The Bag Lady did finally make it to town yesterday, but not in time for her physio appointment, unfortunately. Her truck wouldn't start. Apparently, the cord running to the block heater in the engine compartment was compromised, so the heater didn't heat the engine. And, because her truck was plugged in, the Rancher's truck was not. Consequently, it wouldn't start, either. But after it was plugged in for awhile, it did start, so the Bag Lady went to town and did the rest of the errands she had planned.
This morning it is 20 degrees (Celsius) warmer than it was yesterday morning. It is supposed to reach a high of +3C (37F) and the Bag Lady couldn't be happier! Well, okay, it would make her happier if it was supposed to get warmer than that, but anything above freezing will be wonderful!
She did a little shopping while she was in town yesterday, but because she had the Rancher's truck, she didn't have her CartSmart bag with her. Damn and blast. This morning she is blowing her nose and sneezing....
Coincidence? Perhaps.
She was hungry when she went to Costco yesterday, which is always a bad thing. Ordinarily, she ensures that she doesn't shop on an empty stomach.... And of course, Costco was giving away samples of all kinds of wonderful things. The Bag Lady bought some rice chips that tasted fabulous (and are gluten-free) and some dill pickles that were delicious. She also bought an industrial-sized bag of fresh brussels sprouts*, which she loves, but is now realizing there is no way she and the Rancher will be able to eat them all, nor will they be able to eat the three huge English cucumbers she couldn't live without. She must have been in some sort of hunger-induced fog, snatching up whatever appealed to her with no thought of the consequences! How on earth are she and the Rancher going to consume that 2 lb Asian salad with the expiry date of....today!?
At least most of what she purchased is healthy!
*For those of you saying "Brussels sprouts? Yuck!" - the Bag Lady says YES! If you have only ever had frozen brussels sprouts, you have not had good brussels sprouts! Fresh, cooked in the microwave or steamed with a teensy amount of water so they are still firm, not mushy - they are delicious! And chock full of really good things like vitamins and stuff. (Yes, "stuff" is a technical term when discussing nutritional value and you are too lazy to look things up....)
22 comments:
Good for you for buying healthy.
Brussels sprouts can be frozen. I know you like 'em fresh, but freeze them and randomly throw then in soup.
The cukes make great salads if you like the ones with sour cream. The Scandinavian style doesn't use vinegar.
Cukes are great juiced, too.
I'm glad it's warming up. There's hope yet.
Stuffing yourself with salad can't be a bad thing.
Make a cucumber onion salad with a bit of mayo. Yum...
I don't know about the sprouts tho - J loves them, but I endure them politely, just so he can have them every once in a while.
They're just so bitter...
Above freezing is good!
I never make soup without some brussels sprouts.
Mary Anne in Kentucky
dfLeah - I probably will freeze some of the brussels sprouts. We just won't be able to eat all of them.
And cucumber salad sounds excellent.
Geo - have you tried the sprouts fresh? Much less bitter than frozen, really!
Mary Anne in Kentucky - yes! Above freezing! Yippee!
Hmmm brussel sprouts. I love them oven roasted!
Eat your way through Costco! That would be me! How can you resist tasting all those different kinds of sausages, chips and dip,and cheeses. If you try to walk by them, they will call you over, so, what does a person do? You can't be rude and ignore, or say no. I can identify with the bulk thing, too. We usually go there to buy the bag of peppers, but like you say, end up buying ribs, shrimp, and cucumbers. Expiry date today, hmmmmmm. You might just have to eat them in different ways for breakfast, lunch and supper. Would the rancher object?
Buying healthy is a good thing, shopping on an empty stomach and still buying healthy is great! If I happen to wind up shopping on an empty stomach and don't have a list, I wind up with junk food.
So glad the weather is warming up, were you able to reschedule the app't?
hmmmm...not sure if anyone can convince me to eat brussel sprouts! But I will try them if you try calimari... :-)
My dad has made brussel sprouts so many different ways but I can't bring myself to like them. Even though I now like tomatoes and spinach whereas I didn't five years ago, I just am not a brussel sprouts person!
Mmm samples. If I had a Costco membership I think I'd go just for the sake of wandering around and tasting the samples :)
When I go to the store hungry I come back with a king size kit-kat and some sort of chips...mmm...
Glad to hear its getting warmer! Continually blowing warmth your way!
~rupal
Roasted brussels sprouts are the BEST. I cut them in half to make them cook faster.
I hear that if you're cooking them by boiling you're not supposed to let them cook too hot or too long--it brings out the sulfates or something that makes them bitter. Or something like that.
I have the same problem with the fresh veggies from Costco. I go on a cucumber kick, but it never lasts long enough to finish that 3rd cuke, and then I feel so guilty! And the salad goes bad unless I have 2 potlucks to attend and I bring salad to both of them.
I did have cucumber sandwiches today at a Tea. Yummy!
My husband likes to eat his way through Costco. Me, it just makes me want to buy what I've tasted!
I can't eat most of the stuff at Costco - too many ickies that make me sickies! Try shredding the sprouts in your food processor, then spread out on a baking sheet and freeze, then scoop into a baggie. You can use them in soups and omelets or just 'nuke and add butter/salt. I stuff leftover salad into sandwiches, if you separate out the wet stuff (like tomatoes and cukes) you can put it in a bag and suck out the air and it will last a long time.
Sarah - I'll have to try oven-roasting them! I usually just steam them.
Redbush - I love eating my way through Costco! And I'm not sure about the breakfast part.... supper, though.
Reb - I can't believe I didn't buy anything fattening! WTF? Usually do, when shopping on an empty stomach!
Missicat - I love calamari - it's Reb who won't eat it (she probably won't eat brussels sprouts, either...) But if you try them, make sure you buy fresh ones!
Sagan - I didn't like them when I was younger, either, and I didn't like tomatoes or cooked spinach. I will eat tomatoes now, but still don't like cooked spinach, but spinach salad is my favourite! So perhaps you'll acquire a taste for brussels sprouts too!
Rupal - keep blowing - it seems to be working!! :) Hmm, kitkat sounds good. Thank heavens I don't have one!
Melissa - perhaps that's why steaming them in the microwave makes them so good - not boiled too long.
kcinnova - I love the samples at Costco, and usually end up buying something that they are demonstrating.
Marianne - good idea - I will shred some of them and freeze them. Then, in a year or so, I'll take them out and throw them away because I won't know what all that green stuff is underneath the frost! Sigh. Oh, LABEL the bags, you say.... Okay.
I agree about the sprouts. Just sprinkle them with water and mic them. Drain, add a small blob of butter, fresh ground pepper, garlc and Parmesan cheese. Yum.
Hilary - yes, yes, yes!! Yum!
I have had fresh brussel sprouts. I still say yuck. Sorry.
English cukes? Not a problem. Good for snacking on!
JavaChick - well, we can't ALL like EVERYthing! :)
I totally have that same problem with buying crazy amounts of produce at Costco!! And then I get home and realize that not only will I not be able to eat it all before it goes bad, but that it won't all even fit in my fridge.... sigh. Glad I'm not the only one!
Charlotte - I do it more often than not.... guess I'm a slow learner! :)
Oh Baggie, may I call you that?
You must trim and halve them and spread them across a baking sheet with chunked onions or carrot pieces if you also like. Salt, pepper, drizzle with olive oil. Roast in a hot oven (400-ish) for 40 minutes, or longer depending upon how carmelized you like them. You can flip them during cooking if you want. Also optional But they are so, So yummy! Roasted veggies rule!
You can also sautee' blanched or half-cooked ones in reserved bacon grease until they're getting brown. Add back the crumbled bacon, sauteed onion too if you're ambitious. It's a kingly feast.
They are so tender and sweet and flavorful this way. Always fresh!
Clare - you've made me very hungry! Thanks for the hints... we will be feasting on all of those suggestions!
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