You know those *haul* shopping videos on youtube? This is my version.

Who doesn’t love Trader Joe’s?!?

No. Really. I actually want to know who you are, because I’ve yet to meet someone that doesn’t love that place. I’ve been a loyal customer of Trader Joe’s since about 1997 and I tend to move to areas that have a TJ’s within 10 minutes of my house.  When realtors talk about location, location, location, all I want to know is if there is a TJ’s nearby.

All loyal TJ’s customers have their favorites and I am no exception. I may have relied on their frozen meals and cheap wine (Two Buck Chuck!) back in the 90′s, but now I rely on their organic and healthy products to feed my family.  Trader Joe’s proves that organic, healthy, and natural products do not have to cost an arm and a leg. From a starving college student on a tight budget to a mom cooking for her family, Trader Joe’s has come through for me time and time again. The majority of my grocery receipts come from TJ’s, which should tell you everything.

Without further ado, these are my favorite Trader Joe’s products. Prices are current as of this post date:

Breakfast/Bread

Organic Oats & Flax Instant Oatmeal ($3.29) – when I feel the need to have a particularly healthy breakfast, these individual packets of oatmeal do the job.

8 Plus 2 100% Stone Ground Whole Grain Bread ($2.29) – my favorite bread, made with natural whole grains, soy & flax.

Vanilla Almond Crunch Cereal ($3.99) - this cereal is a favorite in my family. It’s good with or without milk!

Trader Joe’s Low-Fat Cereal Bars ($1.69) – made with organic grains, these cereal bars are perfect for a quick breakfast or healthy snack. I always have a few of these in my bag for when the the Monkey gets hungry.

Lavosh Bread ($1.99) - perfect for wraps or a snack with tahini or hummus.

Condiments

Organic Creamy Peanut Butter ($2.99) – this is quite possibly the best peanut butter I’ve tried. When mixed well, it doesn’t dry out, either.

Aioli Garlic Mustard Sauce ($2.49) - this mustard is incredible and works deliciously on anything from a turkey sandwich to grilled sausage.

Garlic Hummus ($2.49) – spread on lavosh or pita bread or dip your chips and veggies in it. This hummus is the best!

Organic Marinara Sauce ($2.29) - I use this tasty marinara for individual pizzas on English muffins or in pastas.

Panko Breadcrumbs ($1.69) – I prefer panko breadcrumbs to regular breadcrumbs and this panko is one of my favorites.

Himalayan Pink Salt Crystals ($1.99) – this fabulous pink salt comes with a built-in grinder!

Taco Seasoning Mix ($0.79) - this is a great alternative to other taco seasoning packs because you can actually pronounce the ingredients.

Desserts

Dark Chocolate & Almond Biscotti ($3.99) - perfect for a delicious after-dinner treat with coffee.

Dark Chocolate Covered Almonds ($6.99) – Warning. These are highly addictive!

Tofutti Cuties Vanilla Bars ($2.69) - I love these and they are a much healthier alternative to ice cream sandwiches.

Dark Chocolate Covered Caramels with Sea Salt – you will be hard-pressed to find them now, but when they stock these seasonal treats, buy them! They are delicious!

Meat/Poultry

Organic Chicken Tenders (about $6-$8) – I buy several packages of these every week because they are so versatile to use. I bread them with panko and flax and bake them into healthy chicken strips or cut them into small pieces for tacos.

Organic Whole Chicken (about $13-$15) – want to try my Chicken Soup recipe? This is excellent quality chicken for a good price. I also buy this chicken when I plan on roasting a whole chicken.

Frenched Lamb Rack from New Zealand ($10.99 per lb) – did you see my recent Foodie Friday post for Mustard Crusted Lamb Rack? This lamb rack is great for that recipe. It is free-range, hormone-free, and steroid-free. No need to spend big bucks at your local butcher with this quality lamb.

Produce

Organic Baby Carrots ($0.79) – an ideal snack or add to salads.

Organic Berries (around $2.99) – I buy a variety of their berries and combine them in a bowl at home for a quick and healthy snack.

Persian Cucumbers ($2.29) – slice them up and dip in tahini or hummus!

Organic Bananas ($0.29 each) – I can’t always find organic bananas at the big-chain grocery stores, which is why I’m so glad TJ’s sells them.

Brussels Sprouts ($1.99) – when I can’t find Brussels Sprouts on the stem (TJ’s occasionally sells them that way!), I’ll buy them in a bag. Use them in my roasted Brussels Sprouts recipe!

Quick Lunch/Dinner

I love Trader Joe’s salads for a quick lunch or dinner. My favorites include the Pear and Gorgonzola Salad ($3.49) and the Chopped Chicken Salad ($4.49)

“Just Chicken” Entree ($5.99) - this package of chicken has so many uses. My favorite quick recipe for this item is chicken salad and chicken quesadillas!

Snacks

Savory Thin Mini Edamame Crackers ($2.49) – everyone in my family loves these delicious crispy crackers made of edamame.

Omega Trek Mix (individual packs of almonds, cashews, & cranberries) ($4.99) -  a perfect snack to-go!

Organic Light String Cheese ($4.99)  – this is the best string cheese I’ve found. Plus, it has 50% less fat than regular string cheese!

Pretzel Slims ($2.19) - a great snack when you need something salty and crunchy.

Honey Wheat Pretzel Sticks ($1.49) – I love these pretzel sticks because they are both salty and sweet.

Organic Blue Tortilla Chips ($2.99) - the perfect complement to homemade guacamole.

Organic Animal Crackers ($2.99) – a much healthier alternative to the original animal crackers.

6-pack of Organic Yogurt ($3.29) – the Monkey loves this yogurt. Add some berries , granola, or Vanilla Crunch cereal on top for a great treat.

Veggie Stix and Veggie Chips ($1.99) – a much better option to potato chips! And tastier, too.

Another reason I love to shop at Trader Joe’s is for their selection of fresh flowers. I love having beautiful flowers in my home, but I hate spending a ton of money on them.  TJ’s is, by far, the best place to find reasonably priced and excellent quality flowers and plants. I even planted their lavender plants in my garden and they are doing beautifully. I have heard that they select local growers for their flowers, but I can’t confirm that.

Got any Trader Joe’s recommendations that are not listed here? Please share!

Disclaimer: I was not compensated by Trader Joe’s for this endorsement. However, if they want to throw a few free snacks my way, I’ll gladly accept it.

Lamb is such a great protein and an excellent source of essential amino acids, zinc, vitamins B12 and B3, and is relatively low in fat once it’s trimmed. Can’t beat that! As a huge fan of lamb, I’m always looking for new recipes to try out. I’ve recently adapted a quick and easy mustard crusted rack of lamb recipe from Emeril Lagasse and made a few small changes to make it my own. Since I’ve prepared it a number of times now, I can vouch that it is absolutely delectable.

Quick tip: Rack of lamb can be expensive to purchase however, if you have a Trader Joe’s nearby, go there first for their excellent New Zealand rack of lamb.  I always prefer organic, grass-fed, and local but, if it comes down to buying a $15 rack of good quality lamb versus a $40+ rack of organic local lamb, you can guess where I’ll be spending my money.

(click on pics for a larger view)

Ingredients:

• 1 rack of lamb, trimmed (about 1.5 lbs) – if you have to trim the fat yourself, make sure to use kitchen scissors
• 3/4 teaspoon of salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon of olive oil
• 2 tablespoons of Dijon mustard (I prefer whole grain Dijon for better texture and flavor)
• 2 teaspoons of minced garlic
• 1/4 cup of seasoned bread crumbs (I prefer organic panko )
• 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan (Do not use the stuff in a green canister! Grate fresh Parmesan yourself)

Directions:

Pre-heat oven to 450 degrees F.

Season rack of lamb well on both sides with salt and pepper. Heat a skillet over high heat and add the oil when hot. When the oil is almost smoking, add the rack of lamb and brown on both sides, about 6 minutes. Transfer the lamb to a plate and set aside to let cool.

Combine the mustard and garlic and then spread evenly over all sides of the lamb.

In a mixing bowl, combine the panko and grated cheese. Spread the breadcrumb mixture evenly over all sides of the lamb, pressing firmly to make sure it adheres to the meat.

Place the rack of lamb on a baking sheet lined with foil and bake at 450 for about 20-25 minutes, depending on your oven. Once you remove the lamb, let it sit for about 5-10minutes before carving into chops.

I love to serve my rack of lamb with couscous and my fabulous no-fail Brussels sprouts recipe. You will love this recipe and so will your family. Trust.

Bon Appetit!

Yay!!!

Uh…hello? Anyone else with me???

Hey, I was like any other kid growing up – I would push those Brussels sprouts away. I personally believe that boiled and steamed Brussels sprouts are terrible, yet they remain the most popular cooking method.

WHY?!?

The main problem with boiling and steaming Brussels sprouts is that they can easily overcook, which releases a horrible sulfur smell. Not appetizing. So, let me tell you the way that I love to cook those beautiful little cabbages – roast, roast, roast. And for extra flavor and a sure-bet method to get the kids to eat them, add bacon or toasted almonds. I make roasted Brussels sprouts at least once a week. I’m telling you, if you try this recipe out on your family, they will be begging for more.

I love buying the Brussels sprouts still intact on their stem (like this). I occasionally see them at places like Trader Joe’s, but your local farmers market might be your best bet. It’s really fun for kids to pick them off the stem. Actually, I really enjoy it, too. It’s almost as fun as popping bubble wrap. If you don’t find Brussels sprouts on the stem, just pick them out yourself. Look for bright green sprouts with no blemishes and squeeze them to make sure they are firm and compact.

Once you cleaned your Brussels sprouts, halve them with a sharp knife. Watch your fingers!

I know you know what cubed bacon looks like, but I just need to point out one thing: I use my vegetable cutting board for bacon because bacon is considered a vegetable in my home.

Can’t you just smell that bacon?

That’s about 4 strips of bacon for a 1/2 pound of Brussels sprouts.

Once I cooked the bacon enough to release some bacon fat, I add my halved Brussels sprouts to the pan and mix together. I also add a few pinches of kosher sea salt and fresh ground pepper. I then throw the mix onto a baking sheet and roast at 400 degrees for 20-30 minutes, depending on your oven and how many Brussels sprouts.  For half a baking sheet worth of sprouts, it’s about 20 minutes or until the tops are browned.

Perfection!

Alternative roasting method: If you must skip the bacon, just substitute olive oil for the bacon fat. Instead of bacon bits, use toasted almonds or roasted garlic. As much as we love bacon in our house, I don’t always use it.  However, if you want to win over all those Brussels sprouts haters in your life, put a little pig-candy on it. After a few times, they won’t even notice if you “forgot” the bacon.

Bon Appétit!