Wednesday, October 24, 2018

Costco Connection: October 2018

Hard to believe it's already October! Take a break from enjoying the cooler Autumn weather and acquaint yourself with my highlights from this months issue of Costco Connection magazine.


Pg. 40 Cover Story: The Connection interviews award-winning actress Sally Field about her memoir, In Pieces, which is available now in most Costco warehouses at member exclusive pricing 40% off the cover price.




Pg. 1 Welcome to Toy-land! Love it or hate it holiday toys have already moved into warehouses and costco.com. My favorite is the Wizarding World of Harry Potter 4D puzzle. $24.99 in warehouses, and also available on costco.com.



Pg. 11 Save $10 off acrylic or metal prints through the Costco Photo Center!




Pg. 18 This Month at Costco:
Michelin doles out tips for preparing your vehicle for the coming winter, and don't forget about this months tire center coupon. Save $70 off any set of 4 new Michelin tires, and if you pay with your Costco Anywhere Citi Visa card you can save an additional $60!




Costco is now offering customized halo diamond engagement rings! Click here to see all the different styles, metals, and diamond shapes & sizes to choose from.



Pg. 31 A primer on OLED TVs: Tech reporter Mac Salesman gives you the low down on the benefits of Organic Light-Emitting Diodes (OLED) TVs.

Pg. 34 In this months travel column, Emmy award-winning travel editor Peter Greenberg breaks down the islands of Fiji and all they have to offer first time and return visitors alike. CostcoTravel.com currently has travel packages with 11 different resorts in Fiji.




Pg. 47, 52 & 54 Remodeling your kitchen? Or maybe you're just thinking about how you are going to cook for all of those holiday guests?  Take a look at new appliances available on Costco.com from LG, GE and Samsung. Everything from induction stove top ranges to true convection French door wall ovens.


Pg. 50 Are you new to Instant Pot cooking, or considering finally jumping on the multi-cooker bandwagon? Then don't miss Nancy Leson's article on what finally convinced her to join the one pot revolution and her personal tips for mastering Instant Pot recipes. The Instant Pot Nova Plus 6-Quart 9-in-1 Multi-Use Pressure Cooker, item #1226685, is available now in warehouses and on costco.com.


Pg. 62 Move over PSLs, Starbucks seasonal Holiday Blend K-cups are back!




Pg. 70 Costco member and cookbook author Gina Homolka discusses her latest cookbook, Skinny Taste One & Done, which focuses on one-pot meals, features recipes for all seasons and doesn't skimp on the time savings meal planning tips. Her cookbooks are available in warehouses.



Pg. 74 Try your hand at cooking with fragrant and vibrant saffron!


 


Pg. 90-91 New Fall Books are here: You can pick up Chrissy Teigen's latest cookbook, Cravings: Hungry for More, as well as her first cookbook Cravings, both available now at warehouses nationwide.
James Mustich 1,000 Books to Read Before You Die will make a delightful gift for your favorite book lover.
Pg. 93 Buyer's Pick: Reese Witherspoon's Whiskey in a Teacup: What Growing Up in the South Taught Me About Life, Love and Baking, showcases the actress, entrepreneur and now author's southern heritage through her cooking, party planning, decorating and more.
Pg. 95 Get a sneak peak at what Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children will face in Ransom Riggs much anticipated fourth book in the series: A Map of Days. And don't miss the tie-in drink recipe for your book club.


Pg. 100 Flu season is upon us, stock up on Kirkland Signature Disinfecting Wipes to keep germs at bay. The new low-streak formula still kills up to 99.99% of bacteria, and viruses that can cause the common cold and influenza.
Speaking of the flu, did you know you can get a flu shot at most Costco Pharmacies nation wide for just $19.99? No appointments are needed, shots administered during pharmacy hours only. Call your local pharmacy for more details.

Pg. E-8 Explore the expanded selection of cozy home decor on costco.com for warm weather essentials like down blankets & comforters and flannel sheets.




Pg. E-13 Prepare your vehicle for winter weather with auto accessories from costco.com: emergency roadside kit, 2-pack of compact snow shovels & snow brush/squeegees and even snow plows!




Pg. 108 October's consumer reporter, freelance write Laura Bode goes in depth on Kirkland Signature cashews - all the way from harvesting to a steel warehouse shelf near you.


Pg. 112 The latest Costco finds include Lego Advent Calendars, new winter clothes and holiday home decor.


Pg. 122 This months member connection features Ellie Lak and her animal rescue organization The Gentle Barn.

Pick up a copy of this months Costco Connection in our local warehouse, or read the full October 2018 issue here.





Until next time,
the Costco Connoisseur
#GoingToAllTheCostcos

P.S.
Follow me on Twitter! @CostcoConoiseur
Follow me on Instagram! @theCostcoConnoisseur


Costco Ditches Holiday Favorite Pumpkin Cheesecake

After years as a holiday staple, I am sad to report that Costco has indeed replaced their beloved Pumpkin Cheesecake (item #30719) with the new Harvest Spice Cheesecake (item #1271925). You may have already sampled it at your local warehouse, but this deceivingly similar-looking cheesecake has one big difference: it contains sweet potatoes.


While the spices are similar to the original, the introduction of sweet potatoes reduces the once rich pumpkin flavor, making this dessert taste disappointingly watered-down.





Costco members seem to be divided on the issue. Some claim the new recipe is abysmal, while others praise the new, milder pumpkin flavor.


(I have a sneaking suspicion that those who prefer the milder flavor aren’t big fans of pumpkin to begin with. If that’s the case, why change a classic holiday pumpkin dessert for people who don’t even like pumpkin to begin with?? Costco already has a delicious regular cheesecake for non-pumpkin people!)



As a lover of all things pumpkin (well almost all things -- I have yet to jump on the PSL bandwagon), I am crestfallen. I enjoy sweet potatoes, just not in my pumpkin cheesecake.
Frankly, I’m rooting for the Harvest Spice Cheesecake sales to tank so Costco will bring back the their classic pumpkin cheesecake recipe next year.





If you have tried the new Harvest Spice Cheesecake, let me know your thoughts about it in the comments below!

Until next time,
the Costco Connoisseur
#GoingToAllTheCostcos


P.S.
Follow me on Twitter! @CostcoConoiseur
Follow me on Instagram! @theCostcoConnoisseur