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Trader Joe's Artichoke Hearts

Confession time: I love fresh fruits and veggies. But...I'm not always the most efficient at making sure they are consumed at the peak of their freshness or at any level of freshness.

In fact, I recently also purchased Trader Joe's Globe Artichokes. Ok, maybe I've purchased them a couple of times. But truth be told, the hands of time got to them quicker than I could.

Taste and review

So after a few fails at the fresh artichokes, I've now grabbed bags of frozen hearts. Don't get me wrong, I love marinated artichoke hearts. I could eat them by the Costco-sized jar.

But with all that oil in there, that is a good occasional treat in a salad. Or wrapped in bacon. Seriously, you've gotta try that at some point. Bacon and artichokes. Yum.

Back to these. This 12-ounce bag is $3.29. No muss, no fuss, and won't go bad unless you prepare them wrong.

This little bag is unlikely to end up in the compost than the fresh ones because they have already been (literally) frozen in time. Best of all they are IQF so you won't be dealing with one huge lump of artichoke hearts.

In terms of comparing them to fresh these were excellent and of high quality. These are a great option if you are looking to mix up your meal time veggie routine.

Recipe idea

I followed this recipe but saved the lemon juice for the end before serving. Overall, they were as close to fresh artichokes without any of the work.

Overall

In fact, they ended up being my dinner that night and I dipped them in some of Trader Joe's Organic Sriracha Ranch dressing.

If you are a fan of artichokes, then you'll probably really like these.

Product photos

The bag of Trader Joe's Artichoke Hearts:

The nutritional information:

Trader Joe's Artichoke Hearts nutritional information

The ingredients:

Trader Joe's Artichoke Hearts ingredients

How to prepare:

Trader Joe's Artichoke Hearts directions

After being cooked you get:

Trader Joe's Artichoke Hearts fully cooked

Would I buy this again? Yes, I would buy Trader Joe's Artichoke Hearts again. So much less work, and the flavor was on par with fresh.

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 Island Soyaki

Once a year Trader Joe's Island Soyaki hits shelves. Yes, it sounds a lot like soyaki but this one is much more tropical in taste.

Trader Joe's Island Soyaki

Taste and review

It's July and it's been hot as anything. So, cooking is not high on my priority list. So consider this review a continuation of a previous night's scallop review.

I have my fair share of marinades sitting in my cabinet waiting to be used. So reached for this one. They do sell a similar-sounding Soyaki marinade, but I haven't cracked that bottle open just yet.

What stands out about this marinade is the obvious island theme of this bottle. It's bright, yellow, and makes me think about the time I spent in the Caribbean.

Being that it is hotter than the Caribbean here in New York lately, this was the bottle I went for.

This dark-hued liquid looks nearly identical to the similar-sounding Soyaki marinade with at least one notable exception: pineapple.

If you want your meat to be tender, then marinade it in pineapple juice. Pineapple juice contains an enzyme called bromelain which can make meat more tender. Not all pineapple juice has this ability. If the juice is canned, powdered, or bottled the enzyme will be destroyed in the process. If it's fresh or frozen, then it is still intact.

In either case, I marinaded the scallops for about 20 minutes before putting them in a super hot pan in an effort to cook in under 5 minutes. The marinade bubbled and created a dark-colored glaze on the scallops that I had.

The flavor here is primarily teriyaki in all of its rich soy sauce flavor. But other flavors are very much there as well. Ginger and sesame were present as was the acidity from both the pineapple juice and vinegar. The sesame seeds were there but did not seem to play a major role. The sesame oil added the flavor.

Overall

This is a solid marinade. It was a bit strong for my liking as a dipping sauce, but if you are a teriyaki fan then you may like this twist on a classic.

For $3.69 it's a pretty decent-sized bottle. And if you like the taste of teriyaki you might like this too.

Product photos

The bottle of Trader Joe's Island Soyaki:

The nutritional information and the ingredients:

Trader Joe's Island Soyaki nutritional information and ingredients

How to prepare:

After being used to marinate some scallops:

Trader Joe's Island Soyaki used to marinate scallops

Would I buy this again? Yes, I would buy Trader Joe's Island Soyaki again.

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.

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Trader Joe’s Cold Brew Coffee Bags Review: Convenient Cold Brew at Home

If you're a cold brew enthusiast looking for a hassle-free way to enjoy your favorite beverage at home, Trader Joe's Cold Brew Coffee Bags might just be your new go-to. These oversized, tea bag-like satchels are filled with 100% Arabica medium roast coffee, sourced from Tanzania's Mount Kilimanjaro region. Priced at $8.49 for a pack of four, they promise a smooth, less acidic cold brew without the mess of traditional methods.

Trader Joe's Cold Brew Coffee Bags review

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Review

I was intrigued by the simplicity of these coffee bags. The idea of just dropping a couple into water and letting time do the work sounded almost too good to be true. Following the instructions, I placed two bags into a two-quart pitcher with seven cups of cold, filtered water and let it steep in the fridge overnight.

The next morning, I was greeted with a rich, dark brew. The flavor was smooth with subtle notes of berry and molasses, as advertised. It lacked the bitterness often associated with hot-brewed coffee, making it easy to drink black. However, I did notice that the strength was slightly milder than my usual cold brew. For those who prefer a bolder flavor, extending the steeping time to 12 hours or using less water might do the trick.

One downside is that the coffee is pre-ground, which can lead to a loss of freshness over time. If you're accustomed to grinding your beans just before brewing, you might find the flavor a bit lacking. Nonetheless, for the convenience and price, it's a trade-off I'm willing to make occasionally.

Ingredients

100% Arabica Coffee (Single-Origin, Medium Roast)

How to Prepare

Place two cold brew bags into a two-quart pitcher.
Add seven cups of cold, filtered water.
Steep in the refrigerator for 8-12 hours.
Remove and discard the bags.
Serve over ice and enjoy!

Optional: Adjust the strength by altering the steeping time or water quantity to suit your taste.

Serving Suggestions

Enjoy over ice with a splash of milk or cream.
Add flavored syrups for a customized beverage.
Use as a base for coffee cocktails.
Blend with ice and sweetener for a homemade frappé.

FAQs about Trader Joe's Cold Brew Coffee Bags

The following are commonly asked questions about this product:

Is this product seasonal?

Yes, Trader Joe's Cold Brew Coffee Bags are typically available during the summer months.

Can I reuse the coffee bags?

For optimal flavor, it's recommended to use each bag only once.

How long does the prepared cold brew last?

Store the brewed coffee in the refrigerator and consume within a week for the best taste.

Where can I purchase Trader Joe's Cold Brew Coffee Bags?

You can purchase this at Trader Joe's when it is seasonally available or through third-party sellers on Amazon.com

Final Thoughts

Trader Joe's Cold Brew Coffee Bags offer a convenient and cost-effective way to enjoy cold brew at home. While they may not replace the depth of flavor from freshly ground beans, the ease of preparation and smooth taste make them a worthy addition to your summer coffee routine. If you're looking for a no-fuss cold brew solution, these bags are definitely worth a try.

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Trader Joe's Wild Fresh Sea Scallops

If you enjoy seafood but don't have a great fish market by you then Trade Joe's has some outstanding options in terms of fresh seafood. Their farmed salmon and wild salmon are well done, but from time to time you will see these sea scallops hit shelves.

Trader Joe's Wild Fresh Sea Scallops review

Taste and review

This summer has been pretty darn hot so far. So hot, I've had little interest in cooking.

I still want dinner and I have an upper limit on how many dinners I'd like to come out of the microwave.

So, seafood is my go-to when the weather is this warm.

I used to be intimidated by cooking seafood until I took a cooking class at my local Sur La Table. Once I knew how to cook seafood correctly, I found myself making it all the time.

Scallops are easy, peasy. It only takes about 90 seconds on each side and they are done. I opted to marinate mine in some of Trader Joe's Island Soyaki.

What came out was just as good as the frozen jumbo scallops that I recently tried. My package had 10 scallops in them. They were large enough for two full-sized portions. These seem slightly larger than the frozen variety.

For $13.99 per pound, these are reasonably priced and were well sealed for freshness. The soyaki added quite a bit of color to these, but they did not need a knife.

Recipe ideas

The following is a list of recipe ideas for you to gain some inspiration on what to do with this:

Overall

They were fresh tasting and slightly salty on their own. If you are a fan of seafood, this is a good option worth reaching for.

Would I buy this again? Yes, I would buy Trader Joe's Wild Fresh Sea Scallops again. They were on par with what I've been able to get at the fish market.

If you are in need of an idea of what to serve with scallops, you can check out this article for a list of ideas.

Product photos

The package of Trader Joe's Wild Fresh Sea Scallops:

The nutritional information and the ingredient:

After being cooked 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

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Trader Joe's Grass Fed Organic Rib Eye Beef Steak

Most summers, my husband and I head towards the Finger Lakes to get away. We have a few favorite stops while we are there. Because up in farm country you can actually enjoy the real farm-to-table experience. If you are a city dweller, then the next best thing to look for are items labeled grass-fed like this Trader Joe's Grass Fed Organic Rib Eye Beef Steak.

Aside from wine, we pack coolers and bring back meat because it is farm-fresh.

Living closer to NYC isn't something we can get. So I was kind of excited to see these green packages of organic grass-fed beef.

Testing this

I was even more excited to see the cut. They do sell other organic grass-fed cuts. They are priced pretty similarly to what we might pay while we are upstate too. For $13.49 for a 10-ounce package, this works out to just over $21 a pound.

Not cheap. But an affordable luxury for what it is. But it seems that many of Trader Joe's meat options are also presenting more upscale options as well. My last meat review was on Choice Filet Mignon.

Ribeye tends to be my favorite and my husband's. So two of these went into my cart, into the pan, and onto our dinner plates.

A fancy dinner at the fraction of the cost of going to a steakhouse.

The meat out of the package was extremely tender. Almost fall apart tender to go into the pan. Some simple salt, pepper, and a hot pan, and we enjoyed a really nice steak dinner.

The steak was moist, juicy, and almost tender enough to be cut with a regular knife. In terms of taste, I wasn't noticing too much of a difference between this and regular beef that isn't specially marked. There was more fat that could have been trimmed away before packaging but that wasn't major.

Although the directions mention only how to get to medium temperature, here are the temperatures to get to the doneness you'll enjoy:

Rare-120-125F

Medium Rare-130-135F

Medium-140-145F

Medium Well-150-155F

Well done-160F+

The most important thing not mentioned is drying the meat with a paper towel before seasoning. Next is the idea of giving the steak time to rest after it is cooked. Otherwise, you will find that this is a very enjoyable package of meat that is worth a try.

Overall

And if you want to learn more about how to Cook Rib Eye Steak including labeling and how to best prepare this cut of beef then check it out.

Would I buy this again? Yes, I would buy Trader Joe's Grass Fed Organic Rib Eye Beef Steak again. It was a tender quality piece of meat in a reasonable size.

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

Product photos

The package of Trader Joe's Grass Fed Organic Rib Eye Beef Steak:

The nutritional information and ingredient:

Trader Joe's Grass Fed Organic Rib Eye Beef Steak nutritional information

How to prepare:

And using my Ribeye Cooking Guide yields a steak that looks like this:

A medium rare rib eye steak cut to show off the pink center. This is on a cutting board on a marble surface with a black background

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.

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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.