Broccoli Coleslaw and a Surprise!

Here I enjoy peanut butter and honey on whole grain artisan bread with a sautéed frozen edamame and vegetable mix and yet another one of my favorite products from my favorite store---broccoli coleslaw from Trader Joe’s.

Now, you may be thinking, “Really, broccoli in coleslaw?”

I understand your concern. Which is why I’m prepared to clarify a few things:

1. This coleslaw is made, not with broccoli heads, but broccoli stalks. And these stalks are shredded in the usual coleslaw manner.

2. The dressing to prepare for this kind of coleslaw is not made with mayonnaise, but oil and vinegar.

Now, if you think broccoli coleslaw is unexpected, wait until you hear this:

The company that makes the coleslaw is now my employer! I have the privilege and pleasure of creating the store sign art at Trader Joe’s!

And tomorrow, I get to sample new products! So prepare to hear tasty tidbits about Trader Joe’s!

Tortilla, Tuna, Lentils, and Leaves

What do you get when you cross an Ezekiel tortilla---heated to perfection, Trader Joe’s cooked lentils, tuna in olive oil, and warm spinach?

This delicious dish! Which you can see above.

Quite simple, I know. But aren’t the best things simple?

For those skeptics out there, imagine for a moment you are eating a banana and peanut butter.

Yumm…wait a minute! This is simply a BANANA, and PEANUT BUTTER! OHH! And with a little honey, even more amazing, and only THREE INGREDIENTS!

See where I’m going with this?

The less ingredients, when quality---fresh and flavorful---the better the dish is!

For at least three reasons:

1. Less calories: The more ingredients you add to a dish, the greater the chances that the calories of the meal will increase.

2. Less preparation: Throw a few ingredients together and vwalla! You have dinner. How easy is that?

3. Less stress: No more worrying about what to fix. Just get a few ingredients and combine them in different ways.

So go head out! To Trader Joe’s! Pick up a few things---maybe a loaf of whole grain artisan bread, some fish, and a couple of fresh vegetables! Dinner is halfway done! J

The Perfect Balance of Sweet and Salty: In an Unlikely Place

Mmm…do you taste that?

What do you mean you don’t taste it?

It’s right there, can’t you see?

That richness, that complexity…that…

Wait a minute! That’s not dark chocolate you’re eating! Put that thing down! Is that a Hershey’s bar I see? No, no, no!

We’re talking about high quality dark chocolate here. (Please forgive me, Hershey’s fans)

More specifically, Trader Joe’s new dark chocolate covered almonds with sea salt and turbinado sugar!

Talk about an explosion of complexity and flavor like you’ve never experienced before!

I HIGHLY recommend these little guys…they are truly unlike anything I’ve ever tasted in a chocolate before.

Godiva and See’s: LOOK OUT! There’s a new guy in town!

In an attempt to describe what can only be understood from experiencing the sensation yourself, here is my best shot:

The perfect balance of sweet and salty: An earthy, nutty, and crunchy toasted almond, wrapped in a bed of rich and bold dark chocolate, with surprising and mouth-watering notes of sea salt and turbinado sugar.