Grocery Items Unavailable in the US

[Krikit 1,164]

Sadly, no. No Trader Joe's in Florida.

Our supermarkets have started supplying a few frozen entrées, but I prefer to make my own. If I could find the supplies, that is.

Well, you CAN get chili powder, turmeric powder and mustard seeds at regular grocer such as Publix (though this approach is costly).

For making samosas, here are some steps:

• sauté onions, finely-chopped vegetables (and/or finely-ground meats)
• thaw frozen pastry dough (if you can find it--I haven't looked for it in US) and roll it
• using cookie-cutter, make some circles of the rolled dough
• wrap the circles around sautéed veggies/meats, closing them as shells
• put on baking sheet and bake at 400^oF for 30-40 minutes
• serve with sauces (chutneys, if you can find them; but salsa also works quite well)

Yep, a couple of the basic spices are available. Haven't found any cardamom, coriander or cumin seeds yet... but I'll keep looking. For some reason they don't sell frozen pastry dough here. Just the pre-formed pies; but not the tartlets. (But that's a whole other story. lol) My favourite sauce is tamarind. I also like mixing the tamarind sauce with plum sauce (if one should find some) for dipping chicken fingers. Mmmmm. I'm getting hungry.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Check for a store that sells international supplies and you will find cumin, coriander and cardamon there. If you still can't find any, let me know and I will send some to you. I can find all of those in our local grocery stores since we have a large Indian population in the Atlanta area that those spices are pretty readily available. We actually love to make cardamom coffee so I am going to have to buy some more cardamom pods soon myself (we grind the cardamom pods and cloves in with the coffee beans and then let drip through - wonderful!)

I found frozen pastry shells today at the Commissary at Ft. Gillam - first time I have found them here. I haven't found frozen pastry dough anywhere either so I just use the frozen pie shells if I don't want to make my own.

[Ontarkie 14,193]

Can't remember if anyone listed wounderbars, but I had to say it again cause I was just eating one of the many my mom brought with her when she came up.

[Krikit 1,164]

Check for a store that sells international supplies and you will find cumin, coriander and cardamon there. If you still can't find any, let me know and I will send some to you. I can find all of those in our local grocery stores since we have a large Indian population in the Atlanta area that those spices are pretty readily available. We actually love to make cardamom coffee so I am going to have to buy some more cardamom pods soon myself (we grind the cardamom pods and cloves in with the coffee beans and then let drip through - wonderful!)

Oh, thanks Kathryn! Actually, the cardamom coffee sounds good. Kinda like chai tea. Yum.

Can't remember if anyone listed wounderbars, but I had to say it again cause I was just eating one of the many my mom brought with her when she came up.

OMG, Wunderbars! I Wunderbars!

[Saddle Bronc 124]

To update Krikit: please add "Gainsborough Pastry Dough" to your spreadsheet--I browsed the sites of Giant and Safeway (which I despise, as a Calgarian), and checked the frozen aisle in Food Lion, and it wasn't in any of them.

(they had pastry sheets and filo dough--neither of which will work for samosas)

[skykate 0]

I can not find a real RYE bread here, or VH honey garlic sauce, or eatmore candy bars... my kids bring them out to me when they come.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

I've been able to find real rye and real pumpernickel, but they are from German type bakeries and in the specialty breads sections of the grocery store. Oh, I love eatmore bars! Haven't thought of them for a while.

Edited July 4, 2008 by Kathryn41

[Reba 2]

Watkins has a bunch of those spices you're looking for (unfortunately, not all, but maybe sometime for seasonal specials). In both an Organic, and a "regular" version. Plus, I think the Tropical Salsa would be good with samosas

I found a really nice pumpernickle bread at Aldi's. I dunno if they have a real rye bread or not, I haven't looked. I did find a fairly decent rye bread mix at our local healthfood store (I think Ingles has the same too). I did it in the bread machine, but it'll go either way. If you don't want to make your own, there's a brand that I can't remember the name of at the mo, (Natural...Nature's Own...something...maybe?) but they have a "Real Jewish Rye" bread that's pretty good too. If your local grocery has an organic section, you might find it there. For a couple extra bucks of course, but some cravings are just worth it!

Most of the grocery stores here carry ready made pie crusts, (w/out pie pan) but they're not in the frozen food section. I usually find them over by the eggs in the refrigerator/dairy section. If you're making samosas or perogies er summat, you can just cut them with cookie cutters or a drinking glass, same as you would with a "regular" ready-made dough.

[pegbert64 0]

OMG, Wunderbars! I Wunderbars!

Another Canadian chocolate bar that I haven't seen in the US is the Mr. Big bar. Just the name raises more than a few eyebrows down here when you ask "Do you have a Mr Big?"

[Marilyn. 340]

yeah I miss Mr Big Bars.. those are my favourite..

[Carlawarla 1]

OMG, Wunderbars! I Wunderbars!

Another Canadian chocolate bar that I haven't seen in the US is the Mr. Big bar. Just the name raises more than a few eyebrows down here when you ask "Do you have a Mr Big?"

That's hysterical! Mr. Big's are Cassie's favourite chocolate bars. I don't know of anyone that's said they found any here.

[Sprailenes 47]

OMG I JUST REALIZED WHILE AT THE STORE LOOKING FOR SHOPSY'S HOTDOGS...THE US DOESN'T HAVE SHOPSY'S!

Shopsy's was like QUALITY by-product. I miss it.

[Krikit 1,164]

Shopsy's was like QUALITY by-product. I miss it.

Hebrew Nationals are good.

[PlatyPius 5]

Shopsy's was like QUALITY by-product. I miss it.

Hebrew Nationals are good.

Yes! They still contain Cow ####### parts, but they're KOSHER ####### parts. Yum!

[Krikit 1,164]

Shopsy's was like QUALITY by-product. I miss it.

Hebrew Nationals are good.

Yes! They still contain Cow ####### parts, but they're KOSHER ####### parts. Yum!

Yes! Or as my friend calls them..... lips and a$$holes.