Serving Up “The Dish” on Finds at the Grocery Store

Serving up four things I am loving right now from the grocery store…

Quaker Overnight Oats.  They were running a promotion on these at my grocer — one totally for free.  So, I picked up the toasted coconut and almond crunch variety.  You fill the container to the measure line with milk, replace the lid and let it sit in the refrigerator overnight.  The next morning, take the lid off, stir and enjoy.  If cold oatmeal is not your thing — it’s kinda like muesli — they give you a heating option.  I loved it cold.  It was flavorful and filling.  So filling that I totally forgot to eat lunch.  It’s that seriously good!  330 calories, plus your milk choice (I use almond milk).  Check out their website for recipes making overnight oats from scratch in a mason jar.  You know I love glass jars in the fridge!

Next, La Croix Peach and Pear sparkling water.  I love the flavor combination.  It’s fresh and different.  Add a sprig of lime and it would make a lovely non-alcoholic beverage when you are enjoying a summer’s day by the pool.  For me, this is a good switch for iced tea.

And, speaking of cute glass jars.  I stopped dead in my tracks perusing the yogurt aisle and found Oui artisanal French-style yogurt by Yoplait.  Just released in July, Oui is made with simple, non-GMO ingredients – like whole milk, pure cane sugar, real fruit and yogurt cultures.  It contains no artificial preservatives, no artificial flavors and no colors from artificial sources.  You can read a fun story here on how the creation of this yogurt came from an innovation product designer for General Mills who grew up in France watching his mother create “pot-set” yogurt.  When you try it the first time you will know what that means.

It’s a 5-oz glass jar with a sealed foil lid in the prettiest little pattern.  The fruit is on the bottom and it has a smooth, yummy flavor.  The best part — the label peels right off.  I put the jars in the dishwasher and can re-use them for making pudding, or trifles, or my own yogurt parfait, or heck use as small juice glasses.  I can totally see these nesting on each person’s place setting as the starter for brunch with a warm croissant and butter. They were $1.69 a jar, but my grocer was running a special buy three for $4.  So, they are little more than the average yogurt price, but the fact that I can re-use the glass jars is a win for me.

Last, from the creators of Eating Well magazine,  has a new line of frozen entrees. These are a brand new item in the grocer right now and my store didn’t have all the varieties, but I picked up a few to keep on-hand at work.  Add a big salad, a piece of fruit and you can have a good for you lunch.

The thing I like about the meals is the presentation.  The food is vacuum sealed so you actually get to see what the food looks like for real — not just the stylized photo on the box.  Whole vegetables and pieces of meat.  That appeals to me.

Let me know if you try any of these new-to-me foods!  And, let me know if there is something new I need to try!