My Favorite Trader Joe's Items You Must Get NOW!

 Top Trader Joe's Items You Need to Try

Let me start by saying, I love Trader Joe's. This is one store I am really going to miss! I look forward to my monthly stock up of this store and get so excited at the thought of trying any new seasonal product that they have. If you shop at Trader Joe's you know what I'm talking about. If you have never been to Trader Joe's, this list will help you decide what to get the next time you visit one!

1. Mandarin orange chicken. This is and easy meal to pop in the oven and serve your family during the week. I cook some Trader Joe's brown rice-It's microwavable and tastes like white rice-Win Win! I also buy the Trader Joe's frozen stir-fry and voila! A complete meal on the table with minimal effort and clean up time!

2. Chocolate Croissants. These croissants are as big as my face and oh so good! I set them out in the morning, as they have to proof, and the hubby and I like to enjoy these as an evening sweet. They have to proof 9 hours and then you brush with an egg and bake for 20-22 min and you have a chocolatey, fluffy, buttery croissant. Definitely a must buy.

3. Cheddar Rockets. If you have kids(or even if you don't) these are better than goldfish. After eating these for a while, I purchased some goldfish at Costco because they were on sale. No one wanted them. Woe is me. These rockets are cheesy and very addicting and have been renamed Rocket Fish by my children.

4. Cheesecake Danish Kringle. Every season Trader Joe's has a different flavored Kringle. I have tried a few and the cream cheese/cheesecake one is my favorite. I'm not too crazy about the other flavors but it doesn't hurt to try them just to see how you feel. These are great because you can slice them in single serve pieces and freeze the rest and just take them out to thaw little by little. That way too, you don't eat the entire thing in one sitting.

5. Spicy, Porkless Pork Rinds. These are loved by most in our family. They may not be your cup of tea but they are worth a try! They are a great, spicy snack and are a good source of protein. They are surprisingly similar to actual pork rinds. It's amazing what they can do these days.

6. ABC Bars. My daughter loves these things. She eats one probably everyday. I like them as well. They have a chocolatey, sweet flavor. I can taste more almond than just the almond butter. They have an almond extract flavor, if you know what I mean-that cherry taste. They are soft and chewy and a great snack.

7. Beef and Broccoli. This is another quick and easy meal to whip up for the family. It is a bit spicy, but in a good way! I serve it over brown rice and that helps cut the heat as well. You cook the broccoli first and set aside and then add the meat. I like to put some olive oil and sesame oil in the pan while the meat cooks. I also cook the meat a lot longer than the package says. I like them a bit crispy on the outside 😁

8.  Garden Vegetable Soup. This is always nice to have in the pantry for a quick lunch or even dinner. It's not as good as my homemade vegetable soup(recipe to come!) but it's still satisfying and warms your body. Serve with some bread so you have something to soak up all the leftover juice!

9. Trader Joe's Seasonings. I was going to list a few by themselves but then remembered more and more that I have come to really love. So I'm just going to list them in one area. 

    Everything but the bagel seasoning-great on eggs and avocados

    Cheesy seasoning-good on everything you want to taste cheesy! Popcorn and pasta especially.

    Zaatar Seasoning- great on chicken, great for getting those Indian flavors

    Green Goddess seasoning- Great on any meats, rice, veggies. There is also the recipe for the popular green goddess dressing

    Everything but the Elote seasoning- Really good on vegetables, especially corn!

    Chile Lime Seasoning- Veggies, fish, chicken, popcorn

    BBQ 101 Seasoning-Really yummy on chicken on top of a salad.

    Umami Seasoning- Good in all kinds of soups!

10. Vegetable Birds Nests. I didn't expect my kids to like these as much as they did but they devoured the whole box and then asked for more! I usually serve these alongside any Asian meal I am making. They are crunchy and flavorful and come with a great dipping sauce!

11. Pop Up Sponges. Non-food item but a staple in my house. They come in a pack of 12 and are biodegradable and great for cleaning! Plus the kids get a kick out of watching them blow up when you first get them wet. They are little flat rectangles until you get them wet.

12. Hand Sanitizer Spray. These are inexpensive and great to have in your purse or car. I love the way they smell. It's light and refreshing. I buy a couple every time I go.

13. Candles. If you see a candle here, get one. I don't care what smell it is, it'll be amazing! The smells spread into the room and are so fragrant. Grapefruit, Peach, and  Honeycrisp Apple are the best! With the change of the seasons, comes the new scents of candles! They are sometimes out at my store, so when I see some I buy 2 or 3.

I probably could continue on and on with this article with many more Trader Joe's items but I don't want this to be a novel. I hope you get a chance to try one of these amazing products and get to walk through a Trader Joe's the next time you are near one.

What items are your must haves when you visit? Let me know in the comments!

~Bee🐝