Quick Lunch Inspo: Trader Joe’s Butternut Squash Risotto Over Arugula

We got our first full on rainy day of the fall, so it was a perfect day for risotto for lunch. I've had both Trader Joe's Butternut Squash Risotto and Risotto Semplice chilling in the freezer, and decided to bust out the butternut today. You just put half the bag in a microwave-safe bowl…

ByMichelleOctober 9, 20250Comments

Product Review

We Tried Trader Joe’s Bibim-Guksu

Trader Joe's track record with Korean food items has been pretty good. Well, at least the frozen items that are product of Korea. Unfortunately, Trader Joe's Korean Style Bibim-Guksu doesn't quite measure up. I'd call it convention center quality. Mid at best. Let's get into it. To start, it's more snack sized…

ByMichelleJune 18, 20250Comments

Product Review

Trader Joe’s Updates its Frozen Margherita Pizza

So you'll notice a couple things about Trader Joe's updated Margherita Pizza in the freezer section. First is that they've ditched the "Trader Giotto's" branding and inverted the name. The old version was Pizza Margherita, the new one is Margherita Pizza. But in addition to a packaging update, the pizza bones from this…

ByMichelleJune 11, 20250Comments

Recipes

How It Started, How It’s Going: Trader Joe’s Canned Lentils

Canned lentils have never been a huge part of my cooking repertoire. I didn't grow up with them and when I make lentils now, it's pretty much always from dried. TJ's used to have steamed lentils in the refrigerated section, but they were always a little overcooked for me. So when I saw Trader Joe's…

ByMichelleMarch 10, 20250Comments

Product Review

We Tried Trader Joe’s Teriyaki Mushroom Mini Bao Buns

I was skeptical when I saw that Trader Joe's newest dumpling was teriyaki-flavored. Teriyaki in a bao? I imagined a gloopy super sweet soy-based sauce overwhelming the veg filling. But now that I've tried Trader Joe's Teriyaki Mushroom Mini Bao Buns? I think it's meant to be more of a shorthand toward a sweet,…

ByMichelleFebruary 18, 20250Comments

Product Review

We Tried Trader Joe’s Crispy Potato and Poblano Tacos

For awhile now, Costco has periodically stocked a flat Jack-in-the-Box-style crispy taco from Don Lee Farms. They came in chicken and pork. And now Trader Joe's is bringing us a vegetarian/vegan version with its Crispy Potato and Poblano Pepper Tacos. The filling is mashed potato and roasted poblano chile. So don't go in…

ByMichelleDecember 17, 20241Comment

Product Review

How to Use Trader Joe’s Yuzu Miso

Trader Joe's is on a bit of a yuzu kick between yuzu kosho, green tea with yuzu spread, and now yuzu miso. What's interesting about the yuzu miso is, it's basically a jarred version of miso ae, a sauce/dressing you'd usually make from scratch. It's typically just a combo of miso paste, brown…

ByMichelleJuly 15, 20240Comments

Product Review

We Tried Trader Joe’s Vegan Soup Dumplings

Vegetarians & vegans and people who occasionally eat plant-based, you've got a good xiao long bao option. Trader Joe's Vegan Soup Dumplings, officially Steamed Vegetable Soup Dumplings, are very good. As usual, I recommend steaming them on the stove, if you can. The soup tends to dry up in the microwave, and these seem to…

ByMichelleJune 17, 20240Comments

Product Review

We Tried Trader Joe’s Spring Rolls with Tofu

There's a Shrimp Version, Too Summer rolls, spring rolls, fresh rolls, whatever you call them, they're delish. Trader Joe's Spring Rolls come in two varieties: tofu and shrimp. But because I was a little leery about shrimp, I went with the tofu version. Two to a package for $5.49, they come with a cashew dipping…

ByMichelleJanuary 22, 20240Comments

Product Review

We Tried Trader Joe’s Avocado Ranch Salad Kit

Trader Joe's salad kits aren't usually on my shopping list, but something about Avocado Ranch said throw one of these in your basket. See how it is. And let's be honest, I really never pass up a Frito salad. (There's a good one in The Homesick Texan's Family Table by Lisa Fain). So, for…

ByMichelleOctober 9, 20230Comments

Quick Lunch Inspo: Trader Joe’s Butternut Squash Risotto Over Arugula

We Tried Trader Joe’s Bibim-Guksu

Trader Joe’s Updates its Frozen Margherita Pizza

How It Started, How It’s Going: Trader Joe’s Canned Lentils

We Tried Trader Joe’s Teriyaki Mushroom Mini Bao Buns

We Tried Trader Joe’s Crispy Potato and Poblano Tacos

How to Use Trader Joe’s Yuzu Miso

We Tried Trader Joe’s Vegan Soup Dumplings

We Tried Trader Joe’s Spring Rolls with Tofu

We Tried Trader Joe’s Avocado Ranch Salad Kit

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