What I learned today (Take Two)

Probably a good idea if any roosters are walking around.

Yes, I heard of that from the folks who sell eggs at the farmers' markets. I grew up around many chickens, but I never heard Grandpa say that, and I don't recall any roosters around.

[Jenise]

This morning I stopped at a local grocer for green onions where I got mesmerized by the only other person in the produce section. He was decapitating yams. That is, he was breaking off both ends before putting the remaining midsection in a plastic bag. I watched him do this to four yams. After he left I went over to see the end pieces but they weren't there, so they either went into the bag or into his pocket (I am guessing the latter). But what on earth....?

Ooh, ooh, I know this one: he only has a small pan!

Does anybody but me get that one?

[Jenise]

LOL, Jeff.

Today, I learned something about roasting beets for beet salads. We've made these many times in the past, and it's very convenient to roast the beets, let them cool, and then slip the peel right off. This time, I roasted the beets a couple of days ago and put them right into the fridge. When I went to slip the skins off this afternoon sot that I could slice them up for the salad, the peels did not slip at all. I had to use a knife to peel them off. So next time, I'll know to skin them right away and then put them in the fridge until they're ready for slicing. (The salad still came out very nicely, it was just more of a pain in the ass to make than it would have been.)

[Jenise]

I've noted that too--didn't refrigerate but peel while warm, or else!

I decided to make a martini today to use up a little gin, but when I grabbed my jar of olives in the fridge, there was a layer of mold on top. And I didn't have a lemon. Arrgh!

Try a cornichon?

(But, honestly, pickled things are not supposed to mold!)

[Jenise]

Today when making the pasta and shrimp salad I plan to take to tonight's rose wine soiree, I contemplated dressings and in the pantry I found a little jar of pesto rosso. Tomato flavors made sense so I opened it and turned several scoops of it into a viscuous dressing that is absolutely DYNAMITE. I loved it so much I even ate a spoonful straight from the jar. I looked at the label and was surprised to realize that this was a Trader Joe's product. While working with it my brother called and mentioned that he was going on errands, which included stopping at TJ's. So I put this on his list.

A little while later he called back. He couldn't find it and asked an employee who remarked that YES! It was the best stuff! She loved it too but they're out and, worse, it's not coming back.

Boo hoo boo hoo.

Jenise, try WalMart it is listed for sale on their site..

[Jenise]

Karen, any pesto rosso and the Trader Joe's brand pesto rosso would not neccessarily be identical, but thanks for the tip.

Trader Joe's giveth and Trader Joe's taketh away. We have the same problem with Grocery Outlet.

Even happens with Costco.

[Jenise]

Yup, that is both the best and the bane. Nothing it guaranteed to last more than a season, and even some things that do change in the manufacture and aren't as good as they used to be. The Sicilian chicken sausage and corn tortillas, just to name two things I no longer buy.

Here's something hilarious about Trader Joe's I just saw this morning, comedian Gary Gulman on TJ's in NYC:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5BZvV1ZTyE

Karen, any pesto rosso and the Trader Joe's brand pesto rosso would not neccessarily be identical, but thanks for the tip.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Trader-joe-s ... qkQAvD_BwE

Karen, any pesto rosso and the Trader Joe's brand pesto rosso would not neccessarily be identical, but thanks for the tip.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Trader-joe-s ... qkQAvD_BwE

I just placed an order, and it has been confirmed

[Jenise]

So Walmart, or someone who vends thru Walmart, esssentially resells Trader Joe's products? That's amazing, I (obviously) had no idea. I just thought you were talking about some other product, like one I have here already, called Pesto Rosso but which is just chopped sundried tomatoes. That would qualify as a pesto rosso, generically speaking, but not be THE pesto rosso I would wish for. Thank you so much! I just ordered three. Also the chili-onion crunch, which I adored and has gone away, too.

Jenise, this is not the first time I have purchased a Trader Joe's brand of food product from Amazon. I live in what is considered a rural area in Redding, with large lots, some room for horses, lots of trees, etc. Yet, up the street away and very near our regional airport, an Amazon distribution center is due to open this summer. The building is almost complete, and it is huge. I get many Amazon orders overnight because of a center in Reno, and now I am told most items will be delivered the same day. We'll see how that plays out. They are going to employ between 200 and 250 people. It is located in a large industrial park.

I recently found out that the same supplier distributes meat to WalMart and Target, both of which rank low in quality of meats.

I had a housekeeper once whose husband worked at Walmart. She told me they would never buy their meat from them. I have never been a fan of shopping in certain big box stores for food. The markets I shop at are Raleys, for their large selections. Holiday Market, an employee, locally owned neighborhood market, for their organic selections and lots of healthy selections, and a meat dept which will cut up special cuts for me, and they are three minutes away. I also go to Kents Meats, out by the airport, locally owned and offers many types of meats, smoked, ect, done right on the premises. They will also cut special cuts for me. All a bit expensive but worth it for me.

Well, Walmart cancelled my order for the Trader Joe's sauce. No explanation...I'm never doing business with them again. They are terrible.

A lot of the big-box stores are actually terrible. I keep my interactions with all of them to an absolute minimum -- meaning, if I just can't find the thing anywhere else.

Anyway, does it make sense that they can sell a TJ product if TJ itself doesn't have it???

Last night I learned that imam bayildi doesn't reheat particularly well. The reheated leftovers were still tasty but not a patch on what they were the night I made them. I found a suggestion that the dish should be eaten at room temperature. I will try that with the remaining aubergine.

-Paul W.