Grocery Week Part II: Produce

It is difficult to buy produce. You inevitably end up buying too much or too little or you don't know what to do with it once you buy it. Once you get a little more comfortable, hopefully it will be the first place you hit once inside the grocery!!

If you are a beginner, than you want to start with the basics, the hardware of produce. These are items that are simple, can be eaten alone or used for flavor, and don't go bad immediately.
- oranges
- onions
- potatoes
- garlic
and - lemons
Learning to use these items  will help you build your "produce confidence."

From there, you need to start understanding how much produce you are actually going to eat, and what you are going to do with it once purchased. For example, I know that I eat an apple a day, so I have no problem buying 4-5 apples at a time. However, if I know that I am only going to make one batch of guacamole, I would only purchase 1-2 avocados. If you see strawberries on sale, its fine to purchase them. Its not fine to purchase 3 boxes of them. If you over buy, you are wasting money and increasing frustration with fresh produce, discouraging future purchases. So, start out small.

Also, its important to buy "in" season. Well, what does that mean? There is so much information out there about what is in season - just google it! For now (September and October) you have asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, and lettuce. These are going to be your "cheaper" options.

Lastly, if you are going to buy produce, than you are going to need to know what to do with your purchases. Nothing is worse than buying food and then ruining it (especially if you are cooking to impress someone). Nothing says, "I'm awesome, date me" like crappy-ass food. Lets say your bought broccoli - even if you looked up a recipe with broccoli in it, you still might not understand it all. I turn to youtube or ehow videos. Just type in "cooking broccoli," watch, and learn!!! Here is one on cooking broccoli.

So, don't be afraid of the produce section. Start out small and basic, and watch videos on anything new you would like to try! Its the easiest way to learn to cook - promise!

Also, don't forget the salad bar. Its a great place for a beginner to buy small amounts of an item already chopped and ready to go!