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So it was a happy day when Aldi finally opened its doors in our little rural town. I went to the Grand Opening, and I got a Golden Ticket, too! Come along, and I’ll tell you all about it. (Disclosure: this post is long, and I did get some AI help to polish it up.)
Hello, Dear Readers:
Yes, it’s been a minute. I’m sorry about that. After my last post in April of last year, I said I was going to write something “next week,” and life got in the way. Again. Really, it did, more than once, then I couldn’t get back into the website. All kinds of stuff. Dogs (we now have three), cats (still have two), cars, snow, you name it. So blogging just hasn’t happened. I didn’t even pick any blackberries this year.
Now the scent of pumpkin spice is everywhere. In coffee, muffins, bagels, motor oil, and cleaning fluids. My apologies.
About The Weather
Our hot, dry August has extended into September. Fortunately, we’ve not had any Gulf Coast tropical activity to be concerned about this season. There was one storm that everyone was watching closely and the weather people were warning everyone to “be ready.” The next day—POOF! No news. I think it dissipated before it got near any coastline.
But we even had some snow in January, and I did my first Instagram live stream in the snow.
Isn’t that a gorgeous sunset?
Why? Because in Louisiana (and the southern half of Texas), we don’t see snow very often. I figured my friends up north would enjoy watching—and several did.
This was by the roadside
Total was about five inches, I think. And because I still didn’t have a heavy winter raincoat, I finally bought one in May when Lands’ End had them seriously discounted. Bring on the winter snow!
Aunt Ruth has been getting an excessive number of emails from me…so I figured I should get back to blogging instead of loading up her inbox. Finally, I got back into the website, too.
The modern world arrived at the Casa de Rurale six months ago when Aldi arrived. Nearly everyone loves having them here.
The Aldi In Mississippi
Longtime readers will remember my trip to McComb, Mississippi, in 2023 when the ALDI opened there. I’ve made occasional trips back to McComb, but not weekly. I put the Aldi app on my phone and discovered that the wonderful “Aldi Finds” are published a week in advance. So, I know what’s coming next week and go with a list. Don’t ask how many trips I’ve made to McComb because there was an Aldi Find I just had to have. And of course, I get plenty of other stuff there, especially if it’s marked down.
On a trip to New Orleans last year, I took James into the Aldi on Veterans Memorial Boulevard before visiting The E Man. James eventually caught my “Aldi enthusiasm.” After learning we were getting an Aldi, he went with me to McComb a couple of times to do a little shopping. He saw what it would be like to shop there once the local store opened. Despite his comments about “it’s just a grocery store,” he’s now become a happy Aldi shopper. After forgetting shopping bags a couple of times, he now has three reusable Aldi bags in his little truck and a dedicated Aldi quarter in the console.
The End Of Winn-Dixie
One of the things that has happened since my last dispatch is that Winn-Dixie is no longer with us. Oddly, our Winn-Dixie store had just undergone renovation, and they even brought in more products. Unfortunately, the additional grocery stock didn’t last. In the end, bankruptcy was inevitable. Aldi bought the company, all the stores and digital assets, and everything under the SEC Grocers label. Here’s how it went down.
The Aldi company started choosing locations to close and renovate, as they had with the store in Mississippi two years prior. Last summer, it was announced that our local Winn-Dixie would be closed for good on September 15th, 2024. Aldi has already made inroads in New Orleans, Slidell, and the Baton Rouge areas. The old Winn-Dixie stores would all be remodeled into the new, compact, and modern Aldi style. Surprisingly, our town was next.
We watched the progress of the construction from the street. I kept looking on their website to find out when it might be open. In the meantime, I still occasionally drove north to the McComb Aldi store when I found any upcoming Aldi Finds I wanted. And because I couldn’t get English breakfast tea here anymore, I drove up there and bought several boxes to last until the local store opened.
Local Losses
Aldi came at the expense of Winn-Dixie, which was part of the local culture. Many people worked there in high school as their first job, including James. Some even retired from Winn-Dixie. Understandably, people were talking nostalgically about the place. The store had been in this location since the 1980s, and across the street long before that.
Unfortunately, the employees were left with the eventual dread of losing their jobs with no idea of future employment. Some found other jobs elsewhere, including one lady who was transferred to the Franklinton WD store, which may be gone now, too. It was no longer getting shipments, and they were selling everything down to the walls until the last day. Any leftover stock may have been shipped to other stores before they were inevitably closed, too.
That’s what Hancock Fabrics did, or at least, their liquidation company did. When one store closed, any remaining stock went to another store that was still open until that store sold out or closed. Irony alert: Neighbor E told me just last week that there is an Aldi in the spot where Hancock Fabrics was, on El Camino Real Blvd, near the Freeman Library.
Once our Winn-Dixie closed on September 15th, the Aldi reconstruction began immediately.
March: The Wait Is Over
Finally, on social media, Aldi began announcing that our local store would open on Wednesday, March 12th.
I’ve joined a few Facebook groups dedicated to Aldi shoppers, plus I follow Aldi on Facebook and Instagram. But I really didn’t think anybody here would care. In fact, I asked my friend MY about it, and she didn’t know anybody who was even aware of the store’s opening. Doesn’t anyone pay attention? Well, they did, and social media did its job.
On a chilly, grey morning, I arrived and parked. Didn’t know what to expect, but I did bring my coffee. So, it was a surprise when I got there, and quite a few people were already in line.
I wasn’t the only one.
Later, one of the Aldi crew members handed me a number:
I was 38th in line!
This means that I was one of the 1st 100 people in line. No kidding! Aldi does have a sense of humor about these things.
See?
In fact, there were at least 200 people in line.
Who knew these people were ready to roll into Aldi?
The store was open for business the day before, in what they called a “soft opening.” That is, people could shop in the store and find out more about Aldi, but didn’t want to go to the grand opening. I needed a few things anyway.
Check Your Aldi Store’s Info
Of course, I didn’t check the opening time of the store beforehand. Along with one other customer, we discovered that Aldi opens at 9:00 am and closes at 8:00 pm. Winn-Dixie opened at 8:00 am and closed at 9:00 pm.
No, that’s not confusing at all.
Guess what? Most of the people I talked to that first day already knew about Aldi. They knew about the quarter and brought their own shopping bags. I told them how I was shopping at Macomb Aldi for the last two years. One lady said that she regularly shops at the Covington Aldi because she has business there. And another lady said that her daughter lives in Pennsylvania, and any time she goes to visit, they do an Aldi run. Like me, they were just waiting for one to open here.
The Grand Opening
Finally, right at 9:00, they began the opening ceremony. Someone from the Tangipahoa Parish government got up and spoke.
The opening ceremony
When they cut the ribbon and opened the doors, everybody walked inside.
This was not like Black Friday, where people were crushing each other to get through the front doors. No, this was a very orderly affair. Everybody was nice, polite, and we were welcomed by Aldi crew members from different Aldi locations, including one lady from Ocean Springs, Mississippi.
Someone handed me a swag bag with some delicious treats in it.
Those cookies are also dupes of Girl Scout Cookies. The seasoning is fantastic and I have bought more.
The “Everything Bagel” seasoning is a dupe of Trader Joe’s, and I keep buying that one since I was gifted a bottle. There is a “regular” version and a Jalapeno version too, all $1.75 a bottle. I like this one the best.
Someone also handed me what’s known as the “Golden Ticket,” a gift card given to one of the first 100 people. I opened it up and discovered it was worth $25.
I got one!! Thank you, Aldi! Yes, of course, they had Texas Toast.
I put it in my wallet and promptly forgot about it for two weeks. But I was there for a specific reason: what’s jokingly but lovingly called The Aisle of Shame.
Aldi Finds, AKA, The Aisle of Shame
In my last blog about Aldi, I mentioned all the wonderful things that they have in the store’s center aisle, known as Aldi Finds.. New items are available every Wednesday, and are published in an ad a week before. Since then I learned about the “Aisle of Shame” moniker.
Once inside, I knew where to go. When I got there, I said in my most elegant radio voice, “Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the Aldi Aisle of Shame.” There were many people already in the Aisle. I got a few laughs, because everyone knew what that meant.
The Aldi Finds center aisle has a weekly rotating selection of non-food items, as well as some food items. Most of the non-food merchandise in the center aisle, with some located at the entrance. The company tests the market for different kinds of items that shoppers may want and buy.
Sometimes, you don’t know you need something until you find it. This might be camping and gardening, household stuff, or kitchen stuff. Other times, it’s small Ikea-like furniture pieces that require minimal assembly. Right now, you can find Halloween décor.
The stock changes weekly, and some items are more popular than others. A recent Disney-themed drop had people lining up our store before 9, and the aisle was crowded with people looking for them. Once it’s gone, it’s gone—at least, until it comes back around another time or it lands in the markdowns.
The Aldi Brands
Aldi has unique names for its store brands throughout the store. On the Aisle of Shame, you’ll find:
- Kirkton House (home décor)
- Easy Home (organization item)
- Heart To Tail (pet supplies)
- Pure Being (pet food)
- Ambiano (appliances)
- Belavi (gardening equipment)
- Visage (hair dryers and other beauty aids)
- Serra (women’s clothing and accessories, including lingerie and purses)
- Crofton (kitchen tools)
- Lily & Dan (children’s clothes and accessories)
- Bauhn (electronics, like charger cords and small Bluetooth speakers)
- Workzone (hand and small power tools)
This is in addition to the unique brand names of their grocery items, like Chancy’s Chips, Live Free gluten-free items, and Friendly Farms dairy.
Why Do They Call It That?
This aisle is known among Aldi fans as the Aisle of Shame. Why? Well, because you go into Aldi for milk, eggs, butter, and bread, and walk out with a tabletop fire pit, potting table, hanging hammock chair, or a kayak at a price that’s less than everywhere else.
Over the summer, I met a lady who was looking for a chair for her RV, and Aldi’s was half the price of everyone else’s, even Amazon’s. With that in mind, you may just blow your grocery money this week and then some, unless you stick to what you need or order curbside.
This is common for fans of Aldi, and James and I have done this ourselves. For instance, we went in recently to get some groceries, and James found a couple of inexpensive duffel bags that he wanted for his next as-yet-unscheduled trip to Drag Week or other car-related trip. They’re not “good” luggage, and it’s OK if they get dirty and knocked around a little.
But there is one item that readers know this blogger couldn’t pass up.
The Ambiano Sewing Machine
I have bought so many great things from Aldi since discovering the Aisle of Shame nearly three years ago. My first purchase was the vacuum food sealer for $30. My most recent favorite find is a sewing machine that runs both AC/DC power and batteries.
Isn’t it cute? It even does buttonholes!
The original price was $40, and I didn’t buy one. But since the store received four, and they were still there in the month or so after arriving, I asked if they would be discounted. The manager’s answer: “I’ll sell you one for half price.” So said “thank you” and bought one. The other three were marked down a week or two later and sold quickly. I considered buying another one at that price, but by the time I thought it was a good idea, they were gone. Maybe I should have gone back to McComb to see if they still had one.
Yes, I have used it a couple of times for small jobs, and so far, so good. Reviews in one of the Facebook groups were wildly different. About half the people who bought one said that it was great, and a little portable workhorse, while others called it “junk.” This machine is a little noisy, but it does seem to work well. Let’s face it: nobody’s using this machine to make a gown for a royal wedding or the Oscars.
The instructions are easy to follow. With batteries, I can even use this machine during a power outage. That was one of the reasons I wanted to get one: it’s a backup I can tote somewhere. They may come around again later, too. I saw mentions on FB from people who “bought one last year.”
The Dupes
James is now a fully converted Aldi fan. Like me, he also has some favorites. This includes some cookies that are identical to Girl Scout Cookies and available all the time, like the ones they handed me at the grand opening.
Before this store opened, they had some cookies that were duplicates (“dupes”) of some Australian cookies called Tim Tams.
If you ever find these cookies, beware–they are delicious!
I don’t care what you call them—they were incredibly addictive, especially the chocolate ones. Aldi fans Down Under in the FB groups said they tasted exactly like Australian brand Tim Tams, but at half the price. Thankfully, they were never made available locally. Only the McComb store had them, and not for long. Otherwise, the light bill might not have been paid.
It’s not uncommon to find something in the Aisle of Shame that is nearly identical to something more expensive elsewhere, hence the nickname. Right before this store opened, Aldi had dupes of some cut glass candleholders similar to some sold at Anthropologie for as much as $48 each. Aldi had three of those designs under the Kirkton House name with different colors at $9.99 each, and they were quite popular. If you can find one on eBay or Mercari, it may sell for as much as the ones at Anthropologie. They were absolutely gorgeous and sold quickly. Shoppers showed off how they used the candle holders in their homes.
The Storage Ottoman
The most recent dupe I chased was a small storage ottoman that I wanted to help corral some of my sewing supplies that aren’t used as frequently. At $14.99, it was a great idea and price, and they came in three colors: gray, beige, and Navy Blue. But there were only two blue ones in the local store, and I wanted more. So I drove up to McComb to see if they had some. Score!
When I priced them later online at The Container Store, James understood why I made a big deal about getting some. Same style, more colors, but $39.99—more than twice the price of Aldi. The sewing supplies are corralled, the dark color keeps them in the background, the cardboard boxes are gone, we have extra seating (not that we ever have company) and the cats like them too.
Pets, Of Course
Oh, and of course, don’t forget the pets. Their Heart & Tail line has all manner of pet gear, sometimes with the Aldi logo. Tab E. Cat enjoyed this self-warming mat:
The Apex Predator, snuggling up.
I drove back up to McComb to get another one because TigerCat wanted one too.
Isn’t she just adorable?
But Buddy isn’t as crazy about his raincoat:
Notice how he has his head down. He’s not being abused, honest, just taken outside for a bio break. But he acts like he’s being mistreated when I suit him up.
Of course, James laughed at me when I bought the doggie raincoats. The cold-weather stuff is too small for these beasts, so online it is to find canine winter gear.
Aldi Fashion
Aldi also has a small variety of seasonal basic clothing items in the Aisle of Shame. They’re not high fashion, but they just might be what you need. As much as I’m into fashion sewing, I’ve bought some denim skirts, “jeggings” (jean leggings), a denim jean jacket, a sweater, a quilted vest (keep reading), a few sports bras, bags and purses, shoes, and even some thick fluffy socks from Aldi. You can also find pajamas for both men and women, hoodies, slippers, and men’s clothing items, including socks, although James hasn’t partaken of those.
And when I wear my fluffy socks, I show them to James and say, “You see these socks? Aldi fashion!”
Aldi Gear
Because Aldi has such a faithful following, they occasionally drop what they call “Aldi Gear” in the Aisle of Shame. Clothing, accessories, shopping bags, quarter holders, and other items with the Aldi logo emblazoned are popular and snapped up quickly. From the McComb store, I once bought an Aldi Gear backpack, driving up there specifically for that one item but leaving with more.
Isn’t it great? Even has room for a laptop.
I also got an Aldi Gear steel travel tumbler, which I fill with ice and water and take on occasional shopping trips. It was marked down, too.
Earlier this year, Aldi released some winter Aldi Gear. Although I haven’t worn them yet, I scored a Navy blue sweater with “USA” emblazoned in white across the front, and a Navy blue quilted vest with a small logo. Both were bought after markdowns. I considered getting the white puffer vest, but the zipper didn’t work right. Even though it was considerably inexpensive, I still didn’t get it. White gets dirty fast.
Now they’ve got more Aldi gear, including a fuzzy sherpa jacket. Do I have $14.99 for this one, too?
What Makes Aldi So Popular?
Aldi’s business model is built on efficiency, simplicity, and low cost. This allows the company to offer high-quality groceries at some of the lowest prices in the United States. Aldi stores are smaller compared to traditional supermarkets, reducing rent and utility expenses. It employs fewer staff and features a straightforward store layout to speed up shopping and minimize operational complexities. Customers also participate in bagging their own groceries and returning carts, which helps Aldi cut labor costs.
That quarter rents you the basket. The store is banking on your taking it back and getting your quarter back. Here, some folks don’t understand that, but most return their baskets. I explained to a few folks that “it’s a rental, not a purchase.” For those who don’t return them, the basket’s “rental fee” is paid forward to another shopper who will appreciate that gift.
This lean approach extends to how Aldi stocks its shelves. Stores carry a limited assortment of about 1,700 products, mostly under the store’s own private-label brands. This limited selection reduces inventory costs and simplifies supply chains while maintaining quality comparable to or even better than national brands. By sourcing directly from manufacturers and avoiding brand premiums, Aldi passes these significant savings on to its customers.
A Winning Combo
Aldi’s overwhelming popularity in the U.S. stems from its combination of low prices, good product quality, and a fast, no-frills shopping experience. You’ll notice there’s no music in the stores. Therefore, they don’t pay music royalty fees, which is another savings to pass along. Its private-label dominance means shoppers get affordable products without sacrificing quality. This practice helped to build strong customer trust and loyalty.
Additionally, Aldi’s business culture focuses on consistency and responsibility. The company pays employees well to boost efficiency while emphasizing customer satisfaction over heavy advertising. This approach has helped Aldi rapidly expand across the country, growing its store base and services such as curbside pickup and online delivery, further enhancing convenience for American shoppers. The result is a grocery store that appeals widely to budget-conscious consumers without feeling cheap, which explains its large and growing following in the competitive U.S. market. Yes, even in highly competitive areas like Houston.
Something’s Missing Here
Like every other Aldi store, an employee quickly scans your groceries and puts them into the next basket by the register. Alternatively, self-checkouts are available too. When the cashier finishes, you swap baskets at this point. Once you’ve paid, you’ll take your basket to the long table and bag everything in your own reusable bags (or purchase paper or the reusables). Then proceed to your vehicle and return the basket for a “refund.”
Except this one.
The Mystery
I couldn’t put my finger on it, but I noticed that there was something slightly different about the new local Aldi from the one in McComb. The store’s layout was basically the same, but still, something wasn’t the same as the McComb store. Then one of the employees told me: There were no self-checkout lanes in the local store.
What?
There are four registers in ours, and usually only one is open at a time. (It was all hands on deck at the grand opening.)
They were workin’ it the day of the grand opening!
But because Aldi employees are trained for all the jobs in the store, not just one, they can stop and open more registers during busier periods like Saturday afternoons. Nobody could explain why there were no self-checkout lanes, either.
This made me wonder about something. When the buyout was announced, one of the younger Winn-Dixie cashiers mentioned that her local elderly customers had considerable trouble with the self-checkout lanes. Did that get floated up to management? Or is theft a concern at the self-checkouts, even in Aldi? Whatever the reason, we don’t have an “I Hate People” line in our local Aldi, but McComb still has one. Fortunately, the folks working at Aldi are super friendly. But our Walmart still has self-checkouts with a highly annoying AI system. That’s a story for yet another day.
I Can Aldi Anytime I Want
When I was making the trips up to the McComb Aldi, I tended to buy plenty of food and household things. After all, driving to get more of something we like is a 90-minute round trip plus time for shopping. I always bought a bottle of water with a tasty snack for the 45-minute trip back, or stopped at the nearby Starbucks. Never mind how much I spent on those trips, especially if I was going to buy something from the Aisle of Shame. But I could stock the freezer and the pantry a little better, especially if I found something at 50% off.
But now, I must fight that instinct to buy it all and not just the few things I need. I mean, I can Aldi anytime I want now, right? It hasn’t quite sunk in completely yet. Just know that the Aisle of Shame can be a budget buster.
A New Favorite: Brekki
We have found some new favorites since we can visit Aldi more often. One of those is called Brekki, a cold oatmeal that’s available in the front of the store in the deli section.
This is one of the tastiest things I’ve tried in a while.
Dairy-free, gluten-free, and vegan, it’s great for an on-the-go snack or lunchbox extra. You might think they’re cups of yogurt, but they’re not. The Brekki is right there by the readily available pizzas. And thankfully, our store has plenty of take-and-bake pizzas, including the cauliflower type.
I never noticed Brekki before, because in McComb, it’s in the refrigerator case at the store’s back. But for whatever reason, I found them in the local store up front. For a while, I couldn’t stop eating them. But I got at least one or two whenever I went, although now, not so much.
James did not understand what I was talking about. One day, I bought extra Brekkie for him to try. Of the three flavors, cinnamon vanilla, cold brew coffee, and dark chocolate, he liked my favorite, the dark chocolate, the best. He said the cinnamon vanilla was fine, but he refused to try the cold brew coffee flavor. Even though he liked the chocolate, he said it was “just OK.” It wasn’t something that he would eat very often. Of course, he had to remind me that he didn’t like overnight oats the one time I made them for him. Brekki, he says, is just nominally better than that.
Coming Soon: More Aldi
When our local store opened, the Winn-Dixie in Hammond closed for its Aldi conversion. One lady I was waiting with in line said that her daughter worked there, and the store abruptly closed well before March 15th, and without warning, surprising the now-unemployed workers.
Six months later, Hammond’s Aldi will be opening on Thursday, September 25th at 9:00 am, and will follow the “soft opening” model the day before. I’m going to try and make this one too.
Aldi is opening new stores all over the country. On Instagram, people are asking them to come to Colorado. I’m sure they will. Seriously, I never thought Aldi would be in Louisiana, let alone a rural area, but here we are. And we’re happy with our Aldi, too.
Keeping Up With Aldi
Like AI, Aldi isn’t going away. If you can’t beat them, join them, so find out about the newest Aldi Finds before they happen:
- Create an account at Aldi’s website and sign up for their emails, including upcoming sales and merchandise.
- Put Aldi’s smartphone app on your phone and allow notifications. You can preview next week’s Aldi Finds on Wednesday morning, under “Weekly Ads.” You’ll have a week to make your plans.
- Follow on social media—Aldi has accounts on Instagram, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, YouTube, and Pinterest. I follow on Instagram and Facebook, but I see their stuff mostly on Instagram. Aldi’s social media team is RIGHT ON IT. They have fun with current events and use them on social media, especially for new items.
- Sign up for the weekly emails at AisleOfShame, a non-affiliated website that brings you the newest from Aldi, along with Trader Joe’s, Kroger, and Publix. Sign up using a sidebar box on any one of their blog posts on the website, just like this one. They have a little more information in the emails and blogs about the new drops. The emails include some items I missed in the app previews.
It’s An Aldi Thing
A few months ago, our friend MY and I went somewhere, and on the way back, I took her to our local Aldi and explained things. She didn’t know what the big deal was, but now she’s a convert. Then she told her sister in another city all about Aldi. Guess what? Her sister is now a fan, too.
Aldi has also done other things besides just being a grocery store. Back in March, a little girl named Liliana had her birthday party in her favorite place: Aldi. There was a cake and everything for her. In May, another (unnamed) location hosted a sophisticated “mother’s night out” dining event with elegantly plated food made with Aldi ingredients. Just recently, there was an Aldi component to someone’s wedding. I saw these detailed events in their Instagram posts.
If you already have an Aldi in your area, you already know. If you don’t, and one is coming, get ready. Granted, it really is just a grocery store with a little more. But that little more can make a big difference.
There’s always a place for larger supermarkets like HEB, and we still shop at Walmart (it’s what we have here.) Occasionally, when we go to Hammond, there is still an occasional trip into Rouses or Albertson’s for something we need. But for basic, everyday shopping, Aldi is a great choice.
Happy Shopping!
Instagram is a social media platform originally for sharing photos and videos. I found some tasty food there, too.
Hi, again, Dear Readers:
It’s been a minute. . .since winter. I have a book review I started but time got away from me. This time it was a website page on Workers’ Compensation in California, a one-off for a new client. It took longer than I thought it would. Then again, stuff like that usually does.
Since The Last Post
If you passed by this humble blog shortly after the last time I published it, you may have received an error message. That’s my fault. In the quest to renew the certificates for this and my copywriting site, something went wrong. Additionally, I also deleted the wrong cache files on the back end and knocked this site completely offline.
Rafael couldn’t get it back, and a very nice person at my hosting company, Namecheap, took some extra time out of his day and got everything back up and running. I gave him a great rating and thanked him for his help.
Following the Wedding
Ray and his brother Gerald have been out here a couple of times since I published the blog on his wedding. BF is working on a vehicle for him, but it’s not done yet. He has most of the parts, some of which had to be ordered from the manufacturer.
BF also received a set of push rods last week for Ray’s vehicle. He was surprised that I knew exactly when it was coming and from where. I love those apps from The Post Office, FedEx, and UPS.
I’ve got some tasty recipes today, and they’re from. . .Instagram. Neighbor E is there (also called IG) and so are several others who have abandoned Facebook for something nicer. E posts pictures of his plants, flowers, and all the cool places he goes, sometimes with his sister D.
First, a few updates from around the Casa de Rurale.
Blackberry Season Arrives
Remembering the non-start of last year’s berry season, I’ve been watching and waiting to see what happens this year. Lots of flowers don’t always translate into buckets of berries.
They’re always a good sign.
But so far this year, it has:
They’re here!
And there are lots more in the pipeline:
More on the way.
Farmer’s Defense Protection Sleeves
Even though today’s recipes are from Instagram, that’s not all I see on the platform. I’ve been introduced to quite a few non-food things on IG, and many I’ve bought because of those ads. Case in point: a couple of months ago I found Farmers’ Defense protection sleeves for working in gardens, on farms, etc. Interested, I bought a pair of the Cattle King, because, well, look at that color and incredible Southwestern design!
Source: FarmersDefense.com
They were not terribly expensive, come in a range of sizes, and I think I got them on sale, too. They work great, they’re cool, and comfortable, and even have an SPF. The best part is that they prevent scratches and cuts I get from berry picking. So they help keep me from looking like I’ve tangled with a bobcat or a grizzly bear while trying to get the sweet little berries.
Styles
Farmer’s Defense has a nice variety of styles available, from plain to flowery, artsy, and even camouflage. There are two Southwestern-y prints, and I asked BF which print I should get. This conversation went:
BF: Do you want the “husband” answer or the normal answer?
Me (after reminding him that he’s not my husband): What’s the “husband” answer?
BF: Oh, you should totally get that one! It will look fabulous on you!
Me: So what’s the other answer?
BF: I don’t give a %#&*.
No, I didn’t smack him. Yes, we’re still getting on each other’s nerves. And I got the ones you see above. Might buy the other design later, or an extra pair of these.
Coupled with heavy jeans and my on-sale Muck Boots I got a couple of years ago, picking berries no longer involves pain and injury. I’m practically armor-plated. Sunday, I went out and picked quite a quantity:
That’s a small colander, but it’s the second batch I picked.
With these sleeves, I was able to reach and grab more berries from around fencing areas and stick my hands into thorn-filled bushes to get to them. I took a pair of plastic kitchen tongs out with me, so I could move the prickly vines around to find and grab even more. They’re washed, frozen in a single layer, and stashed into a Ziploc bag that’s dated.
Now to wait for the rest of them to ripen so I can pick and freeze them, too.
This Year’s Garden
As usual, I waited a while before putting the newly purchased plants out, because we had a few more chilly nights in the 40’s. But they’re all out now:
Ready for the summer growing season
A couple of buckets broke and fell apart so I got more from Harbor Freight to replace them and make sure they were all sturdy. I drilled holes in three of them, and BF drilled them in one.
Just to mess with him I told him they “were done wrong.” It took a minute before he realized I was yanking his chain a little.
As usual, the “kitchen science experiments” led to a few delicious surprise tiny tomatoes before they went outside:
Yes, they were delicious too.
Those aren’t the first, either, and more are growing behind them. Hopefully the sunlight will bring lots more.
I’ve already picked one big “Cool-apeno” pepper, the jalapeno without heat, and roasted it with something else. Now I have more:
Can’t wait
Two shishito peppers are ready, and I’ll have to cook them soon:
Always delicious
Yes, Basil Too
Since I grew basil from seeds, I added them into the tomato pots to try and repel those irritating things that plagued and ate my plants into oblivion last year. If necessary I’ll buy two more basil plants at Tractor Supply so I can have enough for a pesto stock-up this year.
The two empty buckets have Poblano and Hatch pepper seeds in them, so we’ll see if they grow and how many we get.
Last fall I bought two broccoli plants, which I added into a pot:
Are we ever going to get broccoli?
They’ve grown, but I’ve never tried growing broccoli before, so I have no idea if or when we’ll be harvesting any. I also bought a stevia plant last week and just added it into the pot with the broccoli plants. And I have Italian flat-leaf parsley right behind it. At least we’ll have plenty of that.
Let’s see what kind of harvest we get this year.
Dinner With Friends
So last week we finally made it to J&B’s place in nearby Albany to have dinner with them:
J wanted the picture to include food on the plates, so that’s why we’re holding them up.
That’s B on the right across from BF, and J is taking the picture. They set the table with their fine china!
These ladies are so nice, and it’s always nice to see them. BF has met them but only chatted briefly with both. Plus, they like him, too, even though we differ in opinion on a lot of things. They’re not rude about those differences, and they enjoy hearing those other opinions. But this time it was the four of us at their lovely home that’s literally in the woods.
Spicy Calabrian Shrimp!
B requested shrimp. I knew the perfect way to make them: Giada de Laurentiis’ Spicy Calabrian Shrimp. It was pretty easy to transport, too—I just made the marinade in a Ziploc and transported everything in individual bags with an HEB “cold bag” to their house. I also brought 1½ pounds of the bigger shrimp to make sure we had enough.
For dessert, I brought them The Keto Blackberry Cobbler from Emilie Bailey, The Texas Granola Girl. I made it the day before in a take-along pan to avoid dealing with dishes later. The blackberries weren’t yet ripe, so I used previously picked ones from the big freezer. I explained what it was, and that it’s one of our favorites. J said it had a “cornbread-like texture.” I never thought of it that way, but she’s right. It’s the almond flour.
J made some delicious potatoes that we both loved and roasted some asparagus too. BF insists that I get the potato recipe from her and make them exactly as told, no matter what. I did ask, but I haven’t gotten it yet. I’ll ask again soon. J is busy most of the time, so it’s likely she missed that request.
We had a great time, everything was delicious, and it was great to just have a relaxing dinner with these nice ladies. And other than the blackberry cobbler, there were no leftovers. BF knew what to expect, and J&B loved the Italian twist on the shrimp.
Next time we go, I’ve got to pull another rabbit out of my hat.
Recipes from Instagram
If you’re looking to find something new for dinner, Pinterest is great. But so is Instagram. One of the reasons I reluctantly got on Instagram was to follow sewing and lifestyle influencer MimiG. And I just went from there, to friends, bloggers, and brands.
Because I began following more accounts, I’ve been introduced to a much larger group of bloggers and people. By that, I mean that while I might follow a person, they may not have a specific brand. Some of the sewing bloggers I follow are that way—they blog their makes, but they’re not specifically a brand. And along the way, you find and learn new things.
So it’s not a surprise that lots of delicious recipes will cross your path. Thankfully there is a function to save these into a list for later. Mine of course is called “Cooking.” I have several others, including sewing, household things, and pets. But you still must go back and find them when you want them.
Of course, when I asked BF about any IG favorites for this blog, his response was, “I don’t know! You make so many new things to feed me, I can’t keep up!” I’m keeping it simple these days when he’s home for dinner and nudge him to cover the evening meal more often. After his recent two-week vacation, I’m ready to camp out in a coffee shop for a while.
In the interim, I’ve found a few recipes to share. They’re easy and tasty and could even make it to your kitchen this week.
Sara Moulton: Buffalo Chicken Rice
If you’re not familiar with this lady, she’s a veteran of The Food Network and author of four books. On Instagram, she offers quick tips and quick recipes for any night of the week, along with announcements for her upcoming appearances. She also responds to questions from followers.
This quick and simple five-ingredient dinner is easy and fast with flavors of Buffalo Chicken Wings. I asked about cheese substitutions and Mrs. Moulton said “any good melting cheese with flavor would work.” BF doesn’t like blue cheese, so we swapped blue cheese for cheddar. And it worked. Admittedly we haven’t made it since, but I should revisit this soon, because he did enjoy that recipe. She posted it on May 23, 2023, and I made it about a week later. It’s a great “bowl food.” As a one-pot meal, you could even use the Instant Pot on “Saute” and not even turn on the stove.
Carolyn Ketchum, All Day I Dream About Food: Sugar-Free Fudge Pops
Known as FoodDreamer on Instagram, Carolyn has a variety of delicious foods that are keto, low-carb, sugar- and gluten-free. With over 3.8 thousand followers, she must be doing something right. A couple of years ago I made and featured her Mexican Cauliflower Rice on the blog. BF complained about that dish once I told him it contained cauliflower rice. I also got an email complaint from the GER. Lesson learned: don’t tell, and don’t ask.
But last summer, when it was so hot and dry, Carolyn posted her recipe for Sugar-Free Fudge Pops on IG. Carolyn herself lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband and family, but specifically mentioned Texas and Louisiana’s very hot and dry weather in her original IG post. I took that as my sign that I’d better make some for us, and I did.
This time, BF didn’t complain one bit and really enjoyed having them. Bonus: I found some unsweetened chocolate chips at the local discount grocery store, and they worked perfectly. I’ve got them sealed in a glass jar for the next time I make these, which could be soon. They take a little bit of effort, but the results are totally worth it once you taste one. Finally, those popsicle molds I’ve had since the mid-1990s are going to get used more often. Need to check her keto ice cream recipes soon so I can use my ice cream maker again, too.
Nati Wendolyne, I Love Natii/Low Carb Love: Cheesy Canned Chicken Nuggets.
Nati is the 13-year-old daughter of California-based Mayra Wendolyne of Low Carb Love, who, like Carolyn Ketchum, also does low-carb/keto food, including desserts. Mayra has her own YouTube channel. Nati has her own IG account that her mother manages, and posts her own recipes as well. The kid gets it, her stuff is pretty darn good.
On Mayra’s website, there is a recipe for 3-Ingredient Chicken Nuggets that looks tasty, but I haven’t tried it yet. Over on IG, Nati posted a similar recipe that I saw last October and have enjoyed ever since.
Cheesy Canned Chicken Nuggets
Now, do you know anyone who buys canned chicken? I don’t, but now I pick up a can or two for the pantry so I can make these occasionally. Why not? It’s ready to go for chicken salad or recipes like this one. It’s not even a “recipe,” really, but it works:
- 1 can of cooked chicken breast, drained well
- 1 egg, beaten
- Some grated cheese (Amy’s favorite: Taco Blend or Mexican Blend)
Drain the chicken well and break it up with a fork. Add the beaten egg (or whisk it in the bowl first, then add the chicken.) Add in some cheese, just enough to make it stick together, then mix well. Yes, “eyeball” the cheese. Heat that air fryer to 400oF and spray the basket interior with cooking spray (or use a liner as Nati does.)
Form the chicken mixture into small nuggets, add them to the air fryer, and cook for about ten minutes or until cooked and crispy. No air fryer? You can also put them into the toaster oven on parchment paper or fry them in a pan.
With my small air fryer, I cook them in two batches, but that’s OK. Dip in some sugar-free Buffalo Sauce or barbecue sauce, and it’s a tasty little keto snack, lunch, or dinner anytime. Although I don’t make them for him, BF has tried one and admits that they’re pretty good. Never overlook those humble cans of cooked chicken again!
Keto Make Simple: Two Ingredient Brownies
I don’t know who owns this account, but there are some tasty-looking things here from multiple sources. Admittedly, some of the recipes are a bit odd, like the ground beef and cheese stuffed into a hollowed-out cabbage posted yesterday. I’ll pass on that one. But a sugar-free two-ingredient brownie recipe caught my attention.
Yes, this is a two-ingredient recipe that works. You need:
- A 10- to 12-ounce bag of sugar-free chocolate chips (Hershey’s sugar free chocolate chips worked great here)
- Four eggs
Add parchment paper into a standard-sized loaf pan (or any type you have around.)
Melt the chocolate chips, but don’t burn or overheat them. Microwave at 30-second intervals and mix them with a spatula until they’re fully melted. Let cool for a minute or two or scrape into a bigger bowl and spread out with the spatula for faster heat release.
Add the four eggs into your blender. Blitz for a few seconds with the lid on. When the chocolate is cooled enough, add a small amount of it to the blender and blend to “temper” the eggs so you don’t cook them. Then add the rest of the melted chocolate, and blend on high until it’s all well incorporated. This takes a little longer than you think, and the mixture will be very thick.
Add to the lined loaf pan and bake at 350oF for 40 minutes. (If you use a different sized pan you may need to adjust your baking time.) Let cool, remove from the pan, and cut into brownies.
They taste as good as they look.
I made these last night and they are delicious. BF wouldn’t try one, so they’re all mine.
BONUS: Hannah Taylor, aka, LilyLouTay: Two If You’re Sexy
I always tell BF “I need a funny.” It’s true, and sometimes he is my funny. And now I can find cooking funnies on Instagram from a lady named Hannah Taylor, aka, LilyLouTay. She lives in rural Georgia with her husband and three children. Recently she posted a video of her making homemade Oatmeal Cream Pies, just like the Little Debbie brand.
You can see the original video here, ending with Hannah’s husband James trying one and getting the cream all over his big fuzzy beard.
Hannah’s catchphrase when adding vanilla: “Two if you’re sexy.” Alternately, “two ’cause we sexy.” But she doesn’t use the phrase in the Oatmeal Cream Pie video, just hints at it: “You know how we roll.” I might make these for BF one day if he wants some. She was having fun making those. Her James always seems to be hungry and loves her cooking. Obviously, it works.
What’s even funnier than Hanna’s video is when Atlanta-based sewing and lifestyle blogger MimiG forwarded the original oatmeal cream pie video on her own Instagram account with a few updates, including adding herself enjoying the video while lying in bed. Mimi is the total opposite of Hannah, a big-city urban Latina girl to Hannah’s rural-gal lifestyle, which makes it even more enjoyable.
How did this happen? Mimi was sick in bed for a few days. While recuperating, Mimi caught Hannah’s video, then got up and made some of these Oatmeal Cream Pies herself. At 11:00 pm! The next day or so Mimi posted the updated video on her own account. That’s when I saw it, went back to see the original, and clicked “Follow.” The recipes are all on Hannah’s LilyLouTay website, including these two.
Guessing Mimi’s husband Norris Danta Ford hit the gym a little harder the next morning. Mimi said they were incredible and she would never buy them again after trying homemade.
Hannah Banana Bread
A week or two later, Hannah posted a video for this Banana Bread recipe, called “Hannah Banana Bread.” Who loves banana bread? BF does. I made a loaf of Hannah Banana Bread (pecans included) for BF while he was on a day trip to New Orleans. Things went wrong, he had help from friends, and he was happy about that banana bread when he got home.
The finished product. Might do a blog post on it one day.
He liked it, and the co-worker who helped him happily took home a couple of slices as well.
Since then, I’ve been following the effervescent Hannah Taylor and her fun videos, too. Warning: no keto or gluten-free here but she’s just so much fun!
Heaven knows I need funny, like this fun unboxing video when she received a gift of new clothes. Hannah’s videos are as funny as they are informative. Her husband James enjoys everything she cooks, at least, on camera, and frequently drops in on camera to add to the fun. Now I’m wondering if he ever disliked anything she made. If not, lucky for Hannah.
More To Come
Why don’t I do any cooking or kitchen videos? Because the kitchen at the Casa de Rurale frequently looks like a crime scene, especially if BF has been cooking. The pictures I show are tightly cropped and edited before I upload them. We don’t want to frighten anyone or invoke any inquiries that end up with someone “checking in.” It’s just the way it works, whether we want to or not. I do the best I can with everything.
I’ve got a cookbook review to finish up, and a few more recipes I’ve made. There may be a few posts in the draft folder I’ve not done yet, like the dehydrator blog. It’s been about a year since I got it and I need to tell you about all the tasty things I’ve made. Mostly, I enjoy the apples tossed with lime juice to prevent browning and sprinkled with cinnamon. Lately I’ve chopped some and mixed them into Greek yogurt, or added frozen blackberries. But recently I tried dehydrating oranges, as I’ll explain in that blog post.
Yes, you can dehydrate orange slices
Yup, they dry out great, but take a while. Tasty!
I’ve had to buy a restaurant-sized bottle of cinnamon to make sure I don’t run out. Time to order more from Fiesta Spices in San Antonio, yes? Of course, the cat doesn’t care:
Because she’s an orange cat, that’s why.
Be back soon. Until then. . .
Happy Dining!
Another wedding! BF and I made it to the wedding of one of BF’s friends, one year after Rafael & Carmen’s lovely affair.
Hi, Again, Dear Readers:
Have you tried one of the new foodie trends yet? No? Me either. BF is glad that I haven’t cajoled him into a Boba Tea shop yet—the local PJ’s Coffee shops and Starbucks in Hammond are enough for him any day.
He likes that PJ’s offers veterans discounts, and some of the tasty things they have, too. Especially in that PJ’s next to the military recruiting stations in Hammond. We did try one of the recent Aldi Finds, Priano tomato and mozzarella gnocchi from Italy. Not bad, but he didn’t care for it. It’s OK, though, we at least tried some.
An Invitation
Once again, we were invited to a wedding. Traveling was about an hour round-trip, and it was a great time. And guess who forgot to get pictures of the food? Yup, your intrepid blogger. But I got pictures of everything else, including me and BF, and the gorgeous wedding cake, too. Note that I was using an iPhone 11, so not all of the pictures are top-quality.
BF has known Ray, usually called “Ray-Ray,” for many years. He’s been to the Casa de Rurale several times, sometimes with his brother Gerald. We’ve not met his wife Angela yet. We only saw her at the wedding and didn’t get a chance to chat.
Then one day BF sent me a text message with a picture of an invitation:
This came by text
Who? What? Upon asking, he confirmed that it was, in fact, Ray-Ray. I was surprised because I didn’t know he was getting married, nor that we would be invited. We made our plans to attend.
Wedding Venue
This wedding was held in The Knights of Columbus Hall in Ponchatoula, a nice-sized venue. I didn’t get to ask who did the décor, and everything was elegantly done. (Even if I didn’t get pictures of the food tables.)
We weren’t told this ahead of time, but it looked like the theme was black and white:
Isn’t it lovely?
Closeup of the place setting in the area reserved for the family.
Each table had a similar arrangement
I think this was the groom’s cake–but I confess, I don’t remember, and I think I forgot to ask, too.
And there was a table and chairs for the couple following the wedding:
We were far across the room for this so I didn’t get any pictures of them here.
A beautiful backdrop for the ceremony:
Lots of pictures were posed here too
Most of the family members wore black and white in keeping with the apparent theme, although there were some exceptions. I was the only one wearing Navy Blue. Later I was told that the far side of the room was reserved for family members, but nobody minded me taking a few pictures before the wedding started.
More venue pictures
This was the card box:
Another part of the family-reserved area:
On the other side of the room, the settings were slightly different but equally elegant:
This was our table
Closeup of the place setting
The bell had a message:
And we did!
The Ceremony
It was short but meaningful, led by the groom’s brother, who is a minister. The bride wore a lovely light grey gown with a corset back and a sparkly tiara.
Isn’t she gorgeous?
The walk took a few minutes:
There wasn’t an actual “aisle” as in a church
Once the bride made it to the wedding arch, they started:
The ceremony begins
I zoomed in for a closer look:
From here, everything starts
Following the ceremony, Mr. and Mrs. Ray Dantzler:
Married!
There were lots more pictures, and BF and I even posed with them for their photographer. I didn’t get a picture of that, though.
The Wedding Cake!
Ok, just get an eyeful of this beauty:
Beautiful
And that detail:
Check out that detail!
I thought I took a picture of the slices passed to us, but I can’t find it now. We both enjoyed that delicious confection. Oh, the smooth, creamy icing. . .it was just everything you expect in such a rich confection.
The “Wedding Cake” Flavor
Local bakeries have something called “wedding cake flavor.” Anyone who grew up in the New Orleans area knows that it’s the traditional flavor of local wedding cakes. Out-of-towners have no idea.
That distinctive element of wedding cakes of New Orleans—and this one—is the presence of almond flavoring. It’s a local tradition. While the cake at Rafael & Carmen’s wedding was indeed delicious, it did not have almond, or the“wedding cake flavor” you find in and around New Orleans. A Texas baker isn’t likely to know about it, nor would the couple, and probably wouldn’t ask to include it—unless they knew.
I’d forgotten about that until I took a bite of this one and remembered it well. It’s been a while, and you don’t forget that taste. A quick search turned up this article from the local newspaper about that very thing. A small amount of almond extract is added to both the cake and the icing. Not too much, because almond extract is very strong.
At Justin & Bronte’s wedding in 2020, we had a slice of the groom’s cake, not the actual wedding cake. So, I don’t know if the cake was “wedding cake flavored”—we’ll just guess that it did.
Now that I think about it, I want to make some kind of keto cake and icing with almond extract for that taste. Who’s with me?
Champagne, Cocktails and The Dinner Menu
Right after the wedding concluded, champagne servers were walking around and pouring at every table. I had one and was hoping for a second sip but couldn’t find anyone serving anymore. The bar area was making strictly mixed drinks, wine, and beer. I could have had a cocktail, but didn’t, even though BF was doing all the driving that night.
Dinner was. . .barbecue! No kidding, along with mac and cheese, green beans, and a couple of other things (that I don’t remember.) Everything was delicious. (And of course, no pictures of it unless I can cajole them from the groom.)
The man who did the catering was seated at our table and told us he was the one who made everything. No complaints! Everyone enjoyed dinner and the company that came with it at our table.
Dancing After Dinner
The one thing I heard the most was, “The music’s too loud.” Admittedly, it was kind of on the loud side, but all the DJs do that now, right?
Gerald was sitting at our table with a nice elderly lady, who pointed out one song sung by the sister of R&B musician R. Kelly. (Yes, that guy.) I thought the lady said her name was “Sheila,” but I can’t find it now. It was a pretty good song, but I was completely unfamiliar with the music myself. A lot was going on that night.
After dinner, folks were getting up and dancing. I should say some folks were getting up and dancing. BF was not one of them, nor were most where we were seated. I hate to say it this way, but the white folks were kind of boring, and everyone else was having fun.
After a few of BF’s odd looks, I got up and danced with some of the ladies and tried my best to learn their dance moves on the fly. They were friendly and gave me some help. If I’d had a bit more time I would have gotten the moves down.
And then the music changed, and everyone danced a different step.
Gerald showed his amusement when he saw me get up and attempt dancing with the ladies on the floor. Guess I should have danced with him once. They’ve been to the Casa de Rurale since the wedding. They haven’t forgotten and let me know about that.
Should have started dancing with the ladies long before I did.
My Outfit
Ever the fashionista, I wore the same Badgley Mischka cocktail dress from Rafael & Carmen’s wedding—because why not?
Isn’t it fabulous? (It is now out of print.)
I finally got around to hand-sewing a bunch of snaps onto the drape and the fringe so I could remove the fringe later. I don’t even want to know how many snaps I sewed by hand, and it took me a while to get them all on so that the drape looked right.
Three years after Justin and Bronte’s wedding, I finally finished the Navy blue birdcage headpiece I originally planned to wear to their wedding, and also planned to wear to Rafael and Carmen’s. I made it from this out-of-print Simplicity pattern of accessories.
Mine is at the top right, View D
Amy’s cheat: I bought the white flowers already made from Hobby Lobby and cut the stems short instead of making the flowers. The Russian veiling I ordered from Etsy, where you can get things like that in nearly any color. One day maybe I’ll attempt that fascinator, View E, in a deep red.
I thought it would look good with the Badgley Mischka dress during the ceremony. Then, I would remove it for the reception, carefully tucking it into a bag and in my purse. And I would have, but BF put up a big fuss about it, insisting that it would look “funny.”
He said this looked “funny.”
So, I didn’t wear it inside the venue. It stayed in a bag in our vehicle.
Not a good picture of us, but here we are. The DJ is directly behind us in the corner.
Honestly, I should have worn it anyway. I’m not taking fashion advice from a mechanic again.
A second opinion
Later, I posted those pictures of the pattern and veil on Facebook, both on my page and in McCall’s sewing group. Carmen said on FB that she wanted a birdcage but couldn’t find one she liked. She might have gotten me to make one had she known I could. Wouldn’t that have been fun if we were both wearing the same headpiece in different colors?
Responses were mostly positive in both places, except for one troll in the Facebook group who wasn’t paying attention and felt the need to remind me that “only the bride wears white.” Not only did I not wear white, but neither did the bride, her beautiful dress was very light silver gray. DUH, lady.
BF, of course, wore khaki trousers and a white/blue checked Izod dress shirt like this one.
Source: Amazon
Can’t tell you how old it is, only that I’m tasked with occasionally ironing it for him.
Another lovely wedding
Each wedding is unique and reflects the personalities of the couple getting married. As nice as each one we attended was, the only thing they all had in common was a man and a woman getting married, and a big cake. The details were all completely different and made each occasion special for everyone who attended. Each had its own vibe. There is no comparison of one to the other.
Like the previous two we’ve attended, everything went perfectly. Everyone had a great time and were all happy to see them get married. Ray and Angela’s elegant affair was just a half-hour drive home for us this time with no toll roads. Eventually, I’ll have our pictures printed up in a little Shutterfly book. As soon as I am finished with the book for the last one we attended.
We wish them a long and happy life together and thank them for their gracious invitation to a lovely evening.
Congratulations to Ray and Angela!
Caulipower has upgraded its signature pizza line with three new upgraded flavors. In this blog, I try the one with mushrooms.
Hi, again, Dear Readers:
Ok, after my last post, I decided to write up the local wedding we went to last year, and it’s about halfway done. So that’s coming soon.
I also found a selfie I sent to BF during the holidays when I went to meet up with a little old lady at Starbucks in Hammond:
Went to visit someone over the holiday season
Or as I call it on Facebook, a “proof of life” selfie. Sometimes, amazingly, I still look a little like I used to before life got the upper hand. That’s OK, I’ve got BF now, and that’s good too.
Pizza and Valentine’s Day
Longtime readers know I’m a fan of Caulipower’s delicious pizzas. And because BF won’t touch it, not even a bite, they’re all mine. They’re thin crust and not big, so I can enjoy the whole thing by myself. I don’t care what he says, they are that good.
For multiple reasons this week, we decided to get frozen pizzas for dinner, including Valentine’s Day. It’s been a tough week for us and doing the whole Valentine’s thing was too much to think about. Maybe next week. We’re here, we’ve got each other, we love getting on each other’s nerves, and that’s all we need. Plus a little chocolate occasionally.
On Tuesday we made a supply run. That’s when I accidentally discovered a new artisan flavor of Caulipower pizza in the back of Walmart’s freezer case.
It’s in a black box, rather than white. I bought one of those and an Uncured Pepperoni for the first non-cooking dinner. BF had his usual thick-crust Red Baron, which he enjoyed over two nights.
Caulipower’s Three New Flavors
The company is always pushing the envelope on healthier offerings using cauliflower, so there’s always a new flavor or new thing around, like their Cauliflower Pasta. Recently, they’ve debuted a new artisan-style Over The Top pizzas with stone-fired crusts:
- The Dream Supreme, with pepperoni, sausage, and bell peppers
- Spicy Chicken Sausage with chicken sausage and fire roasted bell peppers
- Truffilicious Mushroom, with a mushroom blend, white sauce, cheese, and truffle oil
Admittedly I have not tried them all, and doing so would require BF to be working late more often. This is to avoid the retching noises and other negative reactions when I tell him what I’m trying out and avoid reactions like the one for Overnight Oatmeal.
Then I found something new.
The Trufflicious Mushroom Pizza
Remember in my post about 2024 foodie trends I said that one prediction was mushrooms everywhere for vegans and vegetarians as a meat substitute?
What’s this?
Caulipower has joined the trend with this version of its newest pizza line.
Mushrooms on pizza is nothing new, whether vegetarian or not. The sauce is not tomato but a “white sauce,” which is occasionally used on pizza like it is on pasta.
Here’s the important stuff
So, being curious (and having an extra $8) I bought one to try.
Bake It Up
The instructions are the same for every type of Caulipower I’ve ever tried: bake at 425 degrees for 13 to 16 minutes, until done. (Unwrap it first, of course.)
Looks like any ordinary mushroom pizza.
Don’t forget about it, either, especially in a small countertop oven.
Just like that.
In what seems like seconds later, you have pizza:
Ready?
Even though it’s a bit “Cajunized” on one side, the other side needed a few more minutes. But I wasn’t about to wait. I took it out and sliced it up.
I was hungry, too. BF had no interest.
The Taste
Let me start by telling you the positive parts of this pizza:
- Stone-fired pizza crust
- Gluten-free
- No artificial flavors, preservatives, or colors
- Good source of protein
Caulipower makes all kinds of good-for-you foods based on cauliflower that offer fast, convenient, and healthy eating at any time. I haven’t tried all of them because they’re not all available here.
But I’m just not wild about this pizza, y’all.
I’m glad I tried it once, but I don’t want it anymore. It’s not bad, it’s just not appealing. Maybe it’s the truffle oil in the sauce, or the cheese, or the mushroom blend, I don’t know. This pizza is just not for me. I can’t answer for anyone else.
Will you like it? I don’t know—you must find out for yourself, honestly. If this blog doesn’t make you curious, well. . .get the uncured pepperoni version, or pick up a box of crusts and create your own Caulipower. Their “regular” pizzas are very tasty. I just can’t vouch for this one, despite their other tasty flavors.
The Other Two
Since I only found the Truffilicious Mushroom version of the Over The Top line in Walmart, I don’t know if I can get the other two here. As always, I’ll check out Winn-Dixie or Rouses later and see if they have them in stock.
I’ve had Caulipower’s Buffa-Whoa buffalo chicken pizza and found it to be a little too warm for my taste. This makes me cautious about the Spicy Chicken Sausage version because I don’t like anything that’s overly hot. I haven’t found their “white pizza” either but will try it if I ever find one. The rest I like, including the crust that you can add your own ingredients on top and bake.
Good Food Frozen
As more people embrace healthier eating, better quality things are available in the freezer case. I’m sure there will always be regular frozen pizzas, lasagna, and other freezer staples available. But healthier food is making its way into American grocery stores, and that’s always a good thing.
Enjoy!
He liked the leather wallets, but that’s not me standing next to him.
Expert Trends
As with every New Year, “experts” of all descriptions predict what we’ll be doing after January 1. How many of those predictions become trends is anybody’s guess because a “disruptor” comes along that changes things, like Instagram and TikTok (which I’ll talk about later.) Or life changes in some way, like the three-year thing, and we adapt accordingly. So I decided to see what they’re saying about the newest foodie trends that may be coming to us in the New Year.Trends And Predictions For 2024
I thought about doing this after my last blog post. What are the trends we can look forward to seeing in 2024 on the foodie front? Every year, there’s always something new to discover, even if it’s something old that’s just repackaged. TikTok, the short-video social media, seems to be the primary trend influencer. This blogger does not have TikTok on her phone and only knows what she reads about and sees that flows from TikTok onto Instagram. But because TikTok is the thing now, it’s a driver for these “new” food trends, along with the food industry. Remember how high eggs were a year ago? Record inflation for the past three years has also cut into food budgets from teenagers to families with children, so not everyone is on board with, say, the caviar-on-Doritos trend. Trader Joe’s has announced their Customer Choice Awards 2024, and one of my favorites is on it: The Brazil Nut Body Butter. It’s inedible, but one sniff of that incredible fragrance and you’re hooked. Even BF likes it, but only when I’m wearing some. Predicting trends is not an exact science. Frequently, making predictions can be all over the place, as I discovered researching for this blog. So here are some of the anticipated trends predicted for this year.Tamarind
McCormick is betting on its new “Mexican Inspired” Tamarind blend as the preeminent flavor for all things culinary in 2024.
McCormick makes this
Not straight Tamarind, but a blend, with two types of sugar.
“Boba Tea,” aka “Bubble Tea”
Back in the day, the Frappuccino was the trendy new thing to drink. Then chai came along. Then the famous (or infamous) Pumpkin Spice Latte sparked all manner of fall-based trends. Today, we have Bubble Tea, also called Boba Tea, and it’s being called a new trend for 2024.
This is a generic picture of what Bubble Tea, or Boba Tea, looks like.
Because I don’t get out much, apparently there is Boba ParTea and TeaTery Tea & Tapioca in Baton Rouge. Boba ParTea is near one of our favorite places there, The City Café on O’Neal Lane. (I’ve never done a review on it, go figure, but we like it.) A quick search indicates that bubble tea places are popping up all over Houston. (Get it?) My Boba Tea is out on the west side, on Dairy Ashford, and there might be one in Clear Lake, too. (I couldn’t tell from a search.) Like anything in Houston, toss a quarter in any direction, you’ll probably find at least one. If you can get beignets in Houston, you’ll find a place selling bubble tea, too, but probably not in the same place.
Neighbor E is reading this and holding onto his chai latte real tight.
Neighbor E’s favorite
What It Is
So, what is this wacky new stuff that the kids all like? I did find some in our local Walmart this past weekend:
Yup, there it is.
If I were getting some, I’d go with that Vanilla Latte flavor.
That’s how it’s made, and that’s a lot of sugar.
Retro Anything Trend
For some bizarre reason, there is a 90’s nostalgia food trend happening now. It may have something to do with the release of a movie called Mean Girls, a reboot of the 2004 film. This trend sees retro food reimagined for folks who want to return to their youth or something. Also called “newstalgia,” this kind of thing appears during or right after difficult times. Maybe I should find new copies of some old cookbooks and see where that takes me. On the other hand, I have no plans to source and purchase Pop Rocks to add into something. But it might be a fun joke to play on BF one day if he gets on my last nerve.Increased Plant-Based Foods
Even though I stocked up on unsweetened chocolate almond milk during the most recent freeze, I’m not following this trend. However, an increase in demand for plant-based everything is expected to continue into 2024. Especially considering the increased prices of all types of meat. However, the plant-based meat industry has faced obstacles, forcing many to cut back operations. And it’s not cheap, either. Some providers have closed for business entirely. There just isn’t the demand they anticipated, and the problems of the last three years haven’t helped. Furthermore, the ingredients in some of these offerings aren’t always as healthy as touted.
Because it’s impossible to get normal people to eat this stuff. (Source: Google Images)
Source: Google Images
Source: Google Images/Getty Images
Vegan Pepperoni?
I haven’t been to Trader Joe’s in many months, and the last time I visited Aldi was between Christmas and New Year. TJ’s does offer a fair amount of vegan and vegetarian foods for those who like them. They are a California company, after all, up on all the latest food trends. Well, Natasha from Trader Joe’s List posted this new Trader Joe’s product on Instagram the other day:
Source: Trader Joe’s List Instagram page
Source: Trader Joe’s List Instagram page.
Trend: Artificial intelligence (AI)
AI has been rumbling around for years, but in 2022, ChatGPT brought AI into mainstream consciousness. While this blogger does use ChatGPT—like a bookkeeper would use a calculator—I wrote this blog without ChatGPT’s assistance. (And I’m sure it shows too.)
Automation has been in the food industry for decades. In recent years AI has become increasingly sophisticated wherever it’s used. The infusion of technology probably won’t be obvious to consumers and restaurant patrons. Most of it will work in the background, not in full view.
How It Works
For instance, I saw an article recently (but I can’t find it now) about how companies keep their ice cream flavors in stock. It works like this: the ice cream vendor owns the freezer that’s in your local store or a component thereof. The freezer or component is equipped with a sensor device that sends information to the company remotely, letting them know what to restock automatically.
In other words, HEB, or our local Walmart, or Winn-Dixie doesn’t have to tell the vendor they are out of a specific type of ice cream, gelato, or novelty frozen dessert. The vendor already knows the minute the freezer space is low or emptied. Sensors inside the freezer send them a notification automatically, and the supply chain that brings it is (mostly) seamless. The vendor is already working to get that freezer refilled with Cherry Mocha Chocolate Chunk Hazelnut Crème Gelato before someone starts asking questions.
In restaurants, automation and technology are expected to help pick up the load, saving labor and time. Again, customers won’t see this AI automation. McDonald’s has already opened a test of the automated concept in Fort Worth, but there are also humans working there. Increasing automation with AI is expected to help increase efficiency and cut costs in all types of eateries.
AI Trends In Popular Culture
Fans of The X-Files will remember a semi-comedic episode in the eleventh season (2018) with little dialog and revolved around an automated sushi restaurant. There are no humans in the place, and when Mulder’s order is wrong, there is no one to complain to and no way to get the sushi he ordered. Things escalate quickly, and the duo breaks out of the place. Headed home, Scully’s autonomous (and driverless) taxi speeds out of control, and her house is overtaken by electronics. Eventually, the pair is cornered by several robots that hand Mulder his phone, showing that he has not left a tip or a review. He leaves a 10% tip with his phone, the robots back off and go away, and then everything is all over. We’re a long way from that scenario, but don’t be surprised if the automated restaurant trend becomes more common, even in a limited capacity.Speaking of Ice Cream
This article discusses new trends in our favorite frozen dessert. From calorie (and carb) conscious to more sophisticated flavor profiles, ice cream continues to evolve. I still prefer making my own, but it’s nice to know keto and sugar-free ice creams are available. One of those trends is new flavor combinations. Well, I’ve got one I just saw in Walmart the other night:
Little Debbie is “the other woman” in our relationship.
Hot, Sweet & Sour Trends
If you’re one of those people who think the hotter, the better, you’re about to get your sensibilities whacked. By that, I mean that one new trend is to combine hot with sweet or other flavors to temper the heat and bring new layers of flavor. Gen Z has discovered extremely hot condiments like Sriracha and enjoys adding them to different dishes. Fermented food and drinks like kombucha also continue to be a force in food. Admittedly, this blogger does not go near the stuff. I do like pickles on occasion, especially the milder ones like kosher dill. BF, on the other hand, hates anything remotely “pickle-y,” and will let you know about it–loudly.Rethinking The Drink
People like BF, Aunt Ruth, and Aunt Kathy are just not going to be fazed by the trend of Dry January right after the holidays. (Yup, a bit late for that too, but hear me out.) I don’t drink that often, and I can tell you the last occasions where I had alcohol: A wedding last November, (BF drove us) plus Thanksgiving and this past New Year’s Eve at home. But some folks drink a little more regularly and observe Dry January as a month of “reset.” Actress and foodie Valerie Bertinelli takes it seriously and frequently posts videos about her Dry January on Instagram. If you can’t give up the cocktails, there are ways to enjoy a sophisticated libation without the alcohol in January or any other month.Fancy Sodas and Soft Drinks
For BF, Cherry Coke is about as fancy as he gets. I quit drinking soft drinks back in 1997 and have had only one since then. Now, I don’t have a taste for them. But over the years, soft drinks, aka “sodas,” have evolved into nonstandard versions that appeal to more discriminating tastes. The first one I remember seeing was Izze’s, a “fizzy” juice blend with no sugar or artificial flavorings.
This is just one of many flavors
Zevia
Another one I’ve seen is Zevia Zero Sugar Sodas, but I haven’t tried them myself. They offer soda, energy drinks, teas, and drinks for kids.
One of several varieties
The Dry Cocktail Trends
Non-alcoholic wines and other spirits are also an evolving market, especially for Dry January. Something new that has crossed my path is called Ritual Zero Proof, spirits for people who love to drink. No kidding, it’s a series of taste-alike alternatives to tequila, rum, whiskey, aperitif, and gin. The bottles are sold individually as well as in bundles. (NOTE: I have not personally tried these libations.)
Cocktail ready with no alcohol.
Rethinking Your Drink
Do you want a drink? They’re easy to find. There are always recipes for dry cocktails, or “mocktails,” available online at the touch of a button. I have several cocktail recipes in books, too, like Suzanne Somers Cocktails book, one of my favorites. You can make many of these drinks without alcohol, including my favorites:- The Somersize Mojito on page 17
- The Watermelon Mojito on page 21
- The Ruby Red Greyhound on page 27
