Trader Joe’d “Dill-icious”Cream Cheese Spread


Trader Joe’s Dillicious Cream Cheese Spread

” 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

https://www.traderjoes.com/home/products/pdp/dillicious-cream-cheese-spread-082381

Internets seem to have gotten a bit abuzz about this new Trader Joe’s spread. I loved the last one I tried (whipped feta).

So I got some to try out for review. I opened it up and tried a small taste of it. Is this dip any good? Here’ my honest review.

Yes, yes, yes! I love it. This is just SO good! I am a fan of dill. If you like it, you will also love this. Corny but yes this is “dill-isious”

Trader Joe’s say it was designed to match with smoked fish. 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 like it just as a dip with some 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.

2 Tbls = 100 calories (ie, 50 cal per tbl)

Dill•icious Cream Cheese Spread

$2.79/8 Oz

Great recipe idea from TikTok-er @danielle-eats

https://www.instagram.com/reels/DVKpDTMEZmv/

Trader Joe’s WHIPPED FETA SPREAD


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!

https://www.traderjoes.com/home/products/pdp/whipped-feta-spread-079181

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.

WHIPPED FETA SPREAD $3.99 (8 oz)

2 TBS have about 70 calories.

Trader Joe’s PIZZA BIANCA


FROZEN

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.

“PIZZA BIANCA” is of course a white pizza, meaning it doesn’t have tomato sauce or tomato.

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?

If you served this to friends and hid the box you could probably fool them that you ordered pizza in.

This white pizza is really tasty! 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”

TIP: Brush the edge with olive oil

Slice and enjoy!

Trader Joe’s ORGANIC STEEL CUT OATS


If you had to pick out the single “healthiest” item you could buy at Trader Joe’s, what would you pick?

Here’s one item I might suggest: TJ’s ORGANIC STEEL CUT OATS.

Whole grain. Classic. Super food. Healthy? No doubt about it.

The only ingredient is (organic) steel cut oats

Steel cut oats are a very natural food product that has minimal processing. They have even less processing than rolled oats which have been partially cooked and are then pressed between steel rollers (rolled) to flatten them, in order to make them cook quicker. Steel Cut Oats are simply cut (steel cut) a bit to make them cook a little faster. They take a bit longer to cook than rolled oats but worth the time and effort is well worth it for better taste and texture in my opinion. As far as oatmeal goes, steel cut oats are my favorite type of oatmeal. They have a lovely chewy texture and a nice nutty flavor (which you can increase even more with some toasting).

I love steel cut oats for breakfast. Yes, they do take a bit longer to cook than rolled oats but I think the effort is worth it, as they taste better. These take about 25-30 minutes. To save time, in the morning do what I do. I generally make a batch the night before – a nice big pot of them so they are all ready in the morning. I usually will make a big enough batch to last us about 3 or 4 days.

How to cook STEEL CUT OATS: The basic ratio is 1:4. 1 cup of oats to 4 cups of water. Use a nice heave pot with a thick bottom. Boil 4 cups of water. Add a pinch of salt (optional but it tastes better) Stir in your 1 cup of oats, and when they start to boil, lower the heat till they are just simmering. I cover the pot loosely. Stir the oats occasionally, about every 5-10 minutes or so, with a wooden spoon to make sure the bottom doesn’t stick or burn. Let them cook for about 25-30 minutes.

We like to add a good sprinkle of cinnamon when we are cooking oats. Many times we will dice up an apple and throw that in too and let them cook in the oats. Dried fruits: Raisins. Dried cranberries can all be great additions too. Dried fruits I add at the very end so they don’t over cook.

To Serve: optional additions are many: A little butter or cream, brown sugar, raisins, frozen blueberries or other fruit. Whatever strikes your fancy. You can change them up easily so you can make it different every time.Obviously that stuff makes them a bit less healthy but I feel I balance it all out. If you are a purist, just eat them plain.

By the way, as the author mentions here, if you order them at a restaurant or diner, especially in New York, the price for a bowl of them can be outrageous! ($11-13? No thanks, we will make them ourselves for 50 cents!)

https://cookieandkate.com/perfect-steel-cut-oats-recipe/

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/steel-cut-oats-benefits

Lets ask Google: “Are oats healthy?” (Search results)

Oats are considered an exceptionally healthy, nutrient-dense whole grain, packed with fiber (especially beta-glucan), protein, vitamins, and minerals. Regular consumption supports heart health by reducing cholesterol, aids in weight management by promoting fullness, and helps stabilize blood sugar levels. 

Key Health Benefits of Oats:

Nutrient-Dense: Rich in magnesium, iron, zinc, phosphorus, and antioxidants. There’s a reason horses are fed oats. Frankly these are practically the same as oats horses eat, the real difference being the grains here have been cut smaller. STEEL CUT as the name implies has the oats cut with steel blades, with a grain cut into about 2 or 3 pieces just to make it cook faster. That’s it. Minimally processed.

Heart Health: The soluble fiber beta-glucan helps lower LDL (“bad”) cholesterol.

Blood Sugar Control: Oats have a lower glycemic response, which helps regulate blood sugar and insulin levels.

Weight Management: High fiber and protein content contribute to satiety (feeling full), reducing overall calorie intake.

Gut Health: They act as a prebiotic, promoting the growth of good bacteria in the digestive tract.

OK – what else is on your Healthy item list from Trader Joe’s? Here’s a few off the top of my head… CHIA SEEDS, KEFIR, HIGH FIBER CEREAL, WHOLE GRAIN SEED EURO BREAD, ROLLED OATS….

Trader Joe’s Organic Oatmeal $4.49 (30 oz tub)

“Are oats Gluten Free” – Yes!

What’s the best 99 cents item you can buy at Trader Joe’s?


There used to be quite a few items you could find at Trader Joe’s that cost 99 cents. There aren’t many now. There are a few pasta items that still cost 99 cents, though some that used to cost 99 cents went up to $1.29-49 like farfalle/bowties.

Trader Joe’s ORZO, which still costs 99 cents! It’s great and so useful. Orzo is that rice shaped pasta frequently used in Greek and other cuisines. I find orzo just so handy. So here’s my Ode To Orzo.

One thing I love about orzo is how fast it cooks. Its says, “Boil 5 minutes” ?! Yup. Five minutes. It probably will take you longer to boil the water.

Many meals when I realize I don’t have enough stuff for a meal, I will find myself reaching for my package of Orzo. Because it’s ready in no time at all and yes it is a pasta, and I love any pasta.

All I need to do is dump a cup of orzo into boiling salted water. After five minutes just drain it, add it to a bowl and throw in a nice hunk of butter – or olive oil (or mix of the two). Grind on some black pepper. Taste if and see if it still needs a sprinkle of more salt. BOOM; your buttered orzo side dish is ready. Optional; Grate on some cheese. Parmesan, Pecorina, Grana Padano or cheddar or goat for that matter.

You can equally expand on buttered orzo with adding a vegetable to that. Perhaps diced fresh zucchini which is a lovely combination especially with some feta cheese for a Greek dish. The cubed up zucchini can cook in the water along with the orzo and be ready when the orzo is, in about 5 minutes. Or even easier vegetables? Use a frozen vegetable. Maybe French Green Beans? Or frozen peas? The green beans can go in with the orzo (about 5 minutes). Add the peas about the last minute or two before the orzo is cooked as those are ready very fast.

It’s great for adding to soups or stews as well. Chicken soup with orzo is fantastic and very comforting.

Orzo is fantastic to make whole dinners around. For example, a ONE POT dish of Garlic Butter Chicken Orzo; here’s the recipe.

And here’s another recipe, this one vegetarian – Parmesan Garlic Orzo:

https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/228131/parmesan-garlic-orzo/

So this is why I always have some orzo in the cupboard, and suggest you should as well. If not, the next time you are at Trader Joe’s just grab a a package of what I think is one of the handy dandiest items there that only costs 99 cents! The 99 cents pasta (spaghetti, capellini, orzo, etc) and cans of beans there are good ways to stretch your dollar at Trader Joe’s.

Ingredients: Durum Semolina (wheat)

Trader Joe’s Buffalo Style CHICKEN MEATBALLS with Monterey Jack Cheese


NEW ITEM

RAVE

(fully cooked, seasoned, just heat and serve)

NEW ITEM!

Trader Joe’s chicken meatballs are 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 package – a brand new Buffalo Style version of the meatballs.

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.”

https://www.traderjoes.com/home/products/pdp/buffalo-style-chicken-meatballs-083229

So how are they actually ?

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.

I would buy these again.

$4.29 (12 oz) package

6 meatballs: 170 calories, 14 g protein

UPDATE: THESE SEEM TO BE GOING VIRAL?

Trader Joe’s TOMATO BASIL MARINARA SAUCE, a pantry must have


I’m surprised I never got around and actually reviewed this Trader Joe’s standard, which is a Classic in it’s own right.

I had tried the other one, Trader Joe’s roasted garlic marinara and liked it. So I thought I it was time to give the original flavor a spin.

First and formost, what a decent deals with these Trader Joe’s sauces, right? A jar still costs less than two bucks. This sauce is a very good what I might call an every day tomato sauce, frankly equal to some big brands that cost more.

You can fix it up easily too. Love garlic? I do. So I added a few cloves of slivered fresh garlic to the pan in a bit of olive oil, let the garlic get a little toasted, then poured in this sauce. Add some more herbs to your liking as well, especially a little fresh basil should you have some. A dash of red pepper flakes perhaps?

Even if you do nothing, this is a very tasty versatile sauce which can not only be used for pasta but for cooking and making other dishes. “Use it as a simmer sauce for chicken breasts or meatballs. Or, let it be the starting point for your own sauce-creation. So many different ways to enjoy this enduring sauce.”
https://www.traderjoes.com/home/products/pdp/tomato-basil-marinara-sauce-045029

I even like the way this one tasted way better than an organic version I tried a while back and gave a fail.

This would also be a good sauce for making your own pizza, using either fresh dough or a crust (or naan) from Trader Joe’s.

I don’t know if it can go toe to toe with Trader Joe’s frankly fantastic (and upscale) Italian CARO SUGO sauce. However that one costs $5 a jar. You could buy 2 1/2 jars of this sauce for that.

If you are on a tight budget Trader Joe’s can help with dinner. Let’s figure, you buy one of their pastas that still cost 99 cents. Grab a jar of this sauce. You’ve spent three bucks and you have dinner.

If your budget allows that might even leave room for some upgrades to say, one of their “artisanal” pastas ($2) and maybe some leeway to add a bread and salad…. $1.99 for a baguette and maybe a $2.29 bag of arugula.

Ingredients seem fairly natural.

INGREDIENTS: TOMATO PUREE, DICED TOMATOES, SOYBEAN OIL, SUGAR, SALT, DRIED ONIONS, DRIED GARLIC, CITRIC ACID (ACIDULANT), EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL, DRIED PARSLEY, DRIED BASIL, DRIED OREGANO, NATURAL FLAVOR.

Trader Joe’s ORGANIC RADIATORE PASTA


RAVE

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.

Trader Joe’s frozen BUTTER CHICKEN With Basmati Rice


PRODUCT OF CANADA

Trader Joe’s BUTTER CHICKEN with Basmati Rice

They say this: “Trader Joe’s Butter Chicken with Basmati Rice is the ultimate #Cookinghacks for this dish. Our Butter Chicken showcases chunks of chicken enrobed in a mild, mouth-watering curry crafted of crushed tomatoes, cream, onions, garlic, ginger, butter…Spiced just so, and partnered with delicate, fragrant grains of Basmati rice, it’s ready to heat and enjoy. Serve it with our other frozen Indian fare – TJ’s Palak Paneer, TJ’s Channa Masala, TJ’s Tandoori Naan – for a feast. Don’t forget the TJ’s Mango Ginger Chutney & sliced cucumbers!” https://www.traderjoes.com/home/products/pdp/butter-chicken-with-basmati-rice-099032

Search for this, and you learn that it comes up as one of Trader Joe’s most popular items with a pretty loyal following. Trader Joe’s has carried this forever, and it seems to have quite a lot of fans. I had not tried it till now though. Here’s my honest review with what I liked about it, plus as well as things I think could be improved on.

The Good: This is actually quite a tasty Indian chicken dish. The price is very attractive at $4.49. The flavor of this is quite good, with a rich tomato-y sauce. The chicken (I think white meat?) is perfectly cooked and not at all dried out; it’s tender and juicy coated with a tasty, creamy tomato sauce, which includes concentrated tomatoes, cream, butter and spices. The package says this whole thing is just 400 calories. I mean the portion is not huge. They give you mostly rice of course.

I think NAAN is worth eating with this, so you might want some with this too, to scoop up the sauce.

(THEIR PICTURE FROM THE TJ WEBSITE)
(you can see about 3 or 4 pieces of chicken)

The Not So Good: I was surprised at the small amount of chicken they actually give you. I wish they gave you a bit more of it, as will you. Which makes me wonder, was it always so? I wacked a picture, probably old, off their website about the product. In that product picture, it looks like they show about six decent sized pieces of chicken. In the package we got, I counted about 4 pieces. Has the amount changed over the last year or so, as ingredient costs have gone up? Someone let me know please via the Comment section, if you’ve gotten this for years, if you think they cut back on the amount of chicken now as opposed to in the past. I just kind of suspect to keep the price the same there may be some shrinkflation ?

I found the basmati rice that comes with this just OK. Less flavorful than if I made my own Trader Joe’s Basmati Rice, which I assume might be a better quality Basmati rice. The taste of this one seemed less and its a bit under seasoned and maybe even undercooked.

A main selling point of this “whole meal” is of course, convenience in that it comes with rice already made. Me, I’m a rice freak, I make rice, daily many times. So frankly I’m not the typical target audience as I can put up a pot of rice in minutes. Hey, my wife’s Asian, and we can have rice 5 days in a row.

I think the rice could stand for a pinch might stand for a pinch of salt. Or put the sauce over the rice as it may balance out. I did not find the dish as a whole salty, nor spicy. I think I would call this “mild” Indian, not spicy, nor has a ton of seasonings and cream of course which mellows things. Ingredients include garlic, ginger, spices….

TIP: If you want to make this into a more substantial meal you could add a can of drained chick peas (99 cents) into this. I did. After the sauce is defrosted enough to take out the chicken, add a half (or whole can) of drained chick peas. Or you could add another dish perhaps make the excellent CHANNA MASALA chick peas in a tasty sauce to serve along with this. With that two people might be able to enjoy the two dishes as a meal.

Ingredients look pretty normal and natural without additives.

If for example you took this to work for your lunch, it would make a nice easy meal, only needing tossing into the microwave. Or don’t feel like cooking, add a salad and this could suffice as dinner. Drizzle perhaps with some greek yogurt and serve with their very good Mango Chutney.

Trader Joe’s “GOAT’S MILK CREAMY CHEESE”


I tried out this Trader Joe’s “Goat’s Milk Creamy Cheese”, which I think cost’s nearly $5.

This is a soft spreadable goat cheese, which is not at all goaty. So if that’s what you are looking for you might like this extremely mild “goat cheese”. Me, I love goat cheese and don’t mind at all if it’s a little goaty. Isn’t that the point? OK very very goaty can be off-putting at times but I found this soft cheese just way, way too mild. I found this barely tasting like a “goat cheese”. Perhaps this is the mildest goat cheese I’ve may have ever tasted. I was not impressed. It ain’t cheap so what’s the point? To me this tastes like cream cheese with a smidge of goat cheese mixed in. Something you or I could make easily, for way less too.

Anyway this might have been a good idea on paper but I found this to be a failure for my tastes as it’s way too mild. Very lacking in goat cheese flavor, and most importantly expensive as this is a tiny package (4.5 oz) for which they charge almost 5 bucks. The do sell a few excellent kinds of goat cheese (chevre).

We could make a soft spreadable goat cheese akin to this… Just mix a package of cream cheese ($2) and Trader Joe’s excellent Goat Cheese log ($3). Let both sit out for a few hours until they are soft, and combine them. If you want a little less goat taste, just mix in half the goat log. Me, I would mix the whole thing. It would cost less per ounce than this.

I think the result will give something like what I was expecting this to be – a soft, easily spreadable goat cheese that would work on toast, crackers, a bagel or what have you. Great for a cheese board or guests.

HOW TO MAKE CREAMY GOAT CHEESE for $5 bucks – Get a blue “Chevre” log and a package of cream Cheese. Wait an hour or two till they are soft. Mix cream cheese with whole (or half) the log of Trader Joe’s GOAT CHEESE (optionally you could add flavors, perhaps fresh herbs or black pepper. A few drops of lemon juice. You will get about 12 oz for a tiny bit more than this package (4.5 oz) costs, so cheaper in the long run too.

This cheese here (blue log of chevre) is a terrific goat cheese at a decent price. It’s TJ’s Number Two best selling cheese two years in a row and sells for three bucks! So if you want a soft not too sassy spreadable goat cheese I say buy that and make your own creamy goat with your preferred ratio of goat to cream cheese (1/2 of this for a milder cheese or the whole thing if you like a bit more tangy and goaty.

https://www.traderjoes.com/home/products/pdp/chevre-goat-cheese-019751

I love PETIT BILLY (that’s the exact taste and texture for a very French soft goat cheese: https://tasteoffrancemag.com/trending/cheese-wire-petit-billy/) Last time I went to France I smuggled one back. That cheese is wonderful, it’s one of my favorite French cheeses (but costly in the U.S.)

As far as this tub under review, “Goats Milk Creamy cheese” I would not buy it again.

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