Kitchen

[Icegoddess]

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@PickyPicky3 wrote:

@KKWA   Actually, your question "How hard is it to chop up a little lettuce?" sounds a bit condescending. 

My post had nothing to do with difficulty or laziness. Many of us live alone and because of the pandemic have had to completely change how we food shop. Bagged salads allow me to have a wider variety of ingredients in smaller quantities. I'm not having guests over like I used to, so my grocery needs are very small. I do curbside and can't just run out for a few items. You have to wait for a curbside slot with dollar minimums for an order. Sometimes an order of 30 items ends up at 18 because things were out of stock and there were no substitutions.

Of course fresh greens taste better and are better for you. But if that were all I used, too much of it would end up in the garbage.  

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I used to get the bagged spring mix because I liked the variety and it would cost too much to get all those different varieties even if my store carried them all, so I get what you're saying.  I quit buying them becasue they went bad so quickly.  

And then, as far as making coleslaw is concerned, how much do you need.  A whole head of cabbage makes a lot of coleslaw.  

However, I really prefer a larger cut, larger than any of the bagged coleslaw mixes at my stores carry.  The Kroger is slightly better than Publix's which is a tiny cut. So, every once in awhile I'll get a head.  and use a knife to cut it up.  A grater would make it too small a cut.  I think some stores sell half heads, but I don't think I have seen the purple cabbage that I prefer. 

I also buy bagged julienne carrots for my salads.  Lately I have been getting the baby romaine heads that come in the plastic container.  I prefer the inner parts of a head of romaine.

[Etoile308]

@SurferWife, have you ever tried cole slaw with dried cherries? I like it more than with raisins.

[SurferWife]

@Etoile308 

No, but that sounds delightful!  My husband & I both like cherries so I'll have to remember to get some next time we make coleslaw.

[faeriemoon]

My preference when making coleslaw is to buy a head of cabbage and cut it thinly with a knife.  I find a fresh head of cabbage makes a longer lasting coleslaw.

Sometimes I like to make a chopped cole slaw.  I use the food processor for that.

(I like to use carrot, radicchio and a bit of onion in the mix.)

[Iwantcoffee]

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@SurferWife wrote:

@PickyPicky3 

Whatever you decide, may I recommend adding raisins to it?  When I first heard of that I though yuk!  However, after trying it I refuse to eat Cole Slaw without raisins!

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Thank you for the suggestion. I found this recipe at Joyous Apron.

Ingredients

• 8 oz shredded cabbage
• 1/2 cup shredded carrots
• 1/4 cup raisin
• 1/4 cup mayonaise
• 3 tbsp sugar
• 1 1/2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1/2 tsp salt

Instructions

• Finely chop up cabbage and carrot (if necessary) and add them, along with raisins, into a large bowl.
• In a small bowl, mix well mayo, sugar, apple cider vinegar and salt to create dressing.
• Add dressing to large bowl with shredded cabbages and carrots, and toss to combine. 
• Serve and enjoy!

[Iwantcoffee]

I have not tried this recipe for Broccoli Kale Apple and Cranberry Slaw from Minshien at Joyous Apron but it looks good.

Ingredients

• 6 oz shredded broccoli
• 1 1/2 cup kale (packed) chopped
• 1/2 cup sliced apples packed
• 1/4 cup dried cranberries
• 1/4 cup slivered almonds

Dressing

• 1/4 cup mayonaise
• 1 1/2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 3 tbsp sugar
• 1/2 tsp lemon juice
• 1/4 tsp salt

Instructions

• In a large bowl, combine shredded broccoli, chopped kale, sliced apples, dried cranberries and slivered almonds.
• In a small bowl, combine ingredients for slaw dressing. Whisk or use a hand-held electric mixer to mix well and make sure everything is dissolved.
• Pour dressing onto large bowl. Using a pair of tongs, tossed to mix well.
• Serve and enjoy!

[PickyPicky3]

@Icegoddess     I remember once, pre-pandemic, watching a supermarket employee refill the store salad bar using bagged salads. Because I was next to her cart, I could see all the bags were at their expiration date. I asked her about it, and she said they always used expiring greens for the salad bar. YUCK!

I have never forgotten the Consumer Reports study showing how the percentage of bacteria in bagged salads increases exponentially in the last five days before the expiration date. 

[Marp]

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@KKWA wrote:

@PickyPicky3 I hope I don't sound like a snob, but I don't buy packaged anything.  How hard is it to chop up a little lettice.  If you like cabbage, I do, I'd invest in a mandolin.  K50008 is a little pricy, you should be able to get a shredder/chopper at a groc store cheeper.  If not, a good knife will do.  It is worth the effort.  Cabbage is good for you.  Those bags are not fresh and have unwanted chemicals.  Try this; shred cabbage, make dressing from Kraft Best Foods Real Mayo and sugar, and sliced bananas.  Kind of a cross between coleslaw and fruit salad.  A family favorite.  

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@KKWA,  if you have an like that mandolin you might want to take a look on HSN at their vertical mandolin.  I had the Q version but upgraded to the one from HSN just for the larger chute.  I can slice an onion without having to cut it, a whole potato and so many other foods.  What an improvement.

https://www.hsn.com/products/kitchen-hq-xl-vertical-mandoline/20202957#

[89135]

@walkingal   I also buy mine in the deli section...also their potato salad and macaroni salad..(Smiths)

[RollTide2008]

I use a box grater.