I have a love affair with Trader Joe’s.
We have only had one here in Louisville for about a year now, and I honestly don’t know what I did before it came to town. Maybe saved more money?? ;)
I love Whole Foods too, but Trader Joe’s is much more economical (meaning: cheaper!!). Plus, I’m always finding a new treat to try out.
Since my diet has had to change, I was getting a bit down and out about all the foods I couldn’t have. I was not in a good mood the other day when I went into Trader Joe’s. This is unusual for me, because I love grocery shopping.
While in there, I got my usuals and then I found a goldmine! 3 new to me products that I could actually have!!
You all know that I love Trader Joe’s frozen garlic cubes right?? Well, they have soybean oil in them, so I haven’t been able to use it.
That is when I spotted this jar:
Crushed garlic with no soybean oil or preservatives. No more chopping garlic cloves for this girl!
I’m a dental hygienist and I have an irrational fear of going to work with my fingers smelling like garlic.
Right below the garlic was the frozen foods. That is when I spotted these guys:
Frozen chopped leeks! I can’t have onion or celery right now, and leek is a great sub in soups and anything that calls for onion. Leeks can be a bit of a challenge to chop when you are in a hurry since they are full of sand.
During the week, these are going to be awesome to speed up my cooking time.
My third and maybe favorite find was this pumpkin butter!
Holy yum!! I think I have already eaten half of the jar. I’m addicted.
Have you all found any new products lately?
Do you get excited over new foodie finds?
What are your favorite things at Trader Joe’s?
{ 39 comments… read them below or add one }
My parents went into Trader Joes the other day looking for Tofutti cream cheese (I can’t find it!) and came out with what we think is a TJ’s version but also some pumpkin butter. I guess my dad saw it and thought “I bet Katie would love this.” He was right! Of course what he didn’t know was that I was attempting to make my own at home that very same time…
Oh no!! How did yours turn out???
Oh I love tj pumpkin butter!! I think I went through mine within a week. It was addictive :-X
lol! Mine is gone too!! Whoops.
I love trader Joe’s but I haven’t made a trip in a while! when I do though, I always tend to find something new and delicious to try (enter cookie butter! Lol). I got that pumpkin butter last year though and loved it!
I need to not go so often. It isn’t good for my pocket book!
I LOVE Trader Joe’s. I always find new things there that I become obsessed with, but my two current faves: cookie butter and vanilla green frozen yogurt. Perfection!
Those sound delicious!!
I love Trader Joe’s too! I need to try that pumpkin butter! I keep seeing it on everyone’s blogs! I’m dying to go and check out all the pumpkin treats there!
Oh man… It is addictive. You need it!
drool pumpkin butter. i haven’t been to a trader joe’s in a very long time but these things all look good
you need to go girl!! plus, it isn’t so bad on the wallet as whole foods!
This made me super jealous! Ha ha. No Trader Joe’s in sight from where I live, I’ve never even been in a store before!! Its like a blogging sin.
Stink!!
That is sad girl…
Wow. This made me look up pumpkin butter so I can make my own (so I can omit the honey). Hopefully it will go well and I will post how it goes. Anything to roast pumpkin seeds right if I can find a good price on pumpkins.
Trader Joes can be a great bargain. The closest one too me is a shopping nightmare (too tight) but I think they are moving so it will help. Be glad you can’t eat their pepper/nibs/chocolate right now…holy smokes, SUPER addictive.
I love that you are a hygienist because I am one of those people that does terrible at the dentist so it is nice to know a good one out there. You need to become a dentist.
Aww!! I was going to go to dental school, but I am TERRIFIED of dead people. Since you have to work on cadavers in dental school, I couldn’t go. I kept passing out in the cadaver lab. :/
Isn’t it strange how the “concept” of a dead person is very different than being next to one? And I imagine cutting into one (or whatever the procedure) would actually be surreal.
Yum! I looove garlic! I put it in pretty much everything! And that pumpkin butter is to die for! I’ve been using it nonstop lately. I’m glad you found some stuff you can enjoy! We do need to catch up! Miss you girl! xoxo
I think I’m turning orange from all the pumpkin and pumpkin butter I am ingesting! lol..
I prefer Whole Foods over TJ’s (they sell way too much junk disguised as healthy food), but they have some cool stuff. There is a granola there that I LOVE.
I def agree with that! I can find some really good healthy options though at TJ’s that are cheaper…I couldn’t live without either… at least I wouldn’t want to!
We don’t have Trader Joe’s ANYWHERE close!!!!!!! Boooo.
I know!! Where is the closest one… Knoxville? The pic above is actually the kville store!
You are such a considerate hygienist! I have the worst gag reflex in the world (especially during the X-rays!) and I can’t imagine how worse it would be if my hygienist had garlic hands!
Also, if you DO get garlic hands, you can rub them on a piece of stainless steel (I just turn a pot over and rub my hands on it – and then wash it of course). Works like a charm!
I am so going to do that trick from now on!! I wish I could be your hygienist! I have tricks to help with the gaggers.
What great finds! I love leeks in soup. Trader Joe’s really is awesome.
I love leeks too!! I think I prefer them to onions… is that weird??
Ok I am so in love with your blog. I love TJ’s and I worked there up until about 2 weeks ago. I had to quit to focus on school..I am actually going to school in hopes of becoming a dental hygienist!! SO awesome that you are a DH!! That pumpkin butter is unreallll!
Aww.. thanks Brittany! (Love the name by the way!) Dental hygiene is a great field. Feel free to e-mail me anytime to pick my brain. I’m here for ya!
I feel like I am the only person on this earth who has not tried the pumpkin butter from there lol… I need to get my hands on some!
Yes you do girl!
I bought the pre-trimmed leeks from Trader Joe’s to use in my recent vegetable soup bonanza, but I didn’t realize they had frozen ones! I am DEFINITELY going to have to look for those when I go to Richmond this weekend.
The frozen ones are awesome!! Save so much time!
A Trader Joe’s opened near us recently, and we have made several trips since there since they opened. I love Whole Foods too, but TJ’s prices really are better. I thought about trying the frozen leeks myself, but wasn’t sure about them. I do like their coconut oil. Great taste and cheapest one I’ve found. I’ve also found their fresh produce to be of pretty good quality.
aren’t they great!! You def need to try the frozen leeks!
I have been a long-time TJ’s fan and have no clueee what I’m gonna do the day I live somewhere without one, no joke! I traveled for work in September and totally lucked out having a fridge in my room and a TJ’s a few blocks away
I love so many things but the leeks made me think of frozen artichokes, you should try them!
I love their frozen artichokes too!! I have no idea what I did before we got ours!
Frozen leeks? What a score! I hate having to clean all the nooks and crannies from fresh leeks but I LOVE their flavor! It’s actually a shame I haven’t cooked with them since the holidays last year!
You know me, I definitely get excited with new foodie finds! My latest: vidalia onion jelly! Soooooo good!
Favorite TJ items: extra firm tofu (no pressing needed), unsalted creamy almond butter, and ANY of their coffees (though I’m gonna have to start scouting out the decaf now! Lol)
Luvy loves their coffee too!! I agree with the almond butter… to die for! I need to come to Nashville so we can be foodies together one weekend!!