topic Trader Joe's - What are your favorite things? in Community Chat

Trader Joe's - What are your favorite things?

AngelPuppy1 — Sat, 09 Aug 2014 11:21:34 GMT

I just went to this place for the first time! It's awesome! I didn't have much time, but took a little stroll through and was quite impressed. I bought some body lotion, energy bars, flowers, soap and some facial lotion to try.

What products are your favorites? Everyone was so friendly there and the place was so bright, cheery and clean!

Thanks for posting!

Re: Trader Joe's - What are your favorite things?

biancardi — Sat, 09 Aug 2014 12:22:24 GMT

I love the Japanese Fried Rice (freezer section) and the lemon bars (freezer section)

the bars are perfect - not too sweet and a nice tart bite. I like mine a little bit frozen, not all the way thawed. These are perfect during the summer

the fried rice is amazing - it unlike any other fried rice I have had - it has nori (seaweed), soy, edamame beans - lots of good stuff

Re: Trader Joe's - What are your favorite things?

reiki604 — Sat, 09 Aug 2014 13:12:56 GMT

Trader Joe's is my grocery store of choice. I'm not a big fan of their frozen foods but that's because I prefer cooking from scratch. They sell chopped veggies that I sauté with egg whites for an omelette. All their fruits, veggies, cheese etc, etc are the best! My TJ's makes some of the best bagels I've ever had and that's saying something from this girl whose great uncle was a bagel baker!

Re: Trader Joe's - What are your favorite things?

stilltamn8r — Sat, 09 Aug 2014 13:24:09 GMT

Cookie Butter, Pork Gyoza, ;bue Cheese Pecan dip, cheese cheese and more cheese! Begian chocolate pudding, the all natural tamales, chile relleno Monkey shoulder Scotch, wine , wine and more wine..their lamb is fabulous, in fact all of their meat..Their mango chutney, cranberry chutney, pumpkin butter, cashew butter, almond butter, vanilla, frozen shrimp, fish, in fact, I rarely get anything I DON'T like..if it looks good TRY it!

I am lucky, been shopping at Trader Joes more than 30 years and probably have 6 of them within a 10 mile radius..including their headquarters...They were originally a tiny chain called "Pronto" Market around here many years ago, and well, the rest is history!

Enjoy!

Re: Trader Joe's - What are your favorite things?

terrier3 — Sat, 09 Aug 2014 13:41:04 GMT

Biancardi taught me her trick to eat the lemon bars slightly frozen - the BEST. She also told me about the mocha ice cream - I like the mango,

I have bought the Pastry Pups over and over. I always have some in my freezer for unexpected guests. They are just "pigs in the blanket" - but quality hot dogs, puff pastry with some cheese on top. Guests LOVE them.

I always have some frozen butter croissants too. We like the almond, the chocolate and in the fall, the pumpkin flavors. They make a great Sunday morning treat. At about $4 for 4, they taste like the Williams Sonoma or QVC varieties - for far less money.

I have recently started buying their banana bread, gingerbread (a seasonal item) and coffee cake mixes too. They are very reasonably priced and taste like homemade.

Enough with the goodies though. Their fish, scallops, chicken burgers are all wonderful. The produce is very well priced. They have beautiful figs - either fresh or frozen. A semi-thawed fig makes a healthy, high fiber dessert. The key is to get what is in season and go with that.

I also like the Greek yogurt and the prepared salads.

They have a Mandarin Orange frozen chicken dish that is wonderful (thanks again, Biancardi!). I add red and green peppers and onion to turn it into a stir fry (it's all chicken in the pouch, no veggies). They have great fried rice, many varieties.

My best friend introduced me to their dried Harvest Blend grains - quinoa, Irsaeli couscous, lentils. Fast and easy to prepare. I use t as a base for a simple stir fry or as a side dish. I sometimes mix it in with wilted kale or use leftover mix in salads. They also have a great variety of dried lentils - green & red and in different mixes. They make a healthy alternative to potatoes or pasta.

The low cal lemonade and raspberry lemonade are also very tasty.

Can you tell I LOVE TJ's???

Re: Trader Joe's - What are your favorite things?

Yahooey — Sat, 09 Aug 2014 14:10:46 GMT

Pound plus Belgium semi sweet chocolate with almonds

Re: Trader Joe's - What are your favorite things?

Marcail — Sat, 09 Aug 2014 14:21:12 GMT

If I had a TJ's near me I think I would live in there. I get their newsletter and everything looks good to me. I would go broke shopping there. Sometimes I check out their website for recipes. I am totally envious of anyone that has a TJ to shop at.

Re: Trader Joe's - What are your favorite things?

terrier3 — Sat, 09 Aug 2014 14:25:41 GMT

On 8/9/2014 Marcail said:
If I had a TJ's near me I think I would live in there. I get their newsletter and everything looks good to me. I would go broke shopping there. Sometimes I check out their website for recipes. I am totally envious of anyone that has a TJ to shop at.

We just got our first area store last October...just in time for all the pumpkin items...and the holiday goodies.

BTW - there is something they make that I don't like - the baked goods. Since this is their only store in our area, the baked goods and breads are shipped in and aren't very good, IMO.

Re: Trader Joe's - What are your favorite things?

Pickwickpapers — Sat, 09 Aug 2014 15:20:04 GMT

On 8/9/2014 Marcail said:
If I had a TJ's near me I think I would live in there. I get their newsletter and everything looks good to me. I would go broke shopping there. Sometimes I check out their website for recipes. I am totally envious of anyone that has a TJ to shop at.

Ditto! Wish there was one in my area......have only been there when traveling.......

Re: Trader Joe's - What are your favorite things?

hennypenny — Sat, 09 Aug 2014 16:26:26 GMT

Love their chocolate and mocha yogurts, frozen lamb vindaloo, and chicken tikka masala. Their taquitos are good as are their goyza and potstickers. Three ginger cookies to die for and love the mini ice cream cones, perfect for a low blood sugar treat. love their lemon grass egg roll thingees. Some of their sauces and pasta sauces are great. Love their dark chocolate and some of their cheeses. Love their selection of orchids.

Re: Trader Joe's - What are your favorite things?

Puzzle Piece — Sat, 09 Aug 2014 16:52:56 GMT

Depends

We buy the frozen tamales Cheese and Green Chili for our Southwestern dinner nites.

The Macaroni and Cheese. Maybe a nice frozen Pizza. The Turkey Bacon and some cheeses.

Other items as we feel inclined. All the stuff can be frozen until use.

Re: Trader Joe's - What are your favorite things?

Marcail — Sat, 09 Aug 2014 16:57:10 GMT

On 8/9/2014 hennypenny said:
Love their chocolate and mocha yogurts, frozen lamb vindaloo, and chicken tikka masala. Their taquitos are good as are their goyza and potstickers. Three ginger cookies to die for and love the mini ice cream cones, perfect for a low blood sugar treat. love their lemon grass egg roll thingees. Some of their sauces and pasta sauces are great. Love their dark chocolate and some of their cheeses. Love their selection of orchids.

Ohhhh I have drooled over their tikka masala and the vindaloo. Seen people raving over their potstickers too. I wish TJ's did mail order. The closest one to me is 3 hours away.

I might have to do a road trip... this thread is making me hungry.

Re: Trader Joe's - What are your favorite things?

hennypenny — Sat, 09 Aug 2014 20:04:42 GMT

Marcail, I keep several of the Indian foods in the freezer. Great quick meals.

Maybe you could make a trip out of it with friends or family and don't forget to bring coolers.

Re: Trader Joe's - What are your favorite things?

Linders Back — Sat, 09 Aug 2014 20:24:37 GMT

On 8/9/2014 biancardi said:
I love the Japanese Fried Rice (freezer section) and the lemon bars (freezer section)

the bars are perfect - not too sweet and a nice tart bite. I like mine a little bit frozen, not all the way thawed. These are perfect during the summer

Agree, these are delicious. Have you tried the Lemon Bites from the bakery section? They are really good, too. More like a brownie in texture but tart!

Re: Trader Joe's - What are your favorite things?

Linders Back — Sat, 09 Aug 2014 20:26:25 GMT

On 8/9/2014 Love Roses said:
Depends

We buy the frozen tamales Cheese and Green Chili for our Southwestern dinner nites.

The Macaroni and Cheese. Maybe a nice frozen Pizza. The Turkey Bacon and some cheeses.

Other items as we feel inclined. All the stuff can be frozen until use.

OH! I forgot about the Mac and Cheese. The best. Guess it's because it is a Fall/Winter favorite around here.

Re: Trader Joe's - What are your favorite things?

terrier3 — Sat, 09 Aug 2014 20:31:34 GMT

On 8/9/2014 Linders Back said:
On 8/9/2014 Love Roses said:
Depends

We buy the frozen tamales Cheese and Green Chili for our Southwestern dinner nites.

The Macaroni and Cheese. Maybe a nice frozen Pizza. The Turkey Bacon and some cheeses.

Other items as we feel inclined. All the stuff can be frozen until use.

OH! I forgot about the Mac and Cheese. The best. Guess it's because it is a Fall/Winter favorite around here.

My favorite Mac N Cheese is TJs Shells with asparagus & brie. It is SO rich yet SO good.

I take one container...add some extra fresh asparagus and it can serve 3 as a side dish.

Re: Trader Joe's - What are your favorite things?

NoelSeven — Sat, 09 Aug 2014 20:34:45 GMT

FRESH BASIL. I love it and use it so many ways: a few leaves in a sandwich, or layer it with heirloom tomato slices & maybe mozzarella slices and drizzle with EVOO, in omelets, etc.

And my newest find at the checkout stands: Simply Lite, Sugar Free, Dark Chocolate, Dark brown packiging w/some light green writing on a candy bar shipped like a Hershey's candy bar. No trans fat. I have one square a day because of all the positive studies re: chocolate.

Re: Trader Joe's - What are your favorite things?

AngelPuppy1 — Sun, 10 Aug 2014 12:25:17 GMT

Thanks,everyone, for sharing your faves! It's nice to know what you like and next time I go, I will look out for some of these things!!

I wish they had more products in their healthy and beauty section! And I could hardly stand to leave the area that had all the flowers!!!

These kind of stores are a pleasure to shop in!!!