Simple Cheese Toast - Using My Cheese Head Pizza Crust & New Costco Find

Happy Friday before Memorial Day! Hubby and I took off to make our weekend longer and had hoped to spend it in a little cabin in the mountains but the weather here has been awful the last 2 weeks with lots of rain all last week, this week and its predicted to continue throughout the end of NEXT week. So, we decided rather than be cooped up in cabin for the long weekend that we'd take the opportunity to hang out at home and relax, watch movies, work on a few inside projects and just take it easy. Before I tell you about this morning's brunch, I wanted to share a new Costco find with you that I found in April...Costco now sells their own superfine blanched almond flour under their Kirkland brand. It's quite reasonably priced too! It was $11.79 for a 3-lb bag at my store. I snapped a photo of it below.

We slept in this morning and I made us a "weekend breakfast" to serve as our brunch. It was pretty simple, scrambled eggs with sharp cheddar and oven baked turkey bacon. I also mixed some plain Fage yogurt with my sugar free cranberry sauce mixed with some wild frozen blueberries to serve on the side. Hubby usually likes to eat a toasted asiago bagel with his breakfast (he's not wheat free) so I told him I'd make us "cheese toast" instead (using my Cheese Head Pizza Crust). I whipped up a quick batch of my pizza dough which literally takes just minutes (I did not add any seasoning to the dough); I spread it out on a rectangular baking sheet, baked it for about 12-15 mins and then grated spicy Three Alarm Cheese over the top of the hot crust, popped it back into the oven and ran it under the broiler for about 3 minutes to get hot and bubbly, then let it cool for a bit and  cut it into "toast squares".  You could swap the spicy cheese out for whatever cheese that you prefer or simply use the crust as is like plain toast. It works great. I snapped a few photos below. You can find the recipe for my crust here: Cheese Head Pizza Crust. Enjoy!

I get this bacon from Costco

        

Grilled Mesquite Chipotle Wild Copper River Alaskan Salmon - Sustainable Low Carb

It was a hot and muggy day here today, but that didn't bother me much because I was too excited about my find of fresh wild Copper River Sockeye Salmon earlier this morning at Costco! I was so excited...like really, really REALLY excited. I bought 6 packages of it and would have bought more if I had space for it.

I decided to make Surf & Turf for dinner tonight using the salmon as the "surf"...I mean who needs lobster anyway, when you've got Copper River Salmon? I had my brother fire up his Weber Jumbo Joe Grill. While the coals were getting hot I prepared the steaks and salmon. I simply seasoned the steaks before grilling with McCormicks Chipotle & Roasted Garlic Seasoning. To prepare the salmon, I cut a large salmon fillet into 3 portions, sliced up a lemon and placed each portion of salmon on top of lemon slices, topped it with a squeeze of lemon juice, pat of butter, then lightly seasoned them with the Chipotle & Roasted Garlic Seasoning and wrapped each portion up in a foil packet. I left the packets open on top so the salmon would absorb the mesquite smoke and flavor. We grilled the steaks first (for about 8-9 minutes per side), covered them and set aside. Before placing the salmon on the grill, we tossed mesquite wood chips over the hot coals, added the salmon packets and covered them so they'd smoke while they were cooking. We cooked the salmon for about 15 minutes. The actual cooking time varies depending on the thickness of your fillets, just be careful not to overcook. I sliced and sauteed mushrooms in butter to top my steak with (neither my brother or hubby eat mushrooms...which simply means more for me). The mesquite flavor really penetrated the salmon and paired with the touch of chipotle seasoning and subtle lemon butter flavor, it was amazing.

I picked up a lot of good stuff at Costco this morning. Besides the big package of steaks, burgers, organic squash, organic strawberries, multi-colored baby tomatoes, baby romaine lettuce, red hoop cheddar, big beautiful mushrooms and a bunch of other stuff...I picked up 6 packages of their Copper River wild salmon. I snapped a few photos of our delicious meal below as well as some photos of my Costco shopping spree. I've also included the easy peasy recipe for the Grilled Mesquite Chipotle Wild Copper River Alaskan Salmon. It is absolutely delicious. Enjoy!

Grilled Mesquite Chipotle Wild Alaskan Salmon (Copper River Sockeye)

Ingredients:

1 pound wild Alaskan salmon fillet, cut into 3 equal portions (I used fresh wild Copper River Sockeye Salmon)
1 large lemon, thinly sliced
1/2 lemon, to squeeze over fillets
3 tablespoons butter
McCormick Grill Mates Chipotle & Roasted Garlic Seasoning, to taste
Mesquite wood chips

Directions:

Heat a charcoal grill until coals are ashed over and gray, or if using a gas grill heat to medium-high, about 350 degrees.

Tear off heavy duty foil into three 12-inch long pieces. Place 2 thin slices of lemon in the center of each piece of foil to serve as a base for the salmon. Place salmon fillet on top of lemon. Squeeze about 1 teaspoon lemon juice over each fillet; season lightly with chipotle seasoning and top each with 1 tablespoon butter, and additional slice of lemon. Pinch foil together on both ends and form a packet around each piece of salmon, leaving it open on top to absorb the mesquite smoke flavor.

Immediately before placing salmon packets on grill, toss a generous handful of mesquite wood chips over hot coals or if using a gas grill, place wood chips in a foil packet or stainless smoker box over the burners beneath grates. Place packets on grill; cover and cook 12 to 15 minutes, or till desired doneness; be careful not to overcook.

            

Saturday's Breakfast - Grassmilk Yogurt and a Few Other New Finds

This morning I decided to try a new yogurt for breakfast that I found last week at Sprouts Farmers Market. It's made by Organic Valley and is made using 100% grass-fed milk (no grains). It even has a thick layer of cream on top that you stir in! I sweetened it with a bit of stevia and tossed a few fresh blackberries on top. I found this yogurt to be a nice change from my usual Greek yogurt. It was smooth, creamy and noticeably less tangy and tart. I also snapped a few photos of a couple of my recent Costco finds. I picked up a 5-pound container of Himalayan Pink Sea Salt (I almost exclusively use pink Himalayan salt). I liked it because besides being a good price ($9.99), I like that it comes in a nice wide mouth jar as well. I also was excited to find that Costco now carries Muir Glen Organic Fire Roasted San Marzano Style Tomatoes. They come in a 4-pack of large 28-oz cans (particularly handy when making a big pot of chili). I snapped a few photos of this morning's blackberry topped yogurt below. Enjoy!

Sprouts Farmers Market find

A recent Costco find

Another Costco find!

               

Costco Find - Wild Copper River Salmon Has Arrived!

NEWSFLASH! After dinner this evening, we ran by Costco (instead of waiting to go in the morning)...and I finally found what I have been waiting and searching for over the past month! They've gotten their wild Copper River Salmon into their Atlanta metro area locations...FINALLY! If it made it to our area, it's probably made it to your neck of the woods, too. Check it out! Enjoy!

Filet Mignon w/ Creamy Dijon Mushrooms & Costco Find!

This weekend was a "working weekend"; we worked on projects around the house most of the weekend, I worked on taxes a good bit of yesterday and finally got that done. This afternoon we went to Costco and did some grocery shopping. Youngest son came for dinner last night and we went out for Mexican. I had Roasted Poblanos Stuffed with Monterey Jack Cheese, Topped w/ Grilled Skirt Steak. It was great. Youngest son is the one that does not care for and rarely eats beef. Since oldest son was the only one that came for dinner this evening, I was able to make something with beef which happened to work out perfectly. Costco had unusually beautiful filet mignon steaks today and they just happened to have a package with 3 of them so I picked them up. I also picked up some beautiful fresh haricot verts (thin green beans) to make to go with the steaks (I steamed them and tossed with butter and toasted slivered almonds). The guys had baked potatoes with their meal. I made mushrooms with creamy dijon sauce to put on top of our steaks (except for hubby's...he's a mushroom hater). I absolutely LOVE that sauce and son really loved it too. He actually skipped putting steak sauce on his steak for the first time. The steaks took about 16 to 18 minutes to grill. I snapped a couple photos below. Enjoy!

Costco has almond butter again! Picked up this 27-oz jar
for $10.79 and the only ingredient is roasted almonds!

Dinner for Breakfast & Costco Finds

Happy Sunday! This morning I had the best "brunch" using my leftover dinner I brought home from last night that hubby, daughter and I had at Genghis Grill. After a long day of shopping yesterday, we met my daughter on our way home at the Mall of Georgia to eat at Chow Baby. I won't go into details other than to say it was totally disgusting...but we left after ordering and went to Genghis Grill nearby. I have eaten at Chow Baby in midtown Atlanta and enjoyed it but I would not allow my dog to eat at the Mall of Georgia location. For those of you that don't know or have never eaten at either of those places, you basically choose and fill your bowls (separate for meat and veggies) with a large variety of uncooked veggies, meats (beef, pork, chicken, seafood, etc.) and then add small containers of whatever sauce or seasonings you want them to put in your food. I did a mixed bowl of veggies with chicken and beef. Before you give it to them to cook, you choose your "starch" for them to mix in (a variety of rices, or shredded cabbage). I have mine put on shredded cooked cabbage instead of rice. I ate half of my dinner last night and brought the other half home. This morning, I reheated the leftovers in a skillet with a bit of coconut oil and after it was sizzling hot, I broke an egg into my stir-fry and stirred it, breaking it up and mixing it in as it cooked (kind of like you do when you make fried rice). I added a little bit of grated carrot I had leftover in the fridge and then "Voila"...I had a delicious brunch using last night's leftover dinner!

Yesterday hubby and I ran errands and shopped most of the day (9+ hours). We headed out to the Northeast Georgia Premium Outlets and spent quite a bit of time there. I did quite a bit of "damage" at Le Creuset and Williams Sonoma; but they were all good deals (or so I tell myself).  ;-)

On our way back home, we stopped at one of the newer Costco's in the Atlanta area (it's been open since last summer) and I believe the only one in the area that I haven't gone to yet. We left the outlets so late that this Costco was really the only one we could make it to before they closed. I am so happy we stopped there. We got our usual stuff...but the one item I have been looking for at every Atlanta area Costco for over 2 years now was avocado oil. Some of you that live in other parts of the country have told me your Costco's carry it, but the 4 or 5 other Atlanta area Costco's I've gone to have not had it. Until yesterday, that is! I was so excited to find it. I usually buy it at Sprouts in 16-oz bottles when it goes on sale for $12.99...but yesterday I picked up two 34-oz (1 liter) bottles of it from the Costco in Cummings for $9.99 each! While I have cooked with it before, it is my favorite oil to make vinaigrette salad dressings with. I snapped a few photos of my crazy breakfast/lunch/dinner meal that I had as brunch this morning as well as a few of my Costco finds including the avocado oil. Enjoy!

Breakfast/lunch made using last night's leftover dinner mixed with a chopped up egg

I try to use only BPA free plastic, but I'm going to try switching to glass instead
If you belong to Costco, you can get these for $14.99 or from Amazon (see below) for $25

$15.89 at Costco for 2 pounds of organic pistachios ($26.95 at Amazon)

This was my personal "FIND" of the day!

   

Tonight's "Dinner To Be" and Move Over "Jack & The Beanstalk"...It's "Gourmet Girl & The Brussels Stalk"

Happy Saturday! This morning we got our errands started early to get ahead of the holiday hustle and bustle. We had breakfast at Einstein Bros Bagels (I packed my OWN Power Bagel and a few mini Cranberry Macaroon Muffins to take with me). They had their new Cinnamon Winter Blend of coffee there which was really good. It's cinnamon and vanilla flavored and perfect for this time of year. It was so good that I had 2 large cups of coffee. 

Afterward we went to Costco and Sprouts Farmers Market. I picked up all kinds of things. For dinner tonight I bought some NY Strip Steaks as well as big mushrooms to put on top of the steaks (mine) from Costco. To go with our steaks I bought some beautiful fresh brussels sprouts from Sprouts (LOL on buying sprouts from Sprouts). These aren't just any old brussels sprouts...these little guys were still attached to their "mother ship"...or shall I say, "mother stalk"...LOL. I guess I never really thought about how brussels sprouts grow and don't believe I've ever seen any live plants before. Anyway, Sprouts had barrels with these tall bouquets of beautiful sprouts. They were even more beautiful than bouquets of flowers! I just HAD to have them, of course! So, before I roast them to go with our steaks tonight I get to pick them off their stalk first. I'm not sure why I find that so exciting, but it is! LOL Maybe this is a sign that I lead an extremely dull life...but I can't wait to pick my sprouts tonight...LOL!  

Lastly, I know some of you occasionally eat toasted coconut chips made by Dang. They are very lightly sweetened but quite pricey for a teeny-tiny little bag (1.4 oz). One of the new items I found at our Costco today was a 1-pound bag of organic toasted coconut chips for $9.79. That is 16 ounces for less than $10.00 when the "Dang" brand will only get you about 3 or 4 ounces for that much money. Check out my photos below of our "dinner to be"...as well as my interesting brussels sprouts. Am I the only one that find them fascinating? LOL Move over Jack (and your beanstalk)...it's Gourmet Girl and her brussels stalk!  ;-)  Enjoy!

"sprouts from Sprouts"

This morning's breakfast at Einstein Bros

Here's the Power Bagels I used to eat...

My Power Bagel on the left...THEIRs on the right. 

USA Baking Pans - Absolutely the BEST!

USA Pans - BEST Baking Pans Ever!

Nothing sticks...NOTHING!

This Weekend's Sprouts Farmers Market & Costco Finds

This weekend we ran our errands that included a stop at Costco and Sprouts Farmers Market (two of my favorite places). I snapped some photos of a few of my finds. I baked a batch of my grain free Power Bagels yesterday so we are headed out now for breakfast - have bagel, will travel! We awoke to temps yesterday and this morning in the low 40s...yes, it's actually colder than normal. The air is crisp and fresh and gorgeous. I had some internet and cable issues last night when I was getting ready to post these finds so I'm getting them out this morning before I head out for breakfast.

I found some Nutiva ground chia seeds at Sprouts this past week at half price (normally $12.99 per bag); I got them for $6.49 each. It's still probably cheaper to grind them yourself, but I like having them available for convenience. If you like lamb, they had lamb shoulder chops...really nice ones, for $2.99/lb (which is $4.00 off per pound). I found bulk pre-bagged Pink Himalayan Sea Salt (one of my favorite sea salts). I also found new cooking sprays that don't cause any build-up. They have no propellant in them (by Pompeian). I bought their coconut oil and avocado oil versions.

I picked up some Aidells Habanero Smoked Chicken Sausages, Cabot Pepper Jack Cheese and a beautiful brisket at Costco. The BIGGEST news at Costco is that they now have fresh cranberries in...YAY!!! I bought two 2-pound bags. 

Lastly, I've spent the last few evenings running around all over the place trying to find a case for my new phone that just came a few days ago. I had an iPhone 5 and switched to an iPhone 6 Plus (the bigger version of new iPhone). One of my sons tried to discourage me from getting the larger version, but I carry it in my purse, I'm not putting it in my pocket like him. He said I would look like a "clown" with that big phone...so, in honor of all clowns, I bought the only appropriate case I could find...one that I'm sure only a clown would carry! Hahaha! I snapped a photo of it so you can say you've seen a clown phone!  ;-)  Enjoy!

Clown Phone on the left -- old phone one the right!

I'm officially a clown!  ;-)