Fresh & Easy

While we find ourselves missing Georgia more and more, there are still some great things about Arizona. There is a different menu to chose from out here, no matter where you go. Lighter foods, lots of veggies, and lots of strange, strange things. One of my favorite places to eat out here is The California Pizza Kitchen. We took a few choice relatives here when we first arrived in AZ, and again in July. If you Georgia residents are lucky, you just might find some of these pizzas pre-made in your local grocer's freezer section! $5.99 can be quite a splurge for a frozen pizza at Kroger, but I promise you this: you won't regret it. Just be sure to cook it on open oven racks, not on a pizza stone or cookie sheet... it'll be well worth the burnt-on cheese spots later on.

Another of our favorites out here has been Stax. Even though we have only here been a few times, they've always been fun, adventurous, and successful trips to Ye Olde Towne Scottsdale. The whole menu lets you pick and chose excactly how you want your very own 3-ounce slider: ostrich meat, buffalo, beef, veggie burger. Toppings galore. Sides come in little baskets that mimick those of a deep fryer. Tater tots, onion rings, fries, and sweet potato fries. Num Yummy! Convenient for me, it's also just across the street from my favorite dessert place Sprinkles, the cupcake boutique where my birthday treats came from... sooooooo sinfully delicious!

Carlton at Stax in Scottsdale:

Cupcakes we splurged on for my birthday:

One recent find that I have been pretty crazy about is a small, semi-local chain of grocery stores called "Fresh & Easy." It's a back-to-basics market with select cut flowers, ready-to-cook meals, and knowledgeable employees. The best two things about this place? Everything is organic, cage-free, and totally fresh; and all the prices rival even the best deals at Kroger. I say "back-to-basics" because that's all they have. None of the frozen garlic bread loafs, none of the chip aisles (although there is a small section of delicious choices), none of the candies or sodas or "organic or not" sections for fruits or veggies. They have candies and sodas, just a small, select choice. At most, there are 4 employees in the place any time I've been in... check-out is self-service, like any self check-out you've been to. But those 4 employees are so friendly, so helpful, so quick to answer or grab or help out with anything. Other than Whole Foods, which tends to be more pricey, or Sprouts, a farmers' market chain of stores, I haven't really cared for any grocery places around here. But Fresh & Easy, well, it's pretty much taking over our kitchen... and I'm kinda proud of it! Why? I don't know. Tonight I made little sliders burgers for dinner, and I could just tell by touching the ground beef that it's such better quality than we're used to. Kinda made Carlton wonder enough to ask me, "Then what have you been feeding me, woman?"

My grocery bags from Sprouts, which are surprisingly strong and can carry more
than you'd think:

The fridge these days... find the Fresh & Easy!