LindsayAnn

I too like goldfish, although my favorite are the Parmesan variety (just look for the green and white bag!). Nothing shameful about that though, at least to my perspective. Have you tried the White Cheddar Cheese-its? DIVINE! A little bit more shameful, but I could give a hoot anyhow: I like velveta cheese at times, meted on tortilla chips or even pasta. YUM There is a time and a place when the green shaker plastic can of fake Parmesan cheese is really good with pasta. Sometimes I want the real stuff, freshly granted, albeit at times I have a hankering for the good old green bottle. Again, YUM. I like American cheese (however I also love aged artisan sharp cheddar, all stinky cheeses and all goats, cows, sheep's, and buffalo milk cheeses I have tried...and that is a whole lotta cheeses trust me. I suppose I just don't discriminate . I like cheese puffs....and the cheese balls rule all!

A few weeks ago I tried their chicken meatballs with sun dried tomatoes. Really good ! Glad you liked (since i suggested! Also - glad I am not alone in my fondness of them

I vary. Sometimes i like the mixed snack bowls, often times not though. It's interesting, I tend to eat things is order when there are mixed snack bowl. I will surely grab a handful of everything, but I will eat the X first, the the Y, then the Z....saving my favorite for last. I go in that order, least favorite to most favorite item in the bowl. I LOVE having a variety of food though....just not as much the mixed snackies. For instance, I love having a plate of various cheeses and crackers. But I usually eat in order, similar to preference as stated above. Come to think of it, I actually like mixe3d snack bowls but I would rather "cluster" the items in groups (i.e. goldfish in a lil' pile, pretzels in a lil' pile, etc...and eat in order.). Chex mix is similar, eat the pretzels, then some of the cracker sticks, then some of the dark brown rye/buffalo chips (cause those are the best part). I like the chex mix in regular (traditional) flavor most, then cheddar next. I have a bag of the original unopened in the cabinet now! HAHA. I also like those lentil twists from Trader Joes. I am a HUGE fan of Trader Joes in general. Love their frozen foods (convenience foods, eat or bake and eat items), dried fruits and nuts, chips/other snacky items, sweets/cookies in the boxes and often packaged in the plastic clear tubs like the animal crackers, biscotis(sp?), chocolate covered items, etc....YUM! So pass me the mixed snack bowl, and I will eat it all (usually, I am not too picky) just in groups P.S. A good item for the mixed snack bowl - Trader Joes Peanut Butter filled pretzel nuggets. BEST PB PRETZ NUGGETS on the market by FAR!~

A new product I picked up yesterday....forget the name of them (threw out the packaging already to save space in freezer, packed em' in a ziplock baggie instead )....but they're these Japanese Rice Snack...found in the freezer case. Little triangles on white sticky rice surrounded by some sorta breading type thing....flavored with soy, bonito, and some other things right along the lines of those flavor profiles. They're really really YUM! You just throw them in the oven at 350 for 10 mins or so, or you can even microwave (I did mine in oven to make them better). 8 come in a package, 80 calories each and fat free! Those are just added perks. They are really good. I have never had them before but I guess they are popular...again, they're Japanese. TRY THEM! Anyone know what these are called?

Ginos East Frozen Deep Dish Pizza in oven right now, Jewel (local grocery store) layered taco dip that is known by just about everyone in the Chicagoland area, and it's a really good layer dip, assorted cheese and crackers, cheese fondue, white cheddar popcorn (smartfood brand, my favorite no matter how many "gourmet" brands I try....nothing beats Smartfood brand, Munchos potato chips All Junk food that will be delish nonetheless!!!

OH MY GOODNESS... I think I have found a NEW favorite cheese. And by new, I mean all-time favorite, as in #1. Not just "one" of my favorites. And, it's not every day that I find a cheese to top off my list of BEST cheese. I love cheese, mild and strong/stinky cheese (although I think more often than not I prefer stinky and/or strong/sharp USUALLY). I love hard cheeses, crumbly/firm/crystallized....and I also love soft cheeses, especially OOZY flowing cheeses. One of my favorite cheeses for sometime has been Winnemere. I also like Epoisses a lot. Love Taleggio, etc... Strong/Sharp cheddar's, as in super aged Love them all. Also, I have become a big fan of Goats cheeses, both fresh chevres and aged raw milk goats. I really tend to try not to discriminate when it comes to cheese So, what is this NEW cheese (new for me that is) you ask? Found today, at our local Binny's wine depot, in the gourmet cheese section in the rear of the store I tasted - and immediately purchased - Brescianella. Its a Pasteurized (too bad it's not raw, ) cows milk cheese from Italy. It was located in the glass cheese window next to the Taleggio, and on the description card stated, among other descriptors, "Similar to Taleggio". So I tasted it, since I like Talleggio a lot. Well, I didn't find it similar to Taleggio actually. I liked it WAY better. I could tell just looking at the half wheel of cheese in the case that is was at a MUCH softer, oozier state than the Taleggio that sat next to it. And I was right. This is super super oozy, as in ripe Winnemear Oozy...which is when Winnemere is at its BEST, in my humble opinion. Similar to Winnemere in a sense that they both carry, relatively, the same 'strength' or, 'pungency' factor. As in they are both outta this world delicious strong. So so good. Anyone else try this? And - what are yours thoughts? If you ahve not tried this cheese, please seek it out if you like intense cheeses. MMMM I should also note that I bought a second (new to me) cheese. Dunbarton Glue. It's a mix of raw and pasteurized cows milk, hard/firm cheese. Predominantly cheddar (white, not yellow) with a blue essence (and streak) in it that is actually viable - not just flavored with blue noted....there is a streak of blue within the center-ish of the cheese. This is also very very good. Good for snacking and I am sure everything else. I wanna see how this one melts actually :raz: So, all in all my VERY lazy day was SUPER productive since I found two new delicious cheeses, one being super-duper-stellar.

Funny the mention of sour cream to replace butter/milk in mac and cheese mixes....I do a spin of that with the kraft and/or velveta mac and cheeses (the ones with the silver envelope of gooey cheese, not the cheese powder like the kraft boxed mac and cheeses. With the kraft and/or velveta versions you are only meant to add the cheese (it's already gooey, no milk/butter needed or directed). But, so up the yummy/creamy factor, I use all the cheese sauce it comes with and add a few dallops of sour cream (has to be trader joes sour cream, the best version I have ever found...TRY IT). I add a bit of black pepper also. YUM! (I used to add dried onions...you know those little flakes in the spice area...but I have been out for a while and completely forgot. I love adding those, so now those are on my grocery list!). YUM!

I think Trader Joes has carried this product for quite a while, but while shopping earlier in the week I was motivated to finally pick up a bag to try! I decided to rip em' open today (10 mins ago, haha) and they were actually really really yummy. What are they? The frozen chicken meatballs (in a bag). Pretty good size, and really yummy. Now I believe they were nicely seasoned, maybe a little but salty (which I love, I like overly salty food I think....since I salt soo soo many things that seem to be seasoned fine to others)...but these were good just on their own. I actually tried them as is....no sauce, no add-ons, just the meatballs. I did so because I wanted to determine how much I liked the actual product, not so much what I turned it into or added them to. These wold be great on a pasta, or in a meatball sandwhich! YUM! Anyone else a fan of these??? I haven't seen them mentioned yet on this forum.

Wow, I just noticed all of my confessions have cheese in them! Haha. I do love my cheese that's for sure!

I love Love love Munchos. I used to buy a large size individual bag (funny, that barely makes since, you know the bags with 3 or so servings in them that you ALWAYS eat the entire thing of, hence in reality its ONE serving thank you very much!) when I was in junior high. Every Single Day! YUM! I love canned cheese dip (non spicy please, just pure cheesy goodness, and I always have a few cans stocked in the house. I love making up large batches of pasta (so that there are extras in the fridge...ok ok OR so I can eat multiple servings at once, I prefer spaghetti or egg noodles for some odd reason, and my favorite way to top said pasta is with either butter and Parmesan cheese, or with butter and grated/shredded sharp cheddar cheese. Salt and pepper on both combination's please. Simple and so so yummy. I love eating peanut butter straight from the jar, on a spoon....but hey I am not shamed at all about that one now that I think about it. I Love Bagel Bites pizzas, just bought some today. I enjoy frozen pizzas - totally different than delivery but both have their place in my diet And, I haven't read this one on here yet....wait for it, wait for it......I LIKE, I honestly really really like lunchables. Shutter the glares in my direction!!!! Yup, I said it, and it feels GOOD Just the plain old cracker, ham or turkey and cheese Lunchables. They are so different than making up your own deli meat/cheese/cracker sandwichs. Totally different. While both are good, Lunchables find their way into my shopping cart quite regularly. Kinda similar, I also like Handisnacks (you know the little mini packs that come with four of those butter crackers and a little mini tub of spreadable cheese that you spread onto the crackers with that cute little red cheese wand-things. Love those. Still buy them too!!! P.S. I always like Tostitos Lime Chips!

Not yet! Fingers crossed it'll stay that way. It seems like whenever I need/want canned pumpkin there is strangely a shortage....this happened a couple months ago (like two months ago!).

I got those a few weeks ago! They're still here (I have soo many snack type foods it takes a while to get through them all). But they are opened and about 1/4 eaten. I agree, they're good. Smaller little circles than cheese balls, same airy texture/crunch, salty and yummy with a slightly seaweed taste. Nice light snack!

I enjoy Triscuits....but I have to admit I also have a love affair with Wheat Thins. The original. There are many many other flavored variaties as of late, and they are still coming out with mew flavors of Wheat Things every time I look. Some of the options off the top of my head: Sour Cream and Onion, Rnach, Reduced Fat, Herb and Garlic (I think thats the exact combination), harvest Cheddar, White Cheddar....and there are even more. Again, I prefer the original. So yummy. I love em' plain, and at times with toppings (slices of cheese, etc...).

I haven't seen them in Chicago yet! I even asked a manager at one of the large grocery stores, Dominicks, last week. He told me "Not yet, too early". So - maybe it's just Chicago (or the Midwest) that is slow on the bandwagon. Darnit!

Their Frozen Macaroni and Cheese is to die for. I am/was always a Stoffers Mac and Cheese girl (the red box), but the trader Joes is just as good, if not BETTER. YUM. Cheesy, buttery, so rich

Neat idea for a forum topic! I too understand....and for me its Tacos. I love them. My husband loves them. My husband loves the nights when I make them....as do I. But I haven't made homemade tacos for, what.....a year I bet.....because I always think "no sense to make tacos, I make those all the time". But I don't! Funny, I used to make them a lot more, but in the past year I haven't. Come to think of it I cannot believe I haven't heard a complaint recently about this from hubby......I need to remind him how insane we (I) have been....I know he will agree.

I completely agree. While the regular Cheez-Its are good with their cheddary tang, the White Cheddar Cheez-Its have a buttery cheesey taste that's quite unique and addictive. I just noticed the vending machine here at my work has the White Cheddar Cheez-Its. I have no will power and will be buying some for an afternoon snack. ← YUM! Let me know how the afternoon snack turns out I always get the smallish bags at gas stations on road trips....they seem to always be in the snacky type isles there....and the White Cheddar variety is usually carried at the gas stations more-often than the regular (or at least AS often), in my experience. Yum yum

I have seen a few Trader Joes topics....yet none of Whole Foods. Not that the two are related...but where I live (Chicago) I often find Whole Foods (WF) locations near Trader Joes (TJ) locations. In my opinion, there are a lot of shoppers who frequent both stores - for different needs and reasons. I, myself, love both stores. Some of my favorite items I can ONLY find at TJ, and some of my favorite items I can ONLY find at WF. Yet, there are certain product I buy at both WF and TJ that I can find in my large chain, discount grocery store, or non-specialty grocery stores....however I CHOOSE WF or TJ for either quality (often times WF, often times TJ), or for price (more likely TJ for lower prices...WF can be pricey...i.e. the phrase Whole Paycheck). So, are you a Whole Foods shopper? If so - do you do all of your food shopping their, most of it, or just some of it. And, what are your FAVORITE finds at WF? Let's share...so we can all test out these superior products. Any products that you were disappointed by? And why? I hope at Whole Foods for (ongoing basis items, repeat purchases): Cheese selection - not bad at all in my opinion. Often times quite impressive actually Meats sometimes, same with Seafood Frozen items, specific favorites are the frozen taquitos (chicken, these are so good. 5 of them are only 180 cals, 3.5 grams of fat, and 5 grams of fiber....WOW), the Whole Foods brand Frozen CHEESE enchiladas. I love these. Two per package(which is one serving), the sauce on top is very yummy and the cheesy filling is the best. I get other things to from time to time...tater tots, fries, etc.... Fresh baked bread is pretty good, especially the sour dough. Lots of their canned items are good (beans, tuna), and boxed meals with minimal preparation needed - like Annies shells and cheese (WHOLE GRAIN too! The Box I get). Good canned and boxed soups...some for a great price surprisingly too. Their fruits can be really good if you pick em right (not sure about the veggies...I am not a big veggie eater unfortunately...I do love my fruits though. Nice organic items if you go for those...I myself am not too specific on that front. Their selection/variety for Chinese, Japanese, Thia foods are better than most I can find in my area. I am SURE China town is WAY better...but that's a trip for me and I don't usually do it (like ever). I am sure I will think of more.....

my favorite variety of goldfish is, always has been and I am thinking it will always be (unless they come out with some new variety that moves my current favorite down the list...however I am doubting that will happen because of all the new varieties introduced over the years....never once has any come close to....DRUM ROLE PLEASE...) Parmesan cheese goldfish (easily spotted on shelves as the green (and white, of course) variety. Mm....always been a fav. In terms of cheese-its...(because some have commented in this forum on those crackers as well), the white cheddar is by far my favorite. Followed by the original cheddar. There is a reduced fat (regular) variety....I tried it once....HUGE difference. Not bad, but nothing I would ever buy again. I think the extra fat/cals, etc are worth the superior taste in the original. I love me some cheesey crackers

I too see Yoohoo all over the place in Chicago! I don't, myself, drink Yoohoo. Nothing against it whatsoever, I just didn't grow up drinking it....thus have no childhood draw towards the drink. But, maybe I should try it? Nothing like adding yet ANOTHER item to the random sh_t I buy at the grocery/specialty stores here in Chicago! I am soooo bad at that....my husband is always like "Lindsay do we really need that?".....my response (at least in my mind...silent response hehe) "YESSSSS we do, thank you very much".....and anyhow....if we don't "need" it...I most certainly wanted it at the time

I love Munchos - always have to have a back up bag stocked for when a craving hits. These chips remind me sooo much of junior high and highschool...i got a bag at school every day back then (snack size bag....i.e. 3 servings per bag....all eaten at once). Now I get thge BIG bags.....they last a week sometimes....sometimes only a day if I am feeling like feasting ina salty junk food coma mess....loved em' then, still love em' today. Not every day like I used to when I was in my teens....but still quite often. I would choose Munchos ANY day over lays or other varieties of potato chips!

Thanks Pedie for "starting" the response for me. You beat me to the punch which in this case is a good thing since I was hoping that this topic would be successful....I was hoping for it's success because I love TJ THAT much. I think they should be paying me for advertising them so! I promise I DO NOT work there, nor am I affiliated with them. I am a teacher...not a salesman (although I used to be, haha).

I will start by answering my own questions! Maybe someone will find these useful on their end...at least I hope so. What are your favorite finds? And why do you love these items so much? Peanut butter filled pretzel nuggets-salted and unsalted but the salted are the best, frozen taquitos beef variety, frozen breaded chicken tenders, frozen burritos are good - many variety options here, their cheese section has some great finds - i specifically enjoy many of their goat cheeses (chevres), refrigerator pre-cooked beef tenderloin - it's quick to microwave, re-heats good if you cook alone and have leftovers, and its yummy, their frozen mac and cheese (I think its 2 portions but I eat both it's sooooo good and homemade tasting), I love their frozen appetizer items...so many to choose from here. What are your recent finds? Recent finds are the frozen sheppards pie...its yummy, two servings (if for dinner I eat both) low cal and low fat, and has a good ratio of veggies (corn, peas, green beans) to gravy to LARGE beef chunks to potatoes. Nicely seasoned, mmmmm mmmm mmmmm Any items on regular rotation in your shopping cart / cabinets? The peanut butter pretzels mentioned above, pre-cooked beef tenderloin, frozen mac and cheese and taquito's. I also usually have some of their cheeses in my fridge. Oh, almost forgot - also their "cutties", aka Clementine YUM! Any disappointing items that we should avoid? Why? I know I have had some purchases that immediately ended up in the garbage can....although I believe this is the case when my personal taste preferences do not favor the item. I do not believe it is USUALLY because of bad qaulity or taste. I can not think of any items off hand, but I know I have had some. I will try to think about this in more detail and post/update later Any favorites been discontinues in their product mix/rotation? Sadly yes. My most favorite item ever that they discontinues is their refrigerated UNCOOKED (but fully prepared/stuffed/breaded) Chicken Cordeon Blues. Two to a package, they were HUGE, the package of both was over 1.5 pounds.....they took a while to took (60 mins in the oven, sometimes more I beleive) but they were sooo sooo good. I loved these. Better than I can make on my own (my filling always oozes out - no matter what technique i try), and theirs were sooo much better than the frozen ones I have tried. Chicken breast, stuffed/filled (to their trader joes limit) to the brink with THICK ham, swiss cheese, seasoned, rolled in bread crumbs, these were to die for. I still scan the fresh meat case everytime I pass by (at the entrance of my mainstay TJ)...in hopes they will return. sniff, sniff.... I am sure I will think of more favorites to post later, and hopefully I will remember the items I tried that I did not prefer. I will be back soon to update....and to HOPEFULLY read your TJ opinions. Linz

I love Trader Joes. I want to know what you think. I love finding new products at Trader Joes, and I beleive by sharing our Trader Joe secrets and insider tips we can all find NEW TO US items....thus we will all benefit! What are your favorite finds? And why do you love these items so much? What are your recent finds? Any items on regular rotation in your shopping cart / cabinets? Any disappointing items that we should avoid? Why? Any favorites been discontinues in their product mix/rotation? SHARE, share, pleaseeee share! -From a devoted TJ fan/customer

I agree on the sweet and sour chicken -yum on both. More recent finds: After tyring the new (at least new to the midwest product line that Trader Joes carries...and this does vary in different geographical areas!) Sheppards pie while shopping at TJ (sample item that day, they are so smart to do this with new foods they intruduce.....they give samples in the store so customers can try new products before they buy....this has made me a repeat buyer for so so many of their items) I instantly bought myself one. I do not think I woulda purchased the Sheppards Pie without the sample....not somethiing I usually buy or am a big fan of....but after trying theirs I was sold. The Pie is not on a regular rotation or anything (some of their frozen items are regulars in my freezer and I re-stock as soon as I consume....i.e. taquitos, burritos, breaded chicken tenders)....but I do NOW, again - thanks to their sampling marketing technique, purchase the sheppards pie every so often. It is low fat, low cal, 2 servings per container but even eating the ENTIRE thing (a pretty big portion) makes it fairy healthy. Think Veggies like corn, green beans, peas, all in a light gravy sauce, topped with BIG chunks of shredded beef (pot roast tasting-ish) abd topped with a thin (but fair) layer of mashed potatoes. Very Balanced, quite yummy.