Schooled at Trader Joe's

If you're anything like us, you're so dependent on Trader Joe's that your 3 year old only knows 1 grocery store by name. What's not to love?  Their produce are always  fresh; You can get brussels sprout on stalks, which you don't even have to remove when cooking! Their milk and dairy products are cheaper than other grocery stores; At least by where we live, the kosher meat selection is good enough and their fake meat selection is even better.

http://www.traderjoes.com/recipes/recipe.asp?rid=102

So, there I was, at the check out line when the lady at the cash register started telling the guy ahead of me that he really needs to wash his bags.  It's quite obvious that the bag was once white. The TJ lady continued to say that once she refused to let another shopper use his bag because she saw mold on it. Awkward. The guy started laughing nervously. Poor fella. But, she has a point.  I slowly shifted my gaze to my dark green bag haphazardly thrown at the front of my cart and without touching, I sharply inspected it for any dirt or grime. None visible.  WHEW, I live to see my vegetables.  

We have  about a dozen bags on rotation, so I admit, we seldom wash them too. Not anymore.  I quietly vowed to dump all the reusable bags in the washer when I get home and to wash them routinely. So, there you have it. TJ's not only sell fresh produce, they also serve a lesson on cleanliness along with spoonful of humility on the side for free!

On a happier note, THIS:

Drop your overhyped Speculoos spread bottle and start hoarding these like the apocalypse is near.  Unlike Starbucks' Peppermint mocha that lasts thru winter, there is no guarantee that TJ's sipping chocolate will last the entire season. When I asked (whined, really) last year why they sold out so early in the winter,  I was told that each branch just get a specific number and once it's gone, it's gone. Hoard, I tell you, hoard. Once you taste this goodness, you will want to bring 3 extra reusable bags to TJ's. Clean ones, of course.