Our Web Shopping Suggestions

     We have found that the Web offers some superb buys for busy home cooks, but you have to know where to look.
     Sometimes you get better quality, sometimes a lower price, sometimes (eureka!) both.  Some items are virtually unattainable anywhere else.    

      Below are some shopping suggestions. We have tried these, or have them on our list to try.
     (For a note on metric conversions, go to end of this page.) Prices, of course, are subject to change.

Olive Oil

Everyday . . .
     Tienda:    Romulo $28, 1 gallon, or Unio $25, 3 liters.       www.tienda.com

Special . . .
     Tienda:  various from $10.50, 750 ml.     

Italian Pasta

     A.G. Ferrari offers a spectrum of all shapes and sizes. 
Everyday (small commercial producer) . . .
     Vietri,  $1.45, 500 grams (17.6 ounces)

Special (artisanal producers) . . .
     A.G.Ferrari  $2.95, 500 grams.
     Latini  $3.95, 500 grams.
         www.agferrari.com

Coffee

Everyday and special . . .
     Peet’s Coffee.  www.peets.com

Toaster Oven/Broiler

Vermont Country Store:
     Welbilt unit is uncomplicated, durable, has top brown feature, 1200 watts. $59.95.
            www.vermontcountrystore.com 

Jams and Jellies

     Nervous Nellie’s Jams and Jellies:   These fill a need you didn’t know you had until you bring them into the house. 

Core holdings . . .
     Wild Maine Blueberry Preserves, Hot Green Pepper Jelly, Hot Tomato Chutney, each $4.95, 11 ounces.

Additional . . .
     Blueberry Chutney, Peach and Cranberry Preserves, probably the rest of the catalog.
     www.nervousnellies.com  

Herbs and Spices

Everyday and special . . .
     Penzeys: Highest quality, extensive selection, not expensive. 
     Thyme, for example, is $1.19 for a 1/4 cup plastic jar, 0.45 ounces.
          www.penzeys.com 

Extra-Special . . .
     Tienda:    saffron stems, not powder, $7.50, 1 gram.
          Spanish paprika (hot, sweet, or bittersweet) $3.75 each, 2.5 ounces.
               www.tienda.com

Arrowroot Starch

     Should be the standard for general thickening of stews.
     Penzeys:  $3.79,  8 ounce bag.     www.penzeys.com 

Tinned Caribou Meat, Birch Syrup

     If your supermarket is like mine, they've never even heard of these wild items.
     Arctic Wild Harvest Company: tinned caribou meat $8.49, 6.5 ounces.
          Alaskan  birch syrup $17.79, 8 ounce jug.
          www.arcticharvest.com

 Conversion Notes . . .
1 liter (1000 milliliters) is close to 1 quart (exactly, 1.057 quarts).
Thus 500 ml equals about 1 pint.

1000 grams is 2.2 pounds (exactly 2.20462).
500 grams equals 17.6 ounces (exactly 17.637).

     For easy metric conversions of any kind, we use www.sciencemadesimple.com. This is itself an interesting site. Conversions are free, and you can also learn why the sky is blue for nothing. To learn how your refrigerator works, you will have to subscribe (10 issues $9.95 online, $15.95 printed mail).