Deliciousness at Trader Joe's

Trader Joe's recently opened and of course we had to go and check it out.  Baking now in the oven is the  Truffle Baking Mix - they smell "delicious."  We shop at Trader Joe's for the baking mixes and the Cookie Butter --- oh and the kettle corn.  The baking mixes are 16 ounces of pure delight and only $2.99 a box.  The cookie butter is a decadent jar of spreadable goodness - worth every spoonful!





My favorite baking mixes

Delicious Pumpkin Muffins made in October

Homegrown vegetables make a summer dinner

Yesterday a friend delivered a box of homegrown vegetables and  tonight it was all about eating "fresh.  Makes me want to have my very own garden.... maybe next year



tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, squash, cherry tomatoes, and new potatoes

carrots were amazingly sweet

 

fried with butter and Sea Salt
( Borgo de' Medici White and Black Truffle Sicilian Sea Salt)

yummy

Blueberry Muffins when in a hurry - Review of Dunan Hines Simple Moments

Sarah loves blueberry muffins and today while at the grocery store I spied a new Duncan Hines Simple Mornings Blueberry Muffin Mix.  Well, the box states "New"  but I think this mix has been around for over a year.  So, we gave it a try.  The box says no high fructose corn syrup and no preservatives - definitely a plus.  I added fresh blueberries in addition to using the very small (almost too small to see) blueberries they provide in the mix.  These were pretty good and definitely not as good as from scratch but definitely a thumbs up when you want/need something quick and want less sugar and you add fresh blueberries.

Always good with milk and of course the milk is served in vintage juice glasses

I love my vintage juice glasses

Soup's On - Green Beans and Ham

This is a childhood favorite and so easy to make

Recipe
1 1/2 - 2 pounds fresh green beans
2 - 2 1/2 pounds ham
6 medium potatoes
7 cups water
Better than Bouillon - Ham Base

Place ham (and I also use one ham hock to add flavor) and 7 cups of water in pan, cover and cook one hour.  Remove ham from bone (I use ham slices) and add greenbeans and "Better than Bouillon Ham Base" and cook five minutes.  Cut potatoes into pieces and add.  Cook 20-25 minutes until potatoes are done. 

This freezes really well.  The "Better than Bouillon" adds such a great flavor to this soup.  Add to taste.    

Make some homemade bread and you have a meal. 

So easy - (ham hock in bowl) 

 

 

They also have an Organic Gluten-Free Bouillon

smells great when cooking