Oh, and how much I LOVE this place!
From flowers, to veggies to sweets to treats, this place is one of my favorites. I must travel a bit to get to the one closest to me, but, no matter. I just don't go as often as I like, but I do make sure I go. One of the things I love about the place is that it usually its prepared foods are made healthier and with less ingredients. They have super cute custom signs and it just feels healthy when you go it. The vegetable section is bigger than the meat sections and I love that with trying to eat less meat. Most all the prices are reasonable, and their items are unique and full of flavor. I wasn’t kidding when I say I love this place.
The BEST of the BEST:
Rice Pilaf:
It is about $2 here, and my goodness, delicious! Nutty, buttery and really easy to prepare. It serves 4 reasonably (don’t know what the box says, but this is what I have experienced). I was even talking with my mountain family friend (more about them in another post) and we somehow ended up talking food and Trader Joe’s, and we pretty much both said at the same time how good that Rice Pilaf is and how she likes to stock up when in the city. I completely understand the tastiness of their Rice Pilaf. You won’t go back to Near East unless you HAVE to!
Organic Tomato and Roasted Red Pepper Soup:
Forget about your Campbells Condensed Tomato Soup – it is officially yesterday’s news – according to me! You need milk for it, which I NEVER have. It is Almond milk for me these days, if at all. And the flavor is better in my thoughts of yesteryear more than reality. I had it recently at my Mother-In-Law’s and it was good, but nothing like this! Its flavor is so rich, and you feel so healthy when eating it. You can heat up half and then put the rest in the fridge until you are ready for the next round of yumminess. Add a small grilled cheese with it (maybe sprinkle some fresh cut cilantro into the grilled cheese…. I’m just sayin’) and you are basking in a simple but decadent meal. Enjoy!
Vegetable Gyoza:
While trying to eat better and eat less meat, this is a great option for a quick and tasty dinner! They come frozen, so you can steam them, or you can fry them up in a pan (I prefer the steamed – less oil that way) and they taste better to me not fried. Now, don’t get me wrong, I am a super fan of all things fried, but only when things are breaded or it is some form of potato. Tempura up those veggies and I am all in, but not the Gyoza. BTW: Gyoza’s meaning is a Japanese dish consisting of wonton wrappers stuffed with port and cabbage, so, a dumpling. Trader Joe’s has other options that are stuffed with shrimp, pork and cabbage I think. I prefer the veggie option. And Don’t forget the dipping sauce! Comes in a bottle at The Trader and is so delish & easy!
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Flowers:
Any of them, all of them, single bouquet or an orchid plant! They are beautiful, plentiful and usually in season. Natural colors of nature’s rainbow line the entrance of all Trader Joe’s I have been to. I say this, because I have to go to Wal-Mart up in our mountain town north of Atlanta, and they are always daisy’s that have been dyed florescent colors and the flowers die pretty quickly after purchase. That makes me both sad and mad – what a waste and what a terrible array of options for those who like fresh flowers in the home.
Anyway, the TJ flowers and inexpensive and delightful. Go get some today. You won’t be disappointed.
Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Caramels:
MMMMMMMMMM – M! These things are so crazy good. Big chucks of salt sit atop the dark chocolate thick coating with caramel oozing out from the middle. In the winter they come out with a Spiced Pumpkin flavor that I dare say is even more delectable, that is if you are not pumpkin-spiced out. I am not. I am not a coffee drinker so all of that stuff that is flavored like that doesn’t seem to apply to me. I say bring on the pumpkin spice and bring on these Dark Chocolate Sea Sale Caramels!
I also recently got stuck on the dark chocolate thing. I keep hearing it is better for you than the milk chocolate, but for my entire life I have loved the milk chocolate and in the past year something switched and I can’t get enough of the extra dark stuff. It’s like Milk Chock was some sort of imposter and now that I have tasted the real thing, it’s hard to go back.
Enjoy all these wonderful products and more from Trader Joe’s! It’s worth the trip…