Favorite Trader Joe’s Item #20: Cinnamon Almonds

If you have a thing for almonds-buy these.

If you have a thing for snickerdoodle cookies-buy these.

If you have a sweet-tooth and want something that’s portable and addictive-buy these.

If you think you might not be able to stop at one handful, then make sure you have another bag.

Just read the bag. It’s an irresistible snack!

Favorite Trader Joe’s Item #19: Banana Crisps

These banana chips are delightfully thin & crisp. I’ve eaten many banana chips in my day and am always shocked to see how many calories/grams of fat they contain. These are a lot less than most banana chips.

It’s the fact that they’re *crisps* that are lightly sweetened that make them better for you.

They are very tasty! You won’t feel AS guilty if you eat the whole bag. I’ve been there…..I swear.

Favorite Trader Joes Item # 18: Organic Tomato & Roasted Red Pepper Soup

I found out about this soup from a coworker/friend. We used to drink it in the coffee mugs at work. We just poured it right into a mug and nuked it. Bingo! Presto! Done!

These days I try to keep at least one of these containers in my pantry. They are very handy when it’s a Saturday afternoon and you don’t feel like spending money to go out to eat…but you want something really tasty and fast.

Sometimes I heat the soup up in a large pot. I add cayenne pepper and basil leaves. I like to jazz it up and make it spicy. It’s also really good with cheddar cheese bits mixed in.

Yesterday I decided to pour some in a bowl to heat up.

I added a bit of creme fraiche on top with a little sprinkling of basil:

Snuggled up on the couch, watching recorded episodes of the Martha Stewart show….with my soup…

A good Saturday it was.

This soup is great when you pair it up with a grilled cheese sandwich. A year ago, I was having a dinner party and I convinced myself that I had enough pasta sauce for my dish. DOH! I ran out…. and I didn’t have ANY more canned tomatoes in my pantry. I added half of the container and BAM! I had more sauce. It saved my behind. How was I supposed to leave my party and buy more sauce?

I think I might just have some for lunch today too.

Favorite Appetizer from Trader Joe’s Items:

Goat Cheese with Sun Dried Tomatoes, Basil & Pine Nuts

The magic makers:

Take the goat cheese out of it’s packaging and put it on your party plate.

Chop up the Trader Joe’s Sun Dried Roma Tomatoes. Pour on top of the goat cheese log. A little bit of the oil from the tomatoes makes it soooo yummy & flavorful.

Top with pine nuts and sprinkles of chopped basil. Add some salt & pepper.

And then you have a wonderful appetizer. It’s just soo easy & convenient!

It works well with sliced up crostini or crackers. This went really fast last night! If by chance you have leftovers, toss it all in a food processor and you have a tasty pink goat cheese spread. It’s a great way to recycle a good thing.

Here’s your shopping list:

• 1 log of goat cheese
• 1 jar of sun-dried roma tomatoes
• 1 handful of pine nuts
• a small handful of chopped up basil

Favorite Meal from Trader Joe’s Items: The Greek Feast

Start with Trader Joe’s Garlic Sausage.

Take them out of their casings and form into meatballs. Put on skewers & grill:

Grill some flatbread while you’re at it! Make sure to rub some olive oil on top before you place them on the heat:

Buy some of their wonderfully fresh and light tzatziki dip & put it in a bowl:

Remember that delish hummus I was talking about? Grab some and put that in a bowl too! Cut up some lemons for your guests. Take some marinated artichokes out of the jar & place in another bowl…..

Put one of their bagged romaine lettuce salads in a salad bowl. Add some of their cherry tomatoes, red onion slices & crumbled feta. Take some lemon & olive oil and make yourself a healthy dressing. Roast fingerling potatoes in oven & squeeze lemon on top:

And now you can be proud to present…..

A Wonderful Greek Meal with the help of Trader Joe’s:

Here’s your grocery list:

• 1 package of Garlic sausage
• 1 bag romaine lettuce
• 1 container of crumbled feta
• 1 red onion sliced
• flatbread (the more the merrier)
• 1 jar of marinated artichokes
• lemons (make sure you have some olive oil for the dressing)
• 1 container of tzatziki dip
• 1 container of hummus
• 1 bag of fingerling potatoes
• 1 package of cherry tomatoes

Favorite Trader Joe’s Item #15: Oat N’ Wheat Bran Swirls

I know.. I know… your thinking “BRAN??!!! ICK!!!” Seriously, this is some good stuff. Take the top of a perfect apple crumble and make a cereal out of it. THEN put your little cereal bites into perfect little swirls. THEN package it up and sell it for less than $3!!

We put some leftover pumpkin cream cheese frosting in between two swirls the other night. I did not take pictures to document the combo because I don’t want to admit how many I had.

I put them in yogurt…I eat them plain…I love them…

I’m so glad I found you, Oat N’ Wheat Bran Swirls. You are my new best friend.