This frozen stir fry mix has a nice selection of vegetables, but suffers the fate of all frozen stir fry mixes. The vegetables just don’t have the fresh taste and crisp texture that are the crucial characteristic of a good stir fry. Even though TJ’s wisely sliced the mushroom and carrots very thin so they […]
Trader Joe’s Asian Vegetable Stir Fry (vegan)
I love the idea of a quick, convenient and fresh stir fry mix. Unfortunately, Trader Joe’s Asian Stir Fry mix just doesn’t cut it. The first issue is that it’s almost all peppers and onions so it seems more like a Mexican fajita mix than an Asian stir fry mix. The second issue is that […]
Trader Joe’s Spinach Lasagna
I usually buy the garden vegetable or roasted vegetable lasagna, but decided to revisit this spinach lasagna for comparison. Spinach is the key word here! The filling is primarily spinach and ricotta and there isn’t a lot of sauce. Enough, but no excess sauce. This lasagna seems a little healthier and more grown-up than the […]
Trader Joe’s Baby Beets (vegan)
These steamed and peeled beets are very tasty, versatile and convenient. Added points for being a good vegan source of iron. Beets pair well with salad greens, citrus and goat cheese. However, I usually just cut the beets into quarters and toss them with a little orange vinegar, olive oil and rosemary. Note that the […]
Trader Joe’s Orange Muscat Vinegar (vegan)
I always have a bottle of this vinegar in my fridge and keep a spare bottle in my pantry since this isn’t always in stock. Not quite as versatile as balsamic, but the orange flavor enhances many salad ingredients including beets, avocado and jicama. The really great thing is that because this vinegar is relatively […]
Trader Joe’s Spinach & Kale Pie
Trader Joe’s describes this as a “modern take on spanakopita”. I guess the kale is what makes it modern. This looks and tastes like spanakopita, except that the smell and flavor of feta is stronger than what I’m used to. Not unpleasant, just different. There are no quick cooking instructions and it requires a full […]
Trader Joe’s Balela (vegan)
I’ve never heard of balela, but I love chickpeas, garbanzo beans or whatever you want to call them so this seemed like a good bet. Unfortunately, this is pretty much like eating garbanzo beans with salsa which isn’t that exciting and a bit odd. I suspect the sumac and mint are supposed to distinguish this […]
Trader Joe’s Sai Tung Green Curry (vegan)
The photo on the box didn’t look very appetizing to me so I put off trying this for several weeks. However, I’m happy to report that this is a very interesting and tasty dish. The “vegetables” are morning glory, coconut shoots and banana flowers so I had no idea what to expect. The morning glory […]
Trader Joe’s Mushroom & Black Truffle Flatbread
This flatbread doesn’t look like much out of the package. The mushrooms are a gray paste, not actual pieces, and there doesn’t seem to be nearly enough cheese. However, once this is baked it’s really quite good. Very savory with a distinct truffle flavor. I keep one of these as well as the similar Pesto […]
Trader Joe’s Shells with Brie & Asparagus
This is mac and cheese for grownups! Rich, creamy and full of fat. The asparagus is plentiful, attractive and tasty, although a few pieces may need to be left uneaten due to a woody texture. I’d like to say that I eat half the box (the recommended serving) with a nice salad. However, I usually […]