Trader Joe's

[GrayMatterWife]

I'll be coming to KC in October on business. Make a list. I'll be glad to bring you whatever you'd like!

Really? Please don't toy with me. Remember, I'm pregnant and I cry easily.

I'd be forever in your debt.

Definitely not kidding. Can definitely arrange to meet you and bring you TJs. As we get closer to October, let's touch base on this. So not a problem. There's also always a chance I will end up coming to KC earlier than that. Don't have any plans right now, but if I get out there before October, I'll let you know.

Well, I may just have to change my ticker to October: GrayMatterWife bringing me TJ's! But that would be pathetic.

[poky]

I haven't been to the one here yet, but we found a bag of frozen fettuchini alfredo buried in our freezer before we moved (so I don't know if they still have it or not), and it was *sososososo* good. And so incredibly easy to make, too. A skillet and 10 minutes or so, iirc. Mmmmm...going to get some more of that stuff soon if they still have it.

I also love their frozen cheese enchiladas.

[Momo]

The red & yellow curry sauces, the Punjab spinach sauce, the frozen crab cakes, dark choc covered pretzels, The Thai Lime chili peanuts, all of their plain nut varieties,dried apricots, orange flavored dried cranberries, French Village Plain Cream line yogurt, won ton chips , pita chips(cinn sugar),salsa flavored tortilla chips, their bagels(especially the onion), prig khan frozen green beans w/ sauce, the frozen creme brulee' , the pistachio torte, the mud pie, frozen strawberries, frozen mangoes, Mango Sauce, canned mangoes, canned garbanzo beans, the Talapia fillets in a box, the Olympiad pizzas (2 to a box), the frozen naan.

I cut chicken into chunks and saute them in Indiana spices, then pour spinach sauce over the chix, I also add some tomato juice to this to make a little more sauce. I cook basmati rice and when it's done I stir in cumin seeds into the rice, I then dish the rice on a plate , spoon chicken over it.I heat the naan in the oven and put a tad olive oil or butter on it when it's done. I also prepare a bowl of the plain yogurt to eat w/ the main dish...that is my typical quick TJ's Indian meal, the kids love it!!! I usually put their into a bowl, then stir in the yogurt, this helps to take the spice heat down a notch or two.

Mango sauce is used like apple sauce for the kids. It is also great to add to the blender when making smoothies. I always put my old banana in the freezer, so when I want a smoothie I use frozen bananas, frozen strawberries, mango sauce and a slash of OJ...no need for ice w/ all the frozen fruits. You can also use the frozen mango for smoothies as well.


The talapia fillets are a life saver for another quick meal. I prepare a sauce for dipping or drizzling over the fish when it is served, the sauce is made out of Tahni, lemon juice, a little H2o to thin it out, salt and finely chopped parsley. I will sometimes throw in a pack or two of the frozen crab cakes as well, I usually fry up a batch of chips/home fries...again the kids love this meal.

Prig Khan frozen green beans w/ sauce ,is terrific w/ scallops. I usually cook the scallops first, set aside then prepare(saute) the green beans w/ the sauce to which I add some soy sauce, then I throw in the scallops and stir fry/saute' all together. I serve this one over Asian style rice. DH & I Love this one , the kids aren't to hip on it.

The Olympiad pizzas are yummo and we eat them regularly (the kids & I @ lunch time).

The truly handmade (or something like that tortillas). Yum. It is impossible to find a decent tortilla here otherwise. Or darn near impossible.

[Gwendolyn]

I can't believe no one has mentioned the truffles! I try to always have a box handy...just one cures any chocolate craving, but a few is heaven!

I lurve the curry sauces, gorgonzola gnocci, teriyaki chicken, walnut/cranberry stuffed chicken, peanut butter pretzles, veggie chips, two buck chuck...by the case...frozen apple pie, nan...

I'm sure there is more...

[Auspicious]

Mango sauce is used like apple sauce for the kids. It is also great to add to the blender when making smoothies. I always put my old banana in the freezer, so when I want a smoothie I use frozen bananas, frozen strawberries, mango sauce and a slash of OJ...no need for ice w/ all the frozen fruits. You can also use the frozen mango for smoothies as well.

A couple spoonfuls of the mango sauce is also good over a small bowl of cottage cheese. Mmmm.

[Ravenclaw]

Do they sell cardamom there?

They have a decent spice selection, and it's very reasonably priced.

Did I mention that I hate you all? (Except GrayMatterWife b/c she's going to bring me TJ's in October. I love her.)

I haven't used it in a while but I think I remember liking the vanilla. I'm going to try to go soon and I'll see if they have cardamom. I recall it being more limited but I don't know.

I'll bet you could get some great cardamom from Penzeys.

[Momo]

Do they sell cardamom there?

Find out where the nearest & or best Arabic or Indo-Pakistani Markets are, and go to them for your cardamom. We tend to buy are more commonly used spices whole, from an Arabic Mkt in PHX. We use it and Cumin a lot in our Arabic dishes.

[Ravenclaw]

Thanks guys! I'll have to shop around and see where I can get the best price. It seems like it's so much harder to find the things I need around here even though it's a much bigger city because of the difficulty of parking or figuring out the public transportation system. I'm used to just driving everywhere and parking my car fairly easily.

It's not nearly as good a way to explore your new location, but you could let the mailman do your work for you:
http://www.penzeys.com/cgi-bin/penzeys/ ... damom.html

[peggyfromwastate]

Okay, now that we have a thread on this, what is everyone's favorite TJ's item? We just moved back into a TJ's area (we even have Whole Foods now, too), so I have to get re-acquainted with it. I love...
Marinated Bean salad (I add cherry tomatoes, cilantro, and feta to dress it up)
Frozen rice - either brown or jasmine - who can beat rice in 3 minutes?
Blueberry juice - worth almost $6
small almond packets
any of their cheeses
Yo Baby (I know you can get it elsewhere, but why?)
Orange chicken - dinner, with the rice, in 15 minutes
Organic blue tortilla chips
Roasted red pepper spread - on crackers, veggies, sandwiches
roasted red pepper soup
tortilla corn chowder
turkey meatballs (actually, I don't eat them, but DD does when I'm lazy)

Okay, let me know what else I can't pass up!

Now I have to go there. I've been avoiding it even though they give out balloons, or maybe because of the balloons, but I live about 3 miles away from a TJs...

[DCJenn]

Yours doesn't sell the cheap beer and wine though- you'd have to go to the one in the city though.

Jenn