Walmart Apples

I did a little experiment the other day.  I stopped by this little farmers stand where I have been getting my produce lately to buy some apples.  I was ecstatic to see that they had honey crisp apples, which are our favorites.  Our farmers stand just so happens to be located in the Walmart parking lot.  And it dawned on me that Walmart sells apples too.  So, I ran inside Walmart to purchase a honey crisp apple.  And, I am sad to say, I did not have any people of Walmart moments on that trip, unlike the last time I was at Walmart and the check out girl showed me her hysterectomy scar.

I took the apples home and compared the two.  I was pretty shocked at what I saw.

(organic on the left, Walmart on the right)

(Organic on top, Walmart on the bottom).

My first thought when I compared these two is "what the heck is Sam Walton putting on his apples?"  Now, we all know that apples are on the top of the dirty dozen list because they contain the highest level of pesticides found in produce.  And guess what?  The apples are then dipped in wax to preserve their freshness...essentially, sealing in all those pesticides.  

Buy organic apples.  

Now this would be the perfect time to share my favorite apple recipe with you.  If I had a favorite apple recipe.  We eat ours straight up, so I don't have an apple recipe to share!

I'll make it up to you and share a recipe that contains my mini's two favorite foods, asparagus and bacon.  

Bacon Wrapped Carmalized Sesame Asparagus

• 1 bunch of asparagus, about 20-25 spears, stems removed
• 4 slices thick-cut bacon
• 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/2 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
• 1 1/2 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 garlic clove, minced or pressed
• 1/2 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds

1.  Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and place a wire rack on top. Spray the rack with nonstick spray. 

2.  In a small bowl, whisk together oils, brown sugar and garlic. Set aside.

3.  Bunch together 5-6 asparagus spears and tightly wrap a piece of bacon around the bundle. 

4.  Place on the wire rack seam-side down and repeat. Using a pastry brush, a spoon or even your hands (I did this…), brush the spears thoroughly with the oil/sugar mixture. Give each bundle a hefty sprinkle of sesame seeds. Roast for 35-40 minutes, or until bacon is crispy. Serve warm.

(I also read an adaptation on Pinterest that you can marinate the spears in italian dressing, wrap in bacon, and then bake).

Wrapped up and ready to bake.

 Finished baking and ready to be enjoyed.

These were delish.  We all loved them.  One of us preferred the bacon over the asparagus spears.  I won't name names, but it's the mini McGhee that wears pigtails and all things sparkly.

Going organic

I often get asked about eating organic.  I try really hard to only buy organic and encourage everyone else to do the same.  People tell me all the time that they would love to eat organic, but they can't afford it.  I totally get that, I really do.  One way that I offset my high grocery cost is by not eating out.  It amazes me what the average family spends weekly on eating out.  Personally, I feel eating out is a huge contributor to the financial problems that a lot of families are dealing with because it is so expensive.  I highly encourage you to cut back on dining out.  Two ways to do that is to MENU PLAN and STOCK YOUR FREEZER !  And, lucky for you, I am currently working on some tools and resources that I am going to roll out in the next month to help you do those things.  So, be prepared....exciting things are coming soon!

But, for now, back to buying organic....

I understand not everyone can afford to go organic (and if you are one of those people that say you can't afford organic, I better not catch you buying a $4 coffee or a $2 soda from the drive-through).  The good news is, you don't have to go completely organic.  I recommend everyone buy organic animal products (meat, fish, dairy, eggs, etc).  After that, if you still have room in your budget, buy organic produce.  Why?  For some reason, artificial hormones in my food freak me out more than pesticides and insecticides.

We buy organic, grass-fed beef.  One way to save on beef costs, is to find someone local that sells whole cows.  Find friends and family and all go in together to buy the meat, and then split the costs (and the meat, obviously!)  We don't eat a lot of beef, so this is a very small part of my grocery budget.

We do, however, eat a lot of chicken.  Organic chicken breasts where I live is $10.99/lb.  It costs me $20 per meal to feed my family of 5, if I cook with organic chicken breasts.  A whole organic chicken costs $15.  I can cook a whole chicken and get 2-3 meals out of it, plus make chicken stock for soups/stews.  It is a HUGE cost-saver for me, and in the long run, saves me time because I always have precooked shredded chicken in my fridge.

We eat about 3 dozen eggs a week, so I feel really strongly that my family needs to eat organic eggs.  Eggs are tricky....there's organic, free-range, omega-3, cage-free, vegetarian, and pasteurized.  I have honestly lost years of my life standing in front of the egg cooler, trying to decide which eggs to buy!  And I still don't know the answer!  I always buy organic and then I switch between organic free-range or organic omega-3.  Our family all takes an omega-3 supplement, but we don't eat a lot of seafood (much to my dismay!), so I like to sneak in the omega-3 when I can.

Produce is tricky, because you really don't have to buy everything organic.  There is a list called the dirty dozen, clean fifteen that is a guide to buying organic produce.  I have my own little trusty guide that I keep in my wallet so I can reference it while shopping.   If anyone is interested in my list, please leave a comment or email me.  I am happy to send you a copy of it, as long as you promise to laminate it and keep it in your wallet right next to the pictures of your minis.  I'll copy and paste it below as well.  If you do buy non-organic produce, please make sure to wash it very well.

Heids McGhee’s
Guide to Organic

Must Buy Organic
Meat
poultry
eggs
Dairy
Peanut Butter
Apples
Celery
Peaches/Nectarines
Strawberries/blueberries
Spinach/lettuce/kale/greens
Grapes
Peppers
Potatoes

Safe to Buy
Non-organic
Onions
Avocados
Sweet Corn
Pineapple
Mango
Sweet Peas
Asparagus
Kiwi
Cabbage
Eggplant
Cantaloupe
Watermelon
Grapefruit
Sweet Potato
Honeydew

And that's my simple summary of buying organic.  I am way excited right now because Mr. McGhee has finished my raised garden beds.  I am so looking forward to my own little organic backyard farm.  If you have any local farmers, please support them!  I buy local before I buy organic!  Talk to your local farmers, many of them are organic, even if they don't have the government's official seal of organic.  I know it costs thousands of dollars to go through the government's process, and a lot of farmers don't have the resources (or the interest) in having our government's stamp of approval.  They know what they're doing is organic and they're happy to tell and show you!  

Aren't they lovely?  I can't wait to get things planted.  Of course, then I will have to stop telling my minis that those are coffins in which I am planning on using to bury them alive.  So, I guess I will be slightly disappointed when that fun ends.