Meg's Meal Planning

Trader Joe's

Grilled Cheese Dippers with Trader Joe’s Autumn Soup

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Warm, savory, satisfying is how you would describe Trader Joe’s Autumnal Harvest Soup. It consists of your favorite harvest produce, like butternut squash, pumpkin, and slow-simmered California tomatoes. It’s the perfect soup to keep you cozy all Autumn long. 

Trader Joe's Autumn Soup

It’s finally starting to feel like Fall in CT. So far, I’ve already gone pumpkin picking, ate apple fritters, and made pumpkin bread (mix from Trader Joe’s which was phenomenal FYI!) I also bought three new sweaters for Fall because one can never have enough chuncky sweaters, am I right?!

Trader Joe’s Autumnal Harvest Soup is a tribute to the flavors of Fall. It combines your favorite harvest produce like butternut squash, pumpkin, and slow-simmered California seasoned herbs like rosemary and sage, and finished with rich heavy cream, as described by TJ’s.

Grilled cheese dippers

Grilled cheese

Grilled cheese dippers are a fun spin on the classic grilled cheese sandwich. Adults and kids will enjoy “dunking” these grilled cheese dippers into Trader Joe’s Autumnal Harvest Soup

Grilled Cheese Dippers with Trader Joe's Autumn Soup
 
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Warm, savory, satisfying is how you would describe Trader Joe's Autumn Soup. It consists of your favorite harvest produce, like butternut squash, pumpkin, and slow-simmered California tomatoes. It's the perfect soup to keep you cozy all Autumn long.
Author:
Serves: 2
Ingredients
  • 4 slices of sourdough bread
  • 1.5 cups shredded cheddar cheese
  • 4 thin slices of butter
  • 1 jar of Trader Joe's Autumnal Harvest Soup
Instructions
  1. Heat frying pan over medium-low heat.
  2. On one half of sandwich spread butter. On other half evenly distribute cheese.
  3. Combine two halves together with butter facing up.
  4. Place in heated frying pan and cook for 4/minutes per side or until cheese is melted.
  5. Remove from frying pan and slice into one-inch thick strips.
  6. Heat soup according to directions on jar.

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Grilled cheese dippers and soup

The 50 Best Items From Trader Joe’s

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In honor of Trader Joe’s opening in my hometown, I’m sharing my list of the 50 best items from Trader Joe’s. Appetizers, condiments, coffee, desserts, dinner ideas, snacks and more can be found in this extensive list. Comment below with your favorite!

Trader Joe's Shopping trip

Appetizers

1. Mac and cheese bites – If you buy anything from this list, this should be it. Darn delicious!

2. Arancini bites – Bite-sized rice balls filled with just the right amount of oozy, melted cheese.

3. Chicken and beef mini tacos – These make a great finger food when hosting family or friends. Heat in the oven and serve. Easy and simple.

Black bean dip4. Black bean dip – I always keep one of these jars handy. It’s an easy appetizer when hosting family or friends.

5. Spanakopita – An authentic spinach and cheese filled pie. Trader- Joes greek spanakopita

6. Pastry bites with feta cheese and caramelized onions – What’s not to love?!

7. Unexpected cheddar cheese – One of Trader Joe’s most famous products. Hints of Parmesan, which provides an unexpected yet sophisticated flavor. Try it on sandwiches, eggs, pasta, or just on its own.

8. Spinach and cheese stuffed mushrooms – Whole mushroom caps, piled high with spinach and cheese filling and topped with crispy breadcrumbs.

Snacks

9. Veggie and flaxseed tortilla chips – These are my family’s favorite tortilla chips. The flavors are carrot and tomatoes, spinach and garlic, and red beet and onion.

Trader Joe's snacks 10. Trader Joe’s Salsa Authentic – Pair with the tortilla chips and you have an A+ snack.

11. Dark chocolate covered raisins, almonds, blueberries. TJ’s has them all and you will eat them by the handfuls, like these peanut butter dark chocolate cover cups. 

12. Almonds – I usually buy the unsalted, but I’ve had the salted before as well. They are addicting. The entire nut section is pretty impressive. Every kind you could want.

13. Ranch seasoned crispy chickpeas – A great, healthy snack!

14. Icelandic plain Greek yogurt – The texture is smoother and creamier than regular Greek yogurt. Try making these raspberry lemon yogurt bites. Use Trader Joe’s Icelandic yogurt or regular greek yogurt. Raspberry lemon greek yogurt bites

 

Pantry items

Where do I even start?! Every item in this store is absolutely amazing, but some of my favorites to stock up and always have in my pantry are:

15. Sun-dried tomatoes

16. Marinated artichokes

17. Whole grain Dijon mustard – For those of you who follow Whole30, you can eat this mustard. It has 0 added sugars.

18. Three-seed beet crackers – I’ve also had the sweet potato crackers and they are just as good.

19. Everything but the bagel seasoning – You NEED this in your life. Try it on avocado toast or a fried egg!

20. Champagne pear vinaigrette –Champagne pear vinaigrette This is my all time favorite salad dressing. My husband and I actually fight over it, it’s that stinkin’ good. Try it out on top of this quinoa bowl with strawberries, kale, roasted chickpeas, and feta cheese. 
Tahini

21. Organic tahini – For only $3.49, it’s much cheaper than any other grocery store. Try this lemon tahini dressing with your next salad or quinoa bowl.

22. No boil lasagne noodles – Calling all pasta lovers! These noodles cut down time on a classic family dish. Try my one pot skinny lasagne soup for an even quicker and healthier version of traditional lasagne.

Peanut butter23. Trader Joe’s peanut butters – Made with just 1 or 2 ingredients (depending on if you buy the salted or unsalted version). Both versions available in creamy or chunky.

24. Mexican-style roasted corn with cotijas cheese – The perfect side to tacos or fajitas. Try these sheet pan steak fajitas with the roasted corn as a side.

 

Dinners

Whenever I’m not sure what to make for dinner, Trader Joe’s always comes to the rescue. They have so many quick and easy dinner helpers. Seriously, you can’t go wrong!

25. Frozen green beans – LOVE these when I need to add a veggie side to my dinner; plus you can cook only what you need and save the rest. They are slightly skinnier than fresh green beans you would find in a store and, for whatever reason, my toddler son likes the size of these and gobbles them up.

green beans26. Colorful Carrot Coins – A blend of lightly seasoned orange, yellow, white, and purple carrots. An easy addition to your dinner.

27. Pulled pork in smoky BBQ sauce – Heat up and serve with a bun for sandwiches or make this incredibly tasty BBQ pulled pork enchilada.Pulled pork enchilada with black beans

28. Fire-Roasted Bell Peppers & Onions – In a skillet, heat up strips of chicken or steak then add the frozen fajita mix for an easy week night dinner.

29. Frozen veggie stir fry – I prefer adding my own meat, like their pork tenderloin. Cook it in advance, dice it up, and add to your cooked stir fry.

cheese tortellini salad30. Tortellini and ravioli – TJ’s has the best selection to choose from. Your choice of cheese or spinach tortellini, lobster or meat ravioli. Try my Italian cheese tortellini with artichokes, cherry tomatoes, and a pesto sauce or this turkey meatball and spinach tortellini soup.

31. Cauliflower pizza crust – I don’t eat gluten free, but I wanted to see what the hype was about and I don’t mind trying something healthier either! This crust was crispy and tasty. Try out my pizza recipe with pesto and sautéed cherry tomatoes. Trader Joe's cauliflower crust pizza

32. Cauliflower gnocchi 

33. Chicken dogs – Much healthier than hotdogs. Make a more adult version with this hotdog arugula salad. 

Mandarian orange chicken34. Frozen Mandarin orange chicken – This item is ranked the overall favorite in the Trader Joe’s 9th Annual Customer Choice Awards. So if you don’t want to listen to me, listen to them!

35. Marinated Carne Asada – This meat is tender, juicy, and delicious. It’s Marinated carne asadamarinated with a Mexican-inspired spice blend.

36. Salsa Verde – Add this to my carne asada tacos with a spicy cucumber.

37. Chili lime chicken burgers (frozen) or salmon burgers – Both make an easy week night meal.

 

Drinks

38. Cold brew coffee in 8 oz cans – These are the perfect grab-and-go caffeine fix. They come in either black or French vanilla. I’ve tried the French vanilla flavor and it was delicious! cold brew coffee

39. Trader Joe’s organic strawberry lemonade – Only available in the summer.

40. 100% Kauai coffee beans – Medium roast. Sweet, nutty and full bodied with chocolate notes.

 

Seasonal items 

I wanted to originally keep this list to items that were only available year-round, but there are just too many good seasonal items to not share my favorites!

41. Pumpkin cinnamon rolls – Can’t go wrong with anything pumpkin; it’s all amazing! Chocolate mousse pumpkin

42. Pumpkin cheesecake

43. Pumpkin spice whipped cream

44. Chocolate pumpkin mousse cookies

45. Dark chocolate-covered peppermint cremes – Pillowy and pepperminty perfection.

46. Popcorn tin – With flavors like Olive Oil, Sriracha Lime, Cheddar and Caramel, and Hot Chocolate. This makes a great holiday gift and is perfect to have at the house when company is over. Bonus: keep the tin and store cookies in it!

47. Dark chocolate sea salt caramels

48. Winter wassail – A classic holiday punch that is mighty tasty on its own or spiked with wine.

49. Candy cane Joe-Joe’s – AKA an Oreo cookie on steroids! Also available as gluten free and dark-chocolate covered.

50. Peaches and cream tarte – Flaky and buttery, sweet cream and sugary peach fill this delicious summer tarte.

 

 

 

Marinated Carne Asada with Spicy Cucumber Salsa Verde

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Trader Joe’s carne asada is the star ingredient in these easy Mexican Tacos. The cucumber salsa verde sauce is spicy and adds the perfect amount of crunch. 

Tacos with salsa verde

The moment I started searing Trader Joe’s carne asada in the pan, my husband yelled from the other room “that smells delicious!” I wish I could somehow bottle up the wonderful aroma this cut of meat produced. The well-trimmed, hand-butterflied beef sirloin is marinaded in a northern-Mexico-inspired blend of citrus & spice. Because of the thin meat, it cooks quickly on the stove top.

Salsa Verde is a great staple to have in every kitchen. It consists of roasted tomatillos, onion, cilantro, and other spices. I used a pre-made salsa verde from Trader Joe’s and added cucumbers and jalapeño peppers for an additional kick.

Marinated carne asada

Marinated Carne Asada with Spicy Cucumber Salsa Verde
 
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Trader Joe's carne asada is the star ingredient in these easy Mexican Tacos. The cucumber salsa verde sauce is spicy and adds the perfect amount of crunch.
Author:
Serves: 2-3
Ingredients
  • Trader Joe's carne asada meat
  • ¾ cup salsa verde
  • 1 English cucumber, sliced in half length-wise, then each piece sliced in half length-wise again, and chopped into tiny pieces
  • 1 jalapeño pepper, deseeded and minced
  • Cilantro
  • 1 lime, quartered
  • Tortillas
Instructions
  1. Cook carne asada according to package directions. Set aside and let rest 10 minutes. Slice into thin strips.
  2. In small bowl, mix together salsa verde, cucumber, and jalapeño pepper.
  3. Heat tortillas according to package directions.
  4. Layer tortillas with carne asada, salsa verde mix, cilantro, and squeeze juice of 1 piece of lime on top.

 

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Spicy cucumber salsa verde

 

Trader Joe’s Cauliflower Crust Pizza

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Trader Joe’s healthy and easy cauliflower crust pizza makes a great week night meal. This pizza is loaded with pesto, cherry tomatoes, and fresh mozzarella cheese. It’s the best crispy gluten-free pizza ever. 

Trader Joe's cauliflower crust pizza

If you missed my instagram story last week, let me fill you in on a little dinner mishap. Last Tuesday (my late night at work), I put dinner in the crockpot before leaving. My husband was out for the night, so I was looking forward to not cooking.  Bu low and behold, I came home to a cold and OFF crockpot. A little, busy-bee toddler (I won’t mention names) decided to turn it off before leaving for daycare in the morning! My raw meat sat out for over 10 hours. YUCK! So scrap that idea.

Trader Joe’s cauliflower crust pizza to the rescue. I picked up the cauliflower pizza a couple weeks ago and was waiting for a good night to use it. Thank goodness! I followed the directions on the box for cooking: 12 minutes one side, flip, 12 minutes the other side. I did broil it for an even crispier crust, but found I only need to broil it for 2 minutes instead of the recommended 4-5 minutes, so just make sure to watch yours.

Cauliflower crust pizza

I topped mine with pesto, sautéed cherry tomatoes, lots of shredded mozzarella cheese, and fresh basil. Easy peasy!

Trader Joe's Cauliflower Crust Pizza
 
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Trader Joe's healthy and easy cauliflower crust pizza makes a great week night meal. This pizza is loaded with pesto, cherry tomatoes, and fresh mozzarella cheese. It's the best crispy gluten-free pizza ever.
Author:
Recipe type: Dinner
Cuisine: Italian
Serves: 1
Ingredients
  • 1 Trader Joe's cauliflower pizza crust
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, cut in half
  • 4 tbsp pesto
  • ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  • Handful fresh basil, chopped
Instructions
  1. Cook pizza crust according to package directions. I recommend broiling for a crispy crust.
  2. Meanwhile sauté cherry tomatoes in a pan until starting to burst, about 5 minutes.
  3. After baking and broiling the crust plain, remove from oven.
  4. Layer on pesto, cherry tomatoes, and cheese. Broil for another 2-4 minutes.
  5. Remove from oven and sprinkle on fresh basil.

 

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TJ's cauliflower crust pizza

Turkey meatball and spinach tortellini soup

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A flavorful and healthy soup is just what you need on a cold winter day! 

turkey meatball spinach tortellini soup

In honor of Trader Joe’s coming to my hometown, this week’s meal plan is featuring dinners using ingredients from my favorite store!

The closest TJ’s was about 20 minutes away (with no traffic). Cutting through Hartford can be tricky. You have to time it right, and since I don’t work or live near TJ’s, I rarely got to go. Therefore, I decided to start a facebook group “Bring Trader Joe’s to South Windsor.” I got a lot of followers and slowly more and more people starting recommending my hometown. Now, I can’t say for certain whether or not my Facebook group got the attention of TJ’s, but I’d like to think so!  They recently announced that one will be coming in 2019! Woohoo!

For this soup recipe, I used Trader Joe’s frozen turkey meatballs, spinach tortellini, organic chicken stock, and fresh spinach. It was inspired by Skinnytaste.


Turkey meatball and spinach tortellini soup
 
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Recipe type: Soup
Serves: 5-6
Ingredients
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 stalks of celery, chopped
  • ½ small onion, chopped
  • Handful small baby carrots, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 cartons 32 oz chicken stock
  • 1 package frozen turkey meatballs
  • 1 cup white beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 box of Trader Joe's spinach tortellini
  • Half bag fresh spinach
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, grated
Instructions
  1. Heat olive oil over medium heat in a dutch oven, add celery, onion, carrots, and garlic .
  2. Cover and reduce heat to low and cook 10-15 minutes or until vegetables begin to soften.
  3. Add the chicken stock, bring to a boil, and add frozen meatballs and white beans. Cook covered for 20 minutes.
  4. In the last 5 minutes, add the spinach tortellini. Once cooked, turn off the heat and add the fresh spinach. Season with salt and pepper and top with fresh Parmigiano Reggiano cheese.

 

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turkey meatball and spinach tortellini soup

One pan pork, potatoes, and butternut squash

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A simple dinner to meal prep. The fresh sage brings this one pan dish together. Enjoy your easy clean-up! 

I’m really enjoying one pan dinners or sheet pan dinners, whatever you want to call them. As long as it leads to less dishes and more time relaxing on the couch!

This is another dinner using ingredients from Trader Joe’s. For my other TJ dinners click here. For this recipe, I used TJ’s pear champagne vinaigrette, fresh sage, and 1 bag of potato medley which included red, yellow, and purple potatoes.

One pan pork, potatoes, and butternut squash
 
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Recipe type: Sheet pan
Serves: 2-3
Ingredients
  • 2-3 pork cutlets or pork chops
  • 2 tablespoons pear champagne vinaigrette
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 bag Trader Joe's potato medley, cubed
  • 4 tablespoons fresh sage, minced
  • ½ red onion, cut into large chunks
  • 2 cups butternut squash, washed and cubed. I used precut butternut squash to decrease my prep time.
  • Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  2. If using pork chops, pound them thin. Place pork chops in a shallow bowl, coat both sides with salt/pepper and the pear champagne vinaigrette. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
  3. Meanwhile combine the potatoes, 2 tablespoons sage, red onion, and butternut squash in a large bowl. Toss with olive oil.
  4. Spread mixture onto a sheet pan and cook for 30 minutes or until vegetables are soft.
  5. Remove pan from oven. Spread potatoes on sheet to make room for the pork chops. Sprinkle the remaining 2 tablespoons of sage on top. Put the sheet pan back in the oven and roast for 5-15 minutes or until pork reaches an internal tempature of 145 degrees (time will depend how thick your pork is).
  6. Turn broil on high and broil for three minutes.
  7. Remove from oven.

 

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Friday summer BBQ

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Last Friday night we had friends over after work for dinner. It was a perfect summer night to sit out on the deck and grill. The menu incorporated a lot of items I made the week earlier using ingredients from my CSA. I didn’t mind re-using the same recipes because I was familiar with them and knew they would turn out great!

  
 The menu included:

   

We planned to cook more chicken than needed. Being half Italian, I think my biggest worry is running out of food, so I always cook more than needed. In this case we had four left over chicken pieces and pasta salad, which was perfect to re-heat Sunday night for dinner. After a busy weekend traveling and getting home late Sunday night, dinner was hassle free!
We also had two left over ears of corn. Instead of reheating them, I cut them off the husk and made a black bean and corn salad to serve later in the week with tacos. There’s nothing like fresh corn! For those Master Chef fans out there, who else can’t believe the guy last week used canned corn over fresh corn!?!? What was he thinking?! I fully supported the judges decision to send him home!

Good company and good food!