Trader Joe’s Holiday Crush Is On. What’s in Stores Now.

I rolled into my Trader Joe's today and bumped into them stocking tons of holiday stuff! I expected some stuff, but this was full on. It was mostly returning items at my store, but a few new things, too. Still waiting on health and beauty gift sets and bigger advent calendars. Here's a sampling of…

ByMichelleNovember 1, 20230Comments

Product Review

We Tried Trader Joe’s Sparkling Cranberry Ginger Beverage

We have reached that point in the year where it's literally impossible to keep up with all the holiday goodies hitting shelves at Trader Joe's. That's in a non-COVID year. I'm shopping once a week, so it's sort of luck of the draw on what's in, and I'm mostly focusing on what's new this…

ByMichelleNovember 13, 20200Comments

Nantucket Cranberry Pie – It’s Really a Cake

During the holidays, Trader Joe's is a minefield of treats, from Peppermint Joe Joe's to chocolate advent calendars to Jingle Jangle candy-pretzel mix. You almost have to put on blinders to avoid filling your basket. In the frozen section, I stumbled on Nantucket Cranberry Pie, which looked a bit like upside down cake (theirs had…

ByMichelleDecember 12, 20160Comments

Appetizers Recipes

Party Snacks: Apple and Caramelized Onion Tartlets

It's been a bit of a whirlwind, hasn't it? Halloween, followed by the Election, and now all of a sudden it's time to start thinking about the holidays. Whether you've got a few friends stopping in for drinks, or a full blown holiday party on your agenda, I've got an appetizer you're gonna want to put…

ByMichelleNovember 14, 20161Comment

Baking Dessert Recipes

Brandied Cranberry Hazelnut Bars

Are you ready to put aside the pumpkin? Let’s get a move on. It’s cranberry time.

ByMichelleNovember 6, 20160Comments

Baking Cooking Dessert Fruit Recipes

Thanksgiving Leftovers: Cranberry Black Pepper Sweet Rolls

It's the day after Thanksgiving. You just had a turkey sandwich with a few slices of apple and a schmear of cranberry, but there's still a lot left. Why is it that of all the Thanksgiving side dishes, it's the cranberry that hangs around for days? Whether it's brandied cranberries, a basic homemade cranberry sauce or the one from a can, it's always the last to go. This year, I've got an idea for you. Cranberry Black Pepper Sweet Rolls.

ByMichelleNovember 20, 20131Comment

Baking Photo One-offs

Banana Breakfast Cookies

I was a hold out for a long long time on Larabars. The texture always kind of weirded me out - they're just a little too soft, y'know? But after trying the Ginger Snap and more recently the Coconut Cream Pie, I'm on board. They're like Samoas without the chocolate! And they were a perfect…

ByMichelleMay 23, 20120Comments

Baking Recipes

Cranberry Chocolate Chip Butter Cookies

Around here, Thanksgiving is all about the old favorites and not deviating from them one iota. It's the one time of year we have stuffing and sweet potatoes simmered in butter and spices, so there's almost no need to add anything new. Almost. I might sneak in Lisa Fain's Ancho Creamed Corn in place of…

ByMichelleNovember 20, 20112Comments

Trader Joe’s Holiday Crush Is On. What’s in Stores Now.

We Tried Trader Joe’s Sparkling Cranberry Ginger Beverage

Nantucket Cranberry Pie – It’s Really a Cake

Party Snacks: Apple and Caramelized Onion Tartlets

Thanksgiving Leftovers: Cranberry Black Pepper Sweet Rolls

Banana Breakfast Cookies

Book Review: A Ghastly Catastrophe by Deanna Raybourn

The Fourth Princess by Janie Chang

26 New Asian and Pacific Islander Books for your 2026 TBR