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Wednesday, February 25, 2009

"Cooking With All Things Trader Joe's" Giveaway

Raise your hand if you love Trader Joe's.
Oh good! Glad to see I am among friends.

There is a new cookbook strutting it's stuff around the cookbook block. "Cooking With All Things Trader Joe's". The marketing people for the cookbook contacted me wanting to know if I would like to review a copy. Would I?! I got it in the mail and couldn't put it down.


It was full of delicious, well-thought out recipes. Things like Red Curry Halibut, One Bowl Peach and Blueberry Cobbler and Turkey Artichoke Wraps. And each recipe has a picture. The best part of the cookbook is that you can find everything at your local Trader Joe's. The recipes themselves are not hard at all. Very simple prep and most include premade Trader Joe's products. Basically, you have months of meals and only one small, personable grocery store to shop at.

You might have noticed that I am not a fan of using prepackaged things when preparing food. I have a very bizarre phobia of using prepared food as ingredients. Something about disrespecting the food. Yes, I know, weird. But when it comes to Trader Joe's, Rookie Cookie makes an exception. Why? Because Trader Joe's provides such high-quality products. I have yet to find a TJ's product that I am displeased with.

The most giant dilemma of all time? I live in a state that doesn't have Trader Joe's. What a travesty. That won't last for long because someday (SPOILER ALERT!) I am going to move to Arizona and they have Trader Joe's there. In the meantime, I will be bummed about not having a Trader Joe's AND I will give this great cookbook away to a lucky Trader Joe's lover.



Comment until February 28th, by the stroke of midnight, for a chance to win it. When you comment, tell me what your favorite Trader Joe's products are. What are mine?

Peanut Butter Cups

Vanilla Almond Granola Clusters

Maple Pecan Granola Clusters

TJ's Fresh Pizza Sauce

Sourdough Bread

Italian Meatloaf

If you win, you are required to send me a tub of peanut butter cups from Trader Joe's. Okay, just kidding. But I am actually serious.

For some sample recipes from "Cooking With All Things Trader Joe's", click here.

39 comments:

Gberger said...

We don't have TJ's in our county, but we do have them in the state. It's a treat to get to shop there; it's such a great store. I love their hors d'oeuvres, frozen edamame, chunky applesauce, tea, snack crackers...Hmm, sounds like a shopping list is being formed!

karin said...

I LOVE TJ's. I have so many things to list.

PB cups (really any of their candy is good)
Pirate Booty (well their version)
Taquitos
Egg Rolls
Spicy, Smoky, Peach Salsa
Corn and Chile Tomato-Less Salsa (mix with the peach salsa and black beans, eat with chips- delicious)
enchilada sauce
ice cream (is by far my favorite of their products, it would be what I would finish my last meal with)

karin said...

Oh, I love their frozen veggies (like corn and peas). What will I do if I move to a state without TJ's?

Mumsy said...

(You can't see me, but I'm crying at the mention of Trader Joe's.)

EVERYTHING is my fave. But especially the frozen veggies and fruit, cheese, pound plus bars, organic low-sugar jam, all of their cereals, dried fruit and nuts, yogurt. Yeah...EVERYTHING.

Stephanie said...

I like seeing what everyone else likes - I'm going to have to go back. I just went there for the first time last week and fell in love. I got their spinach-artichoke dip, marinara sauce, french-onion soup, chocolate-filled croissants, and basil-garlic pasta. Everything was DELICIOUS, and even though it's about an hour drive, I'm going back next week. Yum.

[Morgan] said...

the cheap price on almonds.
but, really i only get to indulge myself with them when i visit california.
bummer being a utahn sometimes.

m.a. said...

I live in a city without a Trader Joe's too, but managed to stop in the last time I was in Chicago. I stocked up on dried fruit and nuts for my flight home and they made the delays more bearable.

My favorite things are definitely the soups, which are so rich and delicious; their herbs that you can buy in those handy little frozen packs; and I picked up a lemon pepper grinder that I LOVE!

What a great giveaway....I want to move to AZ too!

Vanessa and Company said...

I LOVE Trader Joes...so very much.
To think, I complain because the closest TJ's to me, is twenty minutes away. Well, I will no longer takes my TJ's for granted.

My favorites are:
Bruschetta (both refrigerated and non-refrigerated version)
Just Ceasar Chicken
Strawberry Lemonade (in the refrigerated section)
Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Cookie Sandwiches (these should be illegal)
Peanut Butter Cups (also should be outlawed)

I'm sure there's more, but those make the tippy top of my list.
What a great idea for a cookbook!

Emily said...

I have never actually been to Trader Joes. I know there is one not too far from where we live. I have always wanted to go. Now I could have a really good reason...those vanilla almond granola clusters sound so yummy!

Dianna said...

I'm so lucky. Trader Joe's is right around the corner and another one is on my way home from work! Your site is so fun to look at -- you definitely deserve some pb cups!
A few of my favorites:
Low fat parmesan ranch salad dressing
peppermint joe-joe's
Oatmeal chocolate chip 100 calorie packs
Sugar & cinnamon pita chips
Wild Maine blueberry sauce (it's good on toast, pancakes, icecream shortbread cookies...anything!)

There's too many to make just a short list!

Brooke said...

I love their PB cups, Oatmeal choc chip cookies, granola bars, specialty salsas, big pots of basil plants for $3, Ceasar Salad..oh I could go on and on as well!

Gabby said...

Wow, I never realized that I'm such a lucky girl for having like 12 TJs within 20 miles!

I love their:
handmade tortillas
pizza dough
orange chicken!
butternut squash soup
etc etc etc

Also: between you and me, I would DEFINITELY mail you peanut butter cups. Just sayin'! :)

Jaime and Jen DISH said...

Okay, here's the deal...I have a Trader Joe's like 5 minutes from my house. If you pick me, I will send you a care package with every single thing on your "favorites list"...how's that?

What I love? OMG, how do you pick just one. Here's a few things:

Peppermint Joe's (you can only get these during the holidays so I have to go in there and mug the place, it's so embarrassing and it's only February and we've already eaten our way through our 20+ boxes.

Chicken Shumai (huge fav in this house, kids' love 'em)

Pirate's Booty

Lemonade (frozen and juice boxes)

The frozen herbs in the little ice cube trays, like garlic, cilantro, etc. So cute and so easy to use

All the frozen veggies.

PB cups for sure!

Wisconsin cheese curds (yay, they finally got em in Arizona..they do squeak when you bite into them)

Organic lollipops (OMG, the pomegranite is to die for!)

And of course all the flowers in the front.

Seriously, I cannot stop...I'm going there tomorrow now.

I want this cookbook...pick me, pick me (waving my hand in the air)

Jaime
Jaime and Jen Dish
jaimeandjen@gmail.com

Mike and Jill said...

WOW! Awesome give away!!
My fav items from TJ's are:
Homemade tortillas
Joe-Joe's
Organic tomato soup
Double Roasted Salsa
Frozen broccoli mini quiche

I haven't tried the Peanut butter cups but will be on the look-out!
Jill

Shanicherie said...

I just love going IN! Anything from there is wonderful! I love the peanut butter filled pretzels! We only have one and it's like 20 miles away, but every time we're near it, I have to make a stop!

Tasha Allen said...

We just got a TJ's in Nashville. The only reason I even knew about it was because of your talk about it. I have yet to visit but my sister absolutely loves it. She bought this really yummy soft black licorice. I LOVED it! I think I just may have to go this weekend.

Kate Nally said...

I love trader joes! Not only do they have all sorts of yummy drinks, but they have one of my favorite treats - I think they're called UFO's (they're like little mint chocolate disks...so yummy)

Mrs. Olsen said...

The only thing I can do to show my support of Trader Joe's (because I live in Utah) is to use their re-usable grocery bags when I'm out shopping. Mi familia even called TJ HeadQ to ask about opening up a franchise in SLC, and they basically said that wine/alcohol was such a big part of their sales that it wasn't worth it to open in Utah :( lame-0.

Sarah L. said...

My new neighborhood TJs Just opened and it's a block from my house! My faves:
Par Baked Piccolo loaf
Frozen Asparagus Rissoto
Tarte d'Alsace

my dogs also loved their hard pressed chew bones!

Michelle @ Twig said...

oh my goodness, i am just as sad as you that we don't have a trader joes...but lizzy has taken me shopping there while in AZ and so I soaked up the goodness while I could. I think we tried some yogurt, fresh fruit, granola...maybe maybe just those things but none the less I loved it and I would love this cook book!

Sweet Pea Chef said...

Mango Granola Cereal
Tomato and Basil Marinara
Gnocchi
Whole Wheat Handmade Tortillas
Dried Cranberries
Chicken Sausage
Jams
Jasmine Green Tea
Three Pack Goat Cheese

I could go on and on and on...

Oh pick me, pretty please?

Carrie said...

I LOVE their...
frozen garlic
guac kits
frozen sweet potato fries
chocolate chip cookie ice cream sandwiches
cereal bars
olive oil (cheap and good!)
frozen pizzas
pizza dough
pico de gallo
hummus
strawberry lemonade
I could seriously go on and on...

slid said...

I'm relatively new to your blog (I'm a good friend of Lizzy's sister, Alice), but I have to de-lurk for this. I absolutely love TJ's! There's one right down the street and I'm there all the time. Some of my favorites include:
Pizza dough
Pizza sauce
Salsa Especial
3-Layer Hummus
Dark Chocolate Edamame (!)
Sesame Honey Almonds
Organic Baby Carrots
Whole Wheat & Corn (together)Tortillas
Frozen Petite Peas (best in the world)
Frozen Sweet White Corn (best in the world)

And if bribing helps - I promise to send you some PB cups if I win. :)

Natalie Que said...

Well, well RC. I didn't know you were El-dy too {LDS}. Now I feel a stronger kinship. It's probably been obvious before now but I haven't checked blogs since November before my 5 week trip home and the move!

I'll try to blog more, and while I'm here I might as well enter the comp since it is now ever so convenient with me already leaving a comment and such.

I too live in a state without Trader Joes, {yeah, so sorry there will be no peanut butter cups} but my Mom doesn't. Every time I visit, the highlight is going to TJ and loading up goods to schlep home in the 'ol suitcase. I love so many things, the sauces, the frozen items. I had a really good pre-made salad once too. I just love the whole shopping experience there, that's my favorite.

Rena said...

I live just down the street from TJs and I LOVE IT! My favorites include:

white bean and basil hummus
bruschetta
parbaked panini rolls
cheddar and garlic sourdough
garlic pita chips
cheese squares crackers
roasted bell pepper and tomato soup
brown rice california rolls
garlic naan
pound plus chocolate
korma simmer sauce
dried cranberries
sweetened pecans

The list is endless! I would LOVE a cookbook!

heather said...

Jill Brady introduced me to some amazing Trader Joes chocolate covered peanutbutter pretzels! They were SO good. Also, the vegan chocolate chip cookies & the ready made thai food! I love it all!

Tara said...

So... my Mom came to visit me recently. Did I mention that I have a trader joes about ONE mile from my house? I mean...I'd rather go stroll around Trader Joes than the Mall! Awesome food over clothes ANY DAY. I took her to Trader Joes and she LOVED it. AND, I told her how you told me that you feel the spirit in that place. I think she'd agree. Needless to say, I think it is very important taht I own that recipe book. PB cups are YOURS! - My latest fav is the Sweet Potato Fries...Yummers! I find something new everytime I go there that I have to buy and try and it's NEVER a dissapoint!

kristib said...

I love, love, love the frozen sweet potato fries. So easy and tasty. And their frozen artichoke hearts. Perfection. I would love a new cookbook!

Crystal said...

The hummus and organic lollipops are my kid's favorites. The spinach and artichoke dip I reserve for me and husband, my kids are too young to appreciate it anyway.

jenn (+ will) said...

CHILI SPICED MANGOS. which they are thinking about discontinuing. but we can't let this happen.

Megan said...

Someone has to tell all these people that Trader Joe's is great, but it's not orgasm-worthy.

Calm down, folks.

tsslug said...

Please pick me.
I loveTrader Joes.

tsslug7@yahoo.com

Ali said...

The microwaveable brown rice.

And their sparkling pomegranite juice - way better than Martinelli's.

Melanie Anne said...

I live in UTah with no TJs. I REALLY want to shop there!! I think I would love verything!! You have a great site here!!

Cherry Blossoms said...

The truffle brownies are my fav! Thanks for letting me enter!
CherryBlossomsDesign@hotmail.com

JoEllen said...

I love Trader Joes! I have just recently really started shopping there. I love all of their snacks for my boys because I know they're healthy and good!

joellenzafacon at gmail dot com

Rebecca said...

Let me count the ways:

1. sweet and salty nut mix
2. roasted red pepper and tomato soup with the italian bread
3. roasted red pepper hummus
4. chocolate raspberry sticks
5. tzatziki sauce (even if I butchered the spelling, this sauce is TO DIE FOR)
5. red curry sauce

Shauna said...

I'm feeling very spoiled because I live very close to TWO Trader Joes! (I mean not to rub it in or anything..)
Here's my TJ list-o-rama:

-The employees are friendly and smart.
-They have a counter of free samples, which is a thrill for my two year old
-They provide brightly colored balloons to my 1 and 2 year old...I need all the help I can get while grocery shopping!
-fantastic lunch meat and cheeses
-cashews and almonds
-organic produce for a good price
-I can continue...but I must go chase my little boy...I'm sure he's headed to the toilet to play in the water!

Anonymous said...

This was on my my pro/con list when we moved to Utah :(
Still waiting on a TJ in Salt Lake.
I love and eeply miss:
Ezekial Bread
Walnut endive premade salad
Fresh loaves of bread
AND most of all the carmel delites! Must try...