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A Meatless Monday

...and a meatless Tuesday as well...because I know people have been wondering, "What has Olga been eating lately?"

A Trader Joe's opened in South Burlington a few weeks ago.  I waited until the frenzy died down a little bit and then made my visit Monday morning.  I bought a loaf of Italian bread, an avocado, a bottle of wine, some bananas, portobello mushrooms, and baby artichokes.

Aside: I thought the prices were pretty reasonable, but there were two women with their loud Jersey accents just tsking away about everything is so much cheaper in New Jersey.  I used to live near the closest supermarket to Killington ski area and it was common to hear about how expensive VT food was compared to new Jersey.  I remember one time when I woman standing in the rather long line for check out huffed about the price of milk and also added, "If I wanted to stand in this kind of line, I could have stayed in New Jersey."  I do know it is wrong to stereotype, but, good grief, some people make it so darn easy!

SO back to the important part--what I had to eat for supper.  I steamed up two of the artichokes.  I melted some butter for dipping, poured myself a glass of wine, and ate one of those artichokes and called it a feast.  The next night I sautéed sliced mushroom with sweet onion and added the left over artichoke and thyme from my garden, then topped a slice of the Italian bread with that and a bit of cheese.

Today, I have my avocado to look forward to--yum.  A bit of dark chocolate, too, as I always try to eat healthy!

Comments

  1. I like Trader Joe's I just wish there was one closer. They have a mac and cheese that is to die for! Thanks for filling us in on what you've been eating -- we were getting very curious!

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    1. I have been to Trader's Joe's in Massachusetts and in Florida. having one nearby is nice although it probably won't change my usual shopping habits dramatically.

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  2. My son and daughter-in-law could not wait for the Burlington Trader Joe's to open…Please do not stereotype New Jerseyans. Those of us living in the south - south Jersey - are not nearly as obnoxious as our northern neighbors!

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  3. We have a Trader Joe's that opened recently in our area. My friend and I visited it opening day, but haven't been back. What is it about this place that so many people like? Maybe we missed something on our first visit. We do shop at Central Market and love it... Is Trader Joe's known for certain things?

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    1. There are some good deals and it seems as though they try to make it an experience to shop there. They do carry an awful lot of stuff that I do not ordinarily buy...but then so does any grocery.

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  4. I apologize for my fellow Jerseyites -- all of us aren't that obnoxious. I love Trader Joe's -- the one here is a bit of a trek, but for specialty items, it's worth the trip. Your meal sounds yummy.

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    1. I know. I have many relatives from or in NJ. Only one of them was obnoxious. I am sure the same bell curve applies everywhere.

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  5. I know a lot of people are crazy about Trader Joe's but I haven't figured out why yet. I think it has to do with cooking for one. I have been to the one in our area several times, but come away unimpressed.

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    1. I have to say the quality of the items I bought was very good. Cooking for one--much easier to shop at TJ than Costco!

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  6. Wow, you eat like a bird. Now I know why your figure is better than mine.

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    1. There is an expression--eat like a bird--that I have not heard in a long time.

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  7. This sounds wonderful, Olga. I rather like Trader Joes. The prices aren't super cheap, but they seem reasonable. I like their nuts and dried fruits. OH.... and their kitchen cloths.

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    1. They have a decent dark chocolate as well!

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  8. But in the mornings you have bacon and eggs, right?

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    1. Toast and coffee...sometimes yogurt. Mike and I used to have a big Sunday morning breakfast, but that has kind of fallen by the wayside now. BLTs, though, mmm.

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  9. Hi Olga! I'm with you on Trader Joes. It is one of the places I go when I need a 'grammy field trip.' I don't want to be in a hurry there. But as for your meatless days, I like to read what you come up with. I think you have a lovely blog.

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  10. One can not speak of Trader Joe's and wine in the same post without an honorable mention of two buck Chuck. Charles Shaw wine, some of it award winning:

    Awards:

    At the 28th Annual International Eastern Wine Competition, Shaw's 2002 Shiraz received the double gold medal, beating approximately 2,300 other wines in the competition.[6]

    Shaw's 2005 California Chardonnay was judged Best Chardonnay from California at the Commercial Wine Competition of the 2007 California Exposition and State Fair. The chardonnay received 98 points, a double gold, with accolades of "Best of California" and "Best of Class".

    from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Shaw_wine

    As far as Joisey, I think they get unfairly dumped on with the stereotypes due to proximities of which can not be helped. Of course what makes stereotypes stereotypical is the small element of truth they contain. However my respect for NJ improved much with Richard Ford's Sportswriter Trilogy. It was as much a travelogue of NJ as it was the tales of Frank Bascombe. Sports, refreshingly, hardly entered it at all.

    Anyhow I did once read a potential motto for NJ that might be an unhappy compromise for those who feel it is hell on earth and those who love the place.

    "New Jersey, not as bad as one might think."

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