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Trader Joe’s Thanksgiving Crowd Faves

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Trader Joe’s Thanksgiving Crowd Faves The holidays are officially upon us! If you’re hosting Thanksgiving, it’s time to nail down the perfect spread. If you’re a guest, it’s time to decide what you’re contributing! Here are my favorite things from Trader Joe’s that make holiday cooking a little easier. Keep in mind these are my picks for convenience and yumminess. If you prefer to cook everything from scratch, go for it! But if you need to stress a little less and enjoy time with friends and family a little more, this list is for you. Credit for all images: Trader Joe’s Main dishes Maybe you’re hosting a small group. Maybe you’re hosting a large, diverse group of eaters. These main dishes will impress everyone, with minimal work required. 1. Brined Bone-In Half Turkey Breast The juiciest, most flavorful pre-cooked turkey breast I’ve ever had. These go fast, for a good reason! 2. Breaded Turkey-Less Stuffed Roast Even if you’re not vegan, definitely grab one of these. It’s so flavorful and cozy. 3. Balsamic Rosemary Beef Steak Tips If you’re not a fan of turkey or just want to go for something unconventional, these steak tips are delicious and ready to cook. Apps In my opinion, appetizers are the true star of the show at any gathering. Isn’t grazing while you mingle until it’s time to sit down at the table the best part? 1. Savory Squash Pastry Bites Bite-sized appetizers are always a good choice. These little cuties are filled with a lovely combo of pumpkin, butternut squash, and four different cheeses. All you have to do is bake and enjoy! And share, I guess. 2. Mini Brioche Bites These fluffy bites are filled with apricot and brie cheese. Yes, they will absolutely melt in your mouth. 3. Double Cream Brie Cheese Charcuterie may be “out” according to some Gen-Zers, but it’s still the perfect Thanksgiving app IMO (yes, I am a millennial). Trader Joe’s is my go-to for all grazing board necessities, but this Double Cream Brie is my favorite. If you’re not into the effort of an entire board, wrap this little wheel of goodness in puff pastry and bake it. Serve with your favorite crackers. 4. Chicken Uncured Bacon Ranch Dip Chicken, cheese, uncured bacon, and ranch. My advice? Bring at least two of these babies. Serve with chips and veggies. 5. Thanksgiving Stuffing Seasoned Popcorn This appetizer is a little unconventional, but delicious nonetheless. As a bonus, it’s sure to break the ice and spark conversation. Sides Tired of the same boring Thanksgiving sides? Can’t cook? No worries. 1. Harvest Apple Salad Kit What goes better with turkey and heavy, starchy sides? A crisp, zippy salad. This Harvest Apple Salad Kit is ready to go, with a spring mix, Unexpected Cheddar (IYKYK), crunchy apple chips and pecans, and a tasty apple vinaigrette. If you want to level this up, serve with fresh apple slices. 2. Herbs de Provence Potato Wedges These look and taste like you put in a lot of work. They’re crispy, herby, and delicious. You truly can’t go wrong with this Thanksgiving side. 3. Garlic Shiitake Green Beans Are you team fresh green beans or team green bean casserole? I’m team ALL green beans tbh, but I’m obsessed with these Garlic Shiitake Green Beans. Not only is the flavor amazing, but they look and taste like you made them from scratch. 4. Mashed Potatoes Nobody really talks about the PRESSURE that comes with making mashed potatoes for Thanksgiving. They aren’t as easy to master as you’d think! These potatoes are pre-cooked and mashed, and frozen into cubes so you can heat as much as you need and dress them up as you like. No chance of globby or dry potatoes. 5. Mashed Sweet Potatoes Plain, pre-cooked and mashed sweet potatoes, ready for you to add your own personal flavor. Will you keep them pretty basic with butter, or go all out with brown sugar and mallows? 6. Scallopini Potatoes The third and final potato in this series is the most extra. Cheesy, creamy Scallopini Potatoes. You could definitely make this from scratch if you have the time and motivation, but these are a yummy alternative. 7. Fresh Cranberry Sauce If you’re in charge of cranberry sauce, this is the one. It’s made with simple ingredients (cranberries, sugar, and water) and doesn’t taste overly sweet. Desserts Perhaps the most important course of all? 1. Apple Crumble Pie The oat crumble topping on this is so delicious my mouth is watering just thinking about it. If you pass it off as homemade, I won’t tell. 2. Nantucket Style Cranberry Pie A buttery crust topped with juicy, sweet, tart cranberry filling. The perfect compliment to traditional desserts like pumpkin pie. 3. Petit Fours Mousse Cakes Light, sweet, and bite-sized. 4. Sweet Cannoli Dip Serve this in a cute little bowl topped with mini chocolate chips or berries, and a side of graham crackers. If you want to get fancy, use it to layer in a trifle. 5. Macarons The easiest choice if you’re in a pinch or just looking to add a little variety to your dessert table. Macarons instantly elevate the vibe. The pistachio flavor is my fave. Beverages If the food is covered, a yummy beverage is always a good choice. Trader Joe’s has an amazing selection of beer, wine, and non-alcoholic drinks. And… this new ready-to-drink espresso martini, which I will FOR SURE be grabbing! Before you check out, don’t forget to grab some flowers! Here’s what’s in my Trader Joe’s fall haul. Breanna Woods MS, RD{authorlink}https://www.blogilates.com/blog/trader-joes-thanksgiving/Blogilates The official blog of Cassey Ho https://i0.wp.com/www.blogilates.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/fav-1.png?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1

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The Trader Joe’s Fall Items I’m Most Excited for in 2024

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The Trader Joe’s Fall Items I’m Most Excited for in 2024 Fall has arrived! At least it has according to Trader Joe’s, and that’s good enough for me. Cue sweater, soup, and spooky szn. The day pumpkin takes over the store is like a holiday. It’s exciting to reunite with beloved seasonal items and discover what’s new. It’s also pure madness because popular items sell out quickly, some of them permanently before “official fall” even starts. It’s an experience, okay?! To ensure I didn’t miss out, I dragged my family on a detour to Trader Joe’s on our way home from a weekend getaway and braved the Sunday crowd to see what my store had in stock. Crazy? Maybe. Worth it? Totally. Here are the Trader Joe’s fall items I’m most excited for this year. 1. Butternut Squash Mac n’ Cheese I’m not sure how TJ’s does it, but they made this frozen mac n’ cheese taste like it was freshly made. It’s creamy, it’s cheesy, and the butternut squash flavor is perfectly balanced. If I were to recommend one fall item, this would be it. 2. Gluten-Free Pumpkin Pancake Mix These are a 10/10 and I buy several boxes every year. The texture is almost like a mochi pancake, soft and chewy in the middle and slightly crispy on the outside. Don’t come for me, but I honestly don’t think they even need syrup. 3. Fall Leaf Tortilla Chips Chips shaped like leaves + buffalo chicken dip + football. No further explanation needed. 4. Autumnal Harvest Soup I love a soup with simple ingredients that I can just heat and serve. Plus the flavor combo of butternut squash, pumpkin, tomato and seasonings are A VIBE. If you’re not in the mood for fall yet, one bite of this will do it. 5. Maple & Sea Salt Kettle Corn This holds me over until I can buy freshly made kettle corn at my local fall festival. It’s that good! Buy at least two bags, because it disappears quickly (at your house and in stores). 6. Mashed Sweet Potatoes I stock up on these every year. Any time I need a quick serving of veggies, I heat these up. There’s only one ingredient – sweet potatoes, which means you can enjoy them as-is or dress them up however you like. 7. Maple Oat Beverage I buy this for the sole purpose of making oatmeal. Warm, creamy, maple-flavored oats on a crisp fall morning? I’m all for it. 8. Pumpkin Gnocchi Everything about this is delish – the flavor, the texture, the convenience. Just melt a little butter over these little pillows of heaven (or get fancy and and brown that butter with a little sage. YUM), and dinner is served. 9. Mini Spicy Pumpkin Samosas The best fall appetizer if you’re into the spicy-sweet flavor (I absolutely am). 10. Honeycrisp Apple Granola I love making my own granola, but this one is totally worth a buy. I love the apple flavor with yogurt, but it’s insanely good as a shortcut topping for apple crisp. 11. Pumpkin Cream Cheese Spread I love this spread because it’s not TOO pumpkin-y. My favorite way to enjoy is on a mini bagel, but it’s also very taste on an apple or with some pretzels. You could also get creative and combine this with puff pastry to make a pumpkin cream cheese danish. 12. Pumpkin Cranberry Crisps Crunchy, and the perfect balance of salty-sweet. I love these on a fall-themed charcuterie board or dipped in creamy butternut squash soup. New Fall Items (New-new and new to me) I blacked out and threw everything I didn’t recognize in the cart. 1. Savory Squash Pastry Bites Pillowy puff pastry bites filled with pumpkin and butternut squash filling, with FOUR different cheeses. I saw this appetizer and immediately thought, “Girl Dinner.” 2. Maple Pancake Snaps These are just new to me, and I’m not sure why I missed them before? These remind me of an elevated, maple-flavored graham cracker. Nothing earth-shattering, but a very solid fall treat. 3. Pumpkin Spice Cold Brew Concentrate First, I must confess that I am a hot coffee girly, year-round. That being said, I do enjoy a good cold brew every now and then. I liked that this one didn’t have any added sweeteners, but the flavor just wasn’t there for me. It needed a creamer (TJ’s Cinnamon Bun, perhaps?), but was overall just ok. 4. Sweet Potato Habanero Hot Sauce If you enjoy hot sauce, especially with a vinegar base, give this a try. It’s unique and addicting. 5. Herbs de Provence Potato Wedges WHY am I just now trying these? Definitely adding to my arsenal of quick freezer side dishes. 6. Witches Brew Spiced Wine Festive wine! This reminds me of a mulled wine – sweet, with a warm flavor profile. 7. Vanilla Pumpkin Hand Soap With this soap, it is officially fall in my house. 8. Mini Succulent Skull I saw these guys and had to have one. They’re just fun and honestly, the plant section gets me every time. What did I miss? What Trader Joe’s fall items do I need to grab on my next trip?! Tell me in the comments and I’ll add it to my list. If you’re shopping for non-fall items, check out our list of Trader Joe’s All-Time Faves and my favorite High Protein TJ’s Picks. Here’s what’s in my Trader Joe’s fall haul. Breanna Woods MS, RD{authorlink}https://www.blogilates.com/blog/trader-joes-fall-2024/Blogilates The official blog of Cassey Ho https://www.blogilates.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/fav-1.png

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Meal Prep Just Got A Lot Easier, Thanks to These Tools

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Meal Prep Just Got A Lot Easier, Thanks to These Tools It’s almost a new year, which means you might be thinking about ways you can up your meal prep game. That doesn’t mean you need to hop into 2024 ready to spend hours every Sunday prepping meals for 5 days a week. It’s also not only for people on weight loss or bodybuilding journeys, or for people who live by their macros or a strict meal plan. In fact, I didn’t truly discover the “magic” of meal prep until I became a mom. It’s the time saved for me. Sometimes yes, I do prep a week’s worth of lunch. Most of the time though, my meal prep is stocking my freezer with bite-sized pancakes for my kids, or prepping bowls of cut fruit that they can easily grab. Even if you’re not a parent, meal prep and meal planning can save you a lot of time and energy. If you’ve tried it before and felt overwhelmed, take smaller steps. It really is the little things, even when it comes to planning meals. My favorite meal prep tools Having the right tools helps too. Here are some of my favorite kitchen tools to make life easier in the kitchen. Of course, these aren’t “must-haves” and you don’t need every single one. I’ve collected these over time (read: YEARS) as I build my meal prep game. Hopefully this list gives you an idea of where to start! 1. Glass containers Image: W&P W&P Porter Storage Bowls Let’s start with the basics – Food storage. Having an assortment of different-sized containers will save a lot of frustration later. I recommend going with glass if possible, for safe reheating straight from the fridge. Glass also seems to last a lot longer than plastic storage containers. If you can, it’s worth spending a little more for quality containers instead of replacing them every year or two. Here are some of my favs: Pyrex – Trusty, budget-friendly, oven-safe Glass containers with clip-on lids, to prevent spills W&P Porter Bowls – Pricey, but aesthetic and I love the shape and size Jars for sauces, dressings, storing nuts and seeds 2. The viral chopper THE VIRAL CHOPPER I’ve been burned many times by products that go viral on TikTok, but not this one. This chopper tool really is life-changing. I use it to make entire chopped salads (that I then eat straight out of the container). I also use it to dice apples for oatmeal and potatoes for potato soup. 3. A salad spinner SALAD SPINNER I’ve owned this Tiktok-viral tool for close to a year, and can confidently say it’s worth the hype. I can also confidently say that if I don’t have lettuce washed and prepped for myself, I am NOT making a salad. With this little tool, I can wash and dry my lettuce as soon as I bring it home from the store so it’s ready to go. 4. A planner SHOP MEAL PREP PAD AND FIT PLANNER Sometimes planning is what scares people away from meal prep. It feels overwhelming but can start as small as writing down what you plan to eat for dinner each week. I’m a list person and a Millennial, which means I like to physically write things down. This Meal Prep Pad helps me write down the meals I’m planning for the week, and I love that I can build my grocery list right on the same page. You can find this tool in the 2024 Fit Planner too. And a workout planner, a goal planner, recipes, and more. If you prefer to keep your life in one book, get this option. 5. Measuring tools MEASURING CUP SET Nothing is more frustrating than digging through a drawer searching for a specific measuring cup or spoon, or realizing the one you need is missing in the sink. These little hurdles seriously add up, taking your time and adding stress. It’s time to build a complete set of measuring tools, starting with the basics: A measuring cup and spoon set, and liquid measuring cups. Yes, they’re different! Do you need a kitchen scale? It feels intense, but they’re not only for people who meticulously weigh their portions to hit their macros. A scale might be really helpful when you’re dividing up equal portions of protein, or when you’re baking and ingredients need to be precise. 6. This 3-in-1 blender Image: Target Ninja Kitchen System I have owned an older version of this Ninja system for nearly a decade, and I still use it consistently. I use the cup for the obvious thing, smoothies, but also to make salad dressings and small servings of other sauces. I’ve even used it to make nut butter. I use the food processor to quickly chop broccoli into fine pieces, pulse together a crust or crumble for desserts, and (my favorite) make energy bites. I use the larger blender attachment to prep large servings of smoothie that I then freeze into cubes to speed up the process later (my kids love smoothies so I make them often). I also use it to blend chunky pasta sauces for my slightly picky husband, or secretly blend veggies INTO the pasta sauce. You can use the blender for soups too. The blades on this thing make everything super smooth. So smooth that no one will detect spinach in a smoothie or carrots in their pasta sauce. 7. Immersion blenders come in handy too Image: Amazon CUISINART IMMERSION BLENDER This is one of those tools you don’t realize you need until you have it. You could puree soups in a big blender, or you could use this immersion blender right in the pot. No mess, no risk of spilling hot soup on yourself. I love that this blender comes with a mini food processor and whisk attachment, too. 8. A vacuum sealer Image: Amazon FOODSAVER VACUUM

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