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!

               

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!  ;-)

This Weekend's Finds at Costco & Sprouts Farmers Market

We awoke to a beautiful cool morning here. Of course, it's warmed up quite a bit and is close to 90 degrees now. We got up early and took a little walk and then began our outings for the day. We began with breakfast at Einstein Bros Bagels for breakfast. I took one of my thick grain-free sandwich buns (sliced in half) and slipped it into my purse. When I get there I buy their cream cheese to spread on it like a bagel and a cup of their hazelnut vanilla coffee. Last night I went to Sprouts and picked up a few things. After breakfast this morning, we went to Costco. I snapped a few photos of some of my finds at Sprouts and Costco below. Enjoy!

Here are a few of my Sprouts finds from yesterday:

Assorted baby heirloom tomatoes

$2.29 each

Dinner tonight...maybe?

My regular grocery store sells these for $13.99 EACH (yikes)...picked these up for $6.99 each (I have an idea for using these)

Marinated mozzarella w/ olive oil, garlic, red pepper, and parsley (they also sell these in humongous beautiful braided hunks)

Had to pick these up...Cheddar Cheese Curds...Cajun style!

This chocolate bar is sweetened with stevia and REALLY good...but pricey at $4.79

Here are a few of my Costco finds today:

Each bag of baby eggplants had one of the little stripey varieties inside...so pretty!

This is the first time I've seen their brand of macadamia nuts...so thought I'd try them. Wish they'd bring the Mauna Loa back though!

P.S. -- Does anyone know what kind of flowers these are?

Found them at Costco...they are beautiful but weird!

This morning's breakfast! Finally bought a "refill cup" since I plan on going back frequently now with my own grain-free buns!