Costco Food Finds for October 2017

Welcome to the "You Know It's Fall" edition of Costco Food Finds. You are about to find out about some of the products that when you see them at Costco, you don't even need to look at the calendar - it has to be fall. This post, we got fall fruits, a fall recipe, a fall cheese, a Thanksgiving preview, and just for fun - Bourbon Barrel Aged Maple Syrup (just ponder that one for a moment). Let's find out what's inside Costco that will make your next trip worth it.

You Know It's Fall...Produce

There are three fruits that scream, hey it's fall now. Yeah we associate apples with fall. But those are available year around. These trio of fruits are pretty much only available in the fall.

Cranberries | 2 lbs bag for $2.99 (1.49/lb) | 9422

If there is any berry worth buy in bulk quantities, it's the cranberry. They last way longer than any other berry (you can keep them for months!). They have many culinary uses.

Did you know that Wisconsin is the number one cranberry producing state in the country? Now you know!

Fuyu Persimmons | $7.99 ($2.66/lb) | 8595

Another question for you? Do you Fuyu?

A Fuyu is a variety of persimmon. They are a sweet orange fruit that sorta like a flatten tomato. They are available in the fall months from California. You can eat them firm or slightly soft.

Don't mistake them with the acorn shaped Hachiya persimmon. Hachiya you only get when they are really soft or they will dry your mouth out. Persimmons store well in the fridge.

Pomegrantates | $15.99 ($1.99/lb) | 18202

This is one fruit you don't want to take for granate (ha ha ha!)

Bad puns aside, the Pomegranate is in season now. Good news that big box that Costco sells you can store them in the fridge and get plenty of time out of them. The little seeds or airls inside add a wonderful pop of flavor in salad.

Dynamic Duo Potatoes | $6.99 ($1.39/lb) | 331100

If I am in the mood for potatoes it must be fall - not that I don't like potatoes year round but there is something special about enjoying them in the fall. The farmer's market is full of them.

Thanksgiving is approaching and you don't have that holiday without potatoes. Check out these potatoes that I found at Costco this month. These are not just small potatoes they are a type of potato called a creamer potato. I have a whole lesson on them located right here.

You Know It's Fall...Cheese

You can tell that we are in the last quarter of the year when you find this cheese at Costco.

Maple Leaf Cranberry White Cheddar Cheese | $6.99/lb | 36160

I usually like my cheddar containing just cheese. No jalapenos. No spices. Just simple mild cheddar. But I will get this cranberry cheddar from Maple Leaf creamery once a year.

Goes well with crackers. Really well. Great to have on hand for any fall get together at your place or bring it to a friend's.

The tartness of the cranberry works well with the cheddar. It's not sweet like it would be mixed with another berry.

You Know It's Fall..Apple Cider

Remember I promised a recipe when I start this post. Well here it is. And the first two ingredients you need are:

Pork Loin Chops | $2.29/lb | 33746

Kruegers Cold Pressed Apple Cider | $3.99 gallon | 599189

Now this cider isn't going to be as good as the unpasteurized cider you find at apple orchards throughout the country. But it's a good choice to make Apple Cider Glazed Pork Chops. Pork and applesauce is a classic combo.

Why not take the apple flavor directly to the pork. The cider is boiled down until it becomes a shiny, delicious glaze ready to be spread onto some nice pork chops. Click/tap here for the full recipe.

You Know It's Fall When...We Start Talkin' Turkey

A Thanksgiving lover food blogger's thoughts start going toward turkey long before most people even begin to ponder it. While it's not officially time to talk Costco turkeys yet (see last year's post for good measure), I want to talk about a new brand of smoked turkey I found during my last Costco trip.

Stevison Whole Smoked Turkey | $2.99/lb | 39469

This a different brand of smoked turkey than I have seen at Costco in the past. Unfortunately I couldn't find anything out about the company online. But hey if you want to try something different this year, you could go for one of these smoked bad boys.

Smoked turkeys last a long time in the fridge, so you could buy one now and be already set for turkey day.  On average they weight between 10 and 12 pounds.

You Know It's Fall...Oh heck this is just good

Our last item may not be a seasonal thing. But hey maple syrup is always in season. Especially when it's this maple syrup, being sold at this price:

Crown Bourbon Barrel Aged Maple Syrup | $14.79 (.59/oz) | 1110739

I was stunned to find this maple syrup at Costco this week. Then looking up to the price on the sign, even more so. While maybe $14.79 for a 26 oz bottle of maple syrup doesn't sound that good of a deal. But friends this is not just any old bottle of maple syrup. This maple syrup has been aged in bourbon barrels.

I have seen bottles of Bourbon Barrel aged maple syrups that were half this size going for upwards of $20. For for this particular product this is a great deal. Look how much it costs on Amazon.

When maple syrup is aged in barrels it picks up additional flavors. No it's not an alcoholic drink now and you don't need an ID to buy it as just you don't need to be carded to buy pure vanilla extract.

The flavor of this maple syrup is unlike any other maple syrup you may have it. I would describe it as being richer, more complex, smoky, and butterscotch-like. It's truly an unique product. My guess would be that Costco isn't going to stock it forever, so next time your in, treat yourself. Save it for really special breakfast.

Thanks again everyone for checking out this month's Costco Food Finds. To look at what I was talking about in past months, see all of my Costco Food Finds posts.