Batter Up: Essential Baseball Snacks

"Take me out to the ball game. Take me out with the crowd. Buy me some peanuts and cracker jack....." We all know the song and we all buy the peanuts and cracker jack, but how about bringing your own tasty snacks to the game. Sure it will save you a few bucks, but it will also make watching your favorite team that much more enjoyable. Here's my starting line-up of some classic and fun, unique snacks that will leave you cheering for more.

STARTING LINE-UPS

HOME TEAM

1. Ball Park Style Lightly Salted Peanuts
2. Honey Roasted Peanuts
3. Sesame Honey Cashews
4. Chili Spiced Mango
5. Tempting Chocolate Peanut Butter Trail Mix
6. Wasabi Peas
7. Peanut Butter Filled Pretzels
8. Dark Chocolate Covered Raisins
9. Australian Black Licorice

AWAY TEAM

1. Honey Roasted Peanuts
2. Habanero Pistachios
3. Crunchy Candied Cashews & Peanuts
4. Freeze Dried Mangosteen
5. Banana Crisp Bonanza Trek Mix
6. Honey Sesame Sticks
7. Dark Chocolate Covered Pretzels
8. Chocolate Covered Sunflower Seeds
9. Mini Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups

Hooray For Re-usable Bags

Everyone has seen the beige colored "Trader Joe's" labeled canvas bags, but did you know that two more bags have been introduced? Trader Joe's now carries a re-usable red flower print bag that retails at $.99 (WOW) and a beautiful blue and yellow-green print bag for $1.99. These canvas bags are fashionable, water-proof, easy to carry, strong enough to cradle your Charles Shaw Shiraz safely to its destination and most importantly are better for the environment. Sure plastic and paper bags are recyclable but many times they are not. Once plastic bags are in the environment it can take hundreds of years for them to decompose, and they contribute toxins to the soil and water as they do. Paper bags contribute to high energy costs and millions of trees are cut down to produce these bags. So on your next shopping trip, instead of asking for paper or plastic, ask for re-usable.

It's A Miracle Uncured Meats are Cured!!

When I'm craving a good turkey sandwich, I run to the store and pick up a pack of uncured turkey lunchmeat to go on my pain du jour. It's labeled and marketed as being "uncured, with no added nitrates, nitrites or msg" and so are a host of other products, such as uncured hot dogs, salami, bacon and sausages.

I just read an article from the American Meat Science Association (AMSA) that stated that natural nitrates found in celery, beets, spinach and possibly turbinado sugar and sea salt are used to process these products. Now this is where it gets interesting. Some of these natural ingredients also have nitrites and during the curing process the true amount of nitrite formed is unknown and impossible to measure because nitrite reacts quickly with meat components. This can become a safety issue if excessive concentrations of nitrites are formed, which are known to cause carcinogens. I believe that "uncured meat" manufacturers need to find a means to eliminate or control the amount of nitrites found in their products or re-label these items informing consumers that natural nitrites are present. However, I still think buying uncured meats is a better choice over the traditonal cured products. I would just recommend using them in moderation and focus more on using raw, unprocessed meat/fowl as a source of animal protein.

Trader Joe's "Freezer Essentials" Survey

What Trader Joe's frozen product has earned a special spot in your freezer?



I have the Vegetable Masala Burgers.

Happy Mother's Day

To all the women across this world that have sacrificed their lives to provide and enrich the lives of the children around you, I say thank you. To all women that are raising and mentoring their natural born children, adoptive children, siblings, nieces, nephews, extended family members and students, I commend you for a job well done. Smile and know that you are loved everyday, even if you just receive flowers, chocolates or a homemade card on this day.

Hau `oli Lâ Makuahine! (Happy Mother's Day)

Favorite May Flyer Items

What are your favorites from the flyer?

May Flyer

The newest flyer dropped on May 3rd and featured some awesome new products as well as some old favorites. Here's my 10 item must-try list from the flyer.

*Organic Strawberry Lemonade
*Chile Spiced Mango
*Gourmet Chicken Salad
*Balela Salad
*Chicken Quesadillas
*Chocolate Mini Cupcakes
*Fresh Salsa Kit
*Panilonco Chardonnay/Voigner
*All Natural Australian Tri-
*Refresh Spa Shampoo