recommendation: grocery store Plum Market

In Chicago I had no strong allegiance to a grocery store - I would go wherever convenient, and rotate between Trader Joe's (best frozen meals, herb prices, pre-marinated meat, and jarred sauces), Jewel (cheapest overall, inexpensive flowers, good cheese section), Dominick's (good produce, bakery and salad bar), and Whole Foods (best produce, hot food & salad bar, ready to eat foods, etc.) and even Sky Grocer our neighborhood store (which prices are SKY HIGH but its a beautiful store and saved me in a few cooking binds).

Here in Michigan, I'm fiercely loyal to Busch's. They are the closest to me but really, it comes down to more. Their store is always clean and stocked, there are samples, everyone (literally everyone in every department) is friendly and helpful. Their prices might be more than Meijer or Kroger, but they are less than Whole Foods and I feel like they sell quality products that make it worth it.

OK but this post is not about my love for Busch's, ha! Its about another fantastic grocery store that is in Ann Arbor and that is coming to Chicago! PLUM MARKET! I'm so excited for my fellow Chicagoans to experience Plum.

They are a high-end grocery store, similar to Whole Foods but much smaller. I've been thinking for the past few days about what makes them different - they too source local products, are heavily organic, offer health options, have premade foods and a great salad & olive bar... and then I learned that they have a reason to be similar:

Matthew Jonna and Marc Jonna are third generation retailers who grew up working for their father’s store, Merchant of Vino Marketplace, a natural, organic, and specialty food and wine store with six locations across the Midwest. The chain attracted significant attention from competitors and in 1998 Whole Foods Market acquired the company. Both Jonna’s continued to work with the Whole Foods Market executive leadership team. Matt and Marc left Whole Foods Market to pursue developing a new grocery concept, later to become Plum Market....

Plum is opening in Chicago in Spring 2013, so sorry to get you prematurely excited, but I need you to all be aware so that when you start seeing signage and construction in Old Town, you know what's coming. It'll be located at 1233 North Wells, Chicago IL 60610.

Another reason I'm excited is because Plum is Zingerman's product-heavy, so I'm hoping this brings more Zingerman's to Chicago!

I debated whether this blog post should be about the store or my favorite dish from Plum, so I'm combining them. Let me tell you about my love for... their BEETS. Beets are a weird vegetable. My only experience of them were as a kid at Easter, seeing hard boiled eggs pickled in beet juice.

As an adult I tried them but didn't get it. They tasted kind of dirty, you know? I have a friend Brianna that loves beets, and since I adore her, it made me want to love beets more. And my friend Anne's 3 year old daughter was eating them when she was 2 so I figure, if she can eat them, why can't I? I tried them at a fancy restaurant and they weren't so bad. So when my mom brought home this beet salad from Plum Market, I was open to trying it. I can't explain to you how UN-BEET this salad is. They taste so...clean! And fresh and pure. They are oven-roasted red beets with thinly sliced red onions in red wine vinaigrette. Its awesome and addictive (and expensive - beets are kind of heavy and its from the salad bar that's charged by weight, so you have been warned). If you like beets or are willing to try, check this dish out.

recommendation: easy mango smoothie

I've decided that I'm going to try to make 'real' Indian (read: not frozen boxes) once every few weeks, so I can practice and get good. I'm going to try 1 new recipe each time and while doing this, I'm also working on mastering a few staples. Raita, the yogurt that cools your mouth down when you ordered too spicy, I've got. Matar Pulao (Rice with Peas) I've almost got. Not perfect but always fine. My last cooking session I wanted to tackle the Mango Lassi - a smoothie like drink that is super easy and is another great way to cool your mouth down! A great treat for the summer too.

I learned from my cousin visiting from India this past weekend that a Mango Lassi in India does not exist! Lassi's are made with yogurt. Shakes are made with milk. Because Mango Puree is heavier, she said its used primarily in shakes, and Lassi's are normally plain flavored. Huh! I guess we Americanize a lot of things here to make it fit our tastes better.

Well here is what you need:
1/2 cup Mango Puree
1 cup Non-Fat Plain Yogurt
6 Ice Cubes
Sugar to Taste

Yup, its that simple. The mango puree is so sweet that you don't need the yogurt to be vanilla but if you want to add some sugar, go for it. Non-fat makes it healthier, you don't miss the fat. Blend everything together and enjoy. Serves 1.

Here are a few other notes:

• Some say LAH-SEE, some say LUSS-Y. I say LAH-SEE. Either way, its NOT LASS-Y.
• This is a great base to start with and then make your own. Add spices (ginger? cardamom?), change puree flavor, booze it up, fatten it up, or keep it simple!
• Where do you get Mango Puree? :) Indian grocery stores are the easiest and cheapest, but if you are too scared to go in one, use fresh fruit! Rumor has it Trader Joes carries mango puree (might be frozen) but I have yet to see it. If you are in Chicago - Patel Brothers on Devon is my fav, Ann Arborites go to Foods of India on Broadway or Bombay Grocers on Packard.
• If you are using fresh fruit - here's how to pick a ripe mango: It will smell great, be soft to touch (but not mushy), no brown marks, and they are sometimes colored - red, yellow are good. Green is not yet ripe but color isn't always an indicator, always test the softness and scent.

recommendation: respond to earth day

I can hardly believe it has been OVER a full year since I've been doing this blog. Earth Day is this weekend on April 22nd and remembered I did a post on it LAST YEAR. Time flies.

Earth day is one of those days that seem silly because it should be celebrated every day. Like mother's day - you should love your momma every day. That's a big DUH. So here's what you need to remember: REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE. First off though, reuse vs. recycle. I had a hard time on which category to put a few recommendations under and found this article quite helpful! For those too lazy to click the link - reuse is to keep the item in its near original form to be used again. If you donate something to a shelter or church you are allowing items to be reused so that people don't have to purchase a new one. If you recycle, the item is being stripped and broken down so that its parts can be used in new ways.

So here's my plan on how to carry out the 3 R's:

REDUCE: Last year I posted to buy local in order to reduce your carbon footprint. My local is now Ann Arbor, Michigan as we relocated in the fall from Chicago. I love this slogan: "BUY local or goodBYE local!". I saw that sign for the first time when a Hallmark in Dexter was going out of business and it made me so sad. Its nice to support businesses around you that get involved with the community that they are in. I've found a few favorite local treats that also encourage business with the local community:

- Grange: 118 W. Liberty / Ann Arbor, MI 48104 / 734.995.2107. How great is this?
"At Grange, our commitment to local and sustainable sources reflects both our commitment to the community and our commitment to bringing the best of the farm’s bounty to the table when it’s fresh and at the peak of its flavor." Brunch there is great (Sundays only) but make reservations in advance!

- Downtown Home & Garden - Great local resource, here is what the site says, "We love to showcase our rich history as a hundred-year-old downtown retailer, but we survive by our willingness to adapt to change. We strive to make ourselves ever-more useful to our customers and the extended community by providing trustworthy information and full service." This place as a great Ann Arbor-y vibe and they are so helpful. This is the place to go if you need specific seeds for your garden or need some fun kitchen utensils.

- Mark's Carts was started by Mark of the above Downtown Home & Garden. Its a collection of food carts individually by the vendors, and each presents a different style of ethnic or regional food. I haven't been there yet but its created quite the buzz in A2.

- Think Local First: their mission is to support and cultivate locally-owned, independent businesses in Washtenaw County that are committed to making our community a healthier and more vibrant place to live. Great list of local businesses that have a lot to offer.

- Ok this one doesn't really fit the whole carbon footprint reduce thing, but they support local businesses and I just L.O.V.E. their billboards! Only Ann Arborites will get these but my favorites lately are: * Non-local banks think Briarwood is where Peter Rabbit lives; * Non-local banks think Kosmo is a character on Sesame Street; * Non-local banks think Ypsi is something you say after making a mistake; and * Non-local banks think Big George is a mob boss.

REUSE: My reuse this year is promotion for the

place I volunteer - The Brides Project! It is a non-profit organization of voluneers dedicated to raising funds for the programs of the Cancer Support Community (CSC) of Greater Ann Arbor. We collect donated 'pre-loved' or unworn wedding dresses that are available for purchase to brides-to-be at a considerable savings. All profits from the sale of the gowns go to the CSC to support programs and services for people touched by cancer. How great is that? Awesome way to reuse a wedding item no longer needed and help the community!

RECYCLE: After posting my Spring Clean your Closet post yesterday (REUSE!!), I found a WasteWatcher catalog that the City of Ann Arbor mails out. This book has so much information about recycling but boy is it confusing! I feel so guilty, so many things I'm throwing in my recycle bin should NOT be going there! A few examples:
* Remove all bottle caps from pop bottles before recycling
* No plastic lids (such as yogurt lids), flatware, fast-food drink tops/straws
* No light bulbs in recycling carts
* No paper cups, napkins, paper plates.
The list goes on. Who knew? Recommendation: find your City website and check out the guidelines for recycling. You are not helping the earth by not following them!

Try to find ways that work for you with your lifestyle to help the earth. Make a personal commitment to do one of the three R's this year: REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE!

recommendation: spring clean your closet

My husband left this on my pillow one night. I didn't even get offended because I know, I've got a LOT of stuff. Everywhere. I am a complete pack rat and have borderline hoarding tendencies - every glass jar, and most recyclable items have unknown and future potential uses. Don't worry, when put under pressure, I am willing to part with these items so don't feel the need to submit me as a subject for any TLC shows. I've also admitted to myself that even though we are in a house now, we really don't have that much extra storage space. Or at least not enough for me to keep everything.

My main 'stuff' problem is clothing. I keep everything - because I once loved it, I have a great memory when wearing it, it will fit me one day, it was expensive and I didn't wear it often enough... the list goes on. A high school friend is a stylist now and when I saw her recently she gave me a great piece of advice - buy what fits you NOW. I always think, I don't want to waste money on clothing for a size that I am now when I'm actively trying to work out and loose weight. So I'll wait. But wearing clothes that don't fit right in the mean time doesn't feel nice. So I picked up a few inexpensive things (think Old Navy & TJMaxx/Marshalls) that fit great and make me feel great. And that in turn motivated me to do some MAJOR spring cleaning! I cleaned my closet, my drawers, and some storage bins.

Here's some recommendations on what to DO with all that stuff!

In Ann Arbor there are PLENTY of places to donate:
- Salvation Army - the one on State next to Produce Station has an EASY drop off!
- Re-USE center on South Industrial
- Ann Arbor PTO Thrift Shop on South Industrial
- A few more from Arbor Web
- Trash to Treasures - a full list of Washtenaw County places to take pretty much everything under your roof

Try to get money at:
- Plato's Closet by Briarwood - they are seriously picky here and you have to stay while they sort, so go here first and then donate what they don't take
- Children's Orchard - across the street from Plato's Closet

Donate in Chicago:
- Salvation Army in the West Loop - this was closest to our house in Chicago. Not the friendliest or easiest but its there, they take the donations and give you a form.

Try to get money at:
- Crossroads and Buffalo Exchange are both located on Milwaukee in Buck Town. Drag someone with you because parking there sucks. But these places are close by so you can hit up both.
- Platos Closet on Clybourn
- Luxury Garage Sale - they sell your clothes on ebay and take a small cut. worth it if you have designer duds that are valuable

recommendation: tips to stay safe and burglar-free

there have been 82 break in's in Ann Arbor since the beginning of the year. that is just insane and kind of scary! i remember getting this email forward a while back from my hubby's aunt and kept it b/c it made me think a little. the articles in the paper say that's the best way to catch or stop these break-ins, is to just think and report. helping neighbors, being aware and reporting anything unusual. of course some of these are silly, some are no-brainers and some are being a little too cautious. I'm not one for forwards but a few made me think a little and become more aware so I figured, why not share?

TWELVE THINGS YOUR BURGLAR WON'T TELL YOU:

1. Hey, thanks for letting me use the bathroom when I was working in your yard last week. While I was in there, I unlatched the back window to make my return a little easier. Always make sure all doors and windows are closed and locked before going to bed or leaving the house.

2. Love those flowers. That tells me you have taste... and taste means there are nice things inside. Those yard toys your kids leave out always make me wonder what type of gaming system they have.

3. Yes, I really do look for newspapers piled up on the driveway. And I might leave a pizza flyer in your front door to see how long it takes you to remove it.

4. If it snows while you're out of town, get a neighbor to create car and foot tracks into the house. Virgin drifts in the driveway are a dead giveaway.

5. If decorative glass is part of your front entrance, don't let your alarm company install the control pad where I can see if it's set. That makes it too easy.

6. A good security company alarms the window over the sink. And the windows on the second floor, which often access the master bedroom - and your jewelry. It's not a bad idea to put motion detectors up there too.

7. It's raining, you're fumbling with your umbrella, and you forget to lock your door - understandable. But understand this: I don't take a day off because of bad weather.

8. I always knock first. If you answer, I'll ask for directions somewhere or offer to clean your gutters.

9. Do you really think I won't look in your sock drawer? I always check dresser drawers, the bedside table, and the medicine cabinet.

10. Here's a helpful hint: I almost never go into kids' rooms.

11. You're right: I won't have enough time to break into that safe where you keep your valuables. But if it's not bolted down, I'll take it with me.

12. A loud TV or radio can be a better deterrent than the best alarm system. If you're reluctant to leave your TV on while you're out of town, you can buy a $35 device that works on a timer and simulates the flickering glow of a real television.

SEVEN MORE HELPFUL TIPS FROM A BURGLAR:

1. Sometimes, I carry a clipboard. Sometimes, I dress like a lawn guy and carry a rake. I do my best to never, ever look like a crook.

2. The two things I hate most: loud dogs and nosy neighbors.

3. I'll break a window to get in, even if it makes a little noise. If your neighbor hears one loud sound, he'll stop what he's doing and wait to hear it again... If he doesn't hear it again, he'll just go back to what he was doing. It's human nature.

4. I'm not complaining, but why would you pay all that money for a fancy alarm system and leave your house without setting it?

5. I love looking in your windows. I'm looking for signs that you're home, and for flat screen TVs or gaming systems I'd like. I'll drive or walk through your neighborhood at night, before you close the blinds, just to pick my targets.

6. Avoid announcing your vacation on your Facebook page. It's easier than you think to look up your address.

7. If you don't answer when I knock, I try the door. Occasionally, I hit the jackpot and walk right in.

Sources: Convicted burglars in North Carolina, Oregon, California, and Kentucky ; security consultant Chris McGoey, who runshttp://www.crimedoctor.com/and Richard T. Wright, a criminology professor at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, who interviewed 105 burglars for his book Burglars on the Job