I know Costco is not “technically” a food item, but in our house, it is definitely where we purchase the majority of our food staples. I don’t know if anyone really understands just how much I love Costco.
I. LOVE. COSTCO. I love it so much that my sister and friends make fun of me. I’m ALWAYS there. Well, it is literally behind our house. No joke. I drive down the hill, turn right, right again, and I find myself in shopping nirvana. My sister jokes that I should get a “Costco for Life” tattoo, complete with my bar code. That way I’ll never need my card again. Then the cashier can scan my bar code directly from my Michelle Obama-ish biceps. (Not!)
Seriously though, I do have a crazy love of that store. In my lifetime I have known hunger. Intense, stomach clawing hunger. Being a refugee, poor, and wholly dependent on government aid, my family and I struggled when we first arrived in America. My mother always fed us very, very well, made sure we had hearty meals and healthy choices. But, there were times in Afghanistan, and along the way in other temporary locations, when there wasn’t always enough to eat.
There is literally NEVER, EVER a time when I walk into Costco and not remember that hunger. I see the abundance available to me now and it is ALWAYS a reminder of the times that were, and the times that continue to be for so many throughout the world. I never take Costco’s abundance for granted. It is a blessing on steroids in a way. (Because isn’t there abundance in any grocery store?)
For this reason, I love Costco. I also love its understanding return policy, its unwavering commitment to quality excellence, and I love the random stuff that sometimes just shows up there. Random stuff that I all of a sudden decide I must have!
I buy most, if not all, of our meats, grains, cheeses, oils, spices, breads, dog treats & supplies, and human treats at Costco. I even get a lot of our fresh produce there, but most of the time I stick to the local farmer’s market store since we can’t finish an 80 pound tub of grapefruit before they go bad. Ha! On nights when we’re both exhausted and don’t feel like cooking, Costco is where we go for pre-made dinners. We don’t do it often, but when we need to, it’s nice to know my favorite store is just a hop-skip-and jump away. Hooray!
For the Household Furbabies, C is for Chicken!
Milo, Laverne & Shirley: “Hello Blogistan! We ruv us some chicken. Yep we most surely do. Every month Mama poaches a bunch of chicken breasts with yummy veggies and some rice. Then she freezes it.”
“It takes a loooooooooooong time for it to thaw out. We usually do the hungry dance as we wait for our delicious chicken. Plain old kibble is sometimes, well, just plain. We like Mama’s mix-ins!”
Milo: “Dis here is my bowl. Mama adds her special homemade chicken to my kibble. She says pure protein and fats are necessary for a doggie’s good health. Whatever. I just wish she would add extra chicken to my bowl! I need to keep up my strong physique for the ladies ya know.”
L & S: “We love chicken more than our brother does. Fo’ sho’. Mama says it is healthier for her to make our chicken than it is to buy it in a can. Plus, it is less expensive. She needs to save her money to buy us chicken treats instead!”
M, L& S: “Like Chicken Nibblers…mmm-mmmm-mmm. Delicious!”
M, L & S: “And Chicken Jerky! Who doesn’t like chicken jerky?! It is da best!”
Captain Morgan: “I hate chicken. Blech. “C” you all next week. I am grumpy.”
For more A to Z Mondays Fun with Food, go say ‘hi’ to Jen at http://unglazed.blogspot.com/. Like the Captain said, “C” you all next week!
(P.S. For all of those who called, emailed, or commented regarding Milo, I sincerely appreciate it. He is doing fine. It has been a challenge keeping him from chewing on his paw and/or sutures. I’ve gone through more than 20 socks. A couple of times I had to put a donut around his neck, only to find Laverne licking and chewing on his paw for him. Rascal! Anyway, Milo’s labs on the tumors/growths came back negative for cancer and we are thrilled. Thank you again everybody!!!)
11 comments:
I like Costco too!
Thank you so much for your sweet comment about our Kelly girl. I do hope she is chasing Nick and Achilles and being her silly self. Thanks again my friend. xo
No Costco within an easy drive of us, but you certainly make the case for them! And those furbabies appear to be eatin' high on the hog (or hen, as the case may be...)
First of all, YAY for Milo!!
I feel about my Sam's Club the way you feel about Costco. (I did give Costco a try, a few years back, but it was NOT for me. They didn't carry most of the things I regularly buy at Sam's, and the things they DID carry cost more there.) I buy Chicken Jerky for Buster at Sam's. (See, I don't completely hate him! ;-) )
Oh we're so happy that Milo's biopsy was clean. Yippee!! We love chicken too, but our lazy mommy usually only gives us chicken broth out of a can...real chicken is a delicacy here at our house.
Smooches from pooches,
BabyRocketDog & Hootie
ps-We only get to see Costco from the outside.Our hoomans make us stay in the car when they go to the big C.
This is hilarious (how much you love Costco) and very enlightening (the reason why). One would never forget being truly hungry. I'm so sorry for all that you suffered on your way here.
You must be the best pet mom in the world. Your furbabies eat so well, and you can tell how happy they are from their smiles!
We go to Costco about once a week now, and they do have such good organic fruits and veggies. I use a juicer, and their produce helps make juicing more affordable. Their meat is great, too, and I had to stop buying the chocolate covered raisins...too addictive! But the best part is to stop at the brewpub down the hill on the way home. =)
great story...and a confession...i've never been to costco!!! but i'm going to go now!
i mix in roasted chicken breasts with my dogs food...
so happy milo's tumor is benign!! yeh! (you needed to get rid of some old socks anyway..?) contrary to what they say lavern, licking is not good!
xoxo
Hellooo! Costco is one of my fav places too...almost one stop shopping:food,wine,flowers,dog toys & misc.vitamins.Who could ask for more?! I've never gone hungry,but feel deeply for those that have. My dear friend,Ilse,lived in Germany as a teen during WWII and she experienced years of hunger.In her 80's,to this day, she keeps her freezer stocked full and always welcomes folks to eat at her table.Costco is her favorite store too!
I tried your BS recipe on cauliflower and it was fab!I put it on my A-Z "c" post this week. Thx!
I have never been to Costco.... 1 1/2 hour drive for me so not really my thing....
Glad you pup is doing well.... dogs and their wounds.... so hard to heal.
I loves me some Costco, too! I have a Trader Joe's in the same shopping center, so I'm in food heaven!
Regarding your comment on dogs and snow- Before I had the Knucklehead Sisters, I had a collie for 14 years. She loved the snow, too! She'd burrow her snout right into it, and come up snow covered and happy. I miss her. I'll have to do a post about her soon.
P.S.- Bella and Athena want to come to your house for dinner.
I love costco as well. I was just there yesterday with my bajillion coupons...have you tried the organic peanut butter cookies for dogs? Cocoa and ozzie love them..but then again, they love cat poop as well.
I love it when you remind us of your past...the hunger. I just love how far you have come in life.
Lo and I were talking about hunger tonight...she did not have lunch money today and was HUNGRY...I reminded her that there are people all over this world that feel that day and night.
oh, and I will never ever tell my dogs how good your dogs eat. They will be jealous!!!!!!!
glad Milo is doing well.
xoxo
suz
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