Sometimes I am not sure what I am. I do eat quite a bit locally, and I eat more real food than I did when I worked and traveled. I definitely support many local businesses, even if they don’t just sell local foods.
But, I am also a foodie, even though I hate that term. I love making recipes from my old Gourmets, and from my Time Life cookbooks of the World. Doing so requires the use of exotic ingredients. I think I have reconciled myself to use local ingredients as much as I can, and use fresh or organic ingredients for those things that don’t grow in the Mid Atlantic ever. Like citrus, olives, most hard grains, beans (trying to dry beans here can be an exercise in futility due to the humidity).
Yesterday my two avocations collided. What else could justify a same day visit to South Mountain Creamery and Wegman’s?
Off on a day trip with a mission. Get unsalted butter, milk and some cheeses to use for Dark Days Challenges. Take pictures on a perfect day to use in future posts. Stop at Wegman’s on the way home to see what they may have in local items in the winter. I am about equi-distant between Frederick and Columbia. Columbia’s Wegman’s will open in June. Frederick is where we go now to get our exotic food fix. I was looking for salsify. They didn’t have any. But, they do have black truffles for $999.00 a pound! Really! People buy them?
I picked up quite a haul including some Kennett Square PA organic mushrooms, and Mock’s Greenhouse Bibb Lettuce, and some CA olive oil (cheaper than my good olive oil from St Helena). Also, raided the olive bar. And found my favorite Doctor Kracker organic spelt crackers. That’s the highlights from Wegman’s.
As for South Mountain:
Besides the cheeses, milk, yoghurt, ice cream and Firefly Farm chevre, I found the Wild Pea’s Hummous, made in Baltimore, and found some of South Mountain’s chicken and pork. With the goodies safely packed in my coolers, I popped around to photograph the cows and the scenery. The calves get milked every afternoon, and children love the farm. There was one family there Saturday morning having ice cream cones and visiting the cows.
So, maybe I am not conflicted about what drives my cooking. I think it’s just a love of good food.
AnnieRie Unplugged 
We now get weekly deliveries from South Mountain Creamery, and I’m so glad that I started it. We also went to MOM’s today and got some Bowling Green Cheese, also local.
So glad I found your blog. You are cooking like I’m trying to do. I’m recently retired too, and it’s nice to have that reduced stress level so I can cook and eat local and be of the state of mind to appreciate it.
When we left Columbia and moved to the residential rural west county seven years ago, I knew I wanted a garden, and to shop at the local markets. At the time, I didn’t think of CSAs, only that I wanted more natural foods and less processed.
With retirement, I now have the time to can, freeze, dry and bake. Slowly I have converted to real food, and one by one, I am eliminating processed foods from our diet.
My husband’s weight and cholesterol are down, as well as my weight and allergies. I really believe the elimination of all the junk is making us healthier.
South Mountain sells at the Glenwood Market six months a year. I haven’t signed up for deliveries as I like trying different places. I have realized that even though I love the convenience of the CSAs, I like popping into new markets. Limits what I buy, though, when a delivery is coming.
Annie
Right there with you on this one!