It sounds great: The perfect warm and homey breakfast for Fall. It even includes my favorite autumnal flavor, pecan.
Nasty.
The taste is somewhat bland, and it looks a mess (so no in-the-bowl picture). But the worst offense here is the smell.
It smells like pumpkin potpourri.
Seriously, there’s a cloying perfume to this that I can’t get past. It persists even after you add hot water. It just overpowers everything and likely affects the taste.
If you’ve read my blog, you know I’m a big fan of Trader Joe’s ready-made meals. Whether it’s frozen pasta or the famous Mandarin Orange Chicken, I know I can always have a wholesome meal on the table no matter how busy I am.
In addition to their more well-known freezer meals, Trader Joe’s also has some fantastic ready-made meals in the refrigerated section. These tend to be entrees, like lasagna or chicken.
My favorite, by far, is the Chicken Piccata.
This is really an entree and not a full meal, though I won’t judge you if you eat it by itself. It comes with three large, breaded chicken breasts and a bag of lemony, tart piccata sauce with capers.
You simply heat up the chicken breasts in the oven and warm the sauce in hot water for a few minutes. Just like that, dinner is ready.
Just a note: There are instructions for heating it up in the microwave, and I’ve tried that so you don’t have to. The chicken breasts are much better when heated in the oven, and it takes no extra effort. You pop it on a sheet tray in the container it comes in, and 20 minutes later, they’re ready. It’s worth the time.
There are three large chicken breasts, but if you cut it in slices, there’s plenty for four people with a side of pasta and some salad.
This is a great meal, even if you have to provide the sides yourself. Do yourself a favor one weeknight and make this delicious Chicken Piccata.
I work long hours, so I appreciate Trader Joe’s frozen meals, especially their frozen pasta bags.
These make dinner simple: You usually add a couple of tablespoons of water to a skillet, dump in the contents of the bag, and dinner’s on the table in less than ten minutes.
Trader Joe’s Mushroom Risotto is in this same vein.
It’s a blend of frozen rice and hearty mushroom sauce that you add to the skillet and warm through.
One note here: You do have to stir this one while you’re waiting, or the sauce will scorch before the rice is thawed. But it’s done in about six minutes, so that’s a small price to pay.
The sauce definitely has a rich mushroom flavor and lots of chunks of mushrooms, so if you’re not a fan, this one isn’t for you.
To me, this is a little on the bland side and would be livened up with shards of Romano cheese on top. But all told, this is a great and easy dish that will make my regular weeknight line up.
It takes a lot of guts to call your snack: “Movie Theater Popcorn.”
Everyone has their own memory of the buttery, salty aroma wafting through the movie theater lobby, and memories are tricky things. It’s hard to replicate that particular smell and taste in a packaged snack.
One way Trader Joe’s attempts that Herculean task is to start with real, clarified butter. They actually use the butter for popping the kernels, just like they do at the theaters (though I doubt they use real butter there) to lock in that buttery flavor.
So, do they succeed? Kinda, though there’s no replacing the greasy, butter-like topping from the concession stand. But here’s what I mostly taste over the mild and sophisticated buttery corn:
Salt.
Lots and lots of salt. This is one of the saltier snacks I’ve tried, and it overwhelms nearly everything else. I could still enjoy it over the saltiness, but it may be hard for others to get past.
One other warning: Some of the kernels were burnt. Personally, I adored that occasional burnt flavor popping up; it made it more authentic. But if you don’t like that flavor, it may turn you off.
All in all, this is a serviceable – but not perfect – snack for movie night.
There’s nothing like soup when the weather cools off. And there’s nothing like pumpkin and butternut squash when Fall arrives.
So, Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Butternut Squash Bisque should check all the autumnal boxes. Which it does.
Kind of.
This is a good soup, not too thick and not too watery, with a smooth flavor that doesn’t taste too much of pumpkin or butternut squash, but a blend of both. There are a few chunks of sage in there for a flavor. It’s a nice, easy, sippable soup.
Which is good, but not great, and that’s what I’d say about this soup: It’s nice. It didn’t wow me, but it’s nice.
The soup is in the refrigerated case, and I got about two decent sized servings out of the tub when served with a sandwich or a salad. I think if I ate this as my only meal, it would be one serving.
I liked it but wasn’t blown away. I would probably repurchase it, but I won’t weep when it disappears like some seasonal favorites.
I love Trader Joe’s. I know that there will always be something delicious to try.
But even then, I rarely find a new product that makes me want to buy up the whole stock or ask them to order me a case like a true Trader Joe’s fanatic.
Until now.
Trader Joe’s new frozen Spaghetti Cacio e Pepe leapt to the top spot on my weekly dinner list after one bite, and I had it for dinner three nights in a row. It’s that good.
First of all, let’s get this out of the way: This isn’t “real” Cacio e Pepe. Cacio e Pepe – which means simply ‘Cheese and Pepper’ – is a pasta dish made with olive oil (or butter), Parmesan or Pecorino cheese, and plenty of black pepper, all made creamy with a bit of the hot, starchy pasta water.
Trader Joe’s version is much creamier, similar to an Alfredo, but still with plenty of black pepper bite.
It’s also super simple to make. It comes with the sauce in little blocks, and frozen nests of spaghetti. You add a couple of tablespoons of water, the sauce blocks and the pasta nests to a skillet, and cook for less than ten minutes, until it all melts into creamy, cheesy, peppery heaven.
The one piece of advice I have is that, 2-3 minutes before the end of cooking, you use tongs or two forks to gently pull apart the nests. That will ensure the pasta softens enough so you can toss it in the sauce.
As far as portions, this doesn’t make that much. It can serve two adults (or one really hungry one) if served alone or with a side salad. As a side dish, it could probably stretch to four.
As far as whether or not this is seasonal, it’s a new product, so time will tell. If it sells well, it could stay in the rotation, or they could keep it as a Fall or Winter product.
Have you ever just thought to yourself: “I could really use a chocolate bar the size of my head.”
Well, look no further, my friend. Trader Joe’s has you covered.
The Pound Plus chocolate bars are a little over a pound (see what they did there?) – or 17.6 ounces – of creamy, rich, delicious Belgian chocolate.
They come in dark, milk, and with almonds, though I usually choose the milk.
Now, a pound of chocolate is a lot of chocolate, I know. But the bars are already divided into reasonable pieces.
They can be eaten straight up as a snack, or used in baking. A lot of people buy these bars and break them up themselves for cookies and such, rather than pay inflated prices for chips or “baking chocolate” at other stores.
And how do they taste? Not bad, actually! Is it the best chocolate in the world? No, but it’s worlds better than most American chocolate bars that you’re used to. It is real Belgian chocolate, after all.
And for the price point and size, it’s definitely a bargain.
The Pound Plus bar is available year round, which makes it great for keeping on hand for cookie baking or to satisfy the odd chocolate craving. You can find it with the candy, usually above the freezer aisle.
Here’s a small haul of items that always seem to find their way into my cart.
From left to right:
Sliced Sourdough Bread($2.99) – Maybe it’s because I spent 20 years in San Francisco, but this is my go-to bread for sandwiches and toast. Like all TJ’s bread, it doesn’t keep well, so I store it in the fridge.
Dark Russet Kettle-Cooked Potato Chips ($2.29) – These look burnt, but they’re really, really not. I don’t know how they do it, but I love the almost too-dark but really just perfect flavor of these. They’re great with the onion dip.
Unexpected Cheddar ($3.99) – I know everyone says this, but Unexpected Cheddar really is great. A cross between sharp cheddar and Parmesan with a crumbly texture, I eat it straight out of the package. It gets a bit gritty after a while, but mine never lasts that long.
Indian Style Flatbread ($2.99) – TJ’s take on naan, this comes in different flavors and is perfect for dipping in hummus. Like the sourdough, keep it refrigerated.
Smoked Chicken Tenders Dog Treats ($3.99) – According to my dog, Dot, these are the best treats in the entire world. She goes crazy when she sees the bag. Unfortunately, these are very expensive for a small bag, especially when you have a big dog. But they make her happy so they’re worth it.
Belgian Chocolate Pudding ($3.49) – Oh, Lordy. This stuff really shouldn’t come home with me every week, but I can’t help it. This is a thick, rich chocolate pudding, and not just any chocolate. DARK chocolate. It’s the perfect panacea for even the strongest chocolate craving.
Way More Chocolate Chip Cookies ($4.49) – These small, buttery cookies were pretty darn perfect already, but now they’ve added…wait for it…way more chocolate chips. They disappear by the handful, so be warned.
Cacio e Pepe ($3.99) – This is new to this list (and new to Trader Joe’s) but I suspect I’ll stop putting it in my cart when they pry it from my cold dead fingers. It’s creamy, cheesy, peppery and takes less than 10 minutes to cook on the stovetop. What’s not to love?
Plantain Crisps ($2.49) – I usually prefer salty over sweet, and I reach for these salty snacks every time.
Carmelized Onion Dip ($2.99) – This is not your garden-variety onion dip. The carmelized onions lend a nice sweetness to this tangy dip.
Mandarin Orange Chicken ($4.99) – You know it, you love it. My freezer is never without at least one bag.
Hummus Dip ($3.49) – Trader Joe’s has great hummus, and this plain one is no exception.
Fresh Hard-Cooked Peeled Eggs ($2.69) – I always keep a bag of these cage-free, hard-boiled eggs on hand for quick and healthy breakfasts. I love them with Trader Joe’s Everything But the Bagel Seasoning.
Parmesan, Romano & Asiago Cheese ($2.99) – I love this shaved cheese for finishing off pasta dishes. I always keep a tub on hand.
Chicken Breasts ($7.99) – These fully-cooked, lightly seasoned, boneless, skinless chicken breasts are super handy. They are individually vacuum-sealed in a bit of jus so they stay nice and moist. They’re great for salads, sandwiches, or to nestle in a TJ’s simmer sauce for dinner.
As much as I love Trader Joe’s, I’m not in love with their pre-made foods.
That isn’t to say I dislike everything from the refrigerated case. Their soups are the bomb (especially the seasonal varieties) and I do very much like a lot of their ready-made meals. But while I succumb occasionally (it’s a long drive to TJ’s from my house), their salads and sandwiches don’t usually thrill me.
After that long-winded disclaimer, let me just say that this Cubano Seasoned Wrap is…not bad.
It’s described as roasted pork, uncured ham, Swiss cheese and dill pickles in a flour tortilla with a Cuban-inspired mustard dressing.
Let’s break it down, shall we?
Roasted pork – This was my favorite part. The meat is moist and well-seasoned, and there are decent sized pieces.
Uncured ham – Also very good; much better quality than you’d normally expect in a pre-made sandwich wrap.
Swiss cheese – It’s…Swiss cheese?
Dill pickles – Not sure what these are, but they’re not the dill pickles of my Vlasic dreams. They tasted more like sweet pickles, and since I detest sweet pickles, I was turned off.
Flour tortilla – Pretty standard. Because the dressing was on the side and there were no vegetables, it didn’t get soggy or slimy, which was nice. Speaking of the dressing…
Mustard dressing: I would say a lot of the “seasoning” from the Cubano Seasoned Wrap was actually in here. But it’s not spicy at all. Rather, it’s tangy, sweet and mustardy all at once, and thin enough for dipping. There was enough for the whole wrap, but barely.
Overall, I’d say this is a solid option if you’re stuck at lunchtime.
If you don’t feel like it’s Fall until your first warm apple cider, then these are the donuts for you.
Trader Joe’s Apple Cider Donuts are a Fall staple, and it’s easy to see why. These delicious cake-style donuts are coated with thick cinnamon sugar and while there’s no apple directly in them, they evoke happy apple cider memories.
Interestingly, I tried these last year and thought they were just okay. They seemed a little dry and the coating was sparse. I don’t know whether HQ got my memo or I just got a bad box, because neither of those things were an issue this year.
Apple Cider Donuts come six to a box, and are found in the bakery section near the front of the store (with the cakes, Kringles, etc.). As with all the seasonal products, they’re here for a limited time only, so grab them while you can.
Trader Joe's Table 