Reusable bags

I like using my reusable bags when I go into the grocery store. If I remember, I will take them into every store I plan on making a purchase at. There are some stores that will give you a small discount for each reusable bag that you use. The most recent store that I know of is Super Target and they are now giving a $0.05 discount for each reusable bag that you use when you shop there. It may not sound like much but every penny adds up!

A little over a year ago I got some great cotton bags that I love from Macy's. They are perfect. They are the perfect size, have a long enough handle so that you can carry it over your shoulder and they also have a square bottom so they sit well in the back of my car. I use these bags at the store and then once I have unloaded my purchased items at home I put the bags back in my car for the next shopping trip.

For some people the issue is remembering to bring the bag into the store to use in the first place. That is why I thought these little bags I found were great. Eddie Bauer has a tote bag in a pouch that can be clipped on your keychain. It seems to fold up into a small pouch-like compartment like some raincoats. Once you unzip it the pouch is then on the outside of the bag where you could put your keys while shopping. It can easily be folded/rolled back up into the pouch too. I thought these were a great idea and could make a great stocking-stuffer for family members this year. :)

Farmer's Market Outing

People, people, people! I finally got to take a few trips to some local farmer's markets this weekend. I wanted to check everything out and see what all was offered by our local farmers and keep the business going in our community.

I started out on Friday night by going to the Bedford Farmer's Market. On Saturday morning, I made it to the Rufe Snow Farmer's Market, then Ridgmar and finally Cowtown Farmer's Market. The markets in Bedford and off of Rufe Snow both are a small market selling local produce, hormone-free meats, tamales, salsas, dressings, bread...it is like a small grocers. I like the idea of these two markets since they are closer to home than the other two that I went to; which makes it easier for quick trips during the week.

The other two I went to were Ridgmar and Cowtown. The Ridgmar market was similar to the first two I went to but larger. They had more of a variety of fruits and also carried fresh eggs. The strawberries I bought here smell soooo good! I just kept sticking my head in my bag after I purchased them so that I could keep smelling them. ;) Inside there is a wide variety of canned items (homemade preserves, pickles, etc.) and a variety of nuts and candies. There was also a small BBQ place inside if you needed a quick meal during your weekend shopping.

After Ridgmar, I went to the Cowtown Farmer's Market. This one was definitely my favorite and I only wish I had gotten there sooner. They are currently open every Wednesday and Saturday from 8 -12 (or when they sell out for some vendors). I arrived late so some of the vendors had already left. This was more like a row of tents set up by each farmer/vendor who is out there to personally sell their product to you. It is a great opportunity to talk to the people working so hard to make the foods/products. Some of the vendors even let you taste their products before you buy and I even had a great pork tamale!

I think one of the best foods you can eat fresh is a tomato. I planned on growing some this year but unfortunately things did not turn out as I had hoped (I only produced one that wasn't eaten by something else). So to be able to buy some fresh tomatoes at the farmer's market made my day. I needed to make a tomato and mozzarella salad for work on Monday and they had exactly what I needed.

I also bought some homemade strawberry preserves from Dolly's Jellies and it is fantastic! I had to taste it as soon as I got in the car and since then I have had a couple of biscuits, some crackers...I can't find enough foods to put jelly on! There was a variety of flavors so the next on my list to try is blackberry.

I can't wait to go back another weekend and I will try to get there when they open so that I can check out the grass-fed beef, fresh breads, homemade granola...*sigh*..so much great food! It is worth the drive to get food that tastes so much better, fresh and comes from a local business.

I made two tomato salads. I love grape tomatoes and Cowtown Farmer's Market was the only place that sold them. ;)