Trader Joes Favorites?

[Diabolicdesire]

Went to Trader Joes and they got their advent calendars in for 99 cents so I picked up a few. I always check to see what holiday stuff they've gotten and picked up some Vanilla Cinnamon Tea. OMG this stuff is amazing. I drink my tea with cream and sugar and it taste just like Chai Tea. I'll be going back tomorrow to pick up a few boxes before they are gone!

 

[vettechick99]

bump!!!

 

[vettechick99]

Just found this!

http://www.whatsgoodattraderjoes.com/search/label/pantheon

 

[rachel09985]

Dried mango- juicy and sweetened
Green Tea Mochi! YUM

 

[snoopybabe]

bagged salad
milk & oj is cheaper then other stores
frozen saucy scalops with mushrooms - put on top of rice
pot stickers
chicken fried rice
pizza dough and
raspberry tart

 

[LJSquishy]

We recently got our first Trader Joe's store and I was so excited from all of the hype I've seen online about how great the store & items are. I hated it there! It is almost all pre-packaged and prepared food! It is great for someone who doesn't actually cook most of their food from scratch. The only thing I liked about it was that they did sell a *few* nice produce items that you don't typically see at a huge grocery store, like Kale...but it was pre-packaged...I bought it anyway. I do also like that the items they sell have no HFCS or artificial ingredients, that does make it a little easier to shop. I've only been once and don't plan on going back.

Edited to add: I tried their famed pizza dough...eww! I tried both the plain and the herbed dough and thought both were gross. Homemade is so much better, and dirt cheap to make!

 

[budbeerlady]

Anything new to add? We are headed to Chicago in a couple of weeks and I have my Trader Joe suitcase empty and ready to go! I might need 2, LOVE their cheese and pizza dough. Has anyone frozen the dough?

 

[Kies99]

WOW!! Talk about the thread that wouldn't die! Started in 2010 and went a year without a comment. Brought back in January 2012 and then went all of February without comment!

It's alive....IT'S ALIVE!!!

Oh, and my $0.02...the frozen chocolate croissants are OUTSTANDING!!

 

[disneyeveryyear]

We are 1.5 hours from our closest TJ's, but will be heading down next Tuesday with coolers in the car. I have already started my list, and it always includes:

Chicken broth
Beef broth
Boeuf Bourguignon (frozen) - excellent product
Pappardelle Pasta (served with above)
Sourdough bread
Mini bagels
Joe O's cereal
Honey Nut Joe O's Cereal
TJ's shredded mini wheats
Vanilla Joe Joe Cookies
Frozen Roasted Asparagus
Frozen Broccoli
Chicken Pot Stickers (frozen)
Vegan Orange Chicken (frozen) - sampled last time and was very good - we didn't tell the kids it was vegan
Freeze dried blueberries and red grapes (loved by our bunny as a treat)
Peach juice
Chocolate syrup
8 veggie chopped salad - found in produce cooler
Fresh fruits and veggies

We are trying the orange chicken for the first time tonight, so I'll know if I need to buy more next week.

I am sure there are more things, but those are the ones I can think of off the top of my head. We also have to pick up the dog treats for a friend's dog also.

 

[amy-momofthree]

How are the prices at TJ's versus a grocery store. I usually shop at Publix but have been wanting to try TJs. There Is one about 30 minutes away but the Publix is 1/2 mile away. Just wondering about prices....

 

[SCDisneyMom]

I LOVE Trader Joe's! Good thing there is one just a few miles away from me. I always tend to get the same stuff when I shop there...

21 Seasoning Salute
Butternut Squash soup
Creamy Corn & Roasted Pepper soup
Organic Black Bean soup
Chicken broth
Spanish extra virgin olive oil
Maple Leaf cookies
Cereal bars (the fig ones are our fave)
Pomegranate white tea
Apple juice
Olive oil popcorn
Steel cut oatmeal
Chicken hot dogs
String cheese (my son says their string cheese is the absolute best)
Hummus (all kinds...we love them all)
Low calorie pink lemonade
A variety of frozen fruits & veggies

I also like to get their pumpkin butter in the fall. And I like their mulling spices..they smell so good when I simmer them on the stove.

I find their prices on certain things to be cheaper, especially the olive oil! I think the hummus is pretty cheap, too. Other things, like the string cheese, I just buy because we like the way it tastes a lot better than other brands.

I don't buy a whole lot of their prepackaged meals. They look really really good, but I find many of them to be too high in sodium for me.

 

[stacy347]

I just went to Trader Joe's for the first time a few weeks ago. Loved it! I got some of their guacamole hummus ~ oh my goodness, was it delicious! Paired it with their reduced-guilt pita chips.

There were many things I wanted to get, but it was a spur of the moment pop-in while we were in the area. I wish there was one closer, but I'm thinking that the 30 minute drive would be worth it once a month or so.

 

[budbeerlady]

How are the prices at TJ's versus a grocery store. I usually shop at Publix but have been wanting to try TJs. There Is one about 30 minutes away but the Publix is 1/2 mile away. Just wondering about prices....

I think they are very competitive on their prices compared to what I have near me. We go nuts in the cheese section!!!!! They are very reasonable on the garlic olive oil, sea salt, that type of stuff. We pack the car a couple of times a year when we make the 2+ hour drive so we buy different than someone who would go weekly.

 

[left210]

Our son has had food allergies but just found out a few new ones. His main allergies are corn, peanut, and soy. Any recommendations on any snacks from TJ without corn? Also, any good cereals for a 4 yr old?

 

[MickeyManiac]

I'm so excited. It was just announced that we'll be getting a TJ in our area (first in the state) by the end of the year. I can stop being jealous of the Dis'rs every time they mention the great sounding stuff they get there.

 

[MartyM]

I'm in love with the mini quiches. They come in 2 or 3 flavors and are around $2. Can't beat them for a decent breakfast or lunch when I'm moving fast and need a little protein.

 

[mrsklamc]

Frozen mashed potatoes in little 'pucks' - make just what you need
The high fiber spaghetti tastes just like regular.

 

[scard192]

Orange Chicken, Kung Pau chicken, Chas Shaw wines, Name Tag beer.

 

[dis-happy]

Our son has had food allergies but just found out a few new ones. His main allergies are corn, peanut, and soy. Any recommendations on any snacks from TJ without corn? Also, any good cereals for a 4 yr old?

I have a 4 year old with similar allergies, plus we had to avoid wheat for awhile too. TJ's was a godsend. One snack he loves is a rice crispy marshmallow bar treat that is GF, soy, corn, nut free. They come 5 to a box and are in the cereal aisle. The marinara sauce is corn and soy free. We also like the tahini- free hummus ( no sesame either). The kettle chips don't have corn oil so are always on our list. Annie's Mac and cheese is safe. The all natural deli meat is good too. For cereal I had a harder time (esp since we were wheat free too) and had to go elsewhere. But check the labels, you may find one that works for your ds.

 

[DisneyAngel83]

I am super excited as my area is the first to get a Trader Joe's in the greater Houston area, and it opens this Friday! I have been to one while in Portland late last year and brought home lots of yummy snacks, so I can't wait to do some actual grocery shopping this time! Thanks for all the great ideas, I will see what mine carries in a few days! I think I might be doing my grocery shopping there at least once a month