Kerri HansenMy Favorite Trader Joe’s Products
Happy Saturday friends!
This weekend is the first time in months that we won’t be headed down to our cabin in Washington, sniffle sniffle. We have rented it out for the season as our schedule at home is too bonkers throughout the fall/winter/spring to get much use out of it. One of the things I will miss is getting my shopping fix…no more weekly Target and Trader Joe’s visits! Luckily we live close enough to the border that I am able to do some cross-border shopping on a fairly regular basis. Last weekend I hit Trader Joes on the way home and stocked up on some of our favorite items that have become staples in my house.
Today I thought I would share my list of favorite Trader Joe’s items. I pretty much buy the same things every time I go but I keep this list handy so as not to forget anything, seeing as I can’t just pop back in any old time!
I actually discovered Trader Joe’s back when we lived in Chicago, many moons ago. There was one in our neighborhood and it was even within walking distance! Ah those were the days. Now it’s a treat to visit this store and I need to cross a border with my purchases. For my fellow Canadians, you probably already know this, but there are some food items that you can’t bring across the border. The Trader Joe’s I shop at in Bellingham has a handy list of what you can’t bring across the border at the customer service desk. Non-perishable items are fine, which is what my list mostly consists of!
At the risk of sounding super shallow, some of these products make my list, not because they are exceptionally good, but because they look pretty! Is that terrible? Hats off to the Trader Joe’s marketing team, because their packaging is perfection. Not only that, sometimes they give things really funny and clever names and I so appreciate that! For example, I could buy baking soda at any grocery store for less than a dollar, but I choose to buy it from Trader Joe’s because I love the packaging and I actually have it on display in my kitchen as part of my decor.
Same goes for their dish soap and hand soap…love the way they look!
And now let’s get to my list of favorite Trader Joe’s products. I have broken them down by category because I am organized like that!
Cooking Sauces
Enchilada sauce – quick and easy dinner if you have some leftover chicken!
Red and Green Curry Sauce – this is a great crock pot idea, I just chop up some red and green pepper, some raw chicken and pour the sauce over top and simmer it all day…so delicious! Serve it with jasmine ice, it’s just as good as take-out!
Seasonings
Everything but the bagel sesame and seasoning blend
cinnamon sugar
sea salt
rainbow pepper
Snacks
Caramel – Cheddar popcorn mix
Reduced guilt pita chips
Raisin Rosemary Crisps
Some Enchanted Cracker
Nuts
candied pecans (I love these on salad with some goat cheese and balsamic dressing)
trek mix – individual packets are so handy when I need a quick snack on the go
Treats
Jo jo’s – these are like oreos
Dark peanut butter cups
Sea salt butterscotch caramels
Mini chocolate bars (love that these are perfectly portioned for a little afternoon pick me up)
Baking
Pumpkin Bread – this is seasonal and when I was at the store last weekend they didn’t have it yet
Brownie mix – this is so yummy, and so easy to make
whipping cream – this is great to keep on hand, it has saved me from running to the store on several occasions
Breakfast
Buttermilk Pancake mix
Peanut Butter Protein Granols – I just discovered this and it is such a yummy snack or topper for yougurt
Pumpkin Pancake & Waffle Mix – this is seasonal and I am waiting for it to hit the shelves…it is like having pumpkin pie for breakfast
Gluten Free Products
I so appreciate the amazing selection of Gluten Free products at Trader Joe’s. My youngest daughter has a gluten intolerance and finding things that she likes can be a challenge. In particular, finding substitutes for the favorite foods she used to be able to eat can be a struggle, and many Gluten Free products we have bought don’t taste very good. Everything we have tried from TJ’s has been really good. Her newest favorite that we just tried discovered is the frozen mac and cheese. Having gluten free options for our family favorites like pumpkin bread and Jojo’s has been a real lifesaver for me. Here are the Gluten Free product options I stock up on…
Buttermilk pancake mix
Brownie mix
Pumpkin bread
Pumpkin pankcake and waffle mix
Marshmallows
Frozen mac and cheese
Jojo’s
Cup for Cup GF flour
Rolled Oats
Frozen
Jasmine rice (perfectly steamed rice in 3 minutes!)
Fettuccine Alfredo
Beverages
Mommy Juice :
Simply Wines – the peach was a summer item and it was my favorite! So glad I stocked up on that one when I did!
Secco Bellini – again, Peach is my go-to but the other flavors are good too!
Fun for the whole family:
Hansen’s soda – root beer is the favorite around our house and it’s got our name on it!
French Market Sparkling Limeade or Lemonade – I think this packaging is so pretty, this is another item I leave out on display as decor
Household Products and Toiletries
Dish soap – bought it for the packaging, love it for the smell! The lavender and citrus scents are both good!
Hand soap
Body butter – this is a new item and I am in love with it. Not only is the cream itself quite good but it smells great too!
Body wash – I love essential oils so the Tea Tree Tingle is a favorite but the citrus one is really good too
I have created this printable shopping list to take with me when I make a Trader Joe’s run, print one of for your next visit!
Have you ever been to Trader Joe’s? Do you have any favorite products? I always love to hear what other people like to buy, I have discovered some of our favorites this way.
