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Trader Joe's Grilled Jerk Chicken Thigh Skewers

Once again, a seasonal favorite has returned. It does not seem to have changed much from the previous review. If you are looking for a fully cooked skewer with pretty grill marks and full of Caribbean flavor, then for a frozen item, Trader Joe's Grilled Jerk Chicken Thigh Skewers is pretty good overall.

Taste and review

Not too long ago, I went out with a few of my coworkers to a local restaurant called Ripe in Mount Vernon, NY. We picked the place because they have fabulous Caribbean food and the chef was on Throwdown with Bobby Flay (and yes, he actually beat Bobby). It's a restaurant that you could easily miss when driving by. Ever since then I've been craving Caribbean food, but haven't been willing to go for the drive.

It's just about summertime and mango tends to be the go-to flavor for Summer at Trader Joe's. This year is no exception. I picked up their Grilled Jerk Chicken Thigh Skewers. For $5.49, these weren't as good as the restaurant, but they were darn good for a freezer entree.

In the package, there should be 6 skewers. I cooked all of these at once and figured whatever was leftover I could put on a salad the next day. I cooked them in the toaster oven and avoided the microwave. Chicken and the microwave rarely get along. While the box says a grill pan is the recommended way, there was absolutely nothing wrong with putting them in the toaster. And if you are wondering, I ate 5 out of the 6 in one sitting because they were so good.

The chicken was so very tender and could be eaten in bite-sized chunks. The mango chutney added a nice thick fruity flavor on top. These are excellent to reach for, but I must caution most people out there on one thing.

These are medium to medium-hot in terms of spice. Anything with a jerk seasoning is usually spicy, however, Trader Joe's website doesn't mention it with complete accuracy. While they are saying it's not too spicy, I'll tell you there is a good amount of heat here. It won't hit you right away, but by the end of the skewer, it will slow you down.

Frequently asked questions

The following are common questions readers have about this product.

Are Trader Joe's Grilled Jerk Chicken Skewers discontinued?

These are actually a seasonal item that tends to come around during the summer months.

Can Trader Joe's Grilled Jerk Chicken Skewers be made in an air fryer?

Preheat your air fryer to 375F. Cook these for 9 minutes in a single layer. Be sure to defrost the sauce in advance.

Is Trader Joe's Grilled Jerk Chicken Skewers spicy?

These skewers are mildly spicy. However, the chutney adds an extra layer of spice.

Overall

This does justice to a Caribbean dish. It manages to be flavorful, tender and brings the heat. It's a balancing act. It's an act that is done well.

I did find one skewer that had been broken making for an unpleasant bite, but compared to the number of boxes of these I've purchased, it didn't deter me from buying is while it is on shelves.

Would I buy this again? This is a yes from me. I really like Caribbean food and if you can handle the spice then this is a good choice to reach for.

Product photos

The box of Trader Joe's Grilled Jerk Chicken Thigh Skewers:

Trader Joe's Grilled Jerk Chicken Thigh Skewers box

Calories

Trader Joe's Grilled Jerk Chicken Thigh Skewers nutritional information

Ingredients

Directions

Trader Joe's Grilled Jerk Chicken Thigh Skewers how to prepare

Out of the package you get:

Trader Joe's Grilled Jerk Chicken Thigh Skewers out of the box

After Trader Joe's Grilled Jerk Chicken Thigh Skewers was cooked you get:

Trader Joe's Grilled Jerk Chicken Thigh Skewers fully cooked

The Bottom Line

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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!

Trader Joe's Everything But the Bagel Smoked Salmon

If Cookie Butter had its year, and cauliflower had most of 2018, then why hasn't Trader Joe's taken the plunge and tried to make more Everything But the Bagel Products? Perhaps, 2019 will be the year they make that commitment. But for now, we have the second of such products with Trader Joe's Everything But the Bagel Seasoned Smoked Salmon.

Taste and review

Of all the combinations of Trader Joe's Everything But the Bagel Seasoning pairings that I've seen, avocado seems to be the most popular. Next to avocado, is probably cream cheese.

What goes really well with cream cheese? A bagel.

What goes really with a bagel and cream cheese? Lox. Or in this case Smoked Salmon. So we've now gone in a circle back to the bagel.

While the package doesn't indicate what this is, this is most likely cold smoked salmon. It does not have a cooked taste, it has the texture of sashimi (with a healthy dose of EBTB added in). Plus it didn't remind me at all of Trader Joe's Hot Smoked Scottish Salmon.

But, what you do need to know about this package is that it is very small. There are about 4 slices of smoked salmon in this package.

However, when you are talking about smoked salmon, you only want what you'll eat because this product once open has a narrow shelf life.

Now, because I put this on a bagel for a recent road trip, I didn't take a finished picture, but the window on the package should give you a good idea of what you can expect visually.

As I've said before, if you are a native New Yorker, you can get some amazing lox from your local bagel store. So nothing pre-packaged can come close.

If you aren't near NYC, then this isn't a bad option. It just tastes like a mildly EBTB-infused salmon.

For $5.49 for this package, it actually is in line with this type of salmon.

Now, I personally prefer the EBTB seasoning that I add fresh on my own.

Overall

Would I buy this again? For me, Trader Joe's Everything but the Bagel Seasoned Smoked Salmon is a one-time purchase. It was good, but I live way too close to great bagel stores and I keep a few bottles of the seasoning in the cabinet. I think they could have gotten so much more creative with the pairings and I would love to see them do more with it down the line. But for right now, this was a safe option but didn't quite knock it out of the park for me.

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

Product photos

The package of Trader Joe's Everything But the Bagel Seasoned Smoked Salmon:

An unopened package of Trader Joe's Everything But the Bagel Seasoned Smoked Salmon

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.

Matador Cocktail

While the Margarita gets all the attention, you might not know about the Matador. The Matador is a tequila-based cocktail with pineapple and lime flavors. My Matador Cocktail recipe is a variation of a classic drink that is sweet, well-balanced, and delicious.

Margaritas. We've all seen them, we've all probably tried them. But why should they have all the fun?

I've covered them a couple of times on this blog from the high-end Cadillac Margarita to a seasonal Blood Orange Margarita. There is something about the acidity, salt, and taste of tequila that go so well together.

Since most cocktails are basically cousins of one another, the Vodka Gimlet is pretty similar to a margarita as well. Minus the orange flavor and the tequila get swapped out for vodka.

Now, I've been playing around with this recipe. And while it departs a bit from the classic Matador, consider it a fresh, updated, and well-balanced drink.

What type of tequila should I use?

If you go to the liquor store and you don't know what you are looking for, then ALWAYS look for the label 100% agave. Any other label will be a headache in a bottle. And yes, some say made with agave, but pass on those, you want those exact words of 100% agave.

Second, you'll notice all the different colors of tequila. Some are aged, some not. Here is a quick color comparison:

Three shot glasses side by side. One contains silver tequila, the next contains a more golden reposado tequila, and the last one contains extra anejo tequila

Sipping, I'd reach for the darker Extra Anejo. For mixing, I'll keep it to silver or Reposado.

Silver Tequila- is clear, unaged, and tastes more of the agave it was made from. This is also known as Blanco tequila.

Reposado- Is slightly golden in color and has been rested in oak barrels for 2-12 months giving it that light golden color. This is a more complex tequila that has subtle notes from the barrel it was aged in.

Both silver tequila and reposado tequila make for a solid mixed drink. The other tequilas I would leave to sipping as they take on a more smoky nature and don't always jive well with the rest of the ingredients

Use what you have and what you enjoy drinking.

Tips for making this

This can be served in a martini glass or champagne flute.
If you shake this well enough you'll get a frothy top to it which looks stunning on presentation.
Always use fresh limes
Use good ice
Canned pineapple juice is fine as long as you would be willing to drink it (and enjoy it on its own)

How this differs from the original

When I try a drink, it is usually from the "original recipe." Many original recipes will just add lime juice. I found that drink to be too acidic. I've modified it by adding 2 lime wheels to the cocktail shaker and one final one as garnish.

Why? In the peel, there are essential oils that contain a lot of lime flavor without the acid. So you get all the lime flavor without compounding the acidity and keeping this a balanced drink.

Watch Me Make This (30 Seconds)

How to Make

Step 1: Add ice to a cocktail shaker.

Ice in a shaker glass with an aqua colored background

Step 2: Measure an add pineapple juice, tequila, simple syrup and lime wheels to cocktail shaker filled with ice.

A collage showing the pineapple, tequila, simple syrup and lime wheels being added to the shaker.

Step 3: Shake for 30 seconds until the sides of your shaker are ice cold.

An ice cold shaker with frosted sides next to the cocktail glass and strainer

Step 4: Using a strainer, pour into cocktail glass like a martini or champagne glass and garnish with an optional lime wheel.

Pouring the mixed Matador Cocktail into a wide mouthed champagne flute

Step 5: Sip, enjoy, leave a review, and share this with your friends.

A finished Matador Cocktail garnished with a lime wedge

I hope you enjoy this Matador Cocktail!

If you try this, would you mind hitting the "Rate" button? I'd love to know what you thought of it. If you modified the original recipe here, please let me know how it turned out. I love comments!

If you've tried this Matador Cocktail or any other recipe on the blog, I'd love the hear what you thought about it in the comments below. I love hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW ME on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest to see what I'm up to.

Other Cocktails You Might Enjoy

Cadillac Margarita

Blood Orange Margarita

Vodka Gimlet

Malibu Bay Breeze

A backlit picture of the finished Matador Cocktail

Print Recipe

4.50 from 6 votes

Matador Cocktail

While the Margarita might get all the attention, if you are looking for a picture perfect tequila based drink with only lime, pineapple juice, and simple syrup then look no further than this refreshing drink called the Matador Cocktail.

Prep Time5

Total Time5

Course: Drinks

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Matador Cocktail, Matador Drink

Servings:

Calories: 181kcal

Author: Brenda

Ingredients

3 ounces pineapple juice
1.5 ounces tequila
.5 ounce simple syrup
3 lime wheels

Equipment

Instructions

In a cocktail shaker filled with ice combine pineapple juice, tequila, simple syrup, and 2 lime wheels.
Shake for 30 seconds
Pour into cocktail glass
Garnish with 1 extra lime wedge on top

Video

Notes

Tips for Making This Drink:

This can be served in a martini glass or champagne flute.
If you shake this well enough you'll get a frothy top to it which looks stunning on presentation.
Always use fresh limes
Canned pineapple juice is fine as long as you would be willing to drink it (and enjoy it on its own)

Nutrition

Trader Joe's Sweet Sriracha Uncured Bacon Jerky

Bacon. It's like meat candy all on its own. Add something sweet and spicy and you have on heck of a combination. The combined saltiness and textural elements work so very well in Trader Joe's Sweet Sriracha Uncured Bacon Jerky.

Trader Joe's Sweet Sriracha Bacon Jerky Review pin for Pinterest

Taste and review

My first impressions were about how moist the product came out of the bag. No, they weren't greasy, but they weren't crisp bacon either.

There is a noticeable glaze on each strip of bacon in the bag. Usually, moisture is bad when it comes to jerky, but somehow I'm sure it's fine. Besides, this bag is so small I would be shocked if you do reseal it and save some for later.

After eating a piece you'll notice the sriracha will grab you. Before the heat kicks in you'll notice a gentle sweetness that is mixed with spices and soy. It's quite pleasant. The heat stayed on my tongue for a while so I wasn't compelled to cram the whole bag down my throat, I had to stop and savor every bite.

When you pay this much for meat, you might as well slow down and enjoy it.

This has been a favorite in my household since we first tried it. So much so that I've started to make my own.

Make this yourself

I make my own beef jerky from time to time as a matter of cost-saving. While not a copycat recipe, it manages to be sweet and spicy and keeps the ingredient list to a minimum.

Bacon Jerky in a small mason jar on a white surface

Yes, that's my bacon jerky and not Trader Joe's. But if I had cut the strips in half the long way (in addition to the cut down the middle, it would be very similar).

Overall

If you do the math (yes, this works out to almost $44 a pound), you are paying the same for a 2-ounce bag as you would an uncooked 1-pound package of bacon when you consider the price here is $5.49. With a good cabinet of spices, I don't see any reason not to make something like this at home. If you have absolutely no intention of making jerky ever, yes, go buy this especially if you love bacon.

If you are like me and will make jerky at home, try it to see if you like the flavor combination, I liked it, but it packed a good amount of heat that lingered. If you have absolutely no intention of ever making jerky and you enjoy bacon, this is a wonderful buy albeit expensive for 2 ounces.

Visual rundown

The bag of Trader Joe's Sweet Sriracha Uncured Bacon Jerky:

Trader Joe's Sweet Sriracha Uncured Bacon Jerky bag on a red background

Calories and ingredients

Trader Joe's Sweet Sriracha Uncured Bacon Jerky nutritional, ingredient list, and description

What it looks like out of the bag:

Trader Joe's Sweet Sriracha Uncured Bacon Jerky out of the bag and on to a red background with a few strips sticking out

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

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Trader Joe's Cold Brew Coconut Cream Latte

So, let's have a moment of honesty. I'm not sure about you, but I strongly prefer to brew my own brew. My coffee of last resort is usually something that comes from instant or comes out of a can. I like my coffee on the lighter side, so a latte isn't too far away from how I would enjoy a drink. So, being that these two items are so similar, here is a two-for-one review of Trader Joe's Cold Brew Coconut Cream Latte.

Both of these flavors are new, dairy-free, and vegan. They are also priced at $1.99 whether you reach for the original or caramel spice.

Trader Joe's Cold Brew Coconut Cream Latte Original

So if you enjoy the smooth taste of cold brew coffee, the flavor of this comes through. However, this is still a latte so there is a good amount of coconut flavor and added sweetness that comes through. But I've tried a number of beverages that are canned coffee drinks, and this is one of the better ones.

Some are just tolerable, but if you are finding you need a mid-afternoon pick-me-up or you just enjoy lattes, these are good. They'll never be as good as your local coffee shop. It's as good as can be expected for something that comes from a can.

If you don't care for a sweetened coffee drink, then skip out on this one.

As an added bonus, this set is vegan so if dairy isn't for you, then you might be for this.

Trader Joe's Cold Brew Coconut Cream Caramel Spice Latte

This is basically the same as the original, but with the addition of caramel spice. The caramel comes through, but the spice is a bit muddled in terms of flavor.

You still have the smooth taste of cold brew coffee. The coconut flavor comes through.

Personally, I don't think I was loving the pairing of coconut with the caramel and the spice.

Overall

These will never match a freshly made brew from the coffee shop. To me, canned coffee is often not great coffee at all. However, all things considered, these weren't bad for something that came out of a can.

Would I buy this again? No, I probably wouldn't buy Trader Joe's Cold Brew Coconut Cream Latte again. I might keep a can or two around for an emergency affordable pick me up, but otherwise, I probably wouldn't buy them again.

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

Product photos

The cans of Trader Joe's Cold Brew Coconut Cream Latte:

Two unopened cans of Trader Joe's Cold Brew Coconut Cream Latte. One plain and one caramel

Calories and ingreidents

The nutritional, calorie count, and ingredient list on Trader Joe's Cold Brew Coconut Cream Latte — Blue is original, the orange is the caramel spice

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.