That night, I prepared the wild salmon with Kirkland Signature Basil Pesto that I had in the refrigerator, and served it with organic brown rice and prepared sweet-potato salad, all from Costco. |
By Victor E. Sasson
Editor
It wasn't difficult to drop nearly $200 at Costco Wholesale in Hackensack on Tuesday during my first visit after a brief vacation.
I spent $95 on clothing, and the rest on food:
Earthbound Farm Organic Sprinx Mix, 1 pound for $4.99; a large seedless watermelon, $5.49; Kirkland Signature Greek Yogurt, 2 32-ounce cups for $6.99; fresh, wild sockeye salmon fillet, up $2 in recent weeks to $11.99 a pound; 3 half-gallons of organic, low-fat milk for $10.19; and other items.
At checkout, a woman in front of me was so impressed with a 5-pound box of Sunset-brand hothouse Beefsteak Tomatoes ($6.39) she saw in my cart that -- without asking -- she actually picked up one to examine it.
An open-face omelet made with Kirkland Signature Egg Whites. |
Campari Tomato, bottled Kirkland Signature Basil Pesto and sliced, reduce-fat Jarlsberg Swiss Cheese dress up another egg-white omelet, served over brown rice. |
More favorites
On Wednesday, in Englewood, I stopped at Balthazar Bakery on South Dean Street for 2 fresh baguettes, still $2 each.
Then, I drove the half-mile or so to Jerry's Gourmet & More, where I picked up 2 Meals To Go, cut to $5.99 after 4 p.m.
Normally, the restaurant-quality dinners are $7.99.
At home, I plated tender calamari tubes stuffed with shrimp and arugula, penne alla puntanesca, fresh artichoke salad and eggplant caponata, and re-heated them gently in the microwave.
I poured myself a glass of Italian red wine, and allowed myself a couple of pieces of crusty baguette.
My son enjoyed Jerry's Chicken Cordon Bleu, Spinach Lasagna and a Ham & Cheese Monte Cristo, but passed on the Brussels sprouts and baked cauliflower that came with the dinner.
Balthazar's baguette has a living crust: It's crispier in dry weather. |
A bowl of Earthbound Farm Organic Spring Mix. |
Kimchi and coffee
Also on Wednesday, I visited the Englewood building where Arirang Kimchi is made by hand, and learned the Oh family will be moving the operation to a Ridgefield shopping center in the next few weeks.
On Thursday, I dropped into the Target in Hackensack, where an employee said the store's small food court is being replaced by a Starbucks and a Pizza Hut.
They should be open by the last week in September, she said.
The licensed store would be the second Starbucks in Hackensack.
There is a company owned Starbucks on Essex Street, near the medical center, but the city still needs one close to the Bergen County Courthouse and law firms, and there are a couple of vacant storefronts that would do nicely within a block or two.
Salted codfish
On Monday, in Englewood, I picked up medium boneless salted codfish at the ShopRite for $6.99 a pound, compared to $8.99 a pound at Costco.
Jersey Blueberries were 2 pints for $4.
The tart-sweet blueberries are great with the sweet seedless watermelon I bought at Costco.
No need to thump the melon unless you plan to make music with it.
I look for the biggest, heaviest watermelon I can find; the exterior was a paler green than others, but it was perfectly sweet inside.
The blueberries also are wonderful in a breakfast "parfait" made with Greek Yogurt, Hemp Hearts, Black Chia Seed and Organic Blue Agave nectar -- all from Costco.
Parchment paper
To roast fish or chicken, I now use Kirkland Signature Parchment Paper to line the pan.
Meat or seafood doesn't stick to the paper so I don't have to use spray oil, as I did with aluminum foil, which is more expensive.
With chicken, I use two layers of paper to handle all of the juices, but one layer is enough to roast wild salmon or other fish.
I also use parchment paper to roast the sodium-free raw almonds I buy at Costco, and use the paper over or recycle it.
I was never sure whether the aluminum foil was recyclable.
The blueberries also are wonderful in a breakfast "parfait" made with Greek Yogurt, Hemp Hearts, Black Chia Seed and Organic Blue Agave nectar -- all from Costco.
Parchment paper
To roast fish or chicken, I now use Kirkland Signature Parchment Paper to line the pan.
Meat or seafood doesn't stick to the paper so I don't have to use spray oil, as I did with aluminum foil, which is more expensive.
With chicken, I use two layers of paper to handle all of the juices, but one layer is enough to roast wild salmon or other fish.
I also use parchment paper to roast the sodium-free raw almonds I buy at Costco, and use the paper over or recycle it.
I was never sure whether the aluminum foil was recyclable.
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