Summer 2022 Trader Joe’s Shopping List: Part One
When I am stressed out the first place I want to go is to Trader Joe’s. For me, all it takes is a little bit of TJ’s to calm me down. When the 100 degree heat got to me a little, I decided to check out some refreshing seasonal treats to reward myself with after a hard day of summer restaurant work. When I entered my grocery store of choice I was immediately greeted with a citrus flavor overload of summer items that pair perfectly with the weather outside. I decided to document my favorite summer selections to share with you all.
Trader Joe’s is commonly known to offer you bang for your buck deals- especially when it comes to farmer’s market ready flowers and fresh produce. Upon entering the store vibrant hues of pinks and reds caught my eye. I was extremely excited to see fresh peonies, unbudded, at the price of $9.99! I admit, I do have a favorabe bias toward peonies as I've always dreamed of having a peony bouquet at my wedding. Classy and sweet, they look beautiful in a white vase and complete any walkway or bedroom. Known as an expensive boutique flower, according to Tamsen Butler of Love to Know, one stem will cost you an average of $6.00! Thanks to TJ’s, these flowers will only cost you $2 a stem. What a steal! And of course, if peonies aren’t your thing, TJ’s never fails to have the most durable and vibrant roses! Those babys will last you up to a week and half.
After getting distracted for a while in the flower section, I moved onto produce. I bought these nectarines last week, and within 7 days, they are already all gone. Pair with cottage cheese or eat them on their own, these juicy tangy fruits will satisfy your sweet tooth and leave your tastebuds refreshed! Once you start eating these California nectarines, trust me, you will never go back.
Nothing screams the taste of summer like a bright yellow pineapple. Coined as “nature’s candy” by Trader Joe's, this $2.99 sweet fruit will transport you to the tropical destination of your dreams (at a more affordable price) with the first bite. Also, these pineapples are not genetically modified according to the Chiquita website. If you are looking for a whole food, clean fruit, a pineapple is the way to go. Due to their thick skin farmers only use light pesticides, if any on this tropical treat (Healthline.com).
Moving on down the produce aisle, this bag of mini sweet peppers caught my eye. Not only did the saturated orange and red colors get my attention, but my mind instantly went to a recipe I saw on TikTok. Often referred to as a “healthy” snack, the low carb, high protein, and vitamin filled pepper portion of this recipe is a nutritional addition to any diet. Below I am going to link Julie Wunder’s Everything Bagel Cream Cheese Stuffed Mini Peppers Recipe. This is a perfect cold summer snack to do anything from meal prep with to serve as an hors d'oeuvres at a backyard party. And, who doesn’t love any “Everything but the Bagel” incorporated recipe!
https://www.runninginaskirt.com/cream-cheese-stuffed-mini-peppers-everything-bagel/
Okay this next one is a personal recommendation, but hear me out. Shaved brussel sprouts. I know the term brussel sprouts can be wince-inducing for many, but this salad will change your life. I do not say that lightly. Ever since I ordered a brussel sprout salad at the resteraunt Elephanté in Santa Monica, I've been on the lookout for a dupe recipe. I will link below the food network recipe I found that tastes heavenly and perfectly refreshing for summer, however, when making this dish originally I ran into a problem. I could not find shaved brussel sprouts ANYWHERE! I went to Publix, Kroger, and Costco and was out of luck. I succumbed to the salad and shaved the brussel sprouts myself. However, today while browsing the veggie section at TJ’s, I came across these shaved brussels. Immediately I picked up two. This salad is the best salad you will ever taste. And if you aren’t in the mood to prepare a recipe, shaved brussel sprouts are tasty with most dressings, chicken, dates, and by themselves!
Although I could spend all day in TJ’s produce section, it was time for me to move on. When searching for my usual dark roast coffee beans, I saw this undiscovered cold-brew gem. Unbeknownst to me, this product has been around since 2020. I have always been reluctant to try cold brew concentrate in fear I will mis-measure the two parts water/milk to one part coffee. However, Erin Cullum at Popsugar Food claimed this product is a TJ’s must have. At $5 a bottle and 150 mg of caffeine per serving, I'd say this is a summer steal! Cullum claims the subtle coconut flavor balances out the arabica coffee perfectly, making this coldbrew a walk on the beach. Not a coffee drinker? No problem, TJ’s got you covered. Pick up some Matcha Green Tea Powder for all your iced matcha latte summer needs.
Would a Trader Joe’s trip ever be complete without a dip? Most definitely not. A recent obsession of mine is the Mediterranean fast food chain, Cava Grill. Emma Chamberlain’s “Fire Bowl'' attracted me to Cava, however it was their choice of dips and hummus that made me stay. I’m a sucker for their crazy feta, roasted red pepper hummus, and most importantly, tzatziki, so when I saw this dip, I instantly put it in my shopping cart. Something about avocado and tzatziki screams a good summer day. Pair with chips, rice, lentils, chicken- the possibilities are endless for this cold and creamy condiment.
As much as I’d love to complete this list today, I have many more summer Trader Joe’s recommendations to come (along with more recipes!) I will never stop discovering new products in Trader Joe’s, nor will I ever be disappointed at what they come out with next. There will always be a recipe, a flavor, or a combination that is as irresistible as spending more than you planned for every TJ’s trip. If you enjoyed these recommendations, make sure to check back for part two, coming to you soon!
If you have any recipe questions or TJ product recs, DM @avasfresheats on instagram! I love hearing from fellow foodies. Until next time, have a safe, fun, and hydrated Trader Joe’s summer.