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Trader Joe's Reviews & Recipes |  |
Hand-Selected Recipes Calling for Trader Joe's Products. Super-Organized for Easy Browsing & Targeted Searches.
Trade Joe's Full Reviews
These are my honest and unsponsored reviews of a few Trader Joe's products. Look for a ♥ for the products I really like or think may be otherwise useful.
SAVORY
Bruschetta Sauce ♥
Canned Lentils ♥
More from A Veggie Venture, my food blog
TRADER JOE's MEALS & MEAL STARTERS
Trader Joe's Shakshuka Starter (Product Review) ♥
TRADER JOE'S SPICES
Everything Bagel Breakfast Salad ♥
TRADER JOE's SOUPS
Trader Joe's Butternut Squash Soup
TRADER JOE's FROZEN VEGETABLES
Trader Joe's Cauliflower, Kale and Sweet Potato Gnocchi (Product Review)
Trader Joe’s Fire Roasted Vegetables (Product Review)
Trader Joe's Flat Green Beans (Product Review) ♥
Trader Joe's Mashed Sweet Potatoes (Product Review) ♥
Trader Joe's Melodious Blend (Product Review) ♥
Trade Joe's Mini Reviews
These are my honest and unsponsored reviews of a few Trader Joe's products, just a few words of recommendation. Or not. Look for a ♥ for the products I really like or think may be otherwise useful.
APPETIZERS
Spanakopita Filled with Spinach, Ricotta and Feta Cheese ♥
Need a quick hot appetizer? Go for Trader Joe's individual spanakopita, cute little triangles of phyllo packets stuffed with spinach, ricotta and feta. They're real crowd pleasers! Just throw them in a hot oven, done. TJ has an coiled spanakopita, it looks good too but for our crew, individual two-bite appetizers work out better. Have 'em hot and just out of the oven soon after people begin to arrive!
Campfire Appetizers
This week we headed to the country with a grandniece and family, including the three Littles. With overnight temps in the mid-20s the night before, we knew it might could be c-o-l-d so I wanted to greet them with hot chocolate and something warm.
CAMPFIRE CINNAMON ROLLS We built a fire, just concrete blocks with a grate between and carried down a cast iron griddle that fit perfectly on one side of the grate. Trader Joe's Jumbo Cinnamon Rolls were so easy and totally gobbled up!
My one concern here was getting them completely cooked, I definitely didn't want any of us eating raw flour/other ingredients, so they got a little crispy on the hot skillet, even though I kept flipping them over, kinda like burgers on a grill. Next time, I'll bring along some spray for the griddle. This is worth perfecting.
After a long walk in the leafy woods, we returned to our campfire which had finally settled down into nice hot coals, and started to experiment with a few more Trader Joe's products, all fully cooked, eliminating lots of risk in an outdoor environment.
CAMPFIRE MINI PIZZAS (Fully Cooked) we heated up some little mini pizzas, Trader Joe's Spizzico di Pizza. These were quick and easy to warm up on the hot griddle.
CAMPFIRE KIBBEH (Fully Cooked) These little Middle Eastern stuffed meatballs worked great, too! They warmed up easily on the griddle, just turning them every so often.
CAMPFIRE TAMALES (Fully Cooked) We actually were so full, we didn't get to the tamales but I'll still try them another time. At home, I cut each tamale into three pieces.
CAMPFIRE HOT DOGS (Fully Cooked) I'm always disappointed by the hot dogs at Trader Joe's but luckily, we like the sausages. This time, I heated chicken sausages on the grill over the open fire, then wrapped them in Trader Joe's wonderful brioche hot dog buns.
I must say, these experiments have me hooked on the idea of doing a Trader Joe's run before heading to the country. We often take along sandwiches or pick up BBQ and some times reheat a stew in a cast iron Dutch oven and some times even cook Ribs & Sauerkraut in a cast iron Dutch oven. But this was easy, totally taking the pressure off mostly me.
It did help to re-package everything except the cinnamon rolls and the buns, making it easier to move straight from the cooler to the campfire.
BREADS
Super Bread ♥
I picked up a loaf of Trader Joe's this week. It's a vegan bread with multi-grains, also multi-seeds. It makes excellent toast (in a toaster) and would be great for Fried Bread (skillet toast) too. Next up, avocado toast.
DAIRY
>Chocolate Milk ♥
Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix is the house hot chocolate mix but this huge shortcut really worked for Littles and Bigs both on an outright c o l d in the country. I'll definitely do this again.
SHORTCUT HOT CHOCOLATE Gently heat a half-gallon carton of Trader Joe's Chocolate Milk (yikes, it's soooooo sweet) with about two cups plain milk, getting it down to the sweetness I thought the Littles would like (for just us, I'd probably add four cups of plain milk), add a little vanilla. That's it!
FYI, this $20 8 cup thermos from Target worked great too.
Strained Thick & Creamy Greek Yogurt ♥
I've switched from 0% Greek yogurt to a new-ish Trader Joe's-brand yogurt called Thick & Creamy Greek Yogurt. It's similar to the Fage yogurts but creamier and also way less expensive though more expensive than other Trader Joe's Greek yogurts. My doctor has "prescribed" a hit of protein before bed to prevent hand cramps. My favorite is a few spoons of this yogurt plus some fresh blueberries, heavenly.
Much recommended. So good!
FRUITS & VEGGIES
Pizza Ranch Salad Kit
The so-called "Pizza Ranch Salad" Kit is a total bust unless you like lots of iceberg lettuce turned soggy in too much dressing and way too little anything else, even after doctoring, a lot, with extra tomato. Usually I love having some salad leftover for lunch the next day but this one went straight into the you-know-what.
PREPARED MEALS
Broccoli Cheddar Quiche
We tried some little frozen quiches one morning this week, the broccoli quiche which was the better of the two we tried, its saving grace was 16 grams of protein.
Laziness Convenience aside, I'd rather spend a few minutes for a Light Tomato Basil Quiche or even Smoked Salmon Quiche any day of the week.
Chicken Gyoza Potstickers
This week we tried the chicken potstickers and found them ... meh ... especially compared to the Thai Gyoza right next to them in the freezer section. We love-love the Thai ones, a bargain at $.80 more. Both cook in the skillet in under 10 minutes, I usually serve with roasted vegetables and a salad so we don't eat the whole dang package! (Which, honestly, wouldn't be the worst binge in the world.)
Quiche Lorraine
My kitchen is no diner, no breakfast or lunch on demand. So my husband and I nearly always fend for ourselves for breakfast. He makes the best breakfasts, truly, but some times, he wants more than a bowl of cereal but just isn't up for actually cooking whatever that more might be.
So I've started stocking up on a few individual breakfast quiches from Trader Joe's. This week, a lady reached over me to grab a half dozen Quiche Lorraines for her cart. If another shopper needs six, I definitely need at least one.
And that's how a TJ Quiche Lorraine became "dinner" one night this week when timing got complicated.
And it was pretty good! The quiche was smaller than I'd realized, but filling, which is a good thing since a whole quiche is more than 1000 calories. I could easily see baking a few of these for a brunch or light lunch, say, cutting into three wedges to serve with some simple greens and fruit on the side.
But wait. Isn't there bacon in Quiche Lorraine? In this case, no, ham, but honestly? We couldn't tell.
Ricotta and Spinach Filled Ravioli (apparently discontinued)We've been so wowed by the Gyoza from Trader Joe's frozen section that I decided to try the Ricotta and Spinach Filled Ravioli.
The good news is, they are super quick to cook in a covered skillet with water and a little oil, just seven minutes.
I gotta say. These were not inedible but they won't be purchased again. They're just kinda -- blah. The filling is measly, there's no obvious taste or texture of either spinach or ricotta. The "pods" of tomato sauce do melt down but never really thicken enough to "sauce" the pasta. It's okay-tasting but not enough to compensate for the pasta.
For us, this one's a miss.
Spinach Tortellini
I'm having fun trying some of Trader Joe's stable of "prepared foods", diverting from my usual "ingredient" purchases. This week I bought a packet of fresh pasta, the Spinach Tortellini, thinking it would go into a pot of Weight Watchers Spinach & Tortellini Soup. But then didn't have the listed vegetables nor any good substitutes nor any desired to head out into just-above-zero temperatures.
I actually thought they might be quite good in one of my newest recipes, the wonderful Easy Shrimp & Noodles.
But the tortellini didn't puff up like pasta does, so they just didn't work. And honestly? They have no flavor, anyway. For me, they're a miss, something I won't buy again at Trader Joe's.
Thai Shrimp Gyoza ♥
For me, Trader Joe's is more of an "ingredient stop" than a prepared-food source. But the other day, I picked up a package of aka dumplings, ten minutes from box to plate and good!
Next time, I'll add a couple of extra bags for the freezer, very handy to have on hand and under $5 which is way less than the cost of calling for a pizza ...
PS This is my #1 quick supper, just ten minutes to cook, that's plenty of time to make a salad and, bam, there's dinner. PPS My favorite cooking method is on the stovetop but do use just a single tablespoon of oil.
PANTRY STAPLES
Red Pepper Spread with Eggplant and Garlic ♥
For years and years, I've loved a red pepper spread from the Balkans called "ajvar" -- one year, one of my Winnipeg cousins even flew home with multiple jars (pre 9/11, of course) and then in 2008, I featured it on A Veggie Venture, see Product Tip: Ajvar Red Pepper & Eggplant Spread on FinnCrisp.
But now! There's a similar product at Trader Joe's, no trekking across town to an international market, no stocking up by the shelfful. It's comes in a 12-ounce jar labeled Red Pepper Spread with Eggplant and Garlic and has a very slight kick, way less than the imported jars of ajvar I once purchased.
For a quick 'n' easy appetizer, I like to spread some cream cheese whipped with milk until silky on a big platter, then top it with a layer of ajvar, sprinkle it with feta and a few herbs. Easy-peasy. Drop-dead delish!
It's also great tossed with hot pasta, spread on crackers with a little cheese, as a sandwich spread, dolloped into eggs. Much recommended!
Fusilli Corti Bucati ♥
To my taste, Trader Joe's everyday pastas are too wimpy soft, that's saying something for someone who also is no fan of pasta cooked "al dente". 🙄
But! I do usually like the specialty pastas that show up every so often, this time a bag of "corkscrew" pasta called Fusilli Corti Bucati, imported from Italy. It's fun!
Lightly Smoked Salmon in Olive Oil ♥
Who's tried the small tins of Lightly Smoked Salmon in Olive Oil? Stock up, the stores do run out! Each tin is about 200 calories (that's with all the oil, which I drain off ...) but 21 grams of protein, a quick addition to a salad, breakfast eggs, etc.
Very handy!
SWEETS
Brown Sugar Cardamom Buns (possibly discontinued? seasonal product?)
UGH.
So they had me at "Cardamon" but Trader Joe's seasonal buns, "Brown Sugar Cinnamon Buns" are a bust.
I can't think what they were aiming for, the rolled buns are dry, the topping is icky sweet with only a bare lick of cardamon. I didn't finish my little quarter section, my husband didn't finish his half. And there sat the box for a couple of days, constant temptation but no temptation at all. Rubbish bin, you go.
Total Skip. Even for those of us who love cardamon and can't walk by a Scandi-style pastry.
Coffee Panna Cotta (possibly discontinued? seasonal product?)
We tried the brand-new little mini desserts this week. The flavor is okay, not very coffee-ish, but the texture is way off, not lumpy but not smooth either. And the photo shows lots of coffee sauce: nope, hardly any.
MAKE IT YOURSELF? This recipe desperately needs new photos but the recipes are spot-on, see Coffee Pots & Lemon Pots, which are a similar concept, French custards called pots de crème.
Double Chocolate Croissants ♥
Oh my. What a sweet treat, maybe perfect for a weekday Valentine? The do require some planning. They come four to a box, frozen. They must be thawed at room temperature for NINE hours before baking and then take almost an hour to bake. Serving them for breakfast? Plan ahead.
PS Not as good nor as crispy as my favorite good-bakery croissants but not bad for boxed and frozen and ... chocolate!
Pumpkin Spiced Pumpkin Seeds
I picked up a bag of Trader Joe's Pumpkin Spiced Pumpkin Seeds (not on the Trader Joe's website, sorry, so linking on Amazon so you can see what the bags look like, but they're SO expensive there) and they are ... okay. Crispy. Nicely spiced. But SWEET, so sweet I probably wouldn't use them in a salad or savory dish, say. They were mostly overlooked as a snack item at a family party last week.
These, however? I totally make a batch or two of Sweet Pumpkin Seed Crumbles every fall. Putting one on the list, right now!
Trade Joe's Recipes
These are my recipes which lean on Trader Joe's products.
SAVORY
Big Italian Chopped Salad (Marinated Artichokes, Arugula, Uncured Salami, Chickpeas, Green Olives or Cracked Olive Salad, Parmesan ♥)
Charcuterie for Two (Nuts About Rosemary Mix ♥)
Dill Pickle Pasta Salad (Dill Pickle Seasoning ♥)
Easy Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas ("Totally Homemade" Flour Tortillas ♥)
Easy Make-Ahead Breakfast Casserole with Hash Browns & Eggs (Hash Browns ♥)
Easy-Easy Broiled Salmon with Olive Salad (Cracked Olive Salad ♥)
Easy-Easy Festive Goat Cheese Spread with Fig Jam, Pistachios & Pomegranate (Goat Cheese, Cream Cheese, Maple Syrup, Fig Jam, Pistachios, Pomegranate Seeds, Crackers, here Trader Joe's is a one-stop shop for every ingredient! ♥)
Fun Pretzel Roll Hot Dogs (Pretzel Rolls ♥)
Homemade & Semi-Homemade Pub Cheese (Pub Cheese ♥)
PB&J High-Protein Overnight Oats (Orgain Organic Protein ♥)
Trader Joe's Lentil-Bruschetta One-Minute Salad (Canned Lentils & Bruschetta Sauce ♥)
Warm Goat Cheese Appetizer with Mini Tomatoes & Capers (Corn Chip Dippers ♥)
SWEET
Bourbon Pralines (Pecan Pieces ♥)
Maple-Glazed Pecans (Pecan Pieces ♥)
My Favorite Graham Cracker Crust (Cinnamon Graham Crackers & Ghee ♥)
More Recipes from A Veggie Venture, my food blog
Easy Jambalaya (Frozen Roasted Bell Peppers & Onions, Smoked Andouille Chicken Sausage, Peruvian Style Chimichurri Rice, Tomato & Roasted Red Pepper Soup ♥)
Everything Bagel Breakfast Salad (Everything Thing Bagel Seasoning ♥)
More from A Veggie Venture, my food blog
TRADER JOE's MEALS & MEAL STARTERS
Trader Joe's Shakshuka Starter (Product Review) ♥
Trader Joe’s Slow Cooker Hack #1 (Easy Jambalaya) ♥
TRADER JOE's SOUPS
Trader Joe's Butternut Squash Soup
TRADER JOE's FROZEN VEGETABLES
Trader Joe's Cauliflower, Kale and Sweet Potato Gnocchi (Product Review)
Trader Joe’s Fire Roasted Vegetables (Product Review)
Trader Joe's Flat Green Beans (Product Review) ♥
Trader Joe's Mashed Sweet Potatoes (Product Review) ♥
Trader Joe's Melodious Blend (Product Review) ♥
Kitchen Parade is written by second-generation food columnist Alanna Kellogg and features fresh, seasonal dishes for every-day healthful eating and occasional indulgences.
Quick Suppers are Kitchen Parade favorites and feature recipes easy on the budget, the clock, the waistline and the dishwasher. Do you have a favorite recipe that other Kitchen Parade readers might like? Just send me a quick e-mail, you'll find my current address in the FAQs. How to print a Kitchen Parade recipe. Never miss a recipe! If you like this recipe, sign up for a free e-mail subscription. If you like Kitchen Parade, for more scratch cooking recipes using whole, healthful ingredients, you're sure to like my food blog about vegetable recipes, too, A Veggie Venture. If you make this recipe, I'd love to know your results! Just leave a comment below.
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Thank you for taking a moment to write! I read each and every comment, for each and every recipe. If you have a specific question, it's nearly always answered quick-quick. But I also love hearing your reactions, your curiosity, even your concerns! When you've made a recipe, I especially love to know how it turned out, what variations you made, what you'll do differently the next time. ~ Alanna