Every day life should be appreciated more. Those endless trips to the gas station to fill up the tank? Be grateful you have a car. Those overwhelming traffic jams? Be grateful you have your legs. Those horrible dentist/doctors appointments for check-ups? Be grateful you have your health.

I wanted to show you an every day occurrence, a simple one that most of us do on a weekly basis: the produce section of my grocery store. Living in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, you become aware of the amazing produce we have, not found in most places. Enjoy the trip down the produce aisle, check out the prices I’ve converted from Dominican Pesos to US Dollars. The currency rate I used was US$1 = RD$37.

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Zapote is US$ 0.80 cents a pound. Great in Milkshakes!

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Chayote is US$ 0.24 cents a pound. This is typical “diet” food in DR. I don’t appreciate it much!

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Beets remind me now of Jen from A Girl and Her Carrot. Beets are US$ 0.48 cents a pound.
 Roasted Beets and Pickled Beets Recipe here

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Colorful Peppers, great in stir fries! Red and Yellow Peppers are US$ 1.50 a pound.

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Green Plantains to make Tostones with are US$ 0.26 cents a pound while Ripe Yellow Plantains, which I love to make casseroles with are US$ 0.62 cents a pound!

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Dried Coconuts are US$ 0.72 cents each!
Ever tried a Sweet and Savory Scone? Alessio has a delicious recipe for Coconut Cream Scones with Parmesan and Tarragon you should try!
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Small and large mangoes are both great eaten fresh or in desserts! Prices range from US$ 0.53 to US$ 0.80 cents a pound!
Want some Mango Love? Click here
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Take a Fresh Watermelon, cut it in half and soak with vodka. Happy Summer! These are US$ 0.53 cents a pound!
Try a refreshing juice, like Junia’s Watermelon Green Juice!

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How I wish I could ship some fresh Passion Fruit to Jessie, from Jessie Kaufman Photography in NYC?! These passionate lovelies are US$ 1.07 a pound! Great in jams, smoothies, curds and creams!
Have you ever made Passion Fruit Jam? Or how about some Lemon Lilikoi Bars from 6 Bittersweets?

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Quail Eggs! Did not get to see the price. My Dad likes to eat these boiled and drizzled with honey.

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Need a great juice recipe? Juice Celery, Cucumbers and Pineapples. I swear by it. These sweet babies are only US$ 1.29 EACH! I remember on MV these being US$5 each!
Cake is your friend, so why not make a Pineapple Upside Down Cake from Heather over at Farmgirl Gourmet?

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Dear Root Vegetables: I Love You. The sign says “Dear Customer, Please do not break the Yuca.” It is popular habit to hit the yuca against the basket/stand where it is and see if the inside is good. Thus, they ask us not to. Yes, that is dirt all over them. Yuca is US$ 0.45 cents a pound. Great peeled, boiled and served with sauteed white onions dressed with vinegar! Serve with a fried egg on the side and you have breakfast!

Homework: What does YOUR produce aisle look like? Is there a special fruit or vegetable you love? Something you can only find in your hometown? Email me a picture at marnely at gmail dot com and I will post and them up in an upcoming post! Excited to see everyone’s produce aisle!

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23 Comments

  1. I just love all of the produce that you have available there! I actually like chayote sauteed in a little garlic and oil. Yum! I just don’t like the sticky feeling when I peel it.

  2. Oh my gosh! This looks absolutely ah-mazing! I’m really jealous, we don’t have grocery stores like that here in Belgium!!! And I love yuca so much! It’s one of my fav things! I would eat it every day if it was easier to find here. <3