The Trader Joe's Product Discussion Thread (S/D)

No cooking

I've used it on the chicken the last two times we've had chicken for dinner.

FYI

So raw too much smoke, cooked I can't taste it at all. All around product fail.

i really like the seaweed! and it's 99 cents!

i got the smoked salt - it was great on salmon

I thought the green curry tuna was too sweet. Disappointed.

really feeling these pretzel rolls lately

I hope you buy them when you're done.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZKgQ4CSVRw

trader joe's thai green cury is pretty good for something you just pour from a jar and heat

holy shit those wasabi seaweed snax are SPICY!

http://boldandfab.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/pow.jpg%3Fw%3D300%26h%3D198

the lamb vindaloo = relatively spicy for a tj's product!

ooh is this frozen or like their tasty bites?

frozen. in a purple box!

i may have to try this!

*adds to list*

turns out trader joe's is owned by aldi - not surprising! no middleman. I love both!

but the line between inappropriately friendly crazy person and helpful TJ's employee is kind of thin

so OTM btw

Aldi and TJ are actually two separate business groups -- the two arms of Aldi were ran by brothers, one of whom recently passed away. The US Aldi stores are completely separate from TJ afaik.

I have a loyalty to Aldi that I do not have for Trader Joe's. If I want "health food" I am willing to pay $10 for an Indian frozen dinner or a $28 dollar bag of coffee and feel snooty. On the other hand it is hard to turn down 99 cent pasta or frozen veggies.

TJ's does have 99 cent pasta...

Aldi and TJ are actually two separate business groups -- the two arms of Aldi were ran by brothers, one of whom recently passed away. The US Aldi stores are completely separate from TJ afaik.

― mh, Monday, September 19, 2011 10:28 AM (4 hours ago) Bookmark

ok whatever! they still seem to share a lot of business ideas. and maybe even suppliers - the peppercorn grinder I bought from TJ's recently is exactly the same as the one I bought from Aldi a year ago, except for the label! and maybe the TJs one was a little more expensive

mango lassi was disappointing! i just assumed mango + yogurt would taste awesome. the mango yogurt gummies are pretty good, though.

german sensibilities

so what are the good TJ beers? I was overwhelmed by the choice!

last time i got beer at tj's, i just went with moretti (the italian beer). i haven't liked any of tj's own-brand beer yet.

I like the Bohemian lager tbh! I hardly ever get it only because it's so heavy to carry home w all my groceries.

name tag lager was on sale for like $3 for a sixer, should have got some

steinlager (from new zealand) is okay too.

lol that's not the sale price!
xpost

Trader Joe's Product Discussion, Whole Grains Edition

Harvest Grains Blend - it's in a bag in the shelf-stable aisle. I love this stuff. It's really easy and if you make it per package instructions (butter, broth/water, grains) it's a nice change from rice. A couple of nights ago we made this in one pot with with carrots, celery, onions, and leftover roasted chicken. A+. Also, it's cheap.

Rolled Oats - regular oatmeal, not Irish oatmeal or instant oatmeal or frozen oatmeal. Just a bag of oatmeal. I guess I've eaten too much Quaker Oatmeal in my life, because this stuff is weird. It doesn't lump together like proper oatmeal and I actually had to strain the excess water out of it because I didn't want oat soup. I could see some people liking this, if this is how you like your oatmeal, but I'm going back to Quaker after I finish this bag (and I see a lot of oatmeal cookies in my future to try and use this up).

Rolled Oats tl;dr: I'm spunky. I like my oatmeal lumpy.

jenny you should use the oats to make granola -- it's easy!

Or maybe they would work in the litter box.

jenny you should use the oats to make granola -- it's easy!

That's a good idea. Do you have a fave recipe?

Or maybe they would work in the litter box.

They don't clump!

oooh i have a rolled-oats recipe for you (cookies)

1 c rolled oats
1 c dessicated coconut
1 c sugar
1 c flour

mix

1/4 c golden syrup (or maple syrup)
100g marg/butter

melt together

2tbsp warm water
1 tsp baking soda

mix

mix everything together. roll into balls. place on parchment lined cookie sheet, flatten with wet fork and bake at 325 for 22 minutes. let cool completely before eating.

Coconut! Awesome.

the spanish deli meats are pretty good

their rice pudding is better than that at Whole Foods

their packaged deli meats are so expensive! i've taken to buying prosciutto at my local market because it's like 1/3 of the price and much better quality freshly sliced. i love prosciutto/jamon serrano, though, and eat it more than the average person should probably.

back to TJ's chatty checkout clerks: today this wholesome-looking young african/american dude said he played in a "punk/no wave duo."

Or maybe they would work in the litter box.

They don't clump!

― pullapartsquirrel (Jenny), Wednesday, September 28, 2011 8:56 AM (5 hours ago) Bookmark

Maybe they could work like the safflower seeds system I use.

i went from liking the char siu bao to not liking it to liking it again. i think i just got a bad batch that one time.

is it really sweet?

it's a bit sweet.

The chili-lime cashews are one of the best foods in life, not just trader joe's

edamame hummus is actually pretty good! strongly flavored, thought it would taste grassy but it's actually got a nice forward presence.

picked up 'stockyard oatmeal stout' and it's pretty good, but maybe I just like oatmeal stouts and I'm not capable of distinguishing between good ones and bad ones

SOMEONE FED ME EDAMAME HUMMUS LAST WEEK and I've been proselytizing for it ever since. Nice garlic kick and a tangy creaminess that is so close to mayo, it's remarkable.