International Shopping BINGE!!

Last weekend my friend Sophia and I set off for an afternoon of foodie fun in the Sunnyvale-San Jose area. I had some specific needs for my upcoming Persian New Year Celebration (best holiday of the world!), and thought we'd make an adventure of it. In all we went to four stores: a Persian market, an Indian Market, a Chinese market, and an International-Mediterranean-Kosher-Halal market. We had so much fun!!

Having successfully cleared out my pantry quite nicely, it was time to fill it up again with a variety of fun goodies not readily found here in Santa Cruz. What follows is a guide to what I came home with...

1. Canned Green Jackfruit in Brine.

I've wanted to try Melisser's Jackfruit Carnitas for a long time, and now I can!

2. 'Banzo beans. Just cuz I needed some

3. Pindjur. From Macedonia.

We had this for dinner tonight with grilled red onions & cucumber slices on toasted whole-wheat flax sourdough bread. SO FREAKY GOOD!

4. Mini Whole Wheat Pitas

thick and moist and super delicious. These will be put to use for the New Year.

5. Dried Mulberries

Again, I'll put these to some use for the New Year

6. Zereshk/ Dried Barberries

An essential ingredient in Kukusabzi for new years!

7. Funny little blobby Bosnian pastas

I was super stoked to find a great selection of Croatian & Bosnian foods at the final market we went to - many favorites from when we were there, some new goodies like this pasta!

8. Mughrabia

Giant couscous. Need I say more?

9. Bottled Seltzer Water from the Republic of Georgia: Borjomi

because I am a total sucker, willing to spend $2 on selzter water, only for the thrill of touching and drinking something that came all the way from Georgia.

10. Jar of grilled eggplant

no added oil. Ready to become something marvelous and tasty.

11. Enormous bag of red lentils.

DAHL

12. Sambar powder, Rasam powder, Sesame Spice Mix powder

13. Samanoo

essential element for the Haft Sin table for NoRooz

14. Round Ice Cream Sandwich Wafers

I have big plans for these, yes I do.

15. Noodles for New Years soup

16. Fresh Fenugreek/Methi leaves.

again, for NoRooz dishes. I was SO stoked to find this fresh!!

17. Blueberry & Rosehip teas, which I fell in love with in Bosnia

18. Mustard oil.

An ingredient I once went crazy searching for in Santa Cruz County, to no avail.

19. Frozen Flaky Parathas

like a big, round, flat, vegan croissant.

20. Padadum!

21. Jaggery

Sweetener from India. I already have my eye on this recipe

22.Kalonji seeds

I bought these EXCLUSIVELY because Voracious Vegan once told me they were one of her favorite spices that she "puts on everything." I have no idea what they even are. So, Voracious Vegan, tell me what to do!

23. Fresh Curry Leaves

already in the freezer, awaiting Indian Food night

24. Finely Ground Bulgur Wheat

looks lovely, I can't wait to try it! (thanks for the tip off, Alana!)

1. Fresh Jujubees

Another item for the HaftSin table

2. Bag of Persian Cucumbers

for the NoRooz feast!

3. Mangosteen in syrup

4. Gyoza wrappers

I want to make tasty dumplings!!!

5. Giant colored tapioca balls

I really have no idea what to do with these, but was strangely unable to resist their allure

6. Udon Noodles

7. Pearl Coffee Soymilk

Sophia told me it's good, and I trust her!

8. Lotus Seed

Yet another HaftSin item

9. Ground Angelica

This is another ingredient that I called ALL OVER Santa Cruz County looking for without success. Happy to have it!

10. Sumac

mmmmmmmm. essential for Persian yum-yums

11. Pomegranate Paste

not sweetened like Pomegranate molasses. I'm happy to finally have some of this and to cook with it. Many, many persian recipes have pomegranate as a ingredient.

12. Rose water

13. Ground Lemon Omani

14. Ground Sour Grape

both spices are used for adding important sour element to Persian dishes

15. Fenugreek seed. I was all out

16. Salted Black Beans

Totally new to me, but once again, Sophia says it's good. Plus, Mr. Vegan Eats and Treats really likes Chinese food, so I will make him some.

17. Pearl Chocolate Soy milk

Well, Sophia says it's good, and I never buy chocolate soy milk, so it seemed like fun!

I hope you've enjoyed this little insight into my shopping excursion... keep your eyes out for all these ingredients to show up on this blog sometime sooner rather than later! If you have any tips or suggestions for any of my new ingredients, please share them with me!!

ps. I have so many good foods and pics to share from the last week or so, I think I smell another week-of-blogging on the horizon next week... after the new year celebration!