Trader Joes

sgt1372 wrote: »

I shop there but can't say I'm obsessed w/TJoes. I find it expensive for most items, so I just pick and choose when I go there, looking for things on sale or priced competitively w/other stores.

Actually, just stopped in a few mins ago and bought some ground coffee (2lbs for $9.99), a lb of dried Turkish apricots for under $5 and a pkg of basil for $3, which were the best deals I saw today.

The only "must buy" item for me at TJoes Is the pre-made Hollandaise sauce. It's the only place that I know that sells it. Saves me the time/trouble to make it when I want to have some Eggs Benedict for breakfast Yum!

Expensive? Wow...never heard anyone say that. It is considered very inexpensive here.

I don't go often (they are a 45 min drive from me) but when I do, I pick up olive oil, marinara sauce, salsa verde, and whatever else looks yummy at the time. I also ALWAYS check the shelves to see if they have any Danish Kringles. They get different flavors in, but only a few times a year, and once they are gone, that's it. They sell for 7.99, and they are insanely good, and freeze well. Or you can order them online from the baker in Racine, Wisconsin, where they fly out the door for
$20!! https://www.kringle.com/store/kringle-multi-pack

fitmom4lifemfp wrote: »

sgt1372 wrote: »

I shop there but can't say I'm obsessed w/TJoes. I find it expensive for most items, so I just pick and choose when I go there, looking for things on sale or priced competitively w/other stores.

Expensive? Wow...never heard anyone say that. It is considered very inexpensive here.

Now, you have.

I live in the SF Bay Area where there are discount markets, like WinCo and FoodMaxx, available to me.

Trader Joe's ranks up there in price with Whole Foods, Sprouts and Raleys but each does carry some discounted (loss leader) and some specialty items only available at their stores that I look out for when I shop there, like the Hollandaise sauce I can only get at Trader Joe's.

However, for common items, I usually buy them where I can get them cheapest and rhat is seldom at Trader Joe's.

I'm obsessed with this recipe:
1 package Trader Joe's cooked lentils
1 container Trader Joe's Fresh Bruschetta Sauce
1 container Trader Joe's crumbled Feta Cheese with Mediterranean Herbs

Mix together and eat. I usually also add an entire bunch of shredded dino kale. Divide into four servings. I usually do this and call it lunch for four days.

Nutrition Facts

Servings 4.0
Amount Per Serving
calories 337
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 13 g 20 %
Saturated Fat 5 g 23 %
Monounsaturated Fat 0 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 0 g
Trans Fat 0 g
Cholesterol 23 mg 8 %
Sodium 1065 mg 44 %
Potassium 123 mg 4 %
Total Carbohydrate 34 g 11 %
Dietary Fiber 11 g 44 %
Sugars 8 g
Protein 21 g 43 %
Vitamin A 97 %
Vitamin C 74 %
Calcium 21 %
Iron 27 %

Oh the Green Dragon hot sauce is so good! Someone just told me to try the riced broccoli. Spray of extra virgin olive oil, onion, fresh garlic and/or ginger.

They have black bean noodles that are fun. I also really like their soups in the cardboard containers. My favorites are the roasted red pepper and tomato, and the black bean soup.

When I'm in a pinch, their frozen section is great for reasonably healthy food fast. They have tons of frozen veggies so sometimes I'll grab the frozen chicken teriyaki, a bag of frozen stir fry veggies or broccoli and some frozen steamer bags of a wild rice blend.

The trader's grotto pizza sauce is cheap ($1.99) and I can get two or three pizzas out of it. And it tastes pretty good.

Their seasonal goodies are my love/arch nemesis. Last year, they had this peppermint chocolate cheesecake and I just...

Trader Joe's reminds me of European grocery stores just with the way they utilize their space. I don't go there often, as I like Fresh Thyme, but I always get their little bags of dark chocolate peanut butter cups.

Their seal salt turbinado dark chocolate almonds are quite possibly sin itself in food form.

TanyaHooton wrote: »

Trader Joe's reminds me of European grocery stores just with the way they utilize their space. I don't go there often, as I like Fresh Thyme, but I always get their little bags of dark chocolate peanut butter cups.

Their seal salt turbinado dark chocolate almonds are quite possibly sin itself in food form.

We're getting a Fresh Thyme in my city soon. I'm excited! So it sounds like the quality of their products is pretty good, then.

Yes! Addicted!
I may be moving to Canada and am wondering how I will survive without my favorites:

Peanut butter pretzels
Garlic Parmesan potatoes
Red Thai curry sauce
Marinated Kansas City roast
Light feta cheese (so cheap!)
Various fresh pastas
Meatless meatballs
Cheap frozen bell peppers and Brussel sprouts
Dried coconut

They have frozen chicken burger patties, chili lime or something, that are good and easy on the calorie balance. The chicken gyoza are an amazing calorie deal too. They used to have a peanut dressing that was good but I didn't see it last time I was there. Couple tbsp of that on a nice veggie salad was satisfying.

Has no one mentioned TJ's cookie thins? They're so good, especially the gingersnaps. Spicy, crispy, not overwhelmingly sweet, and full of flavor!
Also, the serving is 9 cookie thins for about 120-140 calories. I often have 4 or 5 with tea for a snack or dessert, and it's well under 100 calories.

Side note: people have told me I like "old lady flavors," so maybe the lemon and gingersnap aren't for everyone.

Also, marinara (I think recipe #9 or something - can't quite remember). Low cal, low sugar, low cost, and tastes the way I want jarred sauce to taste. I keep that in my pantry.

ALL the nuts, "Unexpected cheddar," my daughter likes "minty mouthfuls" <--ice cream sandwiches for 60 cal. DH has been hitting the minty mouthfuls, too, of late.

They also sell a shelf stable heavy whipping cream. Fascinating. I like having it on hand, and I like that it's a small size (less waste). Ultrapasturized so it keeps a long time.

joans1976 wrote: »

I am so glad I got the hummus quad thing there yesterday.
Delicious.

I have a question on the apple chicken sausages people keep mentioning....I'm not much of a sausage person but have only ever tried pork sausage, turkey sausage and once a chicken sausage from a regular grocery store (Kroger.) I enjoyed none of them. Too salty and just...the texture maybe? So, are these apple chicken ones from TJ's to die for and I should try them? What do you put on them? Anything? Thanks!

For me, I like to grill them and get a good chat on the outside. That helps with the texture. I put them on buns with whatever toppings you like or in pasta. I like them, but I wouldn't say "to die for".

No one has mentioned the pickles! Love their pickles, the pre-cut veggies and fruit, cauliflower rice, nut selection and baking section. I don't understand how people can do the majority of their shopping there though, both for the cost and the selection. Trader Joe's is small. I feel like it's more wine than grocery.

Hope228 wrote: »

I'm so bummed. I went there yesterday hoping to get some Pumpkin Biscotti. It's gone..

Out if stock or gone for good

dragon_girl26 wrote: »

Hope228 wrote: »

I'm so bummed. I went there yesterday hoping to get some Pumpkin Biscotti. It's gone..

This would be one of my few complaints with Trader Joes. I realize this particular item is seasonal, but there have been many times I've gone in looking for everyday items to find that they are out of stock. Seems like they tend to have supply problems, which is annoying when you don't live within easy driving distance of one of their stores...sigh..

Yeah, this was my issue with their pumpkin spice cookie butter last year.

There was also the mushroom... chips I think? I never saw them.