I usually go there every other week, but it's been a bit longer than that what with these Uncertain Times. I got there and was pretty excited that the parking lot wasn't super-full. I parked where I usually park and headed over. There was a line, which I was kind of expecting because Lizzie told me they were queuing up at the TJ's by her house. I was in line maybe five minutes before they let six people in. I was one of those six.
The store was pretty well stocked and it was absolute heaven to be able to walk around and not have to dodge little kids pushing little carts and people leaving their carts in mid-aisle while they browsed through the frozen foods.
I stocked up on some stuff we always get, like orange chicken, mac and cheese, and frozen roasted potatoes with peppers and onions. I didn't get more than necessary, just enough to keep us going for two or three weeks. My big freezer downstairs has never been so full.
I always try to find something I've never had before when I go to TJ's. Today's new item is chicken chilaquiles. I really like chilaquiles. I had them for breakfast every day when we were in Mexico (not with chicken, though). I'm pretty excited to try this. It looks delicious and filling. I'll plop a fried egg or two on top of a serving and I bet it will fill me up until dinner-time. I'll let you know! (Yes, Mom...I'm talking about food again LOL)!
Since I'm at home, I am cooking and eating at home. I like it a lot. I like to heat up my food in a pan on the stove rather than in the microwave. It just tastes better to me. More fresh. Today the governor of Utah said families ought to get take-out from local restaurants at least three times a week. I don't know if that will happen at my house, to be honest. I mean, I just spent a bunch of money on groceries! I'd be willing to do take-out once, maybe twice a week though, to help out the local restaurants. There are some good ones in our neighborhood (I'm looking at you, Copper Creek Pub and Chicken Express!).
One notable thing happened at TJ's today. There were two grown women, maybe a mom and a daughter, along with three or four little kids, the oldest of whom might have been seven or eight, and the youngest of whom was like four. The kids were kind of roaming the store, picking stuff up and putting it back, running their hands along the shelves and the fruit and just everything. I see this kind of behavior every time I'm at that store. This time, though, a couple of TJ's employees talked to the women about keeping the children together in the family unit and asking the children not to touch Every. Damn. Thing. The employees were respectful and polite; I thought they handled the situation perfectly. The mom had the grace to look a bit mortified. From that point on, they walked through the store in a tight pack until they left.
When I was paying for my groceries, I mentioned how much I liked the staggered entry. Wouldn't it be cool if it continued after this Time of Crisis is over? It probably won't, but I can wish.
Oh Trader Joe's. You're just so wonderful.
1 comment:
It's OK to talk about food when mentioning Trader Joe's ;)
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