Safeway had value packs of “petite sirloin steak” for sale this week at $3lb (a dollar less than top sirloin), so I figured I’d buy some. I wasn’t too sure what “petite sirloin steak” was, but a google search showed that this cut is also known as “sirloin tips”, “round tips”, “flap steak” or “flap meat”. It’s the part of the round that’s right next to the sirloin. The pieces at Safeway consisted of small, thick steaks, with a layer of fat on one edge.
I used them to make Beef Stroganoff. This required me to cut the petite sirloins into thin strips and then pan fry them on some oil. I was surprised at how tender the results were: perhaps not as tender as a tenderloin, but definitely more tender than a sirloin or similar steak. For this purpose, this was an ideal cut. Flavor-wise I wasn’t too thrilled with it, it wasn’t as gamy as I’d like it, but you don’t need much flavor when you have a sauce like Stroganoff. I’ll definitely buy this cut again when it’s on sale to use in dishes where I want tenderness for cheap.
Category: Food Items (Page 11 of 20)
I love sauteed mushrooms, but fresh mushrooms can be pretty expensive when they’re not on sale (and even when they are), which is why I was happy to find an 8oz package of sliced mushrooms at Grocery Outlet for around $1.50. Unfortunately, these Green Giant sliced mushrooms are just not very good. I’ve bought them twice now, a couple of weeks apart, so I know it’s not just one bad batch.
There are three main problems with them: taste, thickness and consistency. Flavorwise, they are just not there. They are not very flavorful, even when sauteed on butter and seasoned with copious amounts of salt and the flavor they do have is slightly off. The mushrooms are pretty big and the slices are quite thick, which makes them take longer to cook but also just overall less appealing. The texture is also a little bit strange, more rubbery than for most mushrooms. We just did not enjoy them – none of us. I think it’s worth the ones at the supermarket are probably worth the extra buck or two.
Now, on other Grocery Outlet news
– GO is now selling 7oz jars of assorted dried herbs and spices for $3, which is an unbelievable price (though who really needs that much spices?). They are packaged by Gel Spice Company. I don’t know much about them other that they had a serious repeat problem with rat infestation in the 70’s and 80’s (I can only hope they’ve cured it by now). The thyme leaves I bought seem fine, but really, I wouldn’t know how to judge dry thyme leaves. I don’t see why they would be worse than the stuff at the supermarket, though. Expire in 2014.
-Got a box of Near East Tabouleh Mix for 34 cents. It expired on 2/10/11 but it’s a dry product so I think it should be fine for a while. I cooked it and didn’t find any problems.
I’ve used bulgur, a processed wheat product, to make kibbeh for years, but not until a couple of days ago I decided to serve it on its own. I was making chicken marsala and wanted a starch to serve with the sauce. I didn’t have any couscous and I’ve pretty much given up on rice (its glycemic index is too high and it takes too long to cook) so I took a look at what I could find on the cupboard and came across the burgul. Happy I did. This cereal is very easy and fast to prepare (simmer it in water for 12-15 minutes) and it has a nice nutty taste, that’s not overwhelming. It went great with the marsala (and a cognac sauce I made tonight) and Camila just LOVED eating it by herself. Indeed, all she had tonight for dinner was burgul and peas (no meat for the lady).
Nutritionally, burgul is OK. Though it’s processed (pre-cooked to remove the outer shell of the grain), most of the grain is left and it’s a great source of fiber and high in protein. It’s caloric, of course, but much better for you than white rice. Probably the biggest problem with it is that it’s not easy to find. They don’t have it at our local Safeway – it’s available at Lucky’s, but in the exotic grains section which means it’s pretty expensive. They have it in bulk at the Berkeley Bowl, though, so it may give me an excuse to go shopping there.
I have started buying Taylor Farms organic salad mix at Grocery Outlet and I’m quite satisfied with the product. The lettuces are always crisp and clear (they are triple washed) and taste fresh. They last for several days while stored in the plastic container they come in. At $2 for a 5-oz pack, they are a pretty good value. And they originate in Salinas, which means they are pretty local. In all, I’m quite happy with them.
My only complaint is that the packaging is made out of #7 plastic – not a particularly environmentally friendly product.
They have several salad mix choices at Grocery Outlet, I haven’t noticed a remarkable difference in taste.
*2013 Update* According to an article on the New York Times, Taylor Farms has had an “unusual” number of voluntary recalls for tainted products. Of the 10 recalls since 2010, only the last one actually caused people to get sick. Over 200 people contracted cyclosporiasis after eating at chain restaurants. That’s a protozoan infection that is spread through feces. I hope that Taylor Farms did not claim that the salads they sold to restaurants were “triple washed”.
It’s hard to know what to make of these recalls. It may be that Taylor Farms is overly cautious. In a couple of cases the recalls were motivated by undisclosed ingredients rather than pathogens.
The last recall included companies other than Taylor. Investigators are still trying to find how the pathogens made their way into products processed in different facilities.
The one thing that I’m sure of is that now that the New York Times featured this problem, Taylor is going to be even more careful.
I’ll still eat their salads.
I was looking in Grocery Outlet for something quick and easy for lunch and came across a Butter Chicken frozen entree by Archer Farms, a generic brand sold by Target stores. Now, I didn’t realize that Archer Farms was Target, otherwise I wouldn’t have bought the thingy, given Target’s anti-gay stands. But as a food item devoid of politics this entree made for a good lunch.
The 10-oz entree is probably 2/3rds rice, and the other cubed chicken and sauce – though there is barely enough sauce for the included rice. The rice microwaved quite well, the chicken was tender and not as dry as it could have been, and the sauce was pleasant: slightly spicy, balanced but not very challenging. This is not a restaurant-quality dish, but you could do much worse for $1.30 (the price at GO) and 370 calories. In all, but for the Target association, I’d buy it again.
Just found these at Grocery Outlet in San Leandro. A 3-pack is $3, normally a single pack is that much at the supermarket.
I found the cheese to be quite good. It’s very, very creamy and easy to spread. It has a milder taste than the regular laughing cow cheese, and no hint of French Onion (whatever that is) at all. That’s a plus for me, as I was afraid the cheese would have an off taste because of the flavoring.
In any case, a good bargain and one I’m sure won’t last.
Grocery Outlet has been carrying Edward’s Singles for several weeks now. The cheap desserts consist of a dessert base which you heat up for a minute in the microwave, and a small cup of ice-cream with chocolate syrup/chips that you put on it. The ice cream melts on the hot dessert providing, working both as a cooling force and an antidote for the sweetness of the dessert.
Edwards Singles come with assorted bases. Grocery Outlet carries the molten chocolate lava cake, the chocolate chip cookie and the apple pie varieties. The apple pie is just OK, but the other two are delicious. I would never have expected such simple and cheap desserts to be so good, but they really are as good as something you’d get from a restaurant. The combination of the hot and cold, sweet and light, really works.
But the best part is that they are super cheap. A package of two desserts (and trust me, each portion is more than enough for a person) is only 50-cents now at Grocery Outlet. OK, that’s because they are a month passed their “best by” date – but I’m betting that there is still nothing wrong with them (I certainly haven’t gotten sick from the many I’ve eaten). Of course, the past-expiration-date issue means that they won’t be on the GO shelves for long, and really, I’m not sure how much past their expiration date I’d be willing to eat them, but for the time being the kids and I are enjoying them.
BTW, Grocery Outlet also carries Edwards Singles pie slices @ $1.50 per package. I haven’t given these a try.
Like everyone else these days, I’m in search of healthy and tasty grains to feed to my family. Quinoa, a “pseudocereal” that originates in the Andes mountains, is high in protein, iron and fiber, and while it’s high on carbs, it’s still better than pasta or white rice. The grain also has the advantage of looking like couscous when cooked, and having the consistency of soft pasta, something that my kids like. Alas, its nutty and earthy flavor is not very pleasant, and my kids were not happy with it.
I’ve made it plain before, but yesterday I followed this epicurious.com recipe for Lemon-Scented Quinoa . OK, I didn’t really follow the recipe – I eyedball the olive oil (and ended up putting too much), just boiled the quinoa without steaming it after (I don’t think that made any difference, the consistency was perfect), I used lime juice instead of lemon and skipped the lemon peel. Still, I doubt that the changes really made that much of a difference. i think quinoa may just not be for us.
I served the quinoa alongside Roast Pork Loin with Garlic and Rosemary. The pork tasted great, the flavor permeated throughout the meat but, despite the fact that I checked on the pork every couple of minutes, I still managed to overcook it and it was dry. So I don’t think I’ll try making pork roasts again either.
Tonight on the menu Barbecued Tri-Tip with Caramelized Red Onions and steamed broccoli. I don’t think I’ll serve a starch. Hope it turns out well – if so, I’ll copy the recipe here as well.
Got it today at Grocery Outlet. It’s probably the worst food item I have ever bought. It’s COMPLETELY inedible, you cannot bite through it, you cannot chew it, you cannot digest it. I don’t even want to guess what it’s made from and what stuff it has in it.
Whoever makes it should be ashamed of the product, and Grocery Outlet should be ashamed to sell it.
Camila and I just made some bon bons from a Betty Crocker Peanut Butter bon bon Mix
Basically all you do is mix some butter with the bon bon mix and peanut butter. You roll them into balls and then dip them into melted chocolate. Well, let me tell you, 5 year-olds find rolling and dipping more fun than you would expect.
These things do not need to be baked and only require fifteen minutes in the fridge for the chocolate to harden – great, given how little patience children have.
More importantly, they are quite delicious. Mika couldn’t believe how good they were and she hugged Camila thanking her for making them.
As for Camila, she decided she wants to own a candy store when she grows up, given how good she is at making candy 🙂
Update – I just saw the bon bon mix at Grocery Outlet for $1.50 for the 14oz, single, package. It’s supposed to make about 20 bon bons.
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