{20 trader joe’s products i’m obsessed with}

My love for Trader Joe’s is so deep that I am willing to endure the most irritating parking lot situation in grocery store history.  Everyone’s shopped at Trader Joe’s at least once, right?  TJ’s features a wide array of foods at low prices.  It’s my go-to spot for everything from healthy (and not so healthy) snacks, pantry staples, cheese….just wait till you lay eyes on the massive selection.

Shopping here makes me feel healthy.  LOL.  Sounds so dumb, but I’m just being honest.  I feel good about myself when I walk through the doors.  The genuine workers, cleanliness and fab prices don’t hurt either.  Little does anyone know, I’m mainly there for the flowers, cheese and carbs….maybe something organic.  Sometimes.

I first hit the stems.  Aka gorgeous, I want to take them all, flower section.  They place this display, right smack dab in the center of the entrance.  Knowing B’s can’t contain themselves over all the beautiful varieties.  I probably spend the most time here.  Debating which ones will come home.  Even though they are a whopping $3.50, a lot of times, I even grab two and decide when it’s time to check out.

Next, the produce aisle.  I have to admit – the pre-packaged shit isn’t that cool, but I buy it because it says “gluten-free,” “organic” or even “vegan”  Remember, I’m feeling pretty good about myself at this point.

Next up, the damn sample counter where a sweet old lady is slangin melt in yo mouth goodies.  And you’ve got to try it, or you’d be fucking rude.  Duh!  Next you scour the store, searching for a package of said free sample that you really don’t need at all.  Chances are, it’s going to sit in your freezer for the next two months before you even pop it in the oven.

Then you stumble upon the freezer section.  This is where the not-so-healthy comes into play.  Cookie butter ice cream.  Mac and Cheese Bites.  Mandarin Orange Chicken.   Chocolate Croissants.  It’s a lazy asses paradise.  Any and everything you can pop in the microwave.  I try to close my eyes as I make my way down this aisle.

Before you know it you’re in the snacky stuff.  Lots of gems down these last two aisles.  Peanut butter stuffed pretzels.  21 Seasoning Salute.  Polenta.  Packages nuts.  Veggie straws.

Last, but definitely not least…the booze.  Two Buck Chuck might have been the wine that made Trader Joe’s famous, but it’s no longer the biggest draw.  Let’s cut the crap, Charles Shaw is just not that good.  Like at all.  Spend the extra five bucks and grab a bottle of Bogle and call it a day.  Your headache will thank you in the morning:)  They do carry lots of great bubbles + chards.  When in doubt, grab a cute bottle.  At least, that’s what I do.

• Pizza Dough – Made fresh daily (yes, you heard me right) and comes in three varieties. Plain, Garlic Herb + Whole Wheat.  The dough is soft and easy to use.  Just add your toppings and cook.
• Almond Mozzarella Shreds – You probably already heard me ramble about this new treasure last week {friday 5}  I’m slightly obsessed.  I used this cheese in a quiche this morning – amazing!!
• Feta – I used to only buy crumbled feta in the container, until I met the brick of feta.  It’s pure cheese happiness.  Try it, it’s so much better.

• Dover Sole – After reading this blog post here, I once again, headed to TJ’s to grab some of this fish.  I followed the recipe with lemon pepper + olive oil + panko breadcrumbs.  Light and delish.
• Pork Tenderloin – I hate the pre-seasoned packaged tenderloin.  They are always over salted.  Not sure why I only buy these at TJ’s as they sell them at every grocery store, but I do, and that’s all I have to say about that 🙂

• Organic Brown Rice – HUGE time saver.  Frozen brown rice, conveniently packaged in 3 (2-cup pouches).  Just microwave for 3 minutes to prepare.  Brown rice takes FOREVER, so to me this is maj.  Sometimes I add cilantro and lime or add to a stir fry.
• Chicken Taquitos – Didn’t we all grown up eating taquitos?  I sure did.  I recommend baking in the oven, although they have microwave directions…..but I think it makes them mushy.   Check out this recipe – TJ’s Taquito-lada Casserole.  OMG!
• Cookie Butter Ice Cream – Food fantasy come true.  Read the description below – enough said.
  

  Cookie Butter Ice Cream begins as humble-yet-rich vanilla ice cream, carefully crafted using fresh cream from the Midwestern United States and Madagascar vanilla extract.  Pieces of Belgian Speculoos cookies are blended into the ice cream, and then comes the pièce de résistance, the not-so-secret ingredient that makes all of our ice cream wishes come true – a ribbon of Trader Joe’s Speculoos Cookie Butter.  This is a masterwork of ice cream craftsmanship, a miracle of milk transformation.

• Peanut Butter Filled Pretzels – sweet + salty goodness.  You haven’t lived till you’ve tried this match made in heaven.  Bailey and I fight over the bag.
• Crispy Crunchy Broccoli – “Vacuum fried” in palm oil, making this snack reduced fat and no residual grease on your snacking fingers.  I’ve been known to throw them on my salad..so good.
• Rice Cakes – Two simple ingredients: whole grain brown rice + sea salt.  Add a layer of peanut butter and bam.
• Cookie Butter – One of TJ’s most famous items.  It makes Nutella look like an amateur.  This famous concoction comes in Cookie butter, which tastes like peanut butter, nutella, and cookie dough all wrapped into one.  The Chunky version that had actual crumbs of ginger snaps.  Or the Cocoa swirl, which is Bailey’s dream come true.  It’s exactly what it sounds like.
• Lemon Sparkling Mineral Water – I pack one in my lunchbox every day.  I look forward to this afternoon snack to switch it up from plain water.
• Polenta – If you’re looking for an easy weeknight dinner.  Buy polenta.  Organic + gluten-free too.  This is my go-to pantry polenta dinner: Martha Stewart Baked Polenta with Sausage + Artichoke Hearts

Do you follow Trader Joe’s on Instagram?  If not, you really should.

@traderjoeslist

@traderjoesfans

So, now you know what comes home in my bag.  What comes home in your TJ’s bag?  Please tell me your favs.  That way I have something to do on my lunch break this week 🙂

xoxo stacyb