One of our favorite parts of blogging is going to different stores and sharing what we love. This month we explored our local Trader Joe’s. Megan showed Christa what she should be buying there (since Christa does not cook and does all her grocery shopping online!).
Megan found so many great items that we think you’ll love. These are all items she buys for her family and enjoys. She also included tips for how to serve them and how to use them for easy entertaining, and Christa linked to some extra tips from the Trader Joe’s website.
We also surveyed all of you and are sharing a list of the items you like — because #friendssharethegoodstuff! It’s a great list, friends!! (Thanks!)
Where should we go next? Let us know what store you’d like us to feature in the upcoming months!
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Friends, we have more favorites!! Check out our post 12 Favorites from Trader Joe’s – the 2023 edition.
1 Flowers
Trader Joe’s has the best flowers for making a bouquet or just picking up one that’s pre-made. Their orchids, plantable herbs and succulents in little seasonal pots are all fun and make great gifts for friends, teachers and hostesses.
Megan’s tip: When making a bouquet or an arrangement I stick with one color, usually white. I pick up 3 or 4 different types of flowers all in the same color and make my arrangement from that. You can’t go wrong when it’s all one color!
Check it out: Some TJ’s tips to create a fancy-schmancy floral arrangement!
2 Nuts
Trader Joe’s has the best variety and price for nuts. Raw, roasted, salted, unsalted…pretty much anything you want. These Sesame Honey Almonds are great on any charcuterie board or just in a bowl for snacking.
Megan’s tip: My stylish friend, Jessica, told me about the candied walnuts at TJ’s. They are perfect on a strawberry spinach salad or during the holidays on a regular salad. They definitely take it up a notch.
Check it out: A tasty summer recipe using the TJ’s pine nuts.
3 Produce Section
Trader Joe’s veggie section is a treasure chest to be explored. They’re always good for broccoli, lettuce (great variety!), grapes, apples and berries. But their specialty is these little garden blends. Keep your eye out — new ones pop up periodically.
Megan’s tip: I cook up this Garden Vegetable Hash and serve with eggs or put in homemade egg muffin cups.
Check it out: For more tips, check out the TJ’s guide to fruits and vegetables.
4 Cheese
Oh, Trader Joe’s, why is your cheese section so delicious? By far the most curated section, the cheese department at Trader Joe’s is a charcuterie makers dream. From soft to hard, imported and local, don’t miss this aisle. They even have some dairy free choices.
Megan’s tip: We use the shredded Swiss and Gruyere blend in scrambled eggs and to make fancy grilled ham and cheese sandwiches.
Check it out: Pair TJ’s creamy Goat Cheese with Fine Herbs with a bottle of Sauvignon Republic.
5 Frozen Pizza
These are not your everyday Totino’s frozen pizzas. They are a class act unto themselves. Hidden away in the frozen food section, snag a few when you see them. These pizzas make a great lunch, add arugula on top (after cooked) and drizzle with balsamic glaze. It’s a salad pizza and kinda fancy.
Megan’s tip: These are a great entertaining hack. Cook the pizza (under 15 min), then cut into small squares and serve as hors d’oeuvres!
Check it out: Try drizzling a little Organic Spicy Honey Sauce on your pizza!
6 Crackers
Continuing with our charcuterie dream board, Trader Joe’s has a huge selection of crackers. Gluten free, plant based and regular. You will find everything you’re looking for. The Fig & Olive Crisps are a hit on our cheese boards. (Bonus: they smell like Fruity Pebbles)
Megan’s tip: The Fig & Olive Crisps are great on a charcuterie board served with goat cheese and drizzled with honey. YUM.
Check it out: Not sure what to serve with these? Trader Joe’s has a link to everything you need for a cheese board that’s sure to impress your guests.
7 Frozen Food
The section I linger in the most at Trader Joe’s is the frozen section. My beloved pizza’s are hidden there. But TJ’s also has a huge Asian section. Their rice (brown/wild/jasmine) is a cult favorite. Not to be missed in the frozen aisle are the much loved croissants. Almost as good as the ones in Paris – the TJ’s croissants will elevate any brunch and are a must-have when you’re hosting out of town guests.
Megan’s tip: The Mandarin Orange Chicken is a favorite for many but especially the high school kids. Serve with jasmine rice and sautéed green beans.
Check it out: Learn more about why the Mandarin Orange Chicken has been voted “favorite product” year after year!
8 Cookies/Candies/Treats
Sitting pretty just above the frozen foods are various and sundry sweets. Gummies, cookies, chocolates of every variety are perched on the shelves. I’ve had chocolate covered Pringles, almond cookies, dark chocolate dipped rice cakes. Nothing disappoints. And if you love the Dunkers cookies, buy one to put away for yourself, because your family will eat them all!
Megan’s tip: My husband loves Stroopwafels and the minis are just the right size for a little after dinner treat.
Check it out: Trader Joe’s tips for creating a very sweet “choc-cuterie” board
9 Household Items
There is always a treasure to be found in this aisle. Earlier in the summer I found a sunscreen that was so similar to Supergoop that I would swear they were the same, minus the big price. Always a good source for hygiene items, lotions and potions, and the dryer balls are excellent. During the holidays they have great little stocking stuffers in this area.
Megan’s tip: I’m currently obsessed with the Hyaluronic Body Gel Cream. I would compare it to the Necessarie body serum. Combine it with a heavy lotion or dry oil and apply to wet skin — you will not be disappointed with your youthful glow.
Check it out: Some great tips on an evening skincare routine with Trader Joe’s affordable/effective products.
Pro tip: The Trader Joe’s website has some great resources available. There is a recipe section with tasty recipes. They have a section with tips for entertaining – so many of their products make entertaining easier! They also have a podcast!
OUR FRIENDS’ FAVS…#FRIENDSSHARETHEGOODSTUFF
- Italian style meatballs – We do the beef meatballs but they do have turkey and in 20 minutes you have meatballs. Love them with Raos marinara sauce and pasta — happy happy happy!
- Rosemary marcona almonds – great for Charcuterie Boards (especially around the holidays but I like them year round…and a great price.
- Organic popcorn in olive oil – one of the only pre-popped popcorns out there that uses a healthy oil.
- Gomacro bar—great price and clean ingredients
- Organic olive oil spray – does not use propellants
- Everything but the bagel seasoning blend-great to top avocado toast!
- Sun Dried tomatoes (pouch) Add a few to jazz up any pasta sauce!
- Raw pistachio nutmeats-Great for salads
- Frozen ginger and garlic – a quick cooking hack. I cook a lot of meals that call for crushed garlic especially and it’s so easy to pop them out, thaw for a few minutes and not have the mess of either.
- They have different flavored Kringle’s, from the O and H bakery in Wisconsin, depending on the time of the year. They have an almond one my kids love. Great for Christmas brunch to pop in the oven – a crowd pleaser in our house.
- Chocolate croissants are great for Christmas morning. We set these out on a cookie sheet overnight, bake for 20 minutes in the morning and have them with coffee while opening presents.
- Organic pomegranate white tea – a nightly drink!
- Peanut butter chewy coated & drizzled granola bars and buffalo style seasoned almonds are great snacks!
- Sriracha and roasted garlic BBQ sauce – Delicious on chicken! I especially like it on chicken skewers and use it to marinade the chicken first.
- Dark chocolate mint creams – a go to yummy treat
- Fresh BBQ cut salmon – something I buy every time I go. It’s delicious. Brush on your favorite dressing or marinade, salt and pepper, and broil for 12 min. It is perfect every time.
- Teeny tiny avocados – they are the perfect size.
- Dark chocolate covered almonds
- The kids love the frozen orange chicken!
- Great selection of scented candles – perfect to tuck in a gift bag!
- Frozen strawberry waffles
- Hand Cream as good as L’Occitaine
Pop into the comments and add your favorites if you don’t see them on this list. We are all looking for inspiration!
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Ditto on all of the above, but we can’t live without TJ’s Corn and Chili tomato-less Salsa for tacos, eggs, tuna salad. You name it. We would eat it on cereal if we didn’t have such amazing granola (recipe on request) for breakfast.
Thanks for the tip!
Same as Leslie…the Corn and Chile Salsa is a must have and I always keep a jar in the pantry. It’s great for a salsa/dip but I also love adding it to chili. The dark chocolate bar with caramel and sea salt is SO yummy too. I buy several at a time so I never run out. LOL Perfect to break off a little piece for a sweet after a meal.
The chocolate bar sounds amazing! Adding it to my shopping list.
We love those chocolate bars at my house too! 😋