My Trader Joe Life

Okay, work is really stressful lately. My boss is getting ready to retire and I don't want her job. In fact, I get paid very well for doing a job that I like and I can imagine remaining in this position up until I retire myself. Unfortunately, that means that I will probably have to deal with a new manager, and I am not looking forward to breaking them in!

At stressful times like these, I am really glad that I have Trader Joe's to fall back on. Because of this store, the stress of preparing meals for my family are eliminated. Trader Joe's supplies so many exceptional products that I can cut corners here and there and still put out fantastic meals!

I just went shopping this morning, and am actually looking forward to some of our meals this week! Seriously! How often does that happen? When I used to shop at... ahem...Walmart, I never actually looked forward to what I was preparing. Plus, half of the food that I came home with was just crap: low priced, processed garbage!

At TJ's, I always get exceptional choices that give me a variety of high end products at reasonable prices! Here's what's on the menu for this week thanks to Trader Joe's!


LUNCHES:

Pizza Primavera served with Mozzarella & Tomato Salad and Pomegranate Vinaigrette

Wild Caught Salmon with Orzo Pasta and Spinach in Yogurt Mint Sauce

Garden Vegetable Lasagna and Romaine Heart Salad with Grated Romano Cheese

Black Angus Burger with a side of Macaroni and Cheese

Baked Cod Provençale with Ratatouille and Brown and Wild Rice

Grilled Peppered Turkey Breast and Swiss Cheese Sandwich with Red Pepper and Tomato Soup


DINNERS:

Rack of Lamb with Wild Rice Pilaf and Balsamic Glazed Brussel Sprouts

Chicken Enchiladas with Chimichurri Peruvian Rice and a Tossed Green Salad

Coq au Vin with Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Buttered Asparagus

Mini-Meatloaf with Potato Gratin and Buttered Baby Beets

Pork Roast with Gravy, Baked Potatoes and Glazed Carrots

Teriyaki Venison with Five Spice Asian Chicken Salad

In addition, we have bananas, crab salad, English muffins, Ground beef, smoked apple and chardonnay chicken sausages, potato salad, onions, celery, red pepper, spinach and ricotta ravioli, breakfast sausage patties, and 6 different organic yogurts (for my breakfast).

Speaking of yogurt...

Trader Joe's has the most delicious, organic yogurt EVAH!

They are basically made with yogurt, fruit and cane sugar and come in five flavors (blueberry, peach, strawberry, vanilla, raspberry).  I enjoy a container of yogurt every day for breakfast with a cup of coffee.

So, in the end, I wind up having delicious meals every day of the week, thanks to TJ's wide variety.  I also will spend about 30 minutes or less preparing those meals, which is the really amazing part! So until those other grocery stores can match my TJ's in reducing my stress level, I will be sticking with Trader Joe's!

<God, I sound like a commercial, right?> LOL