the optional 'mexican pack' add on for $7.50

If you know me in ‘real life’, than you most likely know about my complete infatuation with Bountiful Baskets.    Bountiful Baskets is a purchasing cooperative that offers fresh produce (and locally baked breads, granola, and other special offerings seasonally) at affordable prices.

I am all in favor of supporting a local vore culture, and absolutely do shop farmers markets as often as possible not only to support local growers but to lessen the carbon footprint of the food we eat.   That said, in a year when, as for most others, my husband and I are struggling more financially than ever before, I was looking for creative ways to get the most ‘bang for our buck’.  I have had to find the balance between wanting to eat all local and the sheer reality of needing to feed my family healthy food at the best possible price–without resorting to Wally World or buying a bunch of cheap,  processed crap. This was the initial ‘hook’ for me to begin using Bountiful Baskets, but the quality of the product and the hard work of the all volunteer staff, is what keeps me going back week after week.  It is a concession that I am willing to make.  I am so tired of the media telling us that we are all too broke or too busy to eat well.  This has never been more untrue!  Don’t buy into that mindset!  BB is one way to fight back against the idea that you can only eat affordably by eating poorly.  It is more vital than ever that we all ‘get back to basics’, i.e. canning, meal planning, getting creative, etc.  BB helps me to do all of this, and for that, it has become a priceless addition to our home.

The contents of a recent basket

The way it works is that for your $15 contribution ($25 for organic) you receive 2 laundry baskets of produce, one of fruit and one of vegetables.  There are locations listed all over the state of Arizona (as well as Washington, Oregon, Utah and Idaho) where you go to pick up your items.  You simply pick the location nearest you, prepay for your basket through the website using your debit of credit, and show up at the appointed time to retrieve your ‘goods’.    It is sort of like Christmas morning because you never know what you are going to get until you pick it up.  I have heard some people say they don’t like this aspect of BB because they get items they are unfamiliar with, or they get more of a particular item than they can use,  etc.   For me, that is part of the fun of it.  It is like a game for me to bring home my bounty and lay it all out on the kitchen table and make plans for what it will become.  For just the 2 of us, sometimes it is too much to use in a week, so what I know we won’t use immediately, I vacuum seal and freeze for later use.   Also, there is a bulletin board on the site where people are happy to help you figure out creative uses for 2 huge bunches of celery or a dozen baby bok choy.  Another option is to split a basket with another family.

My only words of warning:

1. the website is less than intuitive, and can be a bit confusing to get through, but once you navigate it the first time, it will be easier in subsequent visits.
2. Also, I’ve never seen it mentioned on the website that you need to bring your own bags or boxes to carry home your basket contents. (think large, heavy duty nylon type shopping bags, laundry basket, etc.)
3. there is a one time fee of $3 for your first order–be sure to uncheck this option when ordering from then on, as they will not give you a refund if you overlook this.
4. BB is run entirely by volunteers, so please keep this in mind if you are unhappy with something, have to wait in line, or are just generally having a bad day–DON’T take your frustrations out on the people that are donating their time and energy to bring this all together.

A different kind of Bountiful Basket or 30 lbs of cat in a 5lb basket

my gorgeous Auntie Berta "The Bird" (on left), at her 80th Birthday Celebration. That's my gorgeous Mamacita on the right.

This is particularly exciting because about 2 months ago, I began very seriously contemplating making the leap of faith to quit (one of) my jobs to pursue a completely new career as a personal chef.  I was really stuck when it came to a ‘catchy’ name for this new venture.

As I often do when I am in need of a sounding board, I called my mom to pick her brain.   Unfortunately, she didn’t really have any ideas, but said she would ask “Auntie Bird”, because, “she always has great ideas about such things”.   I was so tickled when the next day, I got a call from Auntie.  She was so excited and sounded like she was just going to pop as she explained to me that she had the ‘perfect name’ for my business.  “Denise is cooking!” she said enthusiastically.  I have to admit, I was a little ‘underwhelmed’, until she began to explain…”Just imagine, my husband says to me..’honey, what are we going to do about dinner?’ and I say, ‘Don’t worry…Denise is Cooking!’…that’s it!  it has to be that, it’s perfect” she said.  I giggled and agreed to give it some thought.

Well, as you can see by the name of this website and blog–I came around to her way of thinking…and now…I am proud to present to my precious Auntie Berta (and the rest of the world wide web), my new ‘baby’.  I had mentioned Auntie’s idea to my dear husband (and resident web guru) and he was completely supportive of the idea.  Imagine my surprise when I awoke one morning last week to find that after our conversation, he had secretly bought the domain and started putting together the ‘bones’ of what is now deniseiscooking.com.  I was in tears when I sat here at my computer and realized that I had so many wonderful people who believed in my dream and wanted to see it come to fruition.

I am so blessed to have the inspiration and support of such wonderful friends and family to guide me in this new adventure!  Please keep me in your thoughts as I leap off the cliff and trust that the universe will indeed catch me and help me to fly into a prosperous and fulfilling future.

Julia Child wisely said,  “Find something you’re passionate about and keep tremendously interested in it”.  Well, I am passionate about good food and can’t wait to see what new avenues this interest will open up to me.

Thanks Auntie, and Happy Birthday!  I love you more than ice cream!  (and that’s A LOT!) Read the rest of this entry »