The Costco Haul – September 2013

It’s that time around here again. Costco time.

I shared my Costco haul with you in August and found that I am not alone in my buy in bulk mentality so I’m back to share again. It was restock time for a lot of the staples I buy on a regular basis but in addition to the regular suspects, I almost always try a couple of new things each time we go. There won’t be any repeats in this post so be sure to check out my last haul HERE.

Put on your walking shoes, grab a cart, and let’s go shopping!

As we prepare to head into the holiday season it is the perfect time to stock up on nuts. I will be reaching for these bags frequently for the remaining months of the year. Bourbon Pecan Pie and Pumpkin Roll with Cream Cheese Walnut Filling are both required around here beginning in October and many times thereafter. Cookies, brownies, breads, pies; the nuts will be put to good use. I also love to toast both pecans and walnuts and throw them in salads. I keep these big bags in my fridge to be sure the nuts are super fresh for several months, although at this time of year it is doubtful they will last that long.

• 2 pound bag pecan halves – $12.99
• 3 pound bag walnuts – $16.99

Our Costco carries these Einstein Bros. Bagels which are baked fresh and packaged up to be sold as a two pack. We love these bagels. They freeze beautifully so I always freeze one package for later. There are a variety of flavors to choose from but almost always go with onion (left) and sesame (right).

• Einstein Bros. Bagels – two packs (12 bagels total) for $5.49

A few items from the produce section.

• Earthbound Farms Organic Half & Half Spring Mix/Baby Spinach (1 pound) – $3.79
• Dole Asparagus (2.25 pound) – $6.99
• Blueberries (18 ounces) – $4.99

Frozen convenience items. Based on the evidence in my kitchen on weekend mornings, these items taste very good to teenage boys in the middle of the night.

• Foster Farms Breast Nuggets (5 pound bag) – $12.99
• King’s Hawaiian Style Teriyaki Chicken Bowls (6 bowls) – $10.99

I absolutely love this big container of shaved Parmesan. It makes my life so much easier. I use it everytime I make a pasta dish, throw it on garlic bread, Caesar salad, and on, and on, and on and the price is a huge value over what you’d spend on a comparable amount at the grocery store. I by far prefer the consistency and texture of the shaved Parmesan over the shredded variety.

Yancey’s Fancy cheese varieties are totally delish. We love this Smoked Gouda on paninis and burgers, and it’s fantastic in scrambled eggs and omelets. It’s a bit of an indulgence but so worth it.

• Cello Shaved Parmigiano Reggiano (1 pound) – $13.99
• Yancey’s Fancy Smoked Gouda (big hunk) – $7.35

When I’m at my best, I have lots of flash frozen fruit stocked in my freezer, however,  I’m not always at my best. During those times it’s great to grab one of the many bagged frozen fruit varieties available at Costco. This one has my favorite combo – strawberries, peaches, and mango. Perfect for a quick smoothie in the morning.

• Townsend Farms Organic Mixed Fruit Blend (3 pound bag) – $6.39

Boy #4 tried these light and refreshing drinks at my brother’s house this summer so we decided to pick some up this time. They have no carbs, sugar, sodium, or caffeine which makes them a great alternative to sugary sodas.

• Cascade Ice (24 pack) – $11.99

Shopping for meat at Costco helps me immensely with my menu planning. I choose whatever looks good and build off of those choices for the next couple of weeks. This time I went with beef stew meat, boneless chuck shoulder pot roasts, and Dover sole fillets. These chuck pot roasts from Costco are the best I’ve come across.

• Beef for Stew ($3.99 per pound) – $12.01
• Boneless Chuck Shoulder Pot Roast ($4.99 per pound) – $20.91
• Fresh Wild Dover Sole Fillets ($4.99 per pound) – $13.17

I can’t survive a day without these rolls of extra long heavy duty foil. Well, maybe a day, but never more than that. Heavy duty foil is a girl’s best friend in the kitchen. It was also time to restock my gallon sized freezer bags.

• Reynold’s Wrap Heavy Duty Foil – two pack (150 square feet per roll) – $13.49
• Ziploc Gallon Freezer Bags (152 bags) – $11.99

You might have also spied some wine in the midst of all the other goodies. Well, I wish I had a better photo of those bottles for you but they are history. We had a gathering at the house last weekend and the wine flowed and well, the wine is gone.

• R. Goyette Cabernet Sauvignon – $14.49
• Gold Cabernet Sauvignon – $15.59
• J. Lohr Hilltop Cabernet Sauvignon – $21.89

That’s it for this month. I always feels so content when my kitchen essentials have been replenished. If only that feeling could last.

Happy shopping!