Last week after my little craftcation with The Girl, I did another Trader Joe’s shopping trip since I was so close to one. And this time around, I came prepared with a list!
A list of all the wonderful items everyone had mentioned in my last grocery post. {Thank You!}
No, a stalk of Brussels sprouts was not on my list, but I just couldn’t pass them up! Seriously, it’s so much funner to buy an entire stalk than just tossing a few in a bag. Don’t you agree?
I found the $0.99 greeting cards everyone mentioned.
Trader Joe’s Shopping Trip $157.09
And all the other things too like the sea salt caramel chips, the frozen teriyaki chicken, orange chicken and the pot stickers. I also snagged a Tarte d’ Alsace frozen flatbread someone had mentioned and the carne asada. And a bag of raviolis too.
I couldn’t find the frozen French green beans, the orange infused dried cranberry pack, the chili lime burgers or the Pfeffernusse cookies people raved about. But that just gives me something to look forward to next time. 😉
And of course there were a few things that landed in my cart that were not on my list. Like this creamy spinach artichoke dip. It looked so good that I thought hey, why not. Plus there were some snacks for the HH, fancy cheese and crackers, nuts, olives and some dark peanut butter cups.
Also, I can’t stand grocery shopping during the holiday season so I figured I might as well stock up on a bunch of stuff now.
I also made sure to buy a few things I knew my husband would like {but that I had no interest in} so I could enjoy my favorite soups {the Panera Copycat Tomato soup, and my chicken noodle soup} without having to worry about him getting bored with it all.
He liked the flatbread pizza {mushroom and stinky cheese}.
And we both liked the carne asada.
We had the leftovers the next day with scrambled eggs!
The butternut squash and cauliflower risotto was really good too!
And the orange chicken? Holy cow man! At $4.99 for a 22 ounce bag, not only is it cheaper and faster than take out, but who’d want to bother with a big mess in the kitchen when it’s already made for you?
It.Was.Tasty. That’s for sure.
After several nights of Trader Joe’s ready made meals though, last night I made a big pot of chicken noodle soup. I suspect we’ll be eating that {maybe with some biscuits or Dutch oven bread} for the next few nights.
It’s nice to change things up every once in a while. I’m not sure what we’ll try next, but the HH is loving these Trader Joe’s meals.
Hannaford $9.87
So how did you do this past week? Did you make anything exciting? Eat any ready made meals that were so good, you know you’ll be back for more? Do tell!
~Mavis
Total Spent This Past Week on Groceries $166.96 {a big Trader Joe’s shopping trip!}
- Total Spent in November on Groceries $166.96
- Total Spent in October on Groceries $83.81
- Total Spent in September on Groceries $109.49
- Total Spent in August for Groceries $13.04
- Total Spent on Groceries for July $376.89
- Total Spent on Groceries in June $41.56
- Total Spent on Groceries in May $288.51
- Total Spent on Groceries in April $35.36
- Total Spent on Groceries in March $82.28
- Total Spent on Groceries in February $101.14
- Total Spent on Groceries in January $167.33 {this includes buying groceries on Fair Isle}
- Total Spent on Groceries in 2023 $1,463.32 for our $100 a month grocery budget for 2
Nancy says
My mother-in-law has come to visit so we stocked up at Costco. Had their cooked Turkey breast with stuffing then the next night used the leftover stuffing in your meatloaf recipe. Made chicken in rice in the crockpot yesterday and salmon tonight. Spinach ravioli, air fryer chicken patty are coming up.
Tracey says
LOVE the crumpets!! def worth the freezer space.
Mona R McGinnis says
Ready-made food for the freezer usually includes ginger beef, spinach pizza, fried chicken. I got a really good deal on the pizza the other day. When I don’t feel like cooking, I go to the freezer. I was out of bed way too early yesterday with the time change, so prepared fried rice to be served with the ginger beef for lunch after returning from the craft show/sale. Trader Joe’s sounds fun.
MEM says
I’m very sad to say that the Chile Lime Chicken burgers were discontinued. Three years ago (approximately) they were recalled due to some sort of contamination – bone chips maybe? We had them at least once a week. I really hoped Trader Joe’s would come up with a replacement for them but it seems…no.
CynScotland says
Couldn’t you make your own with the Chili Lime seasoning and some ground chicken?
RobininSoCal says
I’ve found copy cat recipes that were good. I just make a double batch and have them ready to go in the freezer.
Rosemary says
I made carrot soup this past Saturday (carrots were on sale at Publix). I used 2 bags of baby carrots, and it made a lot of soup. Had it for lunch Saturday and Sunday and there is still enough for lunch today and tomorrow. I also made a pack (5 links) of Italian sausage (bought at Costco) and a pound of bacon to munch on this week. Hubby likes the Italian sausage with eggs. I made myself a sub with spaghetti sauce and the sausage for dinner. Food prep days are a lot of work, but it is so worth it the rest of the week. Some days I prep breakfast items and other days I might prep more dinner or lunch type items. I did a blog about one of my prep days: https://mypracticalhome.blogspot.com/2023/10/food-prep-day-one-of-my-best-money.html
Sue says
I will never stop mourning TJ’s Spicy Peanut Vinaigrette Dressing. So spicy good on salads, slaw, as a dip.
But I just learned that California Pizza Kitchen Thai Dressing is a reasonable sub. Gonna have to hit up Walmart and see how it tastes.
Jennifer says
I’m having surgery at the end of the month and my husband will be doing all the cooking for a few weeks. I think I’m gonna make a Trader Joe’s run before that so that we are prepared with easy meals.
Brianna says
I am not sure I could eat frozen risotto. That is once dish I always make homemade and spend the time to make correctly, but it is never a dish you want as a leftover or to reheat. The texture just changes too much. Maybe they add something in their risotto so it doesn’t get soft and soggy? Some foods just should not be frozen or reheated.
Ashley Bananas says
My son got the flu last week and barely ate anything. I didn’t do a Thursday/Friday night grocery haul. Our freezer is still stocked. I did some cooking this weekend but he’s still not eating much. When he regains his appetite I will start cooking and shopping more. Hopefully he’ll be hungry by Thanksgiving again.
sandyf says
I airfry the orange chicken and it is wonderful. No matter how it is prepared-it is good. My dogs vote for the peanut butter dog biscuits. The only flour tortillas my husband will eat are TJ’s. When I look at places I may want to move-it has to be close to a Trader Joes.
Love TJ’s!
Pam says
I’ve heard they’ve discontinued the orange craisins too… very sad. It was always a staple on my list so we asked about it. Always hard to lose a fave TJ’s product…. but then again, they’re always introducing new ones, so that helps.
Kathy Hort says
Nooooo 🙁
Jules says
It’s basketball season which means lots of crockpot meals. Tonight we’re trying a cashew chicken recipe my sister found online. Ready made meals are nice… but expensive with a bunch of kids at home. So crockpot seems the next best thing
Jeri says
I went on a TJ’s run last week and couldn’t find the Pfefferneuse cookies. I asked if it was too early for them, and was told that they have been discontinued! I’m so disappointed! Still spent over $100 even without the half dozen boxes of Pfefferneuse!
They had Advent calendars in. I think there were three different designs. They also had Advent calendars for dogs and cats! I actually picked up one of each for my grandkids, and only realized they weren’t meant for humans when I ran across the display of the chocolate filled calendars meant for people!
Holley says
We always get the spinach artichoke dip whenever we go. We usually only get one little taste of it though if one of my daughters are here! She LOVES the stuff! LOL
Lisa says
Do try the TJ’s fig and olive crisps (purple box). Buy 2. You’re welcome! My TJ’s usually has good deals on kalamata olives, and is there really any other kind? lol
Cindy Brick says
I like Sam’s Club’s orange chicken — but LOVE Trader Joe’s sauce. If only they’d collaborate with each other! (The Sam’s Club version is way cheaper, but I haven’t figured the TD sauce out yet.)
Love TD’s flowers and flowering plants.
And their Dutch windmill cookies — they’re loaded with almonds.
And the wine (of course)… although a bottle now and then pretty much only for special occasions.
And their lebkuchen — oh my.
But they no longer stock the green Thai ‘simmering sauce’ that I would kill for. Darn it.