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Trader Joe's Organic Cheese and Tomato Family Size Pizza

Well, here is one of the few items at Trader Joe's that I've ever seen as being labeled as "Family Size." But I am here to assure you that if your family is over the size of 2, you might need more. Sorry, this is no Costco-sized item.

Taste

Since I live just outside of NYC pizza is a staple and probably one of the best food items we have going for us.

But in my household, a large pie can also withstand the hunger of about 3 adults. Anything more than that will require another pie. I'm not making the case those are legitimate serving sizes, I'm just saying when we have people over that is how we order.

Now, I was happy to see a larger-sized pizza at Trader Joe's. However, it doesn't seem much larger than some of the other options.

My husband and I are big fans of Trader Joe's Pepperoni Pizza and that will get us through dinner. Sometimes with leftovers, sometimes no leftovers.

And since pizza in our mind is up there with tacos in terms of "perfect foods" we occasionally use the phrase, "Even when it's bad, it's still sorta good," to describe the euphoria of eating pizza.

Well, this pizza isn't Trader Joe's best.

It's edible. But when your bar is NYC levels of high, this pizza just doesn't compete. Nor does it compete well with a lot of the pizza's I've reviewed.

The directions were pretty much spot on. But each bite just didn't wow. The crust was ok, thin enough. Decent enough for a freezer pizza.

But when it came to anything on the crust it wasn't great. There was something about the sauce and cheese blend that just didn't work for me one bit.

And it isn't a great exaggeration when I say after I wrapped up the leftovers, they sat in the refrigerator for a couple of days.

Those are things that generally never happen with pizza. Not in my household at least.

I don't know if it was the Emmentaler cheese that just made it weird or the sauce which I didn't much care for but I am here to say there are better options.

Overall

If you like plain pizza, then the best thing to do is reach at Trader Joe's is the Monteli Organic Pizza Crusts and do it yourself. It will take you about the same amount of time, but the outcome will be so much better.

Would I buy this again? For $5.99, I like the price of Trader Joe's Organic Cheese and Tomato Family Size Pizza, however, I just didn't dig this pizza's flavor one bit.

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

Product Photos

The box of Trader Joe's Organic Cheese and Tomato Family Size Pizza:

Calories and ingredients

Instructions

After being cooked you get:

A fully cooked Trader Joe's Organic Cheese and Tomato Family Size Pizza

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 Raspberry and White Chocolate Bundt Cake

Confession time: I'm really not a white chocolate fan. I don't know what it is about it, but there are very few brands that I actually like. When I do have good white chocolate I know it right away. White chocolate is like tequila to me: the cheap stuff gives me an instant headache.

Tasting and Review

Now, for the most part, I had no intention of picking up this product.

I don't need any more sugar in my life nor do I need to add $7.99 to my checkout bill.

But the dang sample station got to me. And as the old adage goes: never go to the grocery store hungry. Unfortunately, hunger hit, and this was the sample of the day.

I've had samples before (or more honestly every time I go to the store). Some have either inspired reviews or some items I made the decision that that item won't even be reviewed here because I detested it so much.

Well, this is one of those items and one of those pangs of hunger where I had a slice and I was in pure bliss.

I saw the cake. I wasn't wild about the idea of raspberry and white chocolate but knew it would be a bit before I headed home.

I had a slice. And I liked it.

I liked it enough to bring a whole cake home with me.

Now, it does have a limited shelf life so some of it will be sliced and wrapped to be placed in the freezer for a day in the future.

But each slide was soft, tender, and was far more heavily in the raspberry than white chocolate. In fact, I only got subtle tastes of the white chocolate from time to time which is actually much appreciated.

Best of all the top had what seemed to be larger crystals of sugar giving a few bites a subtle crunch.

Overall

A pretty solid cake if you are planning on having company. Or if you are enjoying your own company. It is one of the larger baked items available.

Would I buy this again? Trader Joe's Raspberry and White Chocolate Bundt Cake isn't going to be a regular purchase, but it is a safe bet if you are looking to have something sweet in the house.

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

Visual rundown

The box containing Trader Joe's Raspberry and White Chocolate Bundt Cake:

An unopened box of Trader Joe's Raspberry and White Chocolate Bundt Cake

Calories and ingredients

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 Honey Baguette

So one of the new items that have hit the February Fearless Flyer this month was a new bakery item: the honey baguette. For the most part, many of the bakery items are pretty good. They have short shelf lives, but that is the sign of fresher food.

Taste

As far as bread goes, there are lots of good options. There is a regular baguette option which is substantially larger too.

This honey baguette seems to be best suited to a sandwich or two, which is exactly how it was enjoyed in my household.

The bread is much darker than a regular baguette. And yes, I did follow the directions and placed it in the oven.

Bread like this is always best right out of an oven. I can't think of too many loaves that don't taste better when they are fresh out of an oven.

And yes, there is a subtle taste of honey in this bread. This is also reflected in the nutritional information in terms of additional sugars. It's not a lot, but if you are watching, this might push you over the edge.

However, it was good bread. It was crusty without being tough. The inside of the bread was tender. It is hinted on Trader Joe's website that it might be a seasonal item.

I'm not one to chow down on a baguette without making it into a sandwich: so mine was mozzarella and prosciutto with some olive oil and vinegar.

Was it life-altering good bread? No. It was good and a solid choice.

Overall

But if I'm being honest, I'll keep reaching for Trader Joe's Ficelles every time instead. They are par-baked and feel more oven fresh.

For $1.79 it's not a bad find if you want a hint of extra flavor to your bread.

If nothing else, it is easier to spot since it is one of the few items packaged in a black bag.

Would I buy this again? While Trader Joe's Honey Baguette was good, I'll still be reading for the Ficelles instead. Just a matter of personal preference.

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

Product Photos

The bag of Trader Joe's Honey Baguette:

The nutritional information and the ingredients:

Nutritional facts and ingredients in Trader Joe's Honey Baguette

How best enjoy this product:

After being made into a sandwich you get:

Half of Trader Joe's Honey Baguette on a white plate and made into a sandwich

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 Supreme Hydrating Eye Cream

It's been a good run so far in the health and beauty items. So far this year we've seen a whole bunch released: from a microdermabrasion scrub to new facial wipes to a new cleansing oil. And considering we are pretty early into the year, these are at least the items that won't impact your diet one bit. And nor will Trader Joe's Supreme Hydrating Eye Cream.

Testing this out

And so far, I've liked or really loved just about each and every one of those.

But this item reminds me of a bit more of my reaction to a product released last year: Trader Joe's Ultra Hydrating Gel Moisturizer. In short, it didn't quite live up to the "ultra part."

Similarly, this is "Supreme Hydrating" which is quite a statement. So if it is supreme hydrating it better be the best darn moisturizer around.

Sadly, it didn't live up to that title.

I've tried way more hydrating eye creams. Or moisturizers for that matter. But it didn't take the cake.

It was about an average moisturizer. I used mine nightly for a few evenings.

Was the under area under my eyes moisturized? By morning yes, but nothing spectacular or out of the ordinary.

Just average. It didn't make me break out. It didn't seem to make any puffiness go away. And no, I didn't wake up looking 10 years younger (not that any of those items were promised on this box).

It felt nice going on and it seemed to absorb well. It didn't have any strong smells like some other products.

Overall

For $5.99 it is well priced. And all too often eye creams are very, very pricey. And those tend to be the ones that make promises that they might not be able to deliver on.

So while my expectations were artificially high due to the name of this product, for the price I can't be too upset either.

Would I buy this again? While I thought Trader Joe's Supreme Hydrating Eye Cream was nice, it isn't worthy of repurchase from me. It just didn't live up to its name. It moisturized, but did it supremely hydrate? I didn't think so.

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

Product Photos

The box of Trader Joe's Supreme Hydrating Eye Cream:

An unopened package of Trader Joe's Supreme Hydrating Eye Cream

Ingredients and directions

Trader Joe's Supreme Hydrating Eye Cream ingredients and how to use

Out of the package you get:

Trader Joe's Supreme Hydrating Eye Cream out of the original box

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 Ginger Beef Sirloin

It's been a while since Trader Joe's has added anything new to the pre-marinated meat selection. But when they do it can be quite hit or miss. Since most Trader Joe's customers do make meals in a hurry (from time to time at least) then it is only fair that they finally add a stir fry into the mix.

Review & Taste

I much as I love cooking there is something draining about going to work and then having to make the kitchen a mess. And then having to then clean it up before collapsing and repeating the process the very next day.

So if you are pressed for time, stir fry and taco night tend to be the way I go in my household.

I'm pretty sure those might be the original at-home fast food options beyond just burgers, but regardless this package will set you back about $9.99 a pound.

But some stir fry, some stir fry veggies, and some rice make for a quick complete meal. Especially when you need to cook so little of it. And I had leftovers for another day or two. At least with leftovers, you can justify not making a mess the second day.

In this package I will warn you, this is the most assertively ginger-flavored item I've tried in a while. I got some soy flavor, but hands down the ginger stood out. Each bit of sirloin is cut into thin but long strips to speed cooking along as well.

And just as a cooking tip, don't crowd the pan. You'll want to get a good sear or at least a bit of color on these strips.

And despite the stips of beef being of different widths and thus different cooking times, the end result was good.

Each bit was pretty tender and nothing seemed tough.

But you better like ginger.

I'll admit it, ginger isn't my favorite flavor. I tend to think of it more like a backup singer rather than the lead singer, but this I will tell you, it likes to be a duo with the beef.

Soy is the background singer here as is the touch of heat that comes from this.

As for the other ingredients, they keep it quite muted.

Overall

Would I buy this again? For me, this is a maybe, only because of how strong the ginger flavor was. I'd probably reach for the Chicken Shawarma first. But if I'm looking for a stir fry this is the easiest option.

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

Product Photos

The bag of Trader Joe's Ginger Beef Sirloin:

The nutritional information, the ingredients, and how to prepare:

Nutritional information, ingredients and cooking directions for Trader Joe's Ginger Beef Sirloin

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.