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Trader Joe’s Faves & Judgy Swans

Not only are we sipping on this yummy margarita. We're munching away on all of our Trader Joe's favorites while we chat about all things TJ's! 
 
Cocktail
 
TJ Spicy Marg: 2 oz Trader Joe's jalapeno limeade, 1 oz triple sec, 4 oz. tequila, 2 Trader Joe's hot and sweet jalapeño slices for garnish. Fill two glasses with ice. Divide limeade, triple sec, and tequila between glasses. Stir and garnish each with a jalapeño slice.
  TJsfavorites
 
Our favorite little quirky grocery store: Trader Joe's
 
We tasted some of our favorites including:
  • Reduced Guilt Guacamole
  • Double Roasted Salsa
  • Popcorn with Herbs and Spices
  • Pub Cheese with Horseradish
  • Caramel and Cheddar Popcorn
  • Cocoa Glazed Roasted Almonds
  • Organic Frosted Toaster Pastries – Cherry Pomegranate
  • Cinnamon Schoolbook Cookies
CHILLED
  • steamed lentils
  • pizza sauce
  • pizza dough
  • High protein tofu
  • Unexpected Cheddar
  • cheese section
  • turkey summer sausage
  • whole milk vanilla greek yogurt
  • mango/peach yogurt

SUNDRY

  • hot and sweet jalapenos
  • bread n’ Butter pickle slices
  • creamy tomato basil spaghetti sauce
  • yellow curry sauce + coconut cream = the best homemade curry!
  • Popcorn with herbs and spices
  • Hawaiian BBQ potato chips
  • corn chips (SO much better than Fritos!)
  • Double roasted salsa
  • ketchup
  • cookie butter
  • beer bread box mix
  • cornbread mix
  • coconut cranberry granola
  • almond butter granola
  • jarred pizza sauce
  • ginger beer
  • coconut cold brew coffee

SWEET

  • Triple ginger snaps
  • dark chocolate peanut butter cups
  • the gourmet jelly beans (in large bag at Easter)

FROZEN

  • meatless meatballs
  • quinoa cowboy burger
  • sweet potato fries
  • Indian food meals
  • naan
  • orange chicken
  • vegetable fried rice
  • sweet potato gnocchi
  • carmelized onion and feta tarts
  • mochi ice cream

HOUSE/BODY

  • shaving cream
  • lavender body scrub
  • coconut body butter
  • sponges
  • the dish clothes and also the dish towels (mine only recently started to carry these so not sure if they are everywhere)
  • 3 in 1 body wash, shampoo, conditioner (just don't use on kids, pretty stingy if you get in your eyes!)
  • nourishing face cream in pump bottle (no SPF), this is my night lotion
  • midsummer night's cream
  • lotion and spray sunscreen

SEASONAL

  • Candy Cane Joe Joe's
  • Candy Cane Jo Joe's ice cream
  • Sipping chocolate
  • Triple Ginger Brew
We DO NOT recommend:
  • TJ brand beer
  • Hummus (Erica)
  • frozen stuffed mushrooms
 
GO-TO TRADER JOE'S MEALS
 
Coconut-yellow curry with tofu + brown rice
  • Yellow curry sauce
  • 1/2 can of coconut cream
  • High Protein super firm tofu
  • veggies
  • Brown rice (from frozen)

Spaghetti and "meat"balls

  • Creamy tomato basil sauce
  • Meatless meatballs
  • Whole wheat noodles
  

Kelsey's Trader Joe's Haikus:

Aisles and smiles are bright
Tiny coffee warms my hand
Cart – and heart – are full 

First sign of Noel?
Not snow falling or sleigh bells
Candy Cane Joe Joes

Frosty, plump mochi
Powder that clings to my lips
Gooey, chewy treat

 

Obsessions

Erica: butcher paper in the kitchen and "build your own" dinner parties

Kelsey: no changing pad on her bathroom counter; Yogi vanilla spice tea

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13 responses to “Trader Joe’s Faves & Judgy Swans”

  1. Melissa Avatar
    Melissa

    That was an awesome episode! I couldn’t find the grapefruit candle at my Trader Joe’s (sad face) and mine doesn’t even carry beer or wine. I do love the chocolate covered sunflower seeds; it’s the perfect mix of sweet and salty for me……the problem is trying not to finish them in one sitting!

    Reply
  2. Maryrose Smith Avatar
    Maryrose Smith

    Loved this episode! Guess where I’m stopping this afternoon 🙂 I do have one issue with TJs that I didn’t hear you mention and that is the amount of packaging. Why on earth do 3 tomatoes need a cardboard sleeve and then to be wrapped in plastic?! There is no option for meat wrapped in paper from the deli counter or bulk trail mix in reusable containers as you see at other stores. It seems to be in contention with their culture. Was curious if you felt the same.

    Reply
  3. Veronica Avatar
    Veronica

    Fun episode – I love me some Trader Joe’s 🙂
    I agree with Maryrose (above) about packaging though. Not my go to place for produce except for certain things. I also love their nut butters and the applewood bacon. So many good snack items, dinner things, cheese and dairy items.
    I had to laugh with the confession from Kelsey that she is drinking tea instead of coffee. As a tea drinker myself I recommend PG tips. It is a delicious black tea and while not as good as it used to be (they changed the bags) it is always my go to favorite. It’s great when you leave the bag in and add a splash of milk.
    Thanks for keeping me entertained and for inspiring my trip to the store for milk yesterday to get some new fun things!

    Reply
  4. Kelsey Avatar
    Kelsey

    The candles seem to come in limited quantities and go super fast! All the most reason to go every week 😉 And not sure if they are distributed everywhere – ? I have always eyed those chocolate covered sunflower seeds! I think the boys would love those.

    Reply
  5. Kelsey Avatar
    Kelsey

    Yes – I agree with you about the packaging. 🙁 I’ll have that problem with jalapeños, you can rarely buy just one there you have to get a whole bunch. So I’ll grab one elsewhere. It would be lovely if they had bulk! So definitely agree and would love improvements but overall it doesn’t deter me from going there. Hope you had a lovely trip to TJ!

    Reply
  6. Kelsey Avatar
    Kelsey

    Mmmm that tea sounds good. Now that I’m an experienced tea drinker 😉 maybe I’ll be adventurous and try different kinds.

    Reply
  7. Kelsey Avatar
    Kelsey

    Mmmm that tea sounds good. Now that I’m an experienced tea drinker 😉 maybe I’ll be adventurous and try different kinds.

    Reply
  8. Jacquie Avatar
    Jacquie

    This is making want to brave their parking lot! I don’t go regularly (see comment re parking) but when I go, I stock up on the Bool Kogi (marinated beef), the Four Cheese Frozen Pizza, the Party size meatballs, and the freeze dried banana slices. Oh and the Almond Croissants!!!! They are frozen and Amazing.

    Reply
  9. Amanda Avatar
    Amanda

    One of my fave tea brands is Davids Tea! So many flavours and kinds (as in black, green, fruit, maté, etc.). It’s a Canadian company but I know they ship to the U.S. and maybe even have stores there now?

    Reply
  10. Kelsey Avatar
    Kelsey

    I feel like I’ve heard of that brand. I’m such a tea newbie so I have lots to learn, thanks!

    Reply
  11. Kelsey Avatar
    Kelsey

    Mmmmmmm. Starting a weekend with a fresh baked almond croissant sounds so amazing. Thanks for the tip!

    Reply
  12. Blair Avatar
    Blair

    Kelsey,
    I know that you, too, were a fan of Trader Joe’s red licorice (see link below)
    https://i.pinimg.com/236x/9f/c9/c5/9fc9c5ac8e0bd7cd280cdbe3c5594837–darrell-lea-strawberry-liquorice.jpg
    BUT my Trader Joe’s now only has red licorice in bags and it’s just not the same!! Do you agree? Are you guys still lucky enough to get good the stuff?
    Love the podcast 🙂

    Reply
  13. Kelsey Avatar
    Kelsey

    OMG YES! Just last week I bought a bag for the first time and from the first bit I knew it wasn’t the same. What are we to do??

    Reply

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