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Trader Joe's Enchilada Sauce

Let's talk about dinner for a second. I used to look forward to dinners as a kid as that is where I spent the most time with my parents on any given night of the week. They were good cooks too. I'm sure I groused and complained.

Now that I'm an adult and responsible for my own dinners, I find myself less and less picky.

That is not that I don't like to sit down to a nice meal here and there. For the most part, my husband and I are on drastically different time schedules. The number of times we sit down to dinner in a month can be measured on one hand.

So our dinner routine looks like this: I make something, I go to sleep, I leave for work, he comes home and consumes whatever I've left him in the refrigerator.

I know how much he likes something by how much of it is left when I get home. It's an odd communication system, but it is our reality. If I make Enchiladas, I know I'm not coming home to any.

Taste and review

My parents used to make enchiladas from scratch and it was an all-day affair. With this little jar, not so much.

I've made these several times. The first time was using the directions, every other time I've played around with the directions.

The directions work just fine. I'm just not a fan of adding extra oil. I've bypassed this by heating the tortillas a few extra seconds in the microwave to make them more pliable.

Roll them with fillings (chicken, beef, and of course cheese), and add sauce to the top. Microwave them, and you have a pretty darn easy dinner that runs laps around what Trader Joe's offers in the frozen section with their cheese or chicken enchiladas.

The flavor here is smokey than spice, but it has a good flavor. If you like hot, then mix it in before adding it to the final dish. Or you can cheat like I do and use Trader Joe's Habanero Lime Tortillas to bring the spice level up a notch.

Overall

For $2.49 it is a good pantry item to have on hand and with the right basic ingredients, you can have a tastier dinner in less time than it would take for you to heat the frozen ones up. Worth a try if you haven't gotten to it already.

If you are unable to get to a Trader Joe's and you need this in your life, then you can find this on Amazon through third-party sellers.

Would I buy this again? Yes, I would buy Trader Joe's Enchilada Sauce again. It made for a relatively quick and easy dinner.

Product photos

The bottle of Trader Joe's Enchilada Sauce:

The nutritional information and the ingredients:

Trader Joe's Enchilada Sauce nutritional information and ingredient list

How to prepare:

After being cooked using Trader Joe's 3 Cheese Blend and Habanero Lime Tortillas you get:

Trader Joe's Enchilada Sauce with fully prepared enchiladas

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

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Trader Joe's Cheese Blintzes Review: Grate Expectations

Looking for a quick, sweet, and filling breakfast or dessert? Trader Joe's Cheese Blintzes might be the answer. These frozen treats offer a delicate crepe exterior filled with a smooth, sweet cheese blend. Perfect for those who enjoy blintzes but don't want the hassle of making them from scratch.

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What are Trader Joe's Cheese Blintzes?

Trader Joe's Cheese Blintzes are pre-made, frozen crepes filled with a blend of cottage and farmer's cheese. Traditionally served with toppings like fruit, sour cream, or powdered sugar, these blintzes are perfect for a quick meal or snack. Whether you bake, fry, or air fry them, they come out crispy on the outside and creamy in the center.

Trader Joe's Cheese Blintzes fully cooked

Taste and Texture

These blintzes are slightly sweet, with a soft, creamy filling that is balanced by the crispy crepe exterior when cooked properly. They are best enjoyed warm, straight from the oven, skillet, or air fryer. While not quite the same as freshly made blintzes from a deli or stand, they're an excellent frozen alternative. If you're sensitive to cottage cheese's texture, you might find them a bit grainy, but they're still delicious for most people.

Trader Joe's Cheese Blintzes ingredients

Directions

While the directions are listed as such there are other ways of preparing this item other than what is listed on the packaging.

Trader Joe's Cheese Blintzes how to prepare

Skillet: Cook on medium-low heat for about 8-10 minutes, turning occasionally for an even, golden crisp.

Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F. Bake the blintzes for about 10 minutes, flipping halfway through.

Air Fryer: Set the air fryer to 340°F and cook for 8 minutes. Be sure to leave space between the blintzes for even cooking.

Frequently asked questions

The following are some frequently asked questions about this product:

Can you cook Trader Joe's Cheese Blintzes in the air fryer?

Yes! Simply place them in the air fryer at 340°F for about 8 minutes. Make sure they are evenly spaced for optimal crispiness.

Are Trader Joe's Cheese Blintzes healthy?

While delicious, these blintzes are moderately high in sugar and contain dairy, making them more of an occasional treat rather than a health food. Each serving contains about 250 calories and 12 grams of sugar. Trader Joe's Cheese Blintzes nutritional information

How do you serve Trader Joe's Cheese Blintzes?

Trader Joe's Cheese Blintzes are best served warm with toppings such as fruit preserves, fresh berries, sour cream, or powdered sugar.

Conclusion

For $3.49, Trader Joe's Cheese Blintzes are a sweet and filling treat. While they might not replace your favorite blintzes from a bakery, they're convenient, affordable, and easy to prepare. Whether you enjoy them as-is or with your favorite toppings, these blintzes are worth a try.

Trader Joe's Cheese Blintzes offer a convenient and tasty way to enjoy this classic dish without the effort of making it from scratch. Though the texture may not satisfy everyone, and they aren't quite the same as fresh-made blintzes, they still deliver in terms of flavor and convenience. If you're looking for a quick and easy comfort food option, these are worth keeping in your freezer.

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Trader Joe's Super Sweet Fresh Corn

With summer almost over there has been a lot of cool items in the produce section. This one is a seasonal find.

Review

I saw it and the lazy side of my personality got really excited.

Fresh corn. No husking. No silky little strings to deal with. And it can be made in the microwave in 4 minutes.

So while this was a premium over the corn in the husks, part of me was saying "worth it" in my head.

The corn in the husks at my local Trader Joe's was available for just over a quarter per ear. Cheap as it gets. But those tend to be a bit awkward in size thus requiring a big pot.

Not going to happen if I'm just having one.

Here there are four roughly equal-sized cobs that after four minutes in the microwave tasted just as fresh as if I had husked them myself.

Overall

With a bit of Trader Joe's Cultured Salted butter and some Chile Lime Seasoning, it was absolutely delicious.

For $2.49 it's up to you if it is worth nearly double the price to have it husked and shortened for even cooking, but know that this tastes just as fresh.

Would I buy this again? I'm not going to lie, but this made it very easy. It was fresh but at a premium, but the microwave directions made it easy as anything to enjoy this summertime classic.

Product photos

The package of Trader Joe's Super Sweet Fresh Corn:

The nutritional information and the ingredient:

Trader Joe's Super Sweet Fresh Corn nutritional information

How to prepare in the microwave:

Trader Joe's Super Sweet Fresh Corn directions

Another way of preparing this:

After being cooked you get:

Trader Joe's Super Sweet Fresh Corn fully cooked

Would I buy this again? I'm not going to lie, but this made it very easy. It was fresh but at a premium, but the microwave directions made it easy as anything to enjoy this summertime classic.

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

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Trader Joe's Squid Ink Spaghetti

I love pasta. I'll take all the carbs if you aren't having them. The only time I've seen squid ink pasta is on the Food Network or on the menu of some fancy-schmancy place.

And to be honest, I've been to some fancy places and ordered the pasta dishes. And I was not too happy to be eating overpriced boxed pasta.

So, rather than have this out, I made this in.

Taste

I just happened to have visited my local H-Mart to get some seafood to serve with this. And while I was there I was in the pasta aisle. Another 12-ounce package of squid ink pasta was available for just over $5. It was fettuccine, but that is still double the price here. In fact, this package will only set you back $1.99.

Now in researching this product a bit further, the company has a website and some of the pasta seem eerily familiar. Trader Joe's is notoriously secretive as to who manufactures their products, but there seem to be striking similarities between certain varieties pictured. I'm referring specifically to the orecchiette, capunti, and the trofie. Those products are also made in the "heel" of Italy.

Now, this pasta has a deep black hue to it which did not make the pasta water look like there was a squid attack. Speaking of squid, for the most part, squid ink pasta like this is made with cuttlefish ink. It lends a lot more color than it does taste.

There is a subtle brine flavor, but I did not notice it too much. Someone who does not like seafood might be inclined to notice it more than I did.

The directions were on point and I removed it when it was still al dente. I opted for mussels with shallots, garlic, lemon, and white wine with my dish. Most recipes you'll find online will feature seafood with this although it would pair well with other proteins.

Overall

This was fun to try and a fraction of the cost elsewhere. It makes for a fancy-looking meal or one where people around you stare at what you are eating. It's worth a try once and it isn't too much of a premium over the cost of regular pasta.

Would I buy this again? Yes, I would buy Trader Joe's Squid Ink Spaghetti again if it is still available.

Product photos

The package of Trader Joe's Squid Ink Spaghetti:

The nutritional information:

Trader Joe's Squid Ink Spaghetti nutritional information

The ingredients and other details about this item including the directions:

Trader Joe's Squid Ink Spaghetti directions and information

After being cooked you get:

Trader Joe's Squid Ink Spaghetti fully cooked

And served with some mussels and a roasted lemon:

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

The Bottom Line

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Trader Joe's Thomcord Seedless Grapes

I try to get to non processed foods every now and again. But grapes seem to be one thing that I review most unless they are a run-of-the-mill seedless variety.

Trader Joe's seasonal grapes

I like trying different varieties because they are so different. I get completely excited when I see Cotton Candy Grapes once or twice a year. I even like the teeny tiny Champagne Grapes that they sell.

But there is a variety that I've overlooked. Somehow, these have escaped my view.

Tasting these

If you've ever had Welch's Grape Juice, then you know the flavor profile that those grapes have. Or at least the Concord Grape Juice that I am referring to. Perhaps you are familiar with the deeply-hued purple grape jelly.

In either case, I've tried Concord Grapes. I adored the flavor. And I loathed the seed. I understand why it is there. But for me, those big huge seeds tend to make me not eat a certain fruit.

Here, the seeds run from something that doesn't stand out to something that you might want to remove from your mouth. But nowhere near the Concord grape.

Overall

For $2.99 for a one-pound, these are worth a try. They do seem to be seasonal, so if you are curious they are worth a try if they are in season.

Would I buy this again? Yes, I would buy Trader Joe's Thomcord Seedless Grapes again.

Product photos

The box of Trader Joe's Thomcord Seedless Grapes:

Out of the package you get:

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.