TJ & SL …a true love story

I have found my new love.

lucky for him…

I am easily seduceable.

doesn’t take much to make this girl happy.

I had heard about him from many a friend

but I resisted the temptation…he was not from my neighborhood.

yesterday..I decided I need something new in my life

so off I went to check out his goods.

“clean” is a given, but add a whole lot of “freshness” & “tantalizing”..well

you can understand my LOVE at first sight!

What can I say …Trader Joe delivered

He was everything this girl wants…

in a grocery!

( a small disclaimer – No I am NOT being paid by Trader Joes for this review..but after you read this…you will think that they should!!)

Reasons Trader Joe Rocks my World:

#1 Eye Candy Aisles: Upon entering you are greeted with colorful fresh produce, clean WIDE aisles and clear marked sections

#2 CLEAR COLORFUL SIGNS that mark every product on the shelves and in the fridges. There is no guessing game as to what the product is and how much it cost. I particularly love the font and fun old world feel of the graphics they use on their signs.

#3: Great Customer Service: Their customer service is exceptional, with people like Charles behind the counter, you are instantly transported to a time where stores cared about the people who paid good money to buy their goods from them. Even though I was not a fan of the short counters (no place to put your groceries to check out, so things run a little slower) I got what Trader Joes reasoning was; By having the check out guy personally take out each thing and scan, he has time to comment on your products, giving advice and opinions, and just shmooze with you, making you feel like you are being taken care of and forging a connection with the store and its people. I felt like I was shopping in the old west ala “Little House on the Prairie’s”…five and dime store.

#4 Trader Joes News Letter: I mean any store that can produce a news letter, that is not only graphically appealing, but takes the idea of announcing sales and new products to a whole NEW level..is worth your time to go at least check out once.

 

BEST KOSHER FINDS :

However, the REAL reason to go and try a Trader Joes near you,  is the abundance of delicious kosher products.

I must say it really takes a little to make me happy and when I find a grocery that has fresh produce, some great unique kosher gourmet items, and is reasonable priced, I am one happy camper.

I don’t know why I resisted going till now, but I can tell you this will be a once a month date…minimum.

Here are some of my best kosher finds:

#1 The Pizza Dough $1.19 – this fresh pizza dough rivals anyone I can make in my own mixer..and that is saying a lot for me! It comes also in Whole Wheat & Basil Garlic. However, I much prefer the regular dough over those, I found the Basil Garlic flavor over powering as a pizza crust and the whole wheat was chewy (but  disclaimer..I am not a fan of whole wheat in general) The price is awesome and well worth stocking your freezer with many bags, to keep your summer suppers simple, delicious & fast! You can use these doughs for way more than pizza as well.

#2 Trader Joes Social Snackers : When I am looking for a midnight nosh, I am usually looking for the perfect blend of salty and creamy. These dairy crackers are the absolute BEST crackers I have eaten in a long time. They rival any snacker crackers out there on the market currently that I have tried. A few go a long way to satisfy any craving…especially topped with my next favorite Trader Joe  Sea Salt Chunky Peanut Butter.

#3 Trader Joe Sea Salt Chunky Peanut Butter: Ok peanut butter lovers…HERE is a peanut butter that will rock your world. I am serious! This perfect creamy blend of chunky peanuts just reminds you what REAL peanut butter was and is suppose to taste like. I can NOT wait to use this product in some of my baking recipes…I see chunky peanut butter cookies in my near future! But in the meantime spread on some TJ crackers or just even by the spoonful, this is worth every calorie!

#4 Trader Joes Soy Creamy Frozen Dessert: Finally a PAREVE ice cream that does not have an AFTER TASTE!  I admit that I only tasted the Cherry chocolate chip last night, but if the vanilla comes only a fraction near the delicious taste of that flavor…its still got to be a winner. I think I just found my new Friday Night dessert!

#5 Trader Joes Lemon & Triple Ginger Snap Ice Cream: OK can we say…dairy ice cream heaven!  Just the name of the flavor seduced me into buying it…sounded so good.

If you are a fan of things in your ice cream…you will love the fresh lemon rind pieces that are generously infused through this flavor. Not to mention, the quarter size ginger snap cookies that are abundant through out as well. It is the perfect flavor blend, fresh not-to-sweet tasting with just a little hint of tangy lemon in every bite. YUM!

#6 Coconut Milk IN A BOX: I can not tell you how many times I have thrown out half a can of coconut milk, because it had been sitting in my fridge and I am never sure from when. This coconut milk in a box is the answers to my prayer – keeps it fresher and finally I get the amount I need with out opening half cans.

#7 Trader Joes Pastry in a CAN: I can not tell you how many times I wished someone would come out with a kosher version of the Pillsbury Crescent Rolls and Pastries that come in the can. Not that they are superior to what I can make on my own, but sometimes the sheer convenience is priceless and tasty to boot. Admittedly I have not tried these products yet, but the fact that they are KOSHER just makes me love Trader Joes all the more. I will let you know how they are soon! And for those of you who are going to kvetch because they are dairy…well what can I say…usually the best tasting stuff is.  But I really feel for you…maybe (ou kosher dairy)

#8 Trader Joes Beef-less Ground Beef: I don’t know what compelled me other than I was high on Trader Joe products, but I bought this tofu ground beef substitute. Thinking this would make for a fun pizza topping, I used it last night for my Pizza & Ice cream dinner Tuesday Night Dinner with Tunie. After a few little tweaks, I can honestly tell you, this tasted EXACTLY like the sloppy joe I make using regular beef…TRUELY. I was very impressed.

These are just what I found on my pretty brief trip yesterday…who know what I will find the next time I go…CAN NOT WAIT!!

 

Last Nights Sloppy TRADER JOE Pizza Dinner:

 

This sloppy joe mixture was so good, that I plan on making it again but this time for Taco Night!

Ingredients:

2 tbsp. olive oil

1 small onion, diced

1 1/2 cups diced button mushrooms

1 tsp. kosher salt

1 tsp. garlic powder

1 tsp. fresh black pepper

2 tsp. cumin

1 tsp. sweet smoked paprika

1 tsp. dried oregano

1 package Trader Joe Beef-less Ground Beef

1 can Hunts Manwich Sauce

1 package Trader Joe Basil & Garlic Pizza Dough (however I would use the regular dough next time)

Directions:

In a large frying pan, on medium-high heat, sauté the onions in the olive oil for about 5 minutes. Add the mushrooms and all the spices and mix well with the onions. Let sautee for another 4-5 minutes until mushrooms have softened and reduced in size. Then add the TJ Beef-less beef and mix well with the onions and mushrooms. Pour in the can of Manwich and mix well.

Follow the directions on the pizza dough bag and roll out the dough to form your pizza. Top the entire pizza with your sloppy joe mixture.

At this point you can bake on 425F or you can top it with some spinach leaves and shredded mozzarella for some extra toppings to your fun and yummy pizza.

Bake for about 15-20 minutes on 425F

Serve hot!

 

I also made a regular pizza for Tunie…but she loved the sloppy joe one so much, I have it leftover for lunch today!

And I would be remiss if I didn’t post this:

Trader Joes Chocolate Chips are indeed Dairy…:( I am sorry I never had the chance to try the Pareve ones.