* Aidell’s teriyaki meatballs + rice + frozen Edamame + grapes
* Rotisserie chicken + bread or whole-wheat tortilla triangles (brush a ww tortilla with a little oil and a little butter, toast until crispy, lightly sprinkle with kosher salt, cut into triangles) + sliced baby carrots and Persian cucumbers + melon cubes
* Frozen basil pesto Tilapia + brown rice bowl with a little extra EVOO + broccoli steamed and seasoned with a little butter/lemon/salt/pepper
* Pasta with marinara sauce + sunflower seeds on side (for protein) + bagged salad + pear slices
* Ground beef or turkey (or mix half and half)—brown on stove and add Bearitos seasoning packet (Sprouts/Whole Foods item), some tomato paste and water per directions on packet + Tortilla Land tortillas + bagged salad + sliced cucumbers + apples (note you can make low-carb by putting the cooked beef/turkey with veggies instead of tortilla)
* Hamburgers or turkey burgers (just found the easiest way to shape a burger…use a plastic lid about 6-7 inches long, cover w/ plastic wrap, press meat inside to fit lid shape, then remove….marinate burger with Yoshida sauce for 30 minutes before cooking) + bun + Nature’s Sweet Sunburst yellow cherry tomatoes + sliced bananas
* Chicken tenderloins—marinate in buttermilk 30 minutes before cooking on counter, then toss in flour/salt/pepper mixture, then brown on both sides in pan with hot canola oil, then finish in oven at 350 degrees for 5-10 minutes + rice + sugar snap peas + grapes
When I think of many foods at Costco I am reminded of the quote, “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” When you buy a whole pre-made meal with everything included, it contains twice (or more) the ingredients you would need if you made it from scratch. They need those extra powders, colors, gums and oils to keep ingredients from separating and to ensure a quality taste over many weeks (or months?). To sum up the overwhelming array of Costco products, I’ll conclude with Michael Pollan’s wisdom:
“Don’t eat anything incapable of rotting.”
Happy shopping (and cooking!).