Trader Joe's Honor Roll

After all the tree drama, today's post is just a light, fun list of food I love to buy at Trader Joe's. If you don't have a Trader Joe's near you, I am so sorry. They're not everywhere, which is stupid. When we were deciding areas of the country we'd be willing to move to for his job, I told Mark that I wouldn't live anywhere more than 20 minutes from a Trader Joe's. Part of that is cultural, part of it is addiction.

Here's the stuff I get nearly every visit. I put the prices on things I bought today and have the price for; others have been in my pantry, so I don't have the receipts anymore. These are more staples, but I'll post a list of some of their packaged meals soon. They're delicious, though we've had some misses I'll warn you about.

First up, olive oil. I'm as snobby about olive oil as I am about wine. Eight years (going on nine!) in California can do that do a girl. The big bottle on the left is great for cooking--I used to saute veggies, get a sauce ready, whatever. The bottle on the right is for lovers, baby. It's about $6 a bottle, but it tastes like it should cost $25, and I hate to admit it, but I have paid $25 for a bottle of olive oil (I was single and had more disposable income--rolling in that teacher dough...). I could drink this out of a cabernet glass. Lordy. Pour it on a plate, sprinkle a pinch of kosher salt from up high, crack fresh pepper next, then dredge through it with hot bread. You'll die. Just totally die.

Here's another little side: Pour a can or two of these black beans into a pan, shovel two or three or four tablespoons of peach salsa, cook until it boils then let it simmer until whenever (but not forever or it'll brick up). Add chicken or ground turkey or carnitas or carne asada or fish if you're feeling it, some shredded colby jack, sour cream, jalapenos, and eat!! If you don't have any fancy fixin's, this is excellent straight up, and CHEAP!!

I have a love/hate relationship with the minced onion/shallot/garlic mix ($1.69). It's awesome because I'm a crier who hates the smell of raw members of the Allium family (and there's your fun fact for the day! What's up genus??), but it's awful because it reeks!! I literally had to roll down my windows driving home from the grocery store this morning.

I double seal the stank in my awesome Pyrex containers with rubber seals. I'll use this mix right quick. It's important to confront difficulty head-on. Take the reigns and drive these onions directly into pasta sauce and tequila lime marinade pronto.

I love these when we get a craving for Mexican, Thai, or Indian. The taco seasoning needs major salt though, so be ready with the shaker. The chutney is lovely, but too spicy for kids even though it's sweet too. I dump a jar onto chicken, tilapia or cod and bake it in the oven for however many minutes I should. Serve it over rice with sauteed red and yellow peppers. Yummers. The satay sauce is perfect. Use it for classic chicken satay or pra ram with broccoli and spinach and jasmine rice. Use it for a crudite dip. Paint some on your wrist and wear it like a watch that you can eat, I don't care. Just get it, crack it open, and live life to the peanutty fullest, people! (When I start writing like this, it's usually because of low blood sugar. Lunchtime is upon me.)

Agave is awesome. Because of my Southern and Midwestern heritage, I am almost angrily suspicious of sugar substitutes. Agave won me over. It's mild, not like honey, which I don't particularly care for. Put your favorite fruit in a saute pan, cook it down a bit, pour some of this in (1/4 to a 1/2 cup), and maybe a tiny pinch of salt (I only ever use kosher, btw, because it is perfect in every way and because iodized salt tastes like metal). Pour the fruit over ice cream or Greek yogurt. I cook peaches this way and put them over roasted pork tenderloin, which usually almost makes up for the pork not being cooked by my dad or my brother. Almost.

Don't let the name fool you. This is fruity crack sugar ($2.49/bag), but holy pajamas. Mark can eat a bag in four minutes.

I struggle with chocolate. I need it every day, happily and sadly, but obviously I can't have too much. Snacky-sized ones are usually too small, so I end of eating a big-bar equivalent of snackies. That is because I lack what is apparently called "portion control." These ($1.99/box), however, are the perfect size. I have to sit down and really savor it, but just one makes me happy, and I don't go back for more. Unless it's been one of those really bad days. Then I have two. But never three. I don't need three.

So there's the staple list. I love knowing what other people like, because I'm afraid to try things cold. Post in the comments if you've got some TJ's love to share. :)