Curious. What are the "must haves" that prompt grocery buying from Amazon?

[Claire]

I just ordered a bottle of Salsa Lizano because of all the rave reviews. What other grocery items do people buy from Amazon?

[Plaid Dad]

One repeat purchase is a particular brand of vegetarian soup base powder (faux chicken flavor) that my wife uses in lieu of stock in risottos, soups, and other recipes. But it's only small specialty food items like this that we buy from Amazon, and then only if they're unavailable locally. It wouldn't be cost-effective for us to buy other food items in bulk.

[Claire]

I found that item and it looks like something I would like to try. How do you figure out the optimal number to order to minimize shipping costs, though? I had to go all the way to the "submit" area to learn that 2 would ship at the same price as 1.

Also, have you tried the mushroom version?

[Begonia]

Could you please share the name of this soup base? I use boxes of ready-made vegetable stock from Whole Foods, but am looking for alternatives because we're not crazy about the taste (we buy the low-sodium type).

[Hillary in KS]

I've never ordered from Amazon grocery, but this weekend I learned that they carry Salsa Lizano.

I have not found a store in the US that carries it - even the Hispanic bodegas in my city look at me funny when I ask if they carry it. I *miss* salsa lizano, and I have several recipes that just don't taste right without it.

I'll try ordering once to see how it goes. :)

Hillary

[Claire]

Could you please share the name of this soup base? I use boxes of ready-made vegetable stock from Whole Foods, but am looking for alternatives because we're not crazy about the taste (we buy the low-sodium type).

Here's a link (http://www.amazon.com/Harvest2000-Vegetarian-Bouillon-Mix-Chicken-Flavor/dp/B00019MMO2) to the one I think Plaid Dad mentioned. I did an Amazon search on "vegetarian soup base" and this was the only one I found that had a chicken flavor.

I hope he posts to confirm or deny, though!

[clerkofkirk]

Preserved ginger in syrup.
Susie in SWVA

[Claire]

Preserved ginger in syrup.
Susie in SWVA

What do you use this for? (I'm always looking for things that will encourage us to cook and eat at home instead of going out!) Or is this a sweet treat?

[Begonia]

Ooh! Thanks, Claire! This actually looks quite good (and not too high in sodium). I'm going to try it.

[kalanamak]

Here's a link (http://www.amazon.com/Harvest2000-Vegetarian-Bouillon-Mix-Chicken-Flavor/dp/B00019MMO2) to the one I think Plaid Dad mentioned. I did an Amazon search on "vegetarian soup base" and this was the only one I found that had a chicken flavor.

I hope he posts to confirm or deny, though!

I think this is better tasting...also from amazon

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gf/105-1972479-0054843?url=search-alias%3Dgourmet&field-keywords=frontier+chicken&x=0&y=0

As for what I've ordered, WW elbows that are not corn or spelt etc. I have to drive 30+ miles to get them.

[Begonia]

Thank you for the info! My older dd was recently bemoaning the fact that chicken broth smells so good but she can't eat it :( (she's a vegetarian who loves soups). I'd love to be able to find a good substitute.

[kalanamak]

I can't fit NT on the title!

[kalanamak]

Thank you for the info! My older dd was recently bemoaning the fact that chicken broth smells so good but she can't eat it :( (she's a vegetarian who loves soups). I'd love to be able to find a good substitute.

It isn't, IMO, good enough to have a broth like the chicken but as a back drop to minestrone and hearty soups it does very well. I don't see it on Amazon, but other places do have it. It is also good in the water for brown rice with a little wild rice (or with a little chopped up raw spagetti and some oil and salt....homemade Rice a Roni).

[Begonia]

Yum! I'm looking forward to making better tasting soups with both of these products. Thanks again!

[Begonia]

I was ordering these when I noticed that Amazon also carries low sodium versions of the Frontier broth. Have you tried these, Kalanamak?

[Begonia]

Never mind. Now I notice that the low sodium one is *vegetable* broth, not meatless chicken broth. :o

[kalanamak]

fillllllllllllllller

[OC Mom]

A few months ago, Amazon had a special on PG Tips Tea, which is supposed to be the #1 tea in Britain. It came to 3 cents a bag - but you had to order over 600 bags! My dd liked it almost as much as the Earl Gray for which I'd been paying 15 cents a bag, so that was a relief.

Then this week I saw this special: http://www.amazon.com/b/ref=amb_link_6315552_1?ie=UTF8&node=378925011&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=hero-quick-promo&pf_rd_r=10P40QX6XF4B065WE216&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_p=362219501&pf_rd_i=B0011YY2WG
So I ordered 320 bags of Celestial Seasonings teas at about 5.7 cents per bag. Gotta have those specialty teas on hand for company, special occasions, etc.

The funniest thing is, I'm a coffee drinker! But I drink tea occasionally, and always have company over that drink tea, and my dd drinks it...so I have about a years worth in my pantry.

[Claire]

But I drink tea occasionally, and always have company over that drink tea, and my dd drinks it...so I have about a years worth in my pantry.

That's funny. I keep at least a six-month supply of two types of tea in my pantry. Dh lived in Britain for 20 years and needs his British tea. I use a specific hard-to-find Celestial Seasonings tea after dinner, when I can't have any caffeine, because it's the only one I've tried that actually tastes good! I have always ordered by the carton online from Tetley Tea and Celestial Seasonings websites, but maybe I'll check prices on Amazon first next time.

How do you find the specials? Or do you just run across them while browsing?

[OC Mom]

How do you find the specials? Or do you just run across them while browsing?

It's usually random browsing. I found the Celestial Seasonings special on Fatwallet - I was searching for deals on Dell computers, and next thing you know, I've spent $19 on tea bags.

But I just went to the grocery page at Amazon and found a tiny link on the right sidebar to specials...and it showed me all of the instant rebate items for February, including the tea. So I think that might be worth checking once a month to see if anything good pops up.