Wednesday, July 12, 2023

SHOPPING TRIP PURCHASES

 We know many of you always like to see what we picked up on shopping trips so here is some of what we got on our recent trip to 99 Ranch Market.

We posted HERE about that trip.

We got a package of our favorite brand of wheat noodles.  We use these to make our own homemade Ramen noodle bowls, these are healthier than the ones in the store.  Of course, you have to make your own seasoning but that's healthier too, ha.

When we got home, 2nd Man made us two bowls, for mine, he used beef bouillon and frozen meatballs and for his, he used some cooked chicken breast we had cubed up and chicken bouillon.  Then we added some veggies and seasoning of our own.


These are our favorite frozen potstickers.  We LOVE these for a quick dinner, steamed to cook them and then pan fried in some avocado oil until they have a crispy exterior.  We stir up a dipping sauce (which varies from time to time).  So good.


Then we stocked up on seasonings, our main reason for going...we did a lot of research online and watched a ton of Youtube videos to see what cooks and chefs recommend for various things in a good Asian grocery like this.  So we picked up Oyster sauce, Hoisin sauce, Fish sauce, Dark Soy sauce, Sweet Soy sauce, Ponzu sauce, and regular Soy sauce, all the brands most highly recommended.

Oh, and some chopsticks because 2nd Man loves eating with them...me, not so much, I haven't mastered that technique...yet, ha. 

We also got a package...of...chicken feet?!?  2nd Man wanted them to make some chicken stock.  More on THAT adventure in an upcoming post!


21 comments:

  1. My dad loved boiled chicken feet; he said the meat nearest the bone was the best. They are in all the stores here; the migrants cook with them.

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    1. OK we should be clear, we (and by we I mean 2nd Man, ha) only used them to make stock. I have heard of people eating them but honestly, that would be no for both of us, ha. They are in a large variety of stores here though. Probably our diverse population.

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  2. No
    chicken feet! I do no not want to know about this.

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    1. We are boiling to make rich stock/broth but yeah I understand, ha.

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  3. anne in the kitchenJuly 12, 2023 at 1:50 PM

    When I go to our local Asian market I always have to do a little bit of research before I go, since a lot of the foods are labeled in Mandarin. We don't have a store as large as yours but it has enough for my needs.
    I have never bought chicken feet (they have them) but each time I go I look at the black chicken for broth making. I understand it makes incredible stock, but I have not yet been able to justify the cost just for incredible broth.

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    1. I used the built in google translate feature on images...you can hold your cameral phone over words (on labels, signs, etc) and it instantly translates them and puts the English words in place of the characters. It's a fascinating technology.

      As for black chicken, we have seen them and you are right, super expensive. Didn't know about the stock from them, but we wanted to get some to roast and see how it is. They didn't have them last time.

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  4. What a great selection of seasonings. I love a good Asian market.

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    1. It's great to have some fun new seasonings and add variety to cooking.

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  5. I have seen chicken feet and wondered what they could possibly be used for. I think it’s a good use of resources and also a respectful thing to use every bit of the animal as possible.

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  6. I am not fond of Asian food. And, I won't be cooking with chicken feet. You did get a good many sauces. I could not use chopsticks after I injured my hand. That made me sad. I used chopsticks to eat whole kernel corn. I knew it would take so long, one corn kernel at a time, that I would not be likely to overeat.

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    1. No Asian food? Oh how we love it but then again, we're pretty prolific eaters of many cuisine, ha. One kernel at a time is awesome portion control. :-)

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  7. Many ways to prepare chicken feet; not just for broth, but you won't catch me using them in any way, shape or form. The chicken bones, Yes, will use the bones for making broth /stock but no feet allowed / used. Can't believe that there is a recipe for chicken feet soup............No Thank you
    Enjoy the rest of the week, have a great weekend.
    Stay safe and stay cool.

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    1. A vote for no feet, ha. We do NOT eat them but yeah we use them (well this was a first time) for broth/stock. But not having soup or bbq feet or anything like that, ha.

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  8. I love that you stock up on unique items. Those are really some good ideas. Lot's there for creative meals.

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    1. Thanks, I told 2nd Man that my wish list when we get the house redone is a large large pantry. I want us to be prepared and well stocked, ha. Maybe I should have an international section the pantry, LOL!.

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  9. I like the idea of making your Ramen noodles mix, putting in your own healthy ingredients.
    As for the chicken feet – well, our ancestors tried to use every little bit. Actually, I looked it up and chicken feet are high in collagen, for our skin, joint, bone, and muscle health.

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    1. You know, if the chicken is going to be killed for eating (or any animal) I suppose it makes sense to use as much as you can. Pigs are that way, so are cows. But we will ONLY be using it for the broth. And yes, that's what we had read that it was a very good broth and VERY healthy.

      Yes, the Ramen noodles are healthier and you don't have to use that seasoning packet that is so full of sodium. It's kind of fun to just make it up as you go along ha.

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  10. My husband loves chicken feet. What he finds to eat on them i don't know. But the broth is sublime. We used to have to go 40 minutes to a neighboring city to buy them. But a grass fed, natural market opened on our road that sells them.

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    1. We're not to the feet eating stage, ha, but yes, we have sampled the broth we made with them and it was amazing. though I guess I'll need to put up a warning for the photo of the feet in the pot, ha.

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  11. Don't forget oyster sauce! Wonderful for stir frys!

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  12. Chicken foot broth??? Aw, hell no! I know what those chicken feet have been tiptoeing through!

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