I thought it might be fun to share with you some of the things that I like to buy when we make the pilgrimage to Trader Joe’s.
OK – It’s only about 35 minutes away, but sometimes it still feels like a haul.
I’ve read lists like this before and it always gives me great ideas of things to look for. In fact some of our favorite things from TJ’s have been discovered by reading other peoples lists! 🙂
It’s such a small store, but they somehow pack it so efficiently with amazing goodness that you couldn’t possibly see everything……. Or maybe I miss the good stuff because I’m trying to speedily navigate the place with a preschooler and a toddler in tow….. who are frantically trying to find the frog. (there’s a stuffed frog that they hide around the store and if you find him, you get a lollipop from the treasure chest at the checkout! -GENIUS)
These are some of the TJ’s things that we almost always have.
These are some of the TJ’s things that we almost always have.
1. Organic Lemons
2. Organic Bananas
3. Stevia
4. Sparkly water
5. Organic Olive oil
6. Organic Coconut Oil
7. Cranberries (that taste like oranges) SO GOOD – like candy!
8. Raw Almonds
9. Balsamic Vinegar
10. Cocoa Almond Spread (TJ’s answer to Nutella)
11. Cookie Butter (amazing amazing stuff!)
12. Almond Meal (so much cheaper than Kroger)
13. Roasted Almond Butter with Flaxseeds (sometimes I get the raw one which is amazing too!)
14. Unsweetened Apple Sauce
15. Organic Garbanzo Beans (I put them in tons of things, salads, sandwiches, or I make crunchy baked chickpeas – Delicious!)
16. T.J.’s Wheat Thins
17. Organic Black Beans
18. Roasted Red Peppers
19. Joe Coffee
20. Crushed Garlic (I keep it in the fridge and put it in everything)
21. Orange Muscat ChampagneVinegar
(I found out about this one by reading this post at New Nostalgia. I LOVE IT!)
(I found out about this one by reading this post at New Nostalgia. I LOVE IT!)
22. Midnight Moo
23. Kefir (the kids love this stuff)
24. Soy Ginger Vinaigrette Dressing
25. Balsamic Vinaigrette
26. Cilantro Dressing
27. Pure Maple Syrup (so much cheaper than Kroger)
There are a lot more staples on our TJ’s list, always including a few bottles of 3 buck chuck wine!! I’ll take some more pictures and add to the list. It’s such a great little grocery store. Everything is very reasonably priced and so unique. We’ve never tried anything we haven’t liked. But, we have definite favorites. I can’t wait to share more of them with you.
What are your favorites?
what do you do with your almond meal? Gonna have to try that cookie butter!
Trader Joe’s is amazing! They need to reach out to a few more communities, though than those with higher education only (one of their criteria for store placement).
When we go to Trader Joe’s we always purchase: Multi-grain baking mix (like bisquick), Asiago Peppercorn bread, smoked gouda cheese, pink lady apples, granola bars, spinach artichoke dip (in freezer section), coconut oil, some type of nuts: almonds, cashews, walnuts, etc, pasta, and something new to try.
We love T.J.’s! It’s about 40 minutes from our house, so when we go we stock up. I can’t wait to see what else you use from there. What do you do with the almond meal? I’m curious.
I was just there yesterday!Love the stuff on your list. I would add:
Trader Joe’s honkin big dark chocolate bar
Pizza dough
Preservitve free mayo
Laundry detergent- very economical
Tom’s of Maine toothpaste
Nitrate free salami
Balsamic Vinegar
Tea irish breakfast decaf
And I like to cover my fish in almond meal and lightly saute it in Trader Joe’s olive oil. The only way I really like fish.
I adore TJ’s wish it wasn’t an hour and a half away…
I think we must be kindred shopping/eating/cooking/corking spirits – a hearty DITTO to everything on your list!
Blessings!
http://bit.ly/xabvOm
I’m glad you guys all like the list! As for what I do with almond meal…
I put it in my granola bars, I’ve breaded chicken with it and I use it in these cookies (number 11)
http://www.abirdandabean.com/2011/09/what-weve-been-eating.html
So far that’s all I’ve done with it. But I make granola bars a lot, so I like getting it at TJ’s since it’s only like 3 or 4 bucks.
Among the ways you can use almond flour and almond meal:
Use in place of flour when breading chicken or fish. You do have to take extra care not to let the almond flour scorch.
When making pastry flours, substitute a portion of the flour with almond flour.
When making cheesecake, substitute almond meal for graham crackers in the crust.
Use almond meal in place of breadcrumbs in meatballs.
Add almond flour or almond meal to Bechamel sauce for a delicious finish to cauliflower or other vegetables.
I found this list and some great recipes here…..
http://www.sheknows.com/food-and-recipes/articles/808219/almond-flour-and-almond-meal-recipes
Bobbi! I have some of those very things in my house right now! Time to make list number two! 🙂
Love that store. My is also about 35 minutes away but well worth the drive!
I love there cheese department and all the nuts and dried fruit!
Thanks so much for this list! Our TJ’s is about the same distance away and I never go there – maybe once a year. I always want to go but it’s always so busy and with a little one to tow around it seems I can’t stop and look like I want to. This list will be of help for sure!!
I have never heard of cookie butter? What is that used on? I have TJ’s super close and I’d love to branch out and find new things!
aaaah we’re finally getting a TJ’s here in Colorado…only 15 minutes from my door. I can’t wait. Driving to Santa Fe twice a year shows the love…can’t wait to try some of these things as well!
OHHHH, to have a local Trader Joe’s !!
I have too many to list, but some faves are their toothpaste(SLS free and cheap), cocoa powder, ketchup, BBQ, caramel sauce, Gone Bananas, pizza sauce, midnight moo, grape jelly, multigrain English muffins, organic carrots (cheaper than Kroger).I saw they are opening in Lexington, so hopefully we are next.
I love their pear champagne vinaigrette, white cheddar popcorn, and the pot stickers. The one thing that is like crack to me are their thai chile and lime cashews. So amazing.
OOOO – those thai chile lime cashews sound amazing! I’ll have to look into that next time. Usually by the nut section I have enough time to grab almonds, cranberries and wine and get the heck outta there! 🙂