The holidays are over, classes have resumed for my college boys, and the pantry was looking pretty sad. It was time for another trip to Costco.
I have a different mindset in January and this haul definitely reflects that. I’m crazy busy at work with end of year stuff and always get home later than usual each day. With two of my guys out of the house and back at school there are less around for dinner. So, for me, January is a time for scaling back, lightening up, and giving myself a break in the kitchen.
Let’s take a look at what ended up in my cart this time.
Java! I’ve been having a love affair with whole bean coffee as of late so I was happy to see that Costco carries this great big 3 pound bag of rich, dark Sumatra French roast. After feeding the puppies, the first place I head in the morning is the coffee maker to get a big pot of this yummy coffee brewing. At less than $5.00 per pound, you can’t beat the price.
- Kirkland Brand Sumatra Whole Bean Coffee (3 pounds) – $14.79
This Organic 6-Grain Pancake and Waffle Mix was a new item for us and I highly recommend it. It’s easily the best packaged pancake mix I’ve tried. They bake up into substantial, super tasty, wholesome whole grain pancakes. It’s not the norm for me to buy baking mixes like this but it’s January folks. This is one of the many ways I’m giving myself a break.
Product update: It appears that Costco is no longer carrying this product but I was informed by Central Milling that it is now available for purchase on their website – click HERE for more information.
Second update: I found the pancake mix in stock at my Costco in February 2015 for a dollar more per package ($8.99).
- Central Milling Company Organic 6-Grain Pancake and Waffle Mix (5 pounds) – $7.99
Where there are pancakes, there must be berries.
- Blackberries (18 ounces) – $4.49
- Strawberries (2 pounds) – $5.99
I’ve been pretty heavy into smoothie making in the new year and honey is my sweetener of choice. Lookie HERE for some smoothie recipe ideas and stay tuned for another one of my favorites coming very soon.
- Kirkland Organic Honey (3 pack – 24 ounce each) – $11.69
Kinder’s BBQ Sauce is out of this world good and my absolute favorite, thanks to a recommendation from brother Jim. You need to try this sauce and Jim’s recipe for country style ribs this summer. Trust me.
- Kinder’s Organic Mild BBQ Sauce (2 pack – 20.4 ounce each) – $6.99 less $1.50 coupon = $5.49
I only eat trail mix on intense 5 mile uphill hikes, or when I’m sitting on the couch watching The Bachelor with a glass of wine. But that’s it. It’s this kind of discipline that has gotten me to where I am today (on the couch with a glass of wine, shoving trail mix in my mouth and watching The Bachelor).
- Kirkland Trail Mix (4 pounds) – $12.49
I bought these two items with Boy #4 in mind. He wanted a Brita Water Filter Pitcher to keep in his fridge in his dorm room for refilling his water bottle. This is a nice item for any kitchen but it’s a great one to put on your college dorm room list if you’ve got one heading off later this year. I can’t vouch for this but the package says that one filter can replace 300 water bottles. That’s pretty impressive.
- Brita 10 Cup Water Filtration System (1 Pitcher/2 Filters) – $29.99 less $10.00 coupon = $19.99
This Teriyaki Turkey Jerky went along with the Brita pitcher in the most recent college care package. Boy #4 burns tons of calories playing water polo so I like to include some high protein snacks. I also bagged up some of the trail mix for him so there would be less of it calling to me from the pantry next time The Bachelor is on.
- Pacific Gold Teriyaki Turkey Jerky (2 pack – 8 ounce each) – $10.99
I like to try all the different types of pasta available at Costco and this Italian Sausage Ravioli was next on my list. Another great convenience item to have on hand for a quick main or side dish. I served this for dinner last night with a quick saute of chicken, fresh spinach, cherry tomatoes, garlic,and Parmesan. It was delicious!
- Rana Italian Sausage Ravioli (2 pack – 18 ounce each) – $10.59
Have you seen these little Pork Sirloin Tip Roasts yet? They are a super economical cut. I’ve tried preparing them with a couple different cooking methods, one of which I’ll be sharing soon. It’s hard to tell from this picture but this is actually a 4 pack. Each roast is approximately 2 pounds or just a tad over. (Update – click HERE and HERE for a couple of great recipes using this cut.)
- Pork Sirloin Tip Roasts (4 pack) 9.17 pounds at $1.99 per pound – $18.25
This is the perfect assortment of sliced cheese to keep on hand in the fridge for grilled sandwich making. I have little gremlins in my house that like to make paninis at all hours of the night and day.
- Finlandia Deli Slices Assortment (2 pounds) – $8.99
Sometimes walking through the aisles of Costco helps me meal plan. As soon as I saw these colorful fingerling potatoes I had a vision of steak and roasted potatoes and I just had to have them. I love pretty potatoes.
- Gourmet Specialty Potato Medley Fingerlings (5 pounds) – $4.99
As always, I did some restocking of the basics, many of which I’ve shared in previous Costco Haul posts. Go check them out HERE.
See you in the aisles!
It’s a question rather than a comment. I’ve been a semi-devoted Sams Club shopper for years (we only got a Costco in the area in the past year or so). I’d be interested in comments about the differences between them….? 🙂
Hello Judie. We don’t have a Sam’s close to us here in Northern California so, unfortunately, I can’t answer that for you.
I have shopped at Costco. I currently have a SAMs club card and find that I spend less money at SAMs ….only because they don’t carry as much cool stuff. You know, that cool stuff that is always located in the middle of the store, and you can’t help but find something that you just have to buy.
That’s good advice Leigh Ann. The only problem is that I find cool stuff all over the place! Some of these finds have ended up being my most loved and most useful household items but it can be hard to exert self-control when shopping 🙂
LOVE the fingerling potatoes! I like to halve/quarter them, depending on size, and roast them in my grillwok, add some shaved onion and some sliced mini-peppers, ( those come from Costco too, love ’em!), seasoned with a little sea salt, fresh ground pepper, maybe a chiffonade of basil or sprig of thyme, fantastic! The colors and flavors are irresistable, and are a great accompaniment to steak.
I see a lot of stuff in your Costco haul that I haven’t seen out here in Colorado, it may be a regional thing, or maybe I’m just not that observant, but I’ll look a little harder next time, see if I can’t run some of it down, particularly the TrailMix, and pork tip roasts, that is just a ridiculous deal!
I love seeing what you pick up at Costco! Ps…I like pretty potatoes too 🙂
I got the same BRITA filter, but red one! 😀 I saw the pancake mix, but I wasn’t sure if it’s good so I passed. I’ll definitely consider next time (probably this week haha). I see you always buy the big chunk of cheese at costco. Maybe we don’t eat cheese as much as your family, but I am always tempted to buy since it’s a good price – just not sure how soon I have to finish it… I love your costco post. I get new inspiration from you. 😀
I love those Pork loin tip roasts!!! I use them a lot. Can’t wait to see what you do with them!
I have never tried the pork sirloin tip roasts. I am heading to Costco Saturday (yummy samples!), so, I will pick some up. I will research some recipes. Thanks for the suggestion!
I’ll be posting a really good one soon, Beckie. It’s in my Crock-Pot as I type this. Stay tuned!
Costco FOR THE WIN. John and I just went to one for the first time this month and were quite impressed! Such great prices on produce and frozen fruit!
It’s pretty much a monthly ritual around here. No matter how often we go, I always end up with a few new things to try each time. Thanks for stopping by, Dana 🙂