The Item’s I Swear By From Trader Joe’s

I don’t know why but I love being my friends go-to person for great food finds at Trader Joe’s , it feeds my need to feel like the expert in all areas of life. There’s just nothing better than having guests over and impressing them with an easy to recreate appetizer, or sharing a dinner hack that makes meal prepping a cinch.

So with that in mind I thought why not share with you the item’s I swear by when I pull up to Trader’s. These are all meals that are either simple to make or snack foods that get me through the day (I’m an OG snacker ya’ll).

I first had these Feta & Onion Bites at a past wine club meeting (yes I belonged to a wine club) and couldn’t stop going back for more. They are the perfect quick and easy appetizer to pop into the stove when you’re entertaining and although frozen, they taste homemade and will make guests believe that you’ve slaved over a stove all day.

This cheese party tray gets multiple uses in my home. It’s not only great for simple charcuterie board , I love taking the little slices to work for a midday snack. I pop a slice of salami on top and it’s the perfect not too heavy nosh before dinner.

Speaking of work snacks, I love these salami sticks! Not only are they a filling to have between meals, they’re miniature size make them so cute to eat.

These Buffalo Chicken Breast Wraps have been the perfect addition to bring to the Hollywood Bowl during their outdoor summer concert series. I used to lug a huge cooler to every concert filled with all of my fav food, however, after constantly having so much left over I decided to pare things down. Now I pop these, some crackers a dipping sauce, fruit and wine in the cooler and I head out!

These would be the crackers that accompany the dip that I talked about above. The Tamari Soy Sauce are also super low calorie! I think like 30 crackers is only 100 calories or less!

The Fig & Olive Crisps have a crisp sweet and savory flavor and taste especially good on a charcuterie board .

If you’re looking for a dip to spread on the above crackers, these two are my go-to! The first is an olive tapenade which is olive purée with capers a variety of spices, drizzled with olive oil. It’s consistency is more of a paste but Trader Joe’s version is more of a crumble.

The 2nd is a creamy, smoky bacon ranch cheddar dip, perfect on everything from crudites to bread.

I never thought myself a “salad girl”. Give me protein,starch and a veggie and I’m happiest. The top two salads have me second guessing my “not a salad girl” identity. They are my quick lunch options on the go and are super filling. I’ve also been known to get 3-4 packs and create a salad to accompany a dinner party.

Another dinner party hack are these Gyoza Pot Stickers. I fry them up and put out a dipping sauce ( I prefer soy sauce) and people go to town!

I have so many uses for the Feta Cheese Crumble and Bruschetta Sauce. I’ve listed them together because I’ve been known to mix the two together and spread them on a toasted baguette or on my scrambled eggs in the morning. I also like them individually the bruschetta is perfect topping for baked chicken and the feta goes great on salad.

These Spicy Jalapeno Chicken are the most versatile item on this list. I have them with my eggs in the morning, saute them with fresh veggies on top of brown rice , or add them to a salad for extra protein…the options are endless. Plus the flavor is LEGIT, not too spicy but just enough to kick it up a notch.

If you get nothing else on this list but these Shawarma Chicken Thighs I will feel like this post was successful! The chicken is marinated in a shawarma sauce which makes it extra tender and is amazing on top of rice, in a pita, on a salad or just alone. What’s even better is that I pop it in the oven for about 20 minutes and I’m done!

I couldn’t end this savory filled post without a little sweet. Now I know if you’ve ever shopped at Trader’s you’ve heard of their dessert staples like Cookie Butter or their Joe Joe’s cookies ( which are absolutely amazing in their own rights). But please believe me when I tell you that these Butter Waffle Cookies are right up there with your all time faves. I love to have them with coffee or at the end of a meal on top of ice cream. and at 150 calories for 3 cookies, you can eat them without the guilt!

No Trader Joe’s post would be complete without a list of my favorite spirits and these 3 are tops on my list. Cotes De Roses is a silky smooth rose that pairs well with any dish and is perfect to create that summer frosé (frozen rosé ) you’ve been trying to perfect.

The second is an  organic vodka that is perfect by itself on the rocks or mixed with your favorite mixer. It doesn’t hurt that it’s also organic and at $13.99 price point super affordable.

Emma Richart Rosé  is another fav rosé  of mine, with a 5.99 price point it is my go-to when I’m on a budget.

No post about Trader Joe’s would be complete without mentioning their array of beautifully fresh flowers. If you’re looking to pretty up your home or you need a last minute “I’m sorry for being a jerk”bouquet then you’ve come to the right place. I generally opt for their sunflowers (that seem to last for weeks) or their peonies (which are usually an arm and a leg elsewhere).

So guys, what are your favorite finds at Trader Joe’s? I would love to add them to my list. Just comment below.