Recent Eats: Lots of Trader Joe’s + Having a Moment with Ice Cream

Hi there. As I was writing up today’s recent eats recap, I found myself typing “Trader Joe’s” over and over. I can definitely tell that I’ve made two Trader Joe’s trips in the last month because their delicious products are showing up all over my eats!

One thing I never tend to get at Trader Joe’s is any kind of frozen dessert. I have tried their chocolate ice cream for Finn and those little mini cones but that’s about it. I’d love to hear if you have any Trader Joe’s dessert faves.

If you don’t shop at Trader Joe’s – don’t worry! There’s lots for you here too in the way of meal ideas and inspiration. I hope y’all aren’t too hungry while you’re reading this because this round up is a good one!

BREAKFAST

Banana oatmeal with egg whites and cottage cheese. Topped with maple cashew almond butter and blueberry ginger jam. There’s an overview of my oatmeal recipe in this post.

Half of a bagel with butter and cream cheese, scrambled eggs and grapes.

Yogurt bowl with FAGE plain greek yogurt, Taos Bakes maple pecan and Madagascar vanilla granola, bananas, blueberries, raspberries and peanut butter.

Cottage cheese scrambled eggs with a pumpkin banana muffin and orange slices.

Toast with butter, cream cheese, sliced avocados, scrambled eggs and kimchi. Pear slices on the side.

LUNCH

Salad with arugula, quinoa, pistachios, tomatoes, beets, avocado, dried mixed berries, feta and Trader Joe’s Goddess dressing.

Peanut butter, honey and banana sandwich. I cannot tell you the last time I had one of these but they’re going to be making a more regular appearance! Grapes and salt and vinegar potato chips on the side. The Kettle brand are hands-down my favorite sea salt and vinegar chips.

Massaged curly kale (lemon juice, olive oil and sea salt) with brown rice, feta, leftover salmon, apples, dried mixed berries, pecans and balsamic vinegar.

Wild Planet albacore tuna mixed with mayo, plain greek yogurt, dried cranberries, pecans, lemon pepper and sea salt on Dave’s Killer Good Seed with avocado.

Arugula tossed in olive oil, balsamic, honey and sea salt and topped with pears, beets, avocado, feta, dried mixed berries, chopped rosemary mixed nuts and the same Wild Planet albacore tuna in the photo above.

Trader Joe’s kitchari with toasted naan and butter.

Massaged curly kale, quinoa, diced chicken breast, pecans, carrots, tomatoes feta and Trader Joe’s Goddess dressing.

Avocado toast topped with hemp hearts with hardboiled eggs and pears.

Arugula tossed in balsamic, olive oil, honey and sea salt with quinoa, avocado, beets, chopped rosemary nuts, dried mixed berries and pears.

My nanny is on a homemade vegetable soup kick and it’s literally a “kitchen sink” kinda soup. She loads it up with tons of veggies and beans and it’s delicious, hearty and nourishing. This pot had carrots, cabbage, celery, tomatoes, potatoes, cauliflower, peepers, broccoli, black beans, white beans and chickpeas in it…and probably more that I’m missing!

Smoothie bowl with almond milk, Bulletproof gut health collagen protein, peanut butter, plain greek yogurt, medjool date, frozen cherries, raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, bananas and spinach with Purely Elizabeth pumpkin cinnamon granola.

DINNER

Baked salmon seasoned with Dizzy Pig’s Shaking the Tree and Mediterranean-ish rubs and lemon slices served over brown rice with Trader Joe’s herbed tahini sauce and parmesan.

Baked sweet potato topped with shredded chicken breast, shredded cheese, hummus and avocado. Roasted cauliflower on the side. This is an excellent combo, BTW!

Meatballs over polenta with homemade popovers. My dad made this dinner when I was in Florida for Thanksgiving. It was very tasty! A great cold weather meal.

Speaking of meatballs…here are some Trader Joe’s turkey meatballs that I cooked with jarred red pesto from ALDI and a little half and half. I served it over steamed rice with some roasted brussel sprouts and shredded gouda cheese.

Sheet pan meal with chicken breasts, Yukon gold potatoes, baby portobello mushrooms and brussel sprouts. The chicken breasts were seasoned with Dizzy Pig’s Wonder Bird rub.

Leftovers from the sheet pan dinner topped with shredded gouda and the Trader Joe’s herbed tahini sauce.

Trader Joe’s Paneer Tikka Masala with buttered, toasted naan.

Another Florida meal…my dad’s chili topped with crushed saltines, cheese, avocado and sour cream.

Chopped romaine with Trader Joe’s air fried gluten-free chicken nuggets, pecans, tomatoes, avocado, shredded cheese, carrots and a mix of Trader Joe’s Cilantro and Ranch dressings.

Homemade spaghetti with shredded cheese. Parm is great but I really love my spaghetti with a yellow cheese like cheddar or colby jack.

Cheese omelet with avocado and kimchi. Toast and orange slices on the side.

Oh my gosh…more Trader Joe’s! This is their riced cauliflower stir fry to which I added chopped cooked chicken breast and a scrambled egg.

Grilled cheese with two types of cheese and fig jam – cheddar and havarti. Cooked in salted butter and served with tomato soup.

ETC

I’ve always been an ice cream lover but we are really having a moment right now. I’m on a kick where I’m either having ice cream or homemade hot chocolate every night for dessert. I don’t know what’s gotten into me but I’m not mad about it! 🙂

Here are two Jeni’s flavors that I 10/10 recommend. That Brambleberry Crisp is one of my favorite ice cream flavors of all time.

My mom convinced me to get this Boston Cream Pie flavor when I was in Florida and she was not wrong with her suggestion. I have her turned on to Jeni’s now too after sending her a four-pack for her birthday back in October. Hot tip for a gift idea if you have an ice cream lover in your life! They ship nationwide and have so many great flavors.

And I picked up this pint at Harris Teeter last week and it blew me away! The flavor and texture were ah-mazing. It’s soooooo creamy.

QUESTIONS 

What’s on your dinner menu this week? 

Do you drink smoothies/eat smoothie bowls when it’s cold out? 

Any suggestions for favorite desserts/sweets from Trader Joe’s? 

Have you tried Jeni’s?