Trader Joe’s Oatmeal Soap

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Trader Joe's Oatmeal Soap

Trader Joe's Oatmeal Soap

Here is a new product that caught our eye the last time we were at Trader Joe’s:  Trader Joe’s Oatmeal Exfoliant Ginger Almond Soap.

Can you really have too many bars of soap in the bathroom?

Well, the answer could be, yes. In fact we are approaching a dangerous situation in our tub, as we bought yet another new product. It’s not that the products we have are bad; it is more that we LOVE to buy/try new stuff.

So when we saw the oatmeal soap I knew we would have to make room for one more product.

This soap is a nice big bar that produces lots of thick white lather. It also has nubby bits of oatmeal studded in the bar, so there is almost a “scrubby” thing going on when you use the soap. And the smell…. the combination of oatmeal, ginger and almost… yum! But the best part is that the scent is pleasant and NOT strong or overwhelming in the least.

Also, we like that this bar is firm. We do not like those soap bars that feel soft and almost dent or break apart after only a couple of uses. Or those fancy soaps that seem to “melt” away after the first week.

Because of the oatmeal (or despite the oatmeal who really knows) this soap is gentle on our skin and is not drying it out like some soap can.

Have you tried this product? What did you think?

Trader Joe’s Giant White Beans

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Trader Joe's Giant White Beans

Trader Joe's Giant White Beans

Recently while shopping at Trader Joe’s, this little item caught our eye. I love how Trader Joe’s arranges all their “new stuff” on an end cap, so that you can check there and find new items. Sometimes we seem to be in a rut and like to check out the new items for something different so I like to know there is a section where we can go and look and see what is new. But who am I kidding, we shop at Trader Joe’s on a weekly basis, and I am always seeing new stuff when I look in other people’s baskets.

Anyway, back to these beans. They looked interesting, especially the part at the bottom of the label that noted that they were made from a “Traditional Greek Recipe” –hmmmm had to think for a sec…wait….SOLD! We just LOVE Greek food.

So the label says they are Giant White Beans, right? Well, that really was NOT a joke – They are HUGE! I was going to measure them, but they were soo good that after the first taste, I just forgot and continued to eat my way through my dish-sorry.

More Trader Joe's Giant White Beans

More Trader Joe's Giant White Beans

We served these beans for two meals- we can’t believe that we did not gobble down the whole jar on the first day, looking back. Anyway we served them first alongside a simple salad, so that we could really get the flavor.

The second time, a few days later, we mixed the remaining beans and their yummy sauce with a can of drained tuna fish and made a Greek- Tuna mixture that we ate also with a salad.

We thought these beans were just terrific and we enjoyed eating them the two different ways. These beans would be a nice addition to a “Tapas” night assortment of cheese, olives and breads to add some nice flavors.

We hope you try them next time you are at Trader Joe’s looking for something different.

Great Snacking with Trader Joe’s

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Like we told you in previous posts, we are working towards making positive changes in out diet. For us, this means that we not only will eat more at home, but ensure that we make better/ more healthy choices about what we eat when we go out.

Enter: The Snack Zone -OK this is really just a plastic bin in the refrigerator that is stocked with a variety of items that are ready-to-eat and ready to-go standing by for us to grab when we are hungry or as we are heading out the door.

Recently we have had a nice selection in the Snack Zone: cheese and crackers and nut mixtures (Trader Joe’s Cashews, Cranberries and Almond) portioned out in small bags. We like to stock the Snack Zone on Friday’s after shopping at Trader Joe’s to get ready for the next week. (This does not always happen, but it is a goal we are working on;)

So this week, with the weather turning a bit warmer (Truthfully…. it is 80+ degrees here in Tucson today…sorry if you are out shoveling snow) we chose a couple of new snack items to add to our weekly menu mix. Two of our requirements of snacks is that they be quick to put together (especially at the last minute) and portable so that we can take them on the road with ease. Also we like to change it up, and these new snack items are just the thing after a number of weeks of cheese and crackers and nuts.

Currently our Snack Zone consists of:

Trader Joe’s Persian Cucumbers
These are petite cucumbers that sorta resemble those long English cucumbers, only smaller. The skins are tender and they are not “Waxed for Freshness” (which often happens to cucumbers-yuck!) so you can eat the peels. They are sweet and tender and simply wonderful.

Trader Joe’s Hummus
This tub of hummus has just enough garlic for a great flavor, with out being too strong and it is blended into a creamy consistency that is not watery.

Trader Joe’s Baby Carrots
What can we say? they are sweet and ready to eat right from the bag. The ultimate Fast Food for busy people.

We have sliced up the cucumbers and poured out the baby carrots into a zip-top bag, and then spooned out the hummus into a small plastic container. So now this snack is ready to go when we are ready to head out the door or just our table.

We are enjoying trying out these new, heather snack options (especially after “taste testing” all that Easter Candy). We hope you get inspired to try those Persian cucumbers or the Hummus the next time you are shopping at Trader Joe’s.

Trader Joe's Hummus & Veg

Trader Joe's Hummus & Veg

Bloomin’ Plants at Trader Joe’s

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Oops! We forgot to tell you about our latest “fun” purchase at Trader Joe’s…. A plant!

Now you regular shoppers know that along with great deals on food and wine, Trader Joe’s also has some fabulous prices on cut flowers and plants of all kinds.

Usually we walk right by the assortment of beautiful plants and flowers that welcome us into our Tucson store, but last week we gave in to a plant purchase when we saw a rather unusual specimen….

This plant was unlike any we had seen before. It has big green pinecone-like stalks, with a burst of orange flowers.  It is a called an “Orange Star” and it is native to South Africa. Well, this plant just caught our eye and we have enjoyed having it on our table this week.  It has been fun to watch the flowers bloom and grown and change each morning.

This is what the plant looked like when we bought it last week….

Plant from Trader Joe's

Trader Joe's Orange Star

And this is what it looked like tonight when we were watering it……

Trader Joe's Orange Star Plant

Trader Joe’s Plant, week2

We thought that this South African Orange Star plant was so unique, that we made a card from one of the images. See it here on Zazzle:

http://www.zazzle.com/south_african_orange_star_card-137724473282417930?rf=238405420632441701

Do you buy the flowers or the plants when you shop at Trader Joe’s?