Trader Joe's Already

10/01/2022

Look what just came in today! A new oatmilk ice cream called "Okie Dokie." It IS vegan, gluten-free, and soy-free...but DOES have 27 g of added sugar in each serving. Definitely delicious....but sweet (fyi, for those of you who are most concerned about ingredients and additional health facts beyond being dairy, gluten, & soy free)! For those of you have never associated "but...." with "sweet," the sponge candy bits and caramel swirl are a lovely pair and tasty treat!

28/10/2021

Ch-ch-ch-check out this sweet and psychaedelic-looking apple hybrid varietal from Washington. Introducing the "Lucy Glo," now available at your local Trader Joe's. This lovely lady happened to also take center-stage in this week's Financial Times magazine! shout-out to Mara Wollen w/ 2 Chefs for tipping me off to this tasty treat!

28/10/2021

Hey y'all! Thanks for patiently awaiting my next posts as I've transitioned back to to my regular daily affairs after living half a year at my meditation center! Stay tuned for for meal and product ideas as this holiday season really ramps up!

12/03/2021

Apply the pedagogy to the prior pizza post (extra points for alliteration!) to make your own invention. Check out the attached photos to see my Mexican-food themed pizza made of vegan Mozzarella Cashew shreds, green onions, tomatillo salsa, black-eyed peas, and TJ's Southern Greens Blend. (See photo captions for more info on products!)

12/03/2021

Looking for pizza ideas that are free of gluten, soy, and dairy? Search no further! Here are some ideas and techniques to spark your creativity.
Go ahead....experiment, make mistakes, learn, and enjoy!
https://youtu.be/L-ia8GHj0gI
If you like what you see, follow this Health and Wellness page for periodic healthy meal and preparation posts with Trader Joe's products. Bon appetit!

Find out about gluten-free, soy-free,m and dairy-free products to buy at Trader Joe's through these easy, fun, and healthy meal ideas!

14/02/2021

Happy Valentines Day! 🌈❤ We're doing complementary wrapping today at the downtown Seaholm Trader Joe's in Austin, TX! Come on in and get creative or have one of the Crew Members help pick out a bundle flowers to make your own signature bouquet!💐🌺🌼

09/01/2021

Hearts of Palm Pasta are back in stock in the Texas Trader Joe's stores for some gluten/dairy/soy-free food fun!! I've been a huge fan of Hearts of Palm since childhood. When I first started cooking my own meals at age eight, they were so easy to slice up in salads or snack on straight from the container. The texture and taste reminded me of the beloved artichoke heart! Hearts of Palm make dishes snazzy and pack in extra vegetables to your daily menu.

I was worried this product would be too soft and gooey to resemble pasta, but it holds its form and has a firm texture. Basically, it just needs to be warmed up with whatever else you're eating it with - but technically could be eaten straight out of its pouch!

In this example I used the "noodles" in a asian-style "miso" soup. I usually don't eat soy, but made an exception today. I pressed TJ's organic extra firm sprouted tofu first (to get rid of the excess water), rolled it in TJ's Nutritional Yeast and South African Smoke paprika spice before toasting and baking it. I then added to my bowl steamed asparagus, heated vegetable broth, thinly sliced organic crimini mushrooms (they're the tastiest!), green onions, and had some sliced avocado on the side. I also cooked it up with some TJ's Artichoke Antipasto, topped it with some Nutritional Yeast and served it with a fresh How, wild caught slab of TJ's salmon. So.....how will you get creative and serve yours?!

23/11/2020

If you're craving some turkey-like victuals before the actual Day of Thanks, grab some Trader Joe's Turkeyless Protein Patties! These vegan, pea-protein delights are the freshest, made with no inflammatory ingredients like soy or canola oil. They also come in a Protein Patties "hamburger" version. Both are easy to grill, but I like to pull the patty a part into small pieces and join with kale, steamed beets or potatoes....whatever veggies you have in your fridge! Season the concoction with salt, pepper, 21 Seasoning Salute, and my favorite underrated TJ's product....Artichoke Antipasto!!! Just cook it all together with some veggie broth (for an oil-less dish) in a skillet and dive in! Gobble, gobble!

27/10/2020

https://youtu.be/006SnnqWZnc

Squash is bountiful and affordable during this season! Go ahead, be adventurous and learn some quick tips to nourish the body with healthy and accessible meals!

17/10/2020

Shop at Trader Joe's, where organic an non-gmo products are actually affordable. Do it for your health and repair your gut!

A study finds that people today who eat and exercise the same amount as people 20 years ago are still fatter.

15/10/2020

Delicious and Easy Vegan CHOCOLATE CHERRY PIE ...free of soy, gluten, dairy, eggs, and NO ADDED SUGAR!!!

Hello my lovely friends! I don't know about you, but sometimes I have a hankering for something sweet! My food sensitivities, however, can make it challenging to get a healthy dessert.
Have no fear, Trader Joe's Already is here! Check out the following Trader Joe's products I use to make a vegan, gluten and soy-free, no-added-sugar delightful Chocolate Cherry Pie!!
p.s. This pie tastes best after being in the refridgerator for a day.

Ingredients:

* 1 allergen-free (no eggs - hard to find!!) Pie Crust
Thess TJ's pie crusts come w/ 2 in a package...BONUS! What a great reason to make ANOTHER one :)

* 1 bag of frozen cherries.
Frozen fruits and veggies are great! Picked at full ripeness and then flash-frozen to retain optimal nutrient content! You don't have to prep ahead of time to defrost the cherries; simply put them in a bowl of warm water for some time! (try 10 min)

* 1/2 cup to 1 cup of chopped nuts (optional)
I've used walnuts and raw pumpkin seeds so far, as well as a couple tablespoons of the TJ's Sunflower Seed Butter (the one without the added sugar)!

* 1/2 cup - 3/4 cup Organic Ground Flax Seed
This product is optional, depending on how much density and "wetness" you want with the pie. I've done it both ways and loved each result. I encourage you to experiment!

* 4-5ish organic Medjool Dates dates chopped up and soaked in water for awhile.
You will use the water in the dish as well, so try about 1/3 to 1/2 cup water for soaking. Makes natural sugar-y yumminess!

* 1/3 to 1/2 cup of our NEW product, 100% cacao chips! WARNING: These are bitter - but amazing for baking and making anything become chocolate-y goodness! The sweetness of the dates offset the cacoa bitterness!

* 2 frozen ginger cubes (optional)

* TJ's Pumpkin Pie Spice - AT LEAST 2 TBLS, but I like to use A LOT (like half a jar)!
SIDENOTE:
This is probably my favorite TJ's spice; it is seasonal so I buy about 15 before the season ends to last me throughout the year. I use it in my morning bowls w/ soaked chia seeds and/or oatmeal, smoothies, tea and other hot drinks....anything I want to give a sweet-ish hinge without using any sweeteners!

Directions:
1) Turn on the oven to 350 degrees.
2) If you'd like a smoother, less chunky texture, blend everything together in a blender except the defrosted bag of cherries. I like to put the dates and date water, ginger cubes, pumpkin pie spice, 100% cacao chips, and nuts in there, but leave out the cherries and flax seed.
3) Stir the blended concoction in a bowl w/ the cherries and flax seed. If it's too dry & chunky, add some alternative "milk" (I use our h**p milk) or water until it's more wet.
4) Pour the filling into the pie crust (which has defrosted 10-20 minutes, per instructions on the packaging), and pop into the oven for 45 minutes. Allow ample time to cool before eating. Just like a pot of cooked beans, it tastes best if it's been in the fridge for a day (as stated above)!

I consider myself a creative chef. I experiment and am not afraid to make mistakes, therefore I've never enjoyed baking b/c I viewed it as something one had to be exact about. No longer is this my belief! One can still bake while not being exact in the measurements or the ingredients and SUCCEED! Throw caution to the wind and add some other things you think might be tasty and take away what doesn't interest you. Embrace your creativity and make your meals an expression of you!💗