Have You Tried...? (Feb/Mar 2009)

—by Katharine Holden

Hampden Park Co-op is chock full of good things. Read on and I’ll introduce you to a few.

Shelton’s Uncured Turkey Franks

No nasty nitrites or nitrates here. And gluten-free, too. Shelton’s turkey franks are a rarity in the hotdog world because all of the ingredients can be pronounced by someone with no laboratory background: turkey, water, potato starch, sea salt, mustard seed and other spices. (Remember, most meats at HPC are frozen, so plan ahead.)

Blues Buster

Full Spectrum Light Bulbs I haven’t tried one of these bulbs yet, so I have no idea if it “Breaks Thru Grey Days” as the slogan claims. The box copy says that one of these bulbs will last for nine years of standard use. But then it goes off into a bunch of tiny print I can’t read without squinting, so I’m not sure how the manufacturer defines standard use. These bulbs come in 100, 75, or 60 watts and they are made in China.

Banana Chips

In addition to bags of the usual banana chips, you’ll find the unsweetened variety in the bulk munchies area. They’re nothing but delicious sliced bananas and a little vegetable oil. Pack a few in your lunch bag to snack on when that 10 a.m. tummy rumble hits.

Soups

Soup’s on at the co-op and not just during the cold winter days. Fresh vegetable soup is available year-round and there’s usually a second choice, too. During colder weather, you’ll find three or four soup tureens from which to choose. Recent concoctions have included Cheesy Cream of Broccoli and Cauliflower, Lemony Lentil Spinach & Greens, Mock Duck, and Chili with Three Kinds of Beans & Cilantro.

Breads

There’s no shortage of bread choices at the co-op. On my last visit, I had my choice of hemp, rye with sunflower, spelt, rye with flax, sunflower wheat, sprouted sesame, cinnamon raisin, four kinds of sourdough, multigrain, Mediterranean white, walnut wheat, teff-barley, and green olive, as well as baguettes, organic hotdog buns, petit pain, and ciabatta. And you’ll find gluten-free breads in the freezer, too.

Star Anise

Star anise is one of the ingredients in the traditional Chinese five-spice powder. It is often confused with anise (aniseed). They’re not closely related, although both have a licorice-like flavor. Whole star anise often is one of the ingredients in teas or tisanes used to soothe congested lungs and nasal passages. I’ve used star anise to add depth of flavor to split pea or lentil soups. You’ll find star anise in both whole and powdered forms with the rest of the Frontier bulk spices.

Cut Alfalfa Leaf

In folk magic, keep a jar of alfalfa leaf in your kitchen cupboard or pantry and hunger will never enter your dwelling. Or you can steep alfalfa leaf and mint together, add some lemon, and have a nice cup of tea. It’s up to you. Either way, you’ll find cut alfalfa leaf in the bulk spice aisle.

Thai Kitchen Green Curry Paste

Many jarred curry pastes use wheat as a thickener, but Thai Kitchen’s take on green curry paste is made only of green chili, garlic, lemongrass, ginger, salt, shallot, lime, and spices; and so it is gluten-free. It’s a potent but not scorching addition to any stir fry or sauce. Consider adding a spoonful to pep up soups and stews. Product of Thailand.

Organic Wheat Flakes

Oatmeal is the most common type of porridge eaten in the United States, but there are others. If you steam, flatten and then flake whole wheat kernels you end up with the base for a whole-grain wheat porridge that cooks up much the same way as oatmeal. I once was served wheat flake porridge topped with milk, fresh ground cardamom, and honey. Very tasty. Visit the bulk bin aisle for this item.

[Katharine Holden is an HPC member who frequently reminds herself that, although she can’t get a full-time job to save her life, her dogs still love her. Katharine can be reached at holdenltd@msn]