Roundup

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


Trader Joe's announces recall of certain chicken products due to possible contamination

11 Trader Joe's items for people who don't have time to cook

13 of the best Asian foods you can find at Trader Joe's

17 Trader Joe's pumpkin spice products

5 sweet new Trader Joe's items that taste like fall

10 ways to use Trader Joe's pumpkin butter

10 of the best breakfast foods to get at Trader Joe's

16 editors on the one Trader Joe's product they cannot live without



Best tweets of the week:

Pretty sure world peace can be achieved once #TraderJoes offers home delivery

— Rebecca Mordechai (@rebeccamordecha) October 7, 2019

#TraderJoes crispy chicken-less tenders taste so much like chicken (texture also) that I actually checked the package to make sure I bought the rights ones. #MeatlessMonday is so easy it feels like cheating.

— Slightly Breezee (@SlightlyBreezee) October 7, 2019

me trying to dig the dressing packet out from the bottom of my #TraderJoes pre made salad. pic.twitter.com/XE1wob82JQ

— drew patrick (@imdrewpatrick) October 7, 2019

And finally...nothing. No cute cats in Trader Joe's grocery bags were posted this week, and it's very, very sad.

Trader Joe's Organic Tomato Mozzarella Piccolo (Little) Pizza

I was at Trader Joe's yesterday intending to get a Woodfired Sicilian Style Pizza. I didn't find any. Maybe that item has been discontinued. But while looking for it, I spotted this, which is apparently so new that there is nothing about it online, from Trader Joe's or from anybody else.

The box says it serves two, but I thought it looked a little small for that, so I bought two of them, since I was having Nina over for dinner. I was right. One of these would not have been enough for both of us. But two of them was too much; we both left about 1/3 uneaten. So they're an awkward size. The side of the box promises, "just the right size." This is mistaken.

Nina and I shared roughly the same general impression: The toppings are lovely, and the tomatoes in particular survived the freezing and reheating process surprisingly well. But the crust is too thick, dry, and bready.

For once, the bake time suggested on the package (10-12 minutes at 425 degrees; I used the full 12) worked just fine.

To add a little zip and protein, I had browned some thinly sliced Italian Sausage-less Sausage beforehand and added it to the top of the pizzas before putting them in the oven. This turned out very nicely, and I recommend such an enhancement if you're going to try this item.


Will I buy it again? 

Probably. But a thin-crust version would be better and an enthusiastic yes.

Trader Joe's Pumpkin Bisque

The first taste impression you get from this soup is sweetness. It is, in fact, the sweetest soup of any kind I've ever tasted. There's no added sugar, but honey is the third ingredient, after pumpkin puree and water. I actually enjoyed eating it, but with every spoonful, the sweetness consciously registered as out of place and excessive.

Note the genuine Mason jar used as a container. Nice touch.


Will I buy it again? 

No.

Trader Joe's Apple Cider Cookies

Nice crunch. Bite size. Strong apple flavor (though for some reason it reminds me more of applesauce than of straight apples). Fairly prominent presence of allspice and nutmeg.

All in all, a perfectly pleasant treat, about which I have no serious complaints. I can eat a dozen of them at a time. Yet I don't love them.


Will I buy it again? 

No. Nothing wrong with the cookies, but they don't set off any "must have" bells in my pleasure center.

Roundup

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

Best Trader Joe's items for easy tailgating 

5 new Trader Joe's products for cheese lovers

10 fall Trader Joe's products that are too cozy to resist

The 7 best cheeses to buy at Trader Joe's

The 15 best Trader Joe's snacks

Trader Joe's fall arrivals ranked best to worst

Best Trader Joe's food products

Top 10 Trader Joe's gifts to grab while you're getting groceries

11 Trader Joe's employee picks for fall

Definitive guide to Trader Joe's best salads

The Trader Joe's pumpkin foods you need in your life



Best tweets of the week:

Dearest #TraderJoes,

What is the point of creating these lush salads and putting the dressing UNDERNEATH THE SALAD?!

Now I have turn into Indiana Jones to find the dressing! It's annoying! Stop it!

With love,
Indie.

— Walter Phuego 🐺 (@WalterPhuego) October 1, 2019

I feel deeply sad for the people that follow bag instructions for #traderjoes cauliflower gnocchi. Someone needs to help them. #earlymorningthoughts

— Marisa Miller-McDowell 🌮🌮🏳️‍🌈 (@PortlandCashew) October 3, 2019

I'm at that age where the dreams that keep me up at night consist of recipe planning for the best sauce to go with #TraderJoes pumpkin ravioli

— Marian W (@GirlOfTheShire) October 3, 2019

My Trader Joe's cashier didn't comment on any of my purchases, and I feel personally attacked #TraderJoes

— Carrie Pingel (@carrie_pingel) October 3, 2019

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

When did #traderjoes start selling cats? #fudge #cats #awww #catsoftwitter pic.twitter.com/y4RHHYJH0R

— Sam Scha (@ErevRavSam) September 15, 2019

Trader Joe's Organic Spicy Taco Sauce

I have been making lots and lots of tacos since I discovered how much I like Trader Joe's Taco Seasoning Mix. I was skeptical that a taco sauce would improve on what I thought was the perfect formulation.

I was wrong. It makes my tacos even better.

The prescribed amount of taco seasoning mix is 1/2 packet per pound of ground beef. (I use Gardein's Beefless Ground.) For my first experiment, I used only half of that, in order to make the tacos deliberately bland. As such, the taco sauce definitely spiced things up. No surprise.

But then I tried it on the regular-strength filling--and to my surprise, even that was improved. I've come to agree with Nina's observation that it's primarily the acidic tang--presumably because of a heaping helping of vinegar--that hits the spot.

I have not yet tried it on a turbocharged batch, using the full packet of seasoning mix, but that will be the next challenge.

Incidental links: Trader Joe's introduction to the product is here. And here is a taste test trying to confirm or refute a Reddit rumor that the TJ's sauce is just repackaged Taco Bell taco sauce. They conclude that it is not, though I, too, noticed the similarity. It's probably just because both are so heavily vinegar-based.


Will I buy it again? 

Yes. It has earned a permanent spot on the condiment shelf in my refrigerator door.


Addendum 

I wrote this post about 3 hours ago, and just now learned that I wrote and posted it on NATIONAL TACO DAY!

https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/food/2019/10/03/free-tacos-and-deals-national-taco-day-national-vodka-day-friday/3838299002/

Trader Joe's Organic Fruit Flavored Snacks

These are just gummies, gussied up a bit with "organic" and "fruit juice" to give them a patina of healthfulness. I suppose if you must consume such a thing, this is as good a choice as any, but don't fool yourself into believing that it's anything but candy. Some of the flavors are distinctly what they purport to be; others you have to play a guessing game.


Will I buy it again? 

No.