5 Unique Items for your next Trader Joe's Shopping Trip

I love that Trader Joe's is mainstream enough that I can get almost everything I need there for a week of eating. I do have to supplement a couple of other places for things like Heinz ketchup, fresh fish and poppy seeds, to name a few.

But how about trying a few unique items at TJ?  Here are 5 suggestions for you.

-ready-to-eat beets (perfect in a salad, and so quick)
-Irish butter (from grass-fed cows!)
-fresh squeezed OJ (tastes DEE-LISH)
-uncured bacon (tastier than nitrate-filled bacon!)
-Spring Onion Rice Noodle Soup (great lunch)

Chicken and Rice Soup in the Slow Cooker

I love soup in the winter. I want to eat it every day. But, I really only like it from restaurants. I have tried organic box soups, cans, etc. And I have tried to make soup many, many times. This recipe was the first one that I will make again! It is a little healthier than most creamy soups, and definitely healthier than restaurant varieties, and it is easy to make. I found it on a blog called Little Spice Jar. Thanks LSJ! (Recipe is at the bottom of this blog.)

Creamy Chicken Wild Rice Soup {Slow Cooker}

Author: Little Spice Jar

Serves: 8-10 servings

A warm and cozy chicken wild rice soup made right in the slow cooker. This soup is loaded with carrots, celery, boneless chicken and of course, wild rice! It's the perfect slow cooker meal for a chilly winter night! The best part is, you've probably got most of these ingredients at home already!

Ingredients

• 1 cup uncooked wild rice blend (NOT parboiled)
• 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast
• 1 cup onions, chopped
• ¾ cup celery, chopped (or mushrooms)
• ¾ cup carrots, chopped
• 4-5 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 bay leaves
• 6 cups low sodium chicken broth
• 2 cups water (or additional chicken broth)
• 2 tablespoons salt-free seasoning blend (such as Trader Joe's 21 Seasoning Salute) and salt and pepper to taste
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons olive oil (or substitute more butter)
• ½ cup all purpose flour
• 2 cups milk (1 cup half and half, 1 cup 1% milk)
• salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Rinse the rice under running water. Place the uncooked rice, chicken breast, onions, celery, carrots, garlic, bay leaves, chicken broth, water, poultry seasoning and salt and pepper in a slow cooker. Cover and cook on the high setting for 3-4 hours or on the low setting for 7-8. In the last ½ hour of cooking, remove the chicken from the slow cooker. Allow to cool slightly before shredding using two forks.
2. Melt the butter and oil in a saucepan. Add the flour and let the mixture cook for 1 minute. Whisk the mixture slowly while adding in the milk. Continue to whisk until all lumps have dissolved. Allow the mixture to thicken and become creamy (about 10 minutes)
3. Add this creamy mixture to the slow cooker along with the shredded chicken. Stir to combine. Add additional water or milk to your preference if the consistency is too thick. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Organic Lowfat Yogurt Smoothie

These are a big hit with both my kids. They are tasty, not too high in sugar, and they have a good serving of calcium. I put them in their lunch in place of the usual yogurt cup or tube. At $4 something for 4, they are pricey, but definitely less than the organic yogurt pouches that my kids love oh so much.

Pumpernickel Pretzel Sticks - YUCK! UNIVERSAL YUCK!

Every time I go to TJ, my 4-year old desperately wants to come with me. Today, it was frigid out, and my husband was home. I told my son he could stay home and watch a movie! But he chose to come with me. He loves the mini cart, and the manageable size of the Teej. I also always let him pick out one thing. Today, he insisted on Pumpernickel Pretzel Sticks. I told him that I really didn't think he would like them. They are the same look as the Honey Wheat pretzels, which he loves, so I tried to convince him to pick the tried and true, but (see above), he is strong-willed.

As soon as we got home, he wanted to try them. I took a bite first, and almost spit it out. I like Pumpernickel bread, but MAN ALIVE, I DID NOT LIKE THESE PRETZELS. And no surprise, either did the tot.  SKIP IT!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dunkers

I was hoping these would be like one of the other two chocolate chip cookies that I adore from TJ. But they are not. And they are not good. Not terrible either. But not worth the calories. They have a funny after taste that I have experienced with cookies before, but I have no idea how to describe it. Just trust me, skip these.

One-Pan Balsamic Chicken - TJ Complete Dinner

Full disclosure. I got this recipe from Tip Hero. I can't NOT watch those videos when they pop up on my FB feed. I thought this one would be a good one to try using all TJ items.

I can't tell you how DELICIOUS this was and sooooo easy!  Recipe appears below.

RECIPE:


One-Pan Balsamic Chicken
Ingredients:
1/4 cup Italian salad dressing
3 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
2 Tbsp honey
1 1/4 lbs chicken breast tenderloins
2 Tbsp olive oil
½ tsp Kosher salt and pinch freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1 lb fresh green beans, trimmed of tough ends, chopped into 2-inch pieces
8 oz sliced mushrooms
1 cup grape tomatoes, halved

Instructions:
1. Mix together dressing, balsamic vinegar and honey in a measuring cup.
2. Heat 1 Tbsp of the oil and sauté the mushrooms for 4 minutes until they have started to brown, then add the green beans and cook for another 4 minutes or until the green beans are crisp-tender.
3. Remove the vegetables from the pan, add the remaining oil and the chicken tenders. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and sauté until brown on each side. 4. Remove from the pan. Add in the sauce and stir for a couple minutes until thickened into a glaze consistency. Add the chicken, green beans, and mushrooms back into the pan and add the tomatoes. Stir to coat everything evenly with the sauce.
***I actually marinated the chicken overnight, per one comment-er's suggestion. Chicken can be so bland if it isn't marinated. And I used more olive oil than it called for.

Caramel Cashew Cookies

Sweet Tooth fulfilled. These cookies are delicious. And they don't even have any chocolate! Amazing. I actually bought these for my husband, who loves cashews and is more of a caramel/butterscotch/vanilla guy, rather than chocolate. Well, we just taste tested them together and we both love them. Annoying that he can stop after eating two!

Book Club Part II

When I host book club, or anything else for that matter, I aim to make one appy and one dessert myself, and then supplement with TJ awesomeness.  Aim...

It's my turn to host book club.  Here's what's on the menu. And the shopping list and Black Bean Salsa recipe appear below.

SHOPPING LIST:
green onions
cilantro
can corn
can black beans
crumbled feta
apple cider vinegar
olive oil
sugar
2-3 of cheeses (gouda, brie, cheddar, etc)
crackers
corn chips
frozen pizzettes
honey sesame cashews
pink lemonade
wine

BLACK BEAN SALSA:

Black Bean Salsa

MIX in a small bowl:
   1/3 cup sugar
   1/3 cup cider vinegar
   1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil

IN SEPARATE BOWL, MIX:
   1 can black beans (rinsed & drained)
   1 can corn (rinsed & drained)
   1 bunch green onions (chopped)
   Cilantro (to taste)

Combine ingredients and mix well.  Add 4 oz. crumbled feta and ground pepper to taste.