Here’s what Traders has to say: “After the runaway success of our Chili & Lime Flavored Rolled Corn Tortilla Chips, including their record-breakingly early entry into the Trader Joe’s Product Hall of Fame, we knew that they needed a companion within the snacks section. Where their Chile Lime cousins are tangy and hot, these Ranch Rolled Tortilla Chips are creamy, herby, and well-rounded. They get their bold, yet markedly mellow flavor via a suite of savory seasonings and spices, including buttermilk, garlic powder, onion powder, and parsley.”
The wonderful Chili Lime Rolled Corn Tortilla Chips are among Trader Joe’s most popular snack items they have come out with. Me, I am crazy for them. I adore them. I love spicy. The Chili Lime chips have crazy strong flavors and are quite spicy.
But they are not for everyone. Especially those sensitive to spice or strong flavors. My wife does like some level of spicy but she really doesn’t like the Chili Lime rolled chips at all. She says they are just too strongly flavored and way too spicy ( I”m not complaining as I don’t have to share mine 😉
So as popular as the spicy ones are I imagine Trader Joe’s figured there are people like her who find them too strongly flavorerd. Which must be why they figured lets come out with another version of the Rolled Tortilla Chips. Which is this one. Not spicy. Mild. Ranch Flavor flavor.
My wife likes these more mellow Ranch ones! I will have to share…..
TJ’s gave this variation a buttermilk ranch flavor that includes dried onion, parsley and other seasoning.
On the internet you get that this one is another hit. Some people really like this version. and say things like “the bag didn’t even make it all the way home. i ate the whole thing”!
Not as bold as the original OG Chili Lime these have a mild flavor of course so may appeal to more people, my wife being one. The are great on their own or equally great with a dip or guacamole. I liked them dipped into some DILL CREAM CHEESE SPREAD. They are good with cheese too.
I love the original spicy one a bit more as it’s so zingy spicy and unique but I do like this new RANCH one too, and you may end up buying both kinds!
I would buy it again.
$2.99/9 Oz
On a side note though it doesn’t say Gluten Free, I kind of think they may be? Just corn, no wheat that I can see in the ingredients
“With notes of clementine, vanilla and dark chocolate“
This is the latest Small Lot coffee Trader Joe’s has released, this one from the Republic of Rwanda, East Africa. Rwanda is described as the “land of a thousand hills”.
I think this is the first coffee I’ve tasted from Rwanda. In general I’ve found African coffees are interesting and unique, and I found this interesting with a unique taste. This coffee is grown high in the mountains, on a plantation where banana trees used to be. When I first tried it I didn’t love it but it kind of grew on me as I kept drinking it over the week. It’s an interesting coffee. Pretty tasty with background notes they describe as “clementine, vanilla and chocolate”. It is labeled “Medium Roast” which I find accurate. I might even go “light medium”. It had an interesting background note of…. yeah I guess you could say “clementine”.
Still I measure these Small Lot coffees from all the past ones I’ve tried. Many have been pretty good, some average with every now and then, one not worthy.
I have found however a few of them have been outstanding, incredible coffees. My all time favorite probably being that MOUNTAINS OF THE MOON – which was a gem of a coffee from Uganda. And there’s been a few others. So I always like to check out TJ’s Small Lot coffees, in case I might find another gem.
This RWANDAN coffee isn’t one of those outstanding Small Lot coffees, but it is kind of interesting and actually grew on me. If, like I do, you like to check out every Small Lot coffee they come out with, I would say worth this is one that is at least trying once. I don’t love it but I do like it. It is a dollar more at $11 than some coffees there.
$10.99 for a 12 oz bag
Side Note: This package has a “Roasted On” date! Bravo. I think that’s something new….
“This awesomely herbaceous spread was designed expressly with bagels and lox in mind—we find the notes of Dill are particularly suited to bringing out the best in smoked salmon or Steelhead Trout. That said, it also happens to be great when simply enjoyed with crackers or charcuterie, and a mixed-in spoonful will add all kinds of depth to a pan of soft, scrambled eggs.” – trader joe’s
The internets seem to have gotten a bit abuzz about this new Trader Joe’s spread. I loved the last one I tried (whipped feta spread). So I got this newer one to try out for review.
I opened it up and tried a small taste of it. Is this dip any good? Yeah Baby! Here’ my honest review.
Yes, yes, yes! I love it. I found this just SO good! Very dill-y and herbaceous, and I am a fan of dill. If you like it, you will also love this. Corny but yes this is “dill-icious” as they have named it.
Trader Joe’s say it was designed to match with smoked fish. For sure! They suggest spreading it for a “shmear” on a bagel, then top with some smoked salmon, or smoked trout or what have you. Certainly this will be wonderful for matching with any kind of smoked fish.
It is good for other things too of course. I liked it just as a dip with veggies: sticks of carrots and cucumbers, radishes, peppers. Anything.
It also tasted great simply spread on a few crackers I tried it with. I then spread it on TJ’s yummy Euro Grains Bread which I topped with slices of cucumber. This combo was excellent. Try it on that wonderful bread or crispbread.
Whipped Feta Spread is made with 51% feta cheese mixed with cream cheese, Greek yogurt and olive oil.
“Tangy feta cheese whipped with cream cheese and smooth Greek yogurt. Mega-dippable”
“To create this Spread, our supplier whips fresh Feta with cream cheese, Greek yogurt, and a bit of olive oil to create a creamy, ultra-spreadable, mega-dippable concoction”
The people at Trader Joe’s seem to love to come out with all kinds of spreads and dips. Some have been better than others. This one? It is very good. I am loving it.
They say this: “Feta fans also know that feta cheese’s crumbly texture can be somewhat limiting in certain culinary contexts. Now, thanks to Trader Joe’s Whipped Feta Spread, feta fans will also soon know the delight of enjoying it with unbelievable ease—on a bagel, on a chip, at the end of carrot stick, and beyond!
Yes, yes, yes. This makes the feta smooth and creamy into a fabulous tangy spread/dip. Not too salty either. Just right.
It is great used as a dip for some sliced vegetables. I cut up cucumbers and carrots and tried that as a dip for them and loved it. It’s equally great spread on a bagel or crackers, what have you. I can see this added to sauces, dolloped out on top of a pasta dish or a pizza. Top it with a pinch of honey (or hot honey). Very versatile stuff.
I love the ideas you can get from how they used it here on this shot from Trader Joe’s site. Spread out like hummus as a dip on a plate and gussied up with olives, olive oil and lemons. Served with pita bread of similar breads.
Trader Joe’s Pizza Bianca (Made with Parmesan cheese sauce, Mozzarella, Parmesan cheese, Onion and Rosemary)
Trader Joe’s added this slightly “controversial” pizza to their line of frozen pizzas, many of which are pretty good.
Why controversial? “PIZZA BIANCA” is of course a white pizza, meaning it doesn’t have tomato sauce or tomato. To some, that means, its “not a pizza”.
This pizza is made with three different cheeses which make a rich, creamy and delicious sauce which also includes some onion and rosemary. The description on the box sounded intriguing to me, even though I admit I am a bit of a traditionalist and generally think of pizza having tomato of some kind on it.
However the word from the internet was that Trader Joe’s new PIZZA BIANCA was good. Really good. So I thought I should try it. My honest review?
This white pizza is really tasty. If you served this to friends and hid the box you could probably fool them that you ordered it in!
I must say I was impressed at just how tasty this actually is. I found it pretty delicious and my wife loved it as well. So this new pizza is yet another very good frozen pizza you can get from Trader Joe’s, which has a ton of good ones to choose from. And, another great buy for a pizza at just $4.99. Which can feed two.
(right out of the package)
The crust has been partially pre-baked, as you can tell from a few dark spots on it already.
When I was preparing I did have an idea to Hack this Pizza Bianca.
Who says it has to be completely white? I love me some tomatoes, so think “why don’t I cut up a tomato and put some on!?” It’s not a bad idea at all. As a test, on half the pizza I put some sliced Roma tomato.
Guess what? It’s fabulous also that way. We both loved the result. Adding tomato is not a sin. I would say its a terrific hack for you to try as well. Though try it on half to start with, so you can taste it as intended too. It is very tasty “au natural”, but I loved it with some fresh tomatoes (use Roma or cherry tomatoes sliced). Trader’s suggests topping it with some arugula for nice veggie flavor to mix in with the cheesy sauces.
I might recommend trying either after you try it the first time, just “bianca”. Just so you can see this is versatile. You could even add Prosciutto after baking though that would be even richer.
The crust is thick and chewy with a nice flavor. The mix of Parmesan cheese sauce and all the other cheeses are delicious, with the back notes of onion and that rosemary.
(before baking – yes i put some tomato on half!)(after)
HOW TO COOK PIZZA BIANCA – As per the package: Pre-heat oven to 400 (Give your oven a good 1/2 hr to get to steady temp). Place the pizza on a baking sheet, sheetpan or foil in the center of the oven. Bake at 400 for 14-16 minutes until the crust is golden brown and the pizza is heated thru (bubbly). I turn at the halfway mark as many oven heat unevenly.
“Enjoy pizza as is or top with arugula for a zesty contrast to the rich melty cheese”
“To create the vacation-in-a-jar that is Trader Joe’s Organic Guava Spread, our supplier starts with organically grown Guavas from Brazil picked at the peak of ripeness. The luscious pink fruit is simmered with organic cane sugar, fruit pectin, and a bit of water (plus ascorbic and citric acids) to create a thick, brick red, tart & tangy spread, teeming with tropical flavor. Simple? Somewhat. Tasty? You bet.”
That bit about vacation in a jar? I have to say, it’s not far off. The moment I simply opened up this jar, something wonderful hit my brain which just registered as a “tropical” smell, before I even put any in my mouth.
Then I put some on a spoon and tasted it. Tropical? Absolutely. This just has the most amazing flavor. I put it on everything to see what it works with.
It works with almost anything. Cottage cheese, toast with butter, or even better, cream cheese. In fact it pairs up so wonderfully with all kinds of cheese. Monterey Jack. Pepper Jack. Cheddar cheese. UNEXPECTED CHEDDAR (on a cracker spread with this guava jam.
You name it. Put some on pancakes. Try with vanilla ice cream or chocolate ice cream, in fact it pairs great with chocolate. Peanut butter and J. Crackers. Cheese boards!
“And who wouldn’t want to level up their summer cheese board with a swoosh of this Spread on a cracker, topped with a cube of TJ’s Unexpected Cheddar Cheese? (Fun fact: this is exactly how the Spread was served and ultimately approved at the TJ’s tasting panel—the combo is absolutely worth tasting for yourself!)” – TJ
All over the internet, everyone seems to agree that it is incredibly tasty
I just loved this Guava Fruit Spread. I bet you will too.
Product of Canada. The guava is from Brazil. Certified Organic
I would buy this again. It’s considered a very good price too as guava is not cheap.
Trader Joe’s ORGANIC GUAVA SPREAD $2.99 (10.5 oz jar)
“It’s made with a base of rich and fluffy Whipped Cream Cheese that’s been mixed with a tangy sun-dried tomato spread, Parmesan cheese, garlic, and a series of savory seasonings, all of which work together to evoke the taste of cheese Pizza on the palate.”
So here is another one of those Trader Joe’s products that came out and seemed to blow up all over social media.
Sometimes I find the things that go viral worthy of the hype, however sometimes they leave me with the opposite impression, with an “I don’t get it” feeling.
So how does this product strike me? Somewhere in the middle I think.
Everything But The Pizza Whipped Cream Cheese Spread has sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, Parmesan cheese and spices. Kind of imagine taking some whipped cream cheese, and mixing in marinara sauce. Tasted right out of the tub on a spoon, I would say you might find it tastes kind of “strong”. This definitely needs to go on something or with something.
I tried it on a toasted bagel which one of the things everyone says is Da Bomb. For one thing, if you do that at least toast the bagel so you get some of that crusty chewy effect you want. I thought that combo tasted pretty good. Just not earth shattering as claimed that on a bagel it “tastes like a pizza”. If I was going in that direction, I would prefer the classic muffin pizza. English muffin toasted up with a little tomato sauce and melted mozzarella. I grant you there is slightly more work involved.
I thought the best thing to do with this is to add it to some pasta. Thin it out with some pasta water, milk or cream or even mix in some marinara sauce. You can end up with a nice creamy pink pasta sauce. It did kind of work for me with pasta. What I ended up liking it on, believe it or not, was actually putting it on some pizza!
I had a thought when I was making some pizza from scratch of adding some to my pizza. When it was all toppped, I put a few dollops of this all over with all the other things using two teaspoons. After baking, it came out of the oven with those creamy bits now caramalized a bit. Some creamy bites with lots of flavor. Pretty good!!
I think with pasta, or on a pizza, this stuff is worth trying out. This is one of those you have to try it for yourself and see what you think items. Invent some uses that you like.
All in all I was just a little bit under impressed with this in comparison to all the hype and viral plaudits I saw online about it, however your mileage may vary. Let us know what you think via the Comments
This TikTok’er “hated on it” but discovered she likes it using it to make an open egg sandwich, using toasted sourdough bread:
Another TikTok’er suggest eating it on raw bell peppers, as kind of a crudité dip. So try it with other things like carrot sticks, celery sticks and the like….
Trader Joe’s regular chicken meatballs are a very popular and for good reason. I frequently notice people buying packages of all the chicken meatballs they carry. On a recent Trader Joe’s trip I went to pick up a package of meatballs only to notice a new version – A Buffalo Style chicken meatball with cheese. Yes!
That makes 3 kinds now, the original plain meatballs, a Teriyaki Pineapple version, and this new one: Buffalo Style Chicken Meatballs with Monterey Jack cheese. All are good but this new one may be my favorite so far.
Here’s what Trader Joe’s has to say – “…All natural ground chicken is mixed with mild Monterey Jack Cheese and classic Buffalo Style seasonings (They are fully cooked). To enjoy, just heat them in an air fryer for four minutes, or conventional oven or use microwave (I suggest not microwave) . Each bite of these tender Meatballs satisfies with mild, tangy heat and notes of savory peppers and garlic. Enjoy them on our Sandwich Rolls. Use them as a flavorful protein-boost for your Avocado Ranch Salad Kit.”
TASTE: I think these are the best tasting of the 3 kind of chicken meatballs Trader Joe’s has.
In this new version they’ve added some tasty Buffalo style seasonings (peppers, vinegar, garlic, celery seed) plus a bit of Monterey Jack cheese. These give these meatballs a savory, lip smacking mildly spicy flavor in the style of buffalo chicken, with just a little heat. These are Not blow your mouth off Buffalo wings spicy. They have just enough spiciness to make it interesting. Of course spice level is personal but I would call these “mildly spicy”. Unless you are super sensitive to spicy these should be fine especially as you will be eating them with other things (bread, tortillas, rice, salad, etc)
CONVENIENCE: Generally I think Trader Joe’s chicken meatballs are just SO HANDY to have in the fridge, as they can help put together a meal easily and quickly. As they are vacuum sealed, these keep fresh unopened easily for a few weeks or more in your fridge – or freeze them.
VERSATILE: You can do lots of things with these little meatballs. I like them best a bit browned up. I sauté or grill them. I slice them in half or in thirds, and get them GBD. I like to cook them in butter or butter/ oil mix, or just olive oil. Cook them gently until they have some color on them in a non stick or cast iron pan. They can be made in an air fryer.
Mix them with whatever you like. You can add them to some sauce (Italian, Mexican, Thai or pretty much anything). Match with a veggie and rice and you can come up with a meal in no time. Pasta works great. I like them inside tortillas or some wrap or pita. Or just top a big salad with them, or use them for a protein bowl with some grains and veggies, or just put them in a hero roll maybe with some ranch dressing and greens. More cheese melted with/on these is a great addition.
(above pic) I thought I would use the meatballs to make some quesadillas. I sliced them into thirds. Browned them in 1 tsp olive oil. Added frozen corn and a little cilantro. I used that plus Pepper Jack cheese in corn tortillas for my quesadilla’s, and cooked them until melted and golden brown. With a little salsa on top, this was a very tasty combo.
COOKING: I would go sauté, oven bake, broil or air fry. I usually cook them in a pan as that’s most practical for me. Cook until they get a little color.
TIP: I WOULD NOT MICROWAVE these, though the package says you can. They will NOT turn out very good just nuked as they won’t get browned. These taste best a little bit GBD, golden brown and delicious.
If you never tried any of TJ’s chicken meatballs, I would start with this new version which I think is the best one so far.
Trader Joe’s ORGANIC RADIATORE pasta is a relatively new addition to the pasta shelves there. They were introduced along with the square rigatoni pasta, which I also gave a great review.
Want to know the translation of “radiatore“? Funny enough it means what it sounds like: “radiator”. Because that’s what these look like. Little radiators.
The shape has all those nooks and crannies which are perfect for taking in and holding a lot of sauce. By the way, did you know the Italian government recognizes about 300 different pasta shapes?
A 1 lb package goes for $1.99. It’s a high quality, bronze die cut pasta, imported from Italy and made from organic durum wheat semolina.
I made this pasta for dinner last night with Trader Joe’s TOMATO BASIL MARINARA sauce (a bargain at $1.99 and it’s excellent). OK, as I am a “cook” and can’t just open a jar and be done with it, I did add two cloves of garlic and a 1/2 shallot sauteed in a tablespoon of olive oil then added a 1/2 jar of the sauce (for two portions). Trust me it made it even better but you could go the easy route and just open a jar.
These radiatore cook pretty fast due to shape, in about 9 minutes. I probably took them out a minute before that (ie, pre-al dente) as I would cook them more in the sauce. I dumped the drained pasta into my pan with my sauce, added about a 1/4 of the pasta water, tossed them over and over for about a minute to let them marry and absorb some sauce till al dente.
I was going to serve peas on the side but as I was making this, my wife suggested I just toss everything in together. Which was actually a great idea as the peas add a nice flavor and texture and got into the nooks of the radiatore. Grated on some of my favorite TJ ROSEMARY ASIAGO which I especially love with pasta.
The texture and taste of this radiatore pasta was perfect and we really loved this dish we came up with “radiatore with peas in tomato sauce” which can now go into rotation. Try this combo! Super easy and delicious, not to mention a bit healthier with added vegetable protein. A little salad and bread made it all perfect.
The best thing? Pantry meal. Everything came out of the pantry (and freezer) so a perfect idea for when “you don’t have anything” in the fridge.
Delicious easy dinner for two, which probably cost less than 3 bucks.
Equally good would be the simplest pasta using this radiatore; just Butter and Cheese. Use lots of both.
I would buy these again. — (UPDATE: I looked for them today to buy more and didn’t see them on the shelves…. )
PASTA WITH PEAS recipe (pasta al piselli)
Toss your pasta into salted boiling water. Whatever time it says on the package, you will subract one or two minutes for “pre-al dente”. In a pan or pot, put a tablespoon of olive oil, and a nice pat of butter. (optional) Add 2 cloves of sliced garlic, and cook till golden. You could also add in 1/2 shallot too if you have one, or a 1/4 onion.
Add your favorite jarred (or homemade) sauce to the pan. When the pasta is “pre-al dente” (tests a little hard) add that to the pan and cook, adding in some pasta water (1/4 cup?). Toss in some frozen peas (1/2-1 cup as you wish) Toss everything over and over to mix and cook for about a minute or so, cooking the pasta just till it becomes al dente. That means “to the tooth” just after the pasta is no longer hard to bite and not soft or mushy. Italians hate overcooked pasta.
Plate and top with a nice amount of freshly grated ASIAGO cheese (or Parmagiano or Pecorino) and serve. Bread and a salad will round this out nicely into a dinner
Portions: for two people I usually figure about a 1/2 lb (half the package) pasta, and for sauce about a 1/2 jar but your ratio may vary. Again, Italians like just enough sauce to coat the pasta well but not to have pasta swimming in sauce the way most Americans think you make it.
I happened to see this in New Items shelf when is right next to our Checkout Line. This came out at Thanksgiving for the holidays obviously as it can make a nice Gift item for the Holidays. It’s a trio of authentic Italian pasta sauces from Puglia, Italy (for $9.99) Each jar is about 10 ounces.
I haven’t tried it but I found details on Trader Joe’s website….
“Packaged in a beautifully bespoke box, Trader Joe’s Italian Tomato Pasta Sauce Trio will delight even the most discerning foodies on your list. This handpicked selection of Sauces comes to us from Puglia, Italy, from a supplier who not only specializes in sauces, but also grows the very tomatoes that form their tasty base! With varieties including Roasted Vegetable, Cherry Tomato, and Puttanesca, each jar offers a true taste of Italy, bursting with bold tomato flavor in every spoonful.
The first Tomato Sauce features chunks of Roasted Vegetables (namely, zucchini, eggplant, and bell peppers), a blend that imbues it with mild, well-rounded flavor. The second is made with Datterini Cherry Tomatoes (also known as “Baby Romas”), resulting in a Sauce with a sweeter and more intense Tomato flavor, its brightness further enhanced with fresh garlic and basil. Lastly, the Puttanesca follows a classic Tomato Sauce recipe that includes chopped Kalamata and Chalkidi olives, capers, and anchovies, resulting in an unctuous, supremely savory experience. Each jar provides a generous 2-3 servings, enough to coat about half a pound of pasta.”
Probably a nice gift for many. I sure wouldn’t mind someone gifting me this!
Of course, this will be “Limited” so grab one while you can if you are interested….
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