Homemade snickerdoodle cookies are a favorite in our house so I gave these a try. These cookies have a very strong cinnamon flavor which is OK for me, but might not go over with kids. Also, the texture is a bit gritty – probably due to the non-wheat flours. These are soft-baked cookies so soft […]
Trader Joe’s Tarte aux Champignons
I really like the flavors of the mushroom and cheese toppings on this tarte – very rich and satisfying. However, the crust just doesn’t cook well or reliably. It’s very thin – almost like a phyllo dough and isn’t able to support the cheese sauce topping. I have made this tarte at least a dozen […]
Trader Joe’s Mixed Berry Scone Mix
These scones are easy to make and look nice, but are so dry that no one in my house would take second bite, not even the dog! If you split the scones in half and slather them with butter or jam you can get them down, but still not a pleasant experience. The chocolate chip […]
Trader Joe’s Chocolate Chip Scone Mix
I love baking mixes that just require water since I never have eggs or butter in my fridge. These scones are easy to make, look good and are edible thanks mostly to the chocolate chips. However, the texture is really dry, even by scone standards. You need to add some jam or butter and have […]
Trader Joe’s Sweet Potato Gnocchi
I like sweet potatoes and I like gnocchi, so I had high hopes. Unfortunately, this sweet potato gnocchi is lacking in taste, texture and appearance. The gnocchi is in a butter and sage sauce. Sage typically has a strong and distinct flavor, but it was barely noticeable in this dish. I added lots of sea […]
Trader Joe’s Organic Superfood Pilaf (vegan)
From the name alone you know this is going to be super healthy – like vegan retreat in an old growth forest healthy! Fortunately, this pilaf is also pretty tasty. All the pieces have distinct tastes and textures. The kale is bright green and the sweet potatoes aren’t too mushy so someone got the freezing […]
Trader Joe’s Reduced Guilt Mac & Cheese
The only way this mac and cheese might work is if you’ve never tasted Trader Joe’s totally delicious regular Mac ‘n Cheese. I understand that this low cal version can’t be as yummy as the fatty version, but this just makes me sad. The requisite creaminess of mac and cheese is due to a cheese […]
Trader Joe’s Ricotta & Spinach Ravioli
This entrée looks a little odd right out of the package because the tomato sauce is in the form of perfect little rectangles. However, the sauce cooks up with a nice color, pleasant chunkiness and fresh taste. A little plain as-is, but makes a good base for some creative add-ons. Try adding some sautéed mushrooms […]
Trader Joe’s Greens & Seeds Salad
I’m always on the lookout for new salads at Trader Joe’s. This one looked interesting, but it isn’t tasty enough to replace my favorites. The squash is a little too mushy for a salad and the pomegranate seeds are like crunching on small pebbles. I’m glad I tried this, but it’s not a keeper. Location: […]
Trader Joe’s Sweet Potato Frites (vegan)
I love sweet potato fries, but these fries are really disappointing. Even if you bake them longer and hotter than instructed, the fries are soggy and rather bland. These are edible, but far from delightful, with extra salt and spicy ketchup or barbecue sauce. This is one of the few items TJ’s provides deep fry […]