Your Top 5 Trader Joe's Products?

[TXMandy]

What are your top five products from Trader Joe's that you try to always have in your kitchen? Here's mine:

1. Organic Virgin Coconut Oil
2. Frozen Turkey Meatballs
3. Frozen Eggplant Cutlets
4. Blueberry Pomegranate Sherbet
5. Tomato Basil Marinara

It's hard to stop at five, but there it is. What's yours?

[easily amused]

Top 5 ( For the moment)

* Cotswold cheese
* Hollandaise sauce ( Refrig section)
* Tarte d'Alsace
* Joe Diner Frozen Mac & Cheese
* Speculoos

[schrutefarms]

Is that the Cotswold with the chives?

[cheesecake17]

Narrowed it down to 5
1. Frozen artichokes
2. Tomato basil marinara
3. Polenta (in a tube)

[NuMystic]

That's only 3! :)

[schrutefarms]

Hmmm...limited to only 5 is difficult. I'll try...

Cilantro and Green Onion Yogurt Dip.
Soft and Juicy Dried Mandarins
Fresh Tangerine Juice
Frozen Fire-Roasted Onions /Peppers
Frozen Roasted Corn

I think a separate list needs to be made for candy...

Caramel and Black Sea Salt Dark Chocolate Bar
Chocolate Covered Bing Cherries
Pecan Pralines
Milk Chocolate peanut Butter Cups
Chocolate Covered Potato Chips

These are NOT always in my cupboard, but when I do buy candy, it's probably one of these.

[CarrotTea]

Just 5? Impossible:
(In no particular order)
1. S'mores Frozen Sandwiches
2. Pre-cooked Lentils
3. Mar Poix Mix
4. Chicken Tikki Masala and Frozen Garlic Naan
5. Chicken Bouillon (comes in small packets like ketchup)
Why stop now?
6. Low Sugar Apricot Preserves
7. English Cheddar w/Carmalized Onions
8. Organic All Purpose Flour (better and so much cheaper)
9. Frozen French Onion Soup
10. Trader Joe Joes Candy Cane (Seasonal)

Special mention to the Peppermint Bar of Soap!!! LOVE! But I know it isn't TJ, but I've never found it anywhere else. LOVE.

[foodslut]

1. Frozen haricots verts
2. European style yogurt
3. in-season fresh blueberries
4. Organic milk
5. Frozen chicken thighs

[littleflower]

Any particular reason why you like TJ's frozen chicken thighs over other store brands? I usually cook with the white meat chicken, but want to try branching out by cooking chicken thighs as well.

[foodslut]

I like them since they're flash frozen and packed in a bag as separate pieces, so I can take out what I need without needing to defrost the whole bag. They taste good, are fantastic in a pinch, and reasonably priced for boneless and skinless... Thighs are fantastic in curries/stews--way better than white meat, in my opinion.

[Diana1968]

Tj honey full fat Greek yogurt-amazing
Pita crackers
Cinnamon almonds
Frozen garlic naan bread
Pumpernickel pretzels

[bear]

Oh, boy, I just bought the pecan pralines as a shortcut to make a praline cheesecake. Big mistake. They are delicious! I'm not a big sugary-sweet fan, but the buttery taste is pretty seductive.

[Jay F]

English Breakfast tea bags. 48 for $1.99. They make the BEST iced tea.

[jules_00]

Got to love TJ's, my top 5 not in any order:

1. Frozen Chocolate Croissants (know one mentioned yet?)
thaw the night before, pop in oven - yummo!

2. Chocolate Covered Potato Chips - yes, they have them there..weird but sinfully good

3. Chile mango
one of my favs

4. Smores Ice Cream Sandwiches
these are a family favorite

5. Vanilla Almond Cereal
Tasty, and healthy

[littleflower]

The Maple Pecan Just the Clusters Granola/cereal is a real winner, too. It has been our go-to for cereal for over a year.

[sdiddy]

Just finished dinner which included the amazing TJ tater tots! Takes me back to elementary school.

[TXMandy]

That makes me smile :-)

[sdiddy]

i guess you should have planned for this and made the thread "Your top 10 TJ products"!

[TXMandy]

I'm going to take Littleflowers suggestion and start a twice a year thread in June sdiddy! We all have our favorites, and 10 would have turned into 20, lol! The beauty of TJ's is new products all the time.

[Querencia]

1) Frozen red raspberries (I eat them on cereal all year). 2) Truffle Brownie Mix. 3) Frozen broccoli flowerets. 3) Low-sodium Marinara Sauce, the best single low-salt product I know of anywhere, very flavorful but unbelievably low in Na. 4) Frozen Apple Blossoms. 5) Latin Style Black Bean Soup (in carton).

[sdiddy]

because of this thread i tried the turkey meatballs and they ROCKED MY WORLD. Just bought 2 more bags. pan seared and a little greek yogurt on the side with some hot sauce....im in heaven. wish they were natural turkey though, free range, etc.

[TXMandy]

So glad to hear you loved them sdiddy! When there was a post about them being maybe discontinued or having a supply issue (turned out to be false, thank God), I immediately ran out and grabbed four bags! I've used them with the usual spaghetti, in the slow cooker with a cranberry sauce/chili sauce glaze and my favorite is on grilled flat bread with the cucumber tzatziki sauce.

[andbowen]

I'm relatively new to TJ's, but we already have our things we can't live without. No one mentioned the green tea mochi or the cocoa truffles?! Surely I must have missed a post somewhere.

My 5:
1. Green tea mochi
2. Wasabi cheese - I didn't see it last time I was there... Please tell me it's not
discontinued.
3. Cocoa truffles (seasonal)
4. Mandarin chicken
5. Roasted red and yellow peppers in a jar

My 3 year old's favs:
1. "This _ walked into a bar"
2. Probiotic yogurt smoothies
3. Cookie butter (as a special treat)
4. Cornichons
5. Coconut chips

[MsDiPesto]

As of May '13:
1. Any of the indian frozen items.
2. Garden Patch veg juice (not the low sodium version)
3. TJ's Vintage Cheddar
4. Eggs, Hard Boiled and cage free fresh
5. Butter Lettuce

[littleflower]

Interesting that you wrote "as of May '13"...personally, my top 5 has already changed since February. A few new products have pushed a couple of old ones out of my top 5.

Does anyone else think that we should create a TJ's Top 5 list twice a year? One for January-June and one for July-December, or is that too duplicative? This post has led to us buying and really enjoying a lot of TJ's products that we never would have tried out before. Just tossing it out there, perhaps TXMandy can create another Top 5 post for the last half of the year if most are in agreement.

[TXMandy]

I agree littleflower. While I still love my original top 5 products, there are 2 or 3 that could easily be replaced now. Included would be the amazing yellowfin tuna in olive oil! I think you might be on to something for a twice a year update.

[annathebee]

1. Five Spice Asian Chicken and Asian Noodle Salad (Easily my #1)
2. Goat Cheese Pizza (fridge)
3. Pork Potstickers
4. Habanero Lime Salsa
5. Dark Chocolate Cocoa Nibs

[TXMandy]

I'm going to have to pick up the Asian Noodle Salad next time Annathebee. I saw it over the weekend and it looked great.

[Val]

TXMandy, where is this noodle salad? In the refrigerated prepared salad case? thanks.

[TXMandy]

Yes Val, in the prepared salad case.

[annathebee]

Do it! It is the best. I tried the Thai Noodle Salad and didn't like it nearly as much. The Five Spice Asian Noodle Salad tastes as good as anything at my favorite Vietnamese restaurant. I think it is the fresh mint and basil that really make it so mouthwatering :)

[tracylee]

1.Garlic Naan (bakery aisle - never tried the frozen)
2.Kerrygold Irish Butter
3.Prosciutto Perline Pasta
4.Cambozola cheese
5.Dorot crushed garlic

OK, so they're not all TJ branded, but those that aren't either aren't available elsewhere in town, or they cost an arm and a leg. These are all things I have on hand at all times!

[Bob W]

Try the frozen naan!

[NuMystic]

We found the frozen pasty and would never buy it again. Stick to the fresh! :)

[AmyH]

The frozen garlic naan has significantly more garlic on it than the fresh. So it may depend on how much you love garlic.

Dough-wise, I actually found the fresh to be a bit more pasty than the frozen.

[NuMystic]

Absolutely LOVE garlic so that was definitely not a factor.

Was 100% about the doughy taste and texture.

Suppose it could have been a bad batch, but it was such a horrible experience that I'm not going to give it another shot. We actually threw out what was remaining in the freezer. I'd rather eat Indian off wonder bread than what we had. :)

Mind you this is coming from a couple that eats Indian cuisine constantly. We also don't think much of the frozen chana masala, madras lentils, or palak paneer despite them being incredibly popular in these threads, so it may simply be a matter of wildly different personal expectations when it comes to Indian food.

So far the only TJ's Indian thing we've liked enough to buy regularly are the relatively new Kati Rolls.

[AmyH]

I haven't seen the Kati Rolls. What's in them?

[NuMystic]

The "Aloo Chaat Kati Pouches" are bascially samosa hot pockets. Filled with Potato, Chickpeas, and masala seasoning. Taste mostly of tamarind. Also contain coriander so cilantro-phobes steer clear.

They come with microwave crisping sleeves which I toss and heat in the oven or toaster oven, so I can't speak to how they are prepared that way.

If you overcook the pastry goes from flaky to tough pretty quick, so I usually test early by cutting them diagonally and put them back if the center is still cold.

Especially nice with a sweet chutney.

Only criticism is the seasoning can be a bit inconsistent. Some are heavier on the tamarind than others. On those occasions the chutney goes from a nice option to a necessity, but once the sweetness balances the sour notes they're still very enjoyable. (a preserve like fig, mango, or apricot can stand in if sweet chutney isn't on hand)

[AmyH]

Oh, OK. I think I've tried those and liked them. Just didn't recognize the name.

[Bob W]

I will try the fresh but in our house having stuff like this in the freezer is a big plus! Also, never noticed it being pasty, I heat it up in the toaster oven and if anything it comes out too crispy.

We also think TJ's frozen indian entrees are some of their better ethnic offerings in general. The other asian entrees are pretty weak. Italian is ok.

[AmyH]

Because of the very short outdates on their fresh bakery products, I bought the fresh ones and immediately froze them. One round in the toaster and they were like fresh baked. Delicious!

[tracylee]

I buy a couple of packages of the fresh garlic naan at a time and keep them in the bottom bin of the fridge. I throw them in the toaster oven while dinner's cooking, and they work out perfectly! I had some last night to sop up garlic butter from steamed manila clams.

[sdiddy]

LOL 186 replies....people are so passionate about TJ. Im definitely one of them...like an excited kid when I score great items there!

I love seeing how every persons list is completely different.

My list:
1. All 4 hot sauces (habanero, chili, jalapeno, and the NEW sriracha!). These are a GREAT and much healthier substitute than most hot sauces and even great on the occasional del taco splurge.

2. Mini cilantro chicken wontons - A great quick snack when you want to just have a few bites around 3pm or late evening. Nuke them and use TJ great gyoza sauce and sweet hot mustard MMMM!

3. Whole grain dijon mustard - Probably the best bottled mustard ever. I use it on chicken and fish with a little yogurt on the side too. OMG amazing.

4. Raw Trek Mix Nuts - individually packaged, love this. Super healthy, not roasted, not salted, and I eat 1-2 packs every day and keep them in my car, office, and home.

5. Pistachio dark chocolate toffee. Oh dear god is all I can say.

Honorable mentions to the amazing gluten free cranberry granola, middle eastern flatbread (makes amazing flatbread pizza!), flax and cinnamon instant oatmeal, organic coconut oil, raw unsalted almond butter, moisturizing cream and coconut body butter, and TJ all purpose cleaner!

[Ruth Lafler]

Oh yes, those little cilantro chicken wontons are good.

[linguafood]

Those pistachio dark chocolate toffees (caramels?) are evil. I only ever buy them to bring over to friends or when we are hosting something.

I was invited to hang out at a buddy's place a couple nights ago and brought those over -- the guys just inhaled them :-)

[Val]

*definitely* gonna check out the hot sauces...thanks for the tip...it is hard to find a good one without tons of sodium...and will certainly take a look at the cilantro wontons.

[Mellicita]

Oh darn... i should have bought the whole grain mustard then! I eyed it, but wasnt sure. Thanks for the recommendation, I'll get it next time.

[sdiddy]

classic mistake - first rule of thumb at TJ....just BUY it everything cost $2.99!!!

[westsidegal]

organic washed cut up kale in the refrigerated section
the TJ's super firm high protein tofu (that stays in cubes when stir fried)
the organic dark chocolate bars in the purple wrappers.
the decaf organic french roast coffee
the alcohol free cookbook vanilla (for making smoothies)

[IndyGirl]

That tofu really is good.

[mollyschmolly]

1. Dark Chocolate Chunk Espresso Cookies: discontinued, but fondly remembered.
2. Spa Face Wash with Tea Tree Oil: it's the only product that keeps my face clear of acne. So refreshing to use!
3. Tomato & Roasted Red Pepper Soup: best non-homemade soup EVER. It's tomato soup for grownups.
4. All-Natural Fruit Jellies: The perfect blend of sweet but tart, chewy but firm. Candy bliss.
5. Triple Creme Brie with Wild Mushrooms: I hate to use the new trendy word "umami", but this it IT.

[goodhealthgourmet]

2. Spa Face Wash with Tea Tree Oil: it's the only product that keeps my face clear of acne.
~~~~~~~~~~
Tea tree oil is a powerful antiseptic and probably the best non-chemical acne fighter. Have you tried their tea tree oil facial pads? I keep a pack of them in my gym bag to use after workouts.

[cheesecake17]

I use the tea tree face pads. Love them. My face really feel "clean"

[masha bousha]

Excellent post (and a great read!)

1. Triple Layer Hummus (blows the doors off of Sabra that you can get in a regular grocery store)
2. Pita crackers
3. Sublime Ice Cream Sammies
4. Stilton cheese with apricots
5. risotto with mushrooms

special note, I love that you can make your own 6 pack of beer and that they have some microbrews under $8 for a 6 pack. (they mostly seem local to New England and my local store is in CT) Good, cheap beer.

[Ruth Lafler]

1. Pita bites crackers
2. Organic sour cream
3. Dark chocolate covered raisins
4. Grade B maple syrup
5. Chocolate chips

[adventuresinbaking]

the cowboy caviar
the Japanese fried rice
Dark chocolate cherry soy ice cream
soyrizo
and "the best" trail mix

(If you can't tell I'm vegan. I love stopping at Trader joes when I'm on my way back to the small town I'm from for quick easy food.)

[sweethooch]

orange muscat champagne vinegar
vacuum packed roasted beets
pound plus dark choc
10-minute farro
chicken potstickers

[EM23]

Where are the beets? I don't recall ever seeing them.

[sweethooch]

At my store, the beets are between the bagged lettuces and the pre-made salads, next to the lentils, with other convenience-prepped veggies (diced butternut squash, etc.) In a cardboard sleeve that's maybe a light bluish-gray color.

[EM23]

Thanks Sweethooch:)
What are you using the orange champagne vinegar on?

[sweethooch]

The orange vinegar is my go-to salad dressing acid. Because it's much less tart than most vinegars, you can use a much lower ratio of oil (IMHO). I use not much more than 1:1 oil and vinegar (usually walnut or grapeseed), some dijon, usually died thyme, S&P. My fave is arugula, the aforementioned beets, goat cheese, avocado, and something crunchy on top (pine nuts, almonds, or croutons). It's also good on green salads with fruit (e.g. apple, pear, or dried montmorency cherries, which almost made my Top 5). Or sprinkled on green veg (it's asparagus season!) or on salmon (hmmm, haven't done that in a long while).

[pickledtink]

1. Edamame rice crackers. Pure deliciousness!
2. Their hummus, particularly their Roasted red pepper, Spicy Cilantro and Edamame varieties (that counts as one right?)
3. Lentil soup with ancient grains
4. Low-sodium hearty vegetable broth
5. Sunflower seed butter

[bear]

Hey, pickled, is the veggie broth canned and with the soups? Sounds good. I tend to have a heavy hand with the salt and using commercial veggie broth or Better than Bouillon can put it over the top.

It'd be nice to have a low-sodium item to keep on hand when I don't have time to make my own.

[bear]

Just picked up a carton with the other broths by the soup. Thanks!

[Mellicita]

Slightly off topic from Trader Joes... but Kitchen Basics brand makes an unsalted vegetable stock that you might like.
240mg sodium per 8 oz.
Ingredients: Vegetable stocks (Onion, Celery, Carrot, Mushrooms, Red pepper), Tomato paste

[bear]

Thanks, Mel. I do like their chicken broth, so I should give the veggie a try as well.

[Val]

I also like Kitchen Basics...they sell an adorable SMALL size container of their chicken and veggie broths too if you can find them....PERFECT if you cook for only one or two people! I can find the small sizes at my Fresh Market and Publix used to sell them but stopped.

[coney with everything]

WF has small sized Pacific broths. I usually use Penzey's soup bases but sometimes the cup of broth is easier

[Val]

Thank you, coney, good information!

[bear]

Val, I picked up a couple of tiny Kitchen Basics containers the other day. Perfect for when I don't want to use my homemade broth but want to add some extra flavor. Thanks! They are pretty cute.

[Val]

bear, glad you found them, they are so handy and I like adding it to my own sometimes too.

[SavoryTv]

1) Tarte d'Alsace - frozen section, a ham, Gruyere, and caramelized onion tart that blows any pizza out the window :)
2) Kale and spinach dip
3) Almost all of their packaged salads, because I am terribly lazy when it comes to lunch. The bistro is my favorite.
4) Marcona almonds, but they have been missing lately, perhaps dc'd?
5) California Estate Extra Virgin Olive Oil

[ohmyyum]

The skin on Marcona almonds have been discontinued, but the rosemary marconas are still in my store.

[alarash]

Oh my what sad news, as the skin on marconas are my favorite! And usually slightly cheaper, too. But at least they will continue stocking the rosemary variety(?)

[SavoryTv]

Sad news indeed! I will look for the rosemary almonds, although I hate the idea of masking the true Marcona flavor, I love it on its own. Thanks for the update.

[Caitlin McGrath]

California Estate extra virgin olive oil
Organic fair trade 72% chocolate bars
Frozen artichoke hearts (based on price)
Whole-grain English muffins
Uncrystallized candied ginger (don't always have - like a bit too much for that! - but is in top 5 faves)

[Caitlin McGrath]

Oy, how could I have forgotten Dijon mustard? Cheap, and nice and hot.

[OI88888]

Not a huge meatball fan, but bought the mini turkey ones. Tried them in a mushroom sauce, but, meh. How do others use them?

[littleflower]

We prepare them one of two ways, either bbq sauce/grape jelly meatballs in the crockpot for an appetizer or for a main dish they are great paired with marinara (either homemade or TJ's Organic Tomato Basil Marinara) and spaghetti.

[OI88888]

(1) Milk thistle supplements. Good price for supplements to help promote liver health - a must, considering all the great inexpensive wine available at TJ's.
(2) Dark chocolate almond bark - or new, thin almond bark. Deelicious at a great price. (I'd rather go straight choc & nuts for my dessert as opposed to the stuff involving flour, etc.)
(3) Frozen "Reduced-Guilt" Mac & Cheese. Heat in microwave, then sprinkle lightly with TJ panko bread crumbs and finish in oven.
(4) Any of the prepared guacamoles - my new fave is Chunky Spicy Autentico.
(5) Tarte de Alsace

Bonus: 2 items not specific to Tj, but gourmet and incredily priced: (a) Caved-aged Gruyere cheese (let it get to room temp and then eat by itself or w/an inexpensive baguette or TJ's fab priced water crackers (b) Kerrygold butter. You just can't find a better price for this world-renowned butter.

[DelishDi]

No particular order:
1. Joe's O's
2. Tomato and roasted red pepper soup (carton)
3. Corn tortillas
4. Frozen palak paneer (my daughter loves these!)
5. Rice medley/Israeli couscous
Okay that's really six, but ... !!!!!

[Pwmfan]

1. Movie Theater Popcorn
2. Silver Dollar Pancakes (freezer)
3. Mac and Cheese (freezer)
4. Grade B Maple Syrup
5. Bacon Wrapped Scallops (seasonal)

[littleflower]

I haven't heard any reviews on those silver dollar pancakes...I'd be interested in giving them a try.

[Pwmfan]

If you're looking for light and crispy pancakes, you'll be disappointed. These are pretty heavy little rascals, almost doughy, with a nice flavor. I warm them in a dry skillet and drizzle them with the above-mentioned syrup. I've also enjoyed them with lemon curd and creme fraiche.

[littleflower]

Thank you so much for the detailed description - very helpful! Since we were looking for more of a light/crispy pancake instead of a heavier one, I think we'll pass on these.

[Lori D]

1. 21 flavor seasoning
2. Sesame seed cashews
3. Thai lime cashews
4. Grapeseed oil
5. Organic carrots

I don't always have the cashews at home; mostly because they get eaten very quickly once I open the package. The Thai lime nuts were mentioned earlier; the sesame seed ones are also excellent.

[mcf]

Hands down, number one is:

Organic, pre brined whole chicken, SO GOOD
Sweet and Spicy pecans (eat in car)
Uncured, thick sliced W(Wellshire Farms) bacon (not TJ's labeled tasteless bacon)
Dark chocolate pb cups
Uncured pastrami

[sidwich]

Stuff I can't live without:

Ezekial sprouted tortillas
Organic tomatillo salsa
Frozen tilapia filets

Not quite life or death, but still used all the time:

Yogurt cilantro dip
Giant blocks of dark chocolate (seriously, the most useful thing ever if you need a hostess gift at the last minute)

Can't keep it in the house anymore because it's so good:

Dark chocolate covered almonds with salt

[Val]

Hummus (organic or roasted garlic)
frozen tamales
Joe's Diner frozen mac & cheese
Sprouted 7 Grain bread (pink wrapper)
Organic Green Tea bags

[lemarais]

GRAVENSTEIN APPLESAUCE!

The best applesauce available anywhere!!

[NuMystic]

Did well but was beaten by TreeTop no sugar added in the Serious Eats taste test:
http://www.seriouseats.com/2010/11/wh...

[lemarais]

Never seen TreeTop here in the Northeast, but Vermont Organic is #2? Awful stuff. Tastes like the baby food that they say applesauce shouldn't taste like! So much for this poll. I'll stick with my TJ's Gravenstein!

[chris1621]

Five of my favorites:

1. Shaved Grana Padano Parmesan Cheese
2. Mandarin Orange Chicken
3. English cheddar with caramelized onions
4. Gnocchi alla Sorrentina
5. Walks into a Bar cereal bars (Fig & Strawberry)

[wonderwoman]

light coconut milk
extra virgin olive oil
pound plus dark chocolate
ww tuscan pane
unexpected cheddar

and the two i don't dare keep in the house:

mediterranean hummus
applewood smoke bacon

[littleflower]

I would cry if TJ's stopped selling their regular Tuscan Pane bread and Applegate Farms Roasted Turkey Breast. We moved to a pretty baren area in regards to stores that carry natural/organic foods (TJ's, The Fresh Market, and one health foods store) so we go through at least a loaf of that bread - makes THE BEST toast for sandwiches- and three-four packages of the AF turkey breast per week!

[Rilke]

Pretty sure the Tuscan Pane will be around as long as Trader Joe's is.

[EM23]

I bought a loaf yesterday after reading your comment. I just had my first slice and it is very good.

[littleflower]

Yay - glad you enjoyed it! In addition to making good toast, we use it to make paninis, too.

[EM23]

I shall put it to the test in as many ways as I can think of, Littleflower:) I started off easy today with butter and lingonberry jam, and it proved itself to be a worthy vehicle.
I think a BLT may be in our near future.
Thanks for the delicious rec!

[Boston_Otter]

Can't believe I forgot the frozen rice. That stuff is so handy.

[KrumTx]

1. Frozen cod
2. Multigrain savory crackers
3. Frozen garlic naan
4. Brie - all kinds to date - never tried one I didn't like
5. Dark chocolate almonds

[IndyGirl]

oh god yes, the garlic naan is such a winner.

[Bob W]

+1 for the garlic naan. My whole family loves it, and my boy has, shall we say, a very limited palate.

[alarash]

OK.

I just went to TJ's and bought some of the highly recommended items on this thread which I had never tried (canned corn, tarte alsace, turkey meat balls, new zealand white cheddar).

My only question is, what in the world do I do with this ORGANIC VIRGIN COCONUT OIL?

Since so many people recommend it so highly, I would really appreciate some guidance from y'all.

alarash

[linguafood]

This would be a great time to pop some corn!

[TXMandy]

Throw the cooking to the wind my friend! Take it out of the sack/cabinet and spread it on your entire body from head to toe! Seriously!!!! After a shower is the best, but if not, you will be fine. Lay in bed and tell us how you feel tomorrow :) While you're at it... Throw some Turkey Meatballs in the oven!

[NuMystic]

My most common use for virgin coco is in place of most other oils and shortening for stovetop cooking replacing crisco, canola, etc.

There are an abundance of exotic recipes you can find with a bit of google-fu including loads of stuff from the raw food / paleo world like:

http://detoxinista.com/2012/11/easy-r...

[Boston_Otter]

You can use the coconut oil in place of any cooking oil, though be aware that it gives things a very light coconut flavor, so I don't use it for things like eggs.

It's really terrific as a butter replacement; spread on toast, it melts almost instantly and is really tasty.

As others mentioned, it's also a great moisturizer.

Virgin Coconut Oil has all sorts of health claims attached to it -- some more wacky than others -- but it's definitely a great oil to have around and use, and the TJ's stuff is great quality and a much lower price than any competitors I've seen.

[trolley]

be careful what you use the oil on. somethings come out fantastic. i love brushing the waffle iron with it or making pancakes. i also used it for a biryani with chicken and raisins and that came out great. so i used it on a chicken stir fry with soy sauce and the oil imparted a weird flavor. none of us went for seconds and the leftovers ended up in the trash :( it's certainly not for everything.

[ohmyyum]

I sub it for half the butter when baking cookies and it imparts a subtle coconut flavor without the texture of shredded coconut that some people so dislike.

I also used it to pan-fry some pecan crusted rainbow trout filets and it was fabulous.

I've also lightly brushed some kabocha squash with coconut oil before oven-roasting and it complemented the sweetness of the squash well.

[Val]

I use it only for skin moisturizer...lovely aroma, no chemicals.

[OI88888]

Lots of Thai dishes, etc. BUT the absolute best use is as a facial moisturizer. I kid you not, especially good for preventing/reducing deep wrinkles. And so much cheaper than "actual" face creams. Google it!

[andbowen]

Use coconut oil to replace all of the butter/oil when making banana bread. You might have to adjust the cooking time slightly, but it is so amazingly delicious.

It's also great for sautéing chicken, kale, or summer squash with onions. And last but not least, use sparingly to smooth frizzy hair.

[coney with everything]

what a great idea for banana bread! I have two near-death bananas on my counter and a jar of the coconut oil...

[dgthree]

I mostly use it as a moisturizer, either on its own or mixed in with other oils, butters & beeswax to make lotion bars or lip balm.

Read a recipe that it's a key ingredient in homemade magic shell topping, which I've not tried, but I have melted it with chocolate chips in place of shortening for coating holiday treats.

[TXMandy]

I mostly use it it a moisturizer or for other beauty products as well. This is my next one to try Coconut Lime Sugar Scrub http://www.theidearoom.net/2013/05/co...

[brilynn79]

Organic Virgin Coconut Oil
Organic Pop Corn
Ezekiel Sesame Sprouted Bread
Organic Baby Spinach
something from the new product end cap

[nosey]

1) soycatash ( I sautee it in a bit of butter with a couple of dashes of Crystal Hot sauce)
2)goat cheese brie
3)honey roasted peanuts
4) Charlee Bears for the dogs
5) wasabi mayo

[lemarais]

The Blood Orange Italian Soda (not too sweet!)
1lb. Pistachios in Shell ($5.99) Good price, great product
The Dry Salami with wine (Wrapped in paper) (a Volpi product)
Gravenstein Applesauce (the Best in a jar anywhere)
Coffee Filters (best price anywhere!)

[juliejulez]

Oh I forgot about the salami. However, it is not a Trader Joe's exclusive. My regular grocery store has it, and I've bought it at World Market also.

[lemarais]

Yes, but TJ's price is about half what I've seen the salami for at other stores.

[juliejulez]

That is very true :)

[NuMystic]

My top 5 that haven't already been mentioned repeatedly:

1. Fire Roasted Salsa (no salt added variety NOT double roasted kind)

2. Aloo Chaat Kati Pouches - basically samosa hot pockets

3. Dukkah - brilliant seed/nut/spice blend in a jar

4. Frozen Org. Chopped Spinach - surprisingly good enough to simply sauté with garlic, oil and salt all on it's own.

5. White Balsamic

Honorable Mention:

6. Chili Lime Nuts - Goes way beyond what you'd expect from the name. This isn't just tart and spicy (though it's certainly both). What they left out of the name is THAI. This is a mix imported from Thailand and there are dried Kaffir Lime Leaves mixed in the bag! So basically this is a spicy nut mix that tastes like Tom Yum soup, and is unlike any western nut mix you've ever tasted. Fair warning though, it IS hot and not for tender palates.

Now the above are staples we ALWAYS have in the house.

Excluded from consideration simply because these are so good than we don't (for health's sake) even buy them anymore because they'll be devoured in less than 24 hours:

- Dark Chocolate Chunk and Almond Cookies
- Chocolatey Coated Chocolate Chip Dunkers
- Dark Chocolate Almond Bark Thins
- Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups

No, no chocolate problem here, nope. Not. At. All.

[Boston_Otter]

The Fire Roasted Salsa's terrific, but my favorite is the Garlic Chipotle Salsa... one of my favorite salsas anywhere, easily.

The Chili Lime Nuts used to actually be called Tom Yum Nuts. Glad they're back! I'll grab some ASAP!

[ohmyyum]

NuMystic, what do you do with your dukkah?

[dgusanz]

I know you asked someone else but...
In New Zealand it is very popular and prevalent. They serve it with bread and olive oil. First you dip the bread in olive oil and then sprinkle on (or dip into - but if you dip it starts getting pasty) the Dukkah

[ohmyyum]

Thanks for your reply! I've had it sprinkled on ciabatta drizzled with CA Estate EVOO and it was great but I was wondering what other uses there were for it. I trunk it might be good on a pasta dish..?

[NuMystic]

Well as dgusanz mentioned it's great as a bread and oil dip. (go ahead and dip, just not in the container itself, transfer what you'll use to a small bowl)

I've also enjoyed it as a salad sprinkle, and just last night I used it to crust cauliflower before roasting and it was superb!

[ohmyyum]

That sounds great-- I can see how it would complement the 'nuttiness' of roasted cauliflower!

[elise h]

how does the white balsamic taste compared to the regular balsamic?

[NuMystic]

Less syrupy, bit less sweet, and has a clean finish. Great when you want Balsamic flavor but don't want to darken the food you're seasoning. (pasta/grain salad or light colored soups for example)

Also a nice alternative to plain white vinegar or rice vinegar in a recipe when you want to add a bit more depth of character.

[linguafood]

1. The imported fresh buffalo mozzarella -- incredibly creamy and flavorful, worth the price tag
2. The canned corn -- sweet, crisp, crunchy... almost like fresh
3. Sweet & Spicy Pecans. Bought them once, can't get them again. I'd inhale them before they got past the doorstep :-)
4. Most of their cheeses.
5. The frozen lemon bars. Wow.

[NuMystic]

Those lemon bars really are something special for those that want a treat that is TRULY (pucker your mouth) lemony. Worth noting that you really do have to follow the defrosting guidelines. Right from the icebox they're not nearly as good as when they've had 10-20 minutes to thaw.

[turtlegirlx07]

Field fresh chopped salad
Roasted tomato and red pepper soup
Spicy chunky guacamole
Caramelized onion and feta pizza
Pie crust

[greygarious]

12-Grain Crackers
Brown Jasmine Rice
English Cheddar with Caramelized Onions
Frozen Soycotash
Frozen Almond Croissants

[juliejulez]

I haven't lived near a Trader Joe's since last spring, but they're building a couple here (Yay!). But, these were my former top 5... a friend of mine is in a city where they have a Trader Joe's and she's going to bring some of this stuff back for me to hold me over until they open here...and now thanks to this thread I have a whole bunch of other stuff to try once they open here!

1. Tomato paste in a tube.. $1 last I checked
2. Whole grain pastas in a bag
3. Cheese sticks
4. Guilt-Free frozen meals (like the baked ziti)
5. SPICY ITALIAN CHICKEN SAUSAGE (I miss these the most)

Also some other runners up that don't quite fit into my healthier lifestyle now, but are still good, include the boxed white cheddar mac n cheese, and the breaded chicken tenders. Oh and the frozen mini pizzas that come in a package of 4... I forget what they're called. They also carried an Oregon Pinot Noir I really liked, Firesteed.

[bear]

Sadly I think they discontinued the tomato paste in the tube. Sigh.

[NuMystic]

Think you're right about the Tomato Paste Bear. After seeing mention of it here I asked at my store and the first person had never heard of it, and the second remembered it but said they hadn't seen it in months. :(

[Pwmfan]

I just had a delightful momentI. Scanning the first lines of the posts I've already read, "Tomato Paste Bear" caught my eye. For a brief moment I had a vision of tomato paste in one of those plastic squeeze honey bear bottles. I was crushed when I opened the post and saw you wre replying to Bear and that, if it has indeed returned, the tomato paste is still in the same old boring tube!

[bear]

Ha! I would so buy that!

[boogiebaby]

I just bought 2 tubes this past weekend. Definitely not discontinued.

[NuMystic]

In what part of the country BoogieBaby… has been no sight of it at my location here in NY for over 6 months.

[sdiddy]

whats so great about it and what do you guys use it for?

[bear]

It's great to be able to add a dollop of tomato paste to a sauce or soup to add a depth of flavor without having to open a can and deal with (or more likely throw out) the leftovers. It lasts forever in the fridge. The tubes are readily available in most grocery stores, but are often pretty pricey. TJ's, as usual, had a high quality product at a very reasonable price.

boobiebaby, maybe there's hope here in Mass! I'll check next time I'm in the store. and post back.

[bear]

Well, I checked at the Arlington MA store this afternoon and the clerk said it was definitely discontinued.

[Joltingjoey]

Good thread. I plan to use it when I put together my next shopping list. Here are just a few of our faves that have become staples:

1 California estate olive oil (this was top-rated in Consumer Reports last year)
2. habanero sauce
3. Israeli feta (like it better than the Greek, and it's cheaper)
4. organic concord grape jelly
5. European style plain nonfat yogurt

[trvlcrzy]

Spanish Extra Virgin Olive Oil
European Style Whole Milk Yogurt
Ovoline mozzarella balls
TJ aged cheddar cheese
Soy marinated cod fillets

And of course to top the list: frozen plain croissants and frozen chocolate croissants! Just like in France, hands down..and the price is right too!

[JTilCT]

1. frozen Multi-grain waffles
2. Morningstar Farms breakfast sausage (cheaper than in other grocery stores)
3. maple syrup (used to buy the Canadian B but have been buying the Vermont in the plastic jug since it came out)
4. California Estate extra virgin olive oil
5. cat food
Can't stop at 5!
6. chicken patties from refrigerated section
7. corn puffs (like fake Pirates Booty)
8. mild salsa from the refrigerated section, not jarred
9. frozen edamame
oh there's so much more...

[ohmyyum]

Re #6, are those the newer-ish roasted chicken patties? I've eyed them several times but I was worried the texture would be weird. I will have to give them a whirl!

[Mellicita]

If we are referred to the little precooked patties, 2 to a package..... ts ground chicken meat.... so expect the texture to be different from a grilled filet. Its like a chicken "burger". I enjoyed them, and the price is half of Whole Foods equivalent.

[snusan]

1. Trader Jose's Salsa Authentica

2. TJ's 70% Dark Chocolate Bar --Pound +

3. Steel Cut Oats sold in the paper container (not the Irish brand sold in metal can)

4. TJ's Cinnamon Graham Crackers

5. Hazelnuts--difficult to find anywhere else and can't beat the price

[gbtbag]

My new favorite is the blended Gruyere and Cheddar cheese. It's stupendous.

Aside from that my faves are:

2. Bruschetta (in the cold cabinet, not the jars.)
3. Roasted unsalted almonds
4. Olive hummus
5. Pomegranate non-fat Greek yogurt

[dgusanz]

Fresh shelled peas (seasonal)
Spicy Smoky Peach Salsa
Fresh Haricots verts
Speculos (cookie butter) - but rarely buy because it disappears sooo quickly.
Candles (tapers) - good quality and great price.

And - thanks to the posters here - lots of new things to try!

[1MunchieMonster]

My list is kind of boring but they're good staples:

1. President's reserve extra virgin olive oil
2. Rice milk (64 oz container)
3. Frosted mini wheats (the TJ's brand of course)
4. Hi Fiber cereal
5. Frozen spinach (no pesticide, not organic)

[CindyOhCindy]

Frozen Langostinos
Chicken Sausage (Jalapeno)
Organic Microgreens
Green Tea mints
Sprouted Wheat Muffins

[acgold7]

I can't believe no one has yet mentioned the canned corn in the yellow labels. Blows away any canned or even frozen corn ever made, and frankly is better (crisper, sweeter, "cornier") than most fresh corn I've ever had. We serve it in our restaurant and most people think it's fresh and wonder how we get fresh corn in the winter... except for those who buy it regularly from TJ's and recognize it instantly and give us a little wink as soon as they taste it and say thanks.... We special order six cases a week.

I probably shouldn't have said anything because now everyone is going to buy it and I won't be able to get it anymore....

[TXMandy]

I agree about the corn completely! The first time I picked up a can, I didn't expect anything special, but it delicious and surprisingly fresh tasting. Thanks for the reminder!

[linguafood]

I've mentioned it on the monthly TJ thread, but yeah -- that canned corn is da shizzle.

[gingershelley]

Wow, I have to try this now - I never buy canned veggies. I like the roasted frozen corn alot, and now will have to buy this canned stuff too!

[linguafood]

It's great. I love corn a lot, but don't have it too often since it's practically pure sugar, except for when it's in season....

But this is da shizzle. One can is perfect for 2 as a small side.

[lemarais]

The frozen roasted corn is much better, just as easy to prepare, and no BPA. issues.

[linguafood]

Interesting.

[ohmyyum]

I love the frozen roasted corn because it has a ton of flavor with no added salt or seasoning. Also love that it's not canned.

[NuMystic]

I have to completely disagree on the frozen roasted being superior to the TJ's canned. I've bought both and the frozen roasted is not even in the same league when it comes to the fresh just shucked flavor and texture the canned variety offers.

The canned can be a complete stand-in for fresh in certain recipes that the frozen never could be.

[lemarais]

Each to his own. The canned corn is fully cooked. Frozen is uncooked. You might want to try the plain frozen corn at TJ's. Frozen veggies without anything added are very close to the fresh product these days. The stuff is picked and then flash frozen within a very short period after picking.

The canned stuff most assuredly has added salt, it's likely that's why you favor it so much. Salt adds flavor. Not to mention the BPA issues these days with canned foods.

[NuMystic]

Huh? I'm responding to comments about the *roasted* frozen corn which by definition is not uncooked. I do a lot of raw food cuisine and I've yet to see a prepping method that blackens corn without cooking. :)

No need to sell me on frozen vs canned vs fresh in general. Other than this corn and beans I don't use any canned products at all, and very little frozen as well. I know all about the production methods and how particular veggies like frozen peas can even rival fresh on occasion.

That's entirely besides the point with regards to my preference between these two specific TJ's products for different uses.

Salt has absolutely nothing to do with how fresh this specific canned corn tastes, it's one of the most popularly recommended Trader Joe products here on Chow for a reason, and it's the first canned corn I've ever found worth using. It's plump, sweet without added sugar and literally CRISP, something I've never seen in another canned variety of corn.

It's good enough to serve as a corn salsa when fresh isn't in season, not something I can say of any frozen corn I've ever tried.

The roasted corn is a fine product as well but there are uses for this specific canned corn that it could never stand in for.

And finally, the Trader Joe's canned corn is BPA free:
http://inspirationgreen.com/bpa-lined...

[ohmyyum]

How were they able to get that information from TJs? I asked once several months ago and was told that BPA-free cans was something the company was moving towards but had not yet accomplished, and that some of the products were BPA-free and some weren't. No specifics were given, so it was pretty useless information. I asked again several days ago (after first reading acgold's review) and was given the same exact answer, more or less, with no specifics.

[NuMystic]

From this list which was updated last month:
http://inspirationgreen.com/bpa-lined...

[ohmyyum]

Yes, I was just wondering how/where inspiration green had gotten that information! To be fair, I never emailed TJs directly, but I asked up at the customer service desk and you'd think they would or should have received the same information (in the list you linked above) from their manufacturers or the corporate office. I would have been willing to try the corn sooner based on previous yays!

[NuMystic]

They correspond directly with the manufacturers and distributors and update the list with whatever the lastest information is.

[linguafood]

The canned corn is NOT cooked, whereas the fire-roasted (sic!) *clearly* has been. Not that I've tried the frozen. But to say it's uncooked is ludicrous.

[NuMystic]

Actually lingua, while you're 100% right about the silly notion that frozen roasted(!) corn is raw, the canned corn is definitely not raw.

A food has to be heated to well above cooking temps to be canned and shelf stable.

[linguafood]

Ah, ok. Good thing then that I tend to (re)heat it fairly gently with a tbsp of water before I add a nice pat of butter and extra salt :-D

Either way, I love it.

[ohmyyum]

NuMystic, you've convinced me to give the canned a try. Despite the added sodium.

[NuMystic]

Look forward to hearing what you think!

As far as sodium, remember that the vast majority listed on the label is in the liquid. So most is going in the sink if you're draining, and even more if rinsing.

This is true of all canned in liquid items unless it states "drained" in the serving size on the nutrition info label.

Depending on the use I usually only use a tsp or two of the liquid at most.

[ohmyyum]

Yes, I usually drain and rinse canned beans, but I rather like corn liquid (I don't know if that's weird or not?) and would be less inclined to drain that. Especially if its going into a soup or chowder. :)

[NuMystic]

I've seen lots of recipes that call for the use of the liquid so you're certainly not alone. :)

[LizGW]

I put the frozen roasted corn in my chili. It is fabulous.

[cheri]

Is this corn labeled as being organic or GMO free? If not, it is likely a GMO product as 95% of corn grown in the US is GMO (genetically modified), and has all kinds of health concerns associated with its consumption.

Please, someone tell me if it is GMO free, because based on your descriptions, I'd like to try it (if GMO free).

[NuMystic]

Cheri, according to the Trader Joe's website they do not allow GMO ingredients in their private label products and this corn is definitely a Trader Joe's labeled item:

http://www.traderjoes.com/about/custo...

[LizHemrich23]

1. Chinese Chicken Salad (reduced fat) - i'm addicted, i swear!
2. Salsa Autentica
3. Ranchero Egg White Salad
4. Black Bean & Cheese Enchiladas
5. Dark Chocolate Lover's Chocolate (85% cocoa)

[Mellicita]

The Ranchero Egg White Salad seems to be getting a lot of votes! I'm definitely going to try it next time... I've eyed it the few times I've been in the store!

[Steve Green]

shelf-stable tomato and roasted red pepper soup
Pound Plus dark chocolate bars
organic rice milk
frozen Chicken Tikka Masala
frozen individual-serving steel-cut oats

[six dower]

Frozen Very Cherry Blend
UnSweetened Almond Milk
Skinny Kettle Corn
Frozen Kale
Pumpernickel Pretzels

Coconut Body Cream

[IndyGirl]

YES on the coconut body cream. This is an amazing product and it's so cheap at TJs. I bought ten containers for myself and ten more for my sister who doesn't live near a TJs. I'm terrified that it will be discontinued!

[GraceW]

Oh man, I wanted to try that... discontinued. :(

[IndyGirl]

WHAT?!?!? No!!!! It' can't be!!

[emily]

I ended up throwing mine away. I liked it at first, but after the smell faded, I was left with an odd "dusty" scent on my skin that I didn't like.

[IndyGirl]

I'll try to convince myself that I overestimated its wonderfulness, then.

[HillJ]

Raisin rosemary crackers
Edamame hummus
Prepared bag of fresh green lentils
Australian black licorice
Any of the "Moon" wines

[Njchicaa]

1) TJ Extra Virgin olive oil
2) TJ Frozen hash brown patties
3) Dorot frozen basil cubes
4) TJ mild fresh salsa
5) TJ basmati rice blend

[jerdberg]

I can't go into Trader Joes because I always come out with a container of chocolate covered candied ginger which I eat in one sitting.

[littleflower]

1. Sparkling French Berry Lemonade tied with Villa Italia Blood Orange Soda - both in beautiful glass bottles - great for entertaining!
2. Maple Pecan Granola "Just the Clusters" Cereal + TJ's Lowfat Vanilla Yogurt Cup + TJ's Frozen Strawberries (defrosted) for a quick yogurt breakfast parfait (sorry I know that is technically 3 but couldn't help myself!)
3. Frozen Mashed Potatoes - for those very rushed weeknights or midnight craving for mashed potatoes - these actually are quite good!!!
4. Boneless Skinless Sardines in Olive Oil imported from Morocco - outstanding!!!
5. Mango and Cream Bars -frozen - imported from Australia - reminds me of a tropical twist to an orange creamsicle.

[ohmyyum]

Haha I think you are trying to cheat with 1&2!

[littleflower]

0:-) (halo above my head)...

[littleflower]

I just can't resist throwing in my Top Seasonal TJ's Products:

HOLIDAY: Peppermint Pretzel Slims
WINTER: Sky Valley Navel Oranges
SPRING: Peaches (late spring extending into summer)
SUMMER: Original Lemonade in a carton - refrigerated section next to orange juice.
FALL: Pumpkin Cream Cheese

[FataMagistra]

1. Dijon mustard (as others have said)
2. Tarte d'Alsace (also as others have said)
3. Social Snackers crackers
4. Honey goat cheese log (think one other person mentioned this)
5. TJ's 100% Greek kalamata olive oil

(and if I can sneak in a "guilty treat" for #6, it would be the frozen orange chicken :)

[GraceW]

1. Garlic marinated mushrooms in a jar
2. Garlic marinated mushrooms in a jar
3. Garlic marinated mushrooms in a jar
4. Garlic marinated mushrooms in a jar
5. Garlic marinated mushrooms in a jar.

I enjoy trying new items and have tried many items at TJs (I go there and purchase more than just mushrooms). However, these mushrooms are amazing. Even the cashiers never recognize them. Therefore, I give them all 5 votes to spread the deliciousness to others.

[TXMandy]

I MUST pick these up now. I've never noticed them before. Thanks Grace!

[Dee S]

Yeah, they're good too. I use them in a pasta salad with smoked gouda, smoked turkey and three cheese tortellini. I use a balsamic dressing. It's great!

[Bob W]

I have a jar of those at home. Will try tonight!

[Jelly71]

1.) precooked applewood smoked bacon
2.) Joe's Diner frozen mac and cheese
3.) spicy egg white salad
4.) frozen chili relleno
5.) white corn tortilla chips

[TXMandy]

I've been scoping out the frozen chili relleno for a while now Jelly. I'll have to pick one up next time I'm at TJ's!

[gmm]

Dorot frozen crushed garlic
Joes' Diner mac and cheese
Frozen almond croissants
Tarte d'Alsace
Tomato and roasted red pepper soup (carton)

[TXMandy]

gmm, I just picked up the Dorot frozen crushed garlic and basil last week. Although I haven't used the garlic yet, the basil went in my lasagna and was a winner. I think these little gems are going to be my best buds now.

[gmm]

The garlic is hands down my favorite TJ's item. With fresh garlic, I always use just a couple cloves and the rest ends up getting thrown out after a while. The Dorot garlic doesn't have a weird taste like the shelf-stable jarred chopped or crushed garlic you find elsewhere. I wish they carried the ginger as well.

[littleflower]

gmm, in regards to the Dorot frozen crushed garlic, is it recommended to first defrost the amount of cubes you want to use before starting a dish? For example, right now when I want to make homemade garlic bread and do not have on hand fresh garlic, normally I would use a little of the crushed garlic out of the jar ... so any tips on how to use the dorot garlic for garlic bread?

[gmm]

I defrost it before mixing it with butter for garlic bread, but for anything that involves cooking, I just throw it in frozen. I really doesn't take long for it to melt down. Or if you really don't want to wait, you can nuke it for a few seconds in the microwave. Just make sure to cover it and don't walk away unless you want to clean up exploded garlic.

[littleflower]

thanks for the tips!! will have to add this one to a near future TJ's shopping trip!

[cheesecake17]

For garlic bread, I usually mash it for a minute in a bowl before I add the other ingredients. It softens pretty quickly.
I usually use the garlic and basil cubes for garlic bread

[NuMystic]

Always had the same issue of throwing away most of a head of garlic, in addition to the frozen chopped which I also buy, another fantastic tip I picked up from Cook's Illustrated is:

Buy and freeze the peeled whole cloves of garlic which are also available at TJ's in the fresh produce section.

When needed just pop out a single clove! Great for crushed, roasted, sliced and any other application that pre-chopped isn't ideal.

[gingershelley]

LOVE TJ's packaged garlic cloves in the veggie section! Nice tip to freeze some if they are getting old.... tho I find since they are in those small pillow-packs, they stay fresh for six weeks or so - and I usually use em' up by then.

[Violatp]

That frozen mac and cheese could easily stand up against most restaurant mac & cheeses.

I wouldn't hesitate at all to buy, say, 6 packages, empty them out into a casserole dish, maybe a sprinkle of panko, and pass it off as homemade.

None. :-)

[EM23]

1. Applewood smoked bacon
2. The individually packaged organic chicken breasts
3. California Estate Extra Virgin Olive Oil
4. Kerrygold butter – can’t beat that price
5. Heirloom oranges (seasonal)

The dog would like to vote as well, if you don’t mind:
1. TJ’s Organic chicken and brown rice stick treats
2. TJ’s Organic chicken and brown rice stick treats
3. TJ’s Organic chicken and brown rice stick treats
4. TJ’s Organic chicken and brown rice stick treats
5. Applewood smoked bacon

[goodhealthgourmet]

Smart dog :) If you haven't already, try the Natural Dog Treats and the Chicken Breast Strips - they might knock the sticks out of a couple of spots.

[EM23]

The dog sends licks your way GHG - he has not forgotten that you were the person who recommended those treats in the first place:)
He does love the chicken breast strips too, but TJ's has been out of them on my last few visits. Out of curiosity, how do you store them?
I'll have to pick up the Natural treats next time for the spotted one. Thanks!

[goodhealthgourmet]

Aww, thanks for the licks. Give him a good belly scratch for me :)

The chicken breasts fare best in a heavy-duty ziploc bag.

[TXMandy]

I will have to give the Organic chicken and brown rice stick treats a go next time! Our libby loves the TJ's "greenies".

[firecooked]

If we had to add my dog to the list it would be the 6 lbs of hamburger a week I buy him!

[olyolyy]

1. Fresh Ground Turkey - for meatballs or turkey burgers. Though I recently learned unsavory information about the meats they carry.
2. Mini Red and Orange Bell Peppers - perfect size for the two everyday recipes I use peppers in and snacking.
3. Colby Longhorn Cheese or California Mild Cheddar. Two basic cheeses I always have on hand.
4. Organic Wood Fired Cheese Pizza - Not the best pizza I've ever tasted, but if I'm exhausted and hungry this is the best. I also once topped it with the fried eggplant cutlets and dipped it in the arabiatta sauce and it was reminiscent of a dirty slice of NY pizza.
5. Chocolate Macaroon Cake - not always in my kitchen, but when I want to grab something sweet from trader joes I usually go for this or the chocolate ganache cake.

[littleflower]

olyolyy...we frequently use TJ's fresh thin cut boneless pork loin chops - part of me would like to be more informed on the "unsavory information" and the other part is thinking ignorance perhaps may be bliss on TJ's fresh meats!

Anything to be really concerned about?

[olyolyy]

http://notinmyfood.org/posts/3594-tra...

depends on your stance regarding antibiotics in meat

[goodhealthgourmet]

If you stick with their organic meats, antibiotics aren't a concern. (Unfortunately I know they don't carry organic pork.)

[justalex]

1. Tarte d'Alsace
2. Paneer Tikka Masala
3. Garlic Naan
4. Frozen chocolate croissants
5. TJ's Hot Fresh Salsa

[shoo bee doo]

Kerrygold unsalted butter
Pita crackers
French vanilla ice cream
Zita coconut water
Irish breakfast tea

Yesterday I bought the frozen turkey meatballs recommended here. I have not yet tried them. What do most of you do with them?

[TXMandy]

I've used them in spaghetti with marinara, slow cooker meatballs that involve canned cranberry sauce a chili sauce and also baked, cut, put on TJ's Indian flatbread, topped with TJ's tzaziki cucumber sauce. Yum...

[littleflower]

+1 for the Kerrygold Unsalted Butter

Frozen Turkey Meatballs are actually pretty tasty all by themselves...although we usually use them as an appetizer by combining roughly 1/2 TJ's bbq sauce + 1/2 TJ's Grape Jelly and just about a teaspoon of honey to round it out. Extremely easy and tasty appetizer that can be done in 5 min. tops.

[goodhealthgourmet]

Dijon mustard
Raw crunchy almond butter (when they actually have it in stock)
Pound Plus dark chocolate bars
No-salt-added canned seafood (tuna, salmon & sardines)
Uncrystallized candied ginger

I can easily live without anything else from there...though my kitties would be very unhappy without the canned "Tuna for cats" and the holistic natural cat treats.

[Njchicaa]

My cats love it too! It's the only TJ cat food they'll eat and they go nuts for it.

[goodhealthgourmet]

I only give it to them once or twice a week - too much tuna tends to make them want nothing else.

[Mellicita]

Haaahaahaaa!

My cat would like to add his 2 paws up for the canned Tuna for Cats!

[goodhealthgourmet]

I just realized I forgot the organic boneless chicken and the California estate EVOO. If I really had to stick to 5 items I guess those would replace the ginger & chocolate on my list.

[Boston_Otter]

1. Veggie Corn Dogs
2. Pork potstickers
3. Frozen tamales
4. frozen roasted corn
5. Soyrizo veggie chorizo

[Violatp]

- also the coconut oil (can't bring myself to buy it elsewhere now)
- the haricot verts
- coconut water (Zico tetra packs, cheaper than anywhere else)
- Kerrygold butter
- raw shredded parmesan cheese

The coconut oil is the only one that I always, always have. I buy backups so as not to caught without.

The other four are strong in the rotation and are multiple repeat purchases.

[chowing kat]

1. Frozen single serve quiche - all 3 flavors
2. Force Primeval Bars
3. Tapioca pudding in the dairy case
4. Dried slab apricots
And my newest love:
5. Crunchy Cookie Butter - better than Nutella on toasted Force Primeval Bars!!!!!

[arjunsr]

my favorites are:
habenero hot sauce
frozen macaroni and cheese
orange chicken
crushed garlic
2 buck chuck

[emily]

Tarte d'Alsace
Frozen croissants (though I don't eat them that much)
Orange Blossom Honey hand soap

[emily]

Going to add the Almond Windmill Cookies and Peanut Butter Cups to my list.

[Rilke]

The dark chocolate peanut butter cups are just dangerous, especially since they aren't wrapped in foil. Less work to eat, less evidence being left behind.

[emily]

I'll take either the milk or the dark! They are dangerous and so much better than Reese's.

[Caitlin McGrath]

The only time I buy the dark chocolate peanut butter cups is at holiday time, when they sell a small bag of foil-wrapped ones at the register. Buying a whole tub of them (or the dark-chocolate-covered candied ginger) would be a very bad idea!

[NuMystic]

Rilke, I cannot even bring these into my home for exactly the reasons that you stated.

Minis are a double threat as their diminutive size seems to mysteriously encourage shoveling by the handful.

I must disagree entirely on one count though. There is ample evidence left behind.. on my waistline! ;)

[cheesecake17]

Those almond cookies are addicting!

[wonderwoman]

for me it's the belgian butter waffle cookies. once i open a box, i'm a goner.

[GraceW]

This is helpful. I also use these threads to know "what not to buy"--anything that is too good, that has the potential to be gone in 1 day for someone else, is not what I want to be spending money on.

[wonderwoman]

a day!? surely you jest...

that reminds me of a late friend who laughed when someone told her they couldn't finish a single dove bar. my friend said, "are you kidding. i can (and have) eaten a whole box!"

[emily]

Also adding the frozen Korean kalbi to my list. Makes a very easy and tasty dinner on the grill.

[Sloth]

I would cry if these five were discontinued

1. This Blueberry Walks Into A Bar (cereal bars)
2. Frozen turkey meatballs
3. Dark chocolate covered almonds with sea salt
4. No salt added canned white meat tuna (water and olive oil)
5. Frozen arugula pizza

[chinchi]

Picking only 5 favorites is tough! The following items are in my cart on a weekly basis:

1. Polenta Provencal (frozen)
2. Spinach Pizza (frozen)
3. Parmesan and Arugula Ravioli (fridge)
4. Petit Pain Pascal (fresh baked goods)
5. Organic creamy tomato soup (boxed shelf stable soup)

[Mellicita]

I'm pretty new to Trader Joes... but these are my favs so far.

1. Champagne pear gorgonzola vinaigarette
2. New Zealand White Cheddar cheese (I've had comparable cheese from Whole foods, but the price on this is amazing!)
3. Honey goat cheese - again awesome price!
4. Frozen paneer masala
5. Greek honey vanilla yogurt - this was the full fat, calorie heavy, heavenly tasting stuff!

Surprisingly, I didnt really care for the Mandarin Orange Chicken that is their #1 best seller.

[gator28]

1) Steamed lentils (hot or cold)
2) Frozen brown rice
3) Dr. Praeger's veggie burgers
4) Frozen edamame
5) Canned black beans

[trolley]

Organic pastas
Organic unsalted butter
Organic lowfat yogurt-vanilla bean
Uncured black forest ham
cheese sticks

[alliaphagist]

1. Frozen tamales
2. Hummus...kalamata olive and roasted garlic are my favorites
3. Frozen vegetable pad thai
4. Unsalted organic white corn tortilla chips
5. Dried mango, the sweetened and sulfured version

[kcshigekawa]

Only three that I always have:

1. Dijon Mustard
2. Brown rice/wild rice/radish seed mix
3. frozen little green beans

I tend to get more than one of each when I go, as TJ's is on the other side of town, and outside of my regular flight path...

[boogiebaby]

Spicy Egg White Salad
Pizza Parlano (always have a couple of these on hand for the kids)
Organic Apple Slices (great for lunchboxes and lazy snacking)
Frozen turkey meatballs
Frozen indian meals

[sciencediet]

Definitely:

Dark chocolate peanut butter cups
Frozen chickenless tenders
Chicken cilantro wontons
Frozen turkey meatballs
Soy yogurts (saves me having to go to Whole Foods)

[Dee S]

Chocolate covered peanut butter filled pretzels (this could be the entire list....just these!!!)
Frozen Haricort Verts
Frozen Roasted Corn
Ultimate Chocolate Ice Cream
Coffee Ice Cream

[AmyH]

1. Habanero hot sauce
2. frozen hash brown patties
3. chocolate stuffed french toast (for my son)
4. breakfast burritos (for my son)
5. frozen chocolate covered banana slices (for me!)

[AmyH]

When I went to TJ's last night the chocolate stuffed french toast was gone. I asked the guy stocking the freezer if it was just out of stock but he said he thought it was discontinued because it was not very popular and not a big seller. Needless to say my son was not happy.

[littleflower]

Sorry to hear that, and can relate - if TJ's ever pulled their Multigrain French Toast from the shelves I would be hurting. BTW - I know it's probably a far cry from the chocolate stuffed one, but if your son hasn't yet tried the multigrain kind it is quick to prepare and delicious.

[AmyH]

Thanks. Yes, we've had the multigrain ones and enjoy them. I think I may still have a couple in the freezer. He preferred the chocolate stuffed ones, but will have to settle for the multigrain now.

[John Francis]

The ones I always keep on hand, in no particular order:

Vegetable masala burgers
TJ's hashbrowns (the patties)
Trader Giotto's imported olive oil
Jasmine brown rice
Belgian chocolate pudding

I like many of TJ's prepared foods but get them now and again, not every time.