UPDATED: Grocery delivery by Peapod Truck from Giant supermarket

UPDATED:

The "Clipper" magazine has a coupon for $20 off your first order + 60 days free delivery.  Free delivery begins with your 2nd order.    PROMO CODE "SNOWCLIP" at Checkout.

As of this update, the areas served by Peapod include Marcus Hook, Sharon Hill, Cheyney, Chadds Ford, Glen Mills, Gladwyne, Haverford, Crum Lynne, Newtown Square, Ardmore, Media, Merion Station, Bridgeport.  See site for more.

Giant supermarkets in southeastern Pennsylvania are rolling out PeaPod as a home delivery service for fresh groceries.  PeaPod already has footing in the Great Lakes states and is creeping across the Eastern half of the United States through partnerships with regional supermarket chains.  The city of Philadelphia has received PeaPod.  Some parts of Delaware County and southern Chester County may be are seeing it too.  Northern and western Chester County and the state of Delaware have yet to receive the service.


Would you shop at home for groceries?

When Genuardi's tried it a few years back, Gardentina jumped on board with a customer loyalty coupon for free delivery and gave it a shot.  Unfortunately, it was an epic fail on the part of Genuardi's.  The truck was hours later than  the specified timeframe; the refrigerated foods were delivered at warm temperatures; and some of the foods were delivered with expired dates on them!  To the credit of Genuardi's, the store manager worked out an arrangement to compensate for the trifecta of failure.  Still, Gardentina has been wary to use home delivery service again.  It seemed as if the "products hand picked by staff" were the products that were wilted, crushed, or most likely to expire.  Plus, the ordering process took a long time to create the checklist of items.

If Giant provides a coupon for free delivery, Gardentina will try it, to find out if this is a viable option when in a pinch.  The current promotion of $20 off is not enticing enough for me to try it.

It must be said that for those who are shut-in for any length of time, it would be superb for them to have home delivery service - not just for the elderly, but for anyone with a disability or broken automobile or whatever life threw at them.  Gardentina would surely like to see the marketplace improve on the availability and quality of home delivery.  It will never be the same as choosing in person, but wouldn't it be convenient to plan a dinner menu for friends on your lunch break, and order the ingredients for delivery at the same time?

Has anyone tried Netgrocer?

Product Review: Ranch CornNuts

AWWESOMMMEE!!!!!

Ranch Corn Nuts by Planter's get two thumbs up!

CRRUUNCHH!!   


Find them in the checkout line at Home Depot. 

(Can you tell:  I find myself in that location a lot!....)

Pssst:   The website for cornnuts, linked above, has fun online games on it!

Video:  Rich Vos on CornNuts and Potato Chips; clip from Opie & Anthony Show

UPDATED: Restaurant Review: Freskada Cafe and BYOB at Main Street Exton

UPDATE:  
Freskada has a Groupon deal in progress.  What a great way for couples and families to try the updated menu!  "Before it was on Groupon, it was on www.BrandywineLife.com!"


Freskada:  Recommended
 
Freskada is a charming restaurant with a confusing name.  Gardentina always walked right past Freskada with the assumption that it was a knock off of Saladworks consisting of a menu of salad; soup-and-salad; and salad-turned-into-a-sandwich.  My mistake!!  Freskada is a wonderful Greek restaurant serving lunch and dinner in a casual dining setting.  There are outdoor tables for finer weather, too.  BYOB!

The menu has all of the Greek favorites you know and love in the mediterranean setting you would expect.  They serve Grilled Meats and Vegetables done many ways, Spanakopita, Mousaka, and Calamari.  You can click on the links to see recipes of these favorites that you can make at home!

What It's Like To Be On the Beach in Greece

YouTube Video:  Platys Gialos Beach, Mykonos

 
The food at Freskada is on the light side in keeping with the Mediterranean tradition.  I ordered the soup-and-salad combination for lunch.  The salad dressing was enjoyable because it was very light in texture.  It was not oily or sour.  For more hungry types, rest assured there are many grilled meats to choose from as well as appetizers that others might actually share with you without feeling too guilty!

  
Summary:   This is an excellent place to bring a vegetarian or to go on a first date.

YouTube Video:  The Song "First Date" By Blink182 

Featuring a Wawa Smackdown in the 2nd Half

Related Articles:
Fundamentals of Mediterranean Decor
"How To" Steps of Greek Cooking
Scientists Make Expedition to Caucausus Seeking New Strains Of Spinach Seeds

Local Cheese Makers: Conebella Farm

This week's posts have a farm theme in celebration of the PA Farm Show Jan 7-14, 2012

Conebella Farm is a local family-run cheesemaker in Elverson, PA.  Their cheese is made from the milk of Ayrshire cows.  Conebella's website claims that the milk from Ayrshires is especially buttery.  I am inclined to agree based on my tastes of the cheese.  I tried the Jalapeno Cheddar flavor both cold and cooked.  Approvals all around.  The cheese itself was severely lacking in jalapeno bite, but more than made up for this shortcoming in rich cheese flavor.  The cheese was a delight to cook with, because it melted "like butter" to a very creamy texture.  When eaten cold, the cheese was soft and flavorful.  It is so creamy even when cold that care should be used to keep the cheese out from under heat lamps when serving a cold cheese platter.  The Conebella cheese paired well with green grapes.  The grated cheese melted perfectly into classic mac'n'cheese.  You can see the creaminess in the picture below.  I will definitely purchase Conebella's products again.  Next time I'm going for the plain cheddar flavor.  You can buy their products through online order (see website), on the farm, and at the Elverson Farmer's Market in the summer.

The author is not paid to review products nor provided with any free products to review.

Published in connection with It's A Hodgepodge Life Fridays.

Give your Valentine a TASTE of wine by Sand Castle Winery

Photo of Phoenixville store by Brandywine Life

Sand Castle winery of Erwinna, PA stocks the consumer wine store TASTE on Bridge Street in Phoenixville, PA.  TASTE is running a series of wine classes this January and February on "Tapas and Wine Pairings".  The classes are held inside the store for $99 per couple for one class on a winter evening.  What a fun way to beat the winter blues!

Sand Castle itself is nestled along the Delaware River in upper Bucks county, PA.  They have, in my opinion, one of the top - - if not the top - - Winery Tours in the area.  The staff is very welcoming.  Sand Castle takes you behind the scenes and onto the vineyard.  When you return indoors for a tasting, all varieties of wine are good quality.  Sand Castle's white wines (Chardonnay, Riesling) are their best wines.  This gem of a winery is worth the drive, and it's such a pleasant drive at that.  Do print a map though.  GPS reception is poor in these parts.

 Photo by Sand Castle


If you go to the Sand Castle winery, consider these attractions nearby:

Golden Pheasant Inn (Tavern Dining, Fine Dining, and Inn)  Erwinna, PA

Tinicum Polo Club (matches held May to October)  Erwinna, PA

Flyers Pride In A Can

The Flyers have got a "Crush"!

Related Videos:

2011-2012 Season Promo on Youtube

Tips For Choosing a Tea Kettle

Prologue
When Gardentina saw that her tea kettle needed replacing, she set about getting a moderately luxurious tea kettle at a kitchen retailer.  To her surprise, a plain, middle-of-the-road tea kettle from a discount store won over her heart.  Two kettles were returned, the first for poor design (could not open the pot without scraping knuckles on a rough handle), and the other, for a whistle too soft to hear.  Both kettles were in the $50 range and produced by famous names.  The winner?  A big box store standby for half the price, $25.  As Gardentina walked up the aisle, a well-heeled woman was browsing the kettle selection.  She and the other women compared notes on kettle features and selected the same kettle.  A third customer walked up as they were leaving and gazed at the same box.  Stainless steel with ample 2 quart capacity.  Perfection found!


Tips for choosing a whistling tea kettle:

Search the internet for user reviews of the product and especially seek comments on the whistle.  Do not assume that a luxury kitchen retailer is selling you a high quality product.  They are selling you an expensive product, which is not necessarily the same thing.  Tea kettles below $15 are not generally recommended because they are often made of inferior materials or have insufficient holding capacity for moderate use.  Similarly, tea kettles above $50 usually have special features, materials, or colors.  At the higher prices, consumers are often paying for a brand name.  As the tea kettle is often quite noticeable in the kitchen, the prices of tea kettles are highly subjective to personal consumer preference to determine the best price point for function and aesthetics in the home.

Michael Graves Tea Kettle by Alessi, 

Available at Sears, Retail price $175.00

Source: Alessi

First, know the difference between a tea kettle and a teapot.  Hot water is poured from a tea kettle to a tea pot for serving.

Novelty Tea Kettle by Copco,

Available at Kitchen Kapers

Source: Copco

Padma Lakshmi Handblown Glass Tea Pot,

Available at QVC

Source: QVC

Second, know that some tea kettles do not whistle.  Tea kettles without a cover on the spout do not whistle.  Some tea kettles with a spout barely whistle, if at all.  If the teapot's spout is uncovered, listen for boiling water and watch for steam.  For any kettle designed to whistle, the whistling is dependent on proper care and use of the tea kettle.

Paula Deen Tea Kettle

Available at JC Penney

Source: Paula Deen

A teapot will not whistle if there is not adequate steam pressure. To that point, ensure that the teapot lid is secured, the "bird" (whistle) is plugged,  and that the teapot is filled below maximum water capacity.  Too much water can cause overflow.  To that end, be sure to purchase the size of tea kettle that suits your needs.  A single person might need only 1 quart.  When there are two tea drinkers in the home, a 2 quart capacity is best.



Also pay attention to the materials and construction.  Tea kettles may be produced in stainless steel, copper, or coated in enamel.  Often the handle of the kettle is covered in silicone for heat resistance.  Many tea kettles have easy-pour spouts.  Some have special materials inside the kettle, for longer wear, or on the bottom of the kettle, for heat conduction.  When a tea kettle begins to emit flakes when you pour water, it is time to replace your tea kettle.  If the stopper has gone bad, some high end kettle makers sell replacement parts, but lower end brands will have bitten the dust.  Heating the kettle at the appropriate temperature will help with kettle longevity.  Consult the manufacturer's directions for temperature instructions.








Related Photos:

Giant Tea Kettle Adorns Downtown Boston And Really Steams

Source: Ericsinvention on Panoramio

Teapot Water Fountain in China

This travel blog photo's source is TravelPod page: Hangzhou - 1600 Buddhist Temple, West Lake

Product Review: Sabra Spinach and Artichoke Hummus

All reviews are the author's own.  She is not compensated in any way for the reviews.

www.Sabra.com

Icckkkk!   It pulls in a lot of the sour flavor of the spinach and little of the creamy flavor of the artichokes.  Keep working on the recipe, Sabra!

Best with:  Cheese infused chips, to balance the flavor.