My Buddy Joe

One of my all-time favorite stores is Trader Joe's.

I used to shop there when I lived on Long Island. We had a store open sometime in the late 90's in Commack. When I moved to the Boston area, we had even more Trader Joe's to choose from. When we settled in Connecticut, I had to wait a while before one opened nearby in Danbury...but as soon as it did I was back in the zone!

TJ's has something for everyone, all of it a veritable bargain. We buy all of our coffee there, most of the lunches that my husband takes to work, my beloved salsa that is irreplaceable, countless vegetarian items, oatmeal, the best cornbread mix ever, and so much more.

It works when you want to eat clean and be super-healthy, and there's also plenty for when you just want to be a sloppy mess. I got blindsided this holiday season by something called Jingle Jangle.

Chocolate-covered Joe-Joe (Oreos) pieces, dark and milk chocolate covered pretzels, dark and milk chocolate covered caramel corn, dark and milk chocolate mini peanut butter cups and some crappy fake m&m-type things.

I fell face-first into this can and didn't come up for air until New Year's Day.

Yikes!

Anyway, now that I am back on the wagon I am sticking to the clean-eating options at TJ's...which brings me to cookbook #16 of 99.

I must be really getting old, because here is another book that I can't recall the details of. I think that I had read about it online. There is a website about TJ's that reviews their new products and discusses what has been discontinued there...and yes I realize I sound like a nut when I admit to following such nonsense. What can I say? I've got issues.

So, book was purchased and a few dishes were made. The premise was that all recipes included items that could be purchased at TJ's. I don't recall anything memorable, but I do know that some pretty nasty peanut noodles were consumed and Cooking With All Things Trader Joe's went to live downstairs on the shelf.

Now that my eating habits have changed significantly, I found some more options that appealed to me when I re-read the book. Particularly one called Hearts and Snaps.

This was super-easy to make, and while I did purchase the majority of the ingredients at TJ's the only one that HAS to come from there is the Goddess Dressing.

This stuff is SO good!

The rest of the ingredients can be found anywhere...

Hearts and Snaps Salad

1 cup sliced hearts of palm
1 cup chopped cucumbers
1 cup halved or quartered cherry tomatoes
1 cup sugar snap peas, chopped in thirds
1/4 chopped parsely (cilantro may be substituted - I used cilantro and it was YUM!)
1/4 cup crumbled feta (I used TJ's Reduced-Fat Feta)
1/4 cup goddess dressing

Combine it all in a bowl and toss to blend.

Serves 4, and is considered Cycle 3 on the 17DD. We all really loved this salad, and I would make it for company in a heartbeat! It's considerably more "summery" tasting than a cold-weather dish and it would make a great healthy addition to a picnic or bbq!

How many days left until summer?????

A Little Bit of Summer in Winter

There's snow on the ground, it was 16 degrees today, and we are all wearing thermal underwear.

I am dreaming of warm weather.

I complain in the Summer when its too hot, I complain in the Winter when its too cold. I can't help it.

Despite the freezing cold, I made a very "Summery" dinner.

Ina Garten's Salmon Salad.

This comes from the original 1999 Barefoot Contessa cookbook, and has always been a favorite of mine. Luckily, it fits in nicely to the 17 Day Diet.

I started with two pounds of fresh salmon. I've become pretty good at cooking salmon ever since I got the skillet that goes into the oven. I start it on top of the stove to sear, flip it over and then finish it off in the stove at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

After it cooked, I let it rest for a bit before I broke it up into pieces. It was really hard not to pop bits in my mouth as I was doing this. It was so good! All I did was drizzle a bit of olive oil, salt and pepper before searing. Yum.

After cooking the salmon, the rest is a cinch. Just dicing up the celery and onion, and chopping the dill. Other than that its a few tablespoons and teaspoons of this and that.

Miraculously, we all ate the same thing for dinner! Even the picky kiddo ate it, and went above and beyond expectations by thanking me for making it.

I'll have to thank Auntie for creating it. Another satisfied customer!

Barefoot Contessa Make it Ahead. Let's Review!

Being the Auntie Ina fan that I am, I was at my local Target bright and early this month on the day that the latest of her cookbooks was released.

I hope the recipes are as good as the Photoshop job they did on her face! Here's the real deal….

I still love her though. Neck waddle or no neck waddle.

Curiously, the first recipe in the book is for dog biscuits. DOG BISCUITS.

I'm at a loss on this one. Dog biscuits as the opening recipe. Mmmmkay. Way to set the tone, Auntie.

After the dog treats, the first section is Cocktails. I don't really drink, so the Summer Rose Sangria, Jalapeño Margaritas and Cranberry Martinis are lost on me. But the rest of the chapter was surprisingly healthy AND delicious sounding minus the Truffled Chicken Liver Mousse. Oh, Auntie. Don't make Chopped Liver and call it Mousse. It's Chopped Liver and it belongs at my grandma's house. Feh. But…Parmesan Kale Chips, Roasted Red Pepper Hummus, Marinated Herbed Feta and a Greek Mezze Platter all look like winners to me.

Next we move onto Starters. For soup we have Zucchini Basil, Wild Mushroom & Farro, and Cauliflower and Celery Root Soup. None have more than 2 tablespoons of butter or cream for the entire recipe…a pleasant surprise! A couple of salads…Ceasar Salad with Blue Cheese and Bacon, Warm Fig and Arugula. Spanish Tapas Peppers, Tomato and Burrata, and Bruschettas with Sauteed Chard. Not too bad. I've got my eye on you, Warm Fig and Arugula Salad.

Let's proceed to the chapter called Lunch. More salads, including Crunchy Iceberg with Creamy Blue Cheese, Summer Paella Salad, and French Green Bean Salad with Goat Cheese. Bzzzt for all three of those for me. My palate does not handle goat cheese very well. Iceberg? No. Paella…unfortunately can't do shellfish. There is a gorgeous and healthy looking Winter Slaw with shredded kale and brussels sprouts. Ham and Leek Empanadas and Tomato and Mozzarella Pan Bagnat….neither of which thrill me. Quinoa Tabbouleh with Feta…you lost me at Quinoa and Tabbouleh. Not a fan of either. Lastly, Zucchini and Goat Cheese Tart….second goat cheese recipe already. Not a good chapter for me.

Maybe Dinner will fare better?

Oh, hello Roast Chicken with Bread and Arugula Salad!! Aren't you gorgeous?

There's everything from Slow-Roasted Spiced Pork to Roasted Vegetable Lasagna and Garlic and Herb Roast Shrimp in this chapter. Lots of good looking options.

Vegetables. Love to see a big chapter here. Not sure what Auntie was thinking making a Spinach and Ricotta Noodle Pudding. Again…kugel does not need to have spinach and ricotta in it and belongs back at Grandma's with the chopped liver. Double Feh.

There's everything from Pear and Parsnip Gratin, Stuffed Zucchini, Carrot and Cauliflower Puree, Baked Farro and Butternut Squash to Mashed Potatoes. With Goat Cheese. Again. Stop. With. The. Goat. Cheese. 

Onto Dessert. Now this chapter I have actually made something from. My husband had a potluck lunch and I tested out the Fresh Apple Spice Cake. It was very good. There are Salty Oatmeal Chocolate Chunk Cookies, Chocolate Cake with Mocha Frosting, Blueberry Pie, Tres Leches Cake, Ginger Shortbread and many others. 

To end the majority of her books, Ina usually goes with Breakfast. Make It Ahead is no exception. Overnight Belgian Waffles, Chocolate Banana Crumb Cake, Mini Italian Fritattas, Sour Cream Corn Bread and more. 

There you have it. I linked one recipe in each category if you feel like experimenting in the kitchen. I'm kind of hurt that Auntie invited Taylor Swift over to cook with her and not me. Guess I'll just have to shake it off?!?