Trader Joe’s ORGANIC CARROTS (multi colored) $1.99 for 2 lbs
My wife and I are trying to reduce our carb intake so we are thinking we will eat even more vegetables.
Carrots for one. I love carrots. They are super healthy and pretty cheap at $1 a pound at Trader Joe’s for organic carrots. These multi colored ones have some red carrots and yellow carrots as well as regular orange ones. Here’s a few recipe ideas to go with this. Here’s a few easy Moroccan style recipes.
Sautéed Moroccan style carrots
Slice up your peeled carrots. Put olive oil in a pan or pot and add 2 cloves chopped/grated garlic. Sautée 30 seconds. Add a 1/2 diced onion. Add carrot slices. Add 1 tsp ground cumin, a dash of cinnamon. Saute on med heat stirring often till they look a little seared, 5-10 minutes. Lower the heat and cook until done, 5-10 minutes.
Easy Moroccan Style Carrot Raisin Salad
Use a box grater or the like and grate up 2 or 3 large peeled carrots into a bowl. Add 1 tsp fresh lemon juice (added points if you grate in some zest). Add a handful of your favorite raisins. Add either a clove of fresh garlic (chopped or grated) or a 1/2 tsp of powdered garlic. Add a good amount of ground cumin (1/2 tsp). Add a good spill of extra virgin olive oil. Add a splash of vinegar. Stir to combine and let marinate for at least 10-15 minutes. (I had pomegranate seeds in the fridge so added them, optional but really nice addition)
Of course roasted carrots are great. I love the way they turn out. Put them on a sheet pan, coat with olive oil and add your favorite seasonings. Roast about 45 minutes till done.
What about slicing up carrots into matchsticks? Dip into your favorite hummus. Kids usually like that too.
“Smoky, savory and lightly sweet with hints of maple”
I’ve already reviewed a very good sliced ham Trader Joe’s sells, which is their ROSEMARY HAM
This one is also quite good. It’s their uncured organic Black Forest ham, which has a lovely smokey flavor.
Uncured means it uses no added nitrates/nitrites. It’s cured with natural seasonings such as organic celery seed, organic vinegar and organic honey. “All vegetarian feed, no added hormones, antibiotics”
Low in fat, 2 slices have 60 calories with 11 gr of Protein.
Wood smoked with hickory, which gives this a wonderful flavor, it’s great for sandwiches and may other things. It made a great omelet, where the smokey flavor came through beautifully.
It would work great on a #cheeseboard. I would love it with some smoked Gouda on a cracker for double smokiness.
I would buy this again.
$5.49 (6 oz)
“TJ’s Uncured Black Forest Ham is deliciously lean, packed with protein, and notably free of added nitrates and nitrites—in other words, the ideal choice for creating simple, delicious school lunches, work lunches, or even just an anytime snack. It has an artful smokiness and tender texture, adds a remarkable depth of flavor, especially when stacked up with slices of Pepper Jack cheese or add-ons like sweet & spicy pickle chips.”
(hope you find it. this pizza’s very popular & sells out fast!)
TRADER JOE SAYS: “With its rectangular shape, deep, crispy-edged crust, and golden underside, Detroit-style pizza has been wowing pizza fans and converting thin crust devotees since 1946. Believe it or not, the original Detroit-style pie was said to have been baked in steel pans originally used for auto parts!Trader Joe’s Detroit Style Uncured Pepperoni Pizza is decidedly not assembled in auto part pans, it is packaged in a rectangular, oven-friendly pan that’s sprinkled with cheese prior to pizza assembly. This crucial step delivers the golden, crispy-on-the-underside and pillowy-on-the-inside crust that’s characteristic of a Detroit Style pie.“
If you are looking to try Trader Joe’s (new) DETROIT STYLE UNCURED PEPPERONI PIZZA all I can say is GOOD LUCK finding it in stock! Since it came out it frequently Sells Out fast- Most of the time I went looking to buy it all I found was an empty shelf. Naturally I have a feeling this is due to social media, and at the moment, this is a HOT item. I guess each store gets a certain amount per day and whatever they get, sells out pretty fast.
When this happens I always wonder? Is it really that good or is it just Hype? When I finally saw it, I didn’t hesitate for a second and grabbed one! Here’s my honest review.
First I should say as a native “Noo Yawkah” and lover of our classic thin crust pizzas, I’ve never been a fan of thick crusts. And as you can see, the crust here is pretty thick. But you know what? Tasting this Trader Joe’s pizza I can tell you it is quite tasty. I never had a Detroit pizza in my life so I can’t judge how accurate Trader Joe’s version is.
My wife and I both enjoyed eating it, despite the amount of crust.We found this to be quite tasty and yummy. It really hit the spot when we were in the mood for pizza for dinner. And yes, I made dinner a bit healthier by making a veggie side.
Yes it is pretty dough-y for me, but overall, quite tasty. All the elements were good. It had a nice thick tomato sauce, very flavorful and very tomatoe-y, It matched perfectly with the nice amount of cheese. The star of the show is of course that pepperoni.
The uncured pepperoni on this pizza is EXCELLENT. Not greasy. No pool of grease you see usually see on pepperoni pizza. Nor did it shrink up a good deal into cups like some pepperoni. Spicy? Not to us taste buds. I thought this uncured pepperoni was pretty mild.
What I’ve learned with this pizza is how to make this as good as possible. The main point being, make sure to get it well baked. See the last pic for how it looked when we ate it (i made some veggies for a side) It does come in a paper pan which you can put right in the oven for convenience.
TIPS: The package says bake in the included oven safe paper pan for 23-25 minutes at 425F. Rearrange the pepperoni evenly.
I thought a metal pan might give it a better bake than the paper one it comes in (seeing as a real one is baked in a steel pan, right?) So I took it out of their pan and put the pizza on a small sheet pan. At the very least, even if you use their pan, put that on top of a sheet pan or cookie sheet.
Of course all ovens vary widely. In ours, it definitely needed more than their listed time (23-25) at 425 to get really well baked, which is what you want to do with this. This pizza will taste best if it is very well baked. I mean almost just before “burnt”. Deep deep browned After the recommended time, I tried it and decided the crust wasn’t nearly baked enough. I put it back in the oven. It needed another 5-7 minutes to get nice and deep brown all over. I also added a squirt of olive oil on the bottom of the pan to give the crust some help as it was a bit dry. Olive oil will help brown and crisp the bottom and improve it quite a bit. Figure perhaps 30 minutes baking time? Check it often towards the 25 minute mark and adjust as needed.
Be sure to let your oven get nice and pre-heated. Give it a least 10-15 minutes after it hits temp before you put in the pizza.
I could have even brushed on some oil on the edges/sides. It looks a little dry as you can see; easily fixed with some more evoo. I will do that next time.
Personalize with your own Seasonings: I added my normal seasonings I like; slivered garlic, oregano, crushed red pepper…. Feel free to do what you like to your pizza. I hit this after it came out with some fresh grated pecorino. I had fresh basil which of course was terrific on it. Do your own thing and enjoy!
How big is it?
My wife thought the two of us should eat the whole thing. We could have but I was the voice of reason and said that’s too much, let’s eat 2/3 of it and leave some. She fought me bitterly and snuck in a few bites of the “leftovers”. As you see, I made our meal a bit healthier with some veggies!
If you eat the whole thing by yourself, figure 1750 calories. Personally I wouldn’t recommend that.
Not a bad deal at about $8 bucks for a pizza that can feed 2 or 3 people. $7.99 makes it one of TJ’s more expensive pizzas due to the quality pepperoni.
(TIP: one reader suggests using the included pan but putting a sheet pan under that)
Trader Joe’s frozen UNCURED PEPPERONI DETROIT PIZZA $7.99 (24 oz)
“In the center of each tub lies a just-right amount of briny Olive Tapenade made with black olives, manzanilla olives, capers, and olive oil. Not to be out shined by its piquant partner, the Hummus base is special in its own right. With twice the tahini of traditional hummus, it’s especially smooth and nutty with complementary sweet and savory flavors.” – TRADER JOE https://www.traderjoes.com/home/products/pdp/olive-tapenade-hummus-079901
I wanted a big tub of hummus when I went to Trader Joes but unfortunately they didn’t have the large 16 oz MEDITERRANEAN STYLE HUMMUS when I went. This OLIVE TAPENADE HUMMUS was the next biggest tub at 10 oz.
It looked like it was worth trying and I happen to LOVE most any kind of olive, but normally I wouldn’t think of mixing tapenade with hummus. Here the tapenade is just a bit on top of the hummus added as an add on. My first bite reaction was “yeah like i thought, those olives overpower the hummus a bit” but as I kept tasting it, I admit the combined taste of hummus and a bit of olive grew on me more and more with each bite.
I kept the olives more or less as is, on top. Dipping in with pita, I could control just a little bit of tapenade with mostly hummus. Keep that bit of tapenade as-is just on top and grab a bit as you eat or scoop it. Then you mostly have hummus with just a little tapenade.
Certainly I might put out a dish of olives with a dish of hummus so the two are flavors I would combine anyway. The tapenade does kind of work. Don’t mix it all together. Olive are strong flavors and hummus more subtle but the combo was not at all bad eaten with some pita. This is something you would have to decide for yourself.
I did add some fresh lemon juice and some good EVOO and those certainly elevated everything. I might not buy this again but think this is worth trying if you are a big fan of olives like I am. Even has a bit of capers in it.
Would you say this looks like Trader Joe’s wants to get in on the the popular “drizzling” trend of olive oil in a squeeze bottle? Are you thinking this looks like the popular “Graza Sizzle” oil?
Trader Joe’s is appropriately enough, calling their new oil that comes in a squeeze bottle, “Main Squeeze”. As usual for Trader Joe’s this is a more budget friendly item than say Graza’s line of oil. MAIN SQUEEZE is a blend of Mediterranean extra virgin olive oil from three counties: Tunisia, Spain, and Italy which is “packed in Italy”.
They are selling this 750 ml (25.4 oz) bottle for about eleven bucks – which is cheaper than some of the other oils they sell as many come in a smaller 500ml bottle, like the EVOO from California for example.
$10.99 is a fairly good deal for a 750 ml bottle. Graza brand oil sells now for about $17 at Target for this same 750 ml size bottle. I don’t have any of the Graza oil at home now one so can’t directly compare them. Graza oil is from one country, Spain.
They say this: “Imported from the Mediterranean, it’s a golden, grassy, and pleasantly peppery cold-pressed Olive Oil, ideal for everything from light sautés to dipping bread, and it’s contained within a consummately convenient Squeeze bottle topped with an adjustable spout. The squeezable design is perfect for drizzling over roasted veggies, burrata, or soups. It’s also versatile enough for dipping bread, making pesto, or general pan-frying and sautéing. “
I tried this Main Squeeze Oil and pretty much liked the taste. Yes, it does have “a golden, grassy, and pleasantly peppery taste with a mild kick on it’s aftertaste”.
One thing I don’t like? The nozzle. It’s not great. Hard to grip for a start. I found it tricky to open and close. It is very narrow, so hard to grip, and turn to open and close. It should be wider. I found I needed to grab it with something (towel, etc) to get a firm grip.
The nozzle also had a tendency to get gunked easily. I had to wipe it often as it got gunky after about two uses.
Now do I think the oil is as good as their best EVOO oils (the Sicilian and California ones)? No I would say just a bit under those two excellent oils, however they are more expensive. Those both cost more than this.
So is TJ’s MAIN SQUEEZE is worth trying if you want to try the whole “drizzle” experience. Its of course cheaper than Graza Sizzle EVOO. This says it is “$13.85/quart”.
Like all extra virgin oils keep it in a cool dark cupboard if at all possible to stay as fresh as possible.
$10.99 (750 ml, 25.4 oz)
“Packed in Italy; Oil from Tunisia, Spain and Italy”
SIGN SAYS: “Ideal for pour overs and cold brews where its warm well balanced bitterness will shine”
“Smooth and satisfying, with balanced acidity and sweet nutty notes.”
TJ’s calls this “Medium” and I concur this is exactly medium roast. These nice looking whole beans look shinier in the photo than they actually are, which is not shiny, just bordering it.
Trader Joe’s Sulawesi Small Lot Coffee is a limited-release Small Lot coffee sourced from the Indonesian island of Sulawesi. Notes of caramel and little bit of a wine-y note too. A pleasant, smooth coffee. I made it in a Moka pot and it produced some nice crema but I’m sure a drip coffee method would work as well. Or true Espresso.
Kalossi beans (often called Celebes Kalossi) are premium Arabica coffee beans grown in the rugged central highlands of Sulawesi, Indonesia (historically known as Celebes). Named after the town of Kalossi—the central trading hub for the region—these beans are renowned for their heavy, syrupy body, low acidity, and rich, earthy flavor profile
$9.99 (12 oz bag) LIMITED!
My bag had a roast date printed on the bag of 3/14/26. I bought it around a month later? Not bad for Trader Joe’s Small Lot.
“Give your pet the very best. Skin on salmon that has been cut into snack friendly pieces and freeze dried with absolutely nothing added along the way”
Ingredients: SALMON. Thats it!
A treat has 48.5% protein and 41% fat. Each treat is about 5-6 calories.
Naturally both of my guest reviewers fish loving cats Aspen and Kuro went crazy for these and gave them a big thumbs up. Or paws up
“FOOD TOPPER” – You can even use these when you have a pet who is sick or off their feed and not interested in food. Or if you have switched food / brands and they don’t like the new one, which is common. Or you just want to add to your pet’s diet. Crush these up and sprinkle it over the food. I have done this especially for a sick cat and the aroma usually works to get them to eat.
In any case your cat or dog will probably love these. You will no doubt be saying something like “No, you only get one for now”
Not cheap of course. Its pure salmon. $5.49 for a small bag (just 1.5 oz) but as it’s freeze dried that might have started as a pound of fresh salmon?
Trader’s says: “Our Norwegian supplier makes this Lefse [LEF-suh] according to a traditional recipe that’s mostly Potato flakes (about 80%) and wheat flour, with a handful of other ingredients including milk powder, salt, and yeast. The dough is formed into rectangles that, when baked, are thin and supple and won’t crack when you bend or wrap them. Beyond texture, the potato flavor is super satisfying, yet still neutral enough to function as the base for almost anything else in our stores that suits your palate”
“Ultra thin and pliable. Won’t crack when rolled or folded. This Norwegian flatbread is ideal with cheese and can be enjoyed with both sweet and savory fillings: strawberry jam and whipped cream, smoked salmon and cream cheese and whatever else you dream up” – Trader Joe
LIMITED!! “You’ll find Trader Joe’s Lefse Norwegian Potato Flatbread on our bakery shelves through July!”
PRODUCT OF NORWAY
NEW ITEM (April 2026) – Trader Joe’s just came out with this soft, pliable traditional Norwegian flatbread. If like me, you’ve never heard of Lefse before, basically its a thin flatbread made with potatoes. Potatoes make Lefse very soft and pliable. Good for roll-ups and other things.
Traditionally the dough is rolled thin then baked on a lefse griddle, which look something like this.
Now this native New Yorker had never even heard of lefse before. However if you are from Minnesota, you may know lefse. I understand here in the US, lefse is common and popular there given Minnesota’s Scandinavian immigrant history. Eaten at holidays especially!
“Lefse—the soft, potato-based Scandinavian flatbread—is a deeply rooted Minnesota holiday staple. Whether you enjoy it rolled up with butter and cinnamon sugar or as a wrap for savory meats, it’s an iconic part of the state’s heritage”
Also from what I gather, one traditional way to eat LEFSE is a sweet version with butter, sugar and cinnamon. Who doesn’t like that flavor combination? Basically like a cinnamon bun made with potatoes?
So to try Trader Joe’s version, I warmed it up (a must!) and put all those things on and rolled them up. We had them with coffee and tea and I have to say the lefse was very yummy with cinnamon sugar and butter.
In addition to trying it sweet I also tried it “savory” with smoked fish and cream cheese put together into a Roll Up. That way was pretty good but for that style, I would prefer using LAVASH which is more “bready” with whole wheat so tastes like bread and not potato. You will have to try both ways to see how you like them, sweet or savory. While we liked the savory one, we both seemed to prefer eating lefese in that traditional sweet cinnamon sugar/butter version, over a savory version
Make something both ways and see what you think. Sweet? Savory? Both?
CINNAMON SUGAR LEFSE: To make the butter and cinnamon version I put the lefse in a pan on low heat, added a few pats of butter over them and sprinkled it very generously with ground cinnamon and turbinado sugar (or brown sugar). The picture above uses white sugar of course so use whatever you prefer. When the butter and sugar start to melt, roll them up with a spatula or just fold them over. Eat these immediately, as they are great warm.
Very yummy! Soft and flavorful If you are into flatbreads (raises hand) I’d say this is worth trying at least once. Personally though overall as far as flatbreads that TJ sells, I will still probably buy whole wheat LAVASH as those are more “bready”.
But I have to say, these potato soft LEFSE were very tasty with butter and cinnamon sugar as a dessert treat! A little unusual and worth trying at least once that way.
TIP – Serve lefse warm! These are seasonal for Spring; I bet you can freeze them so you have some for Xmas season!
Googling it I found a lot of recipes for it on YouTube on how to make it which looks fairly easy and I bet a homemade fresh version would be really good…. If you are ambitious!
This is a LIMITED EDITION item (around April till July) Trader Joe’s LEFSE potato flatbread, $3.99 (However when I first saw them the sign said 3.49 then it seem to go up a week later!) bag 13.2 oz. 375 gr – About 10 slices in the bag
Halloumi Cheese Is Back At Trader Joe’s! Finally. I wait all year for it to appear. Trader Joe’s considers it a “outdoor” grilling cheese so only has it for BBQ season. Read the original post about it HERE
“Fresh and creamy, semi-soft cheese with a mild, smooth flavor”
Queso Fresco (literally translated as “fresh cheese”) is a soft, un-aged Mexican cheese made with cow’s milk. It has a bright, mildly milky, and slightly salty-tangy flavor, and is known for its crumbly texture that doesn’t melt when heated.
Trader Joe’s version of QUESO FRESCO is very tasty. A little tangy, a little salty, not too firm and not too soft. It crumbled easily between my fingers, which is the best way to prep it.
Queso Fresco is of course terrific with all Mexican foods like enchiladas or tacos but you don’t have to limit yourself to Mexican food. You could use this in many cuisines, kind of like Feta cheese. Use this with eggs which it goes perfectly with, either sprinkled on top or use as an omelet filling. Its fantastic on top of salads. GRILLING: I even cut slices of it and just grilled them. While not as firm as Halloumi I was able to grill up till it was golden brown and not melt.
You could try pairing cubes of this queso with TJ’s GUAVA SPREAD on crackers; a perfect salty sweet combo that would be great on a #cheeseboard
Queso Fresco $3.79 (8 oz)
I would buy this again.
If you want a deep dive into queso, this site has that
Trader Joe’s Rants & Raves (mostly raves, a few rants) 
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