Leeks

"Omelet" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

<snip>

Quoted message said:

Try eating bunches of fresh spinach sometime if you want to deal with
REAL dirt that's hard to clean off!

That's true too. And leaf lettuce. Seems no matter how much you wash it
there is still some grit on there.

Omelet said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

flitterbit said:

Quoted message said:

There are always hydroponics...

if you want to pay the price.

I sometimes purchase heads of Hydroponic Boston Butter lettuce from HEB
for $2.99 per head.

BUT, that head is 3 times the size of a normal Boston Butter head and
still has the roots attached. I've had it last (crisp and fresh) for 3
weeks if I kept water in the root well that comes with the packaging so
it's been worth it. :-)

I'll have to take jpegs next time I get one.

Also, it's more common for the entire head of hydroponically-grown
lettuce to be usable; for most other Boston lettuce, the outermost
leaves are usually so badly damaged as to render them unusable, so
chances are the waste on those cancels out the higher price of the
hydroponic variety.

Ooh I've always been able to use ALL of the leaves from a hydroponic
head. They get special packaging. Hard plastic packaging with the water
well for the roots. And it protects the outer leaves for eating.

They are packaged in a cube case, not in cellophane.

That's why I prefer buying the hydroponic variety; only a couple of
times over the years have any of the outside leaves been badly damaged 🙂

"Julie Bove" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

"James Silverton" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:3eEAi.30318$Bv1.4712@trnddc06...

Quoted message said:

Hello, All!

In principle I am in favor of natural approaches to growing vegetables
but today I made some Vichysoisse soup and I was reminded that leeks are
perhaps the filthiest vegetables on sale. As usual, the leeks I bought
were covered with soil, organic I hope! I wonder why this should be?
Celery can also require careful cleaning but hardly ever as much as
leeks.

I think the layers of leeks overlap more tightly so the dirty sinks down
in. Not sure though. Those baby red potatoes I had tonight could have
given your leeks a run for their money as far as being dirty. I buy leeks
about once every two years. And each time I remind myself that the dirt
is the reason I don't buy them more often.

For me, it's the price -- same as artichokes -- not enough value for the
money. The first time I had purchased leeks was at the farmers' market a
few weeks ago because they looked good and were a fair price IMO.
Dee Dee

Omelet said:

Spinach is a pain in the ass and I can
never get all the sand out of it.

Do you not own a salad spinner?
I put the spinach leaves in the basket,
with the basket in the bowl run a few
changes of water through it (with gentle
agitation from my hand each time),
then spin it to get the water out.

After that treatment, no problems at all
with sand or mud sticking to the leaves.

"Dee Dee" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

For me, it's the price -- same as artichokes -- not enough value for the
money. The first time I had purchased leeks was at the farmers' market a
few weeks ago because they looked good and were a fair price IMO.

I cooked an artichoke once. For my husband. I knew how to do it because it
was something we made in Jr. High Home Ec class. Husband is the hoity toity
type who thinks anything expensive must be good. He is also one of those
food wolvers. As you can imagine, his plucking off the leaves and dipping
them in melted butter didn't last long. That was the last artichoke I
bought. Although I will sometimes buy the jarred ones.

I made a creamy potato and leek soup last year. Amazingly it contained no
dairy of any kind but it had a buttery taste. I liked it, but felt I could
have gotten the same taste by using a mild onion and it would have been a
lot quicker to make. Husband and daughter were less thrilled with it so I
haven't made it again.

"Mark Thorson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Omelet said:

Spinach is a pain in the ass and I can
never get all the sand out of it.

Do you not own a salad spinner?
I put the spinach leaves in the basket,
with the basket in the bowl run a few
changes of water through it (with gentle
agitation from my hand each time),
then spin it to get the water out.

After that treatment, no problems at all
with sand or mud sticking to the leaves.

I used to have a salad spinner. Gave it away because it was taking up too
much room in my cupboard and really didn't work all that well. It was no
match for dirty spinach. Now I just do a few leaves at a time, rinsing and
soaking as I go, blotting with paper towels.

In article <[email hidden]>,

JoeSpareBedroom said:

"Omelet" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

JoeSpareBedroom said:

> Ooh I've always been able to use ALL of the leaves from a hydroponic
> head. They get special packaging. Hard plastic packaging with the water
> well for the roots. And it protects the outer leaves for eating.
>
> They are packaged in a cube case, not in cellophane.
> --
> Peace, Om

Wow. What an outdated and totally wasteful use of packaging.

Perhaps. but it works for a $2.99 head of lettuce.

Most are around $.99.

And the root well DRASTICally increases it's shelf life if you take care
of the still living head of lettuce. ;-d

Talk about fresh produce...
--
Peace, Om

Sorry, but there's no possible way to justify the use of hard plastic for a
head of lettuce.

How else would you keep those roots wet to keep it alive?

How many heads of lettuce can stay crisp for 3 weeks?

If I'm not in "salad mode", it will actually stay that long in the
'frige.
--
Peace, Om

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"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a [censored]" -- Jack Nicholson

In article <[email hidden]>,

Dee Dee said:

"Giusi" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"James Silverton" <[email hidden]> ha scritto nel messaggio
news:3eEAi.30318$Bv1.4712@trnddc06...

Quoted message said:

Hello, All!

In principle I am in favor of natural approaches to growing vegetables
but today I made some Vichysoisse soup and I was reminded that leeks are
perhaps the filthiest vegetables on sale. As usual, the leeks I bought
were covered with soil, organic I hope! I wonder why this should be?
Celery can also require careful cleaning but hardly ever as much as
leeks.

James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland

Leeks here are not as dirty as they were in the US, and I don't know why.
It does show that they don't have to be dirty. I am a leek lover for sure
and have worked with them a lot. I tell my students if they are very
dirty and the recipe will work this way, cut them into rings and dump them
into a big bowl of salted water. Use your hands like a washing machine to
agititate them, let the dirt settle, then lift them up out of the water
into a colander. Repeat as necessary.

Bath always, as showers don't work. Salt seems to work a bit like soap to
loosen the dirt.

Rachel Ray cleans her leeks this way, too; I learned it from her. What I'd
like to know how to do is to clean them enough to braise them whole. I've
done this once or twice without grit. I cut the side a little, but it
doesn't always work.
Dee Dee

If you are really careful, you can gently take them apart, wash them
out, then re-assemble them.
--
Peace, Om

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"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a [censored]" -- Jack Nicholson

In article <[email hidden]>,

Dee Dee said:

"Omelet" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Veggies are grown in dirt. Why does that scare people?
--
Peace, Om

Guess one has to decide what type of fertilizer is used -- is it possible to
tell?
Dee Dee

[censored] is [censored]. ;-)
--
Peace, Om

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"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a [censored]" -- Jack Nicholson

In article <[email hidden]>,

Dee Dee said:

"Omelet" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I sometimes purchase heads of Hydroponic Boston Butter lettuce from HEB
for $2.99 per head.

BUT, that head is 3 times the size of a normal Boston Butter head and
still has the roots attached. I've had it last (crisp and fresh) for 3
weeks if I kept water in the root well that comes with the packaging so
it's been worth it. :-)

I'll have to take jpegs next time I get one.
--
Peace, Om

Here at Costco $2.99 for two heads. Very easy to just take off a leaf or
two for this or that. I wish I could remember to put water on the bottom.
One reason I like this idea is that you can see the bottom of its roots and
when they are all brown, -- pass!
Dee Dee

Good price.

I really like the live Boston Butter heads.
If I'm not currently using a lot of lettuce, they are worth the price to
me.
--
Peace, Om

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"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a [censored]" -- Jack Nicholson

In article <[email hidden]>,

(Victor Sack) said:

James Silverton said:

In principle I am in favor of natural approaches to growing
vegetables but today I made some Vichysoisse soup and I was
reminded that leeks are perhaps the filthiest vegetables on
sale. As usual, the leeks I bought were covered with soil,
organic I hope! I wonder why this should be? Celery can also
require careful cleaning but hardly ever as much as leeks.

Many people have said all this about leeks and celery on this newsgroup
over the years, and yet every time I am surprised. Here in Germany,
both leeks and celery are among the cleanest vegetables imaginable and
never require more than a simple, short rinse. I have yet to detect any
visible dirt on either vegetable, except, very occasionally, for a bit
of sand in the centre part where the stem connects to the leaves.
Cleaning them is never a problem - cut off the root, cut off most of the
green part. What is left is a solid stem. Give it a quick rinse and
chop it up... that's all.

No matter where I buy vegetables here, they are generally very clean,
but leeks and celery are particularly so.

Victor

Are they being grown hydroponically?
That keeps veggies very clean.
--
Peace, Om

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"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a [censored]" -- Jack Nicholson

In article <ezKAi.19$Lz5.6@trndny04>,

Julie Bove said:

"Omelet" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

<snip>

Quoted message said:

Try eating bunches of fresh spinach sometime if you want to deal with
REAL dirt that's hard to clean off!

That's true too. And leaf lettuce. Seems no matter how much you wash it
there is still some grit on there.

I've not had problems with leaf lettuce here, but spinach bunches are
always so sandy, I just buy bagged baby spinach any more.
--
Peace, Om

Remove _ to validate e-mails.

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a [censored]" -- Jack Nicholson

In article <[email hidden]>,

flitterbit said:

Quoted message said:

Ooh I've always been able to use ALL of the leaves from a hydroponic
head. They get special packaging. Hard plastic packaging with the water
well for the roots. And it protects the outer leaves for eating.

They are packaged in a cube case, not in cellophane.

That's why I prefer buying the hydroponic variety; only a couple of
times over the years have any of the outside leaves been badly damaged 🙂

They are things of beauty aren't they?
--
Peace, Om

Remove _ to validate e-mails.

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a [censored]" -- Jack Nicholson

In article <[email hidden]>,

Mark Thorson said:

Omelet said:

Spinach is a pain in the ass and I can
never get all the sand out of it.

Do you not own a salad spinner?

No. And afaik, spinners are to get water off, not dirt?

Quoted message said:

I put the spinach leaves in the basket,
with the basket in the bowl run a few
changes of water through it (with gentle
agitation from my hand each time),
then spin it to get the water out.

After that treatment, no problems at all
with sand or mud sticking to the leaves.

I've been considering investing in one. We've talked about this before.
--
Peace, Om

Remove _ to validate e-mails.

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a [censored]" -- Jack Nicholson

In article <[email hidden]>,

Dee Dee said:

"Julie Bove" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:xxKAi.489$2p5.248@trndny05...

Quoted message said:

"James Silverton" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:3eEAi.30318$Bv1.4712@trnddc06...

Quoted message said:

Hello, All!

In principle I am in favor of natural approaches to growing vegetables
but today I made some Vichysoisse soup and I was reminded that leeks are
perhaps the filthiest vegetables on sale. As usual, the leeks I bought
were covered with soil, organic I hope! I wonder why this should be?
Celery can also require careful cleaning but hardly ever as much as
leeks.

I think the layers of leeks overlap more tightly so the dirty sinks down
in. Not sure though. Those baby red potatoes I had tonight could have
given your leeks a run for their money as far as being dirty. I buy leeks
about once every two years. And each time I remind myself that the dirt
is the reason I don't buy them more often.

For me, it's the price -- same as artichokes -- not enough value for the
money. The first time I had purchased leeks was at the farmers' market a
few weeks ago because they looked good and were a fair price IMO.
Dee Dee

The one reason I occasionally purchase leeks is that they are just plain
yummy... but I tend to only get them on sale in season. ;-)

Or when I hit the asian market where they are always reasonable.
They do keep for a long time.
--
Peace, Om

Remove _ to validate e-mails.

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a [censored]" -- Jack Nicholson

"Omelet" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

JoeSpareBedroom said:

"Omelet" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>,
"JoeSpareBedroom" <[email hidden]> wrote:

> > Ooh I've always been able to use ALL of the leaves from a hydroponic
> > head. They get special packaging. Hard plastic packaging with the
> > water
> > well for the roots. And it protects the outer leaves for eating.
> >
> > They are packaged in a cube case, not in cellophane.
> > --
> > Peace, Om
>
> Wow. What an outdated and totally wasteful use of packaging.

Perhaps. but it works for a $2.99 head of lettuce.

Most are around $.99.

And the root well DRASTICally increases it's shelf life if you take
care
of the still living head of lettuce. ;-d

Talk about fresh produce...
--
Peace, Om

Sorry, but there's no possible way to justify the use of hard plastic for
a
head of lettuce.

How else would you keep those roots wet to keep it alive?

You don't, and that is the problem with hydroponic produce. A lot of it
requires excessive packaging to impress the consumer. Otherwise, it would
look pretty much like the rest of the produce on the shelf.

I've got a friend who lives in an apartment and grows some interesting stuff
hydroponically on his window sills. I think he uses one fluorescent fixture
to supplement daylight. Now, that's a good use of hydroponic technology.

In article <[email hidden]>,

JoeSpareBedroom said:

Quoted message said:

How else would you keep those roots wet to keep it alive?

You don't, and that is the problem with hydroponic produce. A lot of it
requires excessive packaging to impress the consumer. Otherwise, it would
look pretty much like the rest of the produce on the shelf.

I've got a friend who lives in an apartment and grows some interesting stuff
hydroponically on his window sills. I think he uses one fluorescent fixture
to supplement daylight. Now, that's a good use of hydroponic technology.

You are avoiding the point.

Could you normally keep a head of lettuce fresh/alive for 3 weeks if
just wrapped in cellophane?

Most cut lettuce heads keep for a week, max, if we don't consume them
and by the end of the week they are beginning to get wilted.

Not so the ones with roots attached!

Not all of us eat like pigs.

I only cook for two people and both of us only eat 1 to 2 meals per day.

Usually two, but not always.
--
Peace, Om

Remove _ to validate e-mails.

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a [censored]" -- Jack Nicholson

"Omelet" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Rachel Ray cleans her leeks this way, too; I learned it from her. What
I'd
like to know how to do is to clean them enough to braise them whole.
I've
done this once or twice without grit. I cut the side a little, but it
doesn't always work.
Dee Dee

If you are really careful, you can gently take them apart, wash them
out, then re-assemble them.
--
Peace, Om

The operable word is "can." :-)
Dee Dee

"Omelet" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

Dee Dee said:

"Omelet" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Veggies are grown in dirt. Why does that scare people?
--
Peace, Om

Guess one has to decide what type of fertilizer is used -- is it possible
to
tell?
Dee Dee

[censored] is [censored]. ;-)
--
Peace, Om

Do you mean, "No [censored], no food?"
Dee Dee

"Omelet" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

JoeSpareBedroom said:

Quoted message said:

How else would you keep those roots wet to keep it alive?

You don't, and that is the problem with hydroponic produce. A lot of it
requires excessive packaging to impress the consumer. Otherwise, it would
look pretty much like the rest of the produce on the shelf.

I've got a friend who lives in an apartment and grows some interesting
stuff
hydroponically on his window sills. I think he uses one fluorescent
fixture
to supplement daylight. Now, that's a good use of hydroponic technology.

You are avoiding the point.

Could you normally keep a head of lettuce fresh/alive for 3 weeks if
just wrapped in cellophane?

Most cut lettuce heads keep for a week, max, if we don't consume them
and by the end of the week they are beginning to get wilted.

Not so the ones with roots attached!

Not all of us eat like pigs.

I only cook for two people and both of us only eat 1 to 2 meals per day.

Usually two, but not always.

I'm not avoiding the point. Certain products REQUIRE excessive packaging, or
the products could not exist happily. An example would be those Lunchable
obscenities. The novelty of the tray is what makes idiots buy them.

Perhaps the problem here is that your supermarket offers lame lettuce. 99%
of the time, mine offers lettuce that hasn't been damaged, so it lasts
longer. If the lettuce is hammered before it's even put in the big box,
spoilage is accelerated. I buy small heads, and I get 10 days out of them,
except for red varieties which are naturally more delicate (usually).

Reduce
Reuse
Recycle

Reduce *always* comes first, and that begins with the consumer.