Trader Joe's Food Haul: My Favs

Trader Joe's has a way of making my life easier and tastier :)

I'm so excited that a new Trader Joe's opened up just walking distance from my apartment. I dropped in a few days ago and wanted to share some of the items I purchased along with ideas on how to use them.

Cauliflower Rice: I was making cauliflower rice before it was cool, and now it's EVERYWHERE! Now, Trader Joe's does most of the work by ricing the cauliflower for you. Use it for cauliflower rice, cauliflower pizza, cauliflower pancakes, cauliflower bread, and cauliflower oatmeal! Not only is it easier than doing it yourself, it's also cheaper than buying a head of cauliflower.

Trader Joe's Sprouted Wheat Bread: Basically a cheaper version of Ezekiel bread. It's hearty and delicious, and perfect for avocado toast! 

Trader Joe's Meatless Meatballs: I'm not vegetarian, but I do like vegetarian food. These are by far the best vegetarian meatballs I've ever had. My favorite way to eat them is with spaghetti squash and tomato sauce.

Trader Joe's Cilantro and Jalapeno Hummus: I usually just go regular, but wanted to try this flavor to spice things up. Use it on sandwiches, as a topping for chicken, as a dip for veggies, or even as a "dressing" for salad!

Trader Joe's Sweet Basil Pesto Smoked Chicken and Turkey Sausage: Healthier substitute for regular sausage! I love using this in stir-fries, pasta dishes, and even sandwiches (with tomato sauce and melted mozzarella- YUM). This is great to have on hand for quick meals.

Bagged Arugula and Spinach: I use spinach almost daily in my eggs, and was really feeling arugula for my salads this week!

Pastrami Smoked Atlantic Salmon: Smoked salmon can get pricey, but TJ's keeps it affordable. I used this in a giant salad with lots of veggies and goat cheese the day I bought it, then used the leftovers on TJ's Sprouted Wheat Bread toast with low-fat cream cheese!

I also loaded up on some essentials such as veggies, fruit, and eggs! What's some of your favorite products from Trader Joe's?

Cream Cheese Stuffed Pumpkin French Toast

Pumpkin season never ends in my apartment. Had a Whole Foods and Trader Joe's adventure last night and found pumpkin flavored Rudi's bread and Trader Joe's Pumpkin Cream Cheese. Amazing apart, and even more amazing together.

I haven't had too many gluten-free breads (I'm not gluten-free) but I've heard they usually don't taste that great. I happen to think the texture and flavor of Rudi's is really good.

If you find another pumpkin flavored bread, it's totally fine to use!

Cream Cheese Stuffed Pumpkin French Toast 

Serves: 2

Ingredients:

4 slices Rudi's Pumpkin bread
2 eggs
1/3 cup unsweetened cashew milk (or any milk)
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
5 drops liquid stevia (optional)
Trader Joe's Pumpkin Cream Cheese

Directions:

1. Heat a non-stick pan over medium high heat.
2. Spread 1 tablespoon cream cheese over each slice of bread and make two sandwiches.
3. Whisk together the eggs, milk, vanilla, stevia, and cinnamon.
4. Spray your pan with cooking spray. Dip each sandwich in the mixture (about 20 seconds each side). Add to the pan and cook about -2 minutes. Flip, then cook about 1-2 minutes on the other side. Serve!

Cheesy Quinoa Bake

I was craving something cheesy, and got creative with some leftover quinoa. You NEED to make this!! It's only a few ingredients, and super easy to make. Plus, quinoa has an amazing nutrition profile. It is one of the only whole grains that can serve as a complete protein source (it is technically a seed, but it's lumped into the grain category because it cooks like one). This means it contains all 9 of the essential amino acids that must be obtained from food (since the body cannot make them itself). Quinoa is also a great source of fiber and antioxidants, and is particularly high in magnesium, with 1 cup having about 30% of the RDA.

Fun Fact: Quinoa is pronounced keen-wa, not kwin-o-a

I haven't eaten this hot, but sliced it and ate it cold- it tastes like pizza!

Cheesy Quinoa Bake

Ingredients:

3 cups cooked quinoa
1 garlic glove, thinly sliced
1/2 teaspoon olive oil
1 1/2 cups frozen spinach
3/4 cup Trader Joe's Lite Mozzarella Cheese (it's the only Lite brand I recommend- it melts and tastes the best!)
4 ounces fat free cream cheese
Salt
Pepper
Onion powder
Oregano

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 F. 

2. Heat a large non-stick pan over medium heat. Coat with cooking spray and the 1/2 teaspoon olive oil. Add the garlic and saute until soft.

3. Meanwhile, put the spinach on a plate and cook in the microwave (about 4 minutes). Add to the pan and saute for a minute or two. Add the quinoa, cream cheese, and spices. Cook until the cream cheese starts to melt (I mash mine a little with a spatula). Stir in half of the mozzarella cheese.

4. Spray a 13 x 9 inch casserole dish with cooking spray. Add the quinoa mixture and spread evenly in the dish. Top with remaining mozzarella cheese. Bake 30 minutes or until cheese starts to get bubbly and golden!

Serves 4

Nutrition Information: 280 Calories,  8 grams Fat, 33 grams Carbs, 19 grams Protein