Trader Joe's Products (2017–)

[rotuts]

the mushroom Umami  was too salty for me

 

Green Goddess is not quite as salty and I like it and will use it ' low dose '

 

the Ajika is also very nice , no salt .  good deal of heat , maybe some sweetness ?

 

a keeper.

[Annie_H]

You could stretch your 'umami' spice blend if you stock some of the ingredients on the list. I've been making similar for years but I do like making my own spice blends. So understand if it is not a pleasure for most. A shame salt is listed first. Mine has no salt and a 5th of the price to make at home. 

A similar spice blend I've use excessive for years. From a historian Italian cook that says soaked dried and powdered mushrooms have been used for decades in Italy on proteins. Porcini dry rubs, under and on the skin of chickens, beef, pork....not often, but came across it again recently I think Lydia (?). 

I made a batch last night needing at least 5 tBsp for a braised pork shoulder tomorrow. (I added the RG bean club spice bottle for scale).

--And another spice I need to dilute with less acidic ingredients. I dilute by at least a third. 

I stock pound bags of at least 3 dried mushrooms in rotation---always porcini for the intense flavor and aroma. 

I've not cleaned up yet so I may make another batch. 

 

[Annie_H]

This is an old pic when attempting to help someone about the salt content on another forum. Most indifferent. "I just use a pinch"...but without the salt I use a heaping Tsp on a 3 ounce burger slider. Brilliant for a nice quick bark adding a bit of coconut palm sugar.

 

I suppose this is no different than those that want recipes mocking their favorite fast food or 'Panera' or chipotle. 

[Smithy]

6 hours ago, rotuts said:

the mushroom Umami  was too salty for me

 

Green Goddess is not quite as salty and I like it and will use it ' low dose '

 

the Ajika is also very nice , no salt .  good deal of heat , maybe some sweetness ?

 

a keeper.

 

Have you used the Ajika on anything yet? If so, what? Or are these just your initial tasting notes?

[rotuts]

ini9tial tastings anf thoughts

 

the various things I start with

 

these days is  limited 

 

by choice

 

im very fond of Green Heat

 

and the new TJ's dried hath chili

 

is a go to itsm for me

 

but the Ajika would now be my 

 

Res choice.

[MaryIsobel]

On 3/10/2022 at 9:38 AM, Kerry Beal said:

Actually the beer store in Little Current on Manitoulin still has the bottles on the wall 

There a few small "liquor agents" in remote parts of BC (usually combined with a couple of other businesses) where you have to ask for what you want and they bring it out from a back room.

 

 

[dscheidt]

On 3/10/2022 at 11:38 AM, Kerry Beal said:

Actually the beer store in Little Current on Manitoulin still has the bottles on the wall 

and the conveyor belt to bring the cases out from the back? 

[heidih]

I'm excited. A friend coming in from Arizona tomorrow and she wants to see the ocean and go to Trader Joes. Voila - one 10 minutes away w/ Catalina Island view! So I've read through the last pages and made a wish list. Really hoping to find those frozen Taiwanese green onion pancakes. It has been several years since my last visit ("bless me Father for I have sinned it has been several years since my last confession") but hoping to find the Inca corn (giant corn nuts), Oregon hazelnuts (I buy raw and roast small batches), house brand Dijon mustard. They used to have some ripple potato chips that were super crunchy and I'll check out the dark chocolate selection and snag a nice cheese. Will report back. Not my usual TJ ocation so I'll hve to do every aisle rather than hone in what I know. My friend is a patient person.

Edited March 13, 2022 by heidih (log)

[palo]

Very much like our store in Orillia - they store the beer in a refrigerated storeroom in the back - so if you want to have a cold one on the drive home/?????

 

Actually I think all the beer stores in Ontario have the same setup - unless they're a really small outlet that doesn't have room for cold storage - their customers have to drink warm beer on the way home 😝

 

p

[palo]

3 minutes ago, heidih said:

rather than hone in what I know.

Not to be an a**hole (though I may be!) but hone/home which would you use?

 

p

[heidih]

17 minutes ago, palo said:

Not to be an a**hole (though I may be!) but hone/home which would you use?

 

p

damn you caught me. I just got that correction recently (frequently misused words thing) Home to the target item I suppose  - anyway ya get my meaning  

[Kerry Beal]

2 hours ago, dscheidt said:

and the conveyor belt to bring the cases out from the back? 

Indeed - but more often the empties go on the conveyor and they carry out the cases from the back 

 

 

[palo]

Other way in Orillia - I guess carrying empty bottles was easier than full ones

 

p

[rotuts]

this AM @ TJ's :

 

no campari tomatoes 

 

got 2 packs of ' On the Vine '

 

they are red , and Im happy they had something 

[rotuts]

im surprised at the taste difference

 

tomatoes on the vine  were my

 

go to tomato  

 

aged in a brown bag w an apple or two

 

the campari had tomato flavor , 

 

which initially surprised me

 

and why Ive switched

 

the ToV  were probably thinking about tomato

 

but not diligently

[BeeZee]

Similarly, cherry tomatoes purchased at the supermarket were much better than the grape tomatoes. I've been disappointed with tomatoes on the vine, as well.

[heidih]

2 minutes ago, BeeZee said:

Similarly, cherry tomatoes purchased at the supermarket were much better than the grape tomatoes. I've been disappointed with tomatoes on the vine, as well.

Me too - always cherry on hand. Juicy, tart, flavor at least. Grape ones even from a Farmers Market - they last but are useless, to me, in terms of flavor. One packet of the black tomatoes that were rotten on the bottom turned me off them forever (TJs). Could not see from way packed. Was not gonna haul back to complain, though I called to ask them to check their stock out.

[rotuts]

and I note this :

 

the Campari ( out, but on order ) from TJ's

 

had true tomato flavor , as long as you tried to get the reddest ones

 

remembering a remark from 

 

@JoNorvelleWalker 

 

I checked @ MarketMasket 

 

they had them , and I leaned C's come from different vendors

 

and the ones sold @ MB   ( a brand name ive never heard of and forgotten )

 

had more tomato to them than TJ's

 

one whole US buck more a pound

 

but Im worth it

 

as long as Im already their 

 

 

 

 

[heidih]

So we got to Trader Joes. Not crowded. Plans... well I topped self from over indulging and coud not find all I had on list but happy wth my haul. There were vac pacced marnated olives I couukd not find and sweet guy looked al over, got me some snacking ones off a pallet that just arrived, and then found us again and said the ones I wanted were allegedly returning but not for some time. Made for a nice shopping experience. Ocean view did not hurt.

 

 

 

Edited March 15, 2022 by Smithy
Rotated photo as poster's request (log)

[rotuts]

 

Walk right on by.

 

dry .  very little peanut butter flavor .

 

no buttery taste at all .

 

Id grind them up and give them to the birds 

 

but it would probably kill them.

 

Squirrels  ?   not even them.

[BetD]

On 3/12/2022 at 2:43 PM, Annie_H said:

 

 

I am curious about the Mesquite Powder… I am familiar with the trees, but have no experience with it as a seasoning. What are you finding that you like to do with it?

[Annie_H]

It is ground from the seed pods. Smells amazing. Notes of molasses, coconut, slightly sweet. 

31 minutes ago, BetD said:

I am curious about the Mesquite Powder… I am familiar with the trees, but have no experience with it as a seasoning. What are you finding that you like to do with it?

I use it in a few of my spice blends. The same spice house makes a seasoning blend using it that I make a version of using their lead.

Here is the website copy page for a description---MRH mesquite powder

[chromedome]

You'll see it used a few ways in @gfron1's cookbook, if you have a copy.

[BetD]

On 3/15/2022 at 1:33 PM, chromedome said:

You'll see it used a few ways in @gfron1's cookbook, if you have a copy.

I do… thank you,  I will go renew my acquaintance with it! 

[heidih]

I just read the packaging on the Taiwanese green onion pancakes as I plan to cook one up to use wth dinner tonight. They are actually imported from Taiwan - I'd assumed the style was Taiwanese!