I am not a baker. No, not even a little bit.

I don’t like measuring out ingredients, scraping off the top of the cup of flour, no, not me, I’m a dump- it- all- in-and-see-how-it-turns -out type of cook (I think that’s why my chicken chili recipe is so successful.)

Nonetheless, I wanted to try to tackle this recipe because my friend Sarah, and talented cook has made them before and they were to die for. Just delicious.

Besides, to me, it’s an exercise in saving money. At $2 or more a piece in the Starbucks’ case, they aren’t necessarily budget friendly. But, make them at home, and they are both delicious and inexpensive.

watch out Starbucks, I'm about to steal your thunder. and you're about to stop stealing $2 from me!

So without further adieu,

Starbucks’ Cranberry Bliss Bars (in your own kitchen!)
(slightly adapted from Sarah’ Beakes recipe)

Cut into fun shapes, like hearts! Great for Valentines day! Or anytime of the year really!

It’s a coffee-lovers delight, on every coffee-snob’s wishlist. We feel like we have become both since first using our french press 1 cup.

We prefer our coffee this way over any other way we have found, and we are so glad we went for this instead of a (gasp) keurig!

What this means for us is that, despite hauling diapers, a pack and play, plus many other things that come along with sweet baby L, I still want to bring something delicious to eat to contribute to our thanksgiving meal. When we travel, I usually prepare a side dish and maybe an appetizer. (Oh, come on, you know you also get hungry smelling that turkey cooking away waiting for it to be ready). So, I was delighted to find this Thanksgiving menu meal planner, with a gluten free option, plus an option for freezer cooking, perfect for traveling! So, I’ll just make everything ahead and then just have it on hand to heat up when we arrive.

From this list, I am most interested in the Sweet Potato Delight, the Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars, the Cornbread Muffins (for stuffing), and the Chocolate Pie. Yum.

I think for the appetizer I might just do a simple veggie tray, easy enough, and healthy, too, with very little prep work!

Is your mouth watering yet?

Anyhow, every time I go to the Cary store, I am most tempted to research the best products because I am only there every once in a blue moon when I am visiting my fam in Cary.

Anyhow, I found this website called, What’s Good at Trader Joe’s? – and I will most definitely be referencing this for later.

I find that my favorite things (so far) at TJ’s are…

Chocolate Covered

Chocolate covered Peanut Butter filled pretzels

Dark Chocolate covered pretzels

Fresh

Hot Salsa

Guacamole kit (so clever!)

Kiwis

Frozen

Mandarin Orange Chicken

Asian Veggies

Snacks

blue corn tortilla chips (goes well with Hot Salsa!)

Gummy Tummies

JoJo’s

other

Pumpkin pancake & waffle mix

…and what about you? What would you add to the list? 

No?

Me neither.

Well, me neither until recently when I joined e-mealz. I’d heard about it for a long time, that it was a good way to stay on a grocery budget, from listening to Dave Ramsey’s show. And yes, I knew it was a good idea, but I was hesitant. I mean, it is $5 a month, and for that, gosh, I could have what, a latte? But yes, I finally jumped on board, and tried it, and it’s honestly one of the best things I’ve ever spent my money on, woah, that’s dramatic, but let me explain.

I joined last Wednesday, I signed up for the vegetarian any-store list,( here are some different meal-plans ) I logged in and could immediately see last week’s meal and this week’s meal, which meant…a bonus meal? Yes! And, not only that, but I was immediately excited about the meals that were offered to me, fettucini (with homemade cream sauce), enchilada soup, taco bake, hummus sandwhiches, oh all of it sounded so delicious. The last page, was a list of all the ingredients, in categories of the grocery store, with the meal # beside it, it was a cinch. Not only this, but I saved the meals to evernote, and so I can pull them up anywhere since it’s synced… everywhere (ipad, iphone, computer).

I went to the store, shopped for the ingredients, and wow, how organized and awesome my life seems now, especially at dinner time. I even posted our meals for the week on our chalkboard door.

You think I’m exaggerating? I’m really not. Having this one area of my life in order has helped me to get organized in so many other areas, I’m still working through my 10 goals, and would you believe it, it spawned a 37 item to do list, of which, I’ve already done 17 of those items.

Do you need to take back dinner time at your household? Or do you have roommates, this would be a great way to try new recipes and have the ingredients divided out into category, and stay on a budget. I can’t find a single reason NOT to sign up for this service. Don’t put this off like I did. Sign up now.

We have the unfortunate convenience of being able to buy any fruit or vegetable year round from our grocer. The sad truth about this is that it was shipped, many many miles in cold trucks to make it to your grocery store in perfect condition – the impact of the food miles spent to get that fruit or veggie into your hands has offset any benefit of organic. That produce has no doubt been comprimised.

Being down at the farmer’s market this morning, talking to those vendors, really made me feel like this is it – this is the heart of America, the local farmer, the small tent with veggies and fruits all laid out in baskets and galvanized buckets. The sweet smell of basil, fresh flowers in mason jars, and beautiful plants for $5! You just can’t beat it.

I bought organic (YES, local & organic) peppers – to make Hannah & Jake’s spaghetti sauce! And lots of roma tomatoes for salsa and even some peaches & a ginormo cucumber.

I love summer food life!

But, the problem is, sometimes I complain that we don’t have certain places, like Trader Joe’s, an Apple Store, an Urban Outfitters, Crate and Barrel, or Anthro. But really, can I afford those stores on a regular basis anyway (with the exception of TJ’s)? Probably not.

A few days ago someone wrote to ask me what are some places to eat, see & do while in Wilmington, and I couldn’t help but realize that the list can’t be duplicated in any other town. We have local, fabulous restaurants, a lively (on the weekends) downtown, great farmer’s markets, a tight-knit community, a river, a beach, great churches, and more.

Here was the list I put together for her for things to do while in Wilmington, do you have any to add?

for eating:

near the beach:

• Sweet & Savory (sandwiches, burgers,with delicious homemade chips, get them with a side of ranch or honey mustard! The brunch is delish too, we recommend the Wrightsville Beach toast!))
• Grand Union (pub food)
• NOFO (lighter fare, salads, sandwiches)
• PT’s (delicious burgers!)
• Two Guys Grille (sandwiches, burgers, salads – they have great sweet potato fries!)
• Osteria Chiccetti (delicious gourmet pizzas)
• Chris’s Cosmic Kitchen (lunch & brunch, everything I’ve had there, they do very well!)

downtown:

• The Eat Spot (almost anything)
• The Basics (soul food!)
• Slice of Life (pizza!)
• Front Street Brewery (hey, it’s a brewery!)
• Dixie Grill (sweet potato pancakes, oh my!)
• Copper Penny
• Circa 1922

in the middle:

• Flaming Amy’s Barn (burritos, and tacos, the queso is great, too!)
• Flaming Amy’s Bowl (it’s a funky place, pick your ingredients and they cook them for you!)
• Elizabeth’s Pizza (Pizza + Calzones, they have great salads too!)
• Indochine (Thai)
• Pita Delite (Mediterranean)
• K-38 (tacos, and special sauce!)
• South College Deli (a little delicious hole-in-the-wall sandwhich shop!)

other places I love around town:

• downtown in general is beautiful, especially at dusk
• the beach, of course!
• Port City Java (there are many) and I would recommend the Mocha Shake, it’s not healthy, but it’s delicious!
• Boombalatti’s (in the Mayfaire area) for delicious ice cream
• Hot Pink Cake Stand (for a cupcake treat!)

other foodie suggestions from readers (that I have yet to try, but they’re now on my list!):

downtown:

• Deluxe
• Crow Hill
• Aubriana’s
• Caffe Phoenix
• Chops Deli
• Big Thai
• Press 102

in the middle:

• Marc’s on Market
• Catch
• Taqueria Los Portales (authentic Mexican with great tortas)

the beach area:

• 22 North
• Big Thai 2
• Bridge Tender
• Bento Box
• Causeway Cafe

If you have some to add, or places you think I’m missing, please let me know!

Now I’m hungry and craving a mocha shake, dang it!

no, it’s not sushi, it’s an island roll from k38, delicious. Accompanied by lots of chips and salsa, too.

A new service, that I haven’t heard of just popped onto the scene today, called Fresh 20, each week you buy only 20 ingredients to make 5 meals. The best part is the ingredients are local & seasonal, which definitely lines up with my desire to spend 10 percent of my food dollars locally! The deal today is through plum district (a site similar to groupon, living social, etc) for $15 for 6 months worth of meal plans (use the code plumspring11 to get $4 off! Think of how much money it will save you when you know what to buy & the confidence it will give you eating locally & seasonally especially if some of the ingredients come from my own garden!

Wednesday

• 5 pm left for Columbia, NC (near the outerbanks)
• somewhere along the way I had the worst Bojangles sandwhich of my life, ick.
• 8:30 pm arrived in Columbia, NC

Thursday

• 12:30pm left for Wilmington
• 4pm arrived in Wilmington

Friday

• 10am left for Cary, NC
• 12pm arrived in Cary, NC

Saturday

• 9am left Cary, NC for Greenville, NC
• 10:30 am arrived in Greenville, NC
• 2pm left Greenville, NC for Wilmington, NC
• 4pm arrived in Wilmington, NC

Sunday

• 8am drop Jeremy off at River to Sea race
• 11am arrive home from race
• and now we’re resting and napping, maybe you see why?

I guess this is a small taste of what Jeremy’s travel schedule is normally like.

I did manage to grab a few pictures along the way.

icing cupcakes at home

in mickey mouse wraps!

slicing strawberries for yogurt parfaits!

yogurt parfait display

learning the couponing ins and outs

the completion of the river to sea run!

It’s been a fun and eventful week & weekend. I’m glad that it’s winding down. Now to head out to look for seeds and starter plants! Can’t wait to see what I’ll find!