Lately in Lists

Recent Trader Joe’s Finds

1. Lemon Chicken and Arugula Salad – My friend and I often end our dinner dates with a trip to Trader Joe’s. He was picking up this salad and recommended it to me. The dressing is a little too sweet, so I only used about half of it. The couscous is the best part! I love the texture of it.

2. Cookie Butter Ice Cream – I am surprised that it has taken me so long to try this ice cream. I went to Trader Joe’s planning on picking up a different ice cream, but it was not longer being sold so I picked this up instead. I am very glad I did. It is just like you are eating cookie butter from the jar. Unfortunately, right after I bought it, I decided to try to start eating healthier, so I’ve only had a couple scoops so far. I still have it in the freezer though, so I am sure once day I will have a craving strong enough to give in to the temptation.

What I’ve Been Watching Lately

1. Chasing Liberty – I had seen this previously but had forgotten most of the parts. It is a cute movie and I am glad I decided to watch it again.

2. Broad City – I had watched a couple episodes before and decided to give this show another go. I don’t know why I ever stopped watching it! It was so funny and silly. The characters are both outrageous and relatable (maybe because we are all a little outrageous). Every moment is hilarious.

3. Pen15 – This show is so wild and silly.

4. Summer of 8 – This movie made me think of my high school friends. It really enjoyed it.

5. When Calls the Heart – I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this show. It was recommended to me by my mom. I had seen it advertised before but hadn’t watched it until she told me that she liked it. I am glad I gave it a shot, because I ended up loving it. The end is so emotional, so make sure you have a box of tissues!

My Whole Foods Shopping List

1. Forager Nuts & Chocolate Drink – There is an called Prime Now that I have been using to make my shopping list throughout the week for Whole Foods. It is meant for Whole Foods delivery, but it works great as a shopping list as well. One of the first things I discovered were the Forager drinks. The Nuts & Chocolate one is delicious. I like to have it when I need something sweet or a little extra something after a meal. Today we went out to breakfast and when I got home, I had a little bit of one of these drinks because my stomach felt unsettled. It did just the trick! I also love the Nuts & Vanilla flavor. The drinks help me stay on my healthy eating track. The Nuts & Vanilla flavor is thicker, which I really like.

2. Frozen Quinoa & Veggie Blend – This was great as a side. I love anything with sweet potatoes. It could use a little extra seasoning, but it was pretty good. This tasted very healthy.

3. Blueprint Cashew Drink with Cinnamon & Vanilla – This is very similar to the Forager drinks. It is more expensive though. I typically will buy one of these and a few of the Forager drinks.

4. Multigrain & Seed Bread – I have been loving this bread. This week I have been making ham, cheese and avocado sandwiches. Last week I had quite a few PB & Honey sandwiches.

5. Brazilian BBQ Flavored Barnana Plantain Chips – I have been on a banana chip kick lately! This brand and flavor certainly did not disappoint. I also like the Inka brand. The Inka Chile Picante flavor is amazing. Both of these make for a great snack.

6. Siggi’s Triple Cream Lemon Yogurt – My mom and I both love lemon yogurt. Every time I find a new brand, I try it so that I can report back to her. This one is my favorite so far. It is extremely thick and not as sweet as the other brands I have tried. The lemon flavor is relatively subtle. I have been bringing one of these in my lunch box every day. This last time I went to Whole Foods I made sure to pick up several.

7. Frozen Blueberry Waffle – I like this one and the frozen Homestyle waffle. I eat a waffle for breakfast almost every morning before work. I spread peanut butter and honey on my waffle.

8. Whole Foods Brand Florida Orange Juice – I was craving orange juice so decided to pick this up. It hit the spot.

9. Whole Foods Peanut Butter – I am a big fan of peanut butter. I eat it every day.

10. Whole Foods Cape Cod Trail Mx – One of my favorite snacks.

New Meals at Restaurants

1. Maddy’s Madness from Beyond Bread – My friend had the day off during Rodeo Break (if you don’t know what this is then you’re probably not from Tucson), so he brought me lunch from Beyond Bread. I decided to try something new and Maddy’s Madness sounded delicious. It was great! It was chicken, avocado, bacon and cheese. Beyond Bread’s sandwiches are huge. I had half for lunch and had the leftover half for dinner.

2. Chocolate Cake from Longhorn – My team celebrated our supervisor’s birthday at her favorite restaurant, Long Horn Steakhouse. The best part was the dessert! This chocolate cake was unbelievably good. The frosting almost tasted like ice cream. I only had a couple bites since it was so rich, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t want to eat the whole cake!

3. Burger with Guacamole from Shelby’s Bistro in Tubac – The guacamole was excellent, and the burger was cooked very well. It was served with sweet potato fries which are my favorite!

4. Simple Breakfast from Prep & Pastry – This was my best Prep & Pastry experience I have had so far. The first couple of times my eggs weren’t cooked very well. This time I had eggs, potatoes, toast and jam. It was delicious.

5. Kazoku Sushi – I had a salmon roll and a scallop roll. Both were so good!