Help make out my Trader Joe's shopping list

[Anonymous]

I second the Mandarin Chicken - serve with rice and broccoli.
We've had luck with their frozen fish - particularly the halibut and wild salmon.
Also the frozen breaded eggplant can be used to make a quick eggplant parmesan.

[Anonymous]

I love Trader Joe's but don't use it for meals per se. What I do stock up on are the frozen appetizers (mushroom turnovers, mini beef tacos, spanokipta) and we'll heat some up with some soup or a salad and make a meal out of it that way. My staples there have been flour tortillas, pizza making stuff (dough, sauce, etc.), orange peach mango juice, frozen fruit and veggies, coffee, olive oil and butter - all of which are cheaper than at the regular grocery store. Their cereal and nut prices are really good too. For my kids I get the pear sauce (like apple sauce), crackers, reduced sugar juice boxes and yogurt.

[Anonymous]

I love their Turkey Jerky, and so does my toddler.

[Anonymous]

My favorite TJ's products --

frozen brown rice (what a timesaver!!)
pizza dough
pizza sauce
shredded cheeses (combo of provolone, asiago and I forget what else, but it is great on pizza)
mandarin orange chicken
organic espresso
pita chips
multigrain crackers
multigrain flaxseed pasta (tho I couldn't find this the last time i was there)
flaxseed tortillas
hummus

[Anonymous]

OP, The Bethesda store IS representative of all the TJ's I've seen, with the glaring exception that it does not carry wine.

I'm the "vegetables" PP. Studies have show that, actually, after fresh, frozen vegs. retain the most nutrients. Just gently, very gently, nuke them in your microwave for fewer seconds than the package indicates.

And in my PP, I was referring to the value added kind of TJ frozen vegetables, such as "charred corn" (vs. simple niblets), or say Greek asparagus with lemon. If I just need plain frozen corn, I might pick that up at Giant.

[Anonymous]

oh!! the fettuccine alfredo is very good (put zillions of fat and calories)

the mushroom risotto is also quite a tasty side dish

[Anonymous]

Another fan of TJs - but honestly more for easy snack foods for my toddler. Realize some of this is for down-the-road, but figured I'd throw it out here. And FYI - my DD will ONLY eat her peas frozen, not cooked, and apparently some of her little friends are the same way. So another reason to use some frozen veggies

Anway, things I like from TJs:
-The large dried fruit selection - especially like the 'Bits & Pieces' for small hands.
-Frozen flatbread pizzas (just enough for me and my DD, I would need to add a salad or something if DH is with me)
-Frozen meatballs (turkey and regular)
-Fresh Pizza dough (cheap and good - the herb crust with an olive oil / herb topping was delicious)
-Their treats - the mint chip things are delicious, and they have these chocolate chip dunkers (sort of like chocolate chip biscotti) that my doesn't-really-like-sweets DH has forbidden me from getting anymore they are that addictive. The Kettle Corn is yummy too.
-Their 'simply cranberry' juice - it is POTENT. But a little bit mixed in with sparkling water (I get it from the case at Costco). Started drinking this when I was pregnant as a mocktail, but keep at it cause it's so yummy.
-Frozen edamame in the shell (my toddler loves this too)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:oh!! the fettuccine alfredo is very good (put zillions of fat and calories)

the mushroom risotto is also quite a tasty side dish

I second the mushroom risotto.

Also, pre-seasoned beef roasts are good.

Frozen salmon (stuffed with shrimp, or other goodies) are good.

Their pizzas (identical to Amy's pizzas) are good.

I go there occasionally, stock up on some freezer items, and can pull 'em out when I'm in a dinner bind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP again. I realize that I can't think of it like a normal grocery store. I think that's why I was so turned off before. I normally cook from scratch and couldn't find any staples. I'll have to go as a separate trip and puruse the aisles, but keep the suggestions coming!

Also, I went to the one in Bethesda when I was totally underwhelmed. I'm going with a new purpose now, but is that one particularly small?

Yes. Also, they were really poorly managed for a while but that seems to have improved. For a long time, EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. i went to that TJ's they were out of something I needed -- dish soap, cat food, always something necessary and that I was out of. Really annoying.

[Anonymous]

I also love the mushroom risotto. It's really great for kids too. My DD loves it. I also love their mushroom flatbread. It is very popular in our house!

We like their coffee. Other favorites are their vodka pasta sauce, Frozen Indian entrees (like Tandoori Chicken), Frozen Jasmine Rice and, my favorite as it starts getting cold, their soups that come in a box. They have a roasted red pepper, a corn and red pepper, etc. They are all great.

[Anonymous]

I go once a month at most. I get:

interesting corn chips
salsa verde (no cilantro!)
frozen edamame
shu mai (little frozen dumplings you cook in a steamer)
sometimes frozen fish
beer and wine (at the Foggy Bottom location)
interesting rice blends

Have also enjoyed the occasional TV dinner type thing, like moroccan chicken (couscous, raisins, nuts, great spices).

[Anonymous]

these are our favorites:

chocolate covered pretzel thins

97% lean pre-made hamburger patties

pizza margherita (made in italy!)

pizza parlano (a great "supreme" pizza)

canned tuna "tongol" in a green can (much higher quality than regular chunk light tuna)

hummus

breaded frozen cod

shrimp tempura

[Anonymous]

We live across the street from a Trader Joe's and tend to pick up frozen foods and snacks there pretty often...the following are our usual supects:

- Frozen rice (as mentioned by many others....it is really good and does not take long at all!)
- Mandarin chicken
- Orange chicken
- Tempting Trail Mix (this is my favorite!)
- Fun and interesting frozen desserts (I am lactose inolerant but DH eats the Chipwhich things and the small bites I have had were SO yummy! Also, they sometimes have these oranges that are filled with sorbet.)
- Mini Quiches
- Vegetable tempura
- DH loves the pizzas
- Random yummy things that are above the frozen foods (yogurt covered raisins, different crackers, little candies, etc.)

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Not OP but am finding this very useful!

[Anonymous]

Thank you guys so much! I have been keeping a running tab and will try and go after work tonight. I love the frozen prepared food suggestions because they can be a gamble and I would hate to waste money. Frozen fish, especially breaded, sounds like a great thing to keep in the freezer and same with the frozen rice (they have Jasmine??) which is such a pain to make. I also appreciate the suggestion for olive oil, which is SO expensive even at Giant and Safeway. The trail mix sounds perfect to bring to work.

Keep 'em coming!