Must Items from Costco in My Kitchen + Bonus Recipe ( Matcha Sweets)
“If you hesitate which way to go, choose harder one, then you can gain more.”
Dear friends,
“If you hesitate which way to go, choose harder one, then you can gain more.”
By my dear late grandpa
I opened an email from my dearest editor, asking for “ xxx items I always buy at Costco.” WOW!!!!
I said honesty…, WE shop there…, I used to go there a lot…, especially when my kids were in the school age; apple juice, sports drink, snacks, even meats all items I don’t buy anymore. Thanks to my Costo lover husband, he really enjoys Costco monthly plus field trip with buch of shopping list. I occasionally join him to find something new. My excuse…, prioritizing being local and environmental friendly with Suzuki Farm and farmers market, and saving time with one stop shopping at 3min drive WholeFood Market.
Now, again I need and want to learn more about Pro and Con side of Costco!!
Those are the Costco items I trust and I always keep in my kitchen.
Top No. 1 & 2 are both soy; organic Tofu and organic Frozen Edamame. Two boxes ( 4 package each= package total).., generally we finished 8 packs less than 10 days and I need to run to WholeFoods or local Asian store.
Dried Goji Berry… comes to the third. In Japanese, it calls “kuko”, one of my best souvenir when I back to Japan. I used of course for extra nutrients and natural sweetness and red pretty color, it’s hard to find no goji in my cooking.
Organic ready to use veggies and organic fruits come 4th and 5.th. It’s ok even those are large portion, that mean I can get extra veggies and fruits into my dishes. Just reminder…. for the readers, I also depending on Suzuki farm’s subscription, adding extra orders. Their produces are out of the world. I really eat out, worth paying extra shipping fee.
6th Organic breast chicken and Frozen Alaskan King salmon …, both I need for my dearest pet foods…., only occasion I cook poultry while praying for chicken and environment.
7th and 8th , organic unsalted almond butter and canned sardine, both fare mainly for my husband’s quick meal. I indeed like grilled sardine with ginger…., just hard to find fresh one here in the US.
9th …, it’s new finding! Organic Matcha. It’s from Kagoshima prefecture Japan. Relatively new into the matcha market, but they are promoting “ organic” “ bitter “ taste into new tea lover and non traditional matcha market, like cooking, baking, and casual tea. Now, I am using this for my cooking and wagashi ( sweets), so I can keep my premium matcha for a bowl of matcha.
Something extra…, are organic maple syrup, Pellegrino, and Pockey ( snack for his treat!). Pellegrino with lemon, my weekend treat instead of wine.
I returned to Costco in three weeks…, two times in a month, to check “ xxx items I really against Costco…, will keep you posted, so please come back.
In case., you have not read my article from CNBC…, here you are.
9 Costco foods a Japanese nutritionist and longevity expert always buys
Growing up in Japan, home to some of the world’s longest-living people, I fell in love with traditional Japanese food at a young age. My passion for clean and healthy eating is what inspired me to be a nutritionist.
My diet has always been centered around nutritious, longevity-fueling and environmentally-friendly foods. Now living in the U.S., I often get my groceries at local markets or organic farms. But when I’m looking to save money and stock up on healthy goods, I send my husband on his favorite errand: a solo trip to Costco.
Recipe of the Day : Marcha Kinron ( Sweet Potato Wagashi)
Ingredients: for 6-8 serving
½ Japanese sweet potato( Satusma-imo)
½ cup (100g) mashed sweets potato and/or kabocha, roasted or steamed
5-6 pieces of roasted chestnuts, chopped.
Pinch of sea salt
1TBS dry goji berry
¼ Choice of dry fruits; dates, apricots, mango, or any
½ teaspoon Matcha (cinnamon, unsweetened cacao)
1 teaspoon mascaraed or brown sugar (optional for extra sweet)
Direction
1. Steamed sweet potato, chopped chestnuts, dry fruits. And a pinch of salt in a bowl, mash, then kneed thoroughly with fork or hand
2. Add matcha and continue kneed like making bread dough.
3. Divide mixture into 6 piece and place into plastic wrap (about 1feet length) or wet tea clothe, squeeze to make a cubic shape.
4. Top with choice of dry fruits or nuts, and sit in the refrigerator for about 30 min.
Serving suggestion
With sweet rice cake, kinako (soybean powder), cinnamon, berries, matcha.
Enjoy