Trader Giotto’s Spelt Risotto

Sometimes I want something wholesome and filling but I don’t have time to chop vegetables and cook up a meal for my family. Fortunately, Trader Joe’s has some excellent frozen foods and Trader Giotto’s Spelt Risotto is among the best. Sure, the name may not inspire much excitement but the ingredients, flavor, and texture stand out.

First, the ingredients are simple, wholesome, and perhaps most significantly don’t include sugar in an form. It’s the absence of sugar that initially attracted me to this product. I’m also happy to serve it to my young daughter. It makes a particularly easy and good item to include with her lunch.

It’s nice and all that it’s sugar-free but how does it taste? Very good actually! The spelt, veggies, and creamy combine for a balanced and delicious flavor that’s predominantly savory. The texture is also a marriage of creamy and firm that’s to the spelt and chickpeas. You can’t go wrong!

Rating: 5 out of 5 Hawaiian shirts. It’s good for you, taste great, and very easily prepared; the trifecta of qualities I want from my food. Keep it in your freezer for those times you’re running short on time and you’ll be happy you did.

Sriracha Hummus

Sriracha hot sauce has huge following and its popularity seems to have risen exponentially in the last few years. Now TJ’s is on the bandwagon with Sriracha-infused foods (see my review of their Sriracha Potato Chips here) and I’m happy to embrace it. When I saw Trader Joe’s Sriracha Hummus on the shelf in my local TJ’s, I just had to try it.

This hummus definitely lives up to its name. There’s more heat from the red chilies and less sweetness than I tasted in the Sriracha Potato Chips; and for me, that’s a good thing. The texture is creamy and smooth, typical of the all of the hummus flavors offered by TJ’s. There are certainly a huge variety of hummus available and TJ’s but this will now be my go-to if I am feeling like I need a spicy snack or if I want to bring something new and interesting to a friend’s BBQ.

RECIPE IDEA:
For a quick and wholesome dinner, I paired the Sriracha Hummus with two other TJ’s products – Middle Eastern Flatbread and Tabouli. The Middle Eastern Flatbread is easily one of my top 3 breads at TJ’s. It has no added sugar, taste great toasted, and had a soft and chewy texture that’s simply delicious. Check it out for yourself.

Rating: 4 out of 5 Hawaiian shirts. This spicy Sriracha Hummus is delicious! Plus, this hummus is super versatile; it can be paired with crackers, chips, breads, or even turned into a spicy salad dressing by adding some white vinegar and olive oil. I encourage you to check it out and let me know what recipe ideas you come up with.

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.

Sriracha Potato Chips

You had me at Sriracha. For the uninitiated, Sriracha is a delicious hot sauce that balances in the flavorful space between spicy and sweet. I usually use it to top fried rice or eggs. Trader Joe’s has gone ahead and applied it to lattice-cut, kettle-cooked potato chips and the result is excellent. Each bite bursts with salty, sweet, vinegar, and red chili pepper combination that is unique and hard to put down. Don’t be intimidated by the heat though. It’s just enough to heat your taste buds but can be easily extinguished with a sip of water.

Rating: 4 out of 5 Hawaiian Shirts – I can’t really imagine a better version of Sriracha Potato Chips. They’re not greasy, are super crunchy, and the flavor is exactly as advertised.

Aged Sumatra Coffee

 Every Trader Joe’s has a “new products” section and on my last trip to this area, I was excited to discover this “Aged Sumatra Coffee.” I couldn’t recall ever having tried aged coffee before so this seemed like as good a time as any.

My first impression upon grinding the beans was that they weren’t super fragrant. Sure, they smelled delicious but it wasn’t as pungent as most other grinds. The flavor is another thing though. It’s flavorful: smooth, rich, and, smokey. No sweetness or acid here. Over this weekend, I made a large pot and poured some into a jar to refrigerate. As a cold coffee, was excellent to sip on a hot day.

Rating: 4 out of 5 Hawaiian Shirts – I prefer coffee that is sweeter and more complex. However, this coffee is very good and if you want to drink a rich cup that declares proudly “I AM COFFEE” to your taste buds, give this one a try.

Pumpkin Ale Showdown featuring KBC, Mendocino Brewing, and New Belgium

There’s a meme circulating that the only way to enjoy pumpkin ale is to throw it in the trash. Hilarious! Of all the beers varieties, pumpkin ales are the most likely to get a thumbs-down from me too. I often wonder why anyone even thought it was a good idea beyond a holiday marketing exercise to pair pumpkin and beer. With this in mind, I took one for the collective team of beer drinkers and tried these three pumpkin ales. If the following reviews save a single taste bud this holiday season, then this research was worth it. (Spoiler alert: these beers were actually pretty good, each in their own way.)

Kennebunkport Brewing Company’s Pumpkin Ale – Strong pumpkin flavor – think pumpkin pie but less sweet and more carbonated. I can certainly image drinking this with a turkey and mashed potatoes dinner. Rating: 3 out of 5 Hawaiian Shirts – get it if you’re looking for the purest pumpkin-in-an-ale flavor.

Mendocino Brewing’s Engine 45 Pumpkin Ale – This is probably my favorite of these beers. The flavor was more brown ale than pumpkin ale. However, as I enjoyed more of this bottle, I noticed some sweeter pumpkin aftertaste that I really enjoyed. Rating: 4 out of 5 Hawaiian Shirts – Maybe not for the pumpkin ale purists but if you want to add a bit of pumpkin to your liquid diet, this is the one.

New Belgium’s Pumpkick – Perhaps the most “exotic” of the pumpkin ales listed here. It’s flavored with cranberry juice and lemongrass to create a flavor that is tart, a little sweet, and certainly unique. For me, this is a dessert beer. I can’t image drinking more than one in a sitting. However, my wife, who is an infrequent beer-drinker, loved this pumpkin beer most of those reviewed here. Rating: 3 out of 5 Hawaiian Shirts – worth a try but just prepare yourself for some serious cranberry flavor.

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.

Golden Road Brewery’s Saison Pamplemousse

A beer that incorporates grapefruit? You had me at “beer.” This particular brew comes to us from Golden Road of Los Angeles. I’ve tried several Golden Road varieties over the years and this is by far my favorite yet. Saisons are not usually my preferred beer because the fruit flavor can be overwhelming to me. But I like to try new things and the combination of an ale with grapefruit (“pamplemousse” is French for grapefruit) was far too compelling to pass up. Golden Road nailed it with this effervescent and refreshing Saison Pamplemousse. It’s the perfect beer to relax with on a Sunday afternoon. The grapefruit flavor is slightly tart but not overpowering. My only regret was buying only a single can to try and not a full six-pack from TJ’s.

Rating: 5 out of 5 Hawaiian Shirts – Delicious and refreshing. If you enjoy saison or hefeweizen beers or even La Croixs, you’ll likely love this beer.