The Crispy Crunchy Mochi Rice Nuggets

Mochi, the gelatinous rice substance that maybe you’ve enjoyed as balls covering ice cream. Well these mochi rice nuggets are nothing like that. These are square, crunchy, and savory, oh so savory. These were recommended to me several weeks ago and I was initially incensed that these would be labeled as mochi. I’ve enjoyed the more common mochi experience since I was young so I just didn’t get these. However, by the end of my first bag, I was hooked. These are like potato chip cubes! Too many bags later, I’m glad to say that there’s plenty of room in my life and in my belly for both versions of mochi – maybe even at the same time. Plus, the bag art featuring a mochi rock band is awesome.

 

Rating: 4 out of 5 Hawaiian Shirts – These are liked cubed potato chips! What’s not to like?! I’ve actually put myself on hiatus from these because I was eating them all the time. My only complaint is that the bag disappears too fast.

Parsnip Chips

 Just what is a parsnip and does it make a good chip? Glad you asked. The parsnip is a root vegetable closely related to the carrot and parsley. MMmmmm… doesn’t sound exactly like chip material. Fortunately, Trader Joe’s knows a thing or 30 about chips and the parsnip, under the right conditions does create a very good chip. These chips are super crunchy to the point of being brittle. So be prepared to eat these sans dip. On their own, they are an excellent treat. The flavor is earthy, salty, and has a tinge of sweetness that distinguishes them from potato chips. They’re pretty filling too which doesn’t come as much of a surprise as about 90% of the calories of these chips come from the fat of oils in which they’re fried.

Rating: 3 out of 5 Hawaiian Shirts – Unless you’re really in need of an alternative to all of the amazing potato and corn chips out there, you’re not missing much by passing on these.

Olive You, Trader Joe’s Olive Tapenade Spread

TODAY’S POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY FRIEND OF THE BLOG AND TRADER JOE’S FAN, RANDY ROVEGNO. HE IS AN AUTHORITY ON SNACKING SO HE WON’T STEER YOU WRONG IF A SATISFYING AND DELICIOUS SPREAD IS WHAT YOU CRAVE.

I am an olive guy. I love olives on pizza, in omelettes, and on sandwiches. So it is surprise that I love Trader Joe’s Olive Tapenade Spread. I dip my Trader Joe’s Ridge Cut Potato Chips during every game or movie I watch. It’s to the point where my wife knows that a few bags of chips and several jars of the olive spread must always be on hand. The tapenade features three types of olives as the primary ingredient and the Kalamata, black, and green Greek olives gives it a unique combination of flavor that leans slightly heavier on the Kalamatas. The olive oil has a strong presence as well and the combination of solid olive relish and chunks with the liquid forms a great partnership. There are several other spreads the retailer offers including the Green Olive Tapenade but I would rank this version at the top.

The chunky texture and chopped up olives gives it a solid texture versus the “creamier” artichoke or bacon cheddar dips that Trader Joe’s offers. (And for the record, I will say that all of those are delicious as well). The spread comes in approximately 7oz jars and you can spread on pitas, use alongside bread and/or oil bowls, or scoop directly from the jar.

The only drawback is ironically how good it tastes. I say that because a single serving size, according to the label, is one tablespoon and once you start enjoying the dip, you will exceed the portion within your first three bites. So at 40 calories per tablespoon, it’s not a low-cal treat. But if you have your feet up watching a game with chips and the Trader Joe’s Olive Tapenade Spread, that’s probably not your main concern anyway.

Pumpkin Tortilla Chips

Nothing says Fall like pumpkins and I’m not sure if there’s an item that Trader Joe’s won’t flavor with pumpkin. A textbook example of this is TJ’s recent release of Pumpkin Tortilla Chips. These chips deliver exactly what they advertise and more. The list of ingredients (and there are not many ingredients) includes cinnamon and nutmeg. The flavors of pumpkin, cinnamon, and nutmeg really shine through to provide a unique and delicious snack. These chips are a little on the thin, delicate end of chips so I recommend pairing them with TJ’s Salsa Autentica or a soft cream cheese dip.

Please comment with your favorite dip suggestion for these chips.

Rating: 3 out of 5 Hawaiian Shirts – Definitely worth a try. These chips are guaranteed to be a hit snack at parties this fall.

Ghost Pepper Potato Chips

Ghost Pepper?! Isn’t that one of the hottest peppers known to man? Yes, yes it is. I’ve actually experienced the raw heat of a ghost pepper before thanks to my brother-in-law who just happened to have some on hand at a family event last year. He dared me to try it. I did and after many tears and gulps of milk, I kept the pepper down. Naturally, I had to try these new Ghost Pepper Potato Chips to see if TJ’s was intentionally inflict pain on the taste-buds of its customers.

The first thing that I noticed on when looking at the list of ingredients was the inclusion of sugar. This hinted at the true nature of these chips. They’re actually not as hot as you might imagine. Sure, the heat will build slowly as you eat them but it’s never overwhelming. The chips have a slight sweetness, from the sugar and the potatoes themselves, to go with the heat. Combine the peppery heat, sweetness, and excellent crunch of the kettle cooked chips and you have a very unique potato chip that can stand on its own or pair well with a sour cream dip.

Rating: 4 out of 5 Hawaiian Shirts – I can’t say I’ve eaten anything like these chips anywhere else. Give it a try, if for no other reason than to brag to your friends that you’ve tried a ghost pepper.