A watermelon called 'Sweet Mama'

A seedless watermelon from Costco Wholesale.

"SWEET MAMA!"

I didn't expect to see that phrase on a watermelon, but there it was on the label of one of the seedless melons we bought at Costco Wholesale in Hackensack.

I don't know where the melon was grown in the United States, but from those words, you might think it came from the South.

It sounds like something you'd hear in a bar, filled with smoke and the blues, doesn't it?

In the photo above, the words "Sweet Mama Produce LLC" appear around the edge of the label.

The watermelon, like all of those we bought at Costco in the past few weeks, was sweet indeed, and cost $5.99.

Today, I went back to Costco for another watermelon, but saw none labeled "SWEET MAMA!"

One watermelon label carried the word, "Revolution." 

Go figure.

This tofu tastes good hot or cold.

I have been buying Stewed Tofu from H Mart for years. It's great as a snack or plated with eggs, fish and other food.

The prepared item is an easy way to add soy to your diet, especially if you like mildly spicy food.

A fistful of mint from the garden gives ShopRite's Pure Instant Tea a special flavor. A small wooden tool, below, allows me to get as much fresh juice as possible from limes.

I made my first pitcher of instant tea from a jar of ShopRite's Pure Instant Tea left over from last summer.

The powdered black tea dissolves completely in cold water. I add fresh mint leaves from the garden and freshly squeezed lime juice.

Costco Wholesale sells two of Italy's oldest and greatest cheeses.

Kirkland Signature Parmigiano Reggiano is $11.69 a pound.

Kirkland Signature Grana Padano is $8.99 a pound.

Two of Italy's greatest cheeses are made with part-skimmed cow's milk, so they don't have as much fat as many other cheeses.

Costco Wholesale sells both Parmigiano Reggiano, which has been made since before the Renaissance, and Grana Padano, which has been around since Roman times.

They are both aged -- Parmigiano Reggiano for more than 24 months and Grana Padano for more than 18 months.

The hard, crumbly cheeses go well with ripe pears, crisp apples, grapes and other fruit.

The Costco wedges have rinds on only two of the four sides.