Honey Mustard & Onion Seasoned Pretzel Pieces

My family has been doing our share of snacking during this stay-at-home time. Lucky for us, Trader Joe’s recently released these seasoned pretzel and they’re deliciously addictive. The pretzels are crunching, hold tons of seasoning and, for the most part, are about the size of a quarter. Unfortunately, there are so many pieces smaller than dime that I’m left wishing for more larger pieces. The seasoning itself is tangy and a bit salty so it checks a lot of the boxes that make my taste buds happy. The bag is a good size too at 12 oz for $2.99.

Rating: 4 out of 5 Hawaiian Shirts – After trying these for the first time, I couldn’t wait to get back to TJ’s to pick up two more bags. The taste is exactly what I’d expect, tangy, sweet, and a little salty on a crunchy pretzel. They miss out on the fifth star due to the abundance of tiny pieces which I find messy and less enjoyable to eat than the larger chunks.

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.

Crispy Ginger Chunk Cookies

On a recent visit to Trader Joe’s, I had a craving a sweet treat. Two things caught my attention. First, were the “Hold The Cone” mini ice cream cones with chocolate ice cream. The other is now one of my new favorite desserts, Crispy Ginger Chunk Cookies. As promised by the packaging these crispy, buttery cookies really do melt in your mouth. The ginger chunks are sweetened which makes the flavor very smooth. The chunks also add a bit of chewy texture to the cookie which I find irresistible.

Rating: 4 out of 5 Hawaiian Shirts – Sooooo good! You know you want it. So get it! Ginger not your thing? Don’t worry, they have similar cookies with two other flavors; chocolate chips or oatmeal raisin.

 

Pumpkin Ice Cream

Not another pumpkin product! Well, in a word, Pilgrim Joe’s Pumpkin Ice Cream is fantastic. It’s basically the love child of soft, creamy ice cream and a home-cooked pumpkin pie. Not too much spice. It melts quickly but you’ll want to savor every bite.

Rating: 5 out of 5 Hawaiian Shirts – Great on its own. Chocolate syrup or Kalhua takes it to another level.

Habanero Ghost Pepper Salsa

There’s a reason this salsa features a cactus breathing fire… it’s HOT! Not brutally hot from the first bite but maybe that makes this salsa extra devious. By the third bite, you’ll be searching the fridge desperately for milk to cool the inferno on your tastebuds. I tried this salsa because I like spicy things and I love salsa (click to read my Fall Harvest Salsa review). On a family holiday just a couple of years ago, my brother-in-law happened to have some ghost peppers. Dares were made and several family members, including myself, ate a pepper each. I’m proud to say I was the only one to keep it down but it burned my mouth like hell. This salsa is almost like doing that to myself over and over again.

1 out of 5 Hawaiian Shirts – This salsa is only for the spiciest-loving masochists out there. Personally, I found the heat to be so intense after a few bites that it wasn’t fun to go back for more.

Sweet, Hot & Savory Honey Roasted Cocoa & Chili Peanuts & Almonds with Roasted Salted Pecans

The name of this nut mix is a mouthful but maybe that’s the point. This is one satisfying snack with many flavors competing to win over your tastebuds. Ultimately, it works though. I’m a huge fan of foods that are sweet and spicy (just see my glowing review of Trader Joe’s Chile Spiced Mangoes) so I was curious to see if these lived up to their billing. They do, but not in the way I expected. The flavors are subtle. The chili isn’t all that hot but just provides just a little bit of bite. The cocoa adds a light sweetness. And the salted pecans add the savory part of a balanced equation. The nice thing about this blend of nuts is the different textures to enjoy. The peanuts and pecans add some smooth, softness to balance the crunch of the almonds. It’s a unique recipe for a quick snack that fills you up.

Rating: 2 out of 5 Hawaiian shirts. The flavors and textures are balanced nicely in this tasty mix but I haven’t found myself eager to finish the bag.

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.