An Apple for Your Thoughts

It can be overwhelming to walk into a store (namely Trader Joe's) and see so many different fruits and apples to choose from. Maybe you love apples, maybe you don't but want to eat healthier (an apple a day keeps the doctor away!). Either way, there are many apples to choose from, so I thought I'd tell you about my favorite apple in the possibility that it could make your choice a little easier :)

I always go for the organic Fuji apples. I like Fuji apples for the crunch and the sweetness. They're juicy, sometimes you even have to be careful cutting in to them because of how much juice is trapped inside, but they're delicious! I get organic to avoid the pesticides and chemicals that non-organic fruits and veggies have coated and absorbed in themselves. I've tried the Pink Lady and Gala apples at TJ's and still prefer the Fuji over both. The Pink Lady ones were more on the sour side while the Gala felt like a less-delicious version of the Fuji. Either way, eat apples! They're very good for you! I've also heard that biting into an apple, skin and all, whitens your teeth :) win-win. Happy Apple Hunting!

Candy Cane Joe-Joe's (!!!)

I'm excited about these cookies because: 1. I love Christmas and all things holiday related 2. These are delicious 3. They remind me of Thin Mints

What I love about these cookies: They don't taste at all like Oreos, they taste like the Girl Scouts Thin Mints (did you know that I was a Girl Scout for 7 years?!)! They leave a refreshing minty taste in your mouth and have fun packaging too!

What I don't love but don't hate: The small peppermint pieces inside the cookie filling. The pieces are pretty small, but you can feel a slight crunch from them as you eat the cookie. I would prefer a smooth cookie filling, but I know many people like a little extra crunch, so it's fine by me!

Either way, I suggest you try them. They are a seasonal treat, delicious, and very affordable. Happy Holidays!

Review: Roasted Coconut Chips

I write this review while in the midst of eating the product under review. I can’t get enough! These are the Roasted Coconut Chips (aka manna from Trader Joe’s heaven) that you can buy in a cute white and brown pouch for $1.99.

These chips are small, thin, crunchy flakes of goodness. The thicker the flake, the more juice it brings with it. I’ve never been a fan of coconut and I can’t say I even enjoy Trader Joe’s Coconut Milk (unsweetened), but these are amazing. So amazing that every week, I find these sold out at my local TJs. Last week, I was fortunate enough to find two bags left…so naturally I bought both bags because with these, you never know when they’ll be back in stock.

These chips are delicious, decently healthy, and completely worth buying. They’re marketed to be great salad or ice cream toppers, but honestly I enjoy them just by themselves. Try it!

Review: Coffee Latte and Cream Bars

This frozen treat is priced at $3.49 and is delicious. It's a bar (basically a popsicle without the popsicle stick) with one side flavored as coffee and one side as cream. The coffee portion is the larger side of the bar and is made with real coffee and tastes like a delicious frappuccino. It has a creamy, milky texture which is juxtaposed with the crunchy, grainier cream-flavored side.

My one complaint about this product is that the packaging could be improved upon. Because these are bars and not popsicles, you're supposed to eat them by pushing them up through the plastic wrapper, which isn't ideal because your warm hands are holding the bar and it melts quicker than you can eat it. What I did to counter said problem was stick a fork firmly through the bottom of the bar to imitate a popsicle stick.

All in all, these bars are great for a dessert that will also give you that much needed caffeine boost that students and working folk could all use. Try it out and let me know what you think!

Recipe: Avocado Tomato Egg Melt

This is a quick and easy recipe for a complete, healthy, and delicious meal!

Ingredients: -Trader Joe's Sharp Cheddar Cheese (sliced)
-Trader Joe's Avocados
-Trader Joe's Large, Grade A Brown Eggs (Free Range)
-Organic On the Vine Tomatoes
-Multigrain or Whole Wheat bread. (My current favorite is the Trader Joe's Organic Whole Wheat Bread)

1. Fry the egg in olive oil in a pan and place the egg on the bread.
2. Immediately lay one piece of cheese over the hot egg to melt.
3. Cut your tomato and avocado into desired shape and size.
4. Place on top of cheese.
5. Enjoy!

The Avocado Tomato Egg Melt has carbs from the bread, protein from the cheese and egg, and vegetables with the tomato and avocado! Accompany the meal with a tall glass of milk (I like the lactose-free Lactaid that TJ's has) for some calcium :)

Review: Trader Joe's Movie Theater Popcorn

This is my fourth post today :) I have so many reviews to put out! This is reviewing the Movie Theater Popcorn which is said (on the bag) to be "buttery popcorn perfect for movie night or anytime!"

I'll tell you right now, I was disappointed by the popcorn. It is neither buttery nor flavorful, nor is it perfect. I didn't have that high of hopes for the popcorn, but I was still disappointed.

Although it is only $1.99, you're better off spending that money on the AMAZING Coconut Chips that TJ's just started selling (it was even sold out this Sunday when I went to buy it =[, I checked the shelf twice out of sad disbelief). Those are a much smaller bag but far more worth the money. If you're desperate for some popcorn, I did enjoy the White Cheddar popcorn in the orange striped bag. It had the buttery, flavorful texture you want in popcorn!

All in all, I say save your time and money and get a better treat from Trader Joe's!

Recipe: Tortilla Pizza

I started making these after seeing a recipe for Zucchini Pizza (which I can do a post about if ya'll want!) because the zucchini pizza merely opened the door for more pizza cravings. If you want the yummy taste of pizza without the price, then this will work for you!

Ingredients: -Trader Giotto's Pizza Sauce
-Trader Joe's 10 Flame Cooked Flour Tortillas (for a healthier alternative, get the Spinach Tortillas which are delicious but smaller)
-Trader Joe's Shredded 3 Cheese Blend (not the finely shredded cheese)
-Columbus Calabrese Salami
-Optional: Organic Tomatoes on the Vine
As usual, all ingredients can be purchased at Trader Joe's.

1. Lay out a flour tortilla and using a spoon apply the pizza sauce to the surface of the tortilla.
2. Sprinkle the 3 Cheese Blend over the entire tortilla
3. Cut thin slices of tomato and lay over surface of cheese as desired
4. Lay out several slices of salami as desired
5. Put in oven at 350 and bake for around 3-4 minutes.
6. Enjoy!
Easy, yummy, not really healthy at all (I will make sure my other recipes are)! :D

Trader Joe's Powerberries Review

I figured my first review should be on a product I loved from the first bite :) These are called "Powerberries," and they're real fruit juice pieces inside of a shiny little round ball of dark chocolate. They're perfectly bite sized, juicy and creamy, and completely addictive. Most of my friends agree that they love Powerberries (my friend that encouraged me to start this blog thinks they're okay) but I haven't met anyone yet who doesn't like them at all! 

I found a product similar to these under the brand Brookside where the treats include dark chocolate covered acai blueberry and dark chocolate covered pomegranate fruit juice pieces. These are sold at Costco so they're more cost effective, but they aren't as good as the Powerberries. These tend to be slightly bulkier and not as juicy, so the Powerberries still win out. A small bag of these is around $3-4, so they're a well-priced treat for the week! Comment below if you've had them before and love them or if you're looking to try them :)

Here We Go...

A friend suggested that I start a blog reviewing Trader Joe's products because its the one grocery store I go to (like clockwork) every Sunday afternoon to get all my groceries at. I've been doing this for two years now- ever since I moved to Missouri for school.Through these past two years, I've tried a lot of the products and produce that Trader Joe's has to offer, both the good and the bad. I thought the blog would be fun for my personal records to remember what I like and didn't like, but also figured that it would be helpful to others who shop at Trader Joe's.I also wanted to include the quick and easy recipes that I come up with because most people or students don't have the time to make elaborate meals!
With that being said, welcome to my blog! You can comment any of the posts with questions or comments to help me refine and improve this blog. Yay!