tracylee's Profile
Best Products at Cost Plus World Market?
I adore their gingersnap cookies and olive oil biscotti bites. To me, they are much better than either snack from Trader Joe's. It's too bad World Market is waaaay out of my way.
Trader Joe's Yea/Nay Thread - 1st quarter 2012 [old]
We have a few here in my area, and it always strikes me that those employees just radiate how much they HATE their jobs.
Fuzzy's Tacos?
I think the name Fuzzy Taco is worse - I can just picture them growing in my fridge.
Trader Joe's Most Favored Products of 2011
OK, there are only 3 of these I've tried:
2. Triple Ginger Snap Cookies: Meh - I really prefer the Ginger Snaps at World Market - can't put a finger on why
10. Charles Shaw Wines - Locally, they went down to $2.49 instead of $3 - I don't like their Cab Sav, but the Merlot is OK
19. Meyer Lemon Cookie Thins - I really like these
Who else has Hop John for New Years?
I just googled Rosin Potatoes, and it's actually potatoes cooked in rosin, or pitch. I've never heard of cooking with rosin. I've only ever seen it used on bows for stringed instruments.
Wasted Food - How to Stop This Horrible Habit
Ack, I just had an image of doing this with the lid off and the mess it would make!
What was in your Christmas stocking growing-up?
I received one from a friend in Canada a few years ago when a bunch of us forum (not this forum) moderators would exchange gifts. It was quite a surprise to find a toy inside! I guess the post office wasn't as strict as customs might have been for someone carrying it in person.
New England Clam Chowder...thick or thin???
Wow, interesting to see this thread resurrected - I hadn't read it before. I have a retired library copy of Serious Pig from a book sale sitting on my dining room table for meal-time reading, and discussed chowders with a few people while reading that section!
Favourite Food 'Sights'
Oooh, I feel the same way when homemade ricotta coagulates magically!
Service biases against non-drinkers?
I can no longer drink alcohol, but go out to dinner with my folks who do. I order water, and usually end up having to drink Mom's water too, because as often as the wait staff goes by, I either can't get their attention for a refill, or they conveniently forget - even while bringing wine refills for others. It's really frustrating for me, since I go through alot of water while dining out.
What's your "Subway" sandwich?
The ones around here stopped selling the seafood years ago - it was the one I always got.
Grocery Stores around the world-quirks?
paulj, that was really common in Guayaquil when I shopped there from '88-90. And the large grocery store (SuperMaxi) had the same kind of security, where you pre-paid on a card, then used the card to check out.
Do you like it when your server recognizes you?
I thought of this thread today. I was out shopping with my folks and we stopped for an early dinner at a bar and grill that we'd previously only been to twice for lunch back in August. The only other people in the restaurant left just after we were seated. We perused the menu and quietly discussed our selections. The cook came out of the back and came to our table: "Fish and Chips?" - I pointed at Dad, "Fried Shrimp?" - Mom, and I said: "I'm getting the sliders". Unless he has a microphone at the table that he can hear in the kitchen, there's no way he could have known this!
Then we watched the guy carrying a half-case of beer try to push his way out the window beside the door.
What are you baking these days? December, 2011 [OLD]
Wednesday I had a holiday party to go to so I made tartlets filled with apple, bacon, brie and golden raisins. OK, so I cheated and cut rounds out of store-bought pie dough, but they were a big hit. Next time, the combination will be pear, blue cheese and walnuts.
What Food Trend are You So Sick Of?
Tobitama! I love the texture contrasts of the crisp Tobiko, egg yolk, rice and nori. It's especially fun to order if there are sushi virgins paying attention to what you're eating :-D
What do you make for breakfast on Christmas morning?
Thanks, Eileeeen! I'll be able to tell my Mom that the Rock has a real name! I'm sure she got the recipe from one of her cookbooks, but we've been calling it the Rock for so long that I really don't remember what she originally called it.
Foods that unreasonably gross you out...
We never had corned beef growing up because when my Mom was growing up she had to fish the beef out of the brine and that grossed her out. Corned beef hash reminds me of canned dog food.
Grocery store pet peeve. Is it just me?
I was at the bent can store the other afternoon (Grocery Outlet) and kept crossing paths and nearly running into or getting run over by an elderly gentleman. And I ended up right behind him at the checkout counter. I thought by then that I'd be irritated by the whole thing, but I really wasn't. In the parking lot he wished me a Merry Christmas.
Grocery store pet peeve. Is it just me?
Glad to see that someone researched to confirm what I've always felt about it.....A longer express lane means more transactions, as opposed to one person with alot of stuff in a regular lane - one transaction.
Trader Joe's Yea/Nay Thread - 4th quarter 2011 [OLD]
The new TJs here in Salem, OR took over part of what used to be an Albertson's Grocery Store, and the rest of the building is still up for lease, so there's plenty of parking.
Did Your Mom Repeatedly Cook a Dish You Despised?
I see it on menus around here from time to time - seems to be a popular combination, but I don't like beer so I avoid it.
Dad used to make beer pancakes when we were kids - I didn't like those either.
What was in your Christmas stocking growing-up?
There was always an orange filling up the toe section and a candy cane over the top. For many years, we'd get the "story book" packages of Life Savers or a net bag of gold coins. The rest were little knick-knacks or doodads that Mom picked up through the year.
Did Your Mom Repeatedly Cook a Dish You Despised?
My Mom was never allowed in the kitchen growing up, and she lived at home (even in college) until she married Dad. They met in his hometown and carried on a long-distance romance and he never asked or realized that she couldn't cook (or had a terrible driving record) until they got married.
She really tried, but for Christmas and Easter breakfast, she always made "The Rock" - a yeast dough ring with raisins, cut then baked - hard as a rock. She followed directions from cans, boxes, Joy of Cooking. I remember taking Coconut Cream Soup (that was supposed to be pie) to a Girl Scout event. Her cooking is legendary for not being good, but she's getting much better!
When Dad started working from home more often, he took over the cooking, but meat and fish have to be baked or barbecued until dry and tough. I still don't like cooked fish, but he knows that when I'm over and they're serving ahi tuna to just leave mine raw - I bring my own wasabi powder.
And I was one who was forced to sit at the table and finish everything on my plate. I grew up to be one of those very picky eaters. The dog would only eat so much!
Trader Joe's Yea/Nay Thread - 4th quarter 2011 [OLD]
I bought another canister of regular beans yesterday and the cashier made sure I knew that they were whole beans (I guess some people get confused). We talked about the Wintry Blend, and she said she had the same issue with the pumpkin spice blend that was really weak.
Better cheddar?
Yes, Cougar Gold is definitely good for larger groups. Dad has it sent to family and friends every year for Christmas.
Trader Joe's Yea/Nay Thread - 4th quarter 2011 [OLD]
I found it on the "new products" endcap and bought two jars. It's pretty solid stuff at room temps around here, but smells divine. I haven't tried it in cooking yet, but I did warm up a bit for a hair/scalp treatment yesterday. I'll report back when I use it for cooking.
Trader Joe's Yea/Nay Thread - 4th quarter 2011 [OLD]
Actually, I meant to come back and update this since first posting. Maybe because it was weak coffee, drinking it brewed as is didn't work after the second pot. So what I've been doing is adding a couple of scoops in with my whole beans when I grind them for just a hint of spice flavor. Works much better for me.
Trader Joe's Yea/Nay Thread - 4th quarter 2011 [OLD]
Yay - Wintry Blend Coffee. OK, so I didn't think to buy coffee while they had the Pumpkin Spice Blend, but the Wintry Blend has black and pink peppercorns, cloves and cinnamon. Another "Doh!" I didn't realize that it was already ground, so I'll have to figure out the measurements, since I've been grinding whole beans for the last couple of years. Anyway, I had it this morning, and it was really good!
Trader Joe's Yea/Nay Thread - 4th quarter 2011 [OLD]
yes, 14 oz can chicken broth, 14 oz can coconut milk, 15 oz can coconut puree. I used tandoori seasoning and a Todd's Crabby Dirt (a spicy rub mix) for spices after the fresh ginger and black pepper.
Cooking for One: A Widow's Challenge
I'm not widowed, but newly single after 10 years or so for the last 5 months, and have been having the same issues. The ex-bf had an appetite for 3 people and devoured leftovers. I've also developed many dietary restrictions in the last couple of years, so that doesn't help.
I keep hard-boiled eggs on hand for breakfast when I'm too lazy to do anything else. The Trader Joe's microwaveable rice in 3/box are great for rice bowls with whatever's on hand. I do make up big batches of pasta stuff - ricotta gnocchi, stuffed shells, butternut squash ravioli - and freeze in individual servings to sauce as desired.
I'm still working things out, and I still end up tossing things that I haven't gotten around to finishing up. I'll be watching this thread for more ideas.
