I know I’ve been a BAD BAD food-blogger these days. HORRIBLY terrible. But, you know? I have a good excuse. Well, two good excuses: 1) a computer on the fritz; 2) I’ve been OFF food and cooking since I had the flu (or whatever that was) last week.
So, I have this computer for, like, 10 minutes. So, I thought I’d ask you something: HOW DO YOU WASH YOUR BROCCOLI?
I washed my broccoli tonight. And, I washed it. And, I washed it.
Lo and behold, though? I found not 1, not 2, but THREE spiders in the florets. THREE! Little black bulbous spiders that I was JUST ABOUT TO EAT.
Vegan notwithstanding, I did NOT want to ingest ANY spider with my broccoli. After the third spider, I decided enough was enough, and I tossed all the florets.
I’m not sure I can ever eat another broccoli floret again!
The same thing happened to me with brussel sprouts that I bought in university. Bugs EVERYWHERE, and I didn’t realize it until halfway into eating them, when I turned on a better light…. Eeeek. Can you say, “Survivor“? How ’bout “Fear Factor“?
I guess I’ll just have to settle for the frozen florets from now on….
Heather November 27th, 2008 at 12:40 am
That’s what you get for giving up the pesticides :)
Kidding! I think that it’s a freak thing. Don’t give up on the fresh.
Heathers last blog post..Tired
LAVENDULA November 27th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
ew! ew! ew! oh great now i’ll be obsessive compulsive about washing my broccoli…once i was washing fresh spinach and found a gigantic mutated grasshopper petrified in it i didnt buy fresh bunch spinach for like 2 years after that fiasco!
Jenn November 27th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
You may want to consider try broccolini instead. The stalks are thinner and more tender and the florets are not packed as tight. Easier to wash and our kids enjoy them more than the regular broccoli.
Anne November 27th, 2008 at 10:54 pm
That’s nothing… I just was visiting with friends who are currently stationed at the US Emabssy in Conakry, Guinea, Africa.
They have to bleach ALL their produce before they eat it.
If they can get it.
Sarah November 28th, 2008 at 11:36 am
ha ha .. I barely even wash my brocoli .. just rinse .. the organice one. Maybe I should pay more attention! Forget the ‘gross’ factor, if you were allergic to spiders bites that could be really serious! Do you know where that brocolli was grown? not here, for sure .. in this freezing weather lol.
So, I’m cutting lettuce for a lunch party about a month ago – extended family .. and when I cut into the romaine lettuce, I cut a slug, in half .. I almost puked! oy .. could not believe that was in there. But ya, I think it’s all flukey, and honestly .. how many bugs/spiders/flies do you think we have actually eaten .. more than you think!
JD December 2nd, 2008 at 12:15 pm
If I remember correctly from my home ec days (many,many years ago) you soak broccoli or cauliflower in cold water with salt. That is suppose to bring the bugs out…of course I never do this but may start now! btw – I have to problem with frozen veggies, except broccoli! I think it tastes funny!
oh, one more thing…did you blog about how you got the rascal off the boob? My 11 month old could stay on all day and night and I want/need to ween him at 1 year. Any suggestions?
LG December 3rd, 2008 at 11:48 am
I’ve done the saltwater soaking too the few times I’ve picked fresh berries. It kills the bugs and makes them float!
Then you can fry them up seperately. Kidding!