Trader Joe's shopping list

TamLam99

Planning a trip to Trader Joe's tonight. What's always on your shopping list ?

My favorites: sweet and salty pecans, veggie fried rice, garlic marinara sauce, chicken sausage, white cheddar corn puffs (pirates booty), taquitos, potstickers, frozen tri color peppers, couscous.

RelCanonical

I used to live near a Trader Joe's but don't any longer, so I would get all my favorites, haha. Orange chicken, chocolate covered potato chips, green tea mochi ice cream, cookie spread.

TamLam99

is the orange chicken a frozen meal ? oh yeah, love the cookie butter but I have no control when it's in the house.

glassyo

I have a Trader Joe's like 2 mins from work and 45 mins if walking and taking the long way around (and I always do) near my apt so....

Just the Chicken chicken strips
the lower sodium pistachios in the shell
mini chocolate chip cookies
animal crackers
persian cucumbers
low sodium chicken broth
mini biscotti
mini windmill cookies
cookie butter (when I forget I go crazy once the jar is opened)
Various frozen desserts if I feel like trying (the macaroons were good)
The white cheddar corn puffs
apple cinnamon straws
Streusel topped blueberry muffins (when I forget I go crazy)

TamLam99

omg streusel topped muffins sound fabulous, adding that to my list. If you like cookies, try the vanilla wafers they have in the clear bucket - delish!

RelCanonical

TamLam99 wrote: »

is the orange chicken a frozen meal ? oh yeah, love the cookie butter but I have no control when it's in the house.

Yup, it's a frozen meal.

glassyo

TamLam99 wrote: »

omg streusel topped muffins sound fabulous, adding that to my list. If you like cookies, try the vanilla wafers they have in the clear bucket - delish!

I really feel like I should have had more cookies on my list.

I'll buy Jo Jos every once in a while but I wasn't a fan of their thin jo jos...the oreo thins knock off. The wafer was too bitter or something.

The neapolitan jo jos were soooooooooooo good and I didn't think I'd like those since I'm not a fan of strawberry fillings.

skelterhelter

The light shredded mozzarella is the best light cheese I've ever had. Stretches and melts just like any full fat mozzarella. 45 calories for one ounce. It's amazing and I can't live without it.

I also love their cauliflower stir fry rice, cilantro chicken wontons, meatless meatballs, greek yogurts (they come out with amazing flavors!), assorted chocolates, PB and J bars, spicy cheese crunchies, cinnamon schoolbook cookies, cat cookies, organic ketchup (seriously the best tasting ketchup and dirt cheap), salsas, spices, and the amazing cookie butter. I won't buy that anymore since I can't control myself around it lol. Trader Joe's is the best place to shop.

apullum

I like a lot of their vegetarian products:

vegan orange chicken--the meatless version of the one mentioned above
chickenless crispy tenders
meatless meatballs
high fiber cereal (I mix it into my yogurt)
salsa
frozen Indian meals
chocolate bars
almond butter cocoa bars
Dr. Bronner's peppermint soap, which my husband loves
tuna, for the cat

shrinkingletters

-Coconut Creamer
-Almond Milk
-Oatmeal
-Coffee beans (I forget which, but I know it has a parrot on the container??)
-Eggs
-Butter
-Limes (they're so cheap there)
-marinara sauce (for pizzas, or to use as a base for pasta sauces)
-pre-made pizza dough
-typical veggies are: zucchini, mushrooms, bell peppers, tomatoes, onions, and there's always spinach, carrots, and celery in the fridge
-canned stuff: beans (black beans, chickpea, white beans)
-dried stuff: pasta, lentils, rice, sliced bread
-fruit is always kinda pricey there so we just get whatever's in season
-AND A LOT OF THAT MINERAL WATER lol I'm obsessed with the cranberry clementine flavor

shrinkingletters

OH. And I can't forget my 2 favorite vices:

Rear Admiral Gin
Grifone Sangiovese

kam26001

ShopGirl9999

Just Mangos (dried fruit)
Volopi Pepperoni
Salsa Especial
Pistachio Ice Cream
Chocolate Covered Almonds
Frozen Hasbrowns
Frozen Plain Croissants
Pickles!
Almonds (low salt - the best)

TamLam99

So many awesome suggestions! I'll probably spend 4 hours and $500 in there.

monicalifestylefitness

Honey wheat pretzels (dipped in cookie butter, so good)
Gouda cheese
Honey goat cheese
Gouda goat cheese
Hummus quartet
Spanish brand deli salami
Rosemary ham
Raisin rosemary crisps
Enchilada sauce (it’s the best)
Cuban black beans
Frozen ginger cubes
Frozen garlic cubes
100 calorie mini milk chocolate bars

These are my specialty items that you can only get at traders. We go weekly for other staples as well 😊

lthames0810

What is cookie butter? I have poor control around sweet things so maybe I'm better off not knowing. But curious.

I tried to go to Traders one time, but couldn't find a parking space and left. So pissed off I never went back. (I get angry way out of proportion over parking and waiting in lines.)

glassyo

lthames0810 wrote: »

What is cookie butter? I have poor control around sweet things so maybe I'm better off not knowing. But curious.

I tried to go to Traders one time, but couldn't find a parking space and left. So pissed off I never went back. (I get angry way out of proportion over parking and waiting in lines.)

Cookie butter is crack in a jar.

That's all you need to know.

And, yeah, I have no patience for lines or waiting anymore which is partly why I walk there like a half hour before they close.

jenmsu83

Cold brew coffee concentrate, wine, frozen shrimp (the Argentinian red is so good), frozen chicken fried rice, pita chips, hummus, cookie butter sandwich cookies

skelterhelter

lthames0810 wrote: »

What is cookie butter? I have poor control around sweet things so maybe I'm better off not knowing. But curious.

I tried to go to Traders one time, but couldn't find a parking space and left. So pissed off I never went back. (I get angry way out of proportion over parking and waiting in lines.)

Cookie Butter is similar to peanut butter in texture, but made from ground up speculoos cookies. I can just eat it from the spoon.

amfmmama

cinnamon sugar muffin/baking mix, everything bagel seasoning.

TamLam99

Not food related but has anyone tried the nourish spa shampoo and conditioner? Love their mint and olive oil lip balm.

I picked up all kinds of great stuff, looking forward to a pretzel bagel for breakfast tomorrow.

TamLam99

lthames0810 wrote: »

What is cookie butter? I have poor control around sweet things so maybe I'm better off not knowing. But curious.

I tried to go to Traders one time, but couldn't find a parking space and left. So pissed off I never went back. (I get angry way out of proportion over parking and waiting in lines.)

I try to go at off times, weeknights after 7 are usually quiet at the location I go to otherwise it can be a very hectic store. They have awesome products at good prices.

And cookie butter is amazing, creamy sweet gingery deliciousness

anmille8

Sweet potato gnocchi omg and vegan pesto and pork buns

TamLam99

anmille8 wrote: »

Sweet potato gnocchi omg and vegan pesto and pork buns

I didn't see the sweet potato gnocchi, is it frozen or near the pasta section? I would love that. Did you use any sauce or just a little butter and grated cheese ?

dsboohead

I am never without a bag of frozen roasted corn. Not on the cob but just roasted corn. Use it as an addition to soups or stews.
This is the best tasty corn.

Stockholm_Andy

Is Trader Joe's a supermarket?

When we were on vacation in October in SoCal I saw several but assumed they were restaurants like a knock off of Trader Vics.

RelCanonical

Stockholm_Andy wrote: »

Is Trader Joe's a supermarket?

When we were on vacation in October in SoCal I saw several but assumed they were restaurants like a knock off of Trader Vics.

They are, they're kind of a lower-priced Whole Foods with lots of popular store brand items.

polly1970

Ancient Grain & Superseed Mix (great on oatmeal)
Tzatziki
Quinoa Cowboy Veggie Burgers
Cauliflower Stif-fry
Vegetable Gyoza
Frozen vegetable fried rice
General Tsao Sauce
Rainbow’s End trail mix
Green matcha powder
Mixed Nut Butter
Almond Butter Turmeric salad dressing

chunky_pinup

Wine. I live across the street from one. TJ's is my wine shop lol. I've contemplated moving just so I'm not so close to them. But, they're so cheap that I'm also thankful they're the closest grocer to me!

jaimydude

This. I usually add some chili sauce and soy sauce and stir fry it for a few mins. Really filling, low cal and tasty. The whole pack is ~250 cals and I only need half.

springlering62

We love the Nourish shampoo, and it wasn’t harsh on the pink and purple hair I sported for years. And I find I don’t have to swap it, like other brands, when your scalp gets “used” to it

*Love the frozen roasted corn, and the frozen fire roasted pepper mix. Great for fast fajitas in the wok.
*crystallized ginger is surprisingly low in calories (no one, not even me, can eat 17 pieces in a sitting, so four was only 35 calories and tasilty satisfying).
*The ginger chews are also good and low cal for a “candy”.
*Their blue corn chips are the best chips ever
*Norwegian crispbread is made from whole seeds and is delicious
*their Ciao brand pepperoni is to die for, and makes the best homemade pizza OTT, and a little goes a long way, so comparatively lo cal (plus the dog loves handouts)
*seasoned buffalo mozzarella balls make a fabulous caprese salad
*their ground cocoa tastes better than the rather yucky Hershey’s I picked up at the grocery in a rush the other day
*frozen fried rice is great. We usually get the chicken version, and pad it out with their frozen stir fry veggies for a vegetable heavy quick dinner
*marinara sauce
*tomato paste in a tube aka the GREATEST invention EVER (I see it elsewhere now)
*10 minute barley is great added to a quick instapot chicken soup : makes a filling a low cal lunch
* minced garlic in a jar
* Chicken Chardonnay (?) sausage
* Teriyaki beef jerky
*their smoked chicken dog treats for a little guy I love

What do I miss? *sigh* chocolate biscotti, chocolate covered cherries, English toffee, honey mint creams, shortbread, and thank heavens they stopped carrying chocolate meringues. Yeah, sugaroholic here. Crack to an addict.

What do I wish they ‘d bring back? The little German sausages that tasted just like Nuremberger sausages from the Christmas market. The Aldi version just isn’t as good.