Tag Archives: trader joe’s

eat.blog.repeat.

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Repeat…as in – repeat a meal.

You know – I was little disappointed in myself yesterday. I mean…the pictures of my pizza certainly didn’t do it justice, and I felt, for the first time in a while, that I blogged just for the sake of getting a post out there (bad, Jil!).

I mean, I loved that pizza – enough to quickly slap together a post about it – but you know what, it deserves more. It deserves a better post. (Yes, I’m essentially talking to a pizza, here…)  YOU deserve a better post.

Stay with me here…

So here we go…take 2! aaaaaaand action.

A long, long time ago (for some reason, this prompted Weird Al Yankovic’s play off “American Pie” – “The Saga Begins [Lyrical Adaptation of ‘American Pie’” – to run crazily through my brain – don’t ask, haha), I had an addiction to tortilla pizzas - specifically BBQ tortilla pizzas. I don’t know why, but I never graduated from tortillas to actual pizza dough…even though it was sitting in my freezer all this time.

Honestly, it’s really fun to play with your food!

Plus, pizza is always better when it’s awkwardly shaped, right? P.S. I really like this dough, I picked it up from Trader Joe’s, but it’s made by the Portland Pie, Co. – really easy to work with – major plus!

Regardless, this time around I sprinkled it with some garlic powder before shoving it into a 450 (yes, I got brave!) degree oven for a couple of minutes to just firm up – no toppings, nothin’.

Took the dough out (only sustaining a slightly burned finger in the process – don’t you hate when oven mitts don’t do they’re job!), and topped it with a good slathering of Dinosaur BBQ sauce – this stuff is magic – and a big ole heap of spinach…well, as much as I could get away with on the pizza.

Then layers of mozzarella and red onion were sprinkled.

450 degrees and 10 minutes later…. voila!

Oddly shaped…yes – I feel like this somewhat resembles a tribal mask or something.

Delicious – absolutely. Honestly, this pizza was infinitely better than last night’s…crispy and flavorful – it doesn’t get much better.

I mean seriously – thin crust at it’s best! …and out of my own, teeny, tiny oven! Who knew!!?

Now…to make the leap to making my own dough…I’ll wait on that one.

Love at First Bite

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I feel like it has been far too long since Trader Joe’s products have been front and center in my life.

Finally, I had the time (and necessity) to do a full on shopping trip at TJ’s…and two newbs are officially obsessions of mine.

White Bean & Basil Hummus

It’s so delicious, and bursting with basil flavor.


Plus, the texture is divine.

My next, new love?

Baked Lentil Chips - salt and peppery goodness!

They’re so crunchy – with a perfect, peppery bite to them. Nom!

Plus…they’re excellent for dipping…in white bean hummus, perhaps?? :)

  • How quickly do you fall for foods? and what are your latest foodie obsessions??

Social Butterfly

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I apologize for my blog absenteeism.

While I don’t have a note from the doctor (I still find it amusing that they want these from you in college), I do have – what I deem – as a credible excuse.

Partiiiies.

Okay, so they aren’t Four Loko (never had it, but it’s officially illegal in the state of Massachusetts now) fueled crazy benders, but they have been fabulous nights with friends that involved cooking, eating, catching up, meeting new people, some delicious beverage concoctions, some 90s inspired choreography (Genie in a Bottle, anyone?) and best of all, tons of laughter.

I found a pretty decent margarita mixer – not too sweet and cheap!!

We enjoyed ginormous chicken, pepper, refried bean and rice filled burritos. Delish.


Last night a few of my girlfriends came over, and we munched on chips, salsa, guac, cheesy artichoke dip, BBQ chicken pizza and ice cream. We may or may not have broken out Hanson’s Christmas music….and by may or may not…I mean, yes, we did. Too soon?

Unfortunately, as social as life has been lately, this weekend will involved a lot of quality time between me and my textbooks. Lots due, little time. haha However, I decided I needed to bake this morning, and I knew I had a mix (by Firenza) for pumpkin spice bread, given to me by my mom, that had been sitting in my pantry for the better part of a year now.

So I broke it out, read the instructions and then promptly bent the rules. haha

Pumpkin, applesauce and eggs. A solid foundation.

Wet ingredients all mixed.

With the mix added. I can only assume the spices include the traditional cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves.

Chopped up a mini-bar of Trader Joe's 72% Dark Chocolate.

Mixed, sprayed the pan, poured and into the oven @ 350.

Approximately 50 minutes later a knife came out clean.

Chocolaty, moist and delicious.

Chocolate-studded, moist and delicious.

I mean…you could let it cool, but literally I tore into this puppy within moments of it coming out of the oven. It just smelled too delicious. Plus, the apple sauce subtitution for the 1/2 cup of oil worked out perfectly!

  • Do you guys play with recipes? Make substitutions, additions or eliminations?

I hope everyone is having a fabulous weekend!

Quick Curry

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Evenin’ loves – how’s everyone doing? TGIWed? haha I can’t believe that in a week family will be arriving to celebrate Thanksgiving!! I feel like it crept up out of nowhere!! Anyone else?

I was finally able to get in some errands. Purchased some 2011 calendars – I find that I have a tendency to put it off, and then by the time I realize that it’s 2011…I should get a calendar…all the good ones are gone! You’re left with really awkward, reject calendars. Nooo thanks. haha

I also got in a trip to Trader Joe’s. Hadn’t been in forever!! I went in search of their refrigerated margarita mix (I’d heard it’s really good), but alas they didn’t have it. ..does anyone know of a really great, not too sweet margarita mix?

However, I did manage to pick up a bunch of stuff that I didn’t know I needed. I managed to dive into this purchase before settling down to actual lunch.

Love the fact that it’s pre-portioned and 70% dark. Plus, the packaging just called to me while I waited in line. Impulse purchase #103921.

Lunch was a package of Cedar’s Chickpea Salad. I need to figure out a recipe for duplicating this … it is delicious!

The afternoon was spent catching up on e-mails and cleaning. Oh, and munching on pudding & chia seeds – seemingly unlikely duo, but it just adds a little crunch (and nutrition).

Anyway – let’s get right to dinner. After dining out on Saturday and enjoying amazing Indian food, I have just been craving curry like nobody’s business. Alert – new food obsession.

Again – Trader Joe’s to the rescue. After studying the various curry options, I decided on their Simmering Curry Sauce. I combined the curry sauce with frozen spinach, and let it chill over medium heat for a while. I piled the curried greens on top of a bowl of brown rice and VOILA.

Simple, delicious and seriously satisfying.

Once the jar is gone, I will attempt my own curry. I know Jenna has some great recipes.  However, it’s nice to find those reliable little pantry items; plus it’s always awesome finding something new and delicious in the grocery store.

  • What’re you all loving these days? Any new foods or products??

Everyday Exotic

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Happy weekend, bloggies!

It feels so nice to know that I have a weekend of rest and relaxation (well…and course work, too) ahead of me.

I started off on a cool note…per usual. Iced coffee…suspended.

In order to reach the weekend, I had one small hurdle in the form of a 50 minute class this morning. It was more of a struggle getting there than I anticipated…leaf-peepin’ season is seemingly beginning early (and before the leaves even really start to change). The sidewalks were filllllled with tour bus upon tour bus of little white-haired folks.

At a more leisurely time, I would have found them adorable…however, in my sprint to class…their pace was simply frustrating! haha

Throughout class…I munched on Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip goodness. …okay, let’s be honest – it was gone in about 15 seconds…perhaps even before class started.

I made it to the gym today – the leg feeling much better after an awesome bath last night – and I punched out a really great, sweaty (tmi?) run. Only awkward thing…this dude kept turning around and looking at me and it was weird.

I didn’t think much of it at first. I had just walked up to my machine,and before I even started working out he turned around and looked at me – almost like he thought he knew me for a second. However, he then proceeded to turn around 3 or 4 more times throughout his workout….super awkward.

Once home (weeekend!), I made myself some unpictured cheese and crackers (LC blue cheese, of course). Trust me, there was no chance of photographic evidence…I was ravenous.

However, after doing some laundry (there’s not much better than clean sheets!) and errands, I settled in to make some scrambled eggs. I know – I’m suddenly alll about these…but they’re just too easy. Eggs, cheddar cheese, red onions, peri-peri sauce (Nando’s), and ketchup found their way into or onto this mix.

Dinner was on the exotic side…depending on your definition of exotic. Until recently, Indian cuisine was a mystery to me. It was something that I knew I wanted to try, but I just never found the opportunity. In came Trader Joe’s frozen Channa Masala. Delicious. I mean – talk about textures and bold flavors (not to mention a stellar fiber count!).

I am determined to make this myself…and luckily, Jenna has what I’m sure is an absolutely amazing recipe!

I hope you all had an amazing week – and are looking forward to a lovely weekend!

We’re going out (2nd time around) for my brother’s birthday tomorrow night…delicious Italian. I cannot wait! :)

  • What’re your weekend plans?

x.o.