My game plan for January – Keeping it simple.
Costco $47.45
We haven’t even finished all the cheese we bought at the Costco in Quebec and I am already missing it. The refrigerated food items there are so much better and more exciting than what we have here.
One thing I do love from our local Costco though is the Mediterranean crunch salad!! The Fuji apples we picked up this past week were really good too.
Local Store $20.20
The Effie’s Oatcakes were an impulse buy!!! Have you tried them? I think they’re made in Massachusetts. They’re not too sweet, which is what we both like about them.
Market Basket $15.40
Market Basket had some great deals last week; Dave’s Bread $3.99, Saltines $1.50, Brussels sprouts $1.99 lb, Cara Cara oranges $3.99 a bag. I love Cara Cara oranges! Have you tried them? They are SO juicy!
We need to go back for some more. Also, we tried one of Market Basket’s rotisserie chickens and we thought it tasted better than the ones we usually get a Costco. Maybe because they were a little smaller?
It seems like a lot of the time rotisserie chickens are actually cheaper to buy than the fresh whole chickens in the meat department. I don’t get it. Unless of course they are a loss leader {like bananas?}.
Things we ate last week:
Costco’s Mediterranean crunch salad for the win.
Costco’s Mediterranean crunch salad with rotisserie chicken with a small bowl of Trader Joe’s Roasted red pepper and tomato soup.
Trader Joe’s Roasted red pepper and tomato soup with grilled cheese sandwiches and Cara Cara oranges. Grilled cheese and tomato soup is always a winning combination… Especially on a cold day.
Sausage raviolis {from Costco} and Texas toast.
Rice bowls. Who needs a tortilla when you can just pile everything in a bowl.
I made nachos with the leftover beef.
Rotisserie chicken with leftover Spanish rice and Brussel sprouts.
And last but not least, Trader Joe’s rustic apple tart. HOLY COW MAN… this was crazy good. Like, I would give up buying pastries for 6 months just to have a freezer stocked with boxes of these.
I suspect it had a layer of almond paste in the filling which really made the tart extra delicious. I don’t know if it’s a seasonal item or not, does anyone know? I’m going to be sure and look for it the next time I am in the store though.
How about YOU? Did you make anything exciting last week?
Have a great Monday everyone,
~Mavis
Total Spent This Past Week: 83.05
Total Spent in January $143.30
Brianna says
We have not had a Costco rotisserie chicken in a year or so. We had several that were too salty to eat and my daughter kept getting sick off of them. We realized it was the chicken. She said it tasted liked metal and bleach to her and she would vomit every time. I even bought one and snuck it into a recipe without her knowing and she still got sick. I buy rotisserie chickens from the grocery store now and she is completely fine. She went to a friends house for a sleepover a few months ago and they had rotisserie chicken for dinner and I had to go and pick her up because she got sick after dinner. After talking to the mom, it was a Costco chicken. I am not sure what changed specifically with the chicken, but it is a no go for us even though it is such a great deal.
GrannyB says
It may be the carrageenan in the Costco rotisserie chicken. My husband can’t eat them either from there. Sam’s doesn’t put that in theirs and he is just fine.
BettafromdaVille says
I worked with the two women that founded Effie’s. The recipe (for the oatcakes) were from one of the women’s Scottish aunts. The two founders went through Boston University’s program in food studies.
The oatcakes are the BEST! The perfect low level of sweetness with a hint of salt.
Sue S. says
I totally agree with you on the outtakes
Now to try to make copycat ones.
LaToya says
I am here for all your food – lol My favorite stuff that you post: food and shopping. After all this time I have yet to try this Mediterranean salad that you rave about. I think I will when the girl comes for a visit next month. Also, I can’t make a grilled cheese to save my life. I don’t know what’s so hard about it?
Happy shiny new week, Miss Mavis!
– LaToya
Nanci Fitschen says
Use sourdough or some other bread like that. Makes the best grilled cheese.
Cheryl says
You are killing me with that pie.
Jean C says
Effie’s Oatcakes are the best! Pricey, but worth it. My faves are the original and chocolate.
Ashley Bananas says
I haven’t bought a Costco chicken in a while. The bag packaging makes me nervous about spills or pokes in the bag. I’ve always liked them and also the ones at Publix. Actually if you ever go to a state with Publix, their fried chicken is better than KFC’s recipe.
This week in shopping land I’m trying not to. We have a lot of food in the house and my son and significant other are eaters. I made a cake Monday and it was gone the next day. I am considering making another cake so I can have more than a slice.