I was beginning to wonder when we would see another cauliflower item appear in Trader Joe’s shelves. And now, it has found its way into breakfast through Trader Joe’s Egg Frittata. But don’t worry, the taste of cauliflower was quite muted.
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Breakfast
Blueberry Scones with Lemon Glaze
My Blueberry Scones with Lemon Glaze recipe is quick, easy, moist and uses lemon to add another dimension of flavor. This is a perfect breakfast, brunch, or dessert item to share or to freeze for fresh scones in the morning. These are delicious with both fresh blueberries and frozen blueberries. I’ve included lots of ways of adapting this recipe to make it even more delicious.…
Trader Joe’s Onion and Chive Cream Cheese Spread
A bagel and a schmear. As a life long New Yorker, I’m pretty sure there is a certain amount of Yiddish that has been added infused into the local lexicon. And when it comes to bagels there is a reason for this.
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Trader Joe’s Neapolitan Puffs Cereal
Neapolitan. The classic pairing of vanilla, strawberry, and chocolate. We first saw this recently with the seasonally available Neapolitan Joe Joe’s. Now we are seeing it in Trader Joe’s Neapolitan Puffs Cereal. Soon, we will revisit this combination where it all started: in ice cream but with Joe Joe’s. Yup, they seem to be capitalizing on that varieties success.
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Trader Joe’s Pancake Bread
I love a good coffee cake. In fact, I posted a recipe here for an easy crumb cake just the other night if you feel like turning your oven on. If you aren’t in baking, here is a store bought option for you. However, this Trader Joe’s Pancake Bread isn’t quite a coffee cake. It’s not quite a pancake either.
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Crumb Cake
Here is a recipe straight from my Mom’s cookbook. This Crumb Cake recipe is super simple, but always impresses who ever tries it. This recipe features lots and lots of that amazing cinnamon spiced crumb topping that wows every time. Perfect for entertaining and sharing.
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Strawberry Scones
Light as a feather and rich in the taste of fresh strawberries, this Strawberry Scone recipe is lightened up in time for the New Year. You don’t have to wait until strawberries come into season to enjoy this recipe. I’ve even included ways dozens of flavor suggestions to inspire you more to play with the flavors here.…
Trader Joe’s Chocolate Chip Pain Au Lait
I wasn’t going to write this review given the time of year. In fact, I’m shocked they picked now to release Trader Joe’s Chocolate Chip Pain Au Lait. I mean we have one Pain Au Lait. Why would we possibly need a second variety right after New Year’s?
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Trader Joe’s Gingerbread Spice Granola
So the Fall brought us Trader Joe’s Apple Caramel Granola, this winter we have been graced by yet another seasonal granola variety. This is Trader Joe’s Gingerbread Spice Granola. But if you loved the sweetness of the Fall’s seasonal granola, I’m not sure you are going to like this. And yes, this granola is vastly different from the Peanut Butter variety that is on shelves year round.
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Trader Joe’s Chocolat En Croute
Let me apologize in advance for all the goodies that are going to be posted on this blog over the next month. I like reviewing real food, but this time of year all the goodies are out. Including this fancy breakfast/dessert that is so fancy it didn’t feel like it needed the “e” in chocolat.
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Trader Joe’s Hot Cocoa Organic Frosted Toaster Pastries
The pros: Trader Joe’s Hot Cocoa Organic Frosted Toaster Pastries is new and dressed up for cooler weather.
The cons: Seasonal based on the appearance of the packaging. Depending on your feeling on frosting, mine were not evenly frosted. Some would prefer if the frosting was left off.
The verdict: …
Trader Joe’s Brown Sugar and Cinnamon Butter Spread
The pros: Trader Joe’s Brown Sugar and Cinnamon Butter Spread is one of two new butter options.
The cons: With some room temperature butter you can easily make this at home for a fraction of the cost.
The verdict: …
Trader Joe’s 8 Mini Croissants
The pros: Trader Joe’s 8 Mini Croissants are new and replace the frozen ones you have to proof. Don’t worry though, the Chocolate and Almond croissants are still in the frozen aisle.
The cons: If you imagined (like I did) that these would be about the size of say a crescent roll, then you will be surprised by how much they puff up. This bag is not resealable. They are made in Belgium.
The verdict: …
Trader Joe’s 8 Mini Raspberry Pastries
The pros: Trader Joe’s 8 Mini Raspberry Pastries are a new addition to the frozen aisle. These are easy to make and the end product is good.
The cons: This bag should be resealable as 8 pastries might be more than you want to bake at one time. I found the cook time to be longer than what was mentioned on the box.
The verdict: …
Trader Joe’s Potato Pancakes
The pros: Trader Joe’s Potato Pancakes are a really good breakfast/dinner option. This is a regular year round item.
The cons: If you don’t care for the taste of onion, then reach for Trader Joe’s Hashbrowns instead.
The verdict: …
O and H Danish Bakery Raspberry Kringle
The pros: O and H Danish Bakery Raspberry Kringle is the newest flavor to hit the shelves at Trader Joe’s, but represents a substantial savings over ordering it online.
The cons: The kringle flavors at Trader Joe’s are only seasonal, but fortunately, all the flavors I’ve tried so far have frozen very well.
The verdict: …
Trader Joe’s Banana Bread Mix
The pros: Trader Joe’s Banana Bread Mix is a quick and easy banana bread that won’t require you to possess any bananas to make.
The cons: Banana bread is relatively easy to make and you are paying for convenience here.
The verdict: …
Trader Joe’s Buttermilk Pancake and All Purpose Baking Mix
The pros: Trader Joe’s Buttermilk Pancake and All Purpose Baking Mix works well for pancakes and waffles and is priced right.
The cons: Nothing really stands out.
The verdict: …
Trader Joe’s Cream Cheese Brioche Pastries
The pros: Trader Joe’s Cream Cheese Brioche Pastries are new, frozen, and delicious if you appreciate a treat on the sweeter side. These are a solid choice for breakfast or dessert.
The cons: Why do they ever assume you are going to be sharing these? Just be honest with the calories and say how many are in each. For some reason Trader Joe’s decided that each pastry is two servings.
The verdict: …
Trader Joe’s Brioche Toasts
The pros: Trader Joe’s Brioche Toasts are a two to three bite size slice of brioche that are crisp and delicious. At under $2 it’s a great deal. It also might have some interesting other applications beyond just appetizers.
The cons: If you are using this in place of crackers, then consider making sure you have napkins or plates because there will be crumbs from this toast.
The verdict: …
Trader Joe’s Cinnamon Sugar Muffin and Baking Mix
The pros: Trader Joe’s Cinnamon Sugar Muffin and Baking Mix is a delicious and new to shelves mix that makes good muffins.
The cons: The directions are not 100% accurate and I’ll correct them below.
The verdict: …
Trader Joe’s Almond Danish Kringle
The pros: Trader Joe’s Almond Danish Kringle is not actually a Trader Joe’s branded product, but a well done one. It freezes well and this flavor was delicious. It can be ordered online through the company, however buying it at Trader Joe’s is the most cost effective.
The cons: The flavors of the Kringles can be seasonal. Might be too sweet for some.
The verdict: …
Trader Joe’s This Cranberry Walks Into A Bar
The pros: Trader Joe’s This Cranberry Walks Into A Bar is a seasonal flavor of the successful line of “This (Fruit) Walks Into A Bar…” line.
The cons: This is a seasonal flavor. This is also the only “This [fruit] walks into a bar” that is not labeled OU Kosher.
The verdict: …
Trader Joe’s Uncured Extra Thick Cut Maple and Brown Sugar Glazed Bacon
The pros: Trader Joe’s Uncured Extra Thick Cut Maple and Brown Sugar Glazed Bacon is new to store shelves and did not appear to be marked as “HOL” on my receipt which might indicate this might be sticking around.
The cons: It’s bacon and sugar. Just don’t look at the nutritional info. Just don’t do it. This is also just a spin on candied bacon.
The verdict: …
