Trader Joe’s sells this beer which they call “Simpler Times”. It may be one of the most inexpensive beers one can buy, anywhere. $10 bucks for a 12 pack…$5 for a six pack! It tastes like more. This beer is actually quite good.
This Lager choice is surprisingly decent, very easy to drink, crisp and well-balanced and it pairs well with food. Not over hopped. Its more than fine just drunk on its own. Also surprising is it’s ABV of 6.2% alcohol.
It’s brewed by a “family-owned craft beer brewing company in Wisconsin, which has been brewing beer for 150 years”. We found it quite refreshing chilled, tasty and a super bargain for under a buck each even with tax and deposit.
There is also another version of Simpler Times which is a Pilsner which is crisp and light, maybe a bit less flavorful than the Lager but still pretty good. That one may been MIA though.
If you are looking for a decent beer at real bargain, TJ’s SIMPLER TIMES beers are worth trying.
One reader said this: “A very pleasant and enjoyable beer! A welcome relief from most over-hopped American beers. If you like Belgian/Octoberfest malt forward brews, try this one.” Another said, “For the price and quality, this frosty beer can’t be beat!”
They sell a 12 pack for $9.99 (meaning $5 for a six pack) and the price has stayed there – Will tariffs affect this? (aluminum cans). Stay tuned!
UPDATE: AUG 2023 – FYI Some folks have reported that TJ’s might have stopped selling this however I did check recently and saw the Simpler Times Lager was still being carried at my local TJ’s (NYC UWS 72St); I only saw the Lager, didn’t see any of the Pilsner version. These were however placed all the way on the bottom shelf, where they were even a bit hard to see. Price still was $9.99. Less than a buck a beer.
Absolutely great pantry item. For something that just comes out of a can, I have to say this chickpea dish is really tasty. Super easy. Pretty cheap! This can even become dinner in a snap.
The Greek flavors here are all good, with lemon, parsley, cumin, garlic and black pepper and as this is sitting, marinating, the seasonings have permeated into the chickpeas so they are way more tasty than if you just these on poured.
If had any complaints about this my only very small complaint would be the oil as of course, this has soybean oil (cheap) as opposed to olive oil (expensive) to cut down the cost. However this is easily fixed – Just add some of your own good olive oil.
I poured off most of the sauce and added a glug of good Greek Extra Virgin Olive Oil, which improved it, of course. Add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice too while you are at it, which will brighten it up so it tastes like you almost made it yourself. This would be great for say a picnic. We ate it as a side dish with some Falafel and thats a good match. Or add a can of this on top of salad greens to add some bean protein. Trader Joe’s describes this as kind of a “deconstructed hummus” as it has many of the same ingredients in it as hummus does. In fact I served it alongside some hummus and even put a bit of this on top of the hummus which is a typical serving style to put a few chickpeas on top.
So useful. I consider this a must have item in the pantry.
(note: this product seems to have a tendency to go bye bye and get sold out as supplies come and go; you can ask at the front desk for if / when it will be restocked if you can’t find on the shelves)
“Trader Joe’s farm raised Lightly Smoked Salmon, Skinless & Boneless Applewood Smoked in Extra Virgin Olive Oil “
RAVE
I would call this a Trader Joe’s top 10 item! When we can find it. It does seem to go in and out of stock, often. The pink cans of “Lightly Smoked Salmon” come in a square can can, with the other kinds of canned fish, like tuna, sardines and about three other cans of canned salmon. All round cans. This one is very popular so its does seem to get Sold Out on occasion, eventually returning when they get new stock of it. There is nothing wrong with the other cans of salmon they have. They are fine, pretty much similar to any canned salmon you’ve tried before.
This one however is better, think of this as “gourmet canned salmon“.
I happen to love this canned salmon. Apparently along with many other Trader Joe’s fans of it (read some of the Comments below).
Everyone seems to love it once they try it. Word has gotten out so from time to time, you may not see it. It gets Sold Out pretty easily (it does seem to eventually get restocked when they get more, though it may be awhile before they get stock). You might see people taking 6 cans, which is why you may not get one!
Now the very first time I saw this can I was both intrigued and maybe slightly confused by the name… What does “Lightly Smoked Salmon” even mean, as this is in a can?
Basically I say just ignore the name and especially the word, “smoked”. This has nothing to do with what you or I think of when we see the words “smoked salmon”.
What this actually is, is the best, I repeat “The Best” can of salmon you probably ever tasted.
Frankly I think that name, Lightly Smoked Salmon, that they picked for this may not be ideal. A more accurate name would have been something like “Chilean Olive Oil Poached Salmon”, or “Gourmet Canned Salmon” as that is exactly what this is.
This tinned salmon makes me think about those imported tins of canned fish made by high quality Portuguese and Spanish producers. Like Ortiz’scanned tuna ($23/lb) and the like, cans and jars of which I see at gourmet grocery vendors like Zabar’s and Fairway. $18 for a jar of canned tuna? Yup. That stuff is not Chicken of the Sea.
As you can see when one opens this can, you see an appetizing piece ofskinless, boneless salmon. It was cooked in Extra Virgin Olive Oil. The label says this is a “Product of Chile”. I’ve since learned that Chile, after Norway, is the world’s second largest producer of farmed salmon. Overall the quality appears high.The salmon has had all the skin and bones removed (some canned salmon has both). The fish was cooked in olive oil. Think “olive oil poached salmon”.
That golden orange-y liquid is a decent Chilean EVOO mixed with the salmon’s juices. This juice is very delicious. The salmon is moist and flaky, with both a wonderful flavor and wonderful soft texture. I would guess the olive oil is from Chile. Yes, this is farmed Atlantic salmon (not wild) but its Top Quality. About the word “smoked”, well “Applewood smoke” is listed among the Ingredients but honestly I don’t really taste any smoke flavor. Maybe it is so subtle in the background. It doesn’t matter. This stuff is really really good.
I opened a can the first time to review it. I found it so tasty I could not stop trying some. I kept saying to myself “just try one more bite”. Suddenly I noticed the can was empty.
This can of fish makes a super easy almost instant lunch, dinner or healthy snack. Its got a whopping 21 grams of Protein.
That Golden Oil the fish is swimming in? I implore you to not dump it. If you do that you will be making a mistake. That sauce is delicious. Its like a built in sauce, a golden elixir that matches the salmon perfectly. It’s extra virgin olive oil mixed with the cooking juices now colored orange from the salmon, and its yummy, and just oozing with UMAMI. Sure you can sprinkle on some fresh lemon juice with it and it will be even better.
I suggest when you serve it you spoon the golden oil over the fish with a squeeze of lemon. Perfection. You could equally spoon some of this golden oil on say this salmon atop salad greens, or boiled potatoes, or a rice bowl or what have you.
Basically this is a piece of poached salmon in a can. You can simply put it on a plate and you are done. Or on top of a salad or greens or a protein bowl…. Mashed up into an avocado with a little mayo and lemon. Voila, you have a delicious healthy meal with almost no effort. This salmon is wonderful as-is right out of the can. Try it on toast, or a toasted bagel, or on crackers. I found this is a perfect match with TJ’s great Norwegian CRISPBREAD for a Scandinavian style open faced sandwich.
This salmon is especially perfect for summertime heat or whenever you don’t feel like cooking. Mix a bit of mayo and lemon juice into this for lovely perfect salmon salad. The other night I didn’t feel like cooking. I found I had a nice ripe avocado I needed to use, so I just mixed a can of this salmon with a little mayo, lemon juice and some Peri-Peri sauce and spooned that into an avocado.
Avocado Stuffed with Salmon
I ate this lovely avocado stuffed with salmon for dinner. It took me minutes to make and was so yummy.
RECIPE IDEA – Japanese Salmon Rice Bowl: I make this all the time. Put some fresh cooked rice in a bowl (if you have it, short grain) Now top it with this salmon, which you flaked up. Drizzle some of the Golden Oil over things. Sprinkle on a TJ’s Furikake seaweed seasoning and chopped scallions. Mix gently. YUM. Dinner! Optional: a sprinkle of Soy Sauce and a sprinkle of Toasted Sesame Oil. Maybe slices of avocado and cucumbers?
Seaweed Hand Rolls with Salmon and Cucumber
One serving contains 190 calories and a whopping 21 grams of protein. The 5 oz can has about 3.6 oz of drained salmon. It’s $3.69. Product of Chile. Great pantry item. I would gladly buy it again.
Can one put this away in your larder for a year or two to improve with age like the do in Spain? (canned fish improves with age like wine*) *Spain and Portugal have some bodegas which specialize in tinned fish and seafood which they keep for a year or two or three… Believe it or not the cans of fish improve with age, just like wine. Search for a video of the late, great Tony Bourdain visiting one of the most famous of these bodegas in Spain, eating cans of seafood and loving every bite…. EL ESPINALER
Wait a second… You want me to eat those yucky looking fishies?
Don’t click away in disgust.
There are a so many reasons for you to add sardines to your diet, if you aren’t eating them already. If you think sardines look yucky, read about all the health benefits they have. They are one of the healthiest foods you could eat and come with a TON of health benefits. And they are pretty cheap! At least at Trader Joe’s.
Sardines are not just good for you, they are one of the healthiest fish you can eat. Into Protein? A can of sardines is loaded with protein (21 grams) and they are a terrific source of calcium (the regular ones with bones, not the boneless/skinless). Women especially need to get lots of calcium.
Sardines also provide heart-healthy Omega-3’s that may help with reducing inflammation, improving cognition and more. Sardines have the lowest levels of mercury of any fish.
Are they farmed? No way. All sardines are WILD caught and they are plentiful in the oceans. So sardines are a highly sustainable fish, unlike many fishes that we like to eat. And they are cheap, they are probably the least costly fish you can buy. So lots of benefits.
But not only are sardines healthy to eat, they are DELICIOUS. Europeans love them, and eat lots of sardines. While this may not be the case here in the U.S, you should change that by adding them to your diet if you don’t already.
Trader Joe’s sells at least three varieties of canned sardines. My favorite ones are the SMOKED SARDINES IN OLIVE OIL (purple can). One can gives you a whopping 21 grams of protein. Plus Calcium and Omega’3. I probably eat a can for lunch at least once a week.
SERVING SUGGESTION: Take out the sardines, put them into a dish, and mash them up with a fork. Add 1 large teaspoon of mayonnaise, a squeeze of fresh lemon (1/4 lemon?), and a nice grind of fresh black pepper. If you like hot sauce, add a bit. (optional, chopped parsley or scallions) Mix the mixture up well. You can spread the mashed sardines on your favorite crackers, or some freshly toasted bread with a little butter. This will go great on the Scandinavian kind of flatbread (open sandwich) or on some warm Lavash. Enjoy!
Trader Joe’s carries a few varieties of sardines. My favorite? I recommend the sardines in the purple can (“in olive oil smoke flavor”). They are probably my favorite of all TJ’s sardines.
But if you can’t bear the sardines with skin (which by the way contain the most calcium due to the soft edible bones, so soft you won’t notice them) If that is beyond your ability, then get the skinless boneless ones (grey can). They could be a good starting point if you are squeamish, however when you mash up sardines, frankly they almost look like tuna fish.
I recommend the lightly smoked sardines (in the purple can) as the tastiest sardines Trader Joe’s sells. You can even sauté potatoes in the left over oil in the can which will make a delicious potato dish.
By the way, the bones? They are so soft when cooked you probably won’t notice anything.
Country of origin: Portugal (purple can), Canada (blue), Morocco (grey)
Every year this post becomes the most popular post around Thanksgiving, ENJOY~
FRESH VS. CANNED CRANBERRY SAUCE
To me the greatest sin one can make for Thanksgiving is not making the cranberry sauce from scratch and just opening up a can.
There is simply no comparison to MAKING YOUR OWN CRANBERRY SAUCE fresh, and no reason not to. It’s literally the EASIEST thing in the world to make. If you do it this year, I promise you everyone will say how wonderful the cranberry sauce is. Seriously it could not be easier to make. Recipe follows….
If you’ve never made your own cranberry sauce and are used to opening a can of that jiggly jelly stuff (ugh!) you owe it to your family to make it this year. The “work” involved may take you about 1 minute, plus maybe 15 minutes just letting it do its own thing cooking. TIP: Make it at least an hour ahead of eating so it can be served at room temp (hint, even better do it one or two days before to get it out of the way). It will set up beautifully in the fridge. Take it out of the fridge an hour or so before eating.
EASY “RECIPE” : Open bag. Dump berries in a pot. Add one cup water* and one cup of sugar. Bring to a boil. Basically that’s it. When it boils, just lower the heat down to a simmer and let it alone until the cranberries “pop” in about 15 to 20 minutes. When the berries have popped, they’re done so just turn off the fire. DONE! Let it cool for 30 minutes or so. As it cools it will thicken up (cranberry skin contains a great deal of pectin, a natural thickener).
If this easy recipe seems “too easy” for you and you want to get a tiny bit fancier and more creative, here are things you try… * Instead of water, you can use orange juice. A bit fancier? Grate in a little orange zest. Even more creative? This year I added a tiny bit of cayenne pepper and a pinch of fennel seeds and some lime juice. Ginger can be nice in a cranberry sauce.
Once you try this you will be shocked at how easy it is to make and how infinitely better this fresh sauce is over the canned stuff. At the time of this writing a 12 oz. bag cost $1.99, a decent price. (UPDATE: 2018, a bag was $3.49 at TJ’s) Update 2: 2022, a bag was back down to now $2.29. UPDATE 2023: Organic ones are $3 a bag so buy those!
You can even buy an extra bag of berries and throw it as is in the freezer where it can keep for a few months if you want it outside of just Thanksgiving. It goes great with grilled chicken breasts.
Once you make your own, you will realize how easy it was to make and and like me, will never buy the sauce in a can again, or even TJ’s pre-made stuff.
Now go, and sin no more…
#DIY #CranberrySauce
RECIPE VARIATION: Indian Cranberry Chutney. In a saute pan, melt a tablespoon butter, and add some chopped garlic, a quarter chopped onion and saute stirring for 3 minutes. Add a teaspoon of TJ’s curry powder (or more to taste) and cook one minute. Add the zest of one orange and its juice with 1/4 cup of water and 1/4-1/2 cup of brown sugar or Palm Sugar (or more or less to taste). Add the package of cranberries and simmer 25-30 minutes stirring frequently. If you want heat add a few dashes of Cayenne or your favorite Hot Sauce (PeriPeri, Green Dragon.…) to taste.
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