Trader Joe's blog and cooking.
The pros: Quite possibly the best most enjoyable white chocolate I’ve ever had. I hate white chocolate but Trader Joe’s Strawberry Champagne Truffles tasted smooth and creamy.
The cons: If you aren’t a white chocolate fan, this might convert you to think otherwise. If you have a nut allergy of any sort, avoid this product
The verdict: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s Steakhouse Seasoned Filet Mignon is super tender, juicy and lean cut of meat. Lots of seasoning.
The cons: If you want gravy with this, you’ll have to bring it in. There were no juices to speak of here. Recipe is heavy-handed with the black pepper.
The verdict: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s Lobster and Shrimp Bites are mini seafood patties, but not finger food.
The cons: Follow the picture on the box if you want a sauce with this. It’s best to add a dab on top, as they won’t hold their shape for dipping. Strange almost carrot like orange hue to these.
The verdict: …
The pros: A fun stocking stuffer or gift for the chocolate lover in your life.
The cons: Some flavors are unique. Others might call that uniqueness strange or gross.
The verdict: …
It’s that time of year where trees are being decorated and your local market is overrun by items containing peppermint. So many cocktails are diary based. I wanted to get something different. So I came up with this delicious Holly Jolly Peppermint Martini recipe with the flavors of the season.
Get into the spirit of the holidays with this spirited drink and hopefully you too will have a holly jolly holiday. This drink is full of spirits, so it will warm you on a cold winters night. It is on the strong side, so know your limits, drink responsibly and tag me on Instagram @BecomeBetty if you make this. I might just repost your picture. Cheers to another New Year!
Using peppermint around the rim is optional, but adds to the festive feel. This drink is sweet and one is all you might need. It’s a balance between the cool peppermint, the sweetness of the syrup, and the kick of the vodka.
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The pros: For those of us who live out of Keurig, Trader Joe’s Festively Flavored Coffee Cup Celebration is a great way to get a variety in one pack at a reasonable price.
The cons: If you have one of those k-cup organizers, these packs will render that useless as each one is wrapped in plastic to keep the k-cup with less plastic fresh.
The verdict: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s Rainbow of Honey is a nice gift set of single variety honey from various parts of the world. They are presented in individually wrapped glass bottles organized in a way that even Crayola would be proud.
The cons: Each bottle is 4 ounces. Some of them will make you wish they sold them in a full sized jar.
The verdict: …
The pros: Ready super quick in the microwave, no oven required. Trader Joe’s Butternut Squash and Creamed Spinach Gratin is a tasty a break from traditional butternut squash dishes.
The cons: Wish there was more creamed spinach. Or cheese for that matter. I actually think that Trader Joe’s Scalloped Potatoes with Quattro Formaggio should set the cheesy basis for all other gratin dishes.
The verdict: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s Chicken Sausage and Cornbread Stuffing is an herby and flavorful stuffing that will remind you of something more homemade. Was ready in about 3 minutes from the microwave.
The cons: Could have had more chicken sausage, if you’ve lived off of Stove Top stuffing mix your whole life, the texture might throw you on this one. The cranberries in the stuffing are going to be a love/hate type of taste.
The verdict: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s Cinnamon Roll Wreath is beautiful in presentation, but in terms of taste these will actually remind you of the homemade variety (don’t worry Mom, yours are still better). They are yeasty with layers of flaky, buttery dough and the distinct layer of cinnamon sugar that everyone looks forward to.
The cons: Needs to rise overnight so some advanced planning is required.
The verdict: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s Corn Pudding is a tasty custardy corn dish loaded with cheese. I’m not sure why 1 cup was the serving size which will fill you up.
The cons: A whopping 60% of your saturated fat is coming in one serving.
The verdict: …
The pros: With Trader Joe’s Joyous Joe you are getting to try four seasonal varieties of coffee without committing to the entire huge canister of coffee. This would make a cute stocking stuffer or gift idea for the coffee lover in your life.
The cons: They should make one for people who hate/dislike/loathe/abhor/can’t stand flavored coffee. It should be like Trader Joe’s Chocolate Passport but with different origins of coffee.
The verdict: …
The pros: Super cheesy scalloped potatoes ready in 20 minutes from the oven. No runny milk at the bottom of the dish. Trader Joe’s Scalloped Potatoes with Quattro Formaggio was nothing but cheesy goodness with nice even pieces of potatoes.
The cons: None that I could think of.
The verdict: …
Yes, you read the title correctly this article is all about The Stress Free Trader Joe’s Thanksgiving and Holiday Dinner Ready in 1 Hour. It is possible to have a complete Thanksgiving dinner ready in an hour. …
The pros: Trader Joe’s Cranberry Sauce is a nice balanced mix of what most might want when cranberry sauce is served: it’s halfway between being the jelly that comes from a can with some textural aspects of a cranberry relish. This was a good compromise between the two worlds.
The cons: It’s a seasonal so if you like this, you might want to stock up until next year. My Trader Joe’s ran out shortly after Thanksgiving.
The verdict: …
The pros: Very tasty stuffing. Trader Joe’s Cornbread Stuffing Mix is as good as, if not better than Stove Top stuffing. Give you recipe suggestions for softer stuffing or crisper stuffing.
The cons: Seasonal. If you like this, you should stock up.
The verdict: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s Cauliflower Gratin is tasty, flavorful and cheesy cauliflower dish that might make non cauliflower eaters think twice about passing over this vegetable.
The cons: It makes a healthy item slightly unhealthy, but that’s why it’s a gratin.
The verdict: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s Fully Cooked Turkey Breast is moist turkey breast ready in under 45 minutes.
The cons: Expensive compared to buying a whole uncooked turkey. No dark meat option at Trader Joe’s.
The verdict: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s Cranberry Chevre is super tasty. Would have never thought to add cranberry and goat cheese. They were an awesome combination. Super fresh addition to a salad.
The cons: None that I can think of.
The verdict: …
