have to tap around its circumference twice before it splits open.┬Ā Then, with a strong round-bladed knife that you donŌĆÖt mind ruining, slide the blade in between the shell & the flesh & pop the meat from the shell.┬Ā If it does not cooperate, score the meat into squares & pry again. Coconut can be eaten as is, the thin brown skin attached to the white, white coconut meat is edible, so donŌĆÖt waste your time trying to peel it away. Use coconut milk in smoothies or cooked recipes. Shred coconut meat with a grater or finely chop to use raw or cooked, added to recipes.
Store in large pieces in air-tight, rigid container in refrigerator (not a plastic bag) for up to 2 days, after which mold will begin to form.┬Ā Grate before ready to use.
SHOP┬Ā Summer to early fall.
Look for large ears with the husk intact.
Corn doesnŌĆÖt need to be cleaned.┬Ā Just prior to cooking, shuck each ear, removing the husk and the silky hairs.┬Ā Trim off the flat stump on one end so it fits in a deep skillet, or break the ears in half to fit into a smaller pot.
Put unshucked ears in grocerŌĆÖs plastic bag, leaving top open.┬Ā Will keep for a few days but, like all produce, the sooner cooked the better.
Easy!┬Ā Shuck corn of its light green natural outer husk, including the fine yellow hairs clinging to the ear.┬Ā Break each ear in half, for stability while cutting the kernels off the cob.┬Ā No need to wash off the corn; it should be dry before freezing so the kernels wonŌĆÖt stick together.┬Ā Stand each half ear ŌĆō cut side down ŌĆō on a cutting board and, with your large chefŌĆÖs knife, slice down close to the cob, cutting off about four rows of corn with each cut.┬Ā Rotate cob and slice down another ŌĆśsideŌĆÖ.┬Ā Repeat until all corn is off the cob.┬Ā It should be easy to cut.┬Ā If the knife meets with great resistance, you are holding the knife too close to the cob.┬Ā Move it further away from the cob and slice at the base of the kernels.┬Ā Discard the cob.┬Ā Put the corn kernels into a zip lock bag, date and freeze.┬Ā You can take out just as much as you need for each serving.┬Ā Frozen corn is good to quickly heat and eat, or to add to soup, giving it added texture.
Select firm cucumbers that have a mildly waxy skin.┬Ā Avoid those with wrinkles or soft spots; bruises will not necessarily be discolored.
Rinse in cold tap water.┬Ā Stripe skin with vegetable peeler or scorer; slice laterally 1/8ŌĆØ or thinner for salads or on sandwiches.
Store in airtight container in refrigerator.┬Ā Cut cucumbers do not last long once cut, so chose small ones.
Look for bright green dill with soft fronds w/no brown, dry or mushy fronds.
CLEAN & CUT ┬ĀDill is quite delicate; do not clean until ready to use.┬Ā Run under cold water & shake water off of fronds.┬Ā Most preparations call for the soft fronds only; discard the stems.
Store dry in air-tight container in refrigerator for up to 4 days.┬Ā If condensation appears, open container for an hour, let dry' then cover & return to refrigerator.
Use raw in dips, as garnish or add to small flower arrangements.┬Ā Use fresh in any number of fish & vegetable dishes and in pickling.
You can sometimes find fresh edamame at local green markets, and they have them frozen as well.┬Ā Look for light green pods and beans with no brown spots.
Shelled edamame are ready to cook; edamame in their pods need only be rinsed in cold tap water before steaming.
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.┬Ā Use quickly as they donŌĆÖt keep for a long time in the refrigerator.
I always like to have edamame in the freezer.┬Ā ItŌĆÖs easy to take out the amount needed & thaw them quickly in hot water to use in salads, or cook & serve as a side dish.
SHOP ┬ĀSelect eggplant that are deep purple with a smooth skin with a little shine to it.
CLEAN & CUT ┬ĀRinse under cold tap water. ┬ĀPeel skin in stripes.┬Ā Cut depending upon preparation.
STORE┬Ā Will keep in the refrigerator crisper drawer, unwrapped for up to a week, or on counter-top for 2 days.
FIG ŌĆō Purple, green
SHOP┬Ā Summer
Look for firm figs with smooth skin – rich in purple color, or light green – that have just begun to soften, but not too much!┬Ā A wrinkled skin means theyŌĆÖre already too old. Fins are fully ripened when no longer firm to the touch.
Rinse gently just before eating, and cut off the stem tip.┬Ā Cut into quarter wedges for fruit salads.┬Ā A serrated knife is best for slicing as the sawing action prevents the soft fruit from being crushed under pressure of the knife.┬Ā Or eat whole as a snack.
Store at room temperature in a fruit bowl. If you cannot eat a fig as soon as it has ripened, store in the refrigerator to halt its ripening, and eat a soon as possible after bringing it up to room temperature.
Look for knobs of garlic with outsides that are not dry or turning brown.┬Ā The freshest will be the heaviest.
Slice off the stem area end & peel the papery peel.┬Ā Can be mashed with & a sharp rap of the fist on the blade of a cleaver or a garlic press, or just cut with a paring knife.
I keep mine, unwrapped, in the butter bin of the refrigerator.┬Ā Can also be stored on the counter-top in a clay jar, but will begin to sprout at room temperature.
Roast or saut├® w/other foods.
SHOP┬Ā The top of the garlic plant with a strong garlic flavor, it looks like a long carnation stem grown circular rather than straight.┬Ā Look for firm stalks of a soft green color.
CLEAN & CUT┬Ā Rinse in running tap water & chop large or small, or mince.
STORE┬Ā Store in an air-tight container in the refrigerator.
Saut├® w/other foods.
Look for fresh-looking root with smooth, light brown skin that has a little sheen.┬Ā Dullness or wrinkles are signs of age, as well as pronounced dryness of the ends.
Peel the tough skin with a peeler or sharp knife & slice thinly, chop or mince as needed.
Keep in the butter compartment of the refrigerator door.┬Ā Buy small quantities as a little goes a long way & it will not keep for longer than two weeks before drying out and beginning to lose its flavor.
SHOP┬Ā Winter
Chose those with a bright yellow skin. Avoid soft spots or bruises & those with a lumpy skin.
Peel skin & pull off the bulk of the white strings around the segments and in the center. Separate sections & peel membrane away from individual sections as this is somewhat bitter.
STORE┬Ā Keep in fruit bowl at room temperature.
GRAPES ŌĆō Green, red, purple seedless
Seedless grapes are smaller than those with seeds, and more oval in shape.┬Ā Globe grapes tend to have seeds, so avoid them if you have small children.┬Ā Look for deep color of red or black grapes; all should cling to their vine.┬Ā If they are falling off, they are past their prime┬Ā If moisture is present in cellophane bag, if grapes are wrinkled or look slightly dusry, or if you can smell them they are well past their prime.
Put into colander and rinse under cold tap water.┬Ā Cut vine with kitchen scissors into bunches that are handful-size.
Store in fruit bowl at room temperature.
Grapes can be frozen and then put into cocktails as little ice cubes, but eating thawed grapes as a fruit isnŌĆÖt so great.
Look for large, fat beans with no black spots or dried ends.┬Ā If beans have begun to go limp, they are well past their prime.┬Ā Break an end off; if it snaps off without bending, theyŌĆÖre fresh. ┬ĀSelect individual beans from the bin to avoid those that have bad spots or are less fresh.┬Ā It will take a little longer, but worth because it┬Ā allows you to select the largest, freshest ones in the pile.
Place in colander and rinse under cold tap water.┬Ā Pinch or cut off ends.┬Ā Beans can be cooked long or sliced into shorter strips.┬Ā I prefer long, but if serving children, cut 1ŌĆØ long.┬Ā Shorter beans will take a little less time to cook than longer ones, but not by much.
Store in closed plastic bag in the refrigerator.┬Ā If condensation begins to form, open bag.┬Ā Will keep for 3 days before beginning to go limp or turning brown.
Steam, stir-fry, add to soups & stews.
SHOP┬Ā Early spring
Selecting small green onions will allow you to use a whole one when making smaller portions, rather than using just part of a larger one.┬Ā Choose healthy, moist looking stalks that are white at one end and green at the other, with no wilted or dryed areas.
Rinse in clear water & drain.┬Ā Trim ends & slice laterally.
Store in air-tight container in the refrigerator.
HONEY TANGERINE or MURCOTT
SHOP Winter through early spring
Honey tangerine is the new name for what used to be murcotts.┬Ā They have a smoother skin than tangerines and are a bright yellow orange color.┬Ā Avoid soft or brown spots.┬Ā Random green areas are okay, but donŌĆÖt buy those that are mostly green.┬Ā Citrus keeps a relatively long time ŌĆō a week or more.┬Ā If the fruit itself has begun to dry out, it is edible, but well past prime.┬Ā The skin will become dull, wrinkled & thin, & more difficult to peel.
No cleaning necessary.┬Ā Peel skin; murcotts donŌĆÖt have as many white strings around the segments and in the center as do tangerines, and they are sweeter.┬Ā Sections separate easily.
Keep in fruit bowl at room temperature.
Curly or flat with hearty stems, kale is a dusty green color with an almost purple tinge.┬Ā Avoid any leaves turning yellow or dark or dry spots or edges.
Rinse in cold running water.┬Ā Trim off stem ends, as they can be bitter.
Cleaned kale will keep up to 3 days in closed plastic grocery bag in refrigerator crisper.┬Ā If storing longer, put in airtight container; will keep for 4 to 5 days.
Select fruit that is somewhat firm, but does not offer thumb resistance.┬Ā Ripeness can some quickly, and when the fruit begins to feel soft, but before the skin┬Ā becomes wrinkled.
This somewhat hairy-looking fruitŌĆÖs secret is in knowing how to best peel & slice it.┬Ā Cut out the stem area in a ŌĆśVŌĆÖ with the tip of a sharp paring knife (like you do a tomato), then slice off the opposite end.┬Ā Peel like you would an onion, slipping the knife under the skin & pulling the skin with your thumb against the knife.┬Ā Peeling the skin off, rather than slicing it off, will maintain the roundness of the fruit.┬Ā If the skin doesn't peel, it isn't quite ripened.┬Ā To slice, use an egg slicer because a ripe kiwi is very soft and even slicing with a knife can cause it to smoosh.┬Ā A side benefit is consistent slices.┬Ā A very ripe kiwi can be refrigerated to make it easier to slice.
In the fruit bowl at room temperature.
SHOP┬Ā Winter.
Select firm orange fruits with as little green as possible.┬Ā Avoid any brown spots or evidence of wrinkling.
Rinse under cold tap water & remove stem before eating whole, unpeeled.┬Ā Discard seeds.
At room temperature in the fruit bowl.
Look for white bulbs and healthy, green tops with no yellowing or browning.
Do not clean until ready to use. ┬ĀTo use in preparations, cut in half lengthwise, then slice crosswise.┬Ā Place in colander and run under cold water.┬Ā It is important to remove the dirt lodged between the layers.┬Ā If you want to use lateral slices, soak in cold water.┬Ā Rings may have to be separated to fully clean.
Put in plastic grocery bag and store in refrigerator crisper.
Heavy lemons have the most juice. ┬ĀSelect heavy lemons with thin skin; the smoother the skin, the thinner the skin and the easier it is to extract the juice. ┬ĀLook┬Ā for bright yellow color with no brown spots.
Slice with a serrated stainless steel knife.┬Ā Do not use carbon steel knives because the citric acid will dull the blade.┬Ā The sawing motion of the serrated edge does a better job of cutting easily through the skin.┬Ā Cut lemon laterally in half to extract juice by either squeezing or using a juicer.┬Ā For smaller wedges, cut in half laterally, then polar slice into wedges.┬Ā To decorate with round slices, slice laterally.┬Ā ZEST:┬Ā With a citrus zester or fine grater, lightly scrape off the outermost yellow layer of peel from the lemon, not grating into the white pulp.
Store uncut lemons for a day or two in a fruit bowl at room temperature.┬Ā To store for longer, keep in basket in refrigerator.┬Ā Store cut lemon in a glass refrigerator jar, cut side down.
- CRISPHEAD ICEBERG┬Ā The least nutrient-dense of all the lettuces and often the least flavorful; will also last the longest in captivity.┬Ā Characterized by its crisp crunch of all parts of the leaves, it grows in tight heads.
- ROMAINE COS, RED, GREEN┬Ā Grows in long, upright leaves rather than heads, leaves are crisp, and get darker toward the leaf tips.┬Ā About half of the leaf is firm and stem-like.┬Ā Red romaine tends to be more tender than green.
- LOOSELEAF GREEN or RED LEAF, the soft maroon color growing deeper the further it gets from the stem.┬Ā Leaf lettuce is sweet and soft, growing in short or long leaves rather than heads, and is very flavorful.
- BUTTERHEAD BOSTON, BUTTER & BIBB┬Ā The head lettuce with buttery softness is also the most fragile.┬Ā So named because of the light butter color of the inner leaves or the sweet, buttery flavor.┬Ā This lettuce has almost no crunch, but rather a delicate softness.┬Ā Use with light salad dressings of more delicate flavors.
- FIELD GREEN MESCULN, SPRING MIX┬Ā A mix of many young salad greens, usually dandelion leaves, tat soi, mustard greens, oakleaf, mizuma, etc.
- BELGIAN ENDIVE┬Ā Tightly-packed, pointed leaves of yellow and white; crisp in texture.
- ENDIGIA, RED ENDIVE (French) Tightly-packed, pointed leaves of deep purple and white; crisp in texture.
- CURLY ENDIVE, FRIS├ēE┬Ā Lacy, loose leaf lettuce is green, bitter outer and more mild inner leaves
- CHICORY,┬Ā┬Ā Loose green leaves that are hairy-looking and bitter, but add interesting texture and flavor when combined with sweeter greens.
- ESCAROLE┬Ā Loose green leaves, broad and not as lacy or bitter as chicory.
- RADDICCHIO (Italian)┬Ā Tightly-packed heads of deep purple leaves going to white towards the center.┬Ā Bitter, it serves as a color and taste variety when mixed with other greens.┬Ā Most raddicchio is imported.
Buy smaller heads if youŌĆÖre preparing one or two servings per meal.┬Ā Select lettuce that looks young and tender; firm, unblemished heads with plenty of moisture & no browning.┬Ā Discard tougher outer leaves that serve as natural packaging.┬Ā Over-matured lettuce will be woody in texture.┬Ā Avoid dark green leaf edges beginning to decompose (slime).┬Ā Avoid buying lettuce in pre-packaged bags because of the risk of bacterial growth.┬Ā Fresh greens contain lots of moisture, and when condensation forms inside a plastic bag it is a breeding ground for living organisms.┬Ā Sunlight and air are the best disinfectants, and the best way to avoid bacterial growth.
It is a good idea to clean lettuce so that it will be ready to go for salads and sandwiches.┬Ā Break away leaves from core & rinse in clear running water.┬Ā Drain until moisture has evaporated.┬Ā For salads, tear into bite-size pieces; cutting lettuce with a knife will cause edges to turn brown more quickly.┬Ā See salad-drying tips.
An air-tight container specifically for lettuce is a good investment.┬Ā Alternatively, store in a┬Ā plastic zip lock bag in the refrigerator, away from apples.┬Ā If condensation begins to form inside the containt, open until it has evaporated, then reseal.┬Ā Greens that have wilted can sometimes be revived.┬Ā Rinse with cold water, shake to remove droplets and put in grip-lock storage bag in the refrigerator.┬Ā If it is going to revive, it will do so within twenty-four hours.┬Ā Use immediately.
Spritzed with olive oil, firmer varieties (romaine, raddicchio) can be cut in half and grilled.
Heavy limes have the most juice. ┬ĀSelect heavy limes with thin skin; the smoother the skin, the thinner the skin and the easier it is to squeeze the juice.┬Ā Select bright green color, with no┬Ā brown spots.
Slice with a serrated stainless steel knife.┬Ā Do not use carbon steel knives because the citric acid will dull the blade.┬Ā The sawing motion of the serrated edge does a better job of cutting easily through the skin.┬Ā Cut laterally in half to extract juice by either squeezing or using a juicer.┬Ā For smaller wedges, cut in half laterally, then polar slice into wedges.┬Ā To decorate with round slices, slice laterally.┬Ā ZEST:┬Ā With a citrus zester or fine grater, lightly scrape off the outermost green layer of peel from the lime, not grating into the white pulp.
Store uncut limes for a day or two in a fruit bowl at room temperature.┬Ā To store for longer, keep in basket in refrigerator.┬Ā Store cut lemon in a glass refrigerator jar, cut side down.
SHOP ŌĆō summer
Select firm fruit that yields ever so slightly to the touch yet is just entering the final ripening stage.┬Ā Avoid bruises, soft spots, or black dots (mold).┬Ā Eat as soon as ripened.
Rinse under cold running water.┬Ā Cut parallel and close to the pit with a bread knife, slicing off each end into one piece.┬Ā Hold one slice in the palm of your hand.┬Ā With your right hand, score a checkerboard into the flesh of the fruit, stopping the blade before it pierces the skin.┬Ā You can feel the tip .┬Ā Then insert the blade of the knife as close to the skin as possible and run it around the edge, rotating the frut in your hand, freeing the flesh from the skin, letting the scored cubes fall into the bowl.┬Ā Scrape the juicy remnants of fruit from the skin. Repeat with the other end slice.┬Ā Peel the skin from the center slice – that holds the pit – and scrape any pulp with the knife.┬Ā The flesh closest to the pit will be fibrous and more difficult to cut away.┬Ā Then squeeze the pit in your hand, letting the juice from the fruit run into the bowl.┬Ā There will be a lot of juicy pulp.
Store in the fruit bowl at room temperature.┬Ā If only part of a mango has been cut, store it, unpeeled, on a plate – cut side down – in the refrigerator.
MINT – Spearmint, Peppermint
Select healthy green leaves & stalks.┬Ā Overall yellowing is a sign of age, as is a blackening of the leaves.
Twist off root ends, if any; rinse well under running water and drain until dry.┬Ā Tear off leaves and use whole, or tear or chop into smaller bits, depending upon use.
Store in air-tight container in the refrigerator.┬Ā Wilted leaves can be revived by spritzing with water.┬Ā Leaves will darken in spots as they age, but mint is heartier than parsley.
MUSHROOM ŌĆō White Button, Brown Crimini & Portobello, Enocki; Shitake, Cinnamon Cap/Beech
SHOP┬Ā Early spring through summer
There are many types of mushrooms.┬Ā Most common is the white mushroom.┬Ā The whiter the better, with a moist softness.┬Ā If they look dry theyŌĆÖve begun to age.┬Ā Another type of all-purpose┬Ā mushroom is Crimini — a little browner in color — and tastes much like the white button.┬Ā When selecting, they should be just as fresh and moist looking as the white ones. Shitake mushrooms have a distinctive, woody flavor, and the stems are too tough to eat raw but are excellent for saut├®ing or otherwise cooking.┬Ā Similar in flavor to shitake are cinnamon cap mushrooms, tender & delicate, great to eat raw.
Do not clean mushrooms until you are ready to use them.┬Ā Mushrooms are like little sponges:┬Ā they absorb liquid, so do not clean by running them under water or they will steam when you're trying to saut├®.┬Ā Moisten a paper towel with a little water & brush the dark bits of soil off the caps & stem.┬Ā┬Ā Slice off the dry end of the stem; medium & large mushrooms can be sliced or chopped.┬Ā Enocchi & cinnamon cap mushrooms grow in clusters, rather than singly, are pristine & need no cleaning.┬Ā Separate & use whole.
Store unwashed in a glass jar (not air-tight) with a paper towel in the bottom. If jar begins to gather condensation, leave the jar open to room temperature for about an hour.┬Ā Replace lid & return to refrigerator.┬Ā Mushrooms will keep for about 5 days.
Mushrooms are available year-round, leaving little reason to freeze. They can be cooked in soups & sauces that are then frozen.
Saute, stir-fry or add to soups & stews.
SHOP Summer
Select pods three inches or less; longer, older okra will be woody & tough.┬Ā Okra should feel and look tender.┬Ā The surface feels soft (almost furry) to the touch.┬Ā Unlike peaches, donŌĆÖt try to wash off this quality as it is inherent to the plant & is not noticeable after cooking.
Okra is usually pretty clean when taken to market.┬Ā If you must wash it, put in a colander & run under cold water, shaking gently.┬Ā Do not clean until just before cooking.┬Ā Okra should be completely dry before cutting prior to frying.┬Ā Cook young, tender small okra pods whole, cutting off one end close to the stem tip.
Okra has a very short shelf life. It should be eaten within 24 hours of buying, as brown spots will begin to form and the clear, green green color will begin to dull and turn yellow.┬Ā Store at room temperature until ready to cook.
Saut├®, pan-fry, stew w/tomatoes or in soup or gumbo.┬Ā Gumbo is a French word for okra; gumbo refers to a soup or stew containing okra.┬Ā The mucilage, or goo, inside okra pods is a thickener for stews & gumbos.
ONION ŌĆō Yellow, White, Red, Vidalia, Pearl
SHOP┬Ā Winter
The yellow onion is the staple cooking onion, used in many dishes and good to keep on hand.┬Ā Buy a 2-lb bag of yellow onions; they are cheaper this way and you wonŌĆÖt have to buy them so frequently if you have them on hand.┬Ā┬Ā Look over the onions carefully, checking for bad spots.┬Ā Onions should be firm, with a little sheen to the skins.┬Ā If they are dull, that is the first sign of age.┬Ā Better to buy them individually than to start out with the less-than-fresh.
Onions do not need to be cleaned.┬Ā Slice off the ends, peel the skin.┬Ā Cut according to use.
Store in open bin in cool place or in refrigerator.
Saut├®, caramelize.
ORANGE ŌĆō Valencia, temple, navel
SHOP┬Ā Winter
Chose those with a bright orange, slightly pitted skin.┬Ā Avoid soft spots or bruises & those developing a chalky white residue on the skin.
Peel skin & pull off the bulk of the white strings around the segments and in the center.┬Ā Separate sections. ZEST:┬Ā With a citrus zester or fine grater, lightly scrape off the outermost orange layer of peel from the orange, not grating into the white pulp.
Keep in fruit bowl at room temperature.
Select healthy green leaves & stalks.┬Ā Yellowing is a sign of age.
Twist off root ends, if any; rinse well under running water and drain until dry. ┬ĀTear off leaves and use whole, or tear or chop into smaller bits, depending upon use.
Store in air-tight container in the refrigerator.┬Ā Wilted leaves can be revived by spritzing with water.
SHOP ŌĆō summer
Selected firm fruit that yields ever so slightly to the touch yet isnŌĆÖt soft.┬Ā Avoid bruises or soft spots, or fruit with no stem that looks as though something has borrowed into the fruit where the stem was.┬Ā Eat as soon as ripe.
CLEAN & CUT┬Ā ŌĆ©Rinse under cold running water, gently rubbing the fuzz off of peaches.┬Ā Cut with a serrated knife laterally into the fruit towards the seed and remove wedges one at a time.
STORE ŌĆ©Store in the fruit bowl at room temperature.
PEAS – Sweet green peas, sugar snap peas/sugar snaps, snow peas
SHOP Spring through early summer
Select firm, unblemished, closed pods of a clear, green color.┬Ā Age shows in limp or yellowing pods, or dark spots.┬Ā Sweet peas and sugar snaps are plump while snow peas, because of the undeveloped pea inside, are flat.
Rise in cool, running water.
SWEET GREEN PEAS Do not cut.┬Ā Break open pea pods & empty peas from inside, discarding pods.┬Ā Steam lightly, add to other dishes at the end, or use in soup.
SUGAR SNAP PEAS Do not cut.┬Ā Eat raw alone or use for dipping as crudit├®s.┬Ā Lightly steam, saut├® or stir-fry.
SNOW PEAS Do not cut; eat raw, lightly steam, or stir-fry.
Store at room temperature for a day, or in refrigerator crisper for 3 days.
SHOP┬Ā Lat fall through winter
Selecting a good persimmon takes some fruit divination.┬Ā Look for a smooth, orange skin, unwrinkled & umblemished.┬Ā Fruit should be neither hard nor soft (rather like a kiwi in resistance), although select one that is more soft than hard.
Rinse in cold tap water, remove stem area with an angled, serrated knife (the skin is tough) and cut into polar wedges.┬Ā Eat flesh by sucking the fruit off of the skin.┬Ā You can peel it, bit may find it more trouble than itŌĆÖs worth.
Keep in the fruit bowl until ripe.
POTATO – Red-skinned, Russet, Baking, Fingerling, Peruvian Purple
Select potatoes of uniform size for a particular dish:┬Ā smaller ones for cooking whole in stews, medium ones for roasting and serving alongside poultry and roasts, and larger ones for cutting up in soups.┬Ā Look for smooth skins with a little sheen and few eyes.┬Ā A dry, dull skin is beginning to show age, as are larger eyes.┬Ā If skin is wrinkled, pass.
Leave the skins on!┬Ā Most of the nutrients are in the skins, and they add texture and color when served whole or sliced.┬Ā Place in colander and rinse under cold tap water while shaking the colander.┬Ā Cut out the larger eyes of the potato using the tip of a peeler.┬Ā Smaller eyes can be left in.┬Ā Potatoes can be cooked whole or cut up; the smaller the piece, the quicker they will cook.┬Ā Small potatoes are nice left whole.
Store in an open bin in cool place.┬Ā If storage encourages growth of roots from the eyes, put them in an open basket in the refrigerator.
RADISH – Red, Watermelon, French breakfast
SHOP┬Ā Winter through summer
Radishes most often come in bunches, but you can find the more expensive watermelon radish sold singly.┬Ā Look for smooth, unblemished skins of deep color and fresh-looking green tops.
Before using, rinse in cold tap water & cut off leafy tops.
Store unwashed in refrigerator in air-tight container or crisper drawer.
Shallots are like tiny, delicately-flavored onions & can be used & substituted for onions in many dishes.┬Ā If you need just a little bit of onion, use a shallot or 2.┬Ā They should be firm with no brown spots and a little sheen to their violet skin.┬Ā Dull or dry-looking is the first sign of age.
Shallots do not need to be cleaned.┬Ā Slice off the stem end & peel the skin.┬Ā Cut according to use.
Store in open bin in cool place, or in refrigerator.
SHOP┬Ā April through July
Select dark red berries with minimal white at the top and/or bottom.┬Ā Turn the plastic containers upside down; avoid those that are juicing or that show any white mold or brown spots.┬Ā┬Ā As strawberries begin to go bad, they have a distinct flavor of dirt.
Place in colander and run under cold tap water, shaking colander to dislodge sand.┬Ā Drain and store berries to be eaten the day of purchase in a fruit bowl at room temperature.┬Ā With a strawberry huller or small paring knife, twist out the tiny, fibrous core attached to the leaves at the top of the berry.
If eaten later, refrigerate in glass jar.┬Ā Best if brought to room temperature before eating.
Curly or flat, usually bought with stems (and sometimes with the root) attached.
Do not clean until ready to use.┬Ā Spinach grows in sandy soil, soak in water to clean.┬Ā Put in large pot & fill with cold tap water.┬Ā Let stand 5 min, allowing sand to settle on bottom.┬Ā Remove spinach, dump water and repeat until no sand can be seen in water.
Uncleaned spinach will keep 48 hrs in closed plastic grocery bag in refrigerator crisper.┬Ā If storing longer, put in airtight container; will keep for 4 to 5 days.
SUMMER SQUASH – Yellow squash, crookneck squash
SHOP┬Ā Summer
Select for unblemished, smooth yellow skin with no brown spots or signs of wrinkling
Rinse with a light rub under cold running water.┬Ā Slice off the stem and the opposite end, then slice laterally 1/4ŌĆØ thick.┬Ā If the skin has begun to wrinkle, age will probably have begun to turn the skin bitter.┬Ā Still usable, simply peel and then cook.
Squash will keep for two days in the refrigerator crisper, a little longer in an airtight container. Use before skin begins to wrinkle.
Steam, stir-fry, add to soups, stews.
SWEET BELL PEPPER ŌĆō Green, Red, Yellow & Orange
Bell peppers ripen from green to yellow to orange to red.┬Ā Green pepper is less costly but has a distinctive flavor, more pungent than sweet peppers of other colors.┬Ā For this reason, green pepper is not always a suitable alternative to other colors specified.┬Ā Red, yellow and orange peppers are sweeter & more expensive.┬Ā Select peppers that are firm, with no bruised, soft or dark spots. ┬ĀAdvanced age is evidenced by wrinkling of the skin; pass on those.┬Ā Green peppers will often have orange highlights, indicating that pepper has begun to ripen into a red pepper.┬Ā This is normal & no reason not to buy.
Rinse under cold tap water.┬Ā With small paring knife, cut in a circle around the stem and remove.┬Ā Remove small (bitter) seeds from inside along with the little bit of almost-white pulp.┬Ā Cut into angled strips about 1ŌĆØ long for salads; chop or dice as appropriate.
Store in fruit bowl at room temperature for a day.┬Ā For longer, store uncut in refrigerator drawer.┬Ā Store whole peppers in refrigerator crisper drawer; cut peppers in air-tight container in refrigerator.
Use in stir-fry.
SHOP┬Ā Winter through early spring
Chose tangerines with a bright orange, slightly lumpy, pitted skin.┬Ā Avoid soft spots or bruises & those developing a chalky white residue on the skin.
Peel skin & pull off the bulk of the white strings around the segments and in the center.┬Ā Separate sections.
Keep in fruit bowl at room temperature.
Full Size: Heirloom, Beefstake
Miniature: Cherry, Grape
SHOP┬Ā Summer
Select deep red, firm full-sized tomatoes, preferably with green tops attached.┬Ā Avoid any that are packaged in cellophane as they will have little or no flavor and a mealy texture.┬Ā Buy only as many as you can use within 3 days.┬Ā Grape an Cherry tomatoes come in pint packages for ease of transport and are available for many months of the year.┬Ā They are often sweeter than a lot of full-sized tomatoes, and a little more predictably flavorful.
Rinse under cold tap water.┬Ā Slice with a serrated stainless steel knife.┬Ā Do not use carbon steel knives because the citric acid will dull the blade.┬Ā The sawing motion of the serrated edge does a better job of cutting easily through the skin, and wonŌĆÖt squish a very ripe tomato.┬Ā Remove the core by cutting into the flesh with the knife at an angle around where the stem was attached.┬Ā To best keep slices intact, slice tomatoes in polar half, from top to bottom.┬Ā Then cut each half into large, wedge-shaped slices.┬Ā The larger the wedges, the more the juicy center will resist falling apart.┬Ā Cherry and grape tomatoes can be popped into the mouth intact, although larger ones are best sliced in half for use in salads.
Store tomatoes at room temperature.┬Ā Chilling them in the refrigerator will alter the flavor significantly.┬Ā Should you have to store a cut tomato, slice in half before removing the core, place on a plate cut side down, refrigerate and eat as soon as possible.
Tomatoes can be frozen, but only after cooking.┬Ā I recommend eating all of the fresh tomatoes you can buy when they are in season, and using canned for cooking.┬Ā Freezing tomatoes requires preparation that may not render them significantly better in flavor than can be found in cans.┬Ā If you grow tomatoes, or stumble upon a bumper crop, canning is a better alternative.
Use in stir-fry.
WINTER SQUASH Acorn, Butternut
COLOR┬Ā Acorn – Dark green color w/s of orange; Butternut ŌĆō Light tan color
<>SHOP┬Ā Winter
Select smooth, unblemished skin.┬Ā If a light dusting appears on surface, pass as that is a sign of age.
Rinse.┬Ā WHEN BAKING: With a sharp knife beginning at the stem end and pushing down, cut in polar half.┬Ā Remove seed core.┬Ā Bake with skin on for easy removal.
Can keep at room temperature for up to 1 week, over that keep in refrigerator before cooking.
Bake, use in soups.
SHOP┬Ā Summer
The color of zucchini is bright to dark green.┬Ā Select for unblemished, smooth skin with no sign of wrinkling
Rinse with a light rub under cold running water.┬Ā Slice off the stem and the opposite end, then slice laterally 1/4ŌĆØ thick.┬Ā If the skin has begun to wrinkle, age will probably have begun to turn the skin bitter.┬Ā Still usable, simply peel and then cook.
Zucchini will keep for two days in the refrigerator crisper, and longer in an airtight container. Use before skin begins to wrinkle.