Kitchen

[Chi-town girl]

We shop at TJ's weekly. During the summer, we use the grill alot & have a bounty of fresh garden tomatoes. This week our TJ shopping list includes: bananas, 3 pack of whole romaine lettuce, chopped organic kale, kind bars, fresh mozzarella balls in water for caprese salads, fresh mango salsa, a few bars of cheese-cheddar, monterey jack; raw meats-organic chicken, organic ground beef, marinated korean style short ribs; organic brown eggs, organic milk, greek yogurt, european butter, stevia packets, snacks-movie theater popcorn, tortilla chips, frozen scallion pancakes, frozen lemon bars-yum, ice cream, wine & beer. We purchase fruits & veggies weekly from local farmers market. Also if you like to make your own marinara sauce, keep you eyes open for TJ's annual shipment of canned san marzano tomatoes imported from Italy - stock up!!!

[HonnyBrown]

On 8/13/2014 codywhitney said:

Hmmm..love the chicken gyoza! They have new peanut butter and chocolate hazelnut cookies that are great too!

Chicken Goyza is on the list! I won't trust myself in the car with those cookies and a thirty mile trip.

[HonnyBrown]

On 8/13/2014 Chi-town girl said: We shop at TJ's weekly. During the summer, we use the grill alot & have a bounty of fresh garden tomatoes. This week our TJ shopping list includes: bananas, 3 pack of whole romaine lettuce, chopped organic kale, kind bars, fresh mozzarella balls in water for caprese salads, fresh mango salsa, a few bars of cheese-cheddar, monterey jack; raw meats-organic chicken, organic ground beef, marinated korean style short ribs; organic brown eggs, organic milk, greek yogurt, european butter, stevia packets, snacks-movie theater popcorn, tortilla chips, frozen scallion pancakes, frozen lemon bars-yum, ice cream, wine & beer. We purchase fruits & veggies weekly from local farmers market. Also if you like to make your own marinara sauce, keep you eyes open for TJ's annual shipment of canned san marzano tomatoes imported from Italy - stock up!!!

Which wines do you get? I love the tomatoes and butter!

[mousiegirl]

On 8/13/2014 HonnyBrown said:

On 8/13/2014 mousiegirl said:

I have always prepared rice, instead of buying it, but having been without a kitchen for over five months, I discovered Trader Joe's brown rice in the freezer section. A box has three packets. Out one packet into the microwave and three minutes later, you have perfectly cooked brown rice. There are other types of rice also, but I cook this rice, and add whatever I want to it for salads or side dishes, just love it. the bottled herbs are so inexpensive, you won't believe it. I don't go often, but when I do, I stock up.

I like their Wild Rice. I buy a few packages of that and also the dry brown rice.

Tell me more about the bottled herbs! Do you mean the dried herbs?

Yes, dry herbs. At the grocery store, a bottle can be $5.00 and up, but here, they are around $2.00 give or take. The cheese is very reasonable also, and the wine, if you are so inclined, I am.

[HonnyBrown]

I buy the Smoked Spanish Paprika and the Everyday Seasoning in the grinder. The Garlic Salt was disappointing; I'm returning it.

Herbs and spices, I get from Penzeys.

I love the Comte cheese. I'm glad they carry it here.

What wines do you recommend? I'm buying a case of the TJ Coastal chardonnay.

[BaileyBop]

I have never cooked pork belly. What do you make with it.

[mousiegirl]

On 8/13/2014 BaileyBop said:

I have never cooked pork belly. What do you make with it.

All I know about it is it must be cooked very slowly on a low heat, so it is tender in the end. It is basically bacon in slab form, and mostly fat, but I have been wanting to cook it every since I first saw it on cooking shows.

[mousiegirl]

On 8/13/2014 HonnyBrown said:

I buy the Smoked Spanish Paprika and the Everyday Seasoning in the grinder. The Garlic Salt was disappointing; I'm returning it.

Herbs and spices, I get from Penzeys.

I love the Comte cheese. I'm glad they carry it here.

What wines do you recommend? I'm buying a case of the TJ Coastal chardonnay.

I have bought Rose and red wine, Merlot mostly. The only white wine I drink is Korbel Brut, usually with red grapefruit juice, or lemon in it, which I buy at Costco.

[Chi-town girl]

On 8/13/2014 HonnyBrown said:

On 8/13/2014 Chi-town girl said: We shop at TJ's weekly. During the summer, we use the grill alot & have a bounty of fresh garden tomatoes. This week our TJ shopping list includes: bananas, 3 pack of whole romaine lettuce, chopped organic kale, kind bars, fresh mozzarella balls in water for caprese salads, fresh mango salsa, a few bars of cheese-cheddar, monterey jack; raw meats-organic chicken, organic ground beef, marinated korean style short ribs; organic brown eggs, organic milk, greek yogurt, european butter, stevia packets, snacks-movie theater popcorn, tortilla chips, frozen scallion pancakes, frozen lemon bars-yum, ice cream, wine & beer. We purchase fruits & veggies weekly from local farmers market. Also if you like to make your own marinara sauce, keep you eyes open for TJ's annual shipment of canned san marzano tomatoes imported from Italy - stock up!!!

Which wines do you get? I love the tomatoes and butter!

We love California-domestic, and the imported wines from Italy and Chile. Fab prices-some below 10 dollars. And some of the private label TJ wines are good too. Talk to the TJ's staff that know their wines-we tried many different ones based on their recommendations. There is a red wine that has an amazing undertone of chocolate. Can't recall the name, but talk to their staff. Oh and at the checkout counter, the 4 pack of dark chocolate almond bars. Great compliment to a full bodied red wine.

[HonnyBrown]

On 8/13/2014 BaileyBop said:

I have never cooked pork belly. What do you make with it.

The pork belly at Trader Joe's is cooked. You just need to heat it up and eat.

I add mine to my beans. Just a few slices, and DH devours the rest out of the pan.

It's a thick layer of loin, topped with a thin layer of pork fat and topped with canadian bacon.

It is the food of the gods! I buy two packages.