Trader Joe’s Rolls out 20+ Items for Pumpkinpalooza, Round 1

Trader Joe's made us wait until after the Labor Day holiday (again!) this year to unleash Pumpkinpalooza. But the first round of fall items -- pumpkin, maple, apple, etc. are hitting stores now. Let's take a look at what we spotted in the PNW. We went grid style today because there are more than 20…

ByMichelleSeptember 5, 20240Comments

Food News

Preview: Trader Joe’s Maple Dijon Marinated Chicken

Officially it's Trader Joe's Spatchcocked Sweet and Savory Chicken We're having Trader Joe's Spatchcocked Sweet and Savory Chicken for dinner tonight, so review will post tomorrow. I picked the smallest one I could find, it's just 2.88 lbs!, just in case I didn't like it. We'll see! We're having it with Roasted Potatoes and…

ByMichelleOctober 10, 20220Comments

Product Review

2 New Trader Joe’s Items You Shouldn’t Have FOMO Over

So much of the cult of Trader Joe's is built on FOMO over new products. And though supply chains seem more stable this year, people are still hoarding and reselling TJ's products on ebay and elsewhere. Well, I've got two new products that you definitely SHOULDN'T be worried about missing: Trader Joe's Caramel Apple Mochi…

ByMichelleOctober 3, 20220Comments

Product Review

We Tried Trader Joe’s Apple Cider Marinated Pork Loin

Trader Joe's Apple Cider Marinated Pork Loin is a great way to welcome fall. I only regret that I didn't grab a jar of applesauce or the pineapple fruit spread. Because while it has cinnamon, cloves, and other spices in the marinade, this is definitely a savory pork roast. I ended up using a little…

ByMichelleSeptember 16, 20210Comments

Product Review

We Tried Trader Joe’s Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese Bites

I hit two Trader Joe's today in search of new fall items. First stop had almost nothing out yet, just pumpkin waffles, canned pumpkin, frozen spaghetti squash spirals, and the new pumpkin overnight mask. Kind of a bust - the FOMO is real! So I hit up another location at lunch, and they were still…

ByMichelleSeptember 9, 20210Comments

Cooking Main Course Recipes Salads Side Dishes

Before Big Sweater Season ~ Jeweled Butternut Couscous Salad

Thanksgiving really takes care of itself, doesn’t it? The meal itself is so steeped in tradition that you’re not really changing much, are you? Maybe you’ll have roasted Brussels sprouts this year instead of green beans. Maybe you’ll make apple pie in addition to pumpkin, but fundamentally, it’s the meal you grew up with. The…

ByMichelleNovember 18, 20131Comment

Main Course Recipes Side Dishes

It’s All About the Butternut, Baby

One of the best things I've eaten in an airport was a roasted butternut and feta sandwich in Melbourne. Simple, earthy and salty all at the same time. We're no strangers to the virtues of butternut squash around here, and in fact, my grinchiness about pumpkin this year has sent me straight into the arms of butternut squash. Roasted, it makes great soup, salad, risotto, pasta, even pizza sauce. Even with a good, sharp peeler, it may feel like prepping a butternut is taking your life into your own hands, but it's worth the effort.

ByMichelleOctober 15, 20130Comments

Baking Cooking Dessert

Finding My Way Back: Maple Walnut Squares

Walnuts. Ruiner of fudgy chocolate brownies, scourge of chocolate chip cookies, I’ve tolerated you, but there’s no love lost between us. You’re slightly bitter and unless you’re incognito, almonds and pecans rocket past you on my list of favorite nuts. Until now. Until this recipe. Paired with sweet maple syrup, you are magnificent. If, like me,…

ByMichelleOctober 13, 20130Comments

Recipes Salads Side Dishes

In Season: Kale, Asian Pear & Pomegranate Salad

Creating balance is sometimes about restraint. You don’t always need flavor to smack you in the face to have a wow moment. As you look at the piles of apples and pears in the produce section, it’s never been more true. My favorite eating apple these days is the Honeycrisp. It’s not shy. It’s crunchy…

ByMichelleNovember 14, 20120Comments

Baking Recipes

Ginger Spice Banana Bread is the Holiday Bake You Need

Saturday morning. It’s still dark – moon-is-still-up-dark – at 7 a.m. You check email, Twitter and Facebook while still lying in bed. You get up, brush your teeth, let the dog out and then stumble into the kitchen to make coffee. It’s light by now, and there they are on the counter, shoved off to…

ByMichelleNovember 4, 20121Comment