ktmoomau

Too bad there aren't more picky produce shoppers for online delivery services... (This is meant as a very well intentioned jest. But in all seriousness, they really have gotten a lot better, you might consider this for her if needed. My Mom got really traffic wary in Annapolis as of the last number of years based on all the development.) Too bad for Annapolis, but I can totally see their concern, especially given how congested that area is for traffic already, that is a particularly bad corridor on major roads located right off the interstate exit, without a good work around in terms of roads. And Wegman's has pretty specific standards they want met, and they can be picky as it seems a lot of people will drive to their locations (my Mom hated going to anything in Waugh Chapel once they came in due to the huge increase in traffic there.)

HAHAHAHAHA no offense taken. And you are likely right. But I complain here so people know whats going on, and can see if anyone else has experienced a decline in the experience, is this a blip, or is it a trend? I don't really think my current standard- no obvious and visible mold on the item as being very picky. Some shoppers I have had were amazing- they would call and say for example, "leaf lettuce is down to a few damaged heads, should I sub romaine or organic." So actually their shoppers can be GREAT and way above expectations. That is why a lot of my friends were willing to switch to HT and use their shopping program after everyone hated Peapod and got burned, this has been to HT benefit and Giant and Safeways downfall. Instant cart has pretty high standards, so to stay in the game, HT actually does need to be somewhat cognizant, Walmart is stepping up, and now the 500 pound gorilla coming in the distance Amazon, who has Whole Foods shoppers, who the perception is do care more about produce. (Peapod still is pretty terrible, HT is way above it already, no competition). So they started me out with high expectations. Plus, their stores are no longer designed to be able to handle the capacity of everyone like me shopping in person, they have cut way too much in personnel, plus I am an early adopter and therefore my ordering intuition and data is worth a very pretty penny, as online grocery sales will likely account for 15% of all grocery sales in only two years, so it's not just my convenience but their gain right now, as well. It is in their best interest to keep me ordering online so they can use my data to figure out how to increase cart loads with online orders. And to be perfectly honest- I am the future, unless we have an apocalypse, so to stay profitable, it's something to which they really are going to have to train their shoppers to pay attention. (Look at the stats of the decreasing number of persons who have gotten their drivers license and you will see why this is VERY, VERY important for them to stay competitive and why my data is extremely valuable.) Plus, they don't really want me to fully grocery shop in person because if I am going to actually go somewhere it is going to be Wegman's, which has a far better in person experience, so HT would lose my business. HT gets my business solely out of the strength of their online ordering program and it's convenience. So, it isn't as simple as it may seem. I admit us millennials are completely annoying in our incessant refusal to conform or settle, but so far, it doesn't really seem to bother us very much.

Where do I obtain these, and why haven't these been in my life?

I used to REALLY like HT Express Lane. And I will say it is MUCH better than grocery shopping on my own, and MUCH better than peapod, and much cheaper than InstantCart. But my last two orders at the Old Town store have had obviously rotten produce in them. I am going to make a new note about being very picky about produce, but these were not like- bottom of the carton things, one was an obviously not good head of broccoli they would have had to put in the bag. And another was a bag of pears with one visible that was absolutely completely moldy. I still really like Express Lane, I just am a bit disappointed in my recent shoppers. If you call the manager they will replace and even bring things to you- I just really hate to be THAT person. I did return the pears for a fresh bag myself. Not sure if Potomac Yard location would be better, I assume that is a smaller store, so likely not as big of selection. I haven't found anything in store that isn't on their online ordering. I had the recent Whole Foods 2 hour free prime delivery- which was very nice- although my raspberries had some bad ones they were hidden in the bottom of the thing. Other items seemed good. If they could combine that with their Fresh/Pantry so you could get all the things this would be VERY dangerous for my lifestyle. They definitely don't have all the things from their store on there, I assume they will expand with time.

I have a friend that goes and hunts one every so many years. They were cleaning out their chest freezer to make room for venison, and I was the recipient of a lot of boar from this past year. (When you grow up in the sticks and people know you like to cook, you end up being offered interesting things from time to time. I also randonly take things from my Aunt's huge chest freezer, as is our policy, she doesn't get us Christmas presents, she stocks meat, speaking of this, I need to turn last year's beef liver into a pate...)

Last night was another boar ragu- this one with a healthy amount of red wine and paprika, which I thickened up a good deal after cooking in the instant pot. After 1 hour in the instant pot, it is tear apart tender. I ate mine over butternut squash zoodles. MK had his with basmati rice. We had a side of roasted leek, poblano, bell pepper and broccoli.

I needed a lifestyle change, but I am trying to be careful not to get too comfortable and I am trying to be really good about tracking things pretty honestly (there are times where like a turkey sandwich can range from 4-10 points, so it can be hard sometimes). We moved last year, and between moving, work getting really busy for a time, and then Orange Theory changing a bunch of rules to make it complicated, I just didn't have the will or funds to make it all work. I am finally at a place that I can change that. But honestly my diet was the issue, and the gym should be a focus, but diet is the bigger thing. And my lackluster attendance at my work gym this past year meant, I gained likely 10-12 pounds and was the heaviest I ever was. I lost the same 5 pounds twice this summer by working out. I knew that my previous diet was only supported by about 3-4 days per week at the gym, but I didn't realize by quite how much. I wish I had paid more attention sooner, oh well. It is what it is now. That is why I am doing this, and I feel good about it, so progress! Amba is only one point per 1 tbsp. Would it be a good sandwich condiment?

Ok, so on week 3ish: I have lost 2 pounds. I still need to work out more, will work on that goal. I am trying to be pretty good about tracking things and not just guessing they are points and no points. Homemade items are hard, and I hate plugging in recipes still. I can sometimes find something close enough. Eating out- sushi is super easy, places that have good salads, these are the yeah, yeah of course things. I went to Wendy's the other day when we needed to eat fast food and between a large chili and chicken nuggets had a reasonable point lunch for fast food, Lebanese Taverna was very easy, a good amount of options. With beans being a preferred option for eating, Indian food isn't as bad as you would think, if you avoid the butter heavy options, and go for like chana masala, dal and tandoori chicken. The carb smart tortillas are kind of a life saver, I am going to use those to make some wraps this week. I am not a big mustard person, so trying to find some decently low point dressing/sauce options for sandwiches that I can be happy with. The thing I really miss the most is cheese. I have put a little shredded cheese in a few items, but main cheese is a lot of points when just eating it. I am really happy with the Trader Joe's Everything Pretzel slims, and their greek yogurt dip as a snack. If you really need some dessert, the yasso bars aren't horrible in points for what you get size wise compared to other things.

http://bvfarmfood.com/ 8am-9pm daily Went to Bon Vivant with the Momma. I had forgotten Evening Star wasn't open for lunch, and we decided to try somewhere we hadn't been before instead of wandering down to Cheesetique. I got a pear and walnut salad with pulled chicken. Momma got a flank steak salad. The salad was good, but the fancy way they put the dressing on which looks very nice, isn't super practical. Next time I will just ask for dressing on the side and mix it in myself, and ask for some cracked pepper. The chicken was very good though. The salad itself was fine, if a bit boring, the dressing issue just meant it could use some seasoning. I think Mom's was likely a bit of the same. I should have gotten a sandwich- I just didn't want to spend the WW points on bread. I really like that they have nice real size glasses in the dining room with water, that is really nice. This place had a few groups meeting in the space and had a big table in the back. They were doing a decent take out business, there seem to be a lot of people in Del Ray looking for healthy options, and this would fit that, they also have some vegetarian and vegan options, more vegetarian than vegan.

We went to the Pentagon City location on Friday night, I got a lamb shank with green chickpeas, tomato and artichoke. The dish was pretty good, but I felt like it needed more sauce of some sort- green chickpeas to me almost taste like a cross between a chickpea and a spring pea. I wish the tomatoes had been more blistered and a little more saucey- and a few more of them. But it fell within a good WW point ratio so that I could have some pita and hummus, and the lamb shank was delicious. Mom's shrimp kabobs were really good, I will get that next time and get double roasted veggies- no rice. Hubby got the dish with the pita chips and yogurt, which was much improved, as you now get the yogurt on the side and can add it to your liking. I got an $8 white wine blend that I thought was perfectly decent. All in all a nice meal while running errands.

Can't wait to find out, sounds delicious!

Last night was penne pasta (I used some week points from WW to splurge on real pasta) with broccoli and turkey sausage with garlic, leeks and fresh herbs (oregano, basil, chives, parsley) with white wine, margarine, lemon, olive oil, pasta water and some parm sauce. On Halloween, I picked up a bucket of fried chicken from HT, and then made green beans, and warmed up a thing of mashed cauliflower with garlic and herbs.

I am really excited too! That area of Old Town is really coming up, and I think that with him at the helm- it will become a neighborhood gem. I also work right there, so hoping they are open for lunch!

Last night was kind of a cross between chili and vegetarian chili. Tonight was spaghetti al bianco with barilla's veggie noodles.

Will Artley's Facebook page says he is headed to the former Hank's pasta bar, which will now be Hank &Mitzi's. https://dc.eater.com/2019/10/30/20940022/hank-mitzis-pizza-italian-restaurant-coming-hanks-pasta-bar-old-town-alexandria-revamp?utm_campaign=dc.eater&utm_content=entry&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwAR3Y31Q7HJV7YuMDWa0FDWKRcCEPFLvGYmC7H90_2ppz9Y-7WRKzpkqzj1M

That picture looks more like the size of the burrito I had in NM, which to me was really good. DMV burritos are too big and trying to hard- that's my opinion.

Is there a good burrito in the DMV? I tend to dislike burritos, but I am not sure what makes a great burrito. To me, the best burrito I have ever had was a green chili burrito in NM- which was about 1/4 the size of any burrito I have seen in DC, but much more incorporated in flavor and manageable to eat.

I would be available the 14th, the 8th I likely will have company for SCWW, but not sure when they will leave, so I might be able to drop by. 15th, I am volunteering at Mount Vernon for their topiary class at the greeenhouse.

Trader Joe's Tikka Vegetables- surprisingly good for a bag you warm up, but my lunch standards are very different than dinner. Eating it over riced beets with pita bread.

Last night was Turkey sweet Italian sausages on the grill, with Hubby's new favorite mustard Zataran's, kale and cherry tomato salad with tahini dressing. Night before was leftover white bean and chicken soup, with warmed up pepperoni rolls and white pizza, which I sliced to share sizes, as we didn't really have enough to be a serving for each of us.

There was a commercial recently that used science as a verb. As in, "we scienced." I was appalled. Making all words into verbs is annoying.

I have told you over and over again that you order wrong though. If you get things other than the crispy tacos, or tostada, you are just asking for disappointment. And the crispy tacos need a little hot sauce, I go for cholula or their house made habernero.

Is 5 minutes record timing? Hahahha, and I have never ordered a burrito there! The crispy tacos or the tostada are my favorites. I will say though, now living right by the Del Ray location, the Lee Harrison location to me is much better.

Taqueria Poblano?

I've done this! It was fun, although I don't know that I will survive the apocalypse on my axe throwing skills.