Italian Volcano Lemon Juice At Mom's

Simple things, great flavor, especially when you're low on everything else.

I'm becoming a fan of expensive lemon juice as a way to keep things cheap when I want something easy.  A dash in a glass of water.  A few tablespoons in a recipe.  The stuff lasts forever in the fridge, which makes it easy to keep a bottle for everything that I need.

Mom's Organic Market in Jessup sells a brand called Italian Volcano.  Roots in Clarksville sells Santa Cruz.  They're both pricey by the bottle, but cheap if you avoid buying lemons or get to make dinner when you don't have fruit on hand.

Mouth-puckering straight, the juice punches up anything.  I made red beans with lemons from Mark Bittman's cookbook this weekend.  You could make salad dressing with a dash of juice and olive oil or make pasta with nothing more than juice, parsley and parmesan.  Easy buy -- give them a grab.

If you go to Mom's, check out the watermelon radishes in the produce aisle.  They're expensive at $5 a pound, but they're delicious.

Make Your Own Fig Spread At Mom's Organic

Let's be clear: Mom's Organic Market isn't looking out for my health.

I went into the Jessup store Sunday to buy ingredients for a menu from Ani Phyo's Ani's Raw Food Kitchen.  This cookbook offers more medical advice that my doctor, but I was going to try a cauliflour mash recipe.

Seriously, this cookbook promises everything from more enzymes to fewer heart attacks, from stronger life force through soaked nuts to better-smelling sweat through organic foods.  This meal was going to be life-changing.

But Mom's Organic put fig spread between me and the psyllium powder.  A guy serving bruchetta -- sliced French bread topped with a fig spread, walnuts and crumbled goat cheese.  Delicious.  Sweet, tasty and crunchy.

Watermelon Radishes At Mom's Organic Market

I never expected to love a radish, but you can't control when inspiration strikes.

We found watermelon radishes at a party.  Cool city party where the guys bought their vegetables at the Dupont Circle farmers market.

They're crisp.  They're mild.  None of the astringent taste that keep me away from radishes usually.  Plus, watermelon radishes look super-cool.  The outside is white, and the inside is magenta.  (Like watermelons -- white rind around red flesh.)

If you cut across the radish, you get thin slices that look like red dye is spreading from inside.  They're great in salads, and they're pretty enough to just lay out on a vegetable tray.  So far, I have only found them at Mom's Organic Market in Jessup.

Mom's Organic Market: Your Place To Bring Bittman's Book And Add New Stuff To Your Plate

I'm not a natural follower of the natural markets -- too suspicious of supplements and packaged food to flock to the organic joints.

But I'm being converted to Mom's Organic Market in Jessup -- by the selections and by its location in the midst of good food.

Anyone willing to make an effort for food in Howard County should know the organic markets -- David's Natural in Columbia, Roots in Clarksville, and Mom's (formerly My Organic Market) in Jessup.  Yet for years, they weren't places that I visited in depth.  So many aisles dedicated to vitamins, expensive packaged brands, and what I'll call "no" foods -- no gluten, no sugar, no meat . . .

I want "yes" food.  Delicious food.  Happy food, and I was pushed to open my eyes at Mom's by Mark Bittman and Frank's Seafood.

Bittman and friends got me back on a kick of whole grains and beans.  The organic markets offer bulk aisles of brown rice, amaranth, bulgar, quinoa and more.  I experimented by taking a few cups at a time and cooking my way through books like Super Natural Cooking and Whole Grains Everyday.  They're the entry drug for healthy cooking.

Then Frank's got me to really look around.

Mom's Organic Market Expands In Jessup

Mom's Organic Market in Jessup has expanded into the still-filling shopping center, creating broader aisles throughout the store and more space for organic groceries.

It's a nice look.  The store feels more open, and the produce section seems bigger.  They created a special section in produce for the high-end cheeses.  This isn't a Whole Foods, but it's one of the better places for unusual cheeses in Howard County.

Mom's -- which used to be called My Organic Market -- is one of the three local sources for organic groceries.  I'm not a huge buyer of the national brands, but I like Mom's for cheeses, breads, vegetables, and a walk through the aisles.  My recent finds have included Michele's Granola, Fage Greek Yogurt, and Salazon Salted Chocolates.  Click here for all of the Mom's Organic Market posts.

Mom's Organic Market Columbia East

7361 Assateague Dr. #190

Jessup, MD 20794

410-799-2175

NEAR: This is the Columbia East shopping center at Rte 175 just east of U.S. 1. There is a Starbucks facing Rte 175, and you'll see Mom's Organic Market right in front of you when you pull into the parking area.

Michele's Granola At All Our Organic Markets

Breakfast advice from Mrs. HowChow -- Michele's granola and some Greek yogurt.

This is the combination that has changed mornings here in Casa del HowChows.  For years, breakfast was basically the orange juice that I deliver in the morning.  Then we went to Montreal where she ate yogurt and granola in the hotel.  It reminded her of all the simple breakfasts she has enjoyed while travelling, and she decided to bring that experience home

The local option was Michele's granola, a Baltimore brand that Mrs. HowChow found in Whole Foods.  She topped her bowls with the Fage Greek yogurt.  It's a cool, sweet, crunchy breakfast, and it has inspired her to keep it up.  The granola is the key, Mrs. HowChow says.  Small packages that stay fresh.  Big chunks of granola.  She says it's like they bake trays of granola, then break it into the bag.

Have you noticed that I don't have a lot of opinions here?  She loves this stuff.  I don't want to get between a woman and her infatuation.  From my snacking, I'm impressed at how fresh the Michele's tastes.  The oats are right up front, then nuts and fruit (at least in the cinnamon raisin we have in the pantry).  Right now, Mrs. HowChow wants bags of the original flavor.  The cherry chocolate doubles as a dessert, and the ginger is her variation.  For right now, she doesn't buy pumpkin spice and the cinnamon raisin, although she thinks they might be flavors for fall.

I have seen Michele's at all the local organic markets -- Roots in Clarksville, David's Natural Market in Columbia, and Mom's Organic in Jessup.  Roots was definitely cheaper than Whole Foods, which makes a difference because this stuff runs about $6 for a 12-ounce bag.  For the record, Kristi talked up Michele's when I wrote about Greek yogurt last week.

Fage Greek Yogurt - With Honey - At Many Stores

Fage Greek yogurt is fast becoming the breakfast of choice for the sweet tooth in the HowChow household.

Fage is one of many brands pushing new variations on old fashioned yogurt.  Greek yogurts tend to be thicker, often made with cream and milk, and often fewer unprounceable ingredients.

Fage meets those standards. The yogurt is made from nothing more than milk, cream and active cultures.  Then, Fage adds honey.  Or it adds a little container of honey next to the container of yogort.  You spoon the honey on top, and it's creamier, sweeter and more natural than the supermarket brands that you grew up on.

It's also more expensive.  Pushing $2 each.  But that's a small price to pay if it actually gets you to eat breakfast in the morning.

You can find Fage at many stores.  I bought at Harris Teeter in Fulton and Columbia, Roots in Clarksville, and Whole Foods in Baltimore.  (Update: Comment below says some Giants and Safeways have Fage as well.)  We found more varieties as the store got more expensive -- two or three at Harris Teeter, a half dozen at Roots and then all those varieties plus the ellusive chery at Whole Foods.

(Update: Check the comments for a yogurt recipe and several other options.  I thought yesterday's yellow peppers were a great find, but the local passion seems to focus on yogurt!  As always, thanks for the comments.)

Salazon Salted Chocolate At Roots, Mom's, David's

If you tried the Lindt salted chocolate at Target, you should grab a Salazon chocolate bar at one of the local organic markets.

Salazon is a local company that makes chocolates in Pennsylvania.  They're adult bars.  Dark chocolate bar with salt on the outside.  Larger crystals and dusted in a layer across the bottom, not mixed into the chocolate like the sea salt Lindt.

The flavor depends on how you pop it in your mouth -- chocolate then salt, salt then chocolate, depending on which side you put on your tongue.  It's fun.  It's expensive, but it's a deep chocolate taste with a salty contrast.

Salazon is based in Eldersburg, MD.  They sell through Roots in Clarksville, Mom's Organic Market in Jessup, and David's Natural Market in Columbia.  Roots had all three varieties -- the salt, a version with salt and pepper, and a version with salt and turbinado sugar.

Laraia's Mozzarella at My Organic Market

Now that we're in the season for tomatoes and basil, check out the Laraia's Mozzarella for sale at My Organic Market in Jessup.

This a tasty ball of mozzarella that has a mild, milky taste that goes perfect with a garden tomato and a leaf of basil. I'm actually a fan of the national-brand mozzarella balls at Giant and Harris Teeter, the Laraia's cheese has a flavor a little more like milk and a feeling that is a little less elastic.

I have written before about shopping for cheese or for organic products in Howard County. My Organic Market offers a small, but thoughtful selection of both in the Columbia East shopping center at Rte 175 and U.S. 1.

My Organic Market (now Mom's Organic Market)

7361 Assateague Dr. #190

Jessup, MD 20794

410-799-2175

NEAR: This is the Columbia East shopping center at Rte 175 and U.S. 1. There is a Starbucks and a Rita's facing Rte 175, and you'll see My Organic Market right in front of you when you pull into the parking area.

Organic Shopping in Howard County

Organic food in Howard County starts at the three organic markets, and it is spreading out more and more every day.

The three big markets are Roots in Clarksville, David's in Columbia and Mom's Organic Market in Jessup (formerly My Organic Market). These are independent stores -- smaller than a Safeway but larger than most of the ethnic groceries -- offering produce, breads, cheeses, some meats, and aisle after aisle of packaged goods.

I'm not the perfect customer for these stores because I don't flock to the packaged goods. I love Muir Glen canned tomatoes, but I don't really crave the milk, juices, crackers, sauces and frozen foods that seem to appear in all three stores -- like they do at Whole Foods. These seem to be the core products. Many of them are delicious. Many are pretty pricey as well. I don't know if the prices differ between the three stores, although Roots certainly feels a bit more upscale.

They all have good bread, including Bonaparte baguettes at MOM's. I do love the bulk bins for beans and grains like oatmeal, quinoa and cracked wheat. I also go for cheese, although even the premier Roots cheese section doesn't have the excitement of the cheese at Wegmans.

Roots, MoM's and David's truly do offer some unique items -- both ingredients to cook and convenience food that you could cook tonight. I tried the Moorenko's ice cream at MoM, and commentators on a prior post talked about their personal favorites -- like local honey (Kikiverde), Trickling Springs Creamery chocolate milk, and a Neiman Ranch uncured ham steak.

Beyond the big three, you can find organic products at Trader Joe's in Elkridge and really at most of the standard grocery stores. Clearly, organic has become a trend that no one ignores.

Where do you buy organic or natural foods? What differences do you see between MoM, Roots and David's? Better prices? Better selection? Special goods?

One of the little treats at the organic markets is that they'll give you their trash. I call ahead and then pick up the produce or the salad bar scraps that the markets would normally throw away. Mixed with shredded leaves, they're perfect fuel for a compost heap -- although I have been weeding squash seedlings from my gardens all spring because I tossed pumpkins and butternut squash into my pile last fall.

For more information, check out my post about vegetable shopping in Howard County and click on any of these links for all the posts about each of the three markets: Roots in Clarksville, David's in Columbia, and My Organic Market in Jessup.

Roots Market

5805 Clarksville Square Dr.

Clarksville, MD 21029

443-535-9321

NEAR: It's on Rte 108 just north of Rte 32. The Clarksville Square shopping center is on the west side filled with "crunchy" businesses owned by the same people -- a restaurant, a pet supply shop, a decorating place. Look for the Jiffy Lube on Rte 108.

Mom's Organic Market Columbia East

7361 Assateague Dr. #190

Jessup, MD 20794

410-799-2175

NEAR: This is the Columbia East shopping center at Rte 175 and U.S. 1. There is a Starbucks and a Rita's facing Rte 175, and you'll see My Organic Market right in front of you when you pull into the parking area.

David's Natural Market

5430 Lynx Ln. #C

Columbia, MD 21044

410-730-2304

NEAR: This is in the Wilde Lake Village Center near the Columbia Mall. The center is off Twin Rivers Road, which runs between Harpers Farm Road and Gov. Warfield Parkway.

This is part of the "What I Learned" series of posts. They're organized in rings. See below to continue on the ring about shopping in Howard County. Or click to switch to the posts about different cuisines or posts about areas and ideas.

PREVIOUS: Meat Markets in Howard County
NEXT: Ethnic Shopping in Howard County

Vegetable Shopping in Howard County

You say to-may-to, I say to-ma-to, but we both know that no two tomatoes are alike.

Good produce -- or at least the best they can afford to sell -- is the key for a supermarket. Packaged goods don't change store to store, but I'll drive right past a place that tried to foist limp or dried out vegetables on me. Hard tomatoes? You can keep them.

Giant and Safeway have improved, but you can find better vegetables if you'll invest time, money or flexibility --

• If you can drive a little farther, you are not going to beat the Korean markets -- namely the H Mart in Catonsville. Spectacular variety. Spectacular prices. Spectacular quality. H Mart sells American, Asian and Latin American vegetables. They last forever in the fridge, and they're generally delicious and cheap enough to buy more or to experiment with something new. The bonus at either the H Mart or the new Super Grand market in Laurel is that the vegetables come with great fish, Asian groceries and Latin American ones as well.

In contrast, I can't recommend Lotte in Ellicott City. Bottom line: Lotte's vegetables aren't as fresh or good-looking. Slightly limp. Slightly dried. I'd hate for someone to shop there and give up on Korean markets. H Mart -- cleaner, bigger and better -- is just down Rte 40. I'd also hate for someone's first interaction to be with Lotte's employees, who unfailingly are fine for a couple visits and then do something aloof or rude. I catch myself and think, "Maybe that was just a cultural ." But I stopped going to Lotte when I realized that no one acts that way to the H Mart. (I still go to Lotte for packaged goods and especially for takeout meats, soups and panchan.)

• If you can spend a little more for organic, your best bet is Roots, David's Natural Market or MOM's Organic Market (formerly My Organic Market). My real experience is with Roots in Clarksville and MOM's in Jessup. They're both small enough that sometimes they don't have everything on my list. (No red peppers today?) They're both pricey. (Thank heavens, I couldn't afford $5.99 for a pound of red peppers anyway.) But your money buys beautiful produce, and I often see items -- like gorgeous chard -- that I pick up on impulse just because I know it'll be delicious. It's also organic if that matters to you.

• If you can satisfy yourself with what's in season, you should try out the farmers markets. In 2008, they were Thursday in at the East Columbia library, Saturday at Glenwood Library and Sunday at Oakland Mills. The produce varies, but it runs in seasons from greens in May through apples in October and November. Nothing is cheap, but everything has been great fun. Homestead Farm sells at the Sunday market, and I experimented with its seaweed and greens and lived large on old standards like tomatoes and eggplants. More than any store, the markets can be fun just to wander. The Sunday market has Bonaparte breads and pastries. The Saturday one has milk and more from the South Mountain Creamery.

On top of these options, the regular supermarkets have really improved, and the new Harris Teeter in Columbia puts out a nice display -- including some organics. You can also buy produce at some ethnic grocery stores, although the only ones where I regularly shop are Food Cravings, which vegetables for Indian food, and Lily's Mexican Market, which has basics like hot peppers and onions but also some exotics like fresh cactus.

This is part of the "What I Learned" series of posts. They're organized in rings. See below to continue on the ring about shopping in Howard County. Or click to switch to the posts about different cuisines or posts about areas and ideas.

PREVIOUS: Seafood Markets in Howard County
NEXT: Butchers and Meat Markets in Howard County

Cheese in Howard County

Great cheese is an absolute luxury. No one needs to pay $19 a pound for cheese, no matter how creamy or sharp or scented with pine needles and ash.

For everyday food, I'm happy to shred supermarket cheddar or mozzarella -- especially the Bel Gioioso mozzarella balls in the deli at Giant. But great cheese is a wonderful luxury. Cheese has spectacular flavors, and it can be the simplest, fast snack or be one ingredient in the most ornate feast. It can also be quite reasonable if buying cheese means that you skip one meal at a restaurant. A $7 cheese at Roots is expensive -- unless the other option is walking down the strip center for an $8 pasta at Pasta Blitz. With a box of pasta and some sauce, you can turn Roots' cheese into dinner for four. (At least, that's my rationalization.)

• For me, the best cheese in Howard County is at Roots in Clarksville and My Organic Market in Jessup. Both organic markets offer small displays, but they include varieties that you just can't buy at supermarkets. Goat cheeses. Special cheddar. Stilton. Parmesan, which is absolutely worth buying because it sits for weeks in your fridge waiting to be grated on meal after meal. Roots offers more, and it promotes local producers like Cherry Glen. But I shop at both, although I won't hold any of this against Whole Foods or Wegmans. Cheeses there just taste better, and you can sample, ask questions, and get custom-cut pieces, which I love when I want to sample just a snippet of something new.

• Of course, your can't rationalize cheese at a restaurant, so you just need it to be super-delicious. That is why I go to Iron Bridge Wine Co. for the cheese plate as part of a tapas-like meal. (Iron Bridge is also a favorite of Elizabeth Large's blog -- which picked a Top 10 Cheese Plates and liked Tersiguel's in Ellicott City as well.) The honorable mention is Great Sage, which often offers cheeses on its seasonal menu.

Three other thoughts: Trader Joe's sells good cheese, although I tend to buy basic like logs of plain goat cheese. David's Natural Market in Wilde Lake probably sells cheese as well. I haven't been there recently, but it's very similar to MoM. And, finally, consider the new Harris Teeter in King's Contrivance. I think the cheese is a step below Roots, and the prices are just as high -- even for cheese that is plastic-wrapped like anything at Giant or Safeway.

(Update: There is a good comment about cheese at Costco, which often does have good food.)

(Update: In early 2009, a local blog Ready, Set, Kate was posting about cheese. Kate's resolution was to eat cheese, and she was posting weekly with descriptions and photos of her finds -- including a spreadsheet that describes where you could find the cheese.)

This is part of the "What I Learned" series of posts. They're organized in rings. See below to continue on the ring of ideas about food in Howard County. Or click to switch to the posts about different cuisines or posts about shopping.

PREVIOUS: Beer in Howard County
NEXT: U.S. 1: The Foodie Frontier

Moorenko's Ice Cream at My Organic Market

As the weather chills, you need to look inside for fun ice cream.

My Organic Market fits the bill now that Rita's, Soft Serve and the Snowball stand are closed for the season. MoM offers unusual ice cream from Moorenko's, a high-end Virginia company that started as an ice cream stand and now sells wholsale.

On a recent day, the MoM in Jessup ("Columbia East") had three flavors -- a spicy chocolate, a ginger, and a blueberry. At almost $5 a pint, they're pricey, but I'm a fan of small amounts of really good dessert. Blueberry was good, but ginger was an inspiration. It really tastes like ginger, but creamy and not bitter like strong ginger flavor can get. To me, this was unique and delicious enough to be worth driving to try -- especially because you can peruse the MoM shelves for other things (like whole grains). To Mrs. HowChow, it raised the question: Why do I want ginger in ice cream?  She'd prefer the Ben & Jerry's flavor Americone Dream.

Moorenko's changes its flavors regularly, but MoM mixes up its selection -- like pumpkin in late December. When I asked, the MoM employee told me that they have recently had the blueberry and ginger all the time. She said you could just call and ask what they have in stock!

(Update: Roots in Clarksville also sells Moorenko's ice creams)

If you are looking around My Organic Market, check out the Chinese buffet at Fortune Star Buffet in the same shopping center and the empanadas at El Patio, which is across Rte 1.  If you like ethnic and organic markets, check out my listing of markets across Howard County.  (Update: Fortune Star closed in 2011.  The empanadas are still delicious.)

The best ice cream is actually gelato. Capogiro in Philadelphia charges a ridiculous $10 a pint for daily-made gelato, but it mails ridiculously-delicious flavors. You have to splurge on six pints. A spectacular gift.
My Organic Market (now Mom's Organic Market)
7351 Assateague Dr. #190
Jessup, MD 20794
410-799-2175
http://www.myorganicmarket.com/

NEAR: It's on Rte 175 just east of I-95. There is a large shopping center on the right just after you cross Rte 1. Look for the Starbucks. MoM is in that shopping center. It's a bit tricky to return home. You have to exit east-bound on Rte 175 and U-turn at the next light.