New Year’s Resolutions: go to the gym in the morning, go to bed earlier to wake up for said gym, eat out less.
Believe it or not, the first and the second are considerably easier for me than the third. I love food and I love to cook, but at the end of the work day I haven’t the time or energy to whip up a “simple” roast chicken with winter root vegetables. Dumping a Punch salad on my good dishes is so much more appealing. Alas, my husband’s resolutions include a Quicken-administered budget which requires spending cuts in either food/beverage or J.Crew purchases. Like I had a choice.
Coincidentally, my brother and sister-in-law were in town of the holidays and offered a solution to my food resolution: Trader Joe’s. Now I know I am late to the party on this one, but the two times I’ve been to TJoes, it seemed so small, the parking lot was a nightmare, and I missed the cheese samples at Byerly’s. Upon hearing this, my family offered to give me a tour of the store. (This really is our idea of fun.) They promised I would find the staples I need—organic produce, whole grains, CHEESE—plus some semi-prepared meals that will make weekday cooking a snap.
I wish I could show you my reciept. Then you’d know just how much food I bought and just how little I paid for it. Here is a random sampling of my spoils:
- Frozen wild blueberries – $2.99/bag
- Sun dried tomato hummus – $1.99
- Roasted vegetable lasagna – $5.49/half pan
- Hericot Vert – $2.29/bag
- Organic pork tenderloin – $7.98
Is this a JOKE!? Almost everything I purchased was about half the price as it would have been at Byerly’s. Half. Now my refrigerator is stocked with ingredients for simple, yet yummy meals—and I have money leftover for cashmere.
Best. New. Year’s. Resolution. Ever.
