January 05, 2012

Whole Foods

Today I had my first Whole Foods experience! (Well, actually it was my second--but the first time was at a tiny little Whole Foods in Minnesota and I spent about 5 minutes there).

Renee asked me if I wanted to go with her and Jessica to Whole Foods for a little shopping and wine tasting. Did she even have to ASK?! ;)  Renee drove, and we left at about 10:45. It took about an hour to get there (which is why I've never gone).

I was so impressed with the store! It was huge and had so much fun stuff in there. I was the most impressed with the bakery and all the desserts, of course. They had sooo many cakes and cupcakes and chocolates and all kinds of goodies. I bought a carrot cupcake to bring home with me for my treat tonight.


We walked around the store and I picked up a few things, but most of the stuff that I wanted was either too expensive, or too "bingey" for me to bring home. I can see why people call it "Whole Paycheck"--I could easily spend $1000 in there.

I bought a fresh loaf of cranberry-walnut bread, which I'll probably spread a piece with peanut butter and eat for dinner. I bought a couple of sample packets of Justin's almond butter and chocolate-hazelnut butter. I got Jerry a 6-pack of beer and a little German chocolate tartlet thing. And a couple of other things.
Cranberry Walnut bread

We had the salad bar for lunch, and sat down near the wine bar. I took about a tablespoon of probably 12 different foods--a whole bunch of random stuff. There were a couple of things I didn't care for, but for the most part, it was really good. I had a glass of wine too--can't remember what it was now! It was a red French wine. I wanted to buy a bottle of it, but since I'm determined that 2012 is all about paying down debt, the wine is the first thing to go.  That's okay, I can always have my Black Box ;)

So we headed out after our lunch and wine. As soon as I got home, I remembered that I was supposed to get something from Target for Eli. He gave me some of his Christmas money to buy an Army soldier set that was on clearance. I was worried it might not be there later, so I went to Target and rushed home in time for the kids to get home from school.

Eli's birthday is on Saturday, and he'll be six. They'll celebrate his birthday at school tomorrow, so we decided to make cheeseburger cookies for his birthday treat. When I was picking up the ingredients from the store, I realized that the Grasshopper cookies were mint--and Eli hates mint. He was excited about making the cookies, so I after debating in my head whether to buy the stuff, I decided that he probably wouldn't even notice the mint cookies in the excitement of it looking like a cheeseburger.



Turns out I was wrong. We assembled the cookies and he was very happy with them. Then I told him he could eat one, since we had some extras. And he looked so apologetic when he said, "I don't like it."  When I asked him why, he said, "I just don't like mint."  I felt awful. I told him that we'd make something else, and he kept saying no, that he'll just bring these and he won't eat one. I said that daddy could take the cheeseburger cookies to work for his friends and we'd make something else. He was satisfied with that, so we went to the store to find something else. 

With Noah's urging, he ended up picking this:

And of course each box makes 24, so I had to get two boxes for 26 kids. These things are a pain to make. Especially when you're trying to cook dinner at the same time. So you know what I'll be doing for the rest of the evening!


15 comments:

  1. What a good kid to still want to take them. They are super cute! Around here, you can't make treats for school, everything must be purchased :(

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  2. Ahhhh, Whole Foods. I have to drive over an hour to get to either of the ones in Indianapolis, which aren't great ones. When we lived in Charleston, they had an AMAZING WF there. I loved their hummus sampler. Pure garlicky bliss!

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  3. awww! those cheeseburger cookies are so cool!! and we don't have those pilsbury cookie pops here in canada..jealous!!!

    hope you're having a good day! :)

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  4. I posted you as a must read..I hope that is ok! (I might get 4-12 readers in one day, it shouldn't be too overwhelming ;))

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  5. I feel your pain on the birthday treats! Both my kids' b-days fall near holidays. It seems like I end up sending in treats for the holiday party and then a few days later the b-day. It is a labor of love. :)

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  6. I want a cheeseburger cookie!!! :) I bet he'll look back on these memories and remember what you did for him! so sweet!

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  7. I was wondering if you could post the recipe or the "how-to" for the cheeseburger cookie.....it's looks interesting, but I couldn't make out too much from the picture :/

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  8. I love Family Fun Magazine for all of their great birthday cake and cupcake ideas. I just made Jack Skellington and Mickey and Minnie Snowmen cookies for Christmas with ideas from Family Fun. I made Charlie a hamburger cake for his birthday. Check out www.familyfun.com (if you never have). I made a photo album on FB of most of my kids birthday cakes. SO much fun! Thank goodness they've outgrown the school celebrations, though!

    I've never been to Whole Foods or Trader Joe's. Chocolate hazelnut spread- would that be Nutella or a different brand? LOVE Nutella!

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  9. So cute. I would have sent in the cheeseburger cookies and then made something special just for him. He is the birthday boy, after all!

    My son's birthday is in August, so he never gets to take treats to school. This year, his teacher has suggested that kids who have summer birthdays bring treats in on their "half-birthday." So, we may do something next month...I haven't decided. They get so much crap at school, as it is.

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  10. I have had those cheeseburger cookies before, but the pattie was a Mini York Peppermint Patty, maybe you could make little mini no-bake cookies instead?!? (another time obviously!!!)
    I like Whole Foods, but LOVE TJ's!!!!! So much more $$$$ at Whole Foods!!!!
    ~Laura

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  11. How ironic, I was at Whole Foods (Ann Arbor) yesterday as well! I missed the cupcakes somehow. The highlight of my trip was grinding my own peanut butter! Trader Joe's is only one mile down the street so it was double-header of awesome grocery stores day!

    Those cookies look really cute!!!

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  12. You are such a sweet mom.

    Trader Joe's & Whole Foods are literally blocks apart here! Bad, bad combo. I usually stick with TJ's though. Small selection, good prices. I can stay on budget.

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  13. Katie,
    You are such a good Mom. It just touched my heart to read how you were so concerned for Eli enjoying his Birthday treat with his class.

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  14. I live behind the Whole Foods in Ann Arbor! I love that I can just walk there. Trader Joes is AWESOME too!!!! I love Whole Foods Salad bar on days that I need to race to school.

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  15. I like the bulk foods there the most. They can be a way to save $ there instead of spend it so fast! Joan

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