In brooklyn my food co-op had bulk crystallized ginger “coins.” They were the size of a little wafer, a perfect size for popping one in your mouth after dinner. And you could buy as much or as little as you wanted, as they were sold in a bulk bin. I bought a small amount every two weeks or so, and they were always fresh and soft. I miss them so much.
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That sounds great. Our coop has a ton of bulk stuff, but I’ve never looked for ginger there. One of my faves of theirs is bulk all manner of spices and dried herbs.
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i actually don’t know what the status of “bulk” foods is at my co-op here in year 3 of this pandemic (bec I’ve temporarily relocated OUT of brooklyn). I’ll be sad if self-serve bulk goes away permanently.
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I wonder if one could freeze crystallized ginger if the quantity was so large that it might dry out before it could be used (this happens to me a lot.)
I never tried it, but the freezer is my friend, generally, for when I can’t use things before they’ll spoil.
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My candied peel has been living in the freezer for a while and doing well, so it should work nicely for that.
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Bulk is back at Rainbow in SF, that’s where I buy candied ginger and golden raisins. Hope yours is back now.
How did you like the cookies? My new favorite.
I’m confused about why you’re asking me my opinion about the ricotta cookies. I have been crowing about them nonstop since @Shellybean pointed me to the recipe.
I’m a 45 minute drive from the closest town (Port Huron, Michigan) but that town doesn’t have a Trader Joe’s. I’m about a 3 hour drive from the Wegman’s in Buffalo (Toronto is around 1.5 to 2 h to Buffalo depending on traffic, and traffic is usually heavy on that freeway), which probably has great panettone, but I haven’t been to the States since a trip to DC in October 2019.
Pre-2020, I was visiting the States 4 or 5 times a year ( Hawaii, Ohio, NYC & DC in 2019) but I’ve not been someone who drives to the States for gas or groceries. Other people, especially people within a hour’s drive of Buffalo, drive to the States for groceries.
I’ve stopped at Wegman’s in Buffalo on my way home from weddings in Ohio and Pennsylvania.
My only visits to Trader Joe’s have been to the TJ’s in Santa Rosa, Back Bay neighbourhood in Boston and the location on 6th Ave near Chelsea in Manhattan!
In Ontario, there’s a chain called Farm Boy that is a Canadian equivalent of Trader Joe’s. It’s owned by a larger chain called Sobeys, so it isn’t independent like TJ’s, but they have similar house brand products and house brand imports. Fits a similar niche market, but I haven’t seen a Farm Boy panettone yet. They do have gingerbread Swiss Rolls, fruit cakes, plum puddings, etc.
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Interesting stuff, thanks for sharing! It’s true, and I’d forgotten, that the CA-USA border was closed for a long time after covid. I believe it only reopened in August this year. So our groceries and gas stations were less crowded. The people are back though. Those that live right north of the border in Surrey, White Rock, Delta, don’t have too far to drive, and they do it plenty for provisions. The Vancouverites have about 60 miles, but I believe they come too. Btw, funny coincidence - I grew up in Buffalo. We shopped at Wegmans, and my mom adored it. My dad loved the fish and chips counter and some weekly dinner was often shrimp and chips or clam and chips. And we had family in Toronto, so we would drive up once every couple of years. We were “dragged” to Niagara Falls at least yearly. But I left at 17, and have only been back once these last 30+ yrs.
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Today “Sunshine” and I baked and glazed a batch of “pepper nut” cookies. Apparently, they are a German Spice Cookie?? I saw the recipe on youtube – “Food Wishes” by Chef John. I did add some food coloring to the glaze, so they are red and green for Christmas!!
They were good, but Sunshine liked the crinkle cookies better. It is nice seeing her enjoy herself rolling and coating these cookies… it’s just fun, with a tasty result.
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This is a bit cheeky of me - I hope you don’t mind. First you referred to her as your girlfriend, and now as “Sunshine.” Does she have a name? You can do as @paryzer and call her Ms or Mrs DD. Or just girlfriend, significant other, partner, or whatnot. The quotes are confusing.
Also, everything about your posts turns on its head the popular phrase “the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach”!
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Yep- they’re called Pfeffernüsse in German. I’ve only had the German imports, haven’t tried an American Peppernut.
Scandalous beginnings.
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I’m mostly based in London, Ontario, and we make the 3 h drive to Niagara almost every time Western Canadian, American or European relatives visit us for the first time.
My last 2 visits to Niagara Falls were in 2018 and 2019 with 2 different sets of Prairie cousins 
I didn’t know about Wegman’s until around the fall of 2015. I have only been twice, but I love it.
Sunshine is my girlfriend’s nickname. It kind of started because she really isn’t a morning person, whereas I am. “Good morning, Sunshine” is always met with a scowl and an eye roll.
We are not married but live together, so Mrs. DD would not fit. We have been together for 11 years.
After a small kitchen fire, Sunshine is not allowed to cook any longer. After the fire, we did have her memory tested and she failed one of her two tests. So, I do all of the cooking now.
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Of course I don’t know what it looks like now, but it had the reputation for just being one of those giant grocery superstores where you lack for nothing. As we used to joke around, in boring places like Buffalo, the thing to do for entertainment is grocery shopping!
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Oh jeez - sorry! Thanks!
Lol, grocery shopping around 9:30 pm on a Friday or Saturday night in London, Ontario, has been my night out on the town for the past 2 1/2 years! Unfortunately our equivalent to Wegman’s closes at 6 pm, so my nights out are at the equivalent of a Giant Eagle or Albertson’s.
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I loved these as a kid along with Stella Doro’s almond cookies.
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