backyard and bulk

we've returned from a delightful vacation and i'm eager to tackle our next challenge.  backyard produce and bulk bin buys.  come monday july 8th, we'll spend five days eating only what has grown in our own garden (plus eggs from our lovely hens) and offerings from the bulk buying section of our neighborhood grocery co-op - bloomingfoods.

today our garden offers us some early tomatoes, green peppers, salad greens, swiss chard, and an occasional blueberry or two that escapes our toddler's quick grasp off the bush. bloomingfoods provides an abundance of bulk options.  you know, those bins of food with the scoops/tongs, little twisty ties, and golf pencils?  shopping these bins offers a number of advantages.  first, your cost is much less because the store can buy them in bulk.  this savings is passed along to you.  also, the decreased packaging means less volume, and thus, less fossil fuels for shipping.  additionally, the decreased packaging leads to less waste (even recycling) created.  check out this L.A. Times article for more discussion on bulk bin shopping.  here are some of the delicious items available:
- flour
- sugar
- dried fruit
- oats
- pasta
- vinegars
- oils
- peanut butter
- pasta
- tea/coffee
even animal crackers and m&ms!  i can buy powdered cow milk as well as soy milk for some of our dairy desires.  right now old spaghetti sauce and pickle jars litter my counter top, filled with ingredients awaiting our recipes next week.

but i'm already jonesing for the cheese we'll be missing.  and ice cream.

do you have any favorite recipes made from few ingredients you could pass our way?

many of you have offered quite reasonable barriers keeping you from participating in this challenge.  i applaud your desire!  here are a few iterations that might be more do-able, if you're interested:

- purchase your week's produce from a local farmers' market
- buy 5 items from bulk bins that you usually buy prepackaged (examples: pasta, flour, dried fruit, candy)
- make something from scratch that you normally buy (examples: bread, granola, salad dressing)
- make 1 meal without any processed foods

be sure to tell me how it goes!
and enjoy.