Have I told you all lately how much I love Trader Joe’s? I’ve discovered that on certain days, the fastest route home from work passes right by the Trader Joe’s, so I stop. I stocked up today on raw almond snack packs (the extra plastic for the wrappers is worth it for the portion control!), crunchy almond butter, some frozen veggies, chicken sausages, and some other various random food items to fill in the holes from yesterday’s shopping trip.
I came home all excited to make a recent favorite recipe even better! Ok, better isn’t the right word because well, the tomato sauce with butter and onions is hard to bead, but I felt the need to doctor it up and make it a bit heartier.

Tomato Sauce with Butter and Onions
Adapted from Marcela Hazan’s Essentials of Italian Cooking
28 ounces (800 grams) whole peeled tomatoes from a can
5 tablespoons (70 grams) unsalted butter
1 medium-sized yellow onion, peeled and halved
Salt to taste
Put the tomatoes, onion and butter in a heavy saucepan (it fit just right in a 3-quart) over medium heat. Bring the sauce to a simmer then lower the heat to keep the sauce at a slow, steady simmer for about 45 minutes, or until droplets of fat float free of the tomatoes. Stir occasionally, crushing the tomatoes against the side of the pot with a wooden spoon. Remove from heat, discard the onion, add salt to taste and keep warm while you prepare your pasta.
I added to the pot one bag of TJ’s “Melange a Trois” tri-colored peppers, and let it simmer all together, stirring occasionally until the peppers started to fall apart and the onion was just about mush. In a separate pan, I sauteed 2 links of TJ’s Sweet Pesto Chicken Sausage with a chopped up zucchini and about 6 sliced mushrooms. Then, I served the sauce and sausage mixture atop a twice-roasted spaghetti squash half. I roasted a spaghetti squash yesterday, and only used half, so today, I threw the remaining half back in the oven and let it kind of caramelize while the sauce cooked. It added a depth of flavor that was really delicious… I’ll have to start double-roasting it all the time now!
After dinner, for some strange reason, I had the desire to bake. I’m NOT a great baker, as I’ve said many times before, but sometimes I like doing it. It also gives me an excuse to use my stand mixer! Today I felt like meringues. Well, to be honest, I wanted lemon meringue pie, but since I didn’t have the stuff to make lemon curd, I settled for making some coconut meringue cookies.
I looked up a few recipes, and got the general idea of how it’s done, and then decided to just wing it. I needed sugar free, I wanted coconut, I had eggs… so I went for it.
Coconut Cloud Cookies
Makes about 16
Ingredients
5 egg whites, brought to room temperature
4 packets Splenda (feel free to substitute with 1/4 c. sugar)
1/2 c. unsweetened coconut flakes
Directions
Make sure your bowl, beaters, and any surfaces are completely oil free. Pre-heat the oven to 200*. Add the egg whites to a mixer bowl and beat on medium heat until soft peaks form. Add the Splenda (or sugar) slowly, and beat until whites hold firm peaks. Fold in the coconut, and then either pipe or spoon onto a parchment lined (or not) baking pan, and bake until lightly browned, dry and move easily off the pan.

These hit that spot… you know, the “I want something sweet but not that sweet” spot. And they’re crunchy. And not terrible for me!
I got another anonymous question today after tweeting about how yesterday’s post must’ve been boring. It wasn’t so much a question as yet another rude statement about how my blog “used to be great” and now is “boring” and all I do is sell stuff you could get at “bed bath and beyond.” So please, lovely readers, be honest with me… have I gotten boring? Am I stale in my “old age”? What do you want to see more of? Less of?
In a non Bed Bath & Beyond area, there’s an incredibly great deal coming on Wednesday morning from the EnviTote people… they want to hook you up, so if you’ve been wanting an EnviTote but holding off? Wednesday is your day! Trust me… the rest of the info will come tomorrow!








{ 19 comments… read them below or add one }
I love reading your blog! I think people who make pointless rude comments are bored with life in general, not your blog, in my opinion. I can almost taste those cookies, yum!
.-= Meghan@traveleatlove´s last blog ..An Inspired Dinner =-.
Not boring at all! How else would I have learned to try double-roasting spaghetti squash?! Your dinner sounds amaaaazing. I could live off the TJ’s freezer section alone.
I Love your blog! Don’t let peoples negative comments even make you think twice about your blog! Your cookies look delicious!
.-= Sara @ ActiveGal´s last blog ..Quick and Easy =-.
Your blog is so NOT boring! I love reading your posts!
You have never been boring or stale. If I did not enjoy the blog….I would not keep reading….and I do read….every time you post! I have not seen this cookie recipe before…..I look forward to trying it as soon as I get some coconut. People who submit cranky anonymous comments should be wary of bad karma. I am a huge Trader Joe’s fan too!
OMG I love those clouds! I have never made anything remotely like that. I might have to try them! Thanks for sharing!
Easy too!
Umm. No, your blog is the same as ever. Same Mara, same recipes, slightly better pics!
hehe Even when you were busy w/ wedding stuff or on your honeymoon you’ve always taken great care to have guest posters or automated posts. You’ve never let your blog sit here and get stale. They’re just bitter! True you sell more stuff now, but it’s usually a little sentence or two at the bottom. It’s not like you’ve turned into QVC!
.-= Christina´s last blog ..Grilled Polenta =-.
Oh my goodness that person is crazy, you are DEFINITELY not boring!!! I of course love your blog and if anything, I feel boring in comparison
Love your clouds – if you dunk them do you have “clouds in your coffee?” Not boring, ever, I’ve enjoyed reading your blogs.
.-= Diana´s last blog ..Steak and Roasted Corn Salsa Stew(p) =-.
I have never thought you are boring, ever!!! And I want some coconut clouds!
A blog is about the person writing it and you should write about what you want- that’s what we’re interested in! Like your tagline says “I cooked it, I ate it…” so it should be all about you and we get to share in that. Anyone who doesn’t like it doesn’t have to read it! I, for one, am a constant fan!
I wouldn’t pay attention to someone who’s obviously cowardly enough to hide behind anonymity. I think your blog is awesome! Even if I don’t comment much, I’m still reading it!
Now then, those coconut clouds look heavenly! If you add cocoa powder you’d have mound clouds!
.-= Spiceaholic´s last blog ..Savory start, spicy finish =-.
Anything from TJ’s is great. Haven’t been there in a while so I think I’ll make a trip this weekend after reading your post. Your dinner looks delish!
.-= the wicked noodle´s last blog ..Carrot Souffle =-.
Oh my goodness those cookies look reall good! I am going to have to try those!
Those cookies look tasty and they are gluten/dairy free…I am making them! Why is it that people have to be hateful? I just got a nasty message on my blog for the first time. Fun stuff! I like your blog! Keep it up!
I don’t agree! You’ve not become borring… Blogging is like life… Ups N Downs. Not every post/ day is going to be the most exciting rivetting (spelling?)… Some days are more subdued than others…
I think you do a great job & think it was pretty lame to say that to you with out revealing his/ her identity! Keep up the good work!!
Not boring at all!!! I love your blog!!
.-= Melissa (MelissaLikesToEat)´s last blog ..132.6 =-.
Amazing recipe, girl!
Have a terrific night!
Brazilian XOXO´s,
Gabriela
.-= Gabriela (froyolover)´s last blog ..Improvement/Positivity =-.
Love your blog! And I just discovered Trader Joe’s last week… within 10 minutes of being in the store, 3 different people struck up conversation with me. I was impressed by not only the food and selection (and prices-wow! they aren’t even bad!), but the customers and employees were so warm… definitely my new favorite place
.-= Katie @ the monthly goal´s last blog ..Oh, my. I forgot about you, Blog. =-.
I envy your access to TJ’s.
I love your blog and you, two thumbs down on the rude commenter.