I’ll start off by saying, in general, I do not enjoy shopping. As a teen, I loved wondering stores with my friends to dream about new outfits. I had a clothing allowance, so I had to be frugal. That meant sewing many of my outfits. But truthfully, I can’t remember a most hated experience while shopping. Unless you want to count the day I was pickpocketed, as a teen, while shopping for fabric to make an outfit. I still had fun, since I loved envisioning new outfits and matching a pattern to new fabrics. And, I didn’t realize someone had stolen from me until I got home. As an adult, I avoid at all costs shopping just for fun. And now when I shop, lesson learned: I clutch my purse tight in front of me.
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Having said that, I do love shopping for anything to
do with food. This is where I differ from most people I know, who HATE grocery
shopping. Maybe loving to shop for food is because I used to work food service,
where besides hostessing and waitressing, I also cooked in restaurants, in a
fraternity, and as a caterer. Shopping for food means that I am bringing to
life my creative recipe ideas.
Some of my favorite scenes in a Hallmark-type movie
are watching a couple wander and meet at a farmer’s market. Or bumping into
each other in the produce aisle reaching for the same, small cabbage that will
feed one instead of a huge family. Or their hands touching over the last bunch
of asparagus. But I digress, as my imagination of romantic food-related
encounters crowd my mind.
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| My local Farmer's Market on a grassy mall in the middle of downtown |
As I was saying, going to the grocery store is an
adventure. My list consists of meat, seafood, veggies, bread, fruit, etc. And
by that, I mean I literally write those words on my list. Because I never know
what seasonal vegetable may inspire a recipe idea. Or which items at the
seafood or meat counter may catch my eye and inspire dinner for that night, or
lunch for tomorrow.
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| Love the variety of vegetables, jams, bread, meats, seafood at my local farmers market. |
For that very reason, I also love going to the
farmer’s market. I usually go on the early side and spend time gazing at the
colorful displays of ripe red tomatoes, or dark leafy bunches of kale. I
conjure up a recipe using green tomatoes, besides the usual fried green (which
are delicious.) I perfuse the variety of lettuce or potato or colorful vegetables,
some I have never tried before. I usually ask the
farmer ideas on use, and then research the vegetable for more ideas, once I arrive home.
I feel about farmer’s markets as others feel about
yard sales—discovering a prize to add to my cooking repertoire. Also, people
tend to talk to each other at a food market, versus in other shopping arenas.
“The
melons are so juicy this time of year.”
“Don’t
those scallops look delicious, and on sale too!”
“How
do you usually cook that cut of meat?” Or “I love that cut of meat. I have a
great recipe for…”
“Have
you tried this new flavor of the goat’s milk yogurt? It’s my new favorite.”
I love going to the farmer’s market in the fall, when
the crowds of tourists have headed home, and the newly arrived students who
walk from the college blocks away are discovering the magic of a farmer’s
market. Bunches of fall flowers are for sale. Jellies and jams from the summer
bounty of berries and fruits appear. This time of year, just as early spring
does, affords me the opportunity to chat with the farmers without holding up
the line. Ask questions about their product. Learn tidbits about farming. And
enjoy the crisp fall air—my favorite season of the year.
Do
you love or hate shopping for food? And why? There are no wrong answers. And I
won’t judge if you hate the kind of shopping I love!
Check out a Fall Wedding: The Love Left Behind
~ cottages to
cabins ~ keep the home fires burning ~
Delsora Lowe
writes small town sweet and spicy romances and contemporary westerns, from the
mountains of Colorado to the shores of Maine.
Author of the Starlight Grille
series, Serenity Harbor Maine novellas, and the Cowboys of Mineral Springs series, Lowe has also authored short
romances for Woman’s World magazine. The
Love Left Behind is a Hartford Estates, R.I. wedding novella. A
Christmas novel (The Inn at Gooseneck Lane) and novella (Holiday
Hitchhiker) were released in late fall 2022. Look for book 3 of the
cowboy’s series, as well as book 2 of the Hartford Estates series, in 2024.
Photos and Clip Art:
Yard Sale: Free Garage Sale
Images, Download Free Garage Sale Images png images, Free ClipArts on Clipart
Library (cli: part-library.com)
Fall and Farmers Market: photos
by blog author
Fabric Shopping: Free Fabric Cliparts,
Download Free Fabric Cliparts png images, Free ClipArts on Clipart Library
(clipart-library.com)
8 comments:
I laughed in places with this blog post! Completely agree on farmer's markets! Other non-food shopping (unless in vintage shops for props for photography) are not my thing either! Being an adventurous cook always starts in the markets. Someday, I hope creativity can be inspired by the rows of a home garden, as well!
I make my husband grocery shop, LOL. Since the pandemic, all he does is order online and pick it up without getting out of the car! Now, as for clothes, if I bring home one more thing, the bar in my closet is going to fall down and I may be served with divorce papers. That said, a Marshalls is supposed to open here soon, and I may be forced to explore...
I answered both Vera and Maggie on my phone and now don't see the comments. When I can get back on computer tomorrow, I will try to find comments or start over. Sorry about that...
That's weird about the comments, Delsora!
I love farmer's markets, too, but dislike grocery shopping in general. Or pretty much any shopping except for gifts or just to wander through small town shops and bookstores to see what treasures they have hidden away.
A fascinating post. I learned a lot about your early escapades, especially the restaurant work. I too love farmers' markets and all the fresh veggies and meats one can find. Unlike you, I do enjoy shopping beyond groceries. Thanks for a great post.
I loathe grocery shopping, but I don't mind farmer's markets or cute gift shops. I used to love clothing shopping, but it's not as much fun anymore.
I agree that farmer's markets are fun. There's lots to discover!
Glad there is no "wrong answer" Delsora. I have shopped at Farmer's Markets. There is one not too far from me however parking to get to it is horrendous. And since I really don't like to cook and have never really been adventurous in the kitchen, even plain ole grocery shopping has never been my 'thing'. I do read what you and some of the folks on #ftb write about recipes and am in awe. Great you have a passion for food and writing. I do think I'll pay a bit more attention to those folks in the produce section to see if I see any sparks flying.
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