Beachy Hostess Gift

Hi Friends!

Wow, here we are full-fledge into summer. I’ve missed you! I almost forgot I had a blog for a while. Does anyone else feel like summer is the most challenging busiest time of the year as a mom? {It’s camp mom around here!}  A good friend of mine recently said,

“Summer vacation was clearly not created by a mother of 3.”

Cheers to that! I mean, don’t get me wrong, I’ve been having TONS of fun with my kids…we’re in between road trips right now…we’ve celebrated the 4th of July:

visited The Happiest Place on Earth:

hit Southern California beaches:

celebrated turning 4:

Look who came to our party!

put the dog in a cone:

Had our obligatory trip to the ER {that’s a must with a 7 year old boy…but no cast this year, only a splint, whew!}
And celebrated 8 blissful years of marriage, topping the evening off with
 Robin Williams doing stand-up live at our local theater! 
What a summer it's been so far!

Next we head up to Oregon and will spend a week sight-seeing and then another week at a friend’s beach house…Ahhhhhhh.

I have been thinking for a while about an appropriate hostess gift to bring along with us to the beach house and it finally came to me:

My latest favorite Trader Joe’s find: Salt Water Taffy, in these gorgeous pastel colors {all colored with natural ingredients, like beet juice…no red dye #574 here}

Cute huh?  Little pink/white swirls, pint dot inside yellow, solid pink {dark and light}, solid white…does it get any sweeter? {pun intended!}   Oh and did I mention, they are NOT sweetened with high fructose corn syrup…2 more points for TJ’s.

Do you wanna make one? Super easy and pretty inexpensive, all things considered.

~1 gallon container {I got mine at Cost Plus…and like it ‘cause it has a rubber gasket under the lid so it doesn’t slam shut…a plus when you have little fingers reaching in all the time!} $10 with my coupon

~6 packages of Trader Joe’s Taffy, $1.99/package…$12 total

~homemade tag and ribbon {I had on hand}

I thought about adding some chalkboard paint on the side…would be super cute…but just ran out of time. Click here to see my chalkboard painted jars.

So off to the beach we head…with enough taffy to share!

Are you peeking at those hydrangeas in the background? Aren’t they amazing? The previous owners of our house planted them years ago and we enjoy them so much!

And if you are curious about my blue mason jars…be sure to check out my tutorial here! They are simply spaghetti sauce jars that I’ve painted!

I also used the hydrangeas to decorate for my little girls’ birthday party! {Notice the bowl of TJ’s taffy, too!}

You’re also getting a sneak peek of my {unfinished} gallery wall in the background.  All my frames are painted white and now just awaiting the perfect picture!

Well my friends, that’s all for today…the kids are screaming calling for me. Time to get back to summer!  Smile!!

"Whole Package" Protein Packed Lentil Couscous Salad

Hi-ya friends!Ok, I guess I spoke too soon in my last post about summer officially being here because all the rains were gone....

it POURED today... a full-on winter storm in N. Cali...what's up?  I have 3 new cans of spray paint sitting on my porch feeling neglected!

I don't know if this happens to you, but a lot of times when we get working on a project, we get so involved that we sometimes neglect everything else work through meals, ask the kids to entertain themselves for 12 hours straight, and let the house go to, well, some other place that I don't like that much.  But in the midst of the chaos last week during my huge master bedroom remodel {which by the way I owe you a TON of pictures of, I know- sorry!} I was able to make a super healthy, tasty, home-cooked meal in under 15 minutes!

Whole Package Lentil Couscous Salad

I'm into this "whole package" idea lately...like my "Whole Package Mediterranean Orzo Salad".  I like not having tiny left over containers in the fridge with a half cup of this or quarter cup of that...which, 9 times out of 10 {shhh, please don't tell my husband} sit in there until they are moldy and then I feel less guilty about throwing them out.  Ok, now on to the recipe:

Ingredients:

~1 package already cooked lentils from TJs refrigerator section {approx. 2 1/2 cups, cooked}

~1 package already cooked tempeh from TJs refrigerator section {8 oz block}

~1 box of TJs Israeli Couscous near the pasta section {8 oz. dry}

~a bag of TJs arugula {5 ounces}
~a pint of cherry tomatoes, halved

~1 container of prepared pesto from TJs refrigerator section {7 oz.}

~1/4 cup (maybe a tad more?) red wine or raspberry vinegar

~2-3 TBS olive oil {or more!}

~salt and pepper

Directions:

Cook the couscous according to package.  Drain and add olive oil to it immediately.

Mix pesto with the red wine vinegar and some salt and pepper {and a tad more olive oil if you aren't totally calorie counting}.

Mix all of the other things together and then drizzle with the pesto/vinegar sauce.

Turned out pretty yummy! And honestly, to my surprise, all 3 of my kids requested seconds!  

 

Side notes: this would taste yummy with crumbled feta cheese...I just didn't have any on hand.  Also, I served mine and my husband's over a bed of more arugula and greens from our garden...and drizzled with a little more vinegar and olive oil. 

Sorry, I only have one picture for you today!  I literally cranked this out in 13 minutes {the couscous takes 12 min. to cook} and since I was feeding my children at 8pm, I didn't want to waste any time taking blog pictures... they had already put up with enough for one day!

Now, pray for no rain tomorrow!  Smile!!

Happy Birthday Cupcakes!

Hi Friends and Happy June 3!

I’ve been meaning to tell you about my favorite kitchen specialty gadget for quite a while and just haven’t gotten around to it.  Well, today is my your lucky day!  I mean, it’s my lucky day too…I’m having a little birthday party for myself and inviting my 8 favorite preschoolers.  {You see, I participate in a preschool homeschool program and today is my day to host the children at our house!}  It will be a role-reversal surprise party since all the kids will be surprised they are about to walk into a party!

Anyways, I figured I’d make our favorite birthday treat: CUPCAKES!

A Few New {to me} Trader Joe’s Items

A while back you might recall {like if you’re my mom or one of my other VERY loyal readers} I wrote a post about my top 10 favorite Trader Joe’s Items. And as some of you may know, I do 80% of my grocery shopping at Trader Joe’s {with the other 20% being Costco- they have a great organic selection now, you know?}  So here are a few of my latest Trader Joe faves:

Nitrite Free Salami

I’ve been searching for this for a while now.  All the taste of salami without the nitrites, yay! It comes in two flavors: white wine and red wine…honestly I can’t taste the difference between the two…both yummy and both, you got it, nitrite free.

Next up is Crunchy Almond Butter with Flax Seeds.

Now, normally I like my flax seeds to be ground as the body can’t really digest the whole seeds…however, I’m not really eating this for the omega-3s…it’s just SO um um GOOD!  I’m not really an almond butter gal.  I’ve loved my sunflower seed butter for a loooong time…but this one, folks, has won me over.  If you’ve not liked almond butters in the past, give this one a try.  And did you know TJ’s will take it back if you don’t like it?  So it’s risk-free, too!  I put it on TJ’s whole wheat British muffins with a SMIDGE of super fruit spread on top.

Moving right along to the sweet stuff…I had never tried a crumpet until recently.  In fact, I only bought them after listening to a Disney Princess sing about the perfect princess tea…and my daughters asking for “crumpets please”. 

Can you say: Dessert for breakfast?  Uh, yeah, they’re that good.  You just gotta try them to see what I’m talking about. The nooks and crannies on these puppies can soak up three times as much butter as Thomas’ English Muffins…and make sure you use real butter!

As if the crumpets are good enough on the their own with a little{or a little more} butter…try adding a bit of this on top:

Lemon Curd. Enough said.

Though I do want to say one more thing while we’re on the subject, this stuff can make even the best scones taste that much better.

Finally, to make sure your table is always lookin’ it’s purdiest…at $1.29/bunch of 10, you might need more than one bunch.

The Daffodils are going fast, but boy are they fun to share table space with.

And if yellow isn’t your thing…

…you could go for the incredibly sweet scent of stock. And at under $3/bunch, you’ll think you’re hiking amongst the wildflowers each time you pass by.

{If you’re liking that aqua colored mason jar, see my tutorial here.}

Ok my friends, that’s all the shopping tips I have for you today!

What are your latest Trader Joe faves?  Or what have you always wanted to try but still haven’t?

Smoked Turkey with Arugula Mayo Tea Sandwiches

My girls and I hosted a tea party last weekend and I thought I’d share with you a few of the recipes for the tea sandwiches I made. {I already shared my scone recipe with you.}
We’ll start today with the Smoked Turkey with Arugula Mayonnaise Aioli Tea Sandwiches.

I was first introduced to this recipe years ago at a friend’s baby shower. She got the recipe from Epicurious.com and I Google it each and every time I serve these {a half dozen times}!

I think this time I really can say, I haven’t tweaked this recipe at all….we’ll see, though!

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup mayonnaise (I use Trader Joe’s Reduced Fat Mayo)
• 1/3 cup (packed) coarsely chopped arugula leaves plus 30 whole arugula  leaves
• 1 tablespoon minced shallot
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
• 1/2 teaspoon grated lemon peel
• salt & pepper to taste
• 12 thin slices firm white sandwich bread, crusts trimmed 10 ounces thinly sliced smoked turkey

Preparation:
Mix mayonnaise, chopped arugula, shallot, parsley and lemon peel in small bowl. Season with salt and pepper.  

  All 3 are staples in my cupboard.

And then I like to use the mini-prep to make the aioli. {Doesn’t Aioli sound so much fancier and healthier than mayonnaise?}

Place bread slices on work surface. Spread aioli mixture on each slice, dividing equally. Top 6 bread slices with turkey, dividing equally. 

Did you know Trader Joe’s sandwich meats are nitrite/nitrate free? Their ham and turkey both are.  I love Trader Joe’s!  {I’ve yet to find any salami that is nitrite/nitrate free…let me know if you know of one!}

 

Place 5 arugula leaves atop turkey on each. Top with remaining 6 bread slices, mayonnaise side down, pressing to adhere. Cut each sandwich diagonally into quarters. Be sure to use toothpicks, they really DO make sandwiches taste better {well, at least according to Fancy Nancy!}

Enjoy!

I’ll share the rest of the sandos with you in the coming week.

Linking up to:

My Favorite {and healthy–ish} Scone Recipe

I haven’t posted a recipe in quite some time and decided with Valentine’s Day coming up I’d share my favorite scone recipe with you.  It’s super easy and the scones are DELISH! 
{and wAAAy healthier than the ones from Starbucks the coffee shop}  A perfect way to start the day with the one(s) you love.

I got this recipe from a friend of a friend a while ago and really haven’t tweaked it any much…but I’m gonna tell you how you can!

Ingredients:

~2 cups flour {Ok, I have tweaked it….I use half whole wheat flour and half white, or all white whole wheat…but I won’t lie, they do taste best with all white}
~1/4 cup sugar
~1 teaspoon baking powder
~1/2 teaspoon baking soda
~1/4 teaspoon salt
~1 stick cold butter {cubed into small chunks}
~1/3 cup plain yogurt
~1/3 cup cranberries*
~1 teaspoon orange rind {oops, I tweaked it again!  I have used tangerine AND lemon rind, both with huge success} Why is there a Brittney Spears song in my head now? Oh that’s bad.
~1 egg
~1 egg, divided

Directions:

Heat oven to 350^o.
Mix flour, sugar, powder, soda, and salt. Cut in butter until crumbly- like little peas**.  Add yogurt, rind, cranberries, 1 egg and 1 egg yolk {save the white, you’re gonna use it soon}. Knead until a ball forms. Add flour if you find it really sticky…you don’t want it totally sticking to your fingers. Form it into balls….or HEARTS! Brush with egg white and splash with water.

Bake for 15-20 minutes, until golden.  ENJOY***!!

Ok, now some side notes.

*You can use so many different dried fruits, like raisins, cherries-chopped, strawberries, etc……OR you can use CHOCOLATE CHIPS! You may or may not want to add the orange rind if you use chocolate chips…up to you whether you like those 2 flavors together…think: those orange chocolate balls that split open when you hit them against the wall. Know what I’m talking about?

**So I used a blender to cut in the butter for the first time last week, and found it worked so much better than when I used a fork. I think you need a high power blender, one that can grind grains, for it to work easily. Or maybe try a food processor?  Or just do it by hand… be sure to take lots of breaks to relieve the hand/arm cramps. The smaller the butter pieces you start with, the easier.

***When I make these with cranberries or other fruit, I love to serve them with Trader Joe’s Lemon Curd. 

It is A-MA-ZING.

You might find me crazy, but sometimes I make scones JUST to have an excuse to eat lemon curd.

 mmmm m.

{I think I should add this to my favorite Trader Joe’s items!}

Shape –em into hearts and serve some to your Valentine{s}.

Do you treat your Valentine to any treats? What do you like to make?

Speaking of Valentine’s Day…you might be interested in: My Valentine Wreath or “Be Mine” banner.

I linked up to these great parties!

Organic Food Price Comparison and I Was Featured!

First I have some very exciting news: I was featured!  When you are a new blogger, every time anything happens it’s exciting.  So today my fabric Valentine’s Day Wreath was featured on Truly Lovely.   This is the first time I’ve been featured and I couldn’t be happier.  Thanks Kassi and Kayli!
To see the Valentine's Day Wreath tutorial that was featured,

 just click the picture!

Okay, enough about me, let’s talk about food!

You must know by now that I am in love with Trader Joe’s. If you missed my top 10 favorite Trader Joe items, you can see it here!

I do my best to buy the healthiest food for the least amount of dough. I compromise where I can. I try to buy the dirty dozen fruits and veggies organic but generally don’t buy other produce organic {unless it's on sale.}

Dirty Dozen Fruits and Veggies
celery
peaches
strawberries
apples
blueberries
nectarines
bell peppers
spinach
cherries
kale/collard greens
potatoes
grapes (imported)

It’s a good idea to buy these organic as they have the highest levels of pesticides, according to the Environmental Working Group, EWG.

I don’t always buy organic milk and cheese, but I do make sure all our dairy is rBST {hormone} free.  I try to shop organically as much as I can, while sticking to a budget….. and for the most part I feel very good about the foods I bring into our kitchen. 

Many people steer clear of organic food and/or “boutique grocery stores” because they are WAY too expensive. {You’ve heard the saying “whole paycheck” I’m sure.}
Well, recently a local mom-blogger friend did a price comparison of organic foods at Safeway, Whole Foods and {of course} Trader Joe’s. 

She and her husband posted their results on their blog: The Baby Cuisine Cookbook. The results are shocking!  Well, at least to me they were.
They compared “O Organics” from Safeway, “365 Everyday Value” from Whole Foods, and the Trader Joe’s private label. 

It is unlikely I will be changing my shopping habits any time soon, but this was very educational none-the-less.

What do you think about their results?  Were you as shocked as I was?

Menu Monday: Ahem {more} Trader Joe's Holiday Items

Oh, I caved today.  Boy did I cave! 

Look at what we picked up from the latest TJ's holiday selections:

Well, at least I went on a run this morning!

I don't know which one I'm more excited to have first! 

Should I go for the "plain" Joe Joe's & Cream Ice Cream or the

Candy Cane Joe Joe's & Cream Ice Cream?

(I love me a good Cookies & Cream, but this with candy cane flavored TJ's version of an oreo, does it get any better?)

You know what I love about Joe Joe's and Candy Cane Joe Joe's...they are made without high fructose corn syrup...

Oreos can't make that claim.

And then, of course, the Dark Chocolate Stars!  Ahhhhh, Heaven. 

You know I am in love with TJ's Dark Chocolate Lover's Bar...for the health benefits of course...but wrap dark chocolate around those shortbread cookies

(you know the ones...they come in a big tin at Christmas time, stacked inside the little cupcake paper trays, all sorts of shapes that make you *think* they all are different, so you just have to try them all to be sure you didn't miss anything? I can't be alone, there, can I?)

 and I'm sure you won't be eating just one.

And those little nuggets of love,

marshmallows dipped in minty chocolate! Can't decide whether they are better plain or in hot chocolate. Guess I'd better eat them both ways to double check.

Keep in mind dark chocolate is packed with antioxidants and none of the above contains high fructose corn syrup or "fake" sugar. 

So you just might have to do a few sit-ups this month after the holidays...

but they are SO worth it!

~.~.~.~.~

Ok, folks, coming up tomorrow is Centsationalgirl's big Holiday Craft Linky Party that I am participating in. I'll be up 'til midnight working on my post for a Christmas Tree ornament you can do with kids. 

(If you are anything like me, you have a hard time crafting by yourself...always nice to do projects that require *help*.

Do you have a holiday craft you enjoy? With or without kids.  Send it my way and I will post it!

Menu Monday: Holiday Teas at Trader Joe's

My post today was supposed to be homemade pumpkin pie but the pumpkin I was set to use luckily didn't cooperate very well. (remember: Operation Pumpkin Clean-Up?)

So, I'll tell you about two more Trader Joe's holiday offerings! 

(What am I going to do in January?)

First up is their Vanilla & Cinnamon Black Tea and it's just as advertised...the perfect mix of, well, cinnamon and vanilla. I think I almost like aroma more than the tea it smells that good. So cozy to wake up to.  It's black tea, so of course caffeinated.  It's replaced my usual English Breakfast for the foreseeable future.

Next up is the Candy Can Green Tea.  Just saw this one today for the first time.  Wow, it smells JUST like a candy cane, go figure.  It's kinda like those Jelly Bellys...I always wonder how they get them to smell/taste just like the food they are mimicking.  Actually, no I don't...that's mostly artificial flavoring...but

this here's the real deal folks. Nothing artificial. Peppermint Leaf is the first ingredient. You know what else I love about this tea, it's decaffeinated, so I can enjoy it all afternoon/evening. And you must know the health benefits of green tea by now...so sip away, get your candy cane fix for "free" (no calories) and get your fill of antioxidants, too.

I've had 2 cups already today.

But as expected with Trader Joe's, better stock up now...in January these newest offerings are sure to be history. 

Coming up soon:

- {finally}Finished Wainscoting in Master Bathroom

- A homemade Christmas Stocking craft idea (linking up to Centsational Girl's linky party)

- All sorts of things I'm spray painting (picture frames, lamps, hinges, door knobs, a wall mirror to name a few)

Happy Holiday Decorating! Have a beautiful week!

Menu Monday: BBQ Chicken 3 ways

I know we're heading into turkey land for a while, but here's some food for thought for next week when you have had your fill of turkey for a while. Or if you are entirely sick of poultry all together, you could do this whole thing with a 5 pound pork butt.

You see, I'm still getting this cooking for 5 down. I know I've had a long time to practice now, but it still doesn't always work out perfectly for me.  I usually manage to make enough for us all for one night. I rarely have enough left overs to ever call a meal again...which is why I usually eat them for lunch  let them sit around long enough in the refrigerator to the point where I can finally am forced to toss them since they've gone bad.  Trouble with this plan is that I 

*shhhh* have to hide them under other things in the trash so DH doesn't see that I've thrown food out.  I know, I know, I feel badly and I know there are starving children in Africa...there's starving children here too for that matter...but sometimes it's hard to have left-overs for one when there's 5 in a family.  And if I wait 5 days for them to accumulate, well, there's just something about 5-day old left overs that isn't too appealing.

Ok, I DO have a point here! 

And if you skipped the whole first 2 paragraphs to get to this point,

you haven't missed anything yet.

I am always so shocked excited when something I cook ACCIDENTALLY

makes enough for 2 fulls meals..........LET ALONE 3! 

But this one, folks, did just that. 

It served my family of 5 three full times.

And the best part, it was SO easy peasy.

Here's my BBQ Chicken 3 ways:

At 9 am put into crock pot:

• approx. 4 pounds of frozen boneless chicken (I used breasts and thighs)
• 1 1/2 bottles (or just make it an even 2) of BBQ sauce
• some honey, maybe 1/4 cup, optional

Turn crock pot on LOW for 8+ hours.

After 8 hours, remove chicken and shred with 2 forks. Mix chicken back into the cooking juices, using maybe 2/3 -3/4 of the juices, whatever starts to look the right consistency to you.

Notes:

I use Trader Joe's BBQ sauce. They carry 2 types, they are similar, both yummy,

neither contain high fructose corn syrup (MOST BBQ sauces do, hard to find one that doesn't) and I usually mix the two. And yes, you read that right:

FROZEN chicken!  That's one of the greatest things about this, you don't have to thaw your chicken.  You don't have to think about this meal ahead of time!  Ok, but if your chicken is fresh, then just reduce the cooking time by 2 hours.  Or cook on high 3-4 hours.

OK, finally, ahem, here's the 3 meals you'll get:

1. Pulled BBQ Chicken Sandos

I like to use the Challah dinner rolls at Trader Joe's for the buns. Just sweet enough, and kinda small like sliders.  Kids can eat 1, maybe 2, I can eat 2 and DH 2 (or 3 on a night he didn't eat lunch.)  You could also use Hoagie Rolls (above)

2.  BBQ Chicken Pizza

The next night I made pizza with the left over chicken.  I started with Trader Joe's uncooked whole wheat pizza dough. It says you can bake it once with the toppings on, but that never works for me.  I bake it first, alone, on the pizza stone but with parchment paper beneath (after MANY times of trial and error) for about 12 min. on 425 degrees.  Then I put on my toppings and bake again for another 12 min. or so.  The second time around it doesn't need the parchment paper and goes directly on the pizza stone. 

I topped the pizza with:

• A mixture of BBQ sauce and chopped tomatoes (or tomato paste)
• the BBQ chicken
• sliced red onion
• blue cheese
• a little mozzarella
• cilantro

After baking, you can sprinkle a little more crumbled blue cheese, cilantro and if you are brave....more red onion. Just make sure your significant other also adds onion!

3.  BBQ Chicken Quesadillas

My family has a love affair with Mexican food (maybe that's cause 4 of the 5 people are part Mexican) and we seem to turn anything and everything into a burrito or quesadilla. 

So I just cooked up some fresh tortillas (Costco sells these great fresh tortillas that have never been cooked, they're that fresh) and added:

•  the BBQ Chicken left overs that we STILL had (I know, I couldn't believe it!)
•   Jack cheese (I snuck some Gouda in mine cause I love it so)
• chopped tomatoes

Sorry, no picture...my camera battery was dead and my troops were restless.

And there I had it, a 3rd night of left overs!

I was SO proud of myself in that I used all of the left overs and didn't let a single morsel go to waste. 

How easy was that? 

And it took about 4 minutes to put it all in the crock pot on day 1.

Please share......do you have a fave that you cook up once and lasts for 2 meals,
or better yet 3?  (And don't say Thanksgiving Turkey, I already know that one!)

From my family to yours:

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
May you have safe travels, an abundance of love, food and smiles.

Top 10 Favorite Trader Joe's Items

10. Niman Ranch Applewood Smoked Uncured Bacon- this bacon is so yummy and "good" for you  not too terribly bad for you since it doesn't contain added nitrates or nitrites (except those in celery powder), no antibiotics or hormones and their pigs are fed an all vegetarian diet (not given animal bi products).

9.  Sunflower Seed Butter- this is such a wonderful alternative to peanut butter and so tasty, in fact I prefer it!  I spread it on English muffins, toast, bagels (usually combining with TJ's Super Fruit Spread).  I also us it in Asian dishes that normally use peanut butter, like stir fry and pad Thai noodles.  Tastes yummy in chocolate smoothies, too!

8.  Very Green Powder & Hemp Protein Powder- both additions to our morning smoothies (along with flax, which TJ's also carries, but I buy at Costco)

7.  milk & yogurt (&  cheese for that matter)- I just love that all of their dairy is rBST-free (butter, cheese, sour cream, cheese, milk and yogurt)

6. Non fat frozen yogurt- pleasantly tart (read: VERY tart if you are expecting sweet vanilla ice cream!) This fro-yo is processed in such a way that preserves the live cultures (most cannot say that), something all of our guts can use daily.  (and another fave snuck into that picture, too!)

5. Tea Tree Tingle Shampoo and Conditioner- I've been using these for a few years now and love them. They don't contain parabens, sodium lauryl/lauryth sulfates, or many of the other yuckies that are in many products out there.  For the price and what they contain don't contain, they're a winner in my book bath.

4. Dr. Bronner's Magic Soap- I use this bar soap for my entire body, face too.  It's just about the purest soap out there, containing NOTHING toxic.  Have you looked up your beauty products on Skin Deep? It will tell you how your products rate as far as all the "bad stuff" (ie. parabens, sodium lauryl/lauryth sulfates, etc.)

3. Barn Star Omega 3 eggs- from hens fed a vegetarian diet, not given hormones or antibiotics and contain 350 mg omega 3 per egg.

2.  Challah Bread- Once a week my family enjoys "French Toast Day" with Trader Joe's Challah bread! It is super yummy and great for French Toast. I just slice it up, dip it in a mixture of egg, milk, real maple syrup (also a TJ's fave), cinnamon, and vanilla, and cook in a bit of butter on the stove-top on med-low. Doesn't need any syrup!


Sorry, as of posting time, I didn't have a picture of it ready to go...we used it yesterday for French Toast Day! I'll get it posted soon.

1. The Dark Chocolate Lover's Chocolate Bar- the darkest chocolate around at 85% cacao, these little squares of heaven just might keep us alive a little longer with their huge antioxidant power. So don't feel guilty! Enjoy with another antioxidant fave, red wine.

Since I do 80% of my grocery shopping at Trader Joe's, I have many many favorites.  These are some staples that are always in my house (except the Challah bread!) and  all items I will make a special trip to TJ's for. 


A couple handful of honorable mentions include:

~Organic Tampons (no need to expose our bodies to more chlorine and pesticides, and their price beats everyone around)
~All Natural Anti-plaque Toothpaste (without fluoride- and I haven't had a cavity since braces in middle school)
~Quick Cooking Steel Cut Oatmeal
~String Cheese
~Shredded Mexican Blend Cheese
~Super Fruit Spread
~Rosemary Ham and Smoked Turkey lunch meats (contain NO nitrite/nitrates)
~English Breakfast Tea
~various flavored Green Teas
~Whole Wheat English Muffins
~Whole Wheat mini bagels (no high fructose corn syrup)
~Cuties (ok, you can get these anywhere, but who doesn't love these little mandarins without seeds?)
~BBQ and Sea Salt & Vinegar Potato Chips (made with healthier oils)
~anything Pumpkin (cream cheese, muffin mix, pancake mix, ice cream, pumpkin butter to name a few)
~Uncooked Pizza Dough (I have a system for cooking so it doesn't stick to the pizza stone)
~Fresh Pesto Sauce
~Whole Wheat Gnocchi
~Dry Roasted & Salted (but the 50% less salt blue label) Mixed Nuts, NO peanuts
~Dark Chocolate covered pretzels (dairy free!)
~Italian Sweet Chicken Sausage (uncooked, I remove casing prior to cooking)


and last but not least, 2 Buck Chuck  Try it with some dark chocolate tonight.

This bottle is left over from our wedding! We served this at the bitter end to guests that were too many drinks in to know better.

Seriously my list could go on and on.  I love Trader Joe's, did I mention that? 

What's YOUR favorite thing at Trader Joe's?

I linked this posting up on another blog having a "Favorite Things" linky party.  It's my first linky party!  Check it out: