Trader Joe's blog and cooking.
If I were to admit to the food pairings that I like most, it would probably be chocolate and peppermint. If I stop at a Starbucks, there is a peppermint mocha frappuccino in my future. If I go to the movies, I reach for Junior Mints. There is something about the pairing of those flavors that make my taste buds very happy.
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I’m not sure how it is almost Thanksgiving already, but it seems like the end of the year is just zooming by. On the stroke of midnight on Halloween it seemed that Trader Joe’s made the transition from pumpkin to turkey to now aisles of just holiday items. And at my store, you aren’t quite sure if it is going to be Thanksgiving or they are just diving straight into the winter holidays.
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Welcome to another edition of the Trader Joe’s Fearless Flyer Matchups. This is the Thanksgiving Flyer and one of two Flyers that will be appearing this month. This one is a bit shorter than most. You might have also noticed that your local store has already started getting items in for the holiday season. Yes, the holiday cookies are already out as are a few more of my seasonal favorites…
Donuts. There is a food item that has such powerful food memories attached to them. Done right they can instantly make you smile. In fact, donuts instantly make me think of certain pop culture icons: Homer Simpson and Fred the Baker from the Dunkin Donuts commercials instantly come to mind. It’s those cultural icons to which we have to thank for phrases like “Mmmmm….Donuts” and “Time to make the donuts.”
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Every now and again, I get a chance to write a review that I’m truly excited to share. Not only is this product new, it is sadly labeled as seasonal. This is the time of year where Trader Joe’s tends to bring out its best products along with a new items I deem as Trader Nos.
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Like Cinderella, at the stroke of midnight, all things pumpkin seems to have disappeared. The shelf space is quickly being shifted into Thanksgiving and holiday items. In fact, I got to pick up some old favorites like Brandy Beans and Double Chocolate Hot Cocoa Stirring Spoons as stocking stuffers. With the next Fearless Flyer landing Monday, it isn’t a shock to see so many new items.
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On my most recent trip to Trader Joe’s I noticed that the pumpkin display that was so prominently filled a week or two ago, has become empty and barren (or was it because I was there on a weekend?).
Here is a list of the items you should pick up before they vanish off of shelves for the season. And yes, while Trader Joe’s is has some items still out, the Thanksgiving items are just starting to make their way on to shelves.
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Easy as pie. Or at least that is how the saying goes. But what about the gluten-free crowd? Making pie without flour can be a bit of a challenge. However, just in time for the holiday season is Trader Joe’s Gluten Free Pie Crust in the freezer section. It’s already shaped and even has its own pie tin too. But how does it compare to a non gluten-free crust?
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It’s time to revisit a Fall Seasonal item that likes to appear on store shelves in the Fall. And yes, this is one of several seasonal pastas that like to show up on store shelves. In a typical year you’ll see the appearance of the colorful Trofie Colore and the Winter Snowflake Pasta. But at the end of the day, while they may look different, but the taste is similar. …
So far, I haven’t tried too many pumpkin items this year. I like pumpkin, but it has to be done right. I like pumpkin in a more subtle about. Now, this cookie is basically Trader Joe’s answer to Oreos, however there are some key differences between this and an Oreo.
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I’m at Trader Joe’s about twice a week. But I’ve noticed a bit of a shift in the pasta section recently. Yes, there are some new pastas like this and the Brussels Sprout ravioli, but also it seems that some packaging is also being updated as well. Which means, I may have to revisit some older reviews to get them updated. But in the meanwhile, Trader Joe’s Sweet Italian Sausage and Four Cheese Ravioli is another new one.
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Every now and again, I pick up a product that I’m not totally into trying. But for the sake of public information, I put it out there. And every now and again, I get something I love and something I absolutely hate. Now, even though I have over 900 Trader Joe’s reviews, I can’t say that I’ve done too much of a deep dive into the salsas. Some people can say they’ve tried them all….
Every now and again, there is a product that I’m almost positive that I haven’t seen available anywhere else. This is one of those products. I’ve never seen maple butter before. But when I saw it, I knew it was going into my cart.
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There are a handful of foods the are absolutely polarizing to discuss: cilantro, truffle, and yes Brussels Sprouts (I know there are far more than just those). But only one of those has food memories often associated with childhood. Either you have grown to like it, or you remember sitting at the dinner table with those terrible mini cabbages which you knew by smell alone were vile.
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With 2018 drawing to a close, it’s time for me to take a look back on Trader Joe’s Best New Products of 2018. Yes, there have been hits and misses. Consider this the highlight reel of the new items that made their way on to shelves this year. I’ve categorized them by section so you can see if you agree with my list. If you have something that I missed, I’d love for you to comment below….
If I had to pick one line where every flavor is pretty much on point, I would say the Hold the Cone! series is pretty darn near perfect. Unless you despise pumpkin, Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Ginger Hold the Cone Mini Ice Cream Cones rounds out some good flavors that one can only hope that they continue adding to.
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If you are wondering, yes, I’ve reviewed Carrot Spirals before. Previously it was in the freezer aisle. They were the first spiralized item that I had seen in the freezer item. Since then I’ve added Zucchini Spirals. But now the refrigerated aisle is getting a bit of a makeover with spirals of sweet potatoes, butternut squash, zucchini (at my store these aren’t Trader Joe’s branded), and even pre-cut Spaghetti Squash.
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If this packaging seems familiar, then you aren’t wrong. This is the same packaging that comes on Trader Joe’s birthday cake candy bar. That bar comes and goes at random points in the year. This is five ounces of popcorn with a candy coating on it, while the candy bar is 2 ounces. If you’ve never tried that candy bar, then let me get you up to speed.
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If one good thing is coming from the new products on the shelves, it seems like Trader Joe’s has gotten on board with spiralizing veggies. I don’t oppose this trend. I love my pasta as much as anyone else. I just don’t love how easy it is to consume so many calories in one sitting.
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So as 2018 draws to a close, it seems that Trader Joe’s has committed to two food products: sugar and cauliflower. The vast majority of the items I’m writing about are super sweet. I was more than happy to give my palate a break. While I don’t mind cauliflower sneaking into more items, but for me, it needs to be done well.
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As promised, I’ll alternate the sweet and the “actual food” reviews here. Yes, there is some real food that is hitting shelves. But don’t get too attached this item as it is seasonal. Or if you are into it, then this is your cue to stock up.
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Trader Joe’s has expanded my horizons with their gummy line. It seems like now they have a gummy for every season. I’ve tried all of them over the last two years. For the most part, they’ve been pretty good.
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I need a break from all the good stuff hitting shelves. In fact, there are a lot of non edible new items hitting the shelves right about now. You have a series of new candles, pumpkin body butter, dryer balls, and some wax covered food wraps. Among this small shelf also is another hidden gem: Trader Joe’s Grapefruit Ginger Sugar Scrub.
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When I first saw this jar, I immediately thought about Trader Joe’s Autumnal Harvest Creamy Pasta Sauce (which is back on shelves albeit temporarily). The names seem similar. The color of the contents seemed similar. So, I wondered what the difference was. And yes, that pasta sauce is something worthy of stocking up on. Seriously.
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