Trader Joe’s Sliced PUMPKIN SOURDOUGH BREAD made with pumpkin purée & pumpkin spice
$4.99 (17.6 oz, 500 gr)
NEW ITEM (LIMITED TIME)
As I’ve mentioned before I’m actually not one of those people who goes nuts when Trader Joe’s comes out with all the pumpkin stuff every Fall.
However on occasion I do see something that looks interesting and peaks my interest. Like this bread I saw in the New Items shelf while I was checking out:
Trader Joe’s SLICED PUMPKIN SOURDOUGH BREAD. After doing a little research I saw that some shoppers supposedly are raving about this bread and snapping it up. So I got one to try out. Here’s my honest review.
I liked this. I like that its actually made with some pumpkin puree, so you get a (subtle) hint of pumpkin. I like the fact that the amount of spice is very subtle. It’s not overly flavored with spices. There is just a hint of pumpkin spice blend (cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg). Almost background.Pumpkin puree is the third ingredient listed (flour, water, pumpkin purée…) in the ingredients.The bread has a slight sweetness but just a little and tastes like bread, not dessert.
The bread has a nice crumb with some air holes and a little structure. It has a bit of little sourdough tang but think sourdough in quotation marks. I think of this as a “sourdough style” bread.
As is untoasted, I thought it tasted fine. However my first thought was I have to toast it. This is best for toastingor grilling. First I just toasted it and tried it simply spread with some good butter. Simple but delicious. Also excellent with butter and raspberry jam. Experiment and find your favorite combo for jam. Trader Joe’s APPLE JAM perhaps?
FRENCH TOAST? I didn’t try it yet but I know this Definitely would make fantastic french toast. Try that with this bread over the holidays?
Sounds a bit odd but how for a grilled cheese sandwich!? I saw somewhere on the internet to make a grilled cheese with this bread and for cheese, some gruyere. They were not wrong. I tried it. So good. We really liked the way these grilled cheese sandwiches came out and tasted (my “recipe” below)
Cheese: I saw the recommended one was Trader Joe’s GRUYERE CHEDDAR MELANGE and that’s what I used, which it was a perfect match.
Here’s how to make a grilled cheese sandwich with this PUMPKIN SOURDOUGH BREAD.
Slice up your Gruyere Cheddar Melange cheese, then spread the bread slices with a thin layer of your favorite mustard. I used a mix of Dijon and Regular mustard. Add a decent amount of cheese and carefully close up the sandwich. Grill in a heavy pan with a bit of butter on medium. Let it grill up for about 3-4 minutes per side until it looks nice and Golden Brown and Delicious (check occasionally after 2 3 minutes, it can get dark easily) Flip the over carefully, press gently with a spatula until the second side is done and the cheese is all melty and delicious. Serve with pickles.
I’m sure it would also be good with some kind of cheddar but I have to say, that Gruyere melange perfect, subtle and nutty and matched perfectly with the pumpkin sourdough.
My only complaint with this bread is they don’t give you enough for five bucks! Its kind of small, half loaf of bread which is just over a pound. Our loaf went pretty fast, in fact we were fighting over who would eat the last piece of toast.
TRADER JOE’S (pricey) HAIR OIL vs. my recommendation JOJOBA OIL
I’m a guy with curly hair. Long ago I discovered my hair looks better if I just put a little oil on it. So for years I’ve been putting a little bit of some kind of oil on my hair when I get out of the shower. My Go To oil is usually a jar of coconut oil or similar.
I tried Trader Joe’s HAIR OIL. They call it “salon quality”.
“Trader Joe’s Hair Oil is filled with a salon-quality Hair Oil that’s made with some of the most sought-after hair care ingredients, including: argan oil, moringa seed oil, chia seed oil, and vitamin E. It helps fight frizz, tame fly-aways, and smooth split ends, all while adding incredible shine. Plus, its moisturizing ingredients help protect against potential damage your hair can sustain from blow dryers and other heat styling tools.
I guess the words, “salon quality” justify the Salon Price of this tiny little bottle. They are selling this little one ounce bottle for six dollars! Here’s my honest review of Trader Joe’s Hair Oil.
I kind of liked Trader Joe’s Hair Oil. It smells nice, Its a little heavy and thick. Over a few days the hole where the oil comes out got gunked up, to the point of almost not working at all. However to me the main thing is this price. This stuff is just WAY too expensive. $5.99 for just one ounce to me seems like a rip-off and very un Trader Joe’s.
Perhaps some of you with way more experience with beauty products might disagree and say well this stuff has many special ingredients in it. That’s why it cost so much. Fine. If you think, its worth it, go for it. I’m a guy. I don’t want to spend that and honestly for years, I’ve bought and used other products like Trader Joe’s very good LEMON GRASS COCONUTOIL. That works fine on my hair. 4 ounces are about $4 dollars.
Which brings me to another Trader Joe’s oil: 100% PURE JOJOBA OIL. It’s perfect for my hair, as well as just as “body oil” and apparently is excellent as a facial oil and cleanser too. The 4 ounce bottle costs $7.99. So two dollars an ounce, not six. This is 100% pure jojoba oil. It’s a very light oil, not heavy or greasy at all. In fact, Trader Joe’s expensive Hair Oil contains some jojoba oil (Simmondsia Chinesis). It’s well known to be good for hair as well as for face and body.
So I say try this lovely 100% Pure Jojoba Oil for your hair instead of overpaying for the tiny bottle of HAIR OIL but that of course is just my suggestion. If you try both, please let us know if you think the little bottle of Hair Oil is worth the difference in price.
(for hair, skin, and scalp….remove makeup….cleanse pores….softens hands and feet…. prevents dry skin… leave-in hair treatment…. after shave moisturizer)
Trader Joe’s MANDU, Korean Kimchi PotstickerDumplings (frozen)
Product of Korea
VEGAN
Mandu is Korean for “dumpling”.
Trader Joe’s just introduced these new Mandu Korean Kimchi Potsicker frozen dumplings. These have an interesting rectangle shape, and they’re made in Korea. They are plant based (vegan). Price-wise they are pretty good deal. A one pound bag which is about 18 dumplings goes for $3.49 (NOTE: the 2nd time I got them, they had raised the price on the sign at my TJ’s to $3.99!!?)
“Korean dumplings (mandu) come in an array of shapes and fillings. These particular pot-stickers are made with Kimchi, Glass Noodles and Vegetables with traditional spicy and tangy flavors from the kimchi which comes though in savory, piquant notes. They are best prepared “gun mandu” style, crisped in a pan on both sides to create a textural variety” -on the package
Eat these square dumpling with your favorite dipping sauce (Tip: no sauce is included) However even if you eat them without any sauce, the kimchi filling is nice and savory and a bit juicy.
These Kimchi Mandu could be served as a snack, appetizer, a lunch, or as part of a dinner.
We ate them for dinner, pairing the dumplings with rice, some kimchi, and a tofu dish I made. Braised Korean style tofu (dubu jorim) and all those combined to make a great dinner.
So how are Trader Joe’s latest frozen dumplings? TJ’s new Mandu are quite good as long as you like “spicy” food. In fact, I think these new frozen dumplings may now be up there among the best dumplings Trader Joe’s sells., along with the very popular pork and ginger Soup Dumplings of course. Theses are a little different.
I cooked the mandu up as they suggest which is to pan fry them. This gives the wrappers a nice chewy, yet crispy texture which contrasts nicely with the soft kimchi and glass noodle filling inside.
How To Cook Trader Joe’s Kimchi Mandu Dumplings: A good pan is important. Heat a good non-stick or cast iron pan, which is what I use for dumplings. Add about a scant tablespoon of oil (Added Korean points if you use a bit of toasted sesame oil. TJ sells that). On medium heat, add your frozen dumplings (carefully) to the pan. Let them cook, for 2 minutes. Flip after two minutes, and keep turning them every two minutes as well as moving them in the pan until they look all golden brown and delicious. This may take about 8 – 10 minutes total, though they say 6-8. Be sure to turn them over and move them around the pan to get an even cook all over. The edges of the pan have less heat than the center.
(Note: I took the picture about 1/2 way done.)
When done, the dumpling wrapper will have a nice slightly chewy, slightly crispy texture.
Tip: The instructions on the bag don’t mention air fryers, however some people online say they can be made in them If you do it that way, I would spray or brush them with some oil to get crispy texture. Please add a COMMENT if you make them in the air fryer with how they do that way.
Here’s my honest review of these new KOREAN KIMCHI MANDU.
These dumplings are good. Tasty and filling and yes they are a bit spicy. So if you hate “spicy” these may not be for you.
I think Trader Joe’s Korean supplier did a pretty good job with these, which come in a little unusual shape, rectangular, with a pretty good wrapper thickness in relation to the filling. The texture of the wrapper is good when pan-fried. Filling is tasty and you will know they do contain kimchi when you eat them. Even my (Korean-Japanese) wife approved of them as “tasting Korean” as regards the filling which is savory from kimchi and has a slightly chewy texture from “glass noodles”which are made from potato starch, plus other vegetables and flavorings.
NOTE: These dumpling are a bit spicy with a bit of kick from the kimchi – I would not call it crazy spicy, I would say the heat level is on the low-middle side? Unless you are extremely sensitive to spicy, these should be OK.
Each small dumpling is about 2 inches long and is about 2 or 3 bites. 3 dumplings = 100 calories.Nutrition label says 1 serving = 3 dumplings (Ha! More like 5 or 6 for me)
You don’t have to have sauce with these but I think are good with some dipping sauce, even if just soy and some rice vinegar.
I made a nice dipping sauce for them with soy sauce, rice vinegar, garlic, ginger, sesame oil and scallions. Make your own sauce with your favorite ingredients. The easiest could be just soy sauce and some rice vinegar. Or just use your favorite bottle of Trader Joe’s sauce you like for dumplings. Chopped scallions would be nice and/or cilantro if you like it.
Product of South Korea
KOREAN KIMCHI MANDU – $3.49 (16 oz bag) *TJ website says $3.49, however my local TJ’s has a sign for $3.99 (NYC) Confusing!
Tip; Kimchi is of course spicy and gives these dumplings a bit of a kick. If you are very sensitive and can’t handle any level of “spicy” these may not be your jam.
(New, Aug 2026) With the addition of this chocolate bark I think Trader Joe’s carries three different chocolate “barks” now? There is the original regular bark, the dried raspberry one and now this one with pistachios and jalapenos. Yes, you read that correctly. This chocolate bark contains (dried) jalapeños. So this new one is a bit of an unusual chocolate as it is has some Heat.
While I was going to the checkout line, I saw this bag in the NEW ITEMS stand next to the line. A new Chocolate Bark ? Yes please. I just grabbed the bag without looking too hard. Somehow my brain saw the word “pistachios” but somehow I actually missed “dried jalapeños”! Ha ha, I only noticed it when I got home.
Fortunately I actually like spicy chocolate and I was intrigued. Chocolate with spice is not that unusual. In Mexico for example this is common. Chocolate with something spicy is a combo that goes well together. Sure that may not be for everybody but it is for yours truly.
Here’s my honest review:
I tasted it. I soon realized I could not stop eating it after that first bite. To me, it’s addictive. After you bite a piece of the bark, you first taste the delicious sweet dark chocolate, then a few seconds later your tongue will register a bit of heat (dried jalapeño). Not a crazy level of heat. Just enough to let you know its there. And to make you want another bite. The pistachio element is a bit overshadowed by the jalapeno but it’s there somewhere in the background, and blends well with the chocolate. There’s just a hint of sea salt.
HOW SPICY IS THIS? “Low to Medium” spicy? Its a bit spicy. Not Crazy. You will taste the heat but it’s not blow the roof of your mouth off stuff (to me). I don’t appreciate crazy Hot Ones levels of heat. This is not that – though of course spicy tolerance is personal. You will have to try it for yourself.
They got the balance right. Sweet and savory and a bit spicy. While this is a bit spicy its more than tolerable as the sweetness of the dark chocolate matches perfectly to the amount of heat. I love it. But this will not be for everyone. My wife didn’t like it, even though she likes a little spiciness in food.
Trader Joe’s has this to say about their new product:
“Now, separately, the four elements of Dark Chocolate, Pistachios, Jalapeños, and Sea Salt may make utterly intuitive pairings with one another. But it’s only within the context of this Bark that this curious combination gets to shine together. And so, every bite becomes a symphony of rich, buttery, nutty, grassy, spicy, savory, and sweet, all at once.” https://www.traderjoes.com/home/products/pdp/dark-chocolate-bark-with-pistachios-dried-jalapenos-sea-salt-083323
I really liked this new chocolate bark. If you like spicy chocolate, you will too. If you are very sensitive to spicy heat, maybe its not for you but I say, try it. Worst case, you bring it back and tell them you didn’t like it. That’s the great thing about Trader Joe’s, isn’t it? If you are not happy, just bring it back for a refund.
I would buy it again. I have to. The bag went very fast.
Paneer is a fresh, non-melting Indian cheese that you can cube, slice, or crumble. It absorbs flavors and holds its shape when heated. Use it in curries, stir-fries, salads, or as a substitute for tofu or halloumi
Apparently twice before, Trader Joe’s used to sell a paneer cheese, first way back in the 90’s and again around 2000. But they say it just didn’t catch on back then so they dropped it.
Now with a few very popular items like PALAAK PANEER and PANEER TIKKA MASALA – which they sell a lot of – people are more familiar with paneer. So once again, TJ’s just came out with this, Indian Style Paneer Cheese. This is made for Trader Joe’s by a cheese producer in Wisconsin.
What makes paneer cheese useful to cook with is that it doesn’t melt. Paneer stays pretty solid when cooked. So good for adding to dishes as well as for grilling. Trader Joe’s says marinate it in your favorite spices before grilling. Or simply add it for extra cheese into one of entrées like PALAAK PANEER. I love Palaak Paneer but I think theyve gotten chincier with how much paneer is in it (Which I think it used to have more, and maybe they cut back for cost reasons?)
“Made for us in Wisconsin, this pasteurized cow’s milk cheese is produced by curdling the milk with acetic and lactic acids, resulting in a firm and crumbly fresh cheese with a subtle tang.”
This cheese is just milk and acid to coagulate it. It has zero salt and no flavor really. Think of it as a blank canvas like tofu.
Here’s my honest review of this new PANEER cheese. I was expecting this to be like the paneer in their entrees (made in India) like Palaak Paneer or Tikka Masala Paneer. This seemed firmer (before I learned the hot water soaking trick) and needing to let it cook at least 10 minutes or more.
(hot water trick!) *What I have learned since I started is that some people recommend putting paneer in very hot water for about 5 minutes before using it.
I tried to “crumble” it as they describe it as being “firm and crumbly”. I couldn’t really crumble the cheese with my fingers (tip: this worked better after the hot water trick*).
I cut the paneer into cubes and sauteed/grilled it in butter, sprinkling on some Indian masala spices and curry powder. Not bad that way grilled up. Grill it low and slow.
I tried the hot water soak, the second time I cooked with it and it did seem to help with the texture being too firm. Worth trying this hot bath trick before you use it. Also I learned to cook it for longer periods. If putting in a stew or curry let it cook at least 10 minutes to soften and absorb flavors. If grilling this, try low and slow till nice and golden brown. Flavoring: you need to add a ton of things to give it flavor. Garlic is wonderful and lemon juice at the end will perk it up nicely. Don’t forget a pinch of salt! It has zero.
Trader Joe’s: “Tender sheets of pasta layered with creamy ricotta, tangy tomato sauce, and plenty of ground beef and pork seasoned with onion and garlic (the words “ultimate comfort food” would not be hyperbole here). Topped with an additional trifecta of cheeses—mozzarella, Romano, and Parmesan—the Lasagna is made fresh, then frozen and shipped to our stores, ready to report for ‘What’s for dinner?’ duty.”
(after baking in the oven)
RAVE
Just great to have in the freezer.
How can anyone not love lasagna? Soft slightly chewy, flat, wide sheets of yellow noodles, in three or four layers with a delicious tomato sauce and cheese. THREE kinds of cheese. All the layers topped with a cheesy bechamel sauce after baking that gets nice and golden brown and delicious. That is sounds like my Ultimate Comfort Food.
Years ago, I actually used to make it every now and then when I had company, as it was always a hit and could feed a crowd. But it is a lot of work.
If you are not going to make it yourself this Trader Joe’s frozen lasagna is an easy way to satisfy that craving. I had seen reviews of this online that people considered Trader Joe’s frozen lasagna quite good. I wanted to finally try it.
We got one to do a taste test for a little get together with a neighbor who wanted an “easy meal”. This TJ lasagna as our Main. Here’s my honest review. It’s true. Trader Joe’s frozen lasagna is not only pretty good, its surprisingly good. When we tasted it our reaction was that this was way better than we expected. This lived up to it’s well deserved reputation.
Trader Joe’s FAMILY STYLE MEAT LASAGNA is very tasty, very satisfying and just really yummy. TJ’s frozen lasagna actually tasted like something you could be served out at a family restaurant. All three of us tasters kept remarking at how (pleasantly) surprised at just how good this was for something made commercially. The ingredients even lists fennel seed. Now that’s Italian. The pasta, meaty sauce and cheese combined perfectly and was well seasoned with herbs and spices. The rich meaty sauce includes both beef and pork for plenty of umami. The noodles still had texture, they weren’t mushy. I liked the ratio of noodles to the layered cheese and stuff inside. For me, the best part were those dark, baked corner edges. I was sure we over-baked it but it was actually perfect. Just really nice and browned at the corners where the top of the lasagna baked up nice and chewy with browned cheesy goodness. The corner pieces were my favorite part.
All in all, this is quite a decent tasty entree , which was satisfyingly good and frankly a good deal for the price ($7.49). I think that would not buy you one portion of lasagna, anywhere, right? Let alone 4 (or 3!)
If you have this in your freezer, this can make a really easy dinner, which everyone will probably like and come in for a very affordable price…$2-3 a portion? Sweet deal for a family.
PORTION SIZE: This lasagna is 24 oz (2 lbs). While the box says “4 servings” (which would be about 8 ounces each) realistically that might be a tiny bit on the low side as far as feeding 4 adults. Maybe 4 adults if this is served with 2 sides, or with a salad and some bread.
When we ate it, there were three of us, myself, my wife and our neighbor. We served and ate about 3/4 of the lasagna to start with. But frankly this was so tasty, when we finished what we had, we all said we wanted a little more! So us three adults ending up finishing the whole thing easily, even with a salad and a side dish. So just FYI, realistically maybe think 3 adults, or 2 adults and 2 kids, especially if you want another bite or two. Kids as well I think will love this too, of course.
COOKING METHOD: Sure the box say you can nuke this but I say: “Fugedabouit! This will taste best baked, period. The box it even says baking is the “preferred method”. Browning greatly adds to the overall taste and get those nice chewy bits, which is done by baking semi-covered with the film which you later remove and bake a bit more at the end (the film is oven safe of course). Microwaving will not give the needed browning. So just plan on baking this, please.
HOW TO BAKETrader Joe’s frozen Lasagna – “Pre-heat oven to 375 F. Put the lasagna on a baking sheet. Lift up the two opposite corners of the plastic film on the top slightly so it can vent (important). Bake for 65 mins, then remove and carefully remove the film so it can brown. Put it back for about 5 minutes to finish browning. For reference, you can check my picture. It looks over baked but it was perfect IMO, with the corners being my favorite part of it. If you want less browning thats your call.
Remove and let sit for 5 minutes before serving.
So yes it will take a little over and hour to cook this from frozen, baking in the oven. Perhaps, if this is defrosted maybe it would cut down on baking time to 30-45 minutes? Might be worth trying. Leave it out on the counter for a few hours to defrost….
ADDITIONS? Of course if you want to, you add things just before serving this to ramp up the homemade angle. You could grate on some fresh Parmesan or Pecorino, add fresh basil if you have it, and add a drizzle of EVOO. If you want extra sauce with it you could even open a jar of your favorite one and serve a little on the side for mopping up with some good toasty bread.
A great Trader Joe’s product, and quite the value.
Trader Joe’s FAMILY STYLE MEAT LASAGNA$7.49 (24 oz)
I would buy this again.
(Tip: I saw they also sell a non-frozen lasagna in the refrigerated case; it’s 50 cents more, $7.99. I have not tried that yet)
PRODUCT OF CANADA – I hope the price is not affected by tariffs!!!
“Serve at room temperature for best flavor. Great addition to a cheeseboard; enjoy with an oaky Chardonnay”
RAVE
PRODUCT OF U.K.
IVY’S RESERVE SOMERSET RED is an award winning cheese, featured by Trader Joe’s sometime back as their “Spotlight Cheese”.
Is it worth buying? Here’s my honest review.
OMG is this cheese good. Just excellent. I enjoyed tasting it so much that I had to stop myself from devouring the package. “I just need one more taste”. If you haven’t tried it already, put this cheese on your list. Especially as it’s TIME LIMITED. Meaning Trader Joe’s won’t have it always, they will have it until it runs out. Hopefully they will get more then.
This is yet one more fantastic super premium Imported cheese you can buy at Trader Joe’s for a decent price. Note that this is one of those products sold under it’s own brand, not as “Trader Joe’s”. That means they really wanted it.
IVY’S RESERVE SOMERSET RED is a mature “aged cheddar” (aged over 12 months). You can see it’s crumbly. It has a mouthwatering edge of sharpness and a lot of umami with a lovely orange red color. While in the cheddar family this is specifically “Red Leicester” which is similar too but more crumbly than cheddar.
“Crafted in the style of a Red Leicester, Ivy’s Red is a special edition among Wyke Farm’s variety of Cheddars. It definitely stands out for its burnt-orange color and nutty & fruity notes, which are delivered with a firm texture that is rich, creamy, a bit tangy”
It’s a farm cheese, produced at Wyke’s Farm in Somerset, England. The label for Ivy’s Reserve Somerset Red describes it as “nutty, mellow & moreish,” More-ish is a British term that means, “having a very pleasant taste and making you want to eat more.”
Well that’s exactly the effect it had on me. I kept wanting just one more taste. When I finished my taste test, I saw a good portion of the package somehow had magically vanished 😉
Lovely deep orange color with the taste of aged authentic British cheddar. A little earthy, a little tangy. Aged over 1 year.
MELTED? Yes please. I had to try it melted, and of course this is fantastic melted. Put it in anything you can think of. I think this might make the best melted cheese sandwich? I would try that as well as an omelet perhaps?
Trader Joe’s has a picture with a cheese board and I am sure this would be a big hit on any #cheeseboard. They picture it with some some chutney, dates, nuts and crackers. Indicating how great this could contrast with the sweet spiciness of say, their MANGO CHUTNEY.
It says “LIMITED” so don’t expect to always find it but if you see it, I highly recommend trying this. At a high end cheese shop I would not be surprised to see this imported farm cheese selling for at least $20 a pound.
Trader Joe’s sell this for $5.49 (for a 7 oz piece)
I actually really love a good hot dog, however as someone who tries to watch what they eat, hot dogs now are something I will basically only eat once a year – on July 4th! So when I do eat a hot dog, it’s got to be really good, of course, and would prefer it be one that is at least trying to be one of the “healthier” versions. But still really tasty.
For me, Trader Joe’s Organic Uncured Grass Fed All Beef Hot Dogs fits the bill exactly. Most important, these are good and tasty hot dogs, that are made better than many others that have questionable ingredients, something hot dogs are notorious for. These have good ingredients. Made with USDA certified organic beef from grass fed cows. They don’t contain added nitrates or nitrites as preservatives (ie, “uncured”). They use natural ingredients to “cure” them, specifically celery and sea salt. The ingredients are not mysterious. The rest of the ingredients are all organic seasonings, things like garlic puree, minced onion, paprika, and red pepper flakes. “No fillers. No kidding”.
We got these for a July 4th get together this year and these dogs were a big hit. Everyone commented on how good the hot dogs were. Nice and tasty, well seasoned the way I like my dogs with: “Organic black pepper, organic ginger, organic nutmeg, organic red pepper, organic paprika, organic garlic powder, organic onion powder, organic coriander, organic celery powder, organic garlic puree….”
These were so yummy on those good buns with good sauerkraut. I can’t wait for July 4th to roll around year again! You and your kids however may eat them anytime you are in the mood for hot dogs and want them to be as good as possible.
110 calories per hot dog
$5.99 (10 oz package, which has 6 hot dogs)
I would buy these again.
“NO PRESERVATIVES; KEEP REFRIGERATED BELOW 40 F AT ALL TIMES”
Trader Joe’s has added this pasta shape to their selection of organic premium “artisanal” pastas, cavatappi which means “corkscrews”. They say it’s one of their favorites. Having tried it, it’s now one of my favorite pastas as well that they sell.
ORGANIC CAVATAPPI look kind of like a long twisted macaroni with ridges. The shape and the ridges are designed to hold sauces.
Cavatappi is an excellent addition to Trader Joe’s line of premium pastas. They still sell some pastas for 99 cents. This one is $1.99. What makes “premium” pasta premium and worth more? TJ’s premium pastas are a level up from the regular ones. Think of high end pasta like you see in specialty stores, many of which are $4-8 a pound. The better, high end pastas mean things like being bronze die cut, made from organic semolina wheat, usually are slow dried, etc. All of which makes for better pasta.
“Made in Italy for Trader Joe’s by our skilled supplier in Italy using organic semolina wheat. “
Cavatappi is perfect for marinara, or alfredo sauces. It’s also great used for baked mac and cheese and is great for cold pasta salads. Its shape helps it hold onto sauce in different ways, offering lots of flavor and a nice chewy texture.
“Cavatappi makes a consummate complement to a marinara or alfredo, makes a marvelous base for a baked mac and cheese, and produces a primo pasta salad for picnics and potlucks.”
I made a delicious (tuna and pesto)pasta salad using the cavatappi
Tuna & Pesto Pasta Salad: Boil a cup of cavatappi pasta in in salted water for 9-10 minutes or until done to the way you like (me, al dente). Drain the pasta and rinse in a colander under cold water until cooled down to room temp. Place pasta in a bowl, and add 2 tablespoons of Trader Joe’s jarred PESTO (adjust more if you need it). Add a can of tuna in olive oil (I used the oil and juice too, your call). Add juice from 1/2 lemon or more. (option, add a handful of chopped parsley or arugula) Mix well and serve.
Trader Joe’s ORGANIC CARROTS (multi-colored) $1.99 for 2 lbs. And also regular organic carrots .99 cents for 1 lb.
We are trying to reduce our carb intake a bit. One idea to help do that is to make up the plate with even more vegetables.
I happen to love carrots, so they are a good pick for us. Carrots are super healthy and fortunately pretty cheap at Trader Joe’s, where they sell for $1 a pound for ORGANIC CARROTS. Pictured here are the multi colored ones Trader Joe’s sells, which besides the standard orange carrots they have some with other colors, like red and yellow.
Here’s two EASY RECIPE ideas using carrots, one cooked and one raw, in a salad. The one printed on the bag is good too (“spicy rainbow carrot coins”) though more complicated than the ones I’m adding below.
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)
Trader Joe’s Rants & Raves (mostly raves, a few rants) 
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