...because home doesn't happen overnight.

UPDATE: I inadvertently posted this before catching up on my blog reading and discovering that Joanna at A Cup of Jo wrote a very similar post on this very topic last week! Eek!! This post idea had been on my to do list for some time. Great minds think alike? Anyway, feel free to check out her post and the comments sections here and there for a slew of recommendations.

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One of my favorite things about our little house is its proximity to a variety of grocery stores. It takes me less than 10 minutes to drive to the nearest Trader Joe’s. It’s super convenient but it can be dangerous. I try to stick to my shopping list but everything looks so good! I usually end up leaving with at least one experimental purchase. I’ve learned to look for almost sold out items. In most cases, an empty shelf is a good omen.

Here are my favorite go-to’s:

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*premade salads – They make for quick and easy lunches on the busiest (or laziest) of days. I especially like the lemon chicken & arugula salad and the uncured bacon & spinach salad.

*fully cooked uncured apple smoked bacon – It crisps up quickly on the stove or in the microwave making it ideal for hurried mornings.

*ready to bake pizza dough – It’s the BEST readymade dough my taste buds have ever encountered. I use it for pizzas, bread & butter and even pretzels. It tastes best right out of the oven.

*French liquid hand soap – The orange blossom honey scent is delightful. (And the Trader Jacques branding is quite comical.) I set it out in the main bathroom on special occasions when we have guests visiting. It always generates a compliment or two.

*inner peas – I pack these baked green peas in the kids’ lunch boxes.

*dry roasted almonds with 50% less salt – Steve requests these for his paleo salads and snacks. Mabrey LOVES them.

*dark chocolate-covered anything – If you’ve been to Trader Joe’s, you know what section I’m talking about. I prefer my almonds smothered in dark chocolate, thankyouverymuch.

*dried mango slices – They’re better than fruit roll-ups in every way.

*uncured sliced corned beef – I crave these sammies.

*cookie butter – Kryptonite in a jar. And if you put it on an apple, it magically becomes a healthy snack. (Not really, but it’s still my favorite.)

*sauerkraut with pickled persian cucumbers – I love sauerkraut and I love pickles so it’s no surprise that I love this combination. I like it hot or cold (see corned beef sandwich link above).

*toasted coconut pancake mix – Just add water for a crepe-like pancake with a hint of coconut. These pancakes were an integral part of our winter survival kit.

*organic tomato & roasted red pepper soup – I pair it with a hot ham & pesto sandwich for a comforting meal.

*organic vegetarian chili – My family loves it on uncured, all beef hot dogs.

I’d love to hear what you buy at Trader Joe’s. Any recommendations? Thanks in advance!

images: Dana Miller for House*Tweaking

 

91 Comments

28.March.2015

I tried their shampoo/conditioner/body wash on a whim recently because it is so cheap. I love them! All natural and awesome. I have been using their tea tree oil face wash for several years now. The best!

28.March.2015

The frozen turkey burgers! They’re very inexpensive, tasty and you can cook them from frozen, so perfect for weekday meals. And the spicy humus is my favorite humus and the only kind I buy now. It’s not crazy hot, just has a nice spice to it. And I can’t leave without a bottle of wine most days :)

28.March.2015

My whole family loves the pineapple salsa! It is super good and we haven’t found any salsa we like better! It is perfect for the kids because it isn’t spicy! You must try it!

28.March.2015

Oooh, which wine do you like? I haven’t made good choices in the wine department yet.

28.March.2015

Sounds like a good fish taco topping!

28.March.2015

I just discovered their organic brown rice and quinoa spaghetti noodles and I’m hooked! So good, and they stay soft and noodle-like for leftovers, too, unlike a lot of gluten free options.

28.March.2015

we love their frozen veggie fried rice. I add some extra edamame and a few scrambled eggs and we have a 5 minute meal for me and the hubby

28.March.2015

went there yesterday and man… i was groping those veggies before I realized that I hadn’t even glanced at my list. I’m a sucker for their creamer [it has less crap in it than the regular stuff], the cubed pancetta, pesto, unsalted and roasted pistachios [great price], frozen potstickers… I’m sure there’s more. I cant get out of there for less than $100

28.March.2015

Triple Ginger snaps! And any of the biscotti flavors. Spinach and kale yogurt dip. Now I have to make. Trader Joes run.

We, too, love the mango slices and stock up every time we go! I also love their Salsa Verde and buy several jars each visit. I agree with you on the dark chocolate covered anything, especially the cherries!

28.March.2015

We go once a month and stock up on certain things. We usually buy about 5 bottles of ketchup, 10+ bags of frozen fruit, frozen croissants (you let them rise over night), vegetarian corn dogs, frozen turkey meatballs, chocolate covered orange and raspberry sticks, several jars of unsalted peanut butter, several bags of nuts, light coconut milk, goat cheese, parmesan, other cheeses, some of the crackers (raisin rosemary is good and the kids like sesame rice crackers) and as a treat for my littlest ones, the kids’ yogurt cups. The kids usually add in other things and then I might buy some beer and wine, so the bill can be astronomical at the end. (My kids always say it is not as much as the one time they went with their dad – who bought sweets and alcohol!)

28.March.2015

TJ’s used to be 5 minutes from my house, now it is 25 minutes, sigh… But I still go regularly. Their small 3 pack of Belgian chocolate bars are outstanding, at an outstanding price. Their frozen mini croissants and chocolate croissants will make people think you are an accomplished baker. They have so many excellent frozen meals– many coming from Europe, such as gnocchi from Italy, all manufactured to EU standards, These all take about 10 minutes in a frying pan to warm them up – 1 bag for two adults, 2 bags for a family of 4, so,so good. Have you seen the shelf stable whipping cream they have now? I think it was $1.25 for 8 oz, — so handy to have in your pantry. As for wine, their $3.99 bottle of Villa Cerrina Montepulciano D’Abruzzo is amazing!! And so is their $6.99 prosecco. Just ask the people in the wine section, they love to help you get something good for a great price. Just going to TJ’s makes me smile, it is fun. And I don’t usually feel that way about grocery shopping…

28.March.2015

When lice went through the kids school I read that shampoo with tea tree oil helped keep them away. TJS has a nice shampoo and conditioner with tea tree oil that i keep stocked. We’ve been lice free. Yippee!!

Their tomato basil marinara is such a great buy at $1.99 or so and it’s really good too! I also like their frozen macarons, but only the vanilla ones. And you’re right, dark chocolate and almonds are always a good idea!

28.March.2015

Love! Love! Love Trader Joe’s. Their cheeses are at great price points-my fave is the Burrata. Salads-lately I’ve been eating the Mega Crunchy Salad-so crunchy and I love the addition of the quinoa. Their tarte D’alsace and Tarte au Brie are perfect for appetizers or a quick dinner. Other frozen dishes like the creamy polenta with spinach and carrots and the gnocchi with blue cheese make quick dinners as well. The frozen almond croissants are amazing! It does need to be prepped the night before so you need to plan. Their vanilla cake mix is the best-I use this for cupcakes all the time. For an easy dessert just top with fresh strawberries and whipped cream. Their trail mixes and nuts are also at excellent price points and make quick snacks…there are just too many great products at trader joes to list!

28.March.2015

I live in the greater Los Angeles area and Trader Joe’s is a must have for us Angelenos, luckily there are many locations to choose from. I recently tried their tabbouli, so healthy delicious on top of quinoa, and balela, which is a Middle Eastern salad with chickpeas, tomatoes and black beans. Also, they have great food for kids; my six year loves their beef tamales and been-cheese burritos. A lot of good stuff.

I have a ton! Current favs:

1. Edens Pastures Feta
2. Kale and Sweet Potato Pizza
3. Gluten Free Chicken Nuggets
4. Gluten Free flatbreads
5. Frozen Grass Fed meat
6. Wild Argentinian Shrimp
7. Black Bean and Cheese Taquitos for Meatless Monday
8. Organic Olive Oil from California
9. Piñon coffee
10. Grifone Wine

I also love the same bacon, hand soap, and soup!

28.March.2015

I love the coconut pancakes as well! The jalapeño Greek yogurt dip is amazing and their frozen Chinese food is just as good as any delivery you can get. I’m so glad you posted this because I am new to Trader Joe’s and can get easily overwhelmed grocery shopping so this is helpful!

28.March.2015

This must be a new blog trend…CUP OF JO did this same kind of post last week…thanks for more good suggestions! I love the Portobello mushroom ravioli.

28.March.2015

Their creamy almond butter with sea salt is my absolute favorite. We also love their Trader Jacques olives. The pre-cooked frozen quinoa and frozen fire-roasted peppers are also good.

28.March.2015

Love their fresh cut flowers, trail mix, but most of all their frozen chocolate croissants for special brunch occasions. They are amazing!

28.March.2015

I have been a fan of Trader Joes for over 11 years now since my oldest was diagnosed with multiple good allergies as an infant. Allergy issues have since resolved, but my love of TJs remains. My favorites are the pizza dough, which I stock up and freeze. Last visit at the sample section, I was introduced to a combo of their organic butternut squash soup paired with the frozen spicy Thai fried rice. Dump both in a pot and heat for a super easy and delicious quick weeknight meal. It would never have been a combo I would’ve thought of, but super flavor! My husband and kids even love it, not an easy task in our house!

28.March.2015

Love the plantain chips! Just plantains, a bit of oil and salt! Also I just bought dried persimmons which are really good – one of the few dried fruits they carry with no added sugar – also buy Applegate deli meat there. It is by far the cheapest we have seen it sold for in Syracuse. My daughter loves their frozen Indian butter chicken- easy go to meal for her dinner! My kids also I’ve their mini ice cream cones- perfect size for a little treat!

28.March.2015

Ack! Sorry for the typos!!!

28.March.2015

I love the green all purpose cleaner. It smells SO good! Also love the thick cut apple wood bacon, frozen mini quiche (mexican), and frozen steel cut oats.

28.March.2015

Yes to everything you mentioned. Haven’t tried the inner peas yet though! My kids inhale the white cheddar corn pops (pirates booty knockoff). Chianti salami with their raw milk cheddar. Truffle infused sea salt – only comes in a couple times a year so I buy vast quantities. Makes the most amazing popcorn. The new sriracha bbq sauce. I usually make my own but this is awesome for lazy nights. Cereal bars. My kids love them. Salted almond butter. Frozen fire roasted corn. All the wine. Ha. I am normally a bit of a wine snob but their boxed wine is my guilty little secret. White is better than the red.

28.March.2015

have you looked at the blog What’s Good At Trader Joe’s? They taste test and review everything in the store. I took their top rated list with me on my first TJ trip and it was all amazing. My current faves from there are mostly all snacks, I do the majority of my staple shopping at a local chain called Earth Fare (because I work there haha). So at TJ I pick up:

Chocolate covered sunflower seeds (made of pure crack, I swear to god)
Rice pudding
Hummus sampler
Any of the frozen Asian takeout (fried rice and orange chicken especially)
Meringue cookies
and I always get their chicken stick dog treats, my dogs are crazy for them. They’re cheap, made of quality ingredients, and most importantly made in the US!

Honestly the only thing from there I haven’t liked at all is their ice cream. Excluding the mochi!

28.March.2015

TJs Blondie box mix made with their coconut oil instead of butter will change your life!!!!

28.March.2015

Oh and one more…. TJs Unexpected Cheddar. Super inexpensive & paired with cold, crisp apple slices is the best!!!

28.March.2015

Try the soy creamer. Makes coffee rich and delicious.

28.March.2015

I live in Canada, where there are no TJ’s boo hoo! However, about an hour over the border and I can indulge in this amazingly fun shopping experience. I love the beef jerky and the cheese selection has incredible prices and selection. I would die and go to heaven if there was a Trader Joe’s 10 minutes away. I would also be very poor… ha ha

28.March.2015

In the cheese section they have a goat cheese log with blueberry or cranberry on the outside. YUM! It is my go-to appetizer with crackers. Edamame hummus! Have you tried the cookie butter sandwich cookies?! Delicious!

28.March.2015

hands down – chicken verde burritos – we make them with Munster cheese melted on the top – great quick dinner that my middle schooler can make on her own

28.March.2015

My family is lucky to live within walking distance of a Trader Joe’s but let’s be honest I need the trunk of my car to haul home all of our goodies from TJ’s :-) Our favorites in no particular order:
Frozen pineapple tidbits (perfect to sweeten smoothies), frozen French green beans (perfect in stir fries or sautéed w/garlic) frozen Garlic Naan, frozen Turkey Meatballs, the Healthy 8 raw veggie mix in the produce section is a great base mix for coleslaw, and for a sweet treat their new Cookies & Cream cookie butter is to die for!!!. Another fab product is the Coconut Body Butter. Just $4.99/container it is a fantastic moisturizer. Last but not least…it wouldn’t be a trip to TJ’s without a bunch or two (okay 4 on my last trip) of flowers :-)

28.March.2015

1-their Fair Trade Five Country blend espresso bean. I buy 6-10 cans at a time because our store always sells out. It’s our favorite coffee and we’ve tried so many! Makes an excellent, smooth, consistent espresso every time.
2- frozen chocolate croissants. We also buy these a few boxes at a time because they sell out. We have them on Sunday mornings as a treat.
3- Butternut Squash ravioli. Sooooo good!
4- sundried tomato and goat cheese ravioli. I can basically eat the entire package myself.
5- the Lemon thin crisp cookies; also the coconut variety. One serving is NINE cookies. It feels so indulgent and the flavor is so intense you are absolutely satisfied with one serving.
6- green tea mints. Always have a tin in my bag.
7- flaked coconut. Super tasty on granola.
8- soy creamer. Hands down the best out there. So creamy!
9- the frozen roll out pie shells. Making a homemade
Pie is so much easier with these! I keep a pack in my freezer all the time.
10- umm…pretty much everything there.

28.March.2015

I crave their mole sauce daily for fajitas and such!

28.March.2015

The almond butter (smooth, unsalted) is amazing with apple slices or on bread. All the nuts and seeds are great and well-priced. I use them in home-made granola, and the snack-sized almond or trail-mix packages make for great on-the-go snacks. I love the cheeses; the individual sized goat cheese is great. I buy the European style whole grain bread for open faced sandwiches. It’s the closest to what I grew up with in Europe. And TJ is the best source for very reasonably priced orchids and flowers.

28.March.2015

If you are into sweet treats, I recommend the oatmeal raisin cookies. I agree the cookie butter and chocolate-covered almonds with sea salt are heaven! Thanks for sharing! I will be trying some new stuff next time I go!

28.March.2015

Sorry, is this a sponsored post? It looks like one, it’s just that you usually say so and I can’t find a comment about it anywhere. I’m confused! Trader Joe’s always sounds amazing, how lucky you are to have one so close to you :)

29.March.2015

Have you tried the Coconut Cashews yet? http://www.traderjoes.com/fearless-flyer/article/1314
They’re good right out of the bag. And then I put them on my cereal (along with pecans, dried cherries, and a splash of pecan caramel coffee creamer in addition to the almond milk on the cereal). It turned plain corn flakes into something!

29.March.2015

TJs took FOREVER to come to Austin. I guess Whole Foods could only hold them off for so long. Anyway, here are my (semi-oddball) faves (in addition to ones already listed):
1. Pasta sauce. I usually buy the organic ones, but they’re all good.
2. Quinoa pasta (can you tell I cook for one a lot?)
3. Coconut frozen dessert. Both flavors are good, but I’m not much of a chocolate person, so the strawberry is my favorite. Dairy HATES me, so getting richness minus lactose and calories is a win for me.
4. Anything from the Tea Tree Tingle line (hair/skin) products
5. Favorite wines: La Granja Tempranillo (the one with the pig on the label, not the blend with the zebra on the label…not as good) or La Finca Tempranillo (definitely my second fave)
Totally a single girl’s list. Ha.

29.March.2015

i love TJ too!!

1. Roasted Oregon haznuts… So good!!
2. Masala veggie burger
3. Chilli chicken burger so easy for my keto husband
4. Mushroom turnovers…. Insanely good!
5. Salsa verde I make a chilli with it once a week for me keto loving hubby
6. Dairy free strawberry coconut ice cream… Amazing!
7. Frozen eggplant and zucchini grilled in oil
8. Tropical dried fruit

Can’t wait to try the roast beef and saukraut!

29.March.2015

I loved reading your post and all these comments for new shopping ideas! One thing that I love for a really easy soup is mixing TJs frozen chimichurri rice with the roasted red pepper soup you mentioned above and heating for 10 – 15 minutes. We also sometimes add ground turkey or shredded chicken for more of a chili-type meal. Yum!

29.March.2015

So many good things…but here are a few of my favorites:
-cubed pancetta in 4 oz (in the refrigerated section). I freeze them and just put them directly into the pan for sauces and soups.
-I second the pig wine
– try some of $5-6 Chiantis
-German reiseling (Dr. something)
-frozen brown rice in microwave bags
-frozen naan
-1000 day aged Gouda
-freeze dried strawberries
-masala veggie burgers
-breaded eggplant
-organic chicken broth

29.March.2015

This is such a great post! I’ve loved the recipes you’ve posted before and while I love TJ’s, it’s nice to see that I basically skip over the frown section every time. I’ll definitely check it out. I love the tuscan herbed feta. It’s amazing in anything, but especially omelets and chicken wraps/pitas. Pink lady apples are amazing. I always get the organic free range chicken and grass fed meet. Our local grocery stores don’t have any good options and they’re getting more and more expensive. I started making chocolate chip cookies with their flour, organic butter and sugar and they’re to die for. I like cooking with their $3 wine, but I’m not a fan of drinking it. And olive oil. I know popcorn with coconut oil is good, but my husband doesn’t care for it so I started using olive oil and I’ll never go back! :)

29.March.2015

I die over their wine and frozen food selection!

29.March.2015

TJ’s goat milk gouda
coconut oil – best bargain
goat milk yogurt
Tuscan Pane sourdough bread

I always end up leaving with way more than my list during my TJ visits. I love the chocolate covered almonds. I have to be careful not to eat the whole thing once it is opened. I need to try the pancake mix. I haven’t seen that one yet.

29.March.2015

My current favorites are:
frozen asparagus risotto
green tea mints
mango gummies
carmelized onion dip
vegetable fried rice
scallion pancakes
coconut strips
triple ginger snaps
chicago popcorn

29.March.2015

TJ’s used to be close to our home, now it is thousands of kms away. So when we are back to the Boston area, it is always on our “to-do list” for the visit….but the suitcase is never big enough to bring back all our favs. I love the TJ Spa Face Wash with tea tree oil. Last summer, we ate an amazing TJ fresh hummus with spinach. My girls (who are both at uni in Scotland) beg my sister to include TJ’s organic peanut butter and rainbow chocolate-covered sunflower seeds in the annual care packages she mails them! Last minute delicious cash-register purchase was green tea infused mints…

29.March.2015

This is my favorite topic! The coconut pancake mix is amazing. Here are my faves, organized by how my store is laid out.

Flowers – obviously

English breakfast tea (half the price of Twinings)
Spiced chai (bags, not mix – so good)

Classic (tahini-free) hummus
Smooth & creamy hummus (spicy red & spicy green)

bagged salad mixes
rainbow carrots
brown tomatoes
basil
avocados

bran flakes
whatever granola my husband is into at the moment

coconut chips (I die for these)
dried baby pineapple slices
dried tart cherries
macadamia nuts (salted and roasted)
ezekiel bread
corn and wheat tortillas – SERIOUSLY the best – they taste like corn but are resilient (i.e. they don’t break) like wheat

carnitas
ravioli

CHEESE – sheep’s milk parmesan/romano, burrata, feta, raw cheddar, gruyere

bacon ends and pieces
eggs
organic chicken

frozen croissants (they rise overnight, and bake in the morning and they’re surprisingly good)
frozen tamales
frozen indian food
frozen brown rice

trail mix cookies

organic blue corn tortillas
tomatillo salsa
hatch valley green salsa

sweet and hot cherry peppers
french dijon mustard
cornichons

olive oil
sesame oil
grape seed oil

electrolyte water! by the case!

beer, wine, whathaveyou
whatever they tempt me with by the register

29.March.2015

My hubs absolutely loves their orange chicken. Not one of the healthiest finds at TJs, but still far better than most frozen chicken! I combine it with their veggie fried rice, and we get tasty “chinese takeout” without questionable cooking methods and gross ingredients.

Also a huge fan of their carnitas, and its become a go-to for nights when we’re both exhausted and hungry but are trying to avoid eating out. I heat up the carnitas in my cast iron pan until it’s nice and crispy, and serve it with guac, salsa, and tortillas.

Also a huge fan of their ghee; love it twice as much as whole foods or any other brands I’ve been able to find.

29.March.2015

Ahh, Trader Joe’s is my fav! Glad to know we share the love!

If you haven’t tried their pecan praline granola, it is the best. Goes great with yogurt or just with milk.
I’m also in love with the Coconut Bon Bons. They are like mounds but “healthy”…everything at Trader Joe’s is healthy, right? ;) Oh and their pesto is the best pesto on the planet!

29.March.2015

Thanks for all of the great suggestions! We recently moved to an area and have a TJ’s within walking distance which is dangerous!

Around the holidays, we literally stock up on the pumpkin bread boxed mix so we have some to use throughout the year (although we only have a couple of boxes left). It is only around for a limited time and we add chocolate chips, canned pumpkin sometimes. I even made it to bring as a last-minute dessert for a casual gathering and everyone loved it! We also like the prepared pesto for sandwiches and the frozen turkey meatballs for quick dinners when we are running late.

29.March.2015

Flowers

Veggie fried rice
Cilantro chicken wontons
Chocolate croissants
Frozen peppers and onions- LOVE having this always on hand, sometimes I purée it in my nutri bullet and add to soups or retried beans.
Carolina bbq sauce
Roasted frozen corn
Olive oil
Soy sauce
Mini peanut butter crackers
Brie with truffles
Villa Alena Moscato d’Asti- my favorite wine and only $10

I’m probably forgetting a dozen things :)

29.March.2015

We love love love Trader Joes.
-the Plantain Chips are awesome! Use them instead of tortilla chips with homemade guacamole!!!
-Their Organic Hot Chocolate is amazing
-the shelf whipping cream for the hot chocolate on special occasions
-you can’t go wrong with their pie crust. it seriously rivals home made
-frozen fruits for smoothies
-salsa verde (we love it in tacos for a change)
-cranberries and mixed nuts
-french cut frozen green beans
just to name a few

29.March.2015

*green tea mints (at the checkout counters)
* no-added-sugar dried bing or dark cherries (hard to find sugar free varieties at other chain and even organic stores)

29.March.2015

It might be an unpopular opinion, but I’ve never been a big fan. While there’s undeniably fun, tasty stuff there, I hate the tiny produce section. There are things I love the store for — party snacks, frozen meals that are way better than some other grocery stores — but if I actually want to cook something, or worse, have a recipe I’m buying for, it’s just the worst. Who doesn’t have corn on the cob in July, I ask you?

Though one produce item they do have that can be hard to find elsewhere is frozen artichoke hearts. I think their texture is nicer than the canned variety.

29.March.2015

I’m so glad you did this post – I love reading everyone’s recommendations. We live five minutes from a TJs but it always takes about twice that to find parking!

Our family loves:
The Syrah-soaked Toscano cheese
The clover honey – super tasty and inexpensive
All of their teas
Lemon Curd
Argentinian Shrimp
Veggie Fried Rice
Chickenless Nuggets
Their fresh pizza sauce
mango Mochi
their tahini sauce
their chewable vitamin c is also super good and cheap
Chianti salami
Marinated Bulgogi
their Caesar salad kit
dried slab apricots
Boysenberry Preserves
Double Concentrated Tomato Paste – in the tube… when you can find it
Their organic sugars and the flours
and last, but definitely not least, their margarita mix (okay, I love this)

We buy 90% of our food from there and supplement with the farmers market for freshest veggies and fruit.

30.March.2015

I rarely buy produce from Trader Joe’s either. We have a Kroger Marketplace nearby that has an excellent organic produce selection. A Fresh Thyme just opened up nearby and I’m itching to check it out once the initial crowd clears. We also frequent the local farmer’s market during the warmer months.

30.March.2015

I can also vouch for the frozen naan. Sooooo good!

30.March.2015

I’m totally trying this!

30.March.2015

Love it. I stumbled onto Trader Joe’s dairy-free frozen desserts when I was nursing Mabrey who had a dairy intolerance. They are great! (Although I’m very happy I can eat real ice cream from my favorite local ice cream shop now.)

30.March.2015

Nope, not sponsored! Just sharing what I like and hoping to discover new foods to try. I always use disclaimers for sponsored posts.

30.March.2015

Have you tried the goat cheese premixed with honey? Delicious!

30.March.2015

Must try the raviolis next time!

30.March.2015

So far I’ve been able to hold off on the cookies…but probably not for much longer.

30.March.2015

We tried the beef jerky just this week. YUM.

30.March.2015

Wait. There’s a blog devoted to taste testing all things TJ’s?! Genius.

30.March.2015

My hubby works for Trader Joe’s so needless to say we are BIG fans…
some of our staples are block parmesan, maple syrup, Dijon mustard, olive oil, turkey corn dogs, hash browns particularly the square frozen ones. Maple chicken breakfast sausage individual wrapped mini brie and mini goat cheese. Belgian chocolate pudding is my kryptonite.

30.March.2015

No worries ;) I have bought the mini ice cream cones as kid treats too! Very little cone = very little sugar.

30.March.2015

Oh my! I’m definitely giving that a try. Thanks for sharing!

30.March.2015

Ah crap! I honestly didn’t know that!! I’ve had this post idea on my to-do list for months! I am so behind on blog reading it’s not even funny. Oh well, more food ideas aren’t the worst thing to happen I guess.

30.March.2015

I second the maple syrup!

30.March.2015

I take the tomato and roasted pepper soup, add a bag of chimmichurri rice, a can of rinsed black beans and a bag of frozen shrimp – yummy and hearty soup in 10 minutes!

30.March.2015

The Nourish line at Trader Joe’s is amazing, just look at the ingredients list! (It’s a little known secret in the beauty world.) The flowers are amazing here too! They try to stock with local farm fresh flowers that stay alive FOR-EV-ER!!

Happy shopping

30.March.2015

We do a mix of the frozen roasted corn, chimichurri rice, latin bean soup and one can of black beans. Heated over stove – it is the best soup I’ve ever made!

30.March.2015

One of our favorite quick meals is pizza. TJ herb dough, with their eggplant and red pepper sauce instead of pizza sauce and whatever toppings like good that days. The red pepper sauce is amazing!

Also, throw some tuna steaks, red bell peppers, onions and bread on the grill then build a sandwich with their pesto, so good!

Their frozen indian food is pretty good and any of their cheeses. Their toaster pastries are good too.

I actually love their produce. Our store has most of the basics. The kale is great for chicken salads with goat cheese. Brussel Sports sauteed with bacon are wonderful.

I could go on and on but I will stop there.

30.March.2015

Popular topic it seems. I rarely shop there and I have two stores pretty close to home. I buy whole foods in there raw state, nothing pre made or bagged. We don’t eat that way. We eat low carb/paleo combination and don’t buy much else other than meat and vegetables, and the vegetables come from a vegetable stand/market that has been in business for 50 years. Or the farmer’s market on Saturday. I make our nut butter from the nuts. Make soup from scratch starting with homemade chicken broth. I do buy canned tomatoes because I have to and canned tuna, that’s about it for canned goods. That packaged stuff has ingredients in them that you cannot even pronounce, so it can’t be good for you. Sorry I am in the minority here it seems.

30.March.2015

I do the majority of my grocery shopping there and have done this for about 15 years now! My husband and I have decided that we can never move to a location with no TJ’s! One commenter mentioned the Griffone wine. We went to Italy last summer and the white wine there tastes very similar to Griffones (which makes sense because it is from Italy). At $3.99 it’s a steal and it takes us back to the Italian Riveira every time.
There is also a Chardonnay called Revelation that’s French and really good at $5.99.
I don’t think it was mentioned yet but the organic unsulphered dried Turkish apricots are amazing! Pick out a bag that has the darkest looking ones. They are super moist and have a carmel like flavor. We love them to satisfy an after dinner sweet tooth!

30.March.2015

Omg! When we moved into the cottage bungalow we are now literally a 45 second drive to TJs and maybe a 7 or 8 minute walk. I never shopped there before we moved here bc it was always all the way over on the other side of town. Ive quickly developed a list of things i love picking up. Cookie Butter (thanks to you actually:)), frozen asparugus spears (not the grilled ones), orange chicken in the frozen section, frozen naan, dry lentils, spices (because they sre so damn cheap), ground turkey (again, so well priced), fresh baked filone bread, bananas, milk (the cheapest ive found), canned black beans, fresh flowers (always a great selection and super inexpensive, and wine. I havent ventured into their coffee, but ive heard its great.

30.March.2015

[…] *Making spontaneous trips to Trader Joe’s. […]

30.March.2015

Nourish face cleanser and moisturizer – it’s incredible. I understand that it’s formulated by one of the major (and majorly expensive) face care lines, but at $12ish for the set – it’s a steal! Also can’t leave without the dark chocolate covered sea salted caramels. YUM!

30.March.2015

Can’t leave without …

TJ’s boxed mac and cheese (like Annie’s)
Organic whole wheat pasta
Almonds (whole, sliced, slivered …)
Frozen Spinach-artichoke dip – on hand for last minute appetizer
frozen peas, corn, mixed berries
Almond milk, unsweetened
everything crackers
PESTO!
corn salsa!

30.March.2015

this is a fantastic post – thank you! I have such a fun list saved in my phone now for future TJ’s trips. I echo the fresh flowers, cookie butter, cheese selection (syrah soaked toscana and mini bries are my personal favorites) and would also add: balsamic glaze, shaved brussels sprouts, heirloom carrots, and the alphabet cookies – these are great to put icing and sprinkles on and add to cupcakes to spell out something festive for a loved one, or… just to snack on by the handful :)

30.March.2015

oops, forgot…

frozen veggie sausage
and the best find ever: frozen mini croissants (put them on a cookie sheet, let them rise overnight, bake in the morning and you have REAL croissants)

30.March.2015

love love the sauerkraut with pickled persian cucumbers, i make special trips just for that and eat it by itself as a snack..is that weird?…. my husbands favorite thing there is the pumpernickel pretzels

31.March.2015

It makes me so sad that grocery stores in Maryland can’t sell wine…no 2 buck Chuck at our TJ’s :(

31.March.2015

I enjoyed this post, and I don’t follow the other blog so I wouldn’t have seen that one! There are lots of good suggestions here from you and your readers – I will have to try some new things.

I have lots of favorite items from Trader Joe’s. It’s about a 20 minute walk from where I live in downtown Boston, and I often trek there with my collapsible cart which will hold four full bags. I go about once a month and stock up heartily on some of our favorite staples:

Frozen organic wild blueberries (we make blueberry shakes almost every morning)
Super Green Drink powder (it goes into our blueberry shakes, also w/1 banana)
Salted CRUNCHY Almond Butter
Fair trade organic French roast coffee (I grind the beans there in the store)
Sardines in olive oil (my partner likes them)
“Avocado Number” which is their odd name for guacamole
Fresh wild caught haddock and fresh wild caught cod
Frozen Argentinian red shrimp (so sweet and delicious, almost tastes like lobster)
Shrimp gyoza!! Yum
Steel cut organic oats (they take a while to cook but the nutty flavor is so worth it)
Frozen organic peas
Raw Trek Mix package containing 10 single-serve packs (nuts & raisins, good for on the go)
Spanish extra virgin olive oil
Organic raw honey from Mexico
Cranberry Almond grain medley w/barley, wheatberries, wild rice & quinoa (ready to eat in cold case)
Seeds & Greens salad (also ready to eat)

I also like the “Fresh Linen” scented hand soap in the pretty pump bottle.

I know there are more – I just can’t think of them all.

Happy eating, everyone!

12.April.2015

Love Trader Joes, and love hearing other people’s favorites! I always, always stock up on the orange chicken (make in oven), the spinach artichoke dip – in the frozen section in a cube box (such an easy and good appetizer to have on hand for last minute needs) and the frozen shelled edamame to make hummus with. I also second the La Finca wine. Oh, and their flatbread/pizza with caramelized onions (and some sort of meat I can’t remember right now) found in the frozen appetizer section is so good.

22.April.2015

Hi, I’m sorry to hear about your son’s accident so maybe this will seem a little silly to post right now. But if you still want a wine suggestion, try the Green Fin organic table wine. I buy it by the case. :)