Pour Me Another, Barista!: Trader Joe's Spicy Chai Tea Latte Mix

Pinky McLadybits

Hey, kids! I know we've been quiet around here lately, what with my losing a close friend, the holidays, and my new gig at Pajiba. However, we are hoping to get back up and rolling with reviews you can use! Dixie has been a key component in kicking my ass into gear and we should all thank her and give her lovely presents.

Onward to the review!

After an encounter with some exceedingly vile red grapes purchased from grocery chain Kroger, I have begun doing the bulk of my food shopping at the local Trader Joe's. Kroger has been demoted to bread, ice cream, and milk since TJ's bread spoils faster than we can eat it and I love my Ben & Jerry's. So I was at Trader Joe's today and decided to splurge on a treat for myself: Spicy Chai Latte Mix. 

Trader Joe's Tuesday: Cranberry Crack... I Mean Relish

Lainey

I'll save you some time right now - if you don't love, or even like, cranberry - don't bother reading this.  I'm not going to change your mind.  However, if you do like cranberry, oh, read on, my friend.  Read on.

I LOVE cranberry.  I like dried cranberries in my salad or mixed with a handful of nuts.  I like cranberry juice, mostly with vodka, but plain, too.  I like that cranberry jelly in a can that has the can ridges imprinted on it.  Suffice it to say, I am a fanberry!  (Shut up, it was funny, and you know it.)

Trader Joe's Tuesday: Lemony Love

Author: Lainey

I like lemon.  A lot.  Lots of lemon.  I'm mostly a fan of lemon in sweet foods.  Lemon curd, lemon gelato, lemon muffins, etc.   I don't tend to seek out lemon in savory foods.  I think it's because an old roommate made lemon pepper chicken once that was so awful, just peppery sourness, it almost put me off of lemon after that.  (And yes, I ate it anyway, because I didn't want to hurt her feelings, but ohmygod, you don't even KNOW how awful that shit was!)

Trader Joe's Tuesdays: Mac & Cheese Adventure!

Author: Lainey

I’m not big on trying new things.  Ummm, here’s my confession – I lived 40 years without ever having eaten macaroni and cheese.  YES, that’s what I said!  My dad didn’t like it and wouldn’t allow it in the house when I was growing up (side note, he also vetoed tuna noodle casserole, but my babysitter really liked it and she brought it to me to try and once I tried it, my whining became louder than Denny Bobainey’s insistence on a tuna-noodle-free house).  When I was in college & in my first place, I REBELLED and bought that instant blue box stuff.  I was SO excited to make it and be a grown up!  I cooked it and added the powdered “cheese”, and the fluorescent orange color combined with the noxious odor grossed me out so much I dumped it down the garbage disposal and never ate a single bite.  I lived mac and cheese-less for the next 20 years.

Smooth Moves

Author: Napoleanita

On a recent trip to Trader Joe's, I was wandering around just taking in the pleasure of being in a Trader Joe's again after living without one for years, when I spied Trader Joe's Honey Mango Moisturizing Shave Cream on the shelf.

I have distressingly dry skin that I'm constantly trying to find ways to moisturize. This is complicated by the fact that my skin is also ridiculously sensitive and will regularly up and decide that it's going to start having a reaction to a product that I've been using just fine for months. Most recently it was shaving cream, even though I was using the special cream for sensitive skin. The shave cream has vitamin E and aloe, both of which have treated my skin well before, and it was definitely a good price at a little over five dollars for an eight ounce tube.

Trader Joe's Tuesday: Candyman, Candyman, Candyman!

Author: Lainey

Do you like salty and sweet?  Do you like crunchy?  Do you enjoy some dark chocolate?  Ok, then get in your car (or on your bike, if you’re one of them healthy folks) and getchoo to Trader Joe’s.  Buy a container (Or, you know what?  Buy two.  You’re already there.) of the Sea Salt and Turbinado Sugar Dark Chocolate Covered Almonds.   Seriously, buy two.  You’re going to be pissed when you have to make a second trip.  They’re addicting.  Not addicting in the “Ummm, I just ate the whole container” way.  More like “I need a couple of these today”.  (Not a couple containers… just you know, a couple of almonds.)  They’re quite rich.  And salty.  Like big chunks of sea salt and big chunks of turbinado sugar.  And lots of rich dark chocolate.  THEY’RE SO GOOD! 

Ok.  I’m done.  Just go get some.  You can send your thank you card to me here.

PS:  While you’re there, pick up some Dark Caramel Wedges.  They’re in the little tins by the checkout lane.  They’re circular tins of caramel-filled dark chocolate wedges and they’re damn tasty!  Two wedges is a serving and it’s like 60 calories and they’re perfect for when you just need that little UUUMPH of chocolate.  You know how that goes.  Crisp, smooth dark chocolate and that little gooey UUUMPH of caramel.  Yeah, you know.

Ok, no for real.  I’m done.  Go on.  Get out of here.  You could be halfway to Trader Joe’s by now.  HURRY UP!