Feasting on TJs - Trader Joe's Food Reviews

Low Sodium Minestrone Soup

2010-02-28T22:10:00.000-08:00

Rating:
Price: $1.49
Features: low sodium, vegetarian, convenient
Found in: soup/sauce/bean aisle

This minestrone soup is a classic 3! While definitely not bad, it had nothing that made it extra special. In a convenient single serving can, this soup is a great option for lunch at work, or as a side to dinner. Full of pasta, beans and vegetables, this version of minestrone is a bit sweeter than most canned soups (maybe due to the low sodium?). My girlfriend introduced me to this - she uses it to stay warm in Michigan!

Small soup - small post. Enjoy!

Organic Fair Trade Sumatra

2009-12-13T21:43:00.000-08:00

Rating:
Price: $7.99 (14 Oz, 100% Arabica, whole bean)
Features: Supposed "Full Bodied Earthy & Robust Flavor"
Found in: Coffee

I remember not being particularly impressed by this coffee some time ago, but I decided to give it a second try before making up my mind. After brewing pots of this for the past few weeks, I have concluded that it really is unimpressive. I don't find the flavor to be full bodied, earthy, or robust. To me, it simply tastes flat - no high or low notes to remark on. It's not bad coffee per se, but there are plenty of more satisfying Fair Trade & Organic options available at Trader Joe's. I generally enjoy a nice deep Sumatra, but this is not the one for me.

Green & Yellow Beans

2009-12-13T21:34:00.000-08:00

Rating:
Price: $2.99
Features: Washed and trimmed, microwave in bag
Found in: Prepared veggie refrigerator case

There isn't much to be said about this bag-o-beans. They taste ok, and you can just toss them in the microwave in the bag for a few minutes and they are ready to eat. The price is a little steep, but you are paying for convenience. I do enjoy a product which allows me to integrate a Bohnanza reference though! Trade you two wax for a green?!?

Light Coconut Milk

2009-11-17T23:19:00.000-08:00

Rating:

Price: $0.99 (14 Oz)

Features: Contains only coconut and water, no preservatives
Found in: Curious places, often with the condiments on the shelf above the frozen foods

This is my favorite can of coconut milk - it is cheap and does not contain any preservatives. Many brands add preservatives which make for a somehow cooked or burnt taste, similar to that of homogenized milk. I'm not sure why preservatives are needed, since this Trader Joe's Coconut Milk has a 3+ year shelf life without them, and it tastes far better - like pure coconut milk! Imagine that.

I love to use coconut milk to make Thai curries and peanut sauce, or Indonesian yellow rice (in the photo I am in the process of making a spicy green curry full of fresh veggies). A good coconut milk based peanut sauce is amazing with just about anything, but I always end up pouring it over blanched greens to make Swimming Rama, or using the sauce for dipping skewered grilled meats (satay).

I have tried a number of other brands of coconut milk because my Trader Joe's was unable to get any of this in stock for what seemed like 6+ months, so I experimented among the twenty or so brands the crazy Asian grocery store near my house carries, none of which really satisfied. Not sure what was going on there with the supply chain issues at TJ's, but thankfully it has come back, and seems to be in high demand again!

I believe Whole Foods has coconut milk under their 365 label which is preservative free, and about the same price, and they do have a version that is "regular" (not light). As my cooking instructor says, the only difference between regular and light coconut milk is that light is half water, so you can use one can of regular plus one can water and come out with two cans worth of light to save a few dollars if you find a regular strength brand you like. I found the Thai Kitchen brand to be tasty, but it is always about three times the cost of other brands, which does not please me in the least.

Trader Joe-san's Selected Sake from Japan

2009-11-16T21:28:00.000-08:00

Rating:
Price: $10.99 (720 ml, 15% ABV)
Features: Better served cold than hot (unfortunately for me); blessings of God

Found in: Desert wine section...not sure where else it would go I suppose.

"Ahh, a nice cup of warm sake would be just the thing to relax with on this awful stormy evening, and a nice excuse to review another TJ's product" I think to myself. Enter Trader Joe-san's Selected Sake from Japan. The bottle looks fancy with its foil top and tuxedo-vest-like label. Below it states:

Junmai Ginjo Sake is a specially reserved connoisseur class of sake using certified sake rice that has been polished away to 45% of it's original size. This is a supplement-free product of which only "Koji", the blessings of God has been added. May it bring happiness to you.

Wow, good times. I eagerly heated up a cup of the sake. I'm no connoisseur class of sake drinker, so maybe my tastes are just not refined, but once warm this sake has some serious alcohol fumes coming off it. Far more than others I have tried if, memory serves me correctly. I found it difficult to get my nose close enough to the cup with all the fumes rising up to be able to take a sip, and then I got mostly an alcohol taste as well. So, that was a disappointing experience. Now there is such strong wind outside I'm afraid the house will blow down, so maybe the strong sake isn't all a bust.

Ok, the bottle does say to serve it cold, but it seems like all sakes say that. And yes, I had a few sips of it slightly chilled and it is much smoother and has that soft sake flavor I was seeking. It is enjoyable when cool, but I wish it could be served warm on cold nights as well, and I feel like TJ's should have a decent sake for less than $11.00 per bottle. If you are into sake and you have an opinion on this Junmai Ginjo, let's hear it in the comments!

Salmon Roulette with Spinach Florentine Stuffing

2009-11-16T21:08:00.000-08:00

Rating:

Price: $3.99

Features: Good salmon with a flavorful stuffing, extreme black pepper crust

Found in: Frozen seafood

TJ's has carried these frozen salmon roulettes for as long as I have been shopping there. I was tempted to get them on many occasions, but always had my doubts about the quality of the salmon, or how long they would take to thaw and cook up. One night when I needed a quick, easy, and relatively healthy dinner I went for them. I'm glad I finally did, because they are really good, and don't take too long to cook up from frozen (thaw in microwave for a few minutes, then finish in a frying pan).

The salmon is good quality especially for frozen, though I'm sure it is farmed (obligatory "boo!"). The spinach Florentine stuffing is very flavorful and full of garlic. Just the right amount of stuffing is placed in the middle of the round making for many satisfying bites out of the circle with an optimal salmon-to-stuffing ratio. Now, if you like tons and tons of black pepper, then you will be fine with the coating on the outside of the round. The whole edge is coated in big grains of powerful pepper, which makes for some overwhelming spice after a few bites. I think I understand why they put the coating on there - these might look less appetizing and a little too much like frozen fish pucks if the edge was just pink. However, I would advise scraping a bit of the pepper off and mopping it back up as a seasoning for your veggies.

Trader Joe's JOE - "An exceptionally smooth cup of coffee"

2009-10-24T12:18:00.000-07:00

Rating:
Price: $3.49 (14 Oz, 100% Arabica, whole bean)
Features: Decent generic coffee for a crazy low price
Found in: Coffee section labeled "Super Cheap!"

"Joe brews a good satisfying cup of coffee. No Frills. Nothing fancy. Just good coffee at a great price. We created an excellent blend of Arabica beans and roasted them to that place where drinkability, smoothness and enjoyability meet - a medium roast, to be precise. Your kitchen table. The office. A to-go cup on the road. It doesn't matter where you are, as long as you have a good cup of Joe."

This product speaks for itself, which makes reviewing it easy on me! I agree that this is a smooth coffee at a great price. It has a good generic coffee taste - nothing really striking, yet nothing bad, like dreaded sour burning acidity, either. I like that it comes as whole bean so you can grind it right before you brew. Like they say, nothing fancy, but it gets the job done! Far and away better than other coffee you might find for $3.49!

If you are struggling along making your daily brew with pre-ground "coffee" that comes in a big metal can because you don't know any better or don't want to pay more - here are the beans you should switch to. Invite JOE to your mornings - do it now!

Chicken Tikka Masala with Cumin Flavored Basmati Rice

2009-10-23T19:45:00.000-07:00

Rating:
Price: $3.49
Features: Spicy sauce, tasty chicken and nicely flavored rice, tastes "authentic"
Found in: Freezer at demo booth

I had a sample of this chicken tikka masala at the demo stand the other night and was really impressed with the flavor, so I decided to buy a box thinking it would make a good lunch at work. The chicken is tender and good quality white meat, the sauce is flavorful with a nice level of spice, and the cumin basmati rice makes a great accompanyment. The cardamom and lemon juice in the sauce really come through, making this about as good as tikka masala from my favorite Indian restaurant.

The only problem with this frozen entree is that you don't get that much food for your money. My box only had four (decent size) pieces of chicken in it. They should package it with a piece of garlic naan to soak up the sauce to make it a more filling meal.

Beer Bread Mix

2009-10-22T21:33:00.000-07:00

Rating:
Price: $1.99
Features: Add 12 ounces of beer, 1/4 cup butter, and in 40 minutes you get a dense 9"x5" loaf of yeasty bread with a tangy bite and crisp crust
Found in: New products section

We all enjoyed eating this beer bread fresh out of the oven, it even made the house smell like real fresh baked yeasty bread. So, why only 3-stars? I can't help but wonder why this mix is really needed. Sure, it is fairly cheap at $1.99 per box, but all you are getting is a packet of pre-mixed flour, sugar, and leavening, and some baking directions. If I make beer bread again, I will be mixing my own dry ingredients, but I suppose the mix may inspire people to make beer bread when they would not otherwise think of it (hey, it happened to me), so that's cool.

I made this with the last can of a light ale we had sitting around (better for baking than drinking on its own). The bread turned out fine with a good beer flavor, but I am really curious how it would come out if you made it with a nice dark stout or porter. According to the box, any carbonated liquid will do. You simply dump the mix in a bowl, pour a beer over the top, and mix sparingly to combine. Mixing even a little more than necessary will make the bread tough, which I may be have been guilty of. I didn't want dry flour globs in the finished product!

If I was to make this again I would make biscuits following the directions on the package rather than the one big loaf. The loaf had a crazy crisp crust on it from the 1/4 cup of melted butter you pour over the top of the batter in the loaf pan prior to sticking it in the oven. Honestly, eating the heal was like having a crisp beer doughnut fried in butter. Too over the top for my tastes, but the rest of the loaf with crisp crust all the way around the soft warm center was better. I had mine drizzled with honey, which I highly recommend. Hence the biscuit suggestion - brush, rather than drown, with butter prior to baking, then split open whilen still hot and let the honey melt in! These would make a fantastic companion to a bowl of hearty chili on the blustery fall days we've had recently.

Savory Broth Liquid Concentrate

2009-10-11T19:28:00.000-07:00

Rating:
Price: $3.99 (12 packets, makes 12 cups of broth)
Features: Easy to keep for when you need it, 50% less sodium
Found in: Near the cartons of regular broth

I have been meaning to review this stuff forever. I have used the vegetable broth concentrate packets for a number of things, and I just picked up the chicken broth concentrate today, on a very successful trip to Trader Joe's, lots of new products to review! I needed some chicken broth on hand in small amounts to help thin out some overly-thick chicken noodle soup I made last week.

I really like these packets because you can make however many cups of broth you need at the time, and then save the remaining packets in the pantry for later. This avoids the inevitable half carton of broth that is left over (why must all recipes call for 6-cups of stock when the cartons are only 4-cups each?) which needs to be refrigerated, and usually migrates to the back of the fridge where it expires and gets tossed out months later. The broth has 50% less sodium than other varieties, so you have more control over the salt content of your final dish. I also really like that there is far less waste with the small packets vs. the large boxes of stock. Sure, the boxes can be recycled, but that is still a lot of packaging for something you generally open and dump straight into a pot, not to mention transporting all that heavy liquid from factory to store.

The liquid concentrate packets also give you more for your money, since they make 12 cups for $3.99. The prepared cartons of broth are $1.99 each, and contain just 4 cups apiece. So, it's like getting 4 cups extra for free. These are great to keep around for whenever the need for stock arises, which happens more often than you might expect!

Now I feel special for having written a post that can be tagged with both chicken and vegetarian.

Green Lakes Organic Ale

2009-10-10T23:04:00.000-07:00

Rating:
Price: $7.49 / 6-pack (5.2% ABV)
Features: Pours a nice head, a hoppy kick, balanced and refreshing
Found in: Beer section

I shared a few of these with my friend this afternoon, and we decided it should get 4.5 stars because it is an "almost perfect beer." However, I've now decided to bump that to a full five stars because it is a very good beer, and the best value I have seen for an organic microbrew. (Is there even such a thing as an organic macrobrew?) Plus, I have been stingy with the 5-star ratings lately. Here's what Deschutes has to say about this tasty beer:

Discover Deschutes Brewery’s intriguing amber ale, our Ode to Mother Earth. Experience its mellow malt profile intertwined with subtly surprising hop flavors. Green Lakes Organic Ale is brewed with five types of 100% organic malted barley and balanced with Liberty and Salmon-Safe Sterling hops. Easy to drink. Easy on the Environment. Downright Delicious. Who knew celebrating Mother Earth could taste so good.

Mmm, Salmon-Safe Sterling. Fun to say, fun to drink...wonder if it would pair well with grilled salmon? I'm thinking yes! I also highly recommend the Black Butte Porter from Deschutes Brewery. It has always been a favorite of mine.

100% Kauai Coffee

2009-10-10T12:24:00.000-07:00

Rating:
Price: $7.99 (13 Oz Whole Bean)
Features: Subtle, smooth, balanced, well-rounded flavor
Found in: Coffee zone

We go through a can of coffee about every other week, so by now I have tried most of the medium roast options from Trader Joe's. TJ's has a lot of dark and even super dark "volcano" (charcoal and ash?) roasts available, most of which are quite good, but I prefer the medium to medium-dark roasts. I think medium roasts have a nice balance of all the flavor notes I like in a good coffee, and maintain a good level of acidity. I find darker roasts to lose the acidic edge while clobbering you over the head with a big dose of whatever note is strongest to the specific beans. Not always a bad thing, but not what I want for my morning cup on a daily basis.

Anyway, on to the specifics of these beans! Trader Joe says:

The leeward side of Kauai has long been recognized as a superb place for growing coffee. Abundant rainfall and sunshine as well as a temperate climate provide ideal conditions for the production of coffee. The Garden Island's rich volcanic soil gives these beans an earthy, aromatic flavor.

Trader Joe's 100% Kauai coffee is medium roasted to bring out its sweet, delicate flavor. These beans are as close to Kauai as you can get without hopping on a plane. 'Ono kope!

Well there ya go, I agree about the delicate aromatic flavors. Maybe you could get closer to Hawaii by purchasing TJ's 100% Kona coffee, but since that is about $20/lb you might as well just hop on a plane and go see the source for yourself!

New Mexico Piñon Coffee

2009-09-20T13:12:00.000-07:00

Rating:
Price: $6.49 (16 Oz, Ground)
Features: Good coffee with a natural nutty flavor
Found in: Tasted at demo booth (twice)

I've wondered about this New Mexico Piñon Coffee for a while. I had the chance to taste it at the demo booth a few weeks ago, and was pleasantly surprised. I wasn't sure if I liked it enough to buy a whole can. Then the next week they were brewing it at the demo stand again, and I decided to spring for it. Can't go too wrong with 1lb of coffee for $6.49, right?

I've run through most of the coffee now, and I have really been enjoying it. The roasted pine nuts ground in with the coffee make it taste like a rich hazelnut coffee, only without the chemical taste of artificial flavorings - which are enough to turn me away from most "flavored" coffees. I'm not going to use this coffee as a replacement for my everyday brew, but I do enjoy it, and will purchase another can so I can brew a pot of tasty piñon for a change of pace now and then.

The coffee is good quality, even if it is pre-ground. I suppose it would be hard to get the right ratio of beans and pine nuts into your own grinder every time to make the perfect cup! Speaking of New Mexico, when I was down in Albuquerque for a friend's wedding last October, we discovered that the Church Street Cafe has both very good coffee and food. So, if New Mexican Piñon Coffee from Trader Joe's is enough to make you want to visit the state, you will know where to get delicious huevos rancheros that come with hot sopaipillas! Yum.

Hansen's Diet Ginger Ale

2009-09-16T19:47:00.000-07:00

Rating:
Price: $2.49 (6 x 12 Oz cans)
Features: Natural flavors with very specific origins: "African ginger, Mexican limes, Californian lemons, and Madagascan vanilla"
Found in: Beverages, where Reed's Extra Ginger Beer was not on the shelf :-(

Lurking in the background of my previous post is a can of Hansen's Diet Ginger Ale. I purchased this as a stand-in for Reeds Extra Ginger Beer since it was nowhere to be found. I knew this was not going to be the same as Reeds, which has "26 grams fresh ginger per bottle!" But, I wanted something fizzy and gingery, and expected this would have more of a ginger kick than Canada Dry (not that they sell that at TJ's).

It does have a stronger flavor profile, I tasted just as much Madagascan vanilla as African ginger. The Mexi-calian citrus was lost in the crowd, but I am sure I would miss it if it were not at the party. This diet soda is sweetened with Splenda, which means it is incredibly sweet. It is also highly carbonated with little tiny fizzy bubbles that caused me to sneeze three times while attempting to drink it. Overall, it did the job washing down the tamales for tonight, and I would consider this pretty good for a diet soda. But it's no Reeds, they better get that back in stock again!

"It's that damn Hansel! He's so hot right now!" -Mugatu

Beef Tamales

2009-09-16T19:34:00.000-07:00

Rating:
Price: $2.29 for a package of 2
Features: Tasty corn dough filled with shredded beef - taco sauce not included
Found in: Frozen section, where the Mexican stuff always seems to be off on its own

These are a pretty basic item, so there isn't much to say about them. They are not unhealthy for a frozen dinner item, and the are ready from frozen after 6 minutes in the microwave (just wrap in a wet paper towel). I like the dough on these, not too soggy, a little crispy in places, and the right proportion of dough to meat. The meat is good too, not that gross paste type of "shredded beef" that can come in other things, these have actual hunks of shredded beef, which is good for texture. Two make a filling dinner, I say go for it! There was a guy loading up on the green chile and cheese tamales when I was at the store. Maybe I will try those next...

Charles Shaw Downunder 2008 Chardonnay

2009-09-13T22:24:00.000-07:00

Rating:
Price: $2.99
Features: Tastes sweet and alcoholic. Other flavors undetectable.
Found in: The middle of the Charles Shaw wine display

I have been curious to try the new and exciting Charles Shaw from Downunder (there are some excellent wines from Australia ya' know). Well, I was not expecting excellence for three dollars, but I have found other CS wines to deliver unexpectedly decent taste at a low price (except the Syrah...ugh).

This one managed to disappoint in the taste department. It was super sweet on the first sip, then I began to notice more twinges of a dry alcoholic taste. I sniffed, I swirled, I tried again, but still the same result. Actually, I don't think I would be able to sniff out the difference between a glass of water with a few drops of vodka in it and a glass of this Chardonnay. Very much underwhelming. At least give me some citrus, or melon, or something to work with!

I'm not going to run into the store with the remaining half bottle and demand my $2.99 back, but I won't be buying it again.

While we are here it is worth mentioning another disappointing item I prepared for dinner tonight: TJ's "fresh from the sea" (previously frozen but sold thawed) wild salmon fillets. This fish was not very fresh (smelled quite fishy), nor was is the highest quality salmon (looked pretty beaten up actually). I drenched it in teriyaki sauce and cooked the heck out of it and it was edible, but not good. The fish didn't have as much natural fat and oil in it as salmon usually does, so it did not cook up soft and flaky. Maybe this will work for people buying seafood at TJ's in Kansas, but here in the Pacific Northwest you are going to have to do one heck of a lot better than that for $10.99 a pound. One serious 1-star fish experience.

Roasted Vegetable Pizza & BBQ Chicken Pizza [Double Feature]

2009-08-15T16:06:00.000-07:00

I felt lazy on my dinner night this week, so I picked up two frozen pizzas from TJs, made a big spinach salad at home, and managed to feed four people without much work. I think TJs has put out several new varieties of frozen pizzas recently, lots to try.

Roasted Vegetable Pizza

Rating:
Price: $4.99
Features: Thick-buttery-doughy crust, interesting caramelized onion sauce, vegetarian.
Found in: The deep freeze

I liked this pizza a lot. The crust was hearty and satisfying, but somehow light at the same time. Instead of tomato sauce, this veggie pizza has a slightly sweet sauce made from caramelized onion, which makes for a pleasing and unique flavor. My only criticism is that there were not many roasted red peppers and artichoke hearts topping the pizza. No cheese either, but I didn't notice that until I finished eating, so it wasn't something I missed! I checked to see if this is vegan, but it's just vegetarian. Maybe there really is butter in the crust?

BBQ Chicken Pizza

Rating:
Price: $4.99
Features: Blah...
Found in: The deep freeze

I was not impressed by this pizza. To me, a BBQ Chicken Pizza should scream big bold flavors: smokey-spicy BBQ sauce, red onions, seasoned chicken, bubbly melted cheese. TJs version has all those ingredients, but none of the flavors come through and pop. This is unfortunate because it leaves the pizza amazingly bland. Not enough toppings on this one either, and the crust was thinner, maybe a little crispier, but far less flavorful than the veggie pizza.

I should mention that I bought a bottle of Trader Joe's Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, as recommended on Trader Joe's Wine Compendium, to drink with this dinner. I think it worked well with the pizza. As my friend noticed, you get a lot more bold ripe fruit flavors from this wine if you take really small sips. Quite enjoyable!

Spanakopita & Manitaropita

2009-05-05T21:54:00.000-07:00

Rating:
Price: $3.99 each (12 pieces each)
Features: Crispy filo, tasty filling, surprisingly healthy
Found in: Frozen prepared foods section

Both the classic Spanakopita and the previously unknown to me Manitaropita follow the same principle: Wrap filo dough around a filling and make flaky golden-brown-and-delicious triangles that can be enjoyed as an appetizer or as the main part of a meal.

You probably know that classic Greek Spanakopita is filled with a mixture of chopped spinach and ricotta cheese. Trader Joe's Manitaropita are filled with hearty and earthy mushrooms in a white wine cream sauce. The mushroom filling is richer than the spinach, but both are quite good!

Each package comes with 12 triangles in an aluminum tray which you can pop straight in the oven from frozen and bake them until crispy. Convenient, except the two types bake at different temperatures for different lengths of time. I cheated a bit and baked them together at a middle temperature for most of the time, giving the mushroom ones a 10 minute head start.

These are surprisingly healthy! Actually, they have far less salt than most prepared foods from TJ's, and very little fat, saturated fat, or cholesterol. I was expecting a lot higher fat content given the buttery filo dough. I guess filo is less rich than puff pastry...

The only reason I didn't give them 5-stars is because the flavors are not quite where I think they could be. Maybe add some garlic to the Spanakopita and some caramelized onions to the Manitaropita? Whatever, I am being picky. Far better than frozen entrees you get at most places, both in terms of healthy eating and value. So, go get yourself some of these tasty triangles!

Almond in the Coconut

2009-05-05T21:53:00.000-07:00

Rating:
Price: $2.99
Features: "Crunchy almonds and a creamy coconut center enrobed in milk chocolate"
Found in: Chocolate covered stuff shelves

Hmm, enrobed in chocolate. Is there anything better? I like that word: enrobed. Ahh...it sounds comfy. Anyway, these little guys are basically Almond Joy bites with the almonds chopped up and mixed into the filling. I always liked Almond Joy because of the coconut - though I did have a Mounds phase as well.

These are great, you get a pretty good number in each package, they are decently cheap, and last a while because you have to chew on the coconut before you can eat another. The only gripe I have with them is that the chocolate enrobing is super sweet, even for a milk chocolate. So there goes half a star. No matter, I will continue to buy these when the mood strikes. Plus, they have a clever name. Can't resist that!

Next to Godliness Auto Dish Soap

2009-04-30T22:21:00.000-07:00

Rating:
Price: $3.79

Features: Not very good at cleaning dishes, intriguing ingredients list

Found in: Cleaning / Bath Products

This Trader Joe's dishwasher detergent is "formulated to perform effectively while being safe for the environment." About that performing effectively part... I suppose it depends on what your standard for 'effective' is. Most name brand dishwasher soaps claim to be the most amazing thing on the market, not just effective. TJ's Auto Dish Soap sort of cops out before you even get going as the directions state to "presoak heavily soiled or baked on foods." Maybe I have seen too many years worth of advertising for other miracle and environmentally unfriendly products, but shouldn't a dishwasher be able to take care of really dirty dishes? Isn't that what the environmentalists say - don't prewash or you will end up using as much water as washing your dishes twice?

Let's go through the claims on the front of the bottle:

Biodegradable - Ok, I believe that.
Phosphate Free - True.
Chlorine Free - True.
Removes Dried on Foods - Mostly false.
Removes Tough Stains - Mostly false.
Built-in Rinse Aid - Ok...
Dries Spot Free - False, more like "dries on a nice foggy film."

I wanted to try this product because I was intrigued by the ingredients list: Vegetable and Coconut Derived Surfactants, Earth Salt, Citrus Based Water Softener, Corn Based Thickener, Vegetable Based Drying Agent, Lemon Oil, Water. I thought it would be cool to get clean dishes using coconut dishwasher soap. Well, that would be cool, but this product doesn't quite get there.

Several of the 'mates have mentioned dishes not coming out clean, having to be re-run, or hand washed. Nothing exceptional either, it really should be able to take care of a dirty coffee mug. You also have to fill the soap dispenser all the way up every time, not the case with other products.

I don't doubt that this soap is a lot more environmentally friendly than others. But, if you have to use more each time and it doesn't do a complete job, are you really coming out ahead? How about a little compromise: Use the other Trader Joe's Environmentally Sound Automatic Dishwashing Detergent. It is cheaper, works fabulously, and makes an effort to be easy on the environment.

Looks like I am developing a thing for reviewing soaps of all kinds from Trader Joe's. I'm not sure what the deal is...perhaps because they are usually 'next to Godliness'? Hmm...

Pure Bourbon Vanilla Extract

2009-04-28T21:34:00.000-07:00

Rating:
Price: $4.99 (4 Oz)
Features: Ridiculous value.
Found in: Near baking supplies (not with the spices for some reason)

If you discover you are out of vanilla right when you want to bake something as I did (not sure when else that would be a real emergency), you better head to Trader Joe's! I challenge you, that's right - the gauntlet has been thrown, to find a better vanilla value anywhere. I doubt it can be done, even buying bulk and bringing your own container.

Purchasing vanilla extract in any other store is guaranteed to leave you with half as much vanilla for at least twice the price. Or, you might end up with some nasty artificial "vanilla" for about the same price. Both of these things are to be avoided, especially that last one!

Apparently this vanilla is Bourbon Vanilla because the French took some vanilla cuttings from Mexico to Ile de Bourbon in the 1800s. Wikipedia tells me Ile de Bourbon is east of Madagascar and is now Reunion. Huh, fun facts. In any case, this is some tasty extract!

I will admit that I purchased some Tahitian vanilla extract from TJ's several years ago and was not too impressed. That product isn't in my store anymore. The only other option was "alcohol-free" vanilla extract, which seems like a curious idea considering the mark of a good extract is generally a solid alcohol content. Good Eats taught me that vanilla has alcohol soluble flavor compounds. No alcohol in the production process means you are missing out. Maybe they can work around that somehow?

I've made two loaves of chocolate chip banana bread (delicious) and some whipped cream with this stuff so far. And there is still so much left...what to do next?

----------------
Now playing: Del Tha Funky Homosapien - What Is A Booty
via FoxyTunes

Tilapia Citronette

2009-03-29T22:35:00.000-07:00

Rating:
Price: $6.99

Features: Super citrusy sauce
Found in: Frozen seafood

These "marinated Tilapia fillets with grilled asparagus and sliced carrots" were pretty good. The lemon butter sauce has quite the citrus zing to it, and permeates the whole dish. The minimal amounts of asparagus and carrots seem like an afterthought, something thrown on there to give it a little color.

The good: Tastes good - gives a plain fish some powerful flavor, easily enough fish for two people in each package, Tilapia stands up well to being frozen - so the fish is still firm and hearty.

The not-so-good: This dish took nearly twice as long to cook in the oven as the package suggested - I want my dinner now! Not a surprise that a thick block of frozen fish takes more than 20 mins at 400 degrees. I feel like frozen Tilapia should be cheaper...even if you do get a fair amount.

The bottom line: I might buy this again if I want something easy for two people. I did like the intense lemon flavor. I'll just keep in mind that it may take some time to cook unless I want partially frozen fish on my plate.

Fair Trade Organic Bolivian Blend

2009-03-22T12:58:00.000-07:00

Rating:
Price: $6.49 (14 Oz)
Features: One of the best Trader Joe's coffees, just the right roast!
Found in: Coffee / tea aisle

I bought TJ's Bolivian Blend because it was the cheapest organic & fair trade option. I figured it would be decent, but didn't expect it to be excellent. Well, I was wrong there! This is easily one of the best Trader Joe's coffees, and certainly the best organic fair trade TJ's coffee blend.

The "medium dark roast" is perfect for my tastes. It strikes a nice balance between the rich smokey flavors developed in a darker roast (without tasting burned), preserves the more complex sweet and spicy flavors of a lighter roast, but isn't overly acidic (which can be a problem for the lighter roasts at TJ's). The result is a very smooth drinking brew with a distinct sweet caramel flavor. I'm drinking a cup straight out of the french press as I write. Usually I go for the cream to smooth things out, but I don't even miss it with this coffee! (It is also great with cream, don't worry.)

Here is what Trader Joe has to say about this blend:

Trader Joe's Bolivian Blend Coffee is a fair trade coffee that is sourced from small family farms in the land located between the peaks of the Andes and the Amazon Basin - the heart of Bolivian coffee country. This region has the ideal growing conditions for this unique, perfectly balanced coffee. Our Bolivian Blend is a medium-dark roast with a smooth textured body, delicate acidity, and sweet flavor and caramel characteristics.

Well, that explains why it is so good. Here is a tantalizing shot of a steaming fresh cup. Go get some!

Heart Healthy* Whole Grain Blueberry Instant Oatmeal

2009-02-02T20:52:00.000-08:00

Rating:
Price: $3.49
Features: Surprisingly sparse and artificial-tasting blueberries.
Found in: Near cereals

After my rave review and continuous consumption of TJ's Cranberry Oatmeal, I expected to enjoy the blueberry version to the fullest. Not so, in fact, it is quite a disappointment! They removed everything that is excellent about the cranberry stuff, and that makes it...well, a lot less good.

I discussed how the cranberry version has lots of dried fruit in it, and a nice balance of sweet and tart. Sadly, there are very few blueberries in this oatmeal, and those that you can dig up are tiny, shriveled, and what little flavor they have seems artificial. I had to search for the two little specks of blueberries that are showing in the photo (notice the difference compared to the product shot on the box). This oatmeal is too sweet and leaves a weird fake-almost-blueberry-but-not-quite taste in your mouth.

Red vs. Blue: Red wins.

Pad Thai Noodles and Sauce

2009-01-25T20:59:00.000-08:00

Rating:
Price: ~$3.00 (?)
Features: Dry rice noodles, packet of sauce. That's all you get.
Found in: Unrefrigerated prepared food aisle

I have had this box of Trader Joe's Pad Thai sitting in my pantry for at least a year and a half now. I remember being excited when I saw it for the first time at the store. I had just seen an episode of Good Eats in which Alton Brown makes Pad Thai, but unlike his usual recipes, he makes it look insanely complicated. Part of the episode shows him going through an Asian grocery store picking out all kinds of ingredients that, at the time, I had never seen and would not know how to seek out. He tries to convince the viewer that they should step out of their shell and give it a go, but the final product on the show didn't look great. Sorry Alton, I'm sure your recipe is delicious, but it looked flavorless on TV even though so many exotic ingredients went in.

So, back to the boxed version. I was looking for instant gratification, which a heat and eat product should provide. I wanted to have some Pad Thai I had a hand in making, but not cook all day. I planned to go home and make it for dinner the same day I bought it. Why has it taken me over a year to get to eating? Because I neglected to read the extensive list of additional ingredients not included in the box. I was expecting to need to add some chicken or tofu, stir-fry, and have dinner. Not so! Here is what the box suggests you add: Egg, chicken / prawns / tofu, bean sprouts, peanuts, lime wedges, and fresh chiles. Plus, you have to cook or soak the noodles too (I know, not that big a deal, but I was expecting to just add them to a hot pan with the sauce). That certainly took the fire out of my wok, it's like having to go through an additional grocery list just to get all the stuff to make the dish.

Over the past year and a half there have been multiple occassions on which I have considered saying screw it and just eating the noodles with sauce. Sometimes there is nothing else around to eat, ya know? However, several months after I purchased this boxed version, I learned to make my own Pad Thai from scratch. It requires about 3 more ingredients and I can control the flavor, and make a much bigger batch at a low cost. So TJ's Pad Thai sat lonely and unused on the back of the shelf.

Finally, the big day: Today brought a mix of hunger, lack of other food in the house, laziness, and a coincidence in which I happened to have peanuts, cilantro, limes, cabbage, and carrots that needed to be used up. The box and I had a brief stare-down in the pantry, after which I went to the store for 1/4 pound of frozen peeled prawns.

I soaked the noodles in hot water while I sauted the prawns. I should have soaked the noodles longer, because they were not soft enough after the prescribed 5 minutes. Oh well, I went ahead with the cabbage, carrots, and sauce packet. Then I finished it off with some peanuts and cilantro. Here is the finished product:

Sure, looking pretty good, but let's remember that everything but the noodles and sauce had to be purchased separately. I know that a full pound of rice noodles costs about a dollar at the Asian market, here you get about 150g of noodles and a sauce packet for $3+. Anyway, about that sauce packet. The sauce is acceptable, but too sweet for my tastes, and super salty. The box claims to have two servings, but I ate the entire thing myself and I wasn't even that hungry. Mmm, 50% of my daily intake of sodium right there. As I mentioned before I would rather have more control over my sauce, especially since I know it can be made with about 4 ingredients, none of which are that hard to find.

Is Trader Joe's box of Pad Thai the worst thing ever? No. Is it worth the one and a half year wait to consume? Nope. If you want to make Pad Thai, I would suggest finding an easier recipe than Alton's and making it from scratch. You will come out with a better product and be able to take all the credit! And you will have to get to know your way around the Asian market, which opens a whole world of possibilities...just stay away from the strangest gelatenous ones...unless you are into that.

Dark Chocolate Covered Gingersnaps

2009-01-25T15:33:00.000-08:00

Rating:
Price: $3.99 (10 Oz)
Features: So good...can't stop eating!
Found in: Near cookies / chocolate covered things

These little dark chocolate covered cookie bits are amazingly good. It has been hard not to eat them all before I got a picture to put on the blog. The gingersnap cookie centers have quite a spicy ginger flavor, which I really like. The crunchy, spicy centers go perfectly with the thick, slightly sweet, dark chocolate coating. TJ says:

Molasses, ginger, cloves and vanilla...These aromatic ingredients are the hallmark of gingersnap cookies. We've taken it one step further by gilding tiny gingersnap cookies with dark chocolate, for a sophisticated treat that mixes the creamy richness of chocolate with crunchy, spicy cookies.

Mmm, gilded in chocolate, how sophisticated. I'm really hoping these are not just a holiday item, because my store is about out of all the extra holiday treats Trader Joe's put out this year. The snowflake on the box makes me worry about such things. If I can't get another tin of these I'm not sure what I am going to do to get my ginger / chocolate fix. There is no way I can settle for the regular dark chocolate coated candied ginger pieces, which I have never been a big fan of. Please keep these coming! Now I just have to find a way to reuse the tin they came in...

Tea Tree Oil Pure Vegetable Soap

2009-01-22T21:50:00.000-08:00

Rating:
Price: $1.69 (2 large bars)
Features: Pure vegetable soap, mild tea tree scent, long lasting bars.
Found in: Cleaning / personal care products

I ended up giving this soap a try because the oatmeal soap I was looking for was out of stock. I'm glad I did, I like this stuff better! How much can I really say about a bar of soap? It comes down to a personal preference, but it's likely this is a good choice for most people. The scent is not overpowering, but you can tell it has tea tree in it, which I find pleasant. You get a lot of natural soap for your money. The large dense bars last a long time, and it is easy on the skin. I didn't give it 5-stars because I might like just a bit more tea tree scent, but I will be buying it again for sure.

The Ginger People Ginger Chews

2008-12-21T20:31:00.000-08:00

Rating:
Price: $1.69
Features: "Sweet-hot soft ginger candy. Natural, stimulating, and delicious!"
Found in: Candy / Chocolate section

These ginger chews are great - so simple and so tasty - made with 8% fresh ginger. Eating a few can help soothe an upset stomach. I don't really have much else to say about these. If you like ginger, you'll love these. Pick some up!

Nutty Chocolate Chewy Coated & Drizzled Granola Bars

2008-12-21T19:55:00.000-08:00

Rating:
Price: $1.99 (6 bars)
Features: Partially organic, should be more thrilling
Found in: Granola Bars

Something about these bars is always a disappointment to me. Well, maybe not a full on disappointment, but I always expect better and then I am let down when I eat it. I guess that defines disappointment...whatever. Let's just say they could be so much better, but they aren't.

Let's see if I can quantify what I'm always looking for but never getting. The let down really starts with the chocolate. There's nothing quite like a generally "healthy" snack item that gets dipped in chocolate. Good times! Except this chocolate doesn't make the cut. It's kinda sweet, maybe a little waxy, not that chocolaty. So that brings me to the nutty part. Here again I encounter a very muted attempt at bringing in the full peanut ensemble. Sure, there are crunchy little bits of nuts, but they have more texture than taste. I want to taste peanuts, peanut butter, and chocolate. I get: Overly sweet and chewy with crunchy bits. Just not what I want out of them.

Funny, I keep buying these and I keep getting annoyed that they are not as good as they should be. I got this box because every other type of granola bar was out of stock, and I needed something to take to work. They do function as a snack to give you energy, but not the chocolate dipped "healthy" snack that tastes like a candy bar you think you are getting away with.

Teriyaki Natural Beef Jerky

2008-12-21T16:37:00.000-08:00

Rating:
Price: $4.99 (4 Oz)
Features: Best value for your jerky dollar, no crazy ingredients, tastes great on the trail
Found in: Generally hanging up in the snack / chip aisle

This jerky is highly addictive. So much so that you might now want to share it with any others in your hiking party. It is best to deny its existence and only sneak pieces when you are at the back of the pack. Not that I would ever go to such great lengths to hoard my jerky...just saying.

Anyway, this is a satisfying high-protein and light-weight snack. The jerky has a nice smokey flavor to it, and it isn't overly dry like the kind you find in the gas station. It also has just the right amount of teriyaki, not too sweet, but definitely adds a lot. I have tried the regular version of this snack, and I must recommend the teriyaki! I have not tried the peppered or turkey jerky from TJs yet.

One bag of jerky a friend got was basically one giant and excessively thick slice. I like that this jerky has more heft to it than other types, but one giant hunk for your $5.00 isn't so hot. Just check out the contents of the package before buying!

Organic Midnight Moo

2008-12-18T21:58:00.000-08:00

Rating:
Price: $2.49
Features: Way better than Hershey's
Found in: On a ledge above the ice cream

Trader Joe's Organic Midnight Moo Chocolate Flavored Syrup not only has a long name, it's good too! This stuff has a much more natural and intense (darker?) chocolate flavor to it than the dreaded Hershey's. Not sickeningly sweet either.

It like to use it on ice cream (pictured here over TJ's Soy Creamy), to make chocolate milk (though I usually just buy TJ's chocolate soy milk which I will review soon) and I imagine it would make a mean mocha...but I don't have an espresso machine to assist me in testing that theory. Bonus: It's organic so it can't have anything too weird in it, right?

----------------
Now playing: moving units - the kids from orange county
via FoxyTunes

Sublime Ice Cream Sandwiches

2008-12-05T17:15:00.000-08:00

Rating:
Price: $3.69 (4-pack)
Features: Premium ice cream sandwiched between two soft chocolate chip cookies, then rolled in crunchy mini-chocolate chips, wow!
Found in: Freezer section, with other desserts and ice cream

Oh man these are amazing, so irresistible! As if an ice cream sandwich dipped in mini chocolate chips wasn't tantalizing enough, they replaced the standard weird chocolate wafer outside (that always sticks to your fingers) with real soft chocolate chip cookies!

You can imagine that all this sublimity comes with a (nutritional) price, and you would be right. But, who cares!? These are definitely a sometimes food, but when it is that time, go right ahead and enjoy every last cookie-wrapped ice cream dipped in chocolate chips bite!

Needless to say, this box was destroyed in about 5 minutes once people discovered I had them. You may need to develop a secret stash in the back of the freezer behind a loaf of bread that has turned into an ice block if you want them to be around just for you to enjoy later.

----------------
Now playing: The Brothers Martin - The Behavior Explains
via FoxyTunes

Lavender & Chamomile Hand Soap

2008-12-04T20:30:00.000-08:00

Rating:
Price: $2.99
Features: All natural, lots of soap for a low price
Found in: Cleaning / personal care products

This liquid hand soap gets the job done for me. I like the large bottle so I don't have to worry about replacing / refilling it often. One of the 'mates has already expressed a negative opinion of this product. Maybe it's just a personal preference thing? It does have a powerful scent, but I don't find it unpleasant. Worth a try for $2.99. If you hate it you can always go play hand soap fairy in your favorite understocked coffee shop bathroom!

Mushroom Turnovers

2008-12-04T20:07:00.000-08:00

Rating:
Price: $2.99
Features: "Sauteed mushrooms & onions in a cream cheese pastry."
Found in: Frozen appetizers

I got talked into buying these by the guy running the sample stand. They seemed ok, not a bad deal for $2.99 per box. I felt like they needed some dipping sauce to go with them though. So, when I ended up making them for "dinner" at home I used the only thing I could find for dipping: Trader Ming's Gyoza Dipping Sauce.

Upon opening the package I realized there wasn't much in there, and I felt silly heating up the oven to make only six tiny turnovers, so I just made the whole box (12, still not a lot of food). They cooked up from frozen in about 10 minutes. I think the best use for these would be to serve them as an appetizer during a cocktail party (better get 2 boxes to fill up a plate). They don't really go with anything as a side dish, and they are not substantial enough to fill you up as a quick meal.

The Gyoza dipping sauce is good, but not the best with mushroom turnovers. I bet it is really good on...hmm...pot stickers! Only problem is that the sauce has a huge amount of sodium. Almost 60% of your RDV in 2 Tbsp! Maybe the turnovers would be better accompanied by BBQ sauce, or a sour cream type dip?

The cream cheese pastry was an interesting touch. Lighter than regular pastry, but not as airy as puff pastry. Works well with the mushroom and onion filling.

Fire Roasted Vegetables with Balsamic Butter Sauce

2008-12-01T22:18:00.000-08:00

Rating:
Price: $3.29
Features: Frozen blobs of sauce instead of a separate sauce packet.
Found in: Frozen vegetables

I sampled these fire roasted vegetables in the store a few weeks ago. At the time I remember thinking the balsamic butter sauce was pretty potent stuff. So the next week, when I was wondering around the Capitol Hill Trader Joe's aimlessly searching for something to make for dinner. I couldn't settle on anything, so I ended up throwing a bunch of prepared side dishes in my cart and cooking them up quickly at home.

I opened the bag and dumped everything into the frying pan expecting to find some packet of sauce to add after cooking. None to be found. But the Hershey's Kiss-like blobs I had incorrectly identified as mushrooms soon began to melt and from the sauce. Ok I thought, maybe that is why it is so concentrated?

When these finished cooking up we all tried them, but I didn't find them as flavorful as they had been in the store. I think the pan they were using in the store to make samples really concentrated the sauce blobs from several bags down and made it extra strong. So I was less impressed with these than expected. Vegetables are good for you...butter sauce not so much. I feel like there should have been more veggies in the package for $3.29!

----------------
Now playing: Sweatshop Union - The Truth We Speak - Dirty Circus
via FoxyTunes

Honey Roasted Peanuts

2008-12-01T18:14:00.000-08:00

Rating:
Price: $2.59
Features: Sweet, salty, crunchy, honey roasted deliciousness!
Found in: Nuts, trail mix, dried fruits etc.

I believe this is the first Trader Joe's product I knowingly consumed. What a great way to start! Needless to say, I was very curious to check out the local TJ's since honey roasted peanuts are one of my favorite snacks.

Ahh, remember back in the good old days when you could get as many packets of honey roasted peanuts on the plane as you wanted for free? Then they all switched to pretzels, and you got one bag only. I figured that was because of concerns for people with peanut allergies, but that doesn't make sense since the next trend in airline snacks was crappy spicy or tropical party mix full of nuts. These days you might get a stale package of Wheat Thin's Toasted Chips if you grovel at the flight attendant's feet in the aisle and slip her a Benjamin.

So, I've gotta get my honey roasted fix somewhere else (growing up with them on flights must have gotten my hooked). Enter Trader Joe's with their 1 pound bag for only $2.59. Oh yes, bask in the glory! So much satisfaction for so little. Plus, these are some of the best honey roasted peanuts around - perfect balance of sweet, salty, and crunchy. Excellent for hikes or an anytime snack.

You'll notice that I took a picture of a nearly empty bag. I was planning to shoot it when it was unopened, but the 'mates and I got hungry one night...and the rest is history. Quite literally - as I write this post the last ones mysteriously disappeared. ;-)

----------------
Now playing: Dr. Dre - Deez Nuuuts
via FoxyTunes

Crunchy Peanut Butter Granola Bars

2008-11-30T16:33:00.000-08:00

Rating:
Price: $2.29 (6 packets)

Features: Crumbs all over the place, 20g whole grains, vegan

Found in: Granola bars

I suppose these are a good value, and they taste fine, but somehow I am not that enthusiastic about them. I get exactly what I would expect from a crunchy peanut butter granola bar, but nothing special. They work as a mid-morning or afternoon snack, just be sure to stand up and brush off all the crumbs if you are eating them at your desk!

----------------
Now playing: Sleepthief - Just Say It (feat Kyoko Baertsoen)
via FoxyTunes

Heart Healthy* Whole Grain Cranberry Instant Oatmeal

2008-11-30T15:19:00.000-08:00

Rating:
Price: $3.49 (8 packets)
Features: Lots of sweet & tart cranberries, 12 vitamins & minerals, and flaxseed for Omega-3's!
Found in: Near cereals and granola bars

I love this stuff! I have purchased countless boxes of this ever since I consumed my first two packets for breakfast on a cold and wet backpacking trip on the Olympic Peninsula. It was perfect: easy to prepare, hot, just the right sweetness, full of cranberries, and really sticks with you. Now I eat this oatmeal all the time: for breakfast at work, on the weekend, as a snack, and it is always in my pack when I am camping or backpacking. Just add hot water or microwave for a minute.

Eating whole grains for breakfast really keeps you full for a long time. I like that this oatmeal provides a healthy dose of B-Vitamins and Omega-3's. B-Vitamins help regulate your response to stress (and can be depleted by the caffeine in your morning coffee), while Omega-3's are good for your heart and may have a mood stabilizing effect. I'm not as confident in the proclaimed benefits of other ingredients, but regardless, this stuff tastes great!

Trader Joe's Heart Healthy Whole Grain Cranberry Instant Oatmeal take the wholesome goodness of oatmeal and ratchets up the nutritional benefits and the flavor profile to create a hearty hot cereal that will warm you from the inside out.

Whole grain rolled oats are enriched with flaxseed for their Omega-3's, plant sterol esters for their cholesterol-fighting properties, and inulin, a soluable fiber derived from the chicory root that promotes healthy digestion.

The oatmeal is lightly sweetened and sprinkled with sweet tart dried cranberries for added flavor. It is also an excellent source of 12 vitamins and minerals and goes from package to table in about a minute.

----------------
Now playing: The Fugees - Ready or Not
via FoxyTunes

Scalloped Potatoes with Quattro Formaggio

2008-11-24T17:15:00.000-08:00

Rating:
Price: $3.99
Features: Contains 4 different cheeses, somehow doesn't taste very cheesy.
Found in: Refrigerated prepared foods section

I can think of a number of things that don't thrill me about this product, and one semi-positive thing to say. Let's get that one thing out of the way right now: This scalloped potato dish is refrigerated as opposed to frozen, so it microwaves in 6 minutes rather than 25 minutes.

On the other hand, I found this dish to be rather bland, especially considering all the trumpeting about the four different cheeses it contains. I expected a medium to strong cheese flavor, but instead I tasted... "blah." At $3.99 per small dish, I didn't feel this product delivered nearly as much value as many TJ's items do. One package was barely enough to serve four people as a second side dish along with a main course, veggies, and a salad.

The bland and unimpressive taste of these potatoes makes them not worth the large dose of fat, saturated fat, and salt in each serving. I've made a potato gratin before with cream, cheese, and bacon.
Healthy? No.
Tasted like it was full of cream, cheese, and bacon? Heck yes!
Good and hearty? You bet!

So, you want scalloped potatoes or a delicious gratin? Why not just make your own and serve it as the main dish? People will be much more impressed, and I am willing to bet you can make a heartier dish for less than $1.00 per tiny serving.

Goddess Dressing

2008-11-23T16:44:00.000-08:00

Rating:
Price: $1.99
Features: Creamy sesame, lemon, and garlic goddess goodness!
Found in: Near oils and spices

I have my favorite goddess Benita to thank for introducing me to this goddess! She makes a fantastic salad using this dressing, mixed greens, shredded carrots, sliced raw almonds, strawberries, and fat-free crumbled feta to top it all off ...and the best part: all these items are available at Trader Joe's for excellent prices!

Both Benita and I can attest that TJ's Goddess Dressing is every bit as good as Annie's Naturals Goddess Dressings (both Organic and regular), but costs half as much. Now that is serious value. Benita says that people who try this dressing always end up asking what it is and where to get it for themselves, and that the goddess-like aroma alone can entice the curious to give it a try.

We love this dressing because it is big on flavor, but not overwhelmingly heavy like some creamy dressings. A small amount goes a long way. The strongest flavor is definitely of sesame tahini, followed by the tang of lemon and cider vinegar, and rounded out by garlic and chives. Simple, yet amazingly delicious. Go to TJ's and get your own goddess right now!

Lemon Ginger Echinacea Juice

2008-11-18T22:15:00.000-08:00

Rating:
Price: $3.49
Features: Massive blast of ginger!
Found in: Juice aisle, or it may randomly hop in your cart from a display by the checkout...

I've been trying to figure out what to say about this juice. If you like ginger, you can keep reading. If you're not a ginger fan, 1) there is something wrong with you and 2) quit now while you are ahead! This beverage has a major fresh ginger kick to it, similar to that found in Reed's Extra Ginger Beer.

Other flavors (taking a backseat to the brewed ginger root, of course) include lemon, white grape, and apple juices. There is a boost of Echinacea extract as well. I know I railed on a different product for containing unpronounceable extracts of dubious health value, but somehow echinacea seems more acceptable to me. When Arabinogalactan and Shizonepeta become more mainstream maybe I will be accepting of them too. Until then I maintain my original stance: wtf?

Aside from the herbal controversy, I have to say, this stuff is pretty good. I'd buy it again if I am feeling crumby and need a lift, or have a ginger craving to satisfy. That seems to be happening a lot lately. Otherwise an entire jug might be too many servings for one guy to down in a week or two.

----------------
Now playing: Doujah Raze - 360°
via FoxyTunes

Gummy Tummies Penguins (with Soft Tummies)

2008-11-17T21:25:00.000-08:00

Rating:
Price: $2.49
Features: Fat free, liquid full!
Found in: Random location between the dairy case and the bagged salad. Perhaps where trial products tend to show up?

Trader Joe's penguin shaped gummies have a soft spot for you. There are three natural flavors of cherry, lime, and strawberry and each gummy tummie has a fluid, fruity center that pleasantly melts in your mouth. They are made in France especially for us.

Aww, how cute! Little gummy penguins that ooze fruity goo when you bite into them. I couldn't resist giving these a try when I saw them hiding away on a random shelf in the store. I've never seen them before, so I think they are a new product.

The texture and flavor are actually pretty good, and the liquid tummies are not gross, but they are truly soft! I bet kids would love these, and I don't mind eating them either. Plus, they look so silly and cute on the bag, how can you not put them in your cart? Though, their square eyes do make them look rather robotic...

Pumpkin Ale - Buffalo Bill's Brewery

2008-11-16T23:12:00.000-08:00

Rating:
Price: $7.99 / 6-pack
Features: Pumpkin pie's drunken cousin, 4.9% Alc by Vol (?)
Found in: Beer aisle

"Pumpkin pie in a bottle" they say, more like pumpkin pie beer in a bottle I say. Yes, I know that sounds disgusting, but the combination does actually work. Brewed with roasted pumpkin, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg, what really comes through to me are the spices. The pumpkin gives it a bit of sweetness and body, but isn't overwhelming. Don't be too afraid! Remember, all those world class Belgian beers have all kinds of spices and sweet things in them. Worth a try, and hey, if you don't like it, just stick it at the back of your fridge for 3 years like we have done with a lone bottle of Sea Dog pumpkin ale (which is terrible).

Apparently this stuff is brewed by the locals at Pyramid Brewery (who have a shiny website, but a gloomy stock outlook), on behalf of Buffalo Bill's, located in Hayward, CA.

This Pumpkin Ale once took second in a blind taste test we held with at least 3 other pumpkin offerings. It was trounced by the Elysian Brewing Company's Night Owl Pumpkin Ale, but anyone who has ever had the Night Owl, or the Elysian's brews in general, will know that they are tough to top!

----------------
Now playing: Captain Dan And The Scurvy Crew - The Black Mongoose
via FoxyTunes

Air Armor

2008-11-16T19:00:00.000-08:00

Rating:
Price: $3.99
Features: Unappealing taste, questionable benefit, unpronounceable ingredients
Found in: Vitamins

Air Armor is TJ's generic equivalent to Airborne, the supposed "immune boosting*" effervescent tablets that so many people swear by these days. Do I sound a little skeptical? Well, that little star up there next to immune boosting corresponds to this warning, printed no less than 4 times on the package: "This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease."

At least they are upfront, because they are forced to be by the FDA, in saying that their product is basically useless. No study has proven with any conclusive evidence that Airborne is at all effective. In fact, the study which purported to have positive results was disqualified because it was paid for by the manufacturer and conducted improperly. Read about that here.

I have tried both the lemon-lime and orange flavors of Air Armor. The lemon-lime flavor is less unappealing, but still tastes like bad medicine. Personally, I have not felt that this product did anything to prevent a cold from coming on or decrease its duration. I do find it to be an extremely effective method of increasing flatulence (perhaps that is a type of Air Armor in itself).

Questions of effectiveness aside, I'm not even sure this stuff is good for you. Each tablet contains 1000mg of Vitamin C, 1667% of the RDV. The directions say to take one every three hours up to 4 times a day. That is a mega-dose of Vitamin C, and far over the RDV of Vitamins A and E, Zinc, and Manganese, plus 44% of your RDV of sodium. Not to mention alot of "Herbal Extract Proprietary Blend," with things like Arabinogalactan and Shizonepeta extracts. What the heck?

The bottom line is that this product which claims to boost your immune system but then also states that it isn't supposed to do anything is best left on the shelf. The only good thing I have to say about Air Armor is that it is $2.00 less of a rip-off per package than Airborne. So if you must, at least waste less money!

Twigs, Flakes & Clusters

2008-11-16T18:40:00.000-08:00

Rating:
Price: $2.99
Features: High fiber, high protein, low sodium, not too sweet
Found in: Cereal land

This is one of my favorite new finds at TJ's. I struggle to find cereals which are not too sweet (ex: Strawberry Yogurt O's) and not too bland (ex: plain shredded wheat). Twigs, Flakes and Clusters strikes a balance with three crunchy components and a light brown sugar sweetness throughout. A bowl of this cereal with some TJ's milk (free of crazy growth hormones, $1.19) makes a surprisingly substantial quick breakfast. Must be all that fiber and protein!

Chicken Shu Mai

2008-11-16T18:30:00.000-08:00

Rating:
Price: $2.69
Features: Not your everyday frozen appetizer
Found in: Freezer Section

We had these as part of dinner a while back. Everyone liked them, and thought they were something pretty different. Quite a few come in the box, and a packet of dipping sauce is also included. They are small, so they steam up quickly. Each little dumpling wrapper is filled with chicken and vegetables (much like a pot sticker). The dipping sauce tastes like soy sauce mixed with rice wine vinegar, nothing exceptional, but perfectly adequate.

They lose a few points in my book because they are absurdly high in salt: 6 pieces with sauce have nearly 40% of the recommended daily intake of sodium. I'm not sure if the sauce is mainly at fault or what, but that struck me as a bit much.

We also tried the TJ's Vegetable Shu Mai, which I would not recommend. They were more like little watery egg souffles with a soy bean stuck in the top dipped in soy sauce. Surprisingly, the flavor was ok, but such a strange texture. The dumpling wrapper was indistinguishable from the filling. Were they even two separate components?

Environmentally Sound Automatic Dishwashing Detergent

2008-11-16T18:03:00.000-08:00

Rating:
Price: $3.49
Features: Great value, "environmentally sound"
Found in: Cleaning / personal care products

As Trader Joe's frequently reminds us: "cleanliness is next to godliness." No doubt this saying carries over into a world filled with dirty dishes! This dishwasher soap is definitely up to the challenge. It performs just as well as any other dishwasher detergent I have ever used, and it's an excellent value. I'd say you can run 20+ loads with one box, but that is an estimate because I have not finished off the first box yet.

I'm wary when it comes to phrases like "environmentally sound" or "earth friendly." What exactly does that mean? The product doesn't jump out of the box and rip a giant hole in the Ozone layer? At least the box gives us some more information here: Phosphate and chlorine free, biodegradable surfactants. Hmm, what the heck is a surfactant? Well, we are told these surfactants biodegrade, so that must be better than non-biodegradable ones, right?

Yeah, yeah, I'm giving it a hard time. It is probably safe to say this dishwasher soap is as "good" for the environment as one can reasonably hope for. Bravo, TJ's! Sparkling clean dishes with less impact...and, no suffocating cloud of lemony freshness when you open the dishwasher because it doesn't have any added fragrance either.

Maybe next time I will work up the nerve to try the Trader Joe's liquid dishwasher soap with cleaning agent derived from coconuts!

Soy Milk Creamer

2008-11-15T15:16:00.001-08:00

Rating:
Price: $1.49
Features: Lactose and dairy free, made with organic soy milk, vegan
Found in: Refrigerated section, near half & half and milk

I've tried quite a few different products over the past few years to cream my morning coffee: Plain old half & half, crazy International Delight and Coffeemate flavors (the strangest of which was either Gingerbread or Chai Spice), vanilla soy milk, regular milk, and flavored Silk soy creamers. My standbys are the "normal" flavors of International Delight: French vanilla or Irish cream. They're not over the top sweet like Coffeemate, but can still cover up in case you make a bad pot of coffee (yes, it does happen no matter how hard I try).

TJ's is on the right track with their Soy Milk Creamer, but it falls short. It could stand to be creamier, a bit thicker, a touch sweeter, and more flavorful. In the realm of soy creamers, I far prefer Silk's vanilla or hazelnut creamers. I found myself craving them as I was drinking a cup with the TJ's product in it. So, may I suggest to Trader Joe that he develop a vanilla, hazelnut, or Irish cream variety? I would be willing to buy those and give them a try. Just copy Silk more closely this time!

Organic Fair Trade Scandinavian Blend Coffee

2008-11-15T15:16:00.000-08:00

Rating:
Price: $6.99
Features: "A combination of medium and dark roasted beans. Blanced, yet lively." Organic, fair trade, 100% Arabica beans
Found in: Coffee / tea aisle, or perhaps being brewed at the demo stand

I have had varying success with Trader Joe's coffees. I usually wait until I have a chance to sample a coffee at the demo booth before I buy it. Even then, I have had some that I found tasty in the store, but were a disappointment when I brewed them at home. Luckily, this Organic Fair Trade Scandinavian Blend is satisfying all around!

Though this coffee blend is 100% Arabica beans (no lower quality robusta beans as filler), I have noted that TJ's coffees never use the absolute top quality beans. You can always spot a few shriveled specimens in the can, which isn't the case with higher end products. No matter, I can't taste the difference, and a 13 OZ can of these bean is only $6.99 - great deal! Let's learn a little more about this history of the Scandinavian Blend and the beans within courtesy of the back of the can:

Legend has it that in the late 60's in Stockholm, Sweden, a coffee roaster named Jens unintentionally mixed some lighter roasted beans with darker ones. Being the frugal sort, he decided to give it a try. Jens was amazed when he realized it appealed to such a diverse group of people. He decided to sell it in his shop, and the style caught on. Somewhere along the way, Scandinavian blend was born (or Bijörn).

To create our own harmonious Scandinavian blend, we draw on a trilogy of sustainable high grown coffees, sourced from fair trade co-operatives in Columbia, Peru, and the Dominican Republic. The Colombian and Peruvian beans are dark roasted and provide a baseline that reveals bittersweet caramel nuances underscored by notes of creamy milk chocolate. These beans demand a dark roast for optimal flavor and characteristics. This coffee's finish is very smooth and sweet with floral hints. We attribute these traits to the Dominican beans which are given a medium roast. The resulting unique flavor of the combination of dual roasts makes for a lively well-balanced cup of coffee.

Well - there ya go! I couldn't have said it better myself :-P
Definitely recommended as one of the best deals on an organic and fair trade "daily-drinker" coffee!

----------------
Now playing: NPR - Car Talk 0846 November 15, 2008 Show#0846
via FoxyTunes

Eggplant Hummus

2008-11-12T21:33:00.000-08:00

Rating:
Price: $2.19
Features: Not that impressive
Found in: Refrigerated section

Since both hummus and baba ganoush are delicious on their own, I thought TJ's might be on to something by striking a happy combination of the two in this Eggplant Hummus. Sadly, not the case - I recommend sticking with either one or the other - and we know the regular hummus from Trader Joe's is a steal, so go with that!

This stuff will work as a dip for chips or veggies, or a spread for pita bread (as demonstrated in the photo) . The eggplant flavor is subtle, if you can detect it at all. The 'mates and I agree that it doesn't have the flavor and kick of the plain hummus, which we all devour frequently.

So, not the best, and maybe I really should have given it just two stars, but it was only $2.19, so it was worth a try and an extra half star for value. I know, I'm a sucker for a deal.

----------------
Now playing: Slightly Stoopid - No Cocaine
via FoxyTunes

Organic Chamomile Herbal Tea

2008-11-12T00:01:00.000-08:00

Rating:
Price: $2.69
Features: It's tea, it's organic, that's about it!
Found in: Beverage aisle, with all those other teas

Not that much to say about this product - it's straight forward - Organic Chamomile Herbal Tea. It's a perfectly fine tea, and I give it points for being organic, but nothing spectacular, so just 3-stars.

The tea bags come individually sealed in plastic, perhaps not the most environmentally friendly option, but it does mean each bag will stay fresh until you are ready to brew it.

I like to have a mug of this before I get ready for bed as I am winding down from the day. Simple, smooth, calming, and warms you up from the inside. What more do you need?

Shout out to the Green Bean Coffeehouse for having excellent mugs for sale, as well as fresh baked goods, tasty fair-trade coffee, and rocking it all as a non-profit! I promise to visit twice as much if you will open on Sundays! (Please?)

----------------
Now playing: R.K.M & Ken -Y - Tuve Un Sueno
via FoxyTunes

Cinnamon Almonds

2008-11-10T00:07:00.000-08:00

Rating:
Price: $4.99
Features: "an irresistible snack"
Found near: Nuts, trail mix, etc.

This biggest problem I have with these Cinnamon Almonds is not eating the whole bag right when I get them home. As you can see, I couldn't wait until after I took the picture to have a few....ok, alot.

These are sweet, extra crunchy, have just the right amount of cinnamon, and maybe even a little smokiness from the roasted almonds. So good!

A perfect high-energy snack to bring along on a hike. Also nice to pop a handful in between meetings at work. I hear eating crunchy things is supposed to help relieve stress...yum!

----------------
Now playing: Kemopetrol - Saw It On TV
via FoxyTunes

Orange Juice

2008-11-09T19:42:00.001-08:00

Rating:
Price: $1.99
Features: Great value!
Found in: Refrigerated Section

I was thrilled when Trader Joe's started selling their own brand of from concentrate orange juice. Not that I have anything against fresh squeezed, but prior to this product the only options for OJ at TJ's were the fresh squeezed jug for about $5, the fresh carton for about $4, or frozen concentrate which simply wasn't good. Both fresh varieties are delicious, but so expensive I often would pick up orange juice from a different store. No longer!

TJ's from concentrate orange juice is not only delicious (especially for from concentrate, I don't think I would ever be able to tell it from the "fresh squeezed" carton variety) it is also an amazing value at just $1.99! No wonder it is frequently out of stock.

Drink it on its own any time, or as part of a tasty and filling smoothie (I use frozen fruit, vanilla yogurt, OJ, and protein powder, all TJ's of course)! Also makes an excellent screwdriver when you add some vodka and ice ;-)

----------------
Now playing: Swollen Members - Deep End
via FoxyTunes

Shepard's Pie

2008-11-08T00:15:00.001-08:00

Rating:
Price: $3.99
Features: Low-ish calorie, not so low sodium
Found in: Freezer Section

I walked into the Queen Anne Trader Joe's with no idea what I was going to do about dinner. I'm usually a planner when it comes to meals. I go with at least a mental list of what I need for whatever I have decided to make. But that's the thing I love about TJ's, I can simply go there and figure it out while I go through the store. I'd say you are far more likely to come up with something good, quick, cheap, and easy doing this in TJ's compared to any other store.

This one really fell in my lap because I was in the mood for some comfort food, didn't want to put a lot of effort in, and the store happened to be sampling the frozen Shepard's Pie. The first bite convinced me this was a great choice for a cold fall day when you just want something hearty that will warm you up. The employee prepping the samples suggested heating the dish in the oven rather than by the microwave if I had the time (~35 mins).

I made two of these (each box is "two servings") to feed myself and three other guys. I'd say you need to serve more than just a side salad if you want to feed 4 people... Anyway, the pie is excellent - big chunks of beef in a tasty gravy with some veggies, all topped with a buttery layer of mashed potatoes. Very satisfying, everyone said it was really good for frozen, and ended up buying a few for themselves later.

The only reasons I didn't give the Shepard's Pie 5 stars are: 1) It is on the small side for "two servings" which is usually the case with frozen foods, and 2) The thing has 25% of your DV of sodium in a rather small serving size. Still, highly recommended to satisfy a comfort food craving on a cold lazy day!

----------------
Now playing: Iration - Heavy Call
via FoxyTunes

Organic "Soy Creamy" Vanilla Non-Dairy Frozen Dessert

2008-11-07T22:58:00.001-08:00

Rating:
Price: $2.99
Features: Organic, Vegan, Low Calorie, Low Fat, Low Sodium
Found in: Freezer Section

You know this stuff must be amazingly good because it essentially pushed me over the edge to actually get this blog started! I was doing my regular shopping at TJ's and remembered I wanted to get some ice cream to go with the apple crisp I made the night before. At first I was looking at TJ's "super premium" ice cream, but I noticed it was kind of spendy. Then I looked at the nutrition facts: Over 50% DV of fat and saturated fat in a tiny half cup serving, ouch! I know, that's what happens with super premium real ice cream, and it is delicious, but I wanted something a little lighter. I spotted this vanilla alternative right next to the ice cream. Now, I have had several kinds of soy and even rice "ice cream" before and they really didn't live up to the name. Rather than go to another store just for ice cream, I decided to give this a go. I'm glad I did.

This stuff is amazing! It has a pretty strong vanilla flavor, and the texture and mouth feel is practically like the real thing. Maybe it leans a little toward frozen yogurt, but whatever. I am still super impressed. If I didn't know any better I probably would assume it was ice cream. Several of the 'mates tried it as well and gave it enthusiastic reviews.

The Vanilla Soy Creamy was excellent on top of apple crisp (I love it when the crisp is warm so the ice cream melts a bit before you eat it all). It is also great just on its own, or with some chocolate syrup over the top. I am sure it would be fantastic in place of frozen yogurt or milk and ice in smoothies. Another carton should be showing up in the house soon so I can test that theory out!

----------------
Now playing: Common Market & Geologic - Crucible
via FoxyTunes

Eat this!

2008-11-06T22:50:00.000-08:00

Everyone loves Trader Joe's, especially in Seattle! Whether it be the U-District, Queen Anne, Capitol Hill, or soon to be Ballard (hurry up already!!) the place is always packed with shoppers. If you want to find everything you are looking for (and some new things you didn't know you needed) on the shelves and get a prime parking spot you've got to consider timing. No Sunday evening shopping...actually just avoid Sundays and dinner times in general.

Finding new and interesting items at Trader Joe's is the best part of the experience! It's always great to pick up a new quick dinner idea, another great cheap wine, or a new favorite frozen waffle. The vast majority of TJ's products I have tried are major hits - great food, even better prices! Many have become staples in my daily meals and snacks, or essentials for the weekend hike.

I'm starting this blog in the hope of spreading the TJ's love - helping people find new, affordable, interesting, and (most of the time) healthy food!

The name of the blog is a take-off of Alton Brown's TV shows Feasting on Asphalt & Feasting on Waves. While Good Eats is the original and masterpiece of Alton's shows, I liked the sound of Feasting on TJ's. It also works because TJ's tends to have a bit of a nautical theme going (three bell!?)

So eat, drink, and enjoy! :-)

----------------
Now playing: Pepper - 01 Back Home
via FoxyTunes