The History and Culture of Eastern European

You’ve had crusty French bread and Mediterranean , but have you ever had bread from Eastern Europe? If you haven’t, you’re missing out on some hearty, delicious options. At NetCost Market, we pride ourselves on introducing our customers to new things, so please allow us to introduce you to Eastern European bread.

Darnitsky was first baked in 1930s Leningrad. It’s known as “the black bread”, though the color is closer to grey. It contains a mix of and wheat , with zakvaska- leaven- instead of yeast. The best quality flour is not advised for Darnitsky, because it’s too soft and fine for such a hearty bread. Zavarnoy is made with a special zavarka, or brew. It originated in monasteries and is made with neither yeast nor leaven. It’s remarkable in that it stays fresh for a long time, and the malt in the recipe lends it a strange, delicate, sour sweet taste. Borodinsky is a Russian bread, much loved across the former Soviet Union. It’s rumored to have first been baked by nuns at a convent, on the very site where Russian and Napoleon’s army fought the Battle of Borodino in 1812. Another story has it first appearing on the scene in 1920s Moscow. Whatever the origin story, the recipe for modern Borodinsky bread was approved at Moscow’s head bakery in 1933. This bread is a special, scalded , made with flour, yeast, rye malt, , and coriander. It has a unique, sweet flavor and aroma. Duona is a Lithuanian bread. It’s a black rye bread that’s dense and naturally sweet. It’s easily found in Baltic countries and made of very simple ingredients: just rye flour fermented with water. A mainstay of most Lithuanian diets, eaten with butter and salt or white cheese, it’s a deliciously authentic Lithuanian breakfast! Tashkent Lepeshki is a round, fluffy found in Uzbekistan. It’s deliciously light and airy, and if you’re in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, you can buy it straight out of the tandyr , from bread sellers who wheel it around in old-fashioned baby strollers. With a chewy, glossy crust and an open, airy crumb, this bread is so addictive that it’s easy to polish off 2-4 loaves, eating them plain or dipping them in honey butter.

If you’re interested in trying new food such as European bread and other import foods, make NetCost Market your first stop. For over 20 years, we’ve been committed to helping our customers save time and money while offering them the world of food all in one place. We’re a local supermarket with a global reach, providing a selection of everyday food products as well as a variety of culinary delights from around the world. It’s our goal to provide authentic, high-quality food products from local farmers as well as suppliers from around the world. When you shop with NetCost Market, you’ll find everything you need, from a comfortable shopping experience to online shopping and home grocery delivery.

How to Store Fresh Produce

Fresh produce is delicious and nutritious, but it can easily go bad if stored incorrectly. That’s a waste of time and money, but storing produce is complicated. That’s because all produce is not alike, and even when you break it down to fruits and vegetables, all fruits aren’t stored the same and neither are all vegetables. Here, we break it into some simple tips for you to follow, to keep your produce fresh and tasty.

Some things belong on the counter. Most types of fruit do well in a bowl or basket on the counter. Vegetables should not be kept at room temperature, except for tomatoes, which should be kept on the counter, out of direct sunlight. The refrigerator is better for most vegetables. Eggplant, celery, pepper, peas, artichokes, cauliflower, zucchini, and cucumber will stay fresh for about a week in the fridge, while summer squash, yellow squash, green beans, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, will last 3-5 days, as will mushrooms kept in a paper bag. Ears of corn in the husks last 1-2 days, and asparagus lasts 2 or 3 days, unless you keep it in a glass jar. Trim an inch off the bottom of the stalks, stand them in a jar filled halfway with water, cover with a plastic produce bag, secure with a rubber band, and asparagus will stay fresh for a week or more. Carrots, parsnips, turnips, beets, and radishes will last 2 weeks in a plastic produce bag in the refrigerator. Fruits that should be stored in the refrigerator include berries and grapes. Even prewashed leafy greens should be rinsed when you bring them home. To keep them fresh longer, rinse them, wrap in a paper towel or tea towel, and refrigerate them in a container or sealed plastic bag. Washing and storing them as soon as you bring them home from the store makes them more convenient to eat. Some veggies do well in a cool, dry place. Onions, garlic, shallots, potatoes, and hard squash all do best in a dark pantry, preferably between 50-60 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep fruits and vegetables separated. Many fruits produce a gas called ethylene, which can cause nearby fruits and vegetables to ripen. It’s okay for fruit to ripen, but for vegetables, becoming riper just means spoilage.

When you’re looking for delicious fresh produce, make Net Cost Market your first stop. For over 20 years, we’ve been committed to helping our customers save time and money while offering them the world of food all in once place. We’re a local supermarket with a global reach, providing a selection of everyday food products as well as a variety of culinary delights from around the world. It’s our goal to provide authentic, high-quality food products from local farmers as well as suppliers from around the world. When you shop with Net Cost Market, you’ll find a comfortable and gratifying shopping experience that even includes online shopping and home delivery.

Healthy Pasta Recipes

If you’ve been overindulging during your self-isolation, it’s a good idea to balance it out with some healthy, high fiber, high protein meals. Pasta is perfect for this situation as it keeps well, is highly versatile, and has a low GI index when compared to other carbohydrates—keeping you fuller for longer. These healthy pasta recipes contain an ideal balance of vitamins, protein, and slow-release carbohydrates so you can ensure you don’t fall into the trap of overindulging while you spend more time at home.

Kale Pesto With Whole Wheat Pasta Kale is a great source of antioxidants and fiber, but rather than putting it in a smoothie and holding your nose while you chug it down, why not make something that’s both tasty and healthy? This recipe is so simple that you’ll want to make it again and again.

Recipe

Ingredients: 1 bunch of fresh kale (ribs and stems removed), salt, 12 oz. whole wheat pasta, 1/3 cup raw pine nuts or walnuts, ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil, 1 clove garlic, 1 oz. parmesan cheese, 2 tbsp butter, ground black pepper.

Method:

Put the kale leaves in a large pot of boiling water with a pinch of salt for about 30 seconds. Once wilted, transfer the leaves to a colander (keep the water boiling while you do so). Once the leaves have cooled slightly, wring out any excess water. In the pan of boiling water, boil the pasta with a little salt until it is al dente (test by trying a piece of the pasta—not by throwing it against the wall!).

Blend the nuts, oil, garlic, and 1/3 cup water in a blender until smooth. Add the kale and parmesan and then puree until smooth.

Transfer the pesto into a large bowl, then add the cooked pasta on top with the butter and a little of the cooking water. Toss them together, then serve with a drizzle of olive oil, some freshly ground black pepper, and a few shavings of parmesan.

Linguine With Anchovies and Tuna

Although we should always be eating well to keep our immune systems strong, it may be on your mind now more than usual. This delicious pasta dish contains oily fish and plenty of protein—both of which have been proven to help keep your immune system strong.

Recipe

Ingredients: 5 tbsp. olive oil, 1 2 oz. tin of anchovies (chopped), 6 cloves of garlic (5 chopped, 1 whole), ½ tsp. chopped chili, ¼ tsp. smoked paprika, 1 28 oz. can of whole tomatoes, 1 bunch kale (ribs and stems removed), salt, 1 large slice torn into 1-inch pieces, ¼ cup chopped parsley, 12 oz. linguine pasta, 1 jar of tuna (drained).

Method:

In a large frying pan or skillet, heat 4 tbsp. of olive oil. Cook the anchovies and sliced garlic together. Once they are soft, add the chopped chili and smoked paprika and cook while stirring for about 30 seconds. Add the tomatoes and break them up in the pan with a wooden spoon. Simmer while occasionally stirring for about 30 minutes until the sauce has thickened. While the sauce is thickening, blanch the kale in a large pot with salted water and then transfer to a bowl of ice water. Let this cool and then drain and squeeze. Chop it roughly. Keep the kale water to one side. In a food processor, pulse the bread until you have breadcrumbs. Toss them with the remaining olive oil in a skillet until golden and crispy, seasoning with salt and pepper. Grate the whole garlic clove over the breadcrumbs and stir, then transfer to a bowl and mix with the parsley. In the pot with the remaining kale water, bring it back to the boil. Add the linguine according to the instructions on the packaging. Use tongs to transfer the linguine to the pot with the sauce, and then add the kale and tuna. Toss until combined well, and then top with breadcrumbs when serving. Pasta Salad With Vegetables and Tomatoes

Just because we can’t go outside, doesn’t mean we can’t celebrate the arrival of warmer weather! This classic summer salad is a great way to get a huge dose of vitamins when it’s hot outside.

Recipe

Ingredients: For the tomatoes — 9 cloves garlic (crushed), 3 sprigs of thyme, 3 2-inch strips of orange zest, 1 3-inch piece of ginger (peeled and then cut into thin sticks), 4 cups of cherry tomatoes, 6 tbsp. fresh orange juice, ¼ cup olive oil, 1 tbsp. light brown , ¼ tsp. salt, black pepper.

For the peas and onions — 8 oz. spring onions, 2 tbsp. olive oil, 8 oz. sugar snap peas, salt.

To assemble — 12 oz. pasta of your choice, salt, 2 tbsp. fresh lemon juice, 2 cups basil leaves, 2 cups mint, freshly ground pepper, olive oil.

Method:

Preheat the to 325F and toss the 9 cloves garlic, thyme, orange zest, ginger, tomatoes, orange juice, ¼ cup olive oil, brown sugar, salt, and pepper in a dish. Roast for about an hour, turning the tomatoes every 20 minutes.

Cut onions into 2-inch sized pieces, and then heat a medium-size skillet over high heat. Add 1 tbsp. oil and then the sugar snap peas. Cook, tossing until charred and then transfer to a bowl.

Heat the remaining tbsp. oil in the same skillet and add the chopped spring onions, tossing once until charred. Transfer to the same bowl as the sugar snap peas and season with salt. Cook the pasta according to the packaging instructions. Drain, and then transfer to a large bowl. Once the pasta has cooled, add the tomato mixture, sugar snap peas, spring onions, lemon juice, most of the basil and mint, and toss to combine. Finish by seasoning with salt and pepper and then top with the remaining basil and mint and a drizzle of olive oil.

If you’re looking for cooking inspiration while you’re stuck in the house, there’s plenty of it here! At NetCost Market, we have a great selection of pasta from all over the world, so you can buy your favorite along with all the fresh produce you need for these amazing dishes. How to Make Yourself Fall Back in Love With Your Kitchen

With everything that’s going on in the world at the moment, you may have found yourself indoors much more than usual. Rather than spending the time you have at home going from takeout to takeout, why not fall back in love with your kitchen and cook up some gastronomic masterpieces while you have the opportunity? Here at NetCost Market, we want to show you how you can make the kitchen your favorite place in the house by offering some ingenious tips that will help you and your family!

Get organized

One of the main reasons people fall out of love with their kitchen is the constant messy state it’s in. There’s no doubt that the kitchen requires the most upkeep of any room in the house, but there are many ways you can overcome your dread of kitchen chores, so you don’t end up reaching for the takeout menus.

Start by clearing away (or throwing away) any duplicate kitchen equipment you have, and then storing rarely used specialty items. This will mean that you only keep the core items you will use on a daily basis within reach while clearing space for cooking delicious meals. You should also organize your cabinets, fridge, and draws so that everything has a place. This may sound like a lot of work, but once it’s done, it will make you appreciate your kitchen once again.

Cook what you love

Gone are the days when “healthy” meant boiled vegetables and plain salad leaves—nowadays there are infinite healthy recipes at your fingertips, so make use of them! With your kitchen clean and clear, it can now be your space to have fun and experiment with food that you may now have yet discovered. Why not try making homemade poke bowls, a delightful vegetable curry, or some homemade slow-cooked ribs? Nothing is stopping you from making tastier, cheaper, and healthier versions of the food you regularly order in!

Get the family involved

Studies show that children who eat home-cooked meals and participate in the cooking process with their families at home are more likely to grow up eating a healthy diet than those that don’t. Falling back in love with your kitchen will mean you can get the whole family involved—especially while you have some extended time together at home. Why not try making some family favorites with a healthy twist like oven-roasted pumpkin fries or zucchini noodles for some fun family feasts?

The kitchen can often become neglected if it’s not given the attention it deserves. If you’ve fallen out of love with your kitchen, now is the ideal time to rebuild that lost love for cooking—especially if you are staying at home over the coming weeks. Start by organizing your kitchen, then making it a happy place where the whole family can cook meals they love but with a healthy twist. If you’re looking for inspiration, why not try some of our recipes? We have plenty that are great for the family to enjoy and we know you’ll never turn to the takeout menus again! Online Orders and Delivery from NetCost Market

Online grocery shopping is a hot topic right now, especially as it allows people to get everything they need to be delivered directly to their door, safely and conveniently at a time when they may be self-isolating. Regardless of whether you are restricted to staying indoors or not, online shopping can still be a huge benefit. It allows you to save time so you can concentrate on other priorities. At NetCost Market, we’ve recently implemented online shopping for customers in Manhattan, but more will be coming soon. Here’s what you need to know about our online grocery shopping services!

The benefits of online grocery shopping

When we have the time to do so, grocery shopping can be a great experience. Wandering through the aisles or picking out the perfect bell pepper or avocado can actually be a very relaxing experience. However, there are times in everybody’s lives when convenience takes precedence, and that’s where online shopping comes in. It saves you time, energy, and gas money so you can take the kids to soccer practice or sit down and watch your favorite show after a long day at work without worrying that the cupboards are bare.

Another added benefit is the visibility of great deals on offer. Our online shopping page has a “specials” tab, putting all of our special offers in one place. Walking around the store looking for special deals can certainly be fun, but for those that want to cut to the chase, this feature helps save both time and money! Online shopping with NetCost Market

Here at NetCost Market, we want to offer you all the benefits of online grocery shopping, which is why we’re now offering this service to the Manhattan area of New York and will soon be opening it to other areas near our regional stores. All you need to do is visit our online shopping page, fill in your order and details, pick a time slot for delivery, and then receive your shopping from our dedicated team of delivery drivers. It’s that simple! If you live in Manhattan, you can use this service now, and if you live elsewhere, keep up-to- date with where we’re offering this service in the near future via our Facebook page.

Also, please feel free to explore our FAQ page here, that we created based on your questions and feedback.

If you are a frequent customer of ours, then you’ll probably already know exactly what you want to order. If you are a new customer, you’ll find everything you need to know about our products on our online shopping page. We can assure you that you will be amazed at the great quality items and products we have on offer here at NetCost Market.

At a time when we’re having to make such drastic changes to everyday life, technology can offer us the best solution for getting around these difficulties. If you’re self-isolating or just trying to stay inside as much as possible, you can still receive all the great NetCost Market produce without the need to visit the store. Again, simply visit our online shopping page to get started! And if you don’t live in the delivery area, keep updated by visiting our Facebook page or FAQ page for further information.

Please rest assured, we are working tirelessly every day to make more delivery areas available. Stay tuned, and thank you for choosing NetCost Market!

March 21st is National Healthy Fats Day!

March 21st marks national Healthy Fats Day—a day completely dedicated to celebrating one of the most important and misunderstood vital nutrients of them all—fats! For decades, fats were simply seen as bad for humans and to be avoided at all costs, but recent studies have shown that fats are much more complicated than was once thought. Rather than simply being divided into saturated and unsaturated fats, they are made up of a whole range of important types that are integral to ensuring our bodies stay healthy. It’s these healthy fats that this special day celebrates. Here at NetCost Market, we thought it would be silly to let Health Fats Day go unnoticed, so we’ve put together some impressive healthy fats recipes, all of which use ingredients from our NetCost Market Weekly Specials!

Smoked salmon gratin

Many types of fish contain one of the most important fats of them all—omega-3 fatty acids. This essential fat is vital for keeping the brain functioning at optimal capacity and has been proven to reduce the risk of dementia in later life. Salmon contains plenty of omega-3 fatty acids, so this tasty recipe using both fresh and smoked salmon is a perfect way to give your brain the boost it needs! Right now, Haifa cold-smoked Nova salmon is part of our exclusive weekly specials.

Recipe

Ingredients: 1 lb. fresh salmon fillet, ½ lb. Haifa cold- smoked Nova salmon, 2 lbs. potatoes—peeled, 2 cups cream, 2/3 cup soured cream, 1/3 cup milk, 1 lb. cooked beets, butter, dill, salt, pepper.

Method:

Cut the fresh salmon into slices about a ¼ inch thick. Then tear the smoked salmon into small pieces. Cut the potatoes into thin slices. Set your oven to 350F, and then put in a baking tray to heat up. In a large saucepan, mix the creams and milk, and bring to just under the boil. Then, add the potatoes and cook for 5 minutes on low heat. Carefully turn the potatoes when needed. While the potatoes are cooking, cut the beets into thin slices. Season the potatoes and cream with salt and pepper, and then butter a 9 x 12-inch (or similar) baking dish. Spread half of the potatoes out on the dish, and then put half of the beets on top, and then half of the fish on top of the beets. Season with salt and pepper and top with chopped dill. Now add the rest of the beets and fish, and then season and add the rest of the dill. Layer the top with the remaining potatoes. Bake for 1 hour and serve with a side salad.

Coconut and vegetable curry soup Coconut milk is full of healthy fats and this Thai-inspired coconut and vegetable curry soup is perfect for getting your fill of vegetable-based fats. It’s full of rich and aromatic flavors but is also surprisingly light. It uses a whole can of coconut milk. Brad’s organic coconut milk is currently part of our Weekly Specials, so this is the perfect recipe to make for Healthy Fats Day!

Recipe

Ingredients: 1 tbsp. vegetable oil, 2 celery sticks—chopped, 2 carrots—chopped, 6 cloves garlic—minced, 1 tbsp. finely chopped ginger root, 2 tsp. curry powder, ½ tsp. ground turmeric, 1 can vegetable broth, 1 can of Brad’s organic coconut milk, 1 medium potato—peeled and diced, ½ tsp. salt, 1 pack of brown rice, lime wedges. Method:

Heat the vegetable oil in a large saucepan on medium heat, and then add the celery and carrots. Cook for 7 minutes, and add the garlic, ginger root, curry powder, and turmeric, and cook for 1 minute. Add the broth, coconut milk, potato, and the salt, and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat and then cook uncovered for about 15 minutes until the potato is tender. While the soup is cooking, cook the rice to the directions on the packaging. Stir the rice into the soup, and then serve with lime wedges.

Broccoli with feta cheese

Feta cheese is full of healthy dairy fats, and it’s also one of the most versatile cheeses out there—it can be eaten raw or cooked along with meat or vegetables. Right now, Athenos feta cheese is part of our weekly specials, so there’s no better time to make the most of this brilliant cheese which is full of healthy fats.

Recipe

Ingredients: 2 large heads of broccoli, 2 green onions, 2 tbsp. olive oil, ½ tsp. salt, ½ tsp. ground black pepper, 3 tbsp. Athenos feta cheese—chopped.

Method:

Chop the broccoli into florets and then slice the green onions. Place a skillet over medium heat and then heat the olive oil. Once hot, add the broccoli florets and sauté for 5 minutes. Add the green onions and season well with salt and pepper. Cook for another 3 minutes, stirring regularly. Add the feta cheese, stir, and then serve!

For this year’s Healthy Fats Day, why not make something healthy and tasty? There are lots of great ideas to celebrate one of the most important macronutrients in our diet, so it’s time to get creative! Right now, there are lots of brilliant healthy fat options as part ofNetCost Market’s Weekly Specials, so check out our website or head in-store now to find the ingredients for your ideal Healthy Fats Day recipe!