butterfat's Profile
Trader Joe's Yea/Nay Thread - 2nd quarter 2012
Yay to some things I tried because they were recommended upthread:
Paglierini (sp?) cheese (I believe it is the spotlight cheese right now, at least at my store), the Shiraz-soaked Toscano cheese, and the Reduced Fat Cheese Puffs. I never buy anything Reduced Fat, but these are totally solid and are satisfying my pregnancy cravings for something ridiculous and trashily cheesy without making me feel as gross as Munchies mix does.
Yay for the bags of Jazz "snacking" apples. Perfect size for my 3 year old and so crisp and yummy. They haven't been in stock the past couple weeks but if they have them I will always buy them.
Yay for the Dolmas (in the refrigerator section) and the Falafel (in the freezer section). These are reliable and just taste the way they should (even if they are nothing spectacular), and I really like having them on hand in the summer to have with cold salads and dips.
Trader Joe's Yea/Nay Thread - 2nd quarter 2012
I just bought some of this today and the cashier was raving about (I haven't tried it yet). I'm planning to use it to dip blueberries into and then freeze for a treat for my 3 year old. (This idea is all over the internets these day it seems.) For this application its less than optimal healthiness is not a major concern since he'll be eating so little of it in each serving of berries.
A Trader Joe's Care Package
I recently did something similar for friends in the midwest. Some of my items were chosen to be kid-friendly, but for a grown-up I'd include the Habanero Hot Sauce if they like spicy foods, some interesting nuts, something ridiculous and chocolatey (I chose the Chocolate Covered Toffee Popcorn), and maybe one of the jarred tapenades or spreads.
Favorite ways to use up a giant bunch of cilantro?
Hi hounds.
I wanted to make guacamole today so I bought some cilantro, but the bunches at the market were enormous--about 2 to 3 times the size of usual grocery stores bundles. So I'm looking for recipes that use a large quantity of cilantro. Bonus points if they make something that would keep or freeze well for a bit. I'm thinking pestos, salad dressings, chutneys . . . anyone have any tried and true recipes? I would love to hear them! Thanks in advance :)
What are you baking these days? April 2012 [old]
IMO Fior de Sicilia smells lovely and can add a pleasing flavor but is insanely, ridiculously strong. If you use more than a drop it can totally overpower a recipe. I feel like I should invest in a medicine dropper for doling it out.
Trader Joe's Yea/Nay Thread - 2nd quarter 2012
hmm, did you cook yours covered? I did mine covered and at a very low heat and the proportions on the package worked pretty well for me. I doubled their recipe though. I think I used 1 cup of grits, 3 cups of water, and 1 cup of 1/2 and 1/2. They seemed like they absorbed a ton of liquid at first, but then after I added the cream/milk they stayed nice and hydrated :)
Trader Joe's Yea/Nay Thread - 2nd quarter 2012
littleflower, I let them cook for about 35-40 minutes and they definitely still had some bite/texture to them. They were cooked, but just not smooth pasty mush, which is a good thing!
Guess what my DH put on his McDonald's hash browns this morning
We were having a morning of hard manual labor in the garden and so didn't really stop to cook a proper breakfast. Sometime mid-morning I had to run out for something so I stopped to pick up some McDonalds drive-thru breakfast to fortify us for our gardening. I brought home two hash browns for my husband and he topped them with . . . truffle oil. Then proceeded to dip them in ketchup and declared them delicious. I was tempted to fry up a beautiful orange-yolked free range egg and put it on my sausage biscuit. Maybe next time.
It got me wondering what other hounds do to doctor their fast food or takeout and make it more delicious :)
Trader Joe's Yea/Nay Thread - 2nd quarter 2012
YAY for the stone ground grits. I finally cooked up a pot of them for dinner tonight, added some half and half towards the end of cooking and stirred in some sharp cheddar before serving. Topped with some cooked greens, browned andouille sausage (just the TJ's chicken andouille sausage, which is okay but not authentic or anything, I'm guessing), some caramelized onions and roasted red peppers. Really nice creamy texture to the grits.
NAY on the Lemongrass Chicken Stix (I don't like that spelling--they are like spring rolls from the freezer section). They weren't inedible (anything dipped in sweet chili sauce is more or less edible to me!) but the filling was on the mushy and bland side. I'm on a mission to find a decent egg roll or spring roll at TJ's if anyone has any recs.
Yay on the Triple Ginger Snaps (the ones in the clear plastic tub). I know, not news to anyone, but I bought them recently for the first time in ages and was surprised at how nice and simple and satisfying they are with a cup of tea. The ingredients are pretty solid too. I doubt if I could bake a better version of that exact sort of light, crunchy ginger cookie.
Trader Joe's Uncured Turkey Bacon -- good substitute for julienned ham
Yummy, I'm going to try it! Thanks for the idea :)
Trader Joe's Yea/Nay Thread - 2nd quarter 2012
making cheese grits tonight and I wish I had some of that goat cheddar! sounds delicious. Thanks for the tip.
The perfect soup to serve with buttermilk biscuits?
alkapal, I ended up doing something very similar! White bean, andouille sausage, and kale soup. Yum!
The perfect soup to serve with buttermilk biscuits?
Thanks everyone for all the ideas! I am mulling them over . . . there are some patterns but also some divisions in the responses. Several votes for more of a clear broth soup and several for more of a stew or thick soup. I like the ideas of echoing the Southern flavors of the biscuits with sweet potatoes or ham.
It would definitely be easy to make a simple chicken noodle soup. I love lots of stock in the freezer and all the other ingredients I need, so that might be a good default setting if I don't get inspired by anything else in the meantime. I'll keep you posted on how things progress :) Soup day is Wednesday so I need to decide tomorrow!
The perfect soup to serve with buttermilk biscuits?
ooh, I love the coconut milk and ginger idea. yummy.
The perfect soup to serve with buttermilk biscuits?
That looks really delicious, danna. I'm been obsessed with baked sweet potato fries spritzed with lime juice and dipped in chipotle mayo, and this kind of seems like that yumminess turned into a soup. Hmmm. Definitely in the running!
The perfect soup to serve with buttermilk biscuits?
good question!
a) I have some really good buttermilk I want to put to good use and
b) my friend and I used to live in North Carolina (we've both moved since) and used to cook and eat a lot of biscuits there (usually with gravy . . . ) and so it would be a sort of sentimental thing to serve.
c) I'm pregnant and craving biscuits :)
I think those are the main reasons!
What makes your twice baked potatoes extra fabulous?
Great thread. The egg idea is fascinating, as is lemon juice.
I often add a little bit of cream cheese along with many of the ingredients that have already been mentioned.
The perfect soup to serve with buttermilk biscuits?
I have a houseguest coming in from out of town, arriving around lunchtime, and when he arrives I'd like to have a pot of soup made and some biscuits prepped ahead and stashed in the freezer (I then bake them from frozen).
What soup do you think pairs wonderfully with biscuits, that would make a nice lunch? I'm willing to make a salad alongside, if I must :)
I don't know why this is giving me so much trouble. I guess I feel like most of my soups seem to call for cornbread (chili, lentil soup, black bean soup) or crusty baguette (minestrone, potato leek), but there must be a soup out there that would be perfect with biscuits. Any ideas, hounds? No dietary restrictions or anything, but bonus points if my 3 year old will enjoy it also. Thanks in advance!
Trader Joe's Yea/Nay Thread - 1st quarter 2012 [old]
interesting, I'll have to see if I can taste it the next time I get some.
Trader Joe's Yea/Nay Thread - 1st quarter 2012 [old]
do you mean the multigrain ones, thursday? I agree with you on the regular white flour ones, but I was pleasantly surprised by the multigrain variety.
Trader Joe's Yea/Nay Thread - 1st quarter 2012 [old]
Just a general yay for TJ's produce. I hear so many people say that the produce is terrible and that they only go to TJ's for dried fruits and nuts, and while it's true that it's no farmers market, I have come to rely very heavily on them for my produce needs and find that they have both excellent prices and pretty good quality on certain items, some of which I can't find other places at all (especially at typical chain supermarkets). I think maybe the produce has improved in the last few years or maybe my store is especially good, but some of my can't live without staples are:
--tray of small persian cucumbers
--affordable organic celery hearts
--bags of small organic apples, perfect size for my 3 year old
--affordable bags of lemons, limes, avocados, organic sweet potatoes, organic potatoes, onions, and my beloved heirloom navel oranges
--organic grape tomatoes
--good quality basil in the midst of winter
--cheaper fresh herbs than other store
--occasional good deals on berries
--reasonably priced bell peppers (sometimes fresher than others)
--well-priced, usually great quality crimini mushrooms
--yummy brussels sprouts on the stalk when they have them
--inexpensive bagged salad greens, spinach,and kale
--not to mention some great frozen fruits and veggies :)
I would love to have a great granola recipe
Melissa Clark's olive oil granola is delicious. Recipe from Dinner: A Love Story here:
http://www.dinneralovestory.com/ill-miss-you-granola/
3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
1 1/2 cups raw pistachios, hulled
1 cup raw pumpkin seeds (pepitas), hulled
1 cup coconut chips
3/4 cup pure maple syrup
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
Special equipment
Medium-size mason jars or any old glass jars
Plain shipping tags
Preheat oven to 300°F. In a large bowl, combine oats, pistachios, pumpkin seeds, coconut chips, maple syrup, olive oil, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon and cardamom. Spread mixture on a rimmed baking sheet in an even layer and bake for 45 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes, until golden brown and well toasted. Transfer granola to a large bowl and let cool. Add to jars when completely cool.
* * * * * * * * * *
Homemade granola is so wonderful, any good recipe will be great compared to store-bought. As long as you don't over or under cook it and use ingredients you like, it will be awesome. I love adding dried fruit at the time I'm eating it, especially chopped dried figs and dried tart cherries. If you add them before it softens the granola and you will be sad.
Oh and I'm not a big cardamon fan and I still love the cardamon in this recipe--it just adds a slightly exotic depth of flavor. It doesn't taste cardamon-y.
Trader Joe's Yea/Nay Thread - 1st quarter 2012 [old]
Yay for the new Habanero Hot Sauce. It's a bright orange sauce in a small Tabasco type bottle (with the other sauces, not the salsas). It's actually got a pretty bright, fresh habanero flavor and a lot of heat. I bought it for DH and he approved.
Yay for the Mult-grain British Muffins. I feel like I've been unimpressed with both the white and whole wheat versions in the past, but these were really great---nice nutty flavor and great hearty texture when toasted--and were perfect for some fried egg, american cheese, and sausage breakfast sandwiches. Yum.
Oh edited to add that I find the Bunny Gummy Tummies very entertaining--so I guess that's a yay? I'm not sure that they're actually delicious, but they smell amazing, they have hilarious shapes and pretty colors, and the texture is compelling and addictive. I think the blackberry flavor (which I think is in the shape of a lamb) is my favorite.
Nay on the Chocolate Peanut Butter eggs (box of 3 big eggs)--I forgot that I bought these last year and don't love them as much as Reese's PB eggs. The chocolate to peanut butter ratio is off (not enough peanut butter IMO).
Trader Joe's Yea/Nay Thread - 1st quarter 2012 [old]
I'm a nay on the Danish pancakes. I know some people are fans and I can see why, but to me they have an annoying/fake lemony flavor (and I like lemon) and I'm not into the doughiness. They're okay if I eat them with a ratio of 3 parts applesauce to 1 part pancake. Maybe if I had lingonberry jam I would enjoy them more.
Nay on the Pecan Praline granola--terrible, not crunchy, very little flavor of any kind. I started making my own granola after finishing this depressing bag, so that was actually a good outcome.
I think I've mentioned these crackers before, but the Rosemary Raisin crisps and goat gouda cheese are delicious together. My 3 year old loves this combination as much as I do.
Yay on the Cinnamon Roll Bread (I'm in Massachusetts, I don't think they have this everywhere). It's yummy on its own and makes delicious French toast (in a kind of trashy diner style). This bread is made from sourdough starter (at least according to the ingredient list) and I swear it just seems to have a more complex, appealing flavor than most sweet supermarket breads of this type.
Trader Joe's Yea/Nay Thread - 1st quarter 2012 [old]
YAY--the "heirloom" navel oranges in a big (5 lb?) bag. I am in love with these--bright, sweet, tangy, juicy, and addictive. The bag I got a couple weeks ago was juicier and dreamier than the bag I got today, but today's bag is still better than any other oranges I've found this year. These oranges make me think of orange candy--they're just so aromatic and in your face orange-y. Amazing!
Trader Joe's Yea/Nay Thread - 1st quarter 2012 [old]
I tried your curried chicken salad and multi-grain crisps combo and it was totally solid. It was great because I was able to snack on it in the car right after finishing my shopping (I was famished). So nice to have a substantial savory snack on the go.
Any great donuts in Metrowest?
Thanks, Science Chick! I just might find a reason for a road trip to Worcester if there are great donuts to be had there. Things are getting rather serious with my craving--the only way I could stop myself from buying a bag of Powdered Donettes at the supermarket yesterday was by standing and reading the ingredient list for like five minutes. Luckily that did the trick and convinced me to hold out for the real thing :)
Any great donuts in Metrowest?
Good idea--I have actually had their donut muffin once, and while i loved the idea of it, in practice I really missed the crust to interior ratio of a donut . . . the muffin just seemed so *doughy* and almost heavy compared to a good donut. (Not that I'm saying donuts are light, but hopefully you know what I mean!) I did like Sweet Bites' homemade Pop Tarts though :)
I happened to stop at Verrill Farms in Concord for some milk today and they had cider donuts so I picked one up. It was a bit sad and tired by the time I was there (late afternoon) but earlier in the day, this could be good in a pinch. I need to figure out if they have them daily or only on weekends.
Trader Joe's Yea/Nay Thread - 1st quarter 2012 [old]
They are a bit pricy IMO. I think they're about $3.69 for a jar that had maybe six large peach halves in it? They might have been more, I can double check. I'll have to look out for the Costco peaches--sounds like a potentially better deal.
