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15 Trader Joe’s Favorites

A few years ago, I had a client tell me that she shops at four different grocery stores every week. I looked at her like she was batshit crazy. Now, I’ve become her, with trips to Milam’s, Target and Whole Foods rounding out my regular run to Trader Joe’s.

Trader Joe’s. I love it for their friendly staff and even friendlier pricing, but I curse Joe and his bad Hawaiian shirts every time I take a children’s shopping cart to the achilles…

In all seriousness, I make the extra trip to other stores for steaks, seafood and my favorite brands of pasta, Greek yogurt and canned tomatoes, but I do get the bulk of my shopping done at TJ’s. There’s a lot that I think they do really well: frozen fruits, nut butters, organic chicken, ground beef and turkey, to name a few. I won’t bore you with the basics, but here’s a list of some favorite specialty products, as requested!

Produce
  • Haricots Verts – Perfectly trimmed and great for pickling.
  • Persian Cucumbers –Petite, cute & crunchy.
  • Baby San Marzano Tomatoes (featured image above) – These are my favorite tomatoes. They’re deep red, firm and sweet— good cooked or raw.
Dairy
  • Unexpected Cheddar – This is a TJ’s cult favorite. It tastes like a blend of cheddar and parmesan. If you don’t know, now you know.
Frozen
  • Organic Açaí Puree Packets – I mentioned frozen fruit in general, but this is a daily smoothie staple.
  • Organic Brown Rice – Ready in just three minutes in the microwave, and it’s perfect. Every. Time.
  • Organic Riced Cauliflower – The other half to my Golden Rice, and because ricing your own cauliflower makes a huge effing mess.
Dry Goods
  • Handmade Flour Tortillas – These are my favorite tortillas. I love the size and texture.
  • Harvest Grains Blend – Israeli couscous, red quinoa, orzo and baby garbanzo beans— I usually add feta and cucumber for a colorful salad or side.
  • Some Enchanted Crackers – Salty and buttery, just the way you want crackers to be.
  • Everything but the Bagel Sesame Seasoning Blend – Toasted sourdough, whipped cream cheese and this. What bagel?
  • Spices – TJ’s doesn’t carry many spices, but I find that what they do have is usually well priced, like turmeric.
  • Giant Peruvian Inca Corn – This is my latest happy hour snack. I’m addicted.
Wine

Yes, I buy wine at Trader Joe’s, but I rarely stray from these two:

  • Red: Revelation Cabernet-Merlot Blend – Big, fruity and easy drinking.
  • White: Chateau Seguin “Sauvignon de Seguin,” Bordeaux – Dry, crisp and fruity – a “patio-pounder” if you will.

I’ll leave it at that! Happy shopping, friends!

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2 comments

  1. Hi Lindsey, I also love the Peruvian Corn. I use it in Ecuadorian ceviche. Ecuadorian ceviche is totally different then ceviche made in other Latin countries. My husband is Ecuadorian and his mother taught me to make it. It has no vegetables except red onion and cilantro. It has no jalapeno. This ceviche is cooked because the juice is used as a base for the ceviche. The surprise ingredient is ketchup. Popcorn or the Peruvian corn is served with the ceviche. I like mine with the popcorn. Yummy! Ecuadorian ceviche to me is the best one of all of the ceviche’s from other countries. Maybe I’m just biased!
    Thanks for the newsletter. I enjoy it very much. Stay safe,
    Toni Valarezo

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