Archive | Raw RSS feed for this section

Happy Pickle Day! Pucker up and let the celebration begin!

14 Nov Pickles from Trader Joe's

Whether you’re feeling sour or sweet, this is a dilly of a day for pickle lovers. And Trader Joe’s is no slouch in offering a tasty array of gherkin goodness.

From traditional …

Pickles from Trader Joe's

The salivation starts here.


 

 

 

 

 

… to sublime.

popcorn that tastes like a dill pickle

Pickle Popcorn, making tastebuds happy since 2015

But you can also find ingredients at Trader Joe’s to make your own fabulous pickles – and what better way to celebrate than with a brine binge?! Check out “A Good Thing To Do With Persian Cucumbers from Trader Joe’s” for a mouthwatering pickle recipe, with step-by-step instructions.

And for facts, history and recipes about National Pickle Day, check out this post from International Business Times.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Tuna salad sandwich salad

12 Aug

How to make a tuna salad sandwich without the bread

Combine:

  • One can of tuna
  • 1/4 to 1/2 onion, chopped
  • Several chopped dill-pickle sandwich slices
  • A bowl of torn lettuce
  • Chopped tomatoes to taste (not shown)
  • Dressing: A smattering of olive oil, drizzled balsamic vinegar and the juice from half a lemon
The alternative tuna salad sandwich

Forkfuls of gluten-free goodness

Same sandwich, just served in a bowl instead of a plate. Oh, and without bread. Details.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Guacamole: three ways

10 Aug

In the previous post, I revealed that my refrigerator needed a little cleaning. I found a friend in a single avocado to help me get rid of the last of some cherry tomatoes and an onion:

The meeting of healthy foods: avocados, tomatos and onions

The meeting of healthy foods: avocado, tomatoes, onion

As dip-olicious as the bowl of naked guac tasted, a burst of creativity hit, and I thought of other ways to serve it.

1) My colorful meal could be used in a lettuce wrap:

Guacamole lettuce wrap

Guac wraps: Swaddled in Romaine

2) Cradled in a taco shell:

guacamole taco

Guac tac (also pictured: TJ’s Cheddar and Horseradish Chips)

Or 3) It could be returned from whence it came – from shell to shell – with kind of a “ladies’ lunch” vibe:

Guacamole to share with friends

Gussied guac

I’m thinking, you pair this guac-in-the-shell serving with some homemade gazpacho (my favorite recipe), a basket of Pita Bite Crackers and you’ve got a party going on!

Do you have other ways to serve guacamole? Please share in the comments!

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

My own private Guacamole

9 Aug

I love avocados. I love cutting them open and eating them straight from the shell. What a well-designed food – it comes with its own serving bowl!

I’ll get TJ’s mesh bag of avocados and go through them quickly, trying to make them last through the week. The other day, I was ready to dig into my last avocado of the bag when I thought, “I’ve got part of an old onion, some withering grape tomatoes … hmm.” Add a sprinkle of salt, and, voila, a makeshift fiesta for one!

The meeting of healthy foods: avocados, tomatos and onions

The meeting of healthy foods: avocado, tomatoes, onion

If I’d been planning to make guac, I’d have had some cilantro on hand, I might have used more spices and even, (why not?), glance at a recipe. But this was tasty to me!

Then I started thinking, what else can I do with this tasty mixture? My thoughts about optimizing guacamole are in the the next post. : )

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Nuts about Trader Joe’s

7 Aug

I received the following message from my friend Maria. She, her mom and brother each have a favorite nut offering from the shelves of their local TJ’s on the East Coast of the U.S.:

First: Raw Almonds. My brother loves  these healthy raw almonds. They’re already packed in convenient single-serving bags so you don’t overeat.

And they’re a great price, less than $6 per pound. You don’t pay extra for the convenience of single packs!

packs of almonds

Single servings of handfuls

Second: Marcona almonds. My favorite. How did I miss these on my first trip to southern Spain in the ’90s, and how did I go so long without knowing about this special almond?

I just discovered these this past May on my second trip to Spain. Marcona almond trees only grow in the southern part of the country. They’re pricey but so worth it — crunchier and flatter than regular almonds. They’re roasted in oil, and the Trader Joe’s version includes rosemary seasoning.

Marcona almonds from Spain

A Spanish find

Finally: Pepitas. Shelled pumpkin seeds. My mom loves these.

They give you extra magnesium in your diet and taste great! No struggling with shells either. :)

Delicious pumpkin seeds

Pepitas: Not just a seasonal snack

Thanks, Maria!

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Happy Fourth of July!

4 Jul

Wearing a healthy dose of red, white and blue for the occasion. Have a wonderful July 4, wherever you are, whatever your homeland!

Patriotic display of fruit

Red, white and blueberries

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Salivation Sunday: Summer salad video

19 May

This is a vegan offshoot of one of my favorite salads: Using watermelon in a savory way. The veggies are so delicious, by the end of this Anthropologie video, I want the bowl of salad in front of me immediately! Still waiting for that online feature.

Happy Sunday!

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

← Older Entries

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 320 other followers

%d bloggers like this: