Meat
“The one thing that you really want to not scrimp on is your meat,” says chef Odette Smith-Ransome of The International Culinary School at The Art Institute of Pittsburgh. Up to 15 percent of the contents of cheaper and frozen meats can actually be water or stock. When it comes to chicken, Smith-Ransome adds that the higher priced chicken is probably a younger chicken. “When they harvest the younger chickens, they’re more tender with a better flavor to them.”

With regard to seafood, chef Nathan Lane of The International Culinary School at The Art Institutes International – Kansas City says that you can tell the difference between wild caught and farm raised seafood, and believes the wild caught is worth the extra money.

Smith-Ransome says that if you are able to get your meat from a farmers market or farm where you can see that the animals are being raised correctly, it is worth the extra money.

Produce
Lane encourages you to try farmers markets for produce. Not only are you supporting local farmers, but you are also getting things that are fresh and in season, and he finds it to be comparable to a grocery store or a bit cheaper on most items. The items that may cost a bit more are definitely worth it. Lane says organics are not always worth the extra money, but, “it’s important to treat your body with respect and know that what you’re putting into it is coming from reputable sources.”

Smith-Ransome recommends spending your money on fresh vegetables, by going someplace where you can actually see the fruit and vegetables. When you buy fruit in a big bag, it may be cheaper, but when you get it home you may find items that have bad spots on them. When picking out individual pieces, you will really take care to get good items.

Dairy
“I don’t find much difference between brands of milk and cream,” says Lane. It’s worth the extra money to buy cheese that is really cheese. Smith-Ransome explains that you don’t want the product to say “cheese food” or “cheese product” – indicators that these are processed products with added ingredients to look like cheese. Lane adds that it is worth the money to buy the real imported cheese. For instance skip the “Spanish-Style Manchego” cheese and opt for the real Manchego cheese from Spain. The same goes for Parmesan cheese: the real imported cheese will taste much better than the stuff in a can.

Be careful when purchasing butter or margarine, because the less expensive brands are usually less expensive because they are adding water to the product, says Smith-Ransome. Read the labels and keep on the look-out for water in the list of ingredients and also the word spread. The addition of water can throw off tried and true recipes.

Lane says it’s worth it to splurge for a better ice cream. Cheap ice creams can have air blended in so you want to look for a heavier product than another in the same sized container.

Canned goods
“A lot of times you can find some happy discoveries when you look at canned goods,” says Smith-Ransome. Brand names aren’t always going to be the best for your purpose. She recommends trying out several brands to find one you like. The sweetness, amount of salt and taste from one brand to another can be very different. It all comes down to personal preference. Once you decide on a brand of canned good you like, Lane suggests buying fruits and vegetables that are canned whole. These items will be more versatile.

The post Be a super shopper: where to splurge and save at the grocery store first appeared on The How Do Gardener.

Regardless of where in the country you live, fall produce is becoming abundantly available. For some regions, families have begun making their annual pilgrimage to the local orchard to pick apples or pears, and pumpkins are maturing in the backyard garden waiting to be turned into jack-o-lanterns. But even if these crops aren’t possible to grow in your area, fresh autumn favorites like pumpkins, apples, parsnips and kale are still most likely making frequent appearances at local farmers markets and grocery stores.

Roast them, stew them, can them or bake them. Pumpkin, squash, root vegetables, apples and pears make for great cuisine that the whole family can enjoy. For a new take on old favorites, try adding rutabaga slices to your au gratin potato recipe or pop some cubed squash in while cooking up your family’s favorite beef stew.

Get the whole family involved and take the kids along to the market to find new vegetables to sample. Getting everyone interested in new flavors can be exciting. Sample some unfamiliar items and find new favorites. Kids will enjoy comparing the flavors of roasted carrots, parsnips, rutabagas, yams, potatoes, jicama and squash when marinated in a dressing of olive oil, balsamic vinegar, rosemary, thyme, salt and pepper. Decide which flavors your family prefers and make this a seasonal tradition to cook up together annually.

Whether you’ve grown your own produce or pick it up at the market, America’s Test Kitchen and Miracle-Gro have teamed up to provide fresh new recipes and tips on fall gardening at www.scotts.com/GroYourOwn. Sample some of these delicious recipes while incorporating fall plants and produce into the menu and even learn which fall crops are best to grow in your area of the country.

Of course, nothing compares with the satisfaction of growing your own produce. Even if you didn’t plant a garden this year, why not make plans for one next year? With just a sunny place for a container on the balcony or a small plot in the backyard, you can easily plant your own garden to grow fresh squash, rutabagas or carrots in the spring to be enjoyed by your family next fall. If you prefer the crunch of a freshly picked apple, try planting a dwarf apple tree instead.

As the temperatures drop, enjoy the season’s harvest by incorporating locally grown produce into the menu. Start reviewing new recipes to try for family and friends and test their reactions. With the hearty flavors of freshly grown and harvested vegetables from the garden, everyone will be clamoring for more.

The post Enjoying the Fall Garden's Bountiful Harvest first appeared on The How Do Gardener.