Trader Joe's Organic Daily Bread With Sprouted Wheat Berries, Sesame Seeds & Flax Seeds

I like most things about this bread. It's flavorful, hearty, works well as both toast and in sandwiches. The wheat berries provide a nice bit of crunchiness without being tooth-breakers.

But like several others from Trader Joe's, it has a fatal flaw that will keep me from using it regularly: those damn seeds on top. They fall off and make a mess on the counter and in the toaster. I don't understand why anybody thinks this is a good idea. There's another layer of seeds in the bottom crust, but those are baked in, so they're fine.


Will I buy it again? 

Probably not.

Roundup

This is my weekly compilation of news and other links about Trader Joe's.



Comparison test of 5 brands of shredded vegan Mozzarella 

Comparison test of Target and Trader Joe's cheap wines

Trader Joe's employees reunite lost dog with owners

Why Aldi's is better than Trader Joe's

9 Trader Joe's finds for the pumpkin-spice lover

Trader Joe's pumpkin foods rated best to worst

Trader Joe's seasonal vegan foods

Whole Foods price cuts have hit Trader Joe's hardest

A foodie's first visit to Trader Joe's

Fall favorites from Trader Joe's

Price comparison, Aldi's versus Trader Joe's

Hillary Duff loves Trader Joe's

7 Trader Joe's pumpkin products you might not know about

Top 17 Trader Joe's snacks for under $4



Best tweets of the week:

#TraderJoes parking lot on a Saturday = demolition derby except more dangerous cuz drivers are jacked up on #PumpkinSpice

— Momo (@momo_hayes) September 30, 2017

Dear #TraderJoes and your #cornbreadcrisps..I hate you. Good grief does my figure&pocketbook hate you and your deliciousness product. Hate.

— Tiffany Impson (@_tif_) October 1, 2017

Is topping spaghetti squash with butternut squash sauce too much squash? Asking for a friend. 🎃 #traderjoes

— Lynne (@Lynne222) October 2, 2017

Problem-of-the-Week: Show how to get 16 2"-squares in a 9"x13" pan. Or 16 any-size squares. 64 << 117 #wackymath @cookingwithTJ #TraderJoes pic.twitter.com/0Ga49IZh6d

— Tami (@tmfilar) October 1, 2017

#TraderJoes Cornbread Crisps are dangerous and should be treated as a Schedule One narcotic.

— Jared Stern (@FunnyJared) October 3, 2017

Now I know how #TraderJoes makes those baby carts. pic.twitter.com/bcBeHa8xzd

— Nick du Mortier (@nickdumortier) October 3, 2017

Why is Trader Joe's like this pic.twitter.com/jBmuR68Y7B

— Jordyn Rowland (@RowlandJordyn) October 1, 2017

This taste like homemade glue @TraderJoesList #traderjoes pic.twitter.com/gV1WOtuyx0

— Johnny Utah (@JohnnyUtah2020) October 4, 2017

PUMPKIN TORTILLA CHIPS!?
Here is today's edition of "Pumpkin Spice, Nasty Or Nice?" #pumpkinspice #traderjoes pic.twitter.com/EXknYV5nTl

— STRAWBERRY (@STRAWBERRYradio) October 5, 2017

Legit had to take things out of my cart at #TraderJoes today bcauase the number of #pumpkin flavored things was embarrassingly high #basic 🙈

— MsBabyCatcher (@MsBabyCatcher) October 6, 2017

whoever invented the #TraderJoes yogurt flavor "vanana" should be severely reprimanded...

— kat cataclysm (@katcataclysm) October 6, 2017

Who needs #ThePurge when you have the #TraderJoes parking lot

— Katy Judge (@KatyJudge) October 6, 2017

And finally, here's this week's cute cat in (or on) a Trader Joe's grocery bag:

Cat camouflage, Trader Joe's style. #catsofinstagram #traderjoes #jollyzoo pic.twitter.com/trDpQnuui1

— Mel Jolly (@AuthorRx) August 7, 2017

Trader Joe's Pumpkin & Roasted Pepitas Cookies

My first impression was that these looked and tasted like molasses cookies--but the label tells me that there's no molasses in them. I guess it was the brown sugar and spice combination that suggested that. Anyway, if you imagine crispy molasses cookies with pumpkin seeds, that's basically what you've got here.

I can't get enthusiastic about them. For one thing, the name is deceptive; there's no pumpkin in addition to the pumpkin seeds (pepitas). I can only assume that they mean "pumpkin spice," meaning that combination of cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and allspice that pops up everywhere this time of year.

For another, they're too brittle. Most of the bag was small broken pieces, with just a handful of intact cookies.

And I guess I'm just not convinced that pumpkin seeds are a worthwhile addition to any cookies.


Will I buy it again? 

No.

Trader Joe's Apple Cranberry Tart

This is a new seasonal (I assume) item, and it's well worth a try.

Because they looked fully baked, I just took the first one out of the box and shared it with Nina at room temperature. I liked it a lot--nice mix of flavors, sweet and tart. There's a generous amount of filling, and it's even tucked in under the folded pastry edges. Nina liked the filling, but thought the crust was "gummy." She suggested trying the next one heated.

I did, and in the process discovered what I should have seen from the beginning: directions on the back of the box saying to give the things 15-20 minutes in the oven. That seemed like a lot, but I did it, and the result was a definite improvement. Not only was the hot tart nicer to eat than the cold one, but the baking seems to have finished off the crust, making it firmer and flakier.


Will I buy it again? 

Yes. I've had a couple of similar products from Trader Joe's before, but this is the best of them.

Trader Joe's Gummy Tummies Penguins

As the front of the package implies, these are gummy candies with a twist: a little squirt of juice in the middle. They're cute. They taste pretty much like every other kind of gummy candy.


Will I buy it again? 

No. Once was enough.

Trader Joe's Raw Milk Emmentaler Switzerland Cheese

This is the best Swiss cheese I've ever had from Trader Joe's. Its flavor is distinctive but mild, with almost none of the harsh edge that often accompanies Swiss cheese. It's also not too full of holes. The holes are cute, but they make it difficult to produce uniform slices, which annoys me.


Will I buy it again? 

Yes.

Trader Joe's Sparkling Pineapple Spring Water

This is the best of the bunch so far. Just enough pineapple flavor to be pleasing, without being overpowering.


Will I buy it again? 

Still no. Fun to try once, but I still prefer plain tap water for most purposes. If I were to pick one, though, this would be first choice.