Grocery Shopping in the Valley

Grocery shopping in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas is an interesting and educational experience. Many grocery stores are large, clean supermarkets similar to those back home. But it didn't take long for us to realize "we're not in Kansas anymore".

The Valley in Texas is a large agricultural area with lots of fruit and vegetable farming, particularly grapefruit and orange groves. The farmer's markets and grocery stores are full of fresh fruits and vegetables grown locally. Most of the items we find at home are available here along with some items which are available only occasionally back home, like mangos and papyaya.















In addition, however, we are getting an education about a number of unusual fruits and vegetables we don't see in Kansas. Like the Jicama, a vegetable which looks a little like a potato but is sweeter and is usually eaten raw, frequently with dips. Sometimes this vegetable is referred to as the Mexican potato or Mexican turnip.









The calabaza squash looks similar to green zucchini, but is a lighter green. It's a vegetable eaten raw or used in stews. We had some steamed and it tasted a lot like zucchini.











Or the chayote squash, a strangely wrinkled vegetable used to add flavor to beans or eaten raw in salads . . . or pureed in a blender with milk to make an antacid. I guess it's nature's Rolaids.











Then there's the prickly pear. A spiny fruit of the cactus plant which is eaten raw (after peeling off the spines, of course) or used to make jams and jellies. A syrup made from this fruit is used to flavor martinis and margaritas. The prickly pear is high in antioxidants and vitamin C . . . and is said to reduce the symptoms of a hangover. Where were these when I was younger?








And, of course, many varieties of fresh peppers. Some obviously like it hot.












Then you see dried peppers in a seemingly endless number of varieties, many of which I had never seen or heard of before and, of course, lots and lots of dried garlic.















Beans are obviously a large part of the diet around here and pinto beans are readily available in bulk, by the scoop. Just grab a bag a fill it up.












As you would expect, tortillas are stocked in a wide variety of sizes, styles, brands, and lots of different packages. Most groceries and even convenience stores have fresh, warm tortillas displayed in heated containers.









But, if you want to make your own, just buy a package of tortilla mix . . . or pick up a package of dried corn husks to use in making tamales.















We are sure getting an education every time we go "Grocery Shopping in The Valley".