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Trader Joe's food review thread
August 24, 2008 at
07:09 PM
in
Grocery
(3)
I've been trying out various food products from Trader Joe's. Thought a food review thread might be fun. Please do add your own reviews of Trader Joe's foods/products.
So far...
Trader Joe's Chocolate (Product of Belgium): Really nice and a good value too.
Shepard's Pie: This one was a huge disappointment. It was watery, almost like soup and had very little meat in it. Hubby couldn't even eat it. The pic makes it look so good, the reality was a shock.
Chicken Enchiladas in Salsa Verde: Very tasty, have had this one a couple of times. Not bad value either. Cheaper than TV dinners at other stores. *Note: The only pic I could find is not the best, it looks much nicer IRL on a plate.
Chicken and Chile Verde Burritos: Not bad, would eat again but not as nice as the enchiladas. Would be nicer with a sauce on top.
Chicken and Gorgonzola with Lentils: Not my thing, found the chicken a bit bland for me, although the lentils were nice.
Mandarin Orange Chicken: This one is very nice and pretty easy to fix. Just put a 1/4 cup of oil in a pan, brown the chicken and then dump in the sauce and serve over rice (sold separately). To make it a little healthier, I took the chicken out of the oil, patted it to remove the excess oil and then mixed in the sauce. You can also bake the chicken in the oven, the instructions are on the package, it's just been too hot to fire up the oven here. Just bought more today. It's enough for a family of four or you can just do half for 1 or 2 people, as it comes with two sauce packets.
So far...
Trader Joe's Chocolate (Product of Belgium): Really nice and a good value too.
Shepard's Pie: This one was a huge disappointment. It was watery, almost like soup and had very little meat in it. Hubby couldn't even eat it. The pic makes it look so good, the reality was a shock.
Chicken Enchiladas in Salsa Verde: Very tasty, have had this one a couple of times. Not bad value either. Cheaper than TV dinners at other stores. *Note: The only pic I could find is not the best, it looks much nicer IRL on a plate.
Chicken and Chile Verde Burritos: Not bad, would eat again but not as nice as the enchiladas. Would be nicer with a sauce on top.
Chicken and Gorgonzola with Lentils: Not my thing, found the chicken a bit bland for me, although the lentils were nice.
Mandarin Orange Chicken: This one is very nice and pretty easy to fix. Just put a 1/4 cup of oil in a pan, brown the chicken and then dump in the sauce and serve over rice (sold separately). To make it a little healthier, I took the chicken out of the oil, patted it to remove the excess oil and then mixed in the sauce. You can also bake the chicken in the oven, the instructions are on the package, it's just been too hot to fire up the oven here. Just bought more today. It's enough for a family of four or you can just do half for 1 or 2 people, as it comes with two sauce packets.
Community Wiki
Last Edited by Princess_Spock
May 31, 2016
at
03:10 AM
Feel free to add your own, good and bad foods to the list but please, don't delete/move foods that someone else added - thx!
List of Lounger approved (or disapproved) TJ foods.
Good Foods by category:
Gluten free favorites:
Rice Noodle Soup Bowls
Rice mac and cheese
Fiberful fruit leathers
Crunchy Curls
Raspberry chicken walnut salad
lara bars
gluten free brownie mix
gluten free pancake mix
Individually packaged omega fortified cranberry and nut mix
Banana waffles
Baked Goods, Cookies and Desserts
Brioche loaf (not bakery good but better than the grocery store type)
Candy Cane Joe Joes (available at Christmas time)
Caneles de Bordeaux (fairly good 3.5 out of 5 - needs a little more flavor and custard on the inside)
Carrot cake muffins
Chocolate Caramel Tartlet
Chocolate Dipped Dunkers
Cinnamon Rolls
Crispy crunchy Chocolate Chip Cookies
Dark Chocolate Triple Ginger Cookies
Lacy's milk chocolate macadamia nut cookies
Lemon Cream Cheese muffins
Lemon loaf cake
Mango Passion Torta Cotta
Maple Cream Cookies (oreo style)
Oatmeal cookies
Parmiago Rosemary Rolls
Pinachios
Pumpkin Bread mix
Pumpkin Spice Bunt Cake (baked goods area)
Raspberry Tarte (Best thing we've had so far. Frozen foods. They also have a blueberry tarte.)
Raspberry Chocolate Torte (frozen foods)
Schoolhouse Cookies
Seven grain bread (great flavor and texture)
Sheppard's Bread (great taste, with just a touch of honey)
Shortbread Chocolate Thumb Print cookies
Strawberry Shortcake (frozen foods, cake)
Triple Gingersnap cookies (in the tubs)
Vanilla Bread mix
Vanilla Lemon Cupcakes with cream cheese icing
Vanilla Meringues
White Fudge drizzled Oatmeal Cranberry Dunkers
Snacks
Alsace tart (appetizer) (frozen foods)
Any of the TJ chocolates
Banana chips
Blue tortilla chips
Bruschetta
Dark Chocolate Caramels
Dark Chocolate Roasted Pistachio Toffee
Ginger gummy bears
Gluten free trail mix
Golden crackers
Gorgonzola crackers
Lemongrass Spring Rolls (frozen foods)
Mini milk chocolate peanut butter cups
Mini Peanut Butter Sandwich crackers
Multigrain crackers
Phillo dough (frozen foods)
Pirate's Booty
Pistachio covered toffee
Pita chips with cinnamon and sugar
Pretzel Slims (either plain or chocolate covered)
Rice pudding
Roasted Plantain Chips (they are salty, not sweet)
Sesame Sticks
Southwestern Style Chicken Poppers (frozen foods)
Thai Lime and Chili Cashews (spicy!)
White Cheddar Corn Puffs
Meats and main courses
Smokehouse Pulled Beef Brisket
Korean-Inspired Pork Shoulder in a spicy scallion and ginger sauce
Paneer Tikki Masala (new frozen food)
Bison burgers
Chicken Empanadas (frozen foods)
California Rolls (prepared foods)
Beef or chicken tacos (frozen foods)
Chicken Enchiladas in Salsa Verde (frozen foods)
Chicken and Chilie Verde Burritos (really needs a sauce)
Mandarin Orange Chicken (frozen foods)
All of the pasta dishes
Asparagus Rissotto (frozen foods)
ChickenTaquitos (frozen foods) *note: the beef ones are okay but not as good as the chicken taquitos*
Chicken Gorgonzola with mushrooms (frozen foods)
Pre-cooked seasoned lentils (produce section)
Organic Jasmine Rice (frozen foods)
Vegetable Masala Burger (frozen foods)
Turkey chili with beans (canned)
Puff Pastry Margherita Pizza
All of the pizzas (esp. the BBQ Chicken Pizza)
All of the meats
All sausages
All frozen fish - tilapia and cod is awesome
Roast beef, pickled onions and honey mustard sandwich (prepared foods section)
Chicken Serenada (frozen foods)
Chicken Pompadoro (frozen foods)
Carne Asada (makes great fajitas)
Steamed clams (frozen, in shells, with garlic butter)
Other
Pizza dough (in the prepared/refrigerated foods section)
Garlic & Herb Pizza Dough ( even better than plain)
Spring Creek garlic and herb goat cheese
Roasted Pepper and Artichoke Tapenade
Masala Simmer Sauce (starter sauce)
Water crackers
Multigrain flax seed crackers
Golden Entertainers crackers
Brown Rice Medley
Grilled eggplant and zucchini (frozen foods)
Peanut Butter
Cookie Butter
Salad mixes
Greek style yogurt with honey
All soups (except Miso)
Frozen Garlic
Frozen Cilantro
Frozen Basil
Red pepper hummus
Edamame hummus
French Roast Coffee(drive across town just for this)
Bold and Smokey Kansas City Style BBQ Sauce
Romano Caesar salad dressing
Chile Spiced Mango (dried fruit section)
Thai Style Soy Ginger Carrot
Nasi Goreng
Black Raspberries (frozen foods)
pear sauce (in cups like apple sauce)
Almond milk
Garlic naan (frozen foods)
Banana waffles (frozen foods)
Lightly smoked canned sardines
Powdered Chai (pretty sweet but yummy and easy to mix)
Winter Blend coffee
Mango Chutney
Garlic Bread (frozen foods, by pizzas)
Beans So Green (frozen foods)
Bad Foods:
Oatmeal bars (way too sweet)
Shepherd's Pie (watery and nasty)
Chicken and Gorgonzola with Lentils (bit bland)
Tangerine juice
Orange juice (too sweet)
Instant Miso soup (powdered miso)
Dried Salted Green Beans
Currant cookies (too seedy)
Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Egg salad sandwich (bland and dry)
Perline Pasta & Proscutto (terrible filling, bad flavor and weird texture)
Chocolate covered frozen bananas - bummer, I thought they'd be a hit but no one liked them here
Filet of Sole reduced calorie meal (frozen foods - good flavor but very small portion)
Dried pumelo (over sweetened yet still bitter)
Cream filled Oscar Meyer hot dogs (cream does not belong with beef. Bad idea)
Tom Yum cashews (the flavor was too overwhelming)
Turkey meatballs - frozen foods section - (Mixed reviews, one lounger's DH liked them but to me they had a weird texture and odd taste, plus they gave my DH terrible heartburn so with 2 out of 3 no's, in the bad foods section they go.)
Eggplant Garlic Spread - bland and had an odd aftertaste
Spicy Shrimp Bao (strong fishy aftertaste)
Frozen falafels (incorrect seasoning, tastes like frozen veggie burger discs)
***
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For those of you who might be wondering if there's a Trader Joes near you, click this link and enter your zip code. LinkyTo see if there's a store opening soon in your area, click this link. Linky [traderjoes.com] |
Good Foods by category:
Gluten free favorites:
Rice Noodle Soup Bowls
Rice mac and cheese
Fiberful fruit leathers
Crunchy Curls
Raspberry chicken walnut salad
lara bars
gluten free brownie mix
gluten free pancake mix
Individually packaged omega fortified cranberry and nut mix
Banana waffles
Baked Goods, Cookies and Desserts
Brioche loaf (not bakery good but better than the grocery store type)
Candy Cane Joe Joes (available at Christmas time)
Caneles de Bordeaux (fairly good 3.5 out of 5 - needs a little more flavor and custard on the inside)
Carrot cake muffins
Chocolate Caramel Tartlet
Chocolate Dipped Dunkers
Cinnamon Rolls
Crispy crunchy Chocolate Chip Cookies
Dark Chocolate Triple Ginger Cookies
Lacy's milk chocolate macadamia nut cookies
Lemon Cream Cheese muffins
Lemon loaf cake
Mango Passion Torta Cotta
Maple Cream Cookies (oreo style)
Oatmeal cookies
Parmiago Rosemary Rolls
Pinachios
Pumpkin Bread mix
Pumpkin Spice Bunt Cake (baked goods area)
Raspberry Tarte (Best thing we've had so far. Frozen foods. They also have a blueberry tarte.)
Raspberry Chocolate Torte (frozen foods)
Schoolhouse Cookies
Seven grain bread (great flavor and texture)
Sheppard's Bread (great taste, with just a touch of honey)
Shortbread Chocolate Thumb Print cookies
Strawberry Shortcake (frozen foods, cake)
Triple Gingersnap cookies (in the tubs)
Vanilla Bread mix
Vanilla Lemon Cupcakes with cream cheese icing
Vanilla Meringues
White Fudge drizzled Oatmeal Cranberry Dunkers
Snacks
Alsace tart (appetizer) (frozen foods)
Any of the TJ chocolates
Banana chips
Blue tortilla chips
Bruschetta
Dark Chocolate Caramels
Dark Chocolate Roasted Pistachio Toffee
Ginger gummy bears
Gluten free trail mix
Golden crackers
Gorgonzola crackers
Lemongrass Spring Rolls (frozen foods)
Mini milk chocolate peanut butter cups
Mini Peanut Butter Sandwich crackers
Multigrain crackers
Phillo dough (frozen foods)
Pirate's Booty
Pistachio covered toffee
Pita chips with cinnamon and sugar
Pretzel Slims (either plain or chocolate covered)
Rice pudding
Roasted Plantain Chips (they are salty, not sweet)
Sesame Sticks
Southwestern Style Chicken Poppers (frozen foods)
Thai Lime and Chili Cashews (spicy!)
White Cheddar Corn Puffs
Meats and main courses
Smokehouse Pulled Beef Brisket
Korean-Inspired Pork Shoulder in a spicy scallion and ginger sauce
Paneer Tikki Masala (new frozen food)
Bison burgers
Chicken Empanadas (frozen foods)
California Rolls (prepared foods)
Beef or chicken tacos (frozen foods)
Chicken Enchiladas in Salsa Verde (frozen foods)
Chicken and Chilie Verde Burritos (really needs a sauce)
Mandarin Orange Chicken (frozen foods)
All of the pasta dishes
Asparagus Rissotto (frozen foods)
ChickenTaquitos (frozen foods) *note: the beef ones are okay but not as good as the chicken taquitos*
Chicken Gorgonzola with mushrooms (frozen foods)
Pre-cooked seasoned lentils (produce section)
Organic Jasmine Rice (frozen foods)
Vegetable Masala Burger (frozen foods)
Turkey chili with beans (canned)
Puff Pastry Margherita Pizza
All of the pizzas (esp. the BBQ Chicken Pizza)
All of the meats
All sausages
All frozen fish - tilapia and cod is awesome
Roast beef, pickled onions and honey mustard sandwich (prepared foods section)
Chicken Serenada (frozen foods)
Chicken Pompadoro (frozen foods)
Carne Asada (makes great fajitas)
Steamed clams (frozen, in shells, with garlic butter)
Other
Pizza dough (in the prepared/refrigerated foods section)
Garlic & Herb Pizza Dough ( even better than plain)
Spring Creek garlic and herb goat cheese
Roasted Pepper and Artichoke Tapenade
Masala Simmer Sauce (starter sauce)
Water crackers
Multigrain flax seed crackers
Golden Entertainers crackers
Brown Rice Medley
Grilled eggplant and zucchini (frozen foods)
Peanut Butter
Cookie Butter
Salad mixes
Greek style yogurt with honey
All soups (except Miso)
Frozen Garlic
Frozen Cilantro
Frozen Basil
Red pepper hummus
Edamame hummus
French Roast Coffee(drive across town just for this)
Bold and Smokey Kansas City Style BBQ Sauce
Romano Caesar salad dressing
Chile Spiced Mango (dried fruit section)
Thai Style Soy Ginger Carrot
Nasi Goreng
Black Raspberries (frozen foods)
pear sauce (in cups like apple sauce)
Almond milk
Garlic naan (frozen foods)
Banana waffles (frozen foods)
Lightly smoked canned sardines
Powdered Chai (pretty sweet but yummy and easy to mix)
Winter Blend coffee
Mango Chutney
Garlic Bread (frozen foods, by pizzas)
Beans So Green (frozen foods)
Bad Foods:
Oatmeal bars (way too sweet)
Shepherd's Pie (watery and nasty)
Chicken and Gorgonzola with Lentils (bit bland)
Tangerine juice
Orange juice (too sweet)
Instant Miso soup (powdered miso)
Dried Salted Green Beans
Currant cookies (too seedy)
Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Egg salad sandwich (bland and dry)
Perline Pasta & Proscutto (terrible filling, bad flavor and weird texture)
Chocolate covered frozen bananas - bummer, I thought they'd be a hit but no one liked them here
Filet of Sole reduced calorie meal (frozen foods - good flavor but very small portion)
Dried pumelo (over sweetened yet still bitter)
Cream filled Oscar Meyer hot dogs (cream does not belong with beef. Bad idea)
Tom Yum cashews (the flavor was too overwhelming)
Turkey meatballs - frozen foods section - (Mixed reviews, one lounger's DH liked them but to me they had a weird texture and odd taste, plus they gave my DH terrible heartburn so with 2 out of 3 no's, in the bad foods section they go.)
Eggplant Garlic Spread - bland and had an odd aftertaste
Spicy Shrimp Bao (strong fishy aftertaste)
Frozen falafels (incorrect seasoning, tastes like frozen veggie burger discs)
***
This post can be edited by most users to provide up-to-date information about developments of this thread based on user responses, and user findings. Feel free to add, change or remove information shown here as it becomes available. This includes new coupons, rebates, ideas, thread summary, and similar items.
Once a Thread Wiki is added to a thread, "Create Wiki" button will disappear. If you would like to learn more about Thread Wiki feature, click here.
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For the scallops, I just seared them for 3 minutes per side in some very hot olive oil and butter. http://www.foodnetwork
For the cod, I found a really good recipe online. The only thing I'll change next time is to cut out the lemon juice entirely as the lemon flavor overwhelmed the Cajun seasoning. Because it was raining we couldn't use the grill so I cooked it under a broiler on both sides. It came out really nice, even though it was too lemony.
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/grilled-cod/detail.aspx
Anyway, tried the Boerenkaas Gouda cheese today and it was very nice. Even DH, who normally just sticks to cheddar liked this one.
Anyway, tried the Boerenkaas Gouda cheese today and it was very nice. Even DH, who normally just sticks to cheddar liked this one.
I need to stop by for some cheeses there tomorrow.
A modified version of Chicken Marinara to make it low carb as well as quick and easy. This serves two, just double the measurements to serve four.
2 tablespoons of olive oil
1 teaspoon basil
1 teaspoon oregano
1 large garlic clove (or 2 small cloves) diced
1/2 a jar of Marinara sauce (I like the Paul Newman brand)
2 chicken cutlets (2 skinless/boneless half breasts pounded out to 1/4" thick, could substitute chicken thighs instead)
1/4 cup of flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1/2 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese
1 tablespoon parmesan (optional)
Mix the flour, salt and pepper and dip the cutlets into the mixture, shaking off any excess.
Cook the diced garlic, basil and oregano in the olive oil on medium to low heat for five minutes in a big skillet, stirring constantly so it wont burn.
Put the cutlets into the oil and cook until browned on that side then turn the cutlets over and add the marinara sauce to the pan and cook until the cutlets are no longer pink in the middle.
Sprinkle the cutlets with the mozzarella and allow the cheese to melt into the sauce, then serve. Note: If you like the cheese browned a bit, put the skillet under a boiler instead to melt and brown the cheese.
This is quick, easy and only dirties one skillet. My kind of meal!
But something someone recommended two years ago had stuck in my head so I finally (founding member of the SD procrastinators club
A modified version of Chicken Marinara to make it low carb as well as quick and easy. This serves two, just double the measurements to serve four.
2 tablespoons of olive oil
1 teaspoon basil
1 teaspoon oregano
1 large garlic clove (or 2 small cloves) diced
1/2 a jar of Marinara sauce (I like the Paul Newman brand)
2 chicken cutlets (2 skinless/boneless half breasts pounded out to 1/4" thick, could substitute chicken thighs instead)
1/4 cup of flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1/2 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese
1 tablespoon parmesan (optional)
Mix the flour, salt and pepper and dip the cutlets into the mixture, shaking off any excess.
Cook the diced garlic, basil and oregano in the olive oil on medium to low heat for five minutes in a big skillet, stirring constantly so it wont burn.
Put the cutlets into the oil and cook until browned on that side then turn the cutlets over and add the marinara sauce to the pan and cook until the cutlets are no longer pink in the middle.
Sprinkle the cutlets with the mozzarella and allow the cheese to melt into the sauce, then serve. Note: If you like the cheese browned a bit, put the skillet under a boiler instead to melt and brown the cheese.
This is quick, easy and only dirties one skillet. My kind of meal!
Copying this.
I'm cutting weight as well via low carb (SBD Phase 2) and doing great (feeling great too). Very timely. Been on for 4 weeks, dropped 15 pounds and only 5pounds away from my target weight.
Thanks!
EDIT:
Any chance you're craving pizza? If so I have an amazing recipe that is freakin delicious. Even non-low carbers enjoy it. I can't take credit for it, Igot it off www.yourlighter
You Won't Believe it's Cauliflower Pizza Crust
1 cup cooked, riced cauliflower*
1 egg
1 cup mozzarella cheese
1/2 tsp fennel
1 tsp oregano
2 tsp parsley
**pizza or alfredo sauce
toppings (make sure meats are cooked)
mozzarella cheese
Preheat oven to 450 degrees Farenheit.
Spray a cookie sheet with non-stick spray.
In a medium bowl, combine cauliflower, egg and mozzarella. Press evenly on the pan. Sprinkle evenly with fennel, oregano and parsley.
Bake at 450 degrees for 12-15 minutes (15-20 minutes if you double the recipe).
Remove the pan from the oven. To the crust, add sauce, then toppings and cheese.
Place under a broiler (grill for the Europeans) at high heat just until cheese is melted **.
Notes:
*I use frozen cauliflower prepared according to package directions. After cooked and slightly cooled, I shred cauliflower with a cheese grater, and then measure for the recipe. (Don't pack down the cup with cauliflower. Just fill it with a spoon or the cup itself.)
** The pizza sauce I use is Great Value Pizza sauce from Wal-Mart. At only 3 net carbs per quarter cup, you get a lot of punch for little carbohydrate pow.
*** You can try re-baking the pizza at 450 once you add toppings if desired, but the crust is not quite as crusty. There is a minimal difference, so see what works best for you.
Nutritional Information for the entire crust:
calories: 434, fat: 25 g, carbohydrates: 8 (net), 13 if counting all, fiber: 5 g, protein: 41 g.
Nutritional Information for one serving: 109 calories, 7 grams fat, 2 net carbs, 1.5 grams fiber, 10 grams protein.
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http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm320579.htm
http://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/bredeney-09-12/
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm320579.htm
http://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/bredeney-09-12/
More
Brand names included in the recall are Archer Farms, Earth Balance, Fresh & Easy, Heinen's, Joseph's, Natural Value, Naturally More, Open Nature, Peanut Power Butter, Serious Food, Snaclite Power, Sprouts Farmers Market, Sprout's, Sunland and Dogsbutter. Two additional Trader Joe's products are also included in the expanded recall — Trader Joe's Valencia Peanut Butter with Roasted Flaxseeds and Trader Joe's Almond Butter with Roasted Flaxseeds.
Anyway, tried the Boerenkaas Gouda cheese today and it was very nice. Even DH, who normally just sticks to cheddar liked this one.
A modified version of Chicken Marinara to make it low carb as well as quick and easy. This serves two, just double the measurements to serve four.
This is quick, easy and only dirties one skillet. My kind of meal!
But something someone recommended two years ago had stuck in my head so I finally (founding member of the SD procrastinators club
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I use something that looks almost like a cheese grater, but it's typically used to shred papaya here... http://www.amazon.com/Kiwi-Pro-Sl...B000L8FZMY And I shred the zucchini, cook in some olive oil, and have it with Rao's pasta sauce.