17: What I bought at Trader Joe’s Vol. 13

I am doing NaBloPoMo this month. 30 blog posts in 30 days. Come join me. #nablopomo2021

It’s been a while since I shared any recent Trader Joe’s finds, and since I always love to hear more about what other people buy at Trader Joe’s, I am happy to share some of my favorites as well.

As I have mentioned previously, I am currently going to the store every two weeks, and while I often buy thes same things (don’t we all?), I also always explore new items, especially at Trader Joe’s. In fact, I am part of a Trader Joe’s Facebook Group, solely for the purpose of finding new items that I haven’t paid attention to/tried out before. I also follow a few Trader Joe’s fan-accounts on Instagram, because you never know which new items you might have missed out on.

Here are a few things I have picked up recently. Some are old favorites, some are new (to me) items that I have come across lately.

Smoked Paprika* (2.6 oz) $2.29 // pantry  section

You guys, I feel like smoked paprika is one of the most under-used spices in the US. I haven’t seen it used much in recipes here at all. In Germany, it’s a staple spice – somewhere up there with salt and pepper. I’d highly recommend you start adding this to your meals. Thank me later. (Or, in case you already use paprika a lot: good for you!).

Pita Bread* (12 oz) $1.69 // bread section

I love this pita bread. It’s versatile, inexpensive, and tasty. In the summer, we use it as a side with salads and in the winter, it goes well with soups and stews. They also have a whole wheat version that I have bought before (I like to switch it up!).

Flaxseed Meal* (16 oz) $2.99 // pantry section

Flaxseeds are really good for you. I used to not know what to do with the seeds, but ever since I found this flaxseed meal, it basically goes into (almost) everything. I add to my rye bread, baked goods, granola, or smoothies. It’s a great source of fiber and omega-3 acids, and the ground version is easier to digest.

Wild Argentinian Red Shrimp (16 oz) $10.99 // frozen section

Ok, I know these are expensive. But if you want to cook with shrimp and make it a fancy meal, please do yourself a favor and pay the extra two dollars instead of buying the (farm-raised) medium-sized regular shrimp. The Argentinian shrimp are superior in taste and texture and you won’t regret it. I promise. I’ll share a great recipe with these shrimp later this month.

Olive Wood Spoon $2.99 // seasonal items

I love Trader Joe’s seasonal non-food items. They usually make great gifts, but I also often end up buying some of the items for myself, like this wood spoon that I couldn’t pass up for the price.

What have you bought at Trader Joe’s recently?


* I am not affiliated with Trader Joe’s, nor have they endorsed, sponsored, or paid for my reviews. I am just sharing my love for the store and its products, which basically means free advertisement for them. Ha. All opinions are my own.

  1. Oh man, I love TJ’s so much – it’s hard being so far apart ;)
    I agree with you that nobody in the US really uses paprika and it’s a shame! I first got into it on my first time in Budapest – a smoky Hungarian paprika was kitchen life-changing, for sure.

    1. How do you manage without TJs? Serious question LOL

  2. I have to admit I am not using park all that much but it is a staple in my kitchen. I love that spoon – it looks really fancy. Its always fun to see what you shop for. Maybe I should do a post like that too just for the fun of it. If you do it regularly it would also be fun to see how the shopping changes.

    1. Yes, you should definitely do a post like this… I’d love to see what you buy at the store!

  3. We use paprika a fair amount in Indian curry dishes, but I have no idea if that’s a bastardized American version of curry. Ha.

    I’ve never been to a Trader Joe’s that didn’t have an absolutely terrible parking lot, so I don’t really go. Maybe someday I’ll live somewhere in walking distance.

    1. Love to hear that you’re using paprika… although I wouldn’t have thought of putting it into curry dishes, but actually, sounds like a good idea!

      A bad parking lot wouldn’t prevent me from going to TJs though ;)

  4. I haven’t been to TJ’s in a while. I used to work near one, so I could fold my trips into my work day when I visited the office. Now I have to go there on my own time so I’m going less.

    The three TJ’s products that we can’t live without are Bay Blend coffee, their fig cereal bars, and their s’mores bites. There are a ton of other products that we prefer to get there but those are the three that we can’t get anywhere else.

    1. I think I’ve tried the Bay Blend Coffee, but I have not had the fig cereal bars or s’mores bites. Goes to show that there are so many good items that you haven’t even discovered yet.

  5. Sigh – I wish we had Trader Joe’s where I live in Canada; these “haul” posts always make me feel so jealous.

    Smoked paprika is one of my favourite flavours ever, but I’m a relatively new convert! I make a marinade sauce that I use as a sauce on EVERYTHING. Salad, wraps, over egg and veggie hash and sometimes as a delicious marinade as it is intended – this would taste good on a shoe (I don’t use the soya sauce, just extra balsamic). https://pinchofyum.com/the-everything-marinade

    I also make this chickpea, red lentil soup that is beautifully flavoured with smoked paprika. Love, love, love it! https://www.onceuponachef.com/recipes/smoky-chickpea-red-lentil-vegetable-soup.html

    1. I wish you had a Trader Joe’s, too. :)

      Do you have a favorite supermarket that gets the hype in Canada? I’d love to hear more about it.

      Thanks for sharing these great recipes.

  6. I was at Trader Joes last week and got my annual cat advent calendar- you open a door every day in December and there’s a little packet of cat treats- so fun.
    I love smoked paprika! And I also use ground flax seeds as an egg replacer when I’m baking. Oh, and their salted crunchy almond butter is the BEST.

    1. Trader Joe’s has the best advent calendars – and they even include the pets. I love it :)

      I didn’t know you can use ground flax seeds as egg replacer. That’s good to know!

  7. I love their pita bread! We use it to make pizzas when we’re feeling a little lazy. still feels like a gourmet meal!

    1. Oh, that’s a fabulous idea. I’ve never thought of using them for individual pizzas. Thanks for the tip!

  8. Smoked paprika for the win! I buy mine from Penzeys though. The nearest Trader Joe’s to me has an impossibly busy parking lot that I try to avoid as much as possible so I rarely go.

  9. Let me continue agreeing with you. I love TJs and put smoked paprika in half the dishes I cook. It adds nice flavor. And I toss a teaspoon of flaxseed meal in a cup of applesauce I eat every morning with blueberries.

  10. This is the time of year when I really should make a trip to TJs because they have so many fun treats! I’ve mentioned before that TJs is not conveniently located and Phil does our grocery shopping so I am all about making it fast and easy for him. But I really should stop by TJs sometime in December to get some items for the dice game we do on Christmas w/ Phil’s mom. My fave TJ items tend to be desserts – their dark choclate pb cups, chocolate covered espresso beans, and the macarons (in the frozen aisle – so good!).

  11. I haven’t been to TJ’s in… nearly a year. Yikes. I need to remedy that! The main issue is that I need to make sure I have sufficient room in the freezer and cabinets to store the goodies. I’m not quite there, yet. (My usual prompt is running out of their 21 spice seasoning and/or everything bagel seasoning…)
    And what is it with TJs and horrible parking lots! I think it’s a site requirement for where they place their stores. Seriously.
    I love their goat’s milk yogurt. It’s not as thick as I would like, but the taste is just so unique.

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