Trader Joe’s Cold Pressed Pineapple Juice never makes it home from the store. It is, as you can see, my “car treat” after my shopping expedition.
This is the best juice I’ve ever had. It’s so fresh-tasting and refreshing. It often does separate, so it needs a good shake. But it tastes like you’re drinking it straight from the pineapple.
You’ll find it with the fresh juices, near the dairy.
And if you down it in the car before you even leave the parking lot or remember to take a picture, I won’t blame you.
For those who don’t know, Trader Joe’s has one of the most – if not the most – generous return policies in the grocery business.
As they put it:
We tried it, we liked it. If you don’t, bring it back for a full refund
Basically, if you don’t like something, you can bring it back and get a full refund.
But it doesn’t stop there: If something spoils before its time, the crew members don’t even need to see it. You can bring in your receipt, and they’ll automatically refund your order. In fact, most of the time, they don’t even ask to see the receipt. They use the honor system and take you at your word.
I used this policy twice today.
Caramelized Onion Dip
A few days after I bought it, I noticed the plastic film and the lid expanding, which is a clear sign that something’s growing inside. There were still 10 days to go before the Use By date
I obviously didn’t want to carry in a spoiled dip, so I tossed it and just let them know at the counter.
They asked the price, and I gave it to them from my receipt. Not only did they not ask to see the receipt, but they would have just checked the price for me if I didn’t have it handy.
Pumpkin Pecan Instant Oatmeal
As I mentioned in my review, this was one of the nastiest things I’ve ever bought at Trader Joe’s. It smelled so much like Fall potpourri that I couldn’t choke it down. It became the first thing that I ever returned just because it tasted terrible.
I did bring the rest of the box in, and they took it without question.
In both cases, I just brought it up at the checkout stand that I wanted to return it, and a Captain took it off my bill right there. It couldn’t have been easier.
So if you’re not sure about a product, go ahead and try it. Returning it is not only encouraged, but it couldn’t be easier.
If there’s one Trader Joe’s product that can be deemed a cult favorite, it’s the Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese. It’s only found in the Fall, and it flies off the shelves due to people stocking up their freezers.
Like the Pumpkin Ginger Hold the Cones, I’m only just catching up to the Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese craze. And like them, I’m now a convert.
It’s tough to describe how good this is. It is definitely a creamy, cheesy mac and cheese. But the butternut squash lends it a depth of flavor mac and cheese can’t achieve on its own. Add plenty of black pepper for kick, and you have the perfect Fall lunch.
This is a good portion for one and can be heated up in the microwave or the oven.
Every year, people wait on pins and needles for these pumpkin-flavored morsels to arrive, and then go crazy stocking up on as many as they can.
So, I knew they could be great, but I spent two whole seasons passing them by.
Fortunately, this Fall I dove right in.
These are miniature ice cream cones filled with a creamy pumpkin ginger ice cream and topped with a white chocolate coating. (The white chocolate is also in the bottom of a cone as a little surprise.)
I shared these with my daughter and son-in-law, and we were all blown away. The flavor is very complex and rich for such a small dessert, and the pumpkin ice cream had just enough of a ginger kick, but not too much for my ginger-averse daughter.
The size is perfect, too, although I wouldn’t blame you if you ate more than one.
Don’t be like me and miss out on these delicious cones. Grab them today before they’re gone!
As you know by now, if you’ve read any of my blogs, Trader Joe’s frozen pasta has a special place in my heart. My day job requires both early mornings and long days, so I don’t have much time and patience to cook elaborate meals during the week.
That brings us to today’s review: Fettucine Alfredo.
This is a pretty basic meal, and it follows the same pattern as other TJ’s frozen pasta:
Put a bit of water in a pan
Dump in the pasta and sauce
Cook until the sauce is melted and the pasta is warmed through.
It takes less than ten minutes, usually.
I will say this Alfredo is pretty plain. It’s more buttery than cheesy, and while that’s not bad, it does beg to be tarted up. It could really benefit from some cooked chicken or peas or even leftover roasted broccoli. It’s a nice blank slate you could really play with.
The serving size says three servings, but I think by itself, it’s just enough for two adults with healthy appetites. You could get three servings as a side, or with some additions.
Thank goodness Trader Joe’s listens to their customers, because otherwise, we wouldn’t have these excellent Honey Mustard Pretzel Pieces.
These snackable bites came in one of the snack mixes they put out around the holidays, I believe, and people loved them so much that they begged TJ’s to put them out in a bag of their own.
And here we are!
These are pretty much a dupe for a well-known brand, but they’re delicious. They have a nice crunch and just enough tang from the honey mustard coating.
Trader Joe's Table 