Recipes

[sal2008]

I don't buy a whole lot from there but what I do, I really like. If you like to bake or make candy, they have some wonderful chocolate bars (one pounders I believe) and their white chocolate chips actually contain cocoa butter, and it's all reasonably priced. I buy their flour and also jars of cherries. About the only thing I buy that I don't use to bake or cook with are their triple ginger cookies - for a store bought cookie, they are delicious!

[ID2]

I have a TJ about 2 miles from my home. I've been there and walked around the store. I just shake my head at those that marvel at the store. I just don't get it. I guess its just not what I typically buy. Besides the fresh produce there's absolutely nothing I would go back there to buy. I'm not into eating junk food and from the looks of it that's what most seem to buy. JMO

[flbettyboop]

Scallion Pancakes are good. I also bought freeze dried strawberries. They said to put on cereal but I put a few in bottle water. Good addition.

Boop

[Jackielee]

On 6/20/2014 ID2 said:

I have a TJ about 2 miles from my home. I've been there and walked around the store. I just shake my head at those that marvel at the store. I just don't get it. I guess its just not what I typically buy. Besides the fresh produce there's absolutely nothing I would go back there to buy. I'm not into eating junk food and from the looks of it that's what most seem to buy. JMO

All l can say, ID2, you really do not know what you are missing. There is so many organic products there!! i have a daycare business and many of my parents (whose children have allergies) are able to buy many products at Trader Joes. I suggest you go back and really look at what's offered. And , oh yeah, excuse me for for liking a sweet or two.

[HonnyBrown]

When I lived in Los Angeles, Trader Joe's was our corner store. I was very disappointed when I moved to Maryland and saw the TJ's was more of a "status" store. The items they sold were substandard also (dirty produce and some other things).

I still shop there, but not weekly like I did in LA.

That being said: K-Cups, Trader Joe's Coastal wine, peppdews, Cookie Butter and kale are still my faves.

[Marsha2003]

Flame-broiled tortillas...one of the best packaged tortillas I've tasted. Inner Peas... (relatively) healthy salty snack. Golden Caramel Swirl or Coffee Blast Ice Cream...yum! Pita Crisps...my alternative to saltine crackers. I also like their prepared Reduced Fat Greek Salad if I need lunch in a hurry.

I think Costco has better prices on imported cheeses, although a bit less variety. The produce at TJ's is hit or miss. I seldom buy produce there as it seems a bit pricey vs. the supermarket.

[terrier3]

On 6/20/2014 Katey1261 said:

Seems like I will be spending some money here and well spent.

Their prices are actually MUCH better than most supermarkets - and everything is top quality.

I like the frozen almond or chocolate croissants. $4 for a packet of four - they taste just as good as the ones sold on QVC or thru Williams Sonoma. You proof them for 6 hours or overnight - they taste fantastic - made with REAL butter.

Here are some faves now in stores (a lot of their food is seasonal)

Frozen - Lemon Bars, Pastry Pups (pigs in a blanket), Mango Mochi ice cream, croissants, orange chicken, fried rice, scallion pancakes.

Pantry - Harvest Grains Blend (couscous, orzo, baby garbanzo, quinoa), dark Morello cherries, 100% cherry or blueberry juice, pomegranate lemonade, peanut butter cups, almond biscotti, spaghetti sauce.

Refrigerated - pre-made salads, sliced mango and pineapple, Greek yogurt, CHICKEN POT PIE (famous for this!), Korean chicken sausages, cheeses (GREAT prices).

I also love their banana bread mix and cinnamon coffee cake mix. They have great gingerbread and pumpkin items in the fall too.

The only think I don't like are their pre-made cakes, pies, breads. I don't think they are made locally.

They even have great prices n vitamins and supplements - I get their Very Green capsules - $10 for 180. They have well priced protein and green powders too, plus soaps abd facial serum.

Make sure to get the Cookie Butter. I like the crunchy version - they also have chocolate cookie butter now too. I usually get a tub of cookies - they taste fantastic, are priced VERY well and last forever. I like the Ginger Cats - my son likes the crispy chocolate chip.

Have fun!

[terrier3]

On 6/20/2014 ID2 said:

I have a TJ about 2 miles from my home. I've been there and walked around the store. I just shake my head at those that marvel at the store. I just don't get it. I guess its just not what I typically buy. Besides the fresh produce there's absolutely nothing I would go back there to buy. I'm not into eating junk food and from the looks of it that's what most seem to buy. JMO

Have you checked out their nuts? They have great prices on pistachios, cashews, peanuts...tons of varieties too.

I like 100% cherry juice for it's anti-inflammatory properties. It was much cheaper at TJs than at health food stores or Wegmans.

[FunkyHulaGirl]

Sad, isn't it, how some people have to make a negative comment about anything and everything? What unhappy people they must be!

I can't wait to go back and try some of the frozen foods and maybe some of the meats; so far everything I've gotten and tried has been wonderful! I got a few bottles of the catsup as it was on special and isn't made with HFCS. The non-GMO produce alone is worth the trip! I wish we'd get one in this area.

[kitty4me]

On 6/19/2014 kivah said:

I went to Trader Joe's 2 days ago - in Ventura, CA. I've been having a sweet tooth lately so I bought Chocolate Ganache Torte - haven't eaten it yet. I also bought carrot loaf (type of cake) - which I just had a piece of and I put their European style organice yogurt on top. Boxes of blintzes; latkes (potato pancakes); sour cream, organic white corn tortilla chips, red salsa, green salsa; blackberry/blueberry/cherry/orange marmalade preserves. Everything is GREAT!!!!

I bought the Chocolate Ganache Torte, Flourless Chocolate Cake, Pizza Dough Wheat and Garlic and Herb, Guacamole, Crème Brulee wrapped in Chocolate, String Cheese, Pico De Gallo and Dark Chocolate Cacao Nibs. I will be trying the Potato Pancakes. Thanks everyone for sharing idea's.