blog - BecomeBetty.com

Trader Joe's Chocolat En Croute

Let me apologize in advance for all the goodies that are going to be posted on this blog over the next month. I like reviewing real food, but this time of year all the goodies are out. Including this fancy breakfast/dessert that is so fancy it didn't feel like it needed the "e" in chocolat.

Taste and review

I saw this gem when I picked up Trader Joe's Mint Flavored Fudge Brownies. Both of these items are seasonal.

However, this is the pricier of the two items at $6.49. Not cheap, but a quality item that will end up looking like the picture on the box.

Now, this isn't the first en croute item I've tried. But all of the previous items have been more on the savory side like the Brie En Croute or the Turkey and Stuffing En Croute.

While this item looks as lovely as the box, it is the taste at the end of the day that matters. And yes, the taste matches up to this product's good looks.

Now, to be fair, the end inch of both sides is mostly pastry. Not a ratio I loved but not a huge deal-breaker either. But I did end up cutting mine into about 6 slices. It was probably a futile effort to cut the calorie count on this down.

And yes, if you are trying to diet this time of year, don't buy this. This is over 400 calories per serving. This dessert is supposed to be 4 servings.

Now, I know it's dessert, but there is nothing stopping you from having this as a breakfast treat either. It seemed to pair well with coffee or tea too.

Here you have a puff pastry wrapped chocolate bar with almond cream. That was then sprinkled with slivered almonds.

While the ratio of puff pastry is several times the amount of filling, you still have a delicious bite. The puff pastry is light and flaky on top but seems denser at the bottom.

I enjoyed mine warmed. That way the chocolate was ooey and gooey. Now, there is nothing stopping you from enjoying this at room temperature either.

Even though the top of this has almonds, this does have a distinct almond flavor in the chocolate layer as well.

Overall

Would I buy this again? While this was a solid item I'd pick this up again. This was different than biting into a chocolate croissant and made for a really beautiful presentation.

Product photos

The box of Trader Joe's Chocolat En Croute:

An unopened box of Trader Joe's Chocolat En Croute

Calories

Ingredients

Directions

How Trader Joe's described this treat:

The product description on the side of the Trader Joe's Chocolat En Croute box

After being cooked you get:

Trader Joe's Chocolat En Croute fully cooked

A side view:

A fully baked Trader Joe's Chocolat En Croute with the original box in the background

Want to see more items I've reviewed from Trader Joe's? Click on Thoughts & Reviews of Trader Joe's for a searchable list.

Did you try it? Let me know what you think in the comments section!

Do you love these reviews?

Don't forget to share your thoughts by going to the "user review" at the bottom of the box (click on the number of stars you believe this product deserves) and leave a comment below.

Are you a fan of SubStack? You can follow me here.

You can also FOLLOW ME on the following platforms by clicking the icons below:

Trader Joe's Braised Turkey Drumsticks

Trader Joe's has a turkey products that ask a question: Do you want white meat or dark meat? Because if you like white meat turkey, this is by no means the one to reach for. In fact, you have two solid options for white meat turkey: Trader Joe's Turkey and Stuffing en Croute or Trader Joe's Half Turkey Breast. Both solid options.

Taste and review

Trader Joe's thought about all these half turkeys and probably realized that some people might prefer the drumsticks. And who wouldn't when you take a good look at that bag?

Those drumsticks look like they belong in a Norman Rockwell painting.

The final product on these didn't quite match the glossy, deeply-hued, and caramelized outside of this bag. Not since I tried the shrimp tacos were stunned to see such a disparity between the image on the bag and the final product.

But the description on the back will give you the heads up, assuming you know what it is.

On the back of the bag, it mentions this product is prepared sous vide. If you've never cooked sous vide, then allow me to explain.

Sous vide is the fancy term for a device that keeps water at a certain temperature which allows a product to cook for longer and slower than it would have you put it in an oven or any other heating situation (including a slow cooker) while also ensuring the final product reaches a safe to eat temperature.

You can sous vide just about anything: veggies, meat, or even pasteurize eggs.

This is done by placing the item into a vacuum-sealed bag and submerging it for hours. You are literally slowly bringing the item up to whatever temperature the water is set at.

I'm even the proud owner of one of these sous vide devices. If I'm doing a big dinner this tends to be the way that I go. Throw everything in individual bags with seasonings and herbs and remove when the company gets there. It's a very forgiving cooking method.

While it will keep meat at the perfect temperature, it does not brown, and it doesn't make skin crisp.

The magic that is the Maillard Reaction does not happen.

So if the taste is everything and visuals are unimportant, then look no further. The meat here is super tender and decently seasoned.

But it isn't pretty.

But it is already fully cooked. And for those who are afraid to handle raw meat, this isn't a bad option. These just wouldn't fly compared to the ones you get at Disney or a Fair. Those are way better looking. But might not have these beat.

Overall

For $5.49 per pound, this is fairly priced. But this is one of those times where I found the moisture level of this part of the turkey equal to what is usually the drier part of the turkey. Odds are both this and the half turkey breast are both probably prepared the same way.

Would I buy this again? I'm more of a white meat person unless it is chicken thighs, for me, this is a no. I didn't mind the taste of it, but I would be way disappointed in this if I allowed myself to eat with my eyes.

Product photos

The bag of Trader Joe's Braised Turkey Drumsticks:

An unopened bag of Trader Joe's Braised Turkey Drumsticks

Calories and ingredients

Nutritional information and ingredients in Trader Joe's Braised Turkey Drumsticks

How Trader Joe's prepared this:

How Trader Joe's made Trader Joe's Braised Turkey Drumsticks

Directions

Out of the package you get:

An open bag of Trader Joe's Braised Turkey Drumsticks revealing the contents inside the bag

After being heated up with a side of Trader Joe's Scalloped Potatoes with Quattro Formaggio:

A fully heated through Trader Joe's Braised Turkey Drumsticks on a plate with scalloped potatoes

Want to see more items I've reviewed from Trader Joe's? Click on Thoughts & Reviews of Trader Joe's for a searchable list.

Did you try it? Let me know what you think in the comments section!

The Bottom Line

Don't forget to share your thoughts by going to the "user review" at the bottom of the box (click on the number of stars you believe this product deserves) and leave a comment below.

You can also FOLLOW ME on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest to see what I'm up to.

Trader Joe's Mint Flavored Fudge Brownie Bar

If I were to admit to the food pairings that I like most, it would probably be chocolate and peppermint. If I stop at a Starbucks, there is a peppermint mocha frappuccino in my future. If I go to the movies, I reach for Junior Mints. There is something about the pairing of those flavors that make my taste buds very happy.

Taste

This time of year I am in my glory. It is torture and joy to walk down the junk food aisles of Trader Joe's. So many things I pick up. Often with the intent of them being stocking stuffers.

Some of them end up stuffing me long before I get a chance to wrap them.

And then I saw these. I remember having something similar as a kid. It came in the freezer aisle. I can't recall what company used to sell them. But all I knew was I loved them.

And then I couldn't find them any more.

But that is ok, because these brought those food memories back.

Here you have a decent brownie. It's moist, dense, and cakey.

But you aren't eating this for the brownie. The highlight here is the mint frosting and the chocolate ganache.

The mint frosting is generous without being overwhelming. The mint isn't overly assertive (or like toothpaste as my father would say), but brings a pleasant freshness.

The ganache has cookie crumbs in it for added texture. The green sprinkles add a pop of color.

My biggest complaint (as usual) is usually the portion size. By the time you cut this into 12 pieces you have tiny bite size pieces that will set you back 180 calories each. But alas, if only desserts were calorie free. But then again, they wouldn't taste as good anyways.

If you love mint and chocolate, then this is a good one to reach for. These are closer in line in minty flavor to an Andes rather than a Junior Mint. But they made my belly happy. For $5.99 they are an affordable treat.

Overall

Would I buy these again? Oh yes, I plan on stocking up on these.

Product photos

The box of Trader Joe's Mint Flavored Fudge Brownie Bar:

An unopened box of Trader Joe's Mint Flavored Fudge Brownie Bar

Calories

Nutritional and calorie information for Trader Joe's Mint Flavored Fudge Brownie Bar

Ingredients

Directions

Description of this product:

Description found on the box of Trader Joe's Mint Flavored Fudge Brownie Bar

Out of the package you get:

An opened package of Trader Joe's Mint Flavored Fudge Brownie Bar next to the original box

After being cut into 12 pieces and stacked on a silver plate:

Sliced Trader Joe's Mint Flavored Fudge Brownie Bar on a sliver plate with the original box in the background

Want to see more items I've reviewed from Trader Joe's? Click on Thoughts & Reviews of Trader Joe's for a searchable list.

Did you try it? Let me know what you think in the comments section!

The Bottom Line

Don't forget to share your thoughts by going to the "user review" at the bottom of the box (click on the number of stars you believe this product deserves) and leave a comment below.

You can also FOLLOW ME on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest to see what I'm up to.

Trader Joe's Broccoli and Cauliflower Gratin

With the holidays nearly upon us, there are so many new things hitting shelves. Some are clearly meant for the Winter holidays while others are just for the Thanksgiving holiday. I'm not sure which category this is meant for, but this is another option as a side dish if you normally go through the refrigerated aisle for your sides.

Taste

And the refrigerated section does have a good selection of reliable side dishes. So far, I've seen the return of the delicious Scalloped Potatoes with Quattro Formaggio. I've seen the return of corn pudding, and the seemingly overlapping cauliflower gratin.

So with at least two comparison points, the scalloped potatoes, and the cauliflower gratin, I was curious how this would compare to a refrigerated and presumably fresher item.

Well, I was pleasantly surprised by what came out of the oven.

Now, my biggest complaint about any gratin is the potential to have a water or milky residue on the bottom. That was not the case here.

I opted for oven preparation. So yes, it took a bit, but the payoff was seemingly worth it.

While not quite on the level of the refrigerated options, this is a reasonably good competitor. The sauce was thick but more roux-y than say the scalloped potatoes. But both the cauliflower and broccoli had a good texture.

They were firm, but not too firm. The chunks of broccoli were larger than the cauliflower.

Overall

For $3.99 this is a reasonably priced side that will easily serve closer to three servings than the four listed. It wasn't watery and the sauce was thick.

Would I buy this again? There are so many things to try this time of year, so I'm one and done, but if this were out at a different time of year I'd pick up an extra one.

Product photos

The package of Trader Joe's Broccoli and Cauliflower Gratin:

A unopened package of Trader Joe's Broccoli and Cauliflower Gratin

Calories

Nutritional information for Trader Joe's Broccoli and Cauliflower Gratin

Ingredients

Directions

After being cooked you get:

A fully cooked Trader Joe's Broccoli and Cauliflower Gratin

And a picture from on top:

A top down picture of a fully cooked Trader Joe's Broccoli and Cauliflower Gratin

Want to see more items I've reviewed from Trader Joe's? Click on Thoughts & Reviews of Trader Joe's for a searchable list.

Did you try it? Let me know what you think in the comments section!

The Bottom Line

Don't forget to share your thoughts by going to the "user review" at the bottom of the box (click on the number of stars you believe this product deserves) and leave a comment below.

You can also FOLLOW ME on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest to see what I'm up to.

Trader Joe's Brined Bone In Half Turkey Breast Review: Winner, Winner, Half-Turkey Dinner

I'm not sure how it is almost Thanksgiving already, but it seems like the end of the year is just zooming by. On the stroke of midnight on Halloween it seemed that Trader Joe's made the transition from pumpkin to turkey to now aisles of just holiday items. And at my store, you aren't quite sure if it is going to be Thanksgiving or they are just diving straight into the winter holidays.

Pinterest Image for Trader Joe's Brined Bone In Half Turkey Breast review

[feast_advanced_jump_to]

Taste and review

This is one of a few turkey options you have if you are going to Trader Joe's. By tomorrow, the whole turkeys will be on shelves, or at least that is what the sign says in my store.

But a whole turkey is a lot for my household. Fortunately, we do have seasonal options this time of year ranging from the Turkey-less roast, to drumsticks, to Turkey and Stuffing En Croute to this bag of half a turkey breast.

This turkey item is also fully cooked and just requires heating and some basic knife skills. And yes, please allot the 40 minutes to heat this back up. I wasn't willing to test a poultry item in the microwave to save some time.

I'm happy to sit down to a turkey dinner without having to get up at the crack of dawn to start the roast when we finally do get a chance and have dinner together.

This is a completely different product than that was offered back in 2016. The turkey I last reviewed was actually boneless. This was bone in.

To me, the bones are there mostly to weigh the scales down. There really wasn't much here to make a broth out out of. It can be done, but you won't have a ton of broth.

But in the end, the most important item of note is that what came out of this bag was pretty good.

Despite need for some modest knife skills, this product dealt with one important issue when preparing turkey: it was moist. Very moist. The garlic herb butter added a nice flavor and there was more than enough liquid in this bag to baste it and make a gravy. It was good warm. It was enjoyable on a salad.

You are paying a pretty high price for the convenience this year as the price of this has risen to $9.99 per pound.

Overall

It was nicely seasoned, had a good amount of liquid, and the dreaded dry turkey taste was nowhere to be found.

For $9.99 per pound, it is a bit pricier than buying whole, but they are taking care of the work for you. If I had to complain about anything, it would be that the interior bag (yes, there are 2 bags used for this product) seemed a bit leaky. Nothing bad. However, this does represent a price increase of over 40% since this review was originally published in 2018.

Product photos

The bag of Trader Joe's Brined Bone-In Half Turkey Breast:

An unopened bag of Trader Joe's Brined Bone In Half Turkey Breast

Calories

Ingredients

Ingredient list for Trader Joe's Brined Bone In Half Turkey Breast

Directions

The recipe on the bag:

The gravy recipe found on the bag of Trader Joe's Brined Bone In Half Turkey Breast

Out of the package you get:

An opened bag of Trader Joe's Brined Bone In Half Turkey Breast revealing another bag with the turkey in it

After being cooked you get:

A fully heated through Trader Joe's Brined Bone In Half Turkey Breast

Want to see more items I've reviewed from Trader Joe's? Click on Thoughts & Reviews of Trader Joe's for a searchable list.

Did you try it? Let me know what you think in the comments section!

The Bottom Line

Don't forget to share your thoughts by going to the "user review" at the bottom of the box (click on the number of stars you believe this product deserves) and leave a comment below.

Do you love these reviews?

Don't forget to share your thoughts by going to the "user review" at the bottom of the box (click on the number of stars you believe this product deserves) and leave a comment below.

Are you a fan of SubStack? You can follow me here.