Blind Fixed..But I Can't Find An Iceberg Lettuce!
By Janey1966
@Janey1966 (24170)
Carlisle, England
July 20, 2011 6:20am CST
The day started well. I got up at 8am (boy, I've not done that for a bit) and the blind man came at 9.30am to fix the blind that I'd..er..altered. Different guy to last time but he was still cute! It was fascinating watching him fix the blind as he didn't even have to take it down (it looks like he soldered the cord onto the one already there) so I'm happy..it's worked and he's advised me to hide the scissors.
Haha!
I really should STOP shopping in M&S as it's expensive and £5 is spent in a blink of an eye. I just love the fruit in there though..and I've picked up 3 lemons and 3 oranges plus some cashew nuts. The last two items I was gonna use in a salad but I COULDN'T FIND AN ICEBERG LETTUCE! They did have naff, flat lettuce and I bought more bits in Tesco Express next door but THEY didn't have one either.
I thought we could buy Iceberg lettuce all year round? Guess I'm wrong on that score.
Bring back the greengrocers I say. It's so frustrating not having them round here.
Oh well, at least I can use one of the oranges for a cake but I've no idea why I've picked up some canned tomatoes. I'm sure Mum will rustle up something with them when she's here a WEEK on Friday. She told me she'd be in bits this Friday as it's her very last day at work so to pack for the weekend would be a big deal in those circumstances.
Anyway, I'm rambling! What's the lettuce like where you are? Do you have a shop nearby that sells brilliant salad stuff or do you have to trail round (like I do) for it?
I really should STOP shopping in M&S as it's expensive and £5 is spent in a blink of an eye. I just love the fruit in there though..and I've picked up 3 lemons and 3 oranges plus some cashew nuts. The last two items I was gonna use in a salad but I COULDN'T FIND AN ICEBERG LETTUCE! They did have naff, flat lettuce and I bought more bits in Tesco Express next door but THEY didn't have one either.
I thought we could buy Iceberg lettuce all year round? Guess I'm wrong on that score.
Bring back the greengrocers I say. It's so frustrating not having them round here.
Oh well, at least I can use one of the oranges for a cake but I've no idea why I've picked up some canned tomatoes. I'm sure Mum will rustle up something with them when she's here a WEEK on Friday. She told me she'd be in bits this Friday as it's her very last day at work so to pack for the weekend would be a big deal in those circumstances.
Anyway, I'm rambling! What's the lettuce like where you are? Do you have a shop nearby that sells brilliant salad stuff or do you have to trail round (like I do) for it?2 people like this
14 responses
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
20 Jul 11
Well, I do too but I just couldn't find an iceberg today. Loads of people about which surprised me..so they could've sold out I suppose.
1 person likes this
@p1kef1sh (45681)
•
20 Jul 11
Phew. Tasteless stuff Ideberg lettuce. You've had a narrow miss there Janey! I cebergs are about texture not taste I always think. I nice round lettuce tastes so much better. Increasingly I am buying take and grow live leaves thsat feed us for several meals before they go to the compost heap. If you have a window box you could always try growing your own. Scrummy. We have some good greengrocers here but I am afraid that 90% of the time it is Mr Supermarket that provides.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
20 Jul 11
You're the second person who has told me that lettuce can be grown in the garden. We don't have a garden (more like a yard) but I do have plants growing in my raised flower bed. This always cheers me up every day. There are a couple of shelves dotted around that we didn't put up..and I have been thinking about growing my own herbs..plus the lettuce if it can be done. I always remember (I think) it was Jamie Oliver leaning out of his window to pick his own herbs from the windowsill and always thought it was a good idea. Whaddyathink?
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
21 Jul 11
Haha! After he saw to my blind he had to go to Keswick to fit some curtains..he could've brought me back some Iceberg Lettuce from the many posh shops they have there.
Too late now though..what a shame!
@djbtol (5493)
• United States
22 Jul 11
Don't give up the ship. Start working now on your next plan to lay your hands on the Iceberg lettuce. Sooner or later you will get the cooperation you need. In the mean time, solving this 'mission impossible' will distract you from some of the other annoyances of life.
@cher913 (25782)
• Canada
20 Jul 11
i was wondering how a blind man could fix a blind (meaning he cannot see) but the heat is crazy here where i live in canada so i will blame it on that.
as for food, we have a really good grocery store not terribly far from us that has very good fruits and veggies. fairly fresh and fairly cheap too.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
20 Jul 11
Blame the major supermarkets for taking away our traditional greengrocers. I'd love to be able to nip into one nearby like the good old days (and I'm not old) lol.
I know about the massive heatwave in the US..I take it from what you're saying there's one in Canada too..or is it normal for it to be so hot?
I do sympathise. I know I moan about our cool weather a lot but I'd hate it if were too hot.
@BarBaraPrz (45498)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
20 Jul 11
I planted some lettuce in my garden this year, so haven't bought any lately, but what I've seen in the stores looks good.
@BarBaraPrz (45498)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
20 Jul 11
Very tasty.
There doesn't seem to be any bugs bothering it. Usually, it's snails.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
20 Jul 11
John rescued a slug the other day..not after it had dessimated one of my plants though!
1 person likes this
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
20 Jul 11
Oh wow, what's the home-grown lettuce like? Do you protect it from bugs and things?
1 person likes this
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
26 Jul 11
I cannot believe that you cannot find an iceberg lettuce! They are everywhere here and the most common of lettuces to be sold. Every store has them in abundance! We never buy them though as we prefer Cos Lettuce as it has more nutrient value than Iceberg. We are blessed with having plenty of fruit and veg stores to choose from. 
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
26 Jul 11
Tomato and lettuce sandwich? I actually find iceberg lettuces a little sweet these days. It is amazing how your taste buds kind of fine tune over time. Things that used to be bland and tasteless to me when I was eating a regular diet, now contain so many flavours!
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
26 Jul 11
Eventually, I did track one down (elusive blighters) lol. Tasteless, horrible thing and I don't know what to do with the one half that is left. I have a few tomatoes..any ideas?
@SViswan (12051)
• India
21 Jul 11
Lettuce isn't used in Indian cooking. And only a few of the expensive stores sell lettuce. the local green grocer definitely doesn't.
We have one of those organic stores near my home which sells lettuce and other salad stuff. They even have a salad counter where one can make their own salad to have on the go. They have some exotic stuff too (like brocolli - exotic for us Indians)
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
21 Jul 11
You're not missing much, to be honest. The only reason I wanted this lettuce is due to it being in a recipe I found, hence the purchase of oranges and cashew nuts..other things I've already got.
So frustrating I can't do it 'cos I've no lettuce lol.
Hopefully, all the stores will stock up over weekend!
@GreenMoo (11834)
•
25 Jul 11
What do you want an iceberg lettuce for? Tasteless stuff! All crunch and water, but no substance.
I scatter lots of different lettuce seeds about, so I don't generally buy it. just as well as we're a good way from the nearest supermarket or green grocers.
All my lettuce has gone to seed now though. It's too hot. I'm just having to live without for now.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
25 Jul 11
I wish I hadn't got one now. Like you said..tasteless and not very cheap either!
@yoyo1198 (3641)
• United States
20 Jul 11
Janey....I quit buying iceberg lettuce years ago. It's so blah. I use leaf lettuce (red leaf or green leaf). I guess that's what you call flat-leaf. I found a way to wash, spin dry and store it so that I can use an entire head before it goes bad. We do have the iceberg year round and I think that's what most people buy as it is a little cheaper. But it's just a few cents more to get the leaf lettuce. Leaf lettuce looks so much better in salads and such.
Look here: http://pinchmysalt.com/2007/10/01/a-recipe-for-keeping-lettuce-fresh-and-crisp/
We have several varieties of lettuce available to us year round. I used to get the bibb lettuce (sometimes called butter lettuce) but those heads are so small that it doesn't make economical sense to get it as it is much more expensive. Romaine is used mainly in Caesar Salads but some people use it exclusively.
Sometimes I get baby spinach and use that as a salad leaf and on sandwiches.
Glad you got the blind fixed.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
20 Jul 11
I quite like those Chinese Leaves I think they're called...crinkly edges they've got but I don't see it anywhere.
@MagicalBubbles (5103)
• Canada
22 Jul 11
We have iceberg growers here who export all over the world. So maybe the iceberg you sometimes eat in the UK is from here (Canada) lol. I dont eat iceberg, because theres not much vitamins in it. I prefer romaine lettuce. I was it, dry it and keep it rolled up in scott towels in plastic bag in the fridge and it keeps for at least 5 days.
Even though I live in the country, I have trouble finding fresh produce which is a joke!! In downtown Montreal, they have the most gorgeous market with fresh produce but here, we get crap. I dont want to drive all the way downtown because there is so much road construction now that it'll take me at least 2 hrs to get there.....I dont have the time.
Soon our Walmart stores will carry fresh produce, so Im waiting to see if they'll have really "fresh" ones!!
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
23 Jul 11
Isn't it frustrating not being near fresh stuff lol. We're supposed to be getting a new development near here but I reckon it will probably be something like a KFC. I doubt it will be another supermarket.
We haven't even got an ATM round here. Mum has 5 where she lives!
@hardworkinggurl (37063)
• United States
20 Jul 11
@ Hide the scissors. Gosh you name a salad, I love it. I love any type there is but Iceberg is a favorite. We have several grocery stores here with high selections. We also have farmers markets here too where we have a wide variety of picks. I do enjoy lettuce all year round but when it comes to summer I tend to eat it more. @Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
20 Jul 11
Well, it's the lettuce that has a name. How that name came about I've no idea but it's good isn't it lol.
@changjiangzhibin89 (16533)
• China
21 Jul 11
I haven't a clue what the iceberg lettuce is.I am not sure If It is head lettuce.Over here,we usually have two types of lettuce.The one with edible leaves is called cos lettuce or romaine lettuce;the one with edible stem is called asparagus lettuce.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
21 Jul 11
I think we USED to call romaine lettuce Chinese Leaves, believe it or not. Had it got curly edges to the leaves? It's nice, if I remember rightly.
1 person likes this
@hardworker1972 (311)
• United States
20 Jul 11
Hi there my friend! I'm not sure where you live but here in the states (in the south) we have a plethora of lettuce options. My favorite is romaine. It's fresh and actually has some nutritional value unlike iceberg.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
20 Jul 11
Well, I guess we have the same choices here in the UK. Is the romaine lettuce that flat stuff?
@bouncybug (614)
• South Africa
23 Jul 11
I find that the best thing to do is to grow your own lettuce - if you can!! They grow really well and its the most rewarding thing in the world to be able to step out onto your patio and just pick a couple of fresh, delicious lettuce leaves. Butter lettuce in particular grows really well! You don't need much space either - although a big veggie garden would be best, you can also just grow lettuces in a planting pot out on a balcony or something if you live in a flat!
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
23 Jul 11
I shall mention it to my FIL next time I see him. We finally picked up an iceberg lettuce from Morrisons earlier today and I used it in a salad recipe. I wasn't that impressed with it actually, but I will eat it.
I reckon I could do much better growing my own although I am short of space here.
Growing herbs wouldn't be a bad idea either.
