blog - BecomeBetty.com

Trader Joe's Thai Style Coconut Marinated Chicken Kabobs

It's been a while since I reviewed anything in the refrigerated case that pertains to meat. And in fact, two new kabobs caught my eye: one chicken and one beef.

I turned my oven on to give both a whirl. So unlike some kabobs, there are no veggies to break up all the meat. So plan accordingly. Each package is pretty close to one pound. My package of chicken set me back $5.93 or $5.49 per pound.

Trader Joe's Coconut Marinated Kabobs unopened

The taste

How good can kabobs me from the oven? Well if you don't mind forgoing the char that a grill can give then yes, these are pretty darn good. And they are pretty darn full of meat.

I was tempted to turn on my broiler to prepare this but wanted to see how the actual directions worked. And yes, the actual directions for the oven are spot on.

What came out of the oven wasn't the prettiest kabob but the chicken was moist and flavorful. Most importantly it was cooked all the way through. It's one thing for beef not to be cooked all the way through, but chicken is a must.

And there is a fine line between cooked and annihilated when it comes to chicken. Fortunately, mine wasn't dry in the least.

But aside from the chicken being moist the highlight here is really the marinade. This isn't one of those items where there is anything similar already on store shelves. Nope, this one is unique.

The marinade here is acidic in nature which could be good or could be gross. Here it seemed to work. There is a pinch of heat with it as well. It's mild at best.

The flavor of the marinade is pleasantly full of coconut, garlic, and ginger flavors. There is enough acidity here to keep the flavors bright. The smidge of heat rounds out the flavor profile here.

Best of all it is just as good served hot as it is cold. I had these straight out of the oven and they were solid. I got into the second one the next day straight from the refrigerator. I thought the meat would be great with a salad. And cold the taste didn't disappoint either.

The packaging

Pretty standard packaging for meat. This is in a plastic container. This isn't shrink-wrapped like other pre-marinated meats like Chicken Shawarma. The packaging wouldn't work with the wooden skewer found here.

Despite the amount of space for air in the package, this seemed to have a pretty lengthy expiration all things considered.

Overall

This actually was really impressive in terms of flavor. I've had a few underwhelming options before but this actually wasn't one of them.

So unless you are a real carnivore one skewer is a meal. You could easily get four meals out of this by adding this meat to a salad. It was delicious both hot and cold.

Would I buy this again? Trader Joe's Thai Style Coconut Marinated Chicken Kabobs are a yes from me.

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

A visual rundown of this product

The package:

Calories, ingredients, and directions:

After being cooked you get:

Fully cooked Trader Joe's Coconut Marinated Kabobs — These were baked in the oven, however, if you like a sear then do this in a pan or broil it for a minute.

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

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 Allulose

So we are coming into baking season and it's only fair that I start getting to some of these products. The Winter and Fall baking season often come laden with items full of sugar.

For some people that is fine. For some, we would love to cut back and for others cutting sugar is a must.

If are familiar with certain diets like Keto, then stevia and erythritol, are already part of your shopping list. But this may or may not be keto-friendly. While this has no calories it still seems to have 8 grams of carbohydrates. And yes, this is a blend that has stevia in it.

But there can be some drawbacks with those items, namely the after-taste. While sweet, for some of us the aftertaste of those items can be so off-putting that we know it's fooling no one.

An unopened bag of Trader Joe's Allulose

The taste

There is a recipe for chocolate chip cookies on the back. I tried it and they were pretty good. But there is a slight flaw with the recipe: it still calls for quite a bit of brown sugar. So basically you are making reduced-sugar cookies.

To be honest, I thought they were pretty good. But I also knew the brown sugar was hiding the possible aftertaste and was making the cookies taste sweet anyways.

So I made a batch of oatmeal bars just using Allulose in place of the sugar. I found them to be not a full 1:1 sweet replacement. But they really weren't bad either. Best of all, I wasn't detecting an aftertaste. A big plus in my mind.

Keep in mind this is only 70% as sweet as sugar itself. So much like the cookie recipe on the back, you'll either want to use some form of regular sugar or add more allulose to compensate.

The packaging

This comes in a resealable bag. The sugar is powdered pretty fine but stops short of being like powdered sugar. This is sold in a 12-ounce package.

Overall

For $4.99 this is obviously priced much higher than regular sugar. I had some readers say they liked the product but the product didn't agree with them. So just be aware that has been reported. I didn't have such issues, but some readers messaged me through Instagram saying they had issues with it. And according to Healthline, this is a possibility.

But as far as artificial sweeteners go, this was really one of the best sugar substitutes that I've tried so far. It mixes well and tastes pretty close. While I wouldn't swap it out for everything, this is a solid product to help reduce your sugar intake. Just keep in mind it isn't quite as sweet as sugar so you might find yourself needing just a bit more to keep the taste similar.

Would I buy Trader Joe's Allulose again? Yes, I would buy Trader Joe's Allulose again. If you are looking for a sugar substitute that actually tastes like sugar then this might be the best one to reach for. It is keto-friendly but because we don't know the source of the allulose it may not be paleo-friendly.

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

A visual rundown of this product

The bag of Trader Joe's Allulose:

The nutritional information, the ingredients, and a recipe:

Nutritional facts, calories, ingredients, and recipe for Trader Joe's Allulose

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

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 Ube Mochi Review: Is This The Purple People Pleaser?

Ever dreamed of snacking on a bright purple treat that's part ice cream, part chewy pillow of happiness? Well, pinch yourself-Trader Joe's Ube Mochi is here to fulfill your wildest freezer fantasies. This eye-popping snack is like a dessert from a Lisa Frank sticker pack, only with more calories and less glitter.

An unopened box of Trader Joe's Chocolate Mochi Cake Mix

[feast_advanced_jump_to]

Review

Trader Joe's Ube Mochi comes in a 6-count box of small but mighty ice cream bombs, each hugging a scoop of sweet ube ice cream with a chewy mochi shell. The mochi is made from sweet rice flour, making it gluten-free and giving it that signature chewiness that makes mochi-lovers weak at the knees. The ube ice cream is a soft lavender color-like a pastel dream-and is subtly sweet with nutty notes of vanilla and coconut.

This is the snack that's basically screaming: "Take a picture of me for the 'gram!" Seriously, these things are photogenic enough to get their own influencer deal. They're small but vibrant-like edible stress balls filled with purple magic.

Bite in, and you get that classic mochi chew that makes you feel like you're eating a sweet, stretchy cloud. Inside, the ube ice cream is mild and creamy, with a flavor that's like vanilla's cooler cousin who studied abroad and came back with a fancy accent. It's sweet but not cloying, so you won't get sugar-shocked before you can grab the next one

Texture is where this dessert hits the jackpot. The mochi is soft, stretchy, and just the right level of sticky, while the ice cream is creamy enough to make your tongue do a little happy dance. Word to the wise: don't let them sit out too long, or you'll have a mochi meltdown on your hands.

Each piece is a two-bite snack-assuming you're a responsible adult with self-control. Me? I'm a fan of ube. I've never quite gotten the mochi ice cream mixing. I like the textures, just separately. For some mochi fans, this is something to look forward to each year.

How to Serve

Straight from the Freezer: Like a rebel with no thawing required.
Fancy Platter: Pop them on a plate, garnish with mint, and pretend you're hosting a dinner party.
Movie Night: Grab a box, a blanket, and a Netflix password.
Midnight Snack: Because sometimes, you just need a purple pick-me-up.

Description on the side of the box of Trader Joe's Ube Mochi

Creative Uses

Mochi Milkshake: Toss a couple into the blender with milk for a purple shake that'll make your dentist cry.
Mochi Sundae: Pile 'em high with whipped cream and sprinkles-because why not?
Mochi Kabobs: Thread them on skewers with fruit for a snack that says, "I'm fancy but also fun."
Ube S'mores: Stick one in between graham crackers with chocolate. You'll never go back.

FAQs about Trader Joe's Ube Mochi

The following are commonly asked questions about this product:

Is it gluten-free?

Yep, these babies are rice flour's time to shine.

How many pieces per box?

Six-unless you're counting the seconds it takes to eat them all.

What's ube, anyway?

It's a purple yam from the Philippines that tastes like a cross between vanilla and coconut. Also, it's delicious.

Can I let them thaw?

Just a couple of minutes-otherwise, things might get sticky (and not in a good way).

Other Ube Flavors

Trader Joe's does sell other seasonally available ube flavored items:

Final Thoughts

Trader Joe's Ube Mochi is the perfect blend of cute and craveable. It's got that chewy mochi exterior, a sweet and nutty ube ice cream center, and a color that's basically begging to be photographed. Is it the most intensely flavored ice cream in the freezer aisle? Nah. But it's fun, unique, and easy to love-one chewy bite at a time. If you can tolerate the unique texture that is mochi, then you may find this to be a seasonal highlight.

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.

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

Trader Joe's Chocolate Mochi Cake Mix

For some reason, Trader Joe's Mochi cake mix is a seasonal find. In fact, the last time I saw it on shelves it was gone before I got to the store.

Now right before the start of the fall season, we are hit with a chocolate mochi with a peanut butter frosting mix.

For $4.49 this might be something worth buying if you are into mochi or need a solid gluten-free cake option.

Trader Joe's Chocolate Mochi Cake unopened

The taste

For those of you who might never have had mochi then this might be a good product to introduce you to the unique texture of mochi. If you hate mochi stay away from this and if you embrace mochi then this is a good item.

So quickly, mochi's texture is quite chewy. If you are biting into this cake expecting the tender and traditional texture of a boxed cake mix you are going to be thrown off. It bounces back with each bite.

Now, let's talk about each bite. This cake came out sufficiently chocolatey. It even had extra chunks of chocolate in each bite that were still there after the baking process.

The peanut butter frosting is sweet but has some nice-sized salt flakes that didn't disintegrate leading to a subtle crunch. So the frosting manages to walk the line between sweet and salty.

There isn't a ton of frosting to speak of here. You'll get a thin enough layer but not quite as thick as the picture on the box would have you believe.

But together they balance each other nicely. Both layers aren't too sweet, there are added textural elements from the chocolate chips and salt crystals in the icing in addition to the mochi texture worked here.

And yes the pairing of peanut butter and chocolate is a solid one.

But if you despise mochi, then this should be a hard pass. There is no hiding the texture here.

Preparing this

So for those of you who prefer visual directions, I've got you covered. Here is how mine came together:

First, you'll need two bowls: one for the wet ingredients and one for the mix.

Preparing the Trader Joe's Chocolate Mochi Cake Mix — Use a larger bowl for the cake mix

Next in the smaller bowl add all of your wet ingredients so combine butter:

Butter added to a mixing bowl for Trader Joe's Chocolate Mochi Cake Mix — Add melted butter

Add in eggs

Add water and mix the wet ingredients together

All the wet ingredients combined — Water is added and then the wet items are mixed together.

Pour the wet ingredients into the cake mix and stir.

Wet and dry ingredients in Trader Joe's Chocolate Mochi Cake Mix

This is what the batter should look like:

A fully combined Trader Joe's Chocolate Mochi Cake Mix — Fully combined

Add to a baking pan

Cake mix poured into a baking pan. — If you don't have an 8x8 baking pan like the directions then the area of a 9 inch round is about the same.

Bake for 40 minutes (and start checking at about 35 minutes) and allow to cool

Trader Joe's Chocolate Mochi Cake Mix baked into a cake with the icing off to the side — I cooled mine on a rack and transferred in onto a plate.

Do not frost until this cake is at room temperature. Otherwise, you'll have a mess on your hands.

A fully iced Trader Joe's Chocolate Mochi Cake Mix

Slice and serve:

A top and side view of the finished Trader Joe's Chocolate Mochi Cake Mix

The packaging

The packaging here is straightforward. This mix comes in a box. Inside the box are two bags: one for the cake mix and the other has the frosting mix. Both plastic bags are labeled as to which is which but let's be real, you can tell which one is chocolate.

Overall

Peanut butter and chocolate are a classic combination. The mochi will be the curveball as to whether or not you like this item. But it was a tasty bite. Yes, you'll get 12 servings out of each mix. I found each slice to be sufficiently satisfying. There was just enough frosting to go with the cake.

The mess was minimal as was the ingredient list. But as always, please check your cake a few minutes early. Mine was completely done at the 40-minute mark.

Overall, a nice seasonal addition to the Trader Joe's baking mix lineup.

Would I buy this again? For me, Trader Joe's Chocolate Mochi Cake Mix is a one-time purchase. But it is a solid one if mochi is your thing. The flavor pairings here are spot on.

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

A visual rundown of this product

The box:

The nutritional information and ingredients:

Calories and ingredients in Trader Joe's Chocolate Mochi Cake

How to prepare:

Directions for making Trader Joe's Chocolate Mochi Cake

Out of the package you get:

Contents of the box of Trader Joe's Chocolate Mochi Cake Mix

After being baked you get:

Fully iced:

And how this looks from the top and the side:

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

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 Taiwanese Green Onion Pancakes Review: More Layers Than Your Therapist Could Unpack

Who knew a frozen pancake could bring this much joy? Trader Joe's Taiwanese Green Onion Pancakes are my latest freezer obsession. They're crispy, flaky, and perfect for when I want a snack that's almost like the real deal but without the late-night Uber Eats regret. These have all the good stuff: layers, green onion, a hint of oil, and are as versatile as that black dress hanging in the back of your closet.

An unopened package of Trader Joe's Taiwanese Green Onion Pancakes

[feast_advanced_jump_to]

Review

Trader Joe's Taiwanese Green Onion Pancakes come in a pack of five, each separated by wax paper for easy handling. Made in Taiwan, these pancakes are crafted from a simple dough of unbleached wheat flour, water, scallions, coconut oil, and leavening agents. At approximately 7 inches in diameter, they're substantial enough to serve as a snack, appetizer, or even the base of a meal.

Okay, confession time: I wasn't sure how a frozen pancake could measure up to the real deal. But Trader Joe's Taiwanese Green Onion Pancakes? They actually surprised me in the best way possible.

First off, the packaging is no-nonsense: five pancakes stacked with wax paper between them-no frills, no drama. They're about the size of a small dinner plate, and you don't even need to thaw them. Just toss one into a hot, oiled pan and let the magic happen.

Once it hits the skillet, that dough starts to transform. You get this satisfying sizzle, and in just a few minutes, the pancake goes from frozen disc to crispy, flaky goodness that's golden brown and begging to be devoured. The texture is seriously impressive for something that's been living in your freezer-crispy on the outside, soft and chewy on the inside, and loaded with flaky layers that make every bite a treat.

Flavor-wise, the green onion is there, but it's not super punchy. If you're expecting it to be like biting into a bouquet of scallions, you might want to dial your expectations down a bit. That said, it's mild enough to work as a canvas for all sorts of toppings or dips. Want to level it up? A splash of soy sauce, a sprinkle of chili oil, or even a smear of hoisin sauce takes it to a whole new level.

One thing to know: these pancakes can get a little greasy. Not deep-fried donut greasy, but enough that you might want to drain them on a paper towel before digging in. Still, that oil is part of what gives them that irresistible flakiness, so I'm not complaining too much.

Compared to a restaurant scallion pancake or a homemade version? Sure, they're not quite as thick or as deeply layered, but for a freezer find, they're shockingly close. And let's be real-on a weeknight when I'm too tired to cook, these are a crispy, satisfying snack that totally hits the spot.

The most similar product in terms of texture that I can compare this to is Trader Joe's Malabari Paratha. It had similar layers but was quite different in terms of taste.

And did I mention how big these are? One would make a nice snack if not a meal along with some fried rice.

A quick comparison

So if you are saying to yourself, "doesn't Trader Joe's already sells a scallion pancake in the freezer already?" They do. Trader Joe's sells both this and Pa Jeon which is a Korean scallion pancake. This is Cong You Bing which is made from dough as opposed to the Korean pancake which is made from batter.

Pa Jeon is eggier in taste and this scallion pancake is made up of several flaky layers of crisp dough on the outside and a tender inside.

Which one is better to buy? I prefer this, however, both are totally solid choices in the freezer section to which I recommend both.

Nutritional facts, ingredients, and directions on how to cook Trader Joe's Taiwanese Green Onion Pancakes

How to Serve

The directions are vague at best here and rely on the home user to eyeball it. So below are my recommendations for cooking this properly

Stovetop: Heat a teaspoon of oil in a nonstick pan over medium heat. Place the frozen pancake in the pan and cook for 2-3 minutes on each side until golden brown and crispy.

Air Fryer:Preheat the air fryer to 400F. While it is preheating, quarter your pancakes. This step reduces cooking time as the surface area is reduced. Place in air fryer basket. Cook for 4-6 minutes until the outside is golden brown.

The layers become more pronounced this way, but this way tastes less greasy. In my onion, air fry was better than pan fry.

Dipping Sauces

If you enjoy this then feel free to use soy sauce or some gyoza dipping sauce to enhance this further. My favorite Chinese restaurant used to use a bit of peanut butter with soy, rice vinegar, sesame oil, scallions, and some sesame seeds to dip theirs in.

Description of Trader Joe's Taiwanese Green Onion Pancakes

Creative Uses

Breakfast Wrap: Use as a base for scrambled eggs, avocado, and hot sauce.
Asian Quesadilla: Fill with cheese, kimchi, and scallions, then fold and crisp in the pan
Mini Pizzas: Top with hoisin sauce, shredded veggies, and bake until bubbly.
Dipping Delight: Cut into wedges and serve with soy-ginger dipping sauce or chili oil.

Fully cooked and quartered Trader Joe's Taiwanese Green Onion Pancakes with a soy dipping sauce

FAQs about Trader Joe's Taiwanese Green Onion Pancakes

Are they vegan?

Yes, these pancakes are vegan-friendly.

Do they contain gluten?

Yes, they are made with wheat flour and are not gluten-free.

Final Thoughts

Trader Joe's Taiwanese Green Onion Pancakes are a delightful addition to any freezer. Their authentic texture and versatility make them suitable for various meals, from quick snacks to creative dishes. While the flavor is on the milder side, they serve as an excellent base for your favorite toppings and sauces. Given their convenience and quality, they're a must-try for any food enthusiast.

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.