We were supposed to go to the Kiln Guy and Chef’s house for lunch last week but The Chef got sick and had to cancel at the last minute.
Still wanting to get out of the house for a bit we decided to try a new place called Bird & Co. in Portland.
They sell tacos. Like, just tacos. Actually I think you can also buy a salad or taquitos and chips and salsa but other than that they pretty much just sell tacos. You wouldn’t think the concept would work… But it totally does.
Yada yada yada, The HH is hooked and wants to go back asap. 🙂 I tried their fish taco and the California taco {which has french fries in it!} and they were both outstanding.
If you’re anywhere near Portland, Maine, you should totally check them out.
Another thing you should check out if you are a local, Wrap City tortilla chips. Market Basket sells them for $3.99 a bag and they taste like the real deal.
We also went to Costco. Have you been there lately? Costco is starting to get their summer items in {bathing suits and gardening supplies in January!!} which I found amusing.
Anywho, I thought the self watering cedar planter they had was a decent deal. I don’t have room for one, but if I was in the market for one I probably would have bought it.
At $24.99 I thought the Fiskars pruning set was a good deal.
And you’ll never believe what they have at Costco now… Those DELICIOUS almond croissants that I first spotted in Quebec last month. If you see these at your Costco GET THEM. They are sooo good!
Has anyone tried the pistachio cream? I like pistachios, I’m just not so sure I want to try it in the spreadable form.
Costco $86.08
The churro bites were 100% the HH’s idea. I tried half of one.. No thanks.
Also, I’ve bought my last Costco rotisserie chicken. After everyone’s comments last week about the chickens, I have to agree, the ones from the grocery store deli’s taste much better.
The Costco tabbouleh salad… It’s a WINNER!! It took me four days to eat that giant tub and man was it good! Does anyone know if tabbouleh has a bunch of protein in it?
If so, I’d much rather eat that than meat. I’m not sure if it’s a new product or not, but I will be getting it again, that’s for sure.
Perfect as a side or the main dish. I could live off of it.
There is a Mediterranean crunch salad hiding under all those toppings. 😉
I made the Stove Top Stuffing meatloaf recipe last week. One for the freezer, one for dinner. That recipe rocks, I tell you. If you haven’t tried it yet, you should.
It’s absolutely perfect.
It was an easy week in the food department. And while I haven’t been doing a lot of cooking from scratch lately, I have been getting a lot of work done so that’s okay.
How about you… What’s been on your plate lately? Anything good? Curious minds want to know.
Have a great day everyone, I’m off to clock in for another shift at the buoy factory.
Peace Out.
~Mavis
Total Spent This Past Week: $86.08
Total Spent in January $229.38
Jess says
I love, love, love a carby treat, pastries, bread you name it.. it is the reason for my excess baggage… So I was excited when my mom showed up at Christmas with 2 large containers of Costco pastries she picked up.. kept a few for herself and left the rest with us.. They were beautiful.. so impressive looking.. and BLAND.. I was blown away that something so nice looking, flaky and smelled decent had such a lack in flavor… I know we tried almond and cherry pastry.. might have been 1 other… and those cinnamon churros are horrible! lol So in the end this is a GOOD thing for me.. I do not have to put up a fight when I walk through the bakery…
NOW the cheesecake I sampled the other day was fabulous.. and over $20 so I walked on by … this week! lol
Nancy Settel says
I cup of coucous (spelling?) has 6 grams of protein then of course you will get proteins from the greens. I love tabouleh also and I am thinking it has a good amount of protein in it. I love it so much and just impossible to find around here. I used to make it all the time but not from scratch now, I am over that.
Cindy R says
I love the new Costco Tabbouleh salad from Costco. It is a huge winner in my book, I have even put heated some up in the frying pan, cracked a couple of eggs on top and sprinkled with feta cheese.
Nancy Settel says
Oh that sounds great also!
Lesley says
Mavis, how is it going in the unheated barn (or am I remembering wrong?) ? Are you painting buoys up there and wearing a sleeping bag?
Also, how do you and HH stay so slim while eating all the desserts? You must have awesome metabolisms.
Almost to February!
Mavis Butterfield says
Actually, due to the thyroid medication I am on my metabolism is verly slow and I can only eat about 1,200 calories a day unless I am do a crazy amount of exercise to off set that {which I don’t do in the winter because it’s SO cold… walking and biking are just not fun and I have no interest in another treadmill}. I basically have toast or oatmeal for breakfast, linner and then a cookie or something else with my tea. Dried fruit or an apple or a hard boiled egg for a snack.
Eating lightly is so very hard. But I feel the best at the weight I am and I also can’t do anything about it so I don’t dwell on it.
As for the barn… Some days are just too darn cold in there {even with the sleeping bag suit!}.
Rj says
What is in that beautiful mug in the picture with the toast and fruit? Hot cocoa? Whatever it is, it looks delicious!
Judy says
Mavis this meatloaf recipe has me curious! I’m thinking it would make good meatballs!
What do you think!?
My weirdo family doesn’t like meatloaf!
Like who doesn’t like meatloaf? I grew up on the stuff!
Have you tried this? Curious minds want to know!
Mavis Butterfield says
Yes! I’ve made this recipe as meatballs. Fantastic!
Deborah says
Tabbouleh isn’t made from couscous. Couscous is pasta. Tabbouleh is made from wheat grains(bulgur).
Virginia says
I think I’ll need to visit Maine just for the food — those tacos look delicious!
Mavis, I think I recall you having the metal Birdies raised beds at your previous home. They appeal to me since they seem like they’d last a long time. I’d love to know, what did you think of them?
Mavis Butterfield says
Since they were filled and in the middle of a field… We left them. I would get them again though if I had the space. They were well made!!
Margo says
I make tabbouleh salad with quinoa which has a good amount of protein in it. It’s my favorite salad, hands down.
Sue says
I much prefer tabbouleh made with quinoa as well!
Quinoa has twice as much protein as bulgur, but 33% more carbs and twice as many calories. It’s by no means a “better” choice. I just make sure there’s a very high ratio of chopped veggies to quinoa.
Have you ever added canned tuna as your main protein? Absolutely delish–my fave summer dinner hands down. The brininess of the tuna really complements the lemon/oil/parsley (I never add mint; love the parsley too much!)
Julie says
Can you please tell me more about the sheet pan vegetables? Are they a good mix of vegetables or are they heavy on one type? Would you get them again or have you purchased them before? I’m not sure I’ve seen them at my Costco. I love roasted vegetables and this looks like I could save some time chopping. Thanks.
Mavis Butterfield says
I haven’t tried them yet but plan on using them this week. I will let you know.
Virginia says
Please do let us know how you like them. We love roasted veggies but I always do my own. I’ve spotted that same Costco product at my local store, but the price was rather high to me. They’d have to be a total winner for me to purchase them, so I look forward to hearing your opinion.
Julie says
Thank you!
Christine says
Yes! i have 2 of the self watering planters -and the Fiskars set too. love ’em both.
Annette says
Mavis, did you feel the earthquake today?
Mavis Butterfield says
Yes. We thought it was a big truck rolling by. 🙂
Jean C says
I love the mug pictured in the last photo. Do you know if/where it is available?
Mavis Butterfield says
It was made by my friend Sue Tirrell. Her mugs are one of a kind and very hard to get as you typically need to buy them through a gallery or in person at one of her shows {which she does a handful of times a year. Here is a link to her site: https://www.suetirrellceramics.com/
Donna Wade says
Still love the rabbit mug. I have an unreasonable compulsion to collect all the interesting mugs. Can’t wait to see the Valentine’s decor!
Molly says
I was at Costco today and almost bought those almond croissants. Now I’ll have to go back and get them. I’ve tried the Pistachio spread stuff and I didn’t like it very much, but my husband loves it.
Sarah says
That celery salad really is the BEST!!! I have eaten one tube every week since summer. lol! Add some chicken to it, and it can’t be beat.
Heather in Nevada says
We read that they are growing pistachios in California since they require less water than almonds. I wonder if the pistachio cream is any good and if it is healthy.
Christa H. says
I think the that pistachio would be good spread on puff pastry along with raspberry jam and then cut into strips, twisted and baked. The red and green would be pretty for Christmas sprinkled with powdered sugar. Also mixed into creme brulee mix before baking, ice cream, or whipped into cream cheese along with some sugar for a fruit dip.
debbie in alaska says
I’ve seen the pistachio spread being used for the viral Dubai chocolate that everyone has been making online.