There. I said it. I realize that devoting an entire blog posting to my newfound love for a 'club' store in and of itself makes me 'uncool.' Old, even. But, my love for Costco is so great that I would scream it from the rooftops. It was with giddy enthusiasm that I called my mom during my first trip to rave about my new love, just as I had called her after my first date with my now-husband to tell her that I was going to marry that man!
No, I do not purchase industrial size jars of mayonnaise or 10 gallon tubs of laundry detergent. In fact, the only bulk item I regularly purchase is organic milk.
So, what, you ask, is so wonderful about my new love? EVERYTHING, of course! But, I'm happy to provide specifics... As for food, I pick up the freshest, tastiest organic produce, and 3 pound rotisserie chickens that melt in your mouth... double the flavor and half the cost of a Whole Foods chicken!
The book selection is wonderful and offers new release, hard cover books at 1/3 the bookstore price. There is also a wide selection of unique cookbooks which are always fun.
I came across my Flip! video camera at Costco and then went on to "gift it" to two other folks as well. Not only did I purchase our new Lorex video monitor for bambino watching, but I was able to purchase two cameras for the same price other other stores are selling the device with only one! I love being able to see both girlies on the screen, AND the 'talk back' feature is killer.
Santa spent some time at Costco, as well, and found a giant Mister Potato Head which is stuffed with lots of smaller Mister Potato Heads. This was a Christmas morning favorite for sure and is still played with on a daily basis.
Oh, Costco!, though it wasn't love at first sight, you have reminded me that it's truly what's inside that counts. Who knew that behind your plain (even ugly!) exterior would lie gorgeous fresh cut flowers and even nice bottles of wine? I love you, Costo, and I'm not afraid to tell the world!
I LOVE Costco
Monday, January 24, 2011
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Not an apple or cherry or chocolate meringue or key lime, but a pie nonetheless.
One afternoon a Denver friend asked me what I was making for dinner, I casually replied, "Black bean pie." Who knew that my response would elicit such confusion on the part of my friend? I might as well have told her that I was going to sauté some little yard mouse, and serve it over brown rice. She seemed truly dumfounded that one could first form a pie from lentils and then serve it as an entree. Her reaction made me feel like I was from a foreign land.
I had always felt that my transition from being a Southern gal to a Denverite came with much ease. I quickly acclimated to the casual nature of the outdoorsy city. I am crazy in love with the weather especially the 300 plus days of sunshine we get each year. I relish the summer days with the local farmer's markets and busy parks. Yet there seems to be a chasm between what I know to be "normal" and what the folks around here consider as such.
Take tea, for example. I grew up believing that asking for a glass of tea carried with it the assumption that said beverage would be sweetened (with SUGAR, I should add.) I quickly learned that this is an incorrect assumption.
When I imagined my little girls attending, say, another child's birthday party, I pictured them joyously frolicking around in adorable little smocked dresses. Turns out such attire can't even be purchased west of the Mason-Dixon.
Of course my sweet angels would include their own monogrammed stationery with their gifts. When I whip out one of these personalized cards, I am now prepared to get puzzled looks from all the other moms. "It's a Southern thing," is all I can say in response.
Speaking of other mothers and children, how much do I miss hearing sweet little voices utter the phrase, "Yes, Ma'am" or "No, Sir" when speaking to an adult! I'm guessing these moms and dads don't give the traditional, "Mind your manners!" instruction before sending their little ones out the door.
The longer I live away from "home" the stronger my desire grows to keep hold of those Southern ideals that I still hold dear. I will try my hardest to raise little girls who not only say "Please" and "Thank you" but also "Yes ma'am" and "No ma'am" (even if they get funny looks from their classmates.) I will be sure they learn to hand write meaningful thank you notes and that they always mail them in a timely fashion. I will remind them to say grace before meals and to count their blessings with each bedtime prayer. And every now and again, I will play Alabama instead of the Black Eyed Peas for our afternoon dance parties.
And, since it began with a pie, I will end it with a pie... Here's my Black Bean Pie recipe. Enjoy!
1 red pepper
1 sweet onion
2 cans of black beans
1 cup of salsa
1 tsp. chili powder
1 flour tortilla shell
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
2 pie crusts (one frozen deep dish and one refrigerated crust that you roll out)
Preheat oven to 350. Place the deep dish crust in the oven to brown. Finely dice the pepper and onion, and saute' them in olive oil or butter until transparent. Add the beans (drain one can), salsa, and chili powder. Bring to a boil. Then cover and cook on medium for 20 minutes.
Pour half of the mixture into the browned pie crust. Top with 1 cup of cheese and then the tortilla. Pour in the second half of the bean mixture. Then top with the second cup of cheese and the refrigerated crust.
Bake for about 30 minutes or until the top crust is lightly browned.
One afternoon a Denver friend asked me what I was making for dinner, I casually replied, "Black bean pie." Who knew that my response would elicit such confusion on the part of my friend? I might as well have told her that I was going to sauté some little yard mouse, and serve it over brown rice. She seemed truly dumfounded that one could first form a pie from lentils and then serve it as an entree. Her reaction made me feel like I was from a foreign land.
I had always felt that my transition from being a Southern gal to a Denverite came with much ease. I quickly acclimated to the casual nature of the outdoorsy city. I am crazy in love with the weather especially the 300 plus days of sunshine we get each year. I relish the summer days with the local farmer's markets and busy parks. Yet there seems to be a chasm between what I know to be "normal" and what the folks around here consider as such.
Take tea, for example. I grew up believing that asking for a glass of tea carried with it the assumption that said beverage would be sweetened (with SUGAR, I should add.) I quickly learned that this is an incorrect assumption.
When I imagined my little girls attending, say, another child's birthday party, I pictured them joyously frolicking around in adorable little smocked dresses. Turns out such attire can't even be purchased west of the Mason-Dixon.
 |
| Here is My Carter Lilly on her first birthday wearing the obviously appropriate celebratory attire. |
 |
| And, at Thanksgiving 2009. |
 |
| And, again, at Christmas of the same year. (Clearly, I have been successful at importing the smocked wear.) |
Of course my sweet angels would include their own monogrammed stationery with their gifts. When I whip out one of these personalized cards, I am now prepared to get puzzled looks from all the other moms. "It's a Southern thing," is all I can say in response.
Speaking of other mothers and children, how much do I miss hearing sweet little voices utter the phrase, "Yes, Ma'am" or "No, Sir" when speaking to an adult! I'm guessing these moms and dads don't give the traditional, "Mind your manners!" instruction before sending their little ones out the door.
The longer I live away from "home" the stronger my desire grows to keep hold of those Southern ideals that I still hold dear. I will try my hardest to raise little girls who not only say "Please" and "Thank you" but also "Yes ma'am" and "No ma'am" (even if they get funny looks from their classmates.) I will be sure they learn to hand write meaningful thank you notes and that they always mail them in a timely fashion. I will remind them to say grace before meals and to count their blessings with each bedtime prayer. And every now and again, I will play Alabama instead of the Black Eyed Peas for our afternoon dance parties.
And, since it began with a pie, I will end it with a pie... Here's my Black Bean Pie recipe. Enjoy!
1 red pepper
1 sweet onion
2 cans of black beans
1 cup of salsa
1 tsp. chili powder
1 flour tortilla shell
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
2 pie crusts (one frozen deep dish and one refrigerated crust that you roll out)
Preheat oven to 350. Place the deep dish crust in the oven to brown. Finely dice the pepper and onion, and saute' them in olive oil or butter until transparent. Add the beans (drain one can), salsa, and chili powder. Bring to a boil. Then cover and cook on medium for 20 minutes.
Pour half of the mixture into the browned pie crust. Top with 1 cup of cheese and then the tortilla. Pour in the second half of the bean mixture. Then top with the second cup of cheese and the refrigerated crust.
Bake for about 30 minutes or until the top crust is lightly browned.