My daughter and I did a Trader Joe's run on Saturday, five weeks since my last venture. We were all about the festive finds. One non-festive find and I was doing a happy dance was haloumi cheese! I have envy every time I read posts with this delicious grillable Greek style cheese. IT was pricey-over $5 for a smallish cube, but I will savor it over the next month on top of salads. For those ta thave not had it, it grills, but doesn't really melt, and has a salty and bold taste, so good with greens and a little balsamic vinaigrette. Oopa!
Here's some of my haul.
The Trader Joe's chocolate chips are vegan so I will sue for treat making so we all can enjoy. tHe dates are for a mock caramel. The assorted mixes are part of a gift for my MIL. Here's hoping she can go back to her coffee chats. I know she used last years at the cabin.
DD1 heard about the Winter Wassail Punch that is a good enough version of a mulled wine flavor once some reds are added. The sparkling lemonade is to enjoy on its own, or as a part of a cocktail.
This is just an assortment of easy and more extravagant items than I prepare form scratch. The cinnamon rolls are another vegan option and are for Christmas morning. You can see one of the two packs of the cheese, plus a couple types of ravioli. I also bought a jar of vodka sauce-going to give it a try. Both Dh and DD1 loved the TJ pepperoni, so I bought more and it will be used for pizza or stromboli
The last little buy was the peppermint joejoe's. These also vegan treat are for DD1, but I'm sure she will share. It got a bit carried away with the shopping-that store doe sit to me. But, I figure with less entertainment options, my kitchen is my playroom. Are you looking for new holiday items when you are in stores? Is there nay new to you items that will be part of your celebrations?
You got lots of good stuff! I love Trader Joes but haven't made a trip there since the pandemic began. Enjoy all your goodies!
ReplyDeleteIF I wasn't combining time with my daughters, I probably wouldn't either.
DeleteThere is so little in our lives to make it brighter now, treats from the grocery store fit that bill
ReplyDeleteA special to me find is a treat. I hope the Walsall punchis good.
DeleteYou did get a pile of goodies! I always get a quart of egg nog, so I have yet to get that. Goat cheese and chocolates are always on my list of things for celebrating. Maybe I will get water crackers so things eaten will shine.
ReplyDeleteNo egg nog this year as DS is not going to be home and the the others can tak eor leave. Of course my vegan daughter leaves. Water crackers are tasty with goat cheese.
DeleteI try to introduce a new item every Christmas. This year, it was Advocaat for snowballs, only to find you can't get Advocaat out here. Some items become traditions, others are never to be repeated.
ReplyDeleteI am sort of glad Trader Joe's is such a drive from me, as I could go a bit wild in that store! The other store that sucked me in was Cost Plus World Market. Again, it's not a bad thing there isn't one nearby.
Cost Plus World Market is a good place to get lost in as well I bought my tea gifts there last year. I seem to make a TJ stop about once every two months, but this one was closer having been there on Halloween. My daughter pops in and will text me to see if I need anything.
DeleteI love halloumi cheese but I just can't get it here. There is a Lebanese store the other side of Geneva where I would probably get it but I'm not driving 50 km just to get cheese. Live and adapt I guess!
ReplyDeleteI have checked there for over a year, and this is the first time it was in stock. I will treat it as a treat!
DeleteGood cheese is so worth the money. I have only been in a trader jo's a couple times. They have such an unusual variety of items. It would be nice to get into one more often.
ReplyDeleteThe fact that I go seldom is part of the entertainment. I have a couple usuals, but the new finds are fun.
DeleteI so rarely buy cheese, but feta is one of my staples, because of that nice salty bite. All of these items are very much in the "treat" realm for me, but it's fun to spoil ourselves this time of year.
ReplyDeleteI just found out that my dear friend who lost his partner to cancer in June has agreed to spend Christmas day with us. As it'll only be the three of us, I'll make whatever we want (definitely won't be a turkey!).
Hope you are well, Sam!
I'm sorry for your friend and glad she has you for a fried. These are all treat items not staples by any means. I do like a small amount of feta, but it can be overpowering for my scandinavian palate.
DeleteI love the peppermint Jo cookies, & the kids also love the sparkling lemonade. I adore halloumi, but have never seen it there. Now I'll have to keep an eye out for it.
ReplyDeleteFirst time in over a year I spotted the cheese-and i've asked. I think it might be both a seasonal find.
DeleteHooray for halloumi! x
ReplyDeleteWe can never get into TJs. There's always a long line outside. I told DH we should go in the middle of the week, when people are working.
ReplyDeleteYou got lots of good stuff. I need to get some dates and make a date loaf/bread. I haven't had any since I moved here. I also need some samoosas and TJs has the best ones. Now I'm hungry...lol
hot puppies about the mulled wine!
ReplyDeleteI am thinking of making some this Christmas time !