Bountiful Baskets & A Recipe

Bountiful Baskets...ever heard of them? I hadn't until just a few weeks ago. Someone in my town began a sign-up list to bring them to my area...it worked...they've delivered twice so far....and I can tell you, they have been a huge hit! We also have a local farmers market, but this is completely separate.

What is Bountiful Baskets? It's basically what it sounds like...a basket full of fresh fruits and vegetables at a relatively low cost! During each pickup, the baskets are different so you never know what items to expect. Add-on items are also available for an extra fee.

How does all of this work? 

Well, about a week before the pickup date, I went on the Bountiful Baskets website to register for a basket. (This date and time was predetermined by Bountiful Baskets for my area.) Pre-registration is required so they know how many items to ship for pick-up. The baskets on the registration site go fast, so I even put a notice in my phone as a reminder! I missed the first round of baskets because I was about an hour late in registering...sound familiar to any runDisney fans out there? Hah! 

Our area's pickup date/time was on Saturday at 1 p.m., so I made my way to the pickup location to check it all out!

When I arrived, there was already quite a line for pickup. Volunteers were still placing items in the baskets, so they weren't quite ready yet.

I was excited to see all the offerings inside!

I also noticed that everyone in line had some form of bag or basket in their hands. What did I miss?

Next time, I need to read the fine print. Yep, I was supposed to bring my OWN basket. Oy.

Thankfully, I located a couple of empty boxes and was able to load my stash inside. However, I know better for next time!

On my way home, I stopped by the Dollar Store to purchase my own basket for the next delivery. :)

 Items included in the basket:

• Pineapple
• Acorn Squash
• Broccoli
• Tomatoes
• Apples
• Cantaloupe 
•  Japanese Plums
• Bananas
• Green Onions
• Zucchini
• Mango
• Pears

The one downfall to this co-op is the fact that there's no pre-determined set of fruits/veggies that you will receive, it's different every time. 

For dinner that evening, I came across a recipe on Tasty...you know, from one of those really delicious looking facebook videos? After reviewing the ingredients, I realized I actually had pretty much ALL of the ingredients I needed, even fresh produce thanks to my recent basket purchase!

The tasty recipe was chicken teriyaki stir fry and tasted oh so amazing! So good in fact, I'm sharing the recipe with you today!

Teriyaki Chicken and Rice Adapted from: Tasty

Ingredients:

1 tbsp olive oil
4 chicken breasts, thawed and sliced
Salt and pepper to taste
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon ginger (I used 1/2 tsp of spiced ginger)
2 cups
1/2 cup white rice and 1/2 cup brown rice
1/2 cup soy sauce
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
1/4 cup honey
2 tablespoon sriracha
1 cup broccoli
3 small zucchini, sliced
1/2 red bell pepper (this was the only ingredient I didn't have fresh on hand, so I used frozen)
Scallions for garnish

 

Directions:

 

1. Heat olive oil in a large pot on medium heat.
2. Add chicken, season with salt and pepper, and sauté for 8 minutes
3. Add garlic and ginger, sauté for 2 minutes until fragrant.
4. Add 2 cups of water and the rice and stir.
5. Cover the pot and bring water to a boil.
6. Uncover, stir, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
7. Add soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, and Sriracha. Stir to combine. 

8. Add all vegetables and stir to coat. Simmer for an additional 10 minutes until vegetables are desired consistency.
9. Garnish with scallions (optional) and serve immediately. Enjoy!

Interested in Bountiful Baskets? Check out the list to see if they are available in your area! 

I did not receive any of these items for free, nor am I being compensated for this review - this is just a neat idea and I wanted to share it with all of you! :)

Does your area offer anything similar?