Hi-Ya !
Besides cooking I have another love....Shopping ! What girl doesn't, right ?
I am frequent shopper of T.J. Maxx and Marshalls. Normally my shopping cart includes the latest pair of jeans, a comfy sweater, the sexiest pair of pumps, and if I'm lucky a Micheal Kors purse.
Lately....I find myself making a special trip to T.J. Maxx or Marshalls to the back of the store where I can find a treasure trove of specialty and gourmet foods. This aisle is in the back of store near the kitchen cookware, bedding and other housewares. It is indeed a foodie's dream !!!
I have a few items that I specifically go looking for, but I also like to roam the aisle for inspiration for a new recipe. And.....not only can you discover some gourmet items ( such as saffron), but you can find your everyday pantry items at a fraction of the price you would pay at your local grocery store.
Check out some of my food finds
I make my own green smoothies on a regular basis, so I was ecstatic to find some of my healthy additions at a fraction of the price of my local grocery store. I typically add, chia seeds, flaxseeds and hemp seeds, but every once in a while I'll find a specialty blend, like the hemp & fiber smoothie blend.
I tend to cook with extra virgin olive oil ~b.k.a.~ EVOO, but my new favorite cooking oil is coconut oil. I found an array of coconut oil selections at T.J. Maxx and again at a lower price than my neighborhood stores. Besides cooking with coconut oil it has countless uses for everything from a body or face moisturizer, lip balm, natural hair conditioner, many medicinal uses, as well as an aid in weight loss. Check out 77 coconut oil use here.
*Tidbit* I started using coconut oil in place of butter. When I'm craving that ooeey gooey grill cheese sandwich I tend to feel a tad bit better about my sandwich since I'm spreading on the coconut oil. Check out my Grown -n- Sexy Grilled Cheese recipe.
I must admit my kitchen cabinets and pantry has some very interested products. I am fascinating with spices. I feel you can take a piece of protein and/or veggies for that matter and make it to something tantalizing by simply adding the right seasonings/spices. The Gourmet Collection has tons of different types of spice blends. Honestly I think I find a different spice blend every time I visit the specialty aisle.
Come on' ....Step outta the box and try a new spice then let your imagination run wild and create something spectacular.
When I'm craving a salty and crunchy snack, I tend to reach for popcorn, which by chance is my FAVORITE snack. As you can see on this particular day they had an abundance of crunchy healthy snacks to choose from. You will find some of the most strangest flavors, but admittedly I have tried a lot of them and quite surprisingly I've liked them. For example, the Himalayan Pink Salt popcorn.
I ran ( I mean, trotted) in a 5K earlier this year and I finished successfully, but the next day {Whoa Momma}, my knee was not a happy camper ! Since I am allergic to Ibuprofen I had to find an alternative to some type of relief. I did some research and found out that that turmeric (yes, that spice in your pantry) is an anti-inflammatory herb. I started taking turmeric daily in the pill form that I purchased from the Vitamin Shoppe. Slowly, but surely my knee inflammation started to go down and I was able to resume my exercise activities (Yay!). I now keep turmeric (in pill form) in my medicine cabinet. While on one of my shopping escapades at T.J. Maxx I came across an organic powder of turmeric, which I bought and that I add to some of my green smoothie concoctions.
Other golden nuggets I have found at T.J. Maxx are: Saffron, truffle oil, avocado oil, walnut oil, coconut water, all types of nuts, teas, coffee, pure honey, Vermont maple syrup, and an array of tomato sauces. I have even lucked out and found drastically reduced items. I suggest the next time you are in a T.J. Maxx to be sure to visit the culinary gourmet aisle. Keep in mind that some stores stock more or less, so if your 1st visit doesn't reap a basket of goodies, don't fret, keep looking. It took several visits to different T.J. Maxx stores until I found the one that I frequent more often than other locations.
Happy Shopping !!
* I am not getting paid for this post or am I in any way associated with T.J. Maxx or Marshalls. I was just blown away at the specialty food aisle and wanted to share some love to my readers.
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