As a friend, I’d like to warn you: if you go to Trader Joe’s soon, you will lose your damn mind over the plethora of holiday goodies.
I went on Sunday because I needed some basics (fruit, veggies, milk, eggs… B-O-R-I-N-G), but I didn’t get far before I lost my train of thought OMG SO MUCH GLAZED HONEY AND CARAMEL!
There was so much to look at, so much to drool over, so many calories and miles of jogging on the treadmill…
Do yourself a favor, and don’t read the nutrition facts on that dark chocolate caramel gingerbread candy bar… ? You don’t really need to know how many calories is in each and every square.
I plan to dog-ear and highlight all of the stuff I want to try in the new Fearless Flyer. If I find anything good, of course I’ll do you a solid and let you know. If you don’t mind, I expect the same courtesy from you (because we’re down like that).
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
No Trader Joe’s in North Dakota, sigh. Just a foot of snow from our first winter storm of the year, double sigh.
I’ll eat my next batch of Dark Chocolate Stars in your honor. I’ve never lived in snow, believe it or not. Do you like it? I know some people love it… I love the idea of a snowy Christmas but the reality of it doesn’t seem so great.
Snow is pretty, but you are right about the reality of it being not great! Mmm I love dark chocolate!
I’m such a wimp, and I know I definitely couldn’t hang. It was in the mid-40s here today and I bundled up in multiple layers, LOL!
The Dark Chocolate Stars send their regards. 🙂 I ate them with a hot cup of tea!
I am feeling that Rainbow of Honey set they have right now. I would make a perfect gift. But I’d never part with it once I bought it.
http://www.traderjoes.com/fearless-flyer/article/3323
And, yes! Those are chocolate bars with the percentage of cacao and where it was sourced. I got that for my friend on year and he LOVED it!
I really want a set of Rainbow Honey! It’s coming home with me next time I visit TJs. 🙂
Hi Karen,
Do all Trader Joe’s , East Coast , West Coast have the same stuff ?
But did they have chocolate star cookies ?
I have to find them soon or I will loose my mind !
Kisses to Connor Claire !
Ttyl ,
Michele DiCola
Hi Michele,
I think they do! I hear from East Coast gals that they get the same stuff I see in the my store here in California. 🙂
Connor sends her love!
Oh that box of numbered stuff in the second picture ARE chocolate…chocolate from around the world! It’s called the Passport of Chocolates or something like that. My mom (the dark chocolate lover) LOVES that box because it’s primarily dark chocolate. I get that LOOK mothers give their children when you don’t give them something they love. She. Loves. That. Box.
Yep, Kate & Zena is right. I’m a dark chocolate addict too. Numbers like 60, 70, 75, 80, 77 are thrilling! That tells what percent chocolate they are. Higher the number, darker the chocolate (60 is semi-sweet, I think). After 80 it’s real intense, but I’ve been know to eat 85, 88, 90…omg I love dark bitter chocolate so much!! Ghana, Venezuela, Tanzania are also thrilling… because those are the chocolate producing places! That means these are not only dark chocolates, but single origin!!!!! {I hope my multiple exclamation marks conveys that I’m doing somersaults in my living room because TJs has these}
I bought the honey gift set. I haven’t tried them yet, but it’s such a good deal! The bottles are really nice (heavy, solid glass) and you get a good amount of honey in each. We also tried the milk chocolate portfolio, which is really good. Some interesting flavors and good quality (the orange is my favorite). I go bonkers with the TJ holiday stuff. I need to go back to get more!
Hi Colleen,
I saw that honey set and was so tempted. I think I’m going to get it! While I’m there I’m hoping I can grab some Pecan Pie in a Jar. I wanted it last time and couldn’t find it.
Let me know if you find anything else I need to try. 🙂
Oh wow! 😀
*drools*
I need to get myself to Trader Joe’s this weekend. There are SO MANY things I need!
ok i need to go to trader joes now
I’m really drawn to those chocolates that are packaged to look like a set of books — two of my loves, chocolate and books!
This also makes me realize it’s time to start baking cookies, to perfect the recipes that I want to use for making holiday gifts — an assortment of home-baked cookies always seems to be appreciated! Lets’ see, last year it was chocolate chip with pecans, oatmeal with dried cherries and coconut, and peanut butter cookies with fresh-ground peanut butter and honey-roasted peanuts. I like to do something a bit different from the usual shapes-with-frosting-decoration or gingerbread/fruitcake cookies from my childhood. The peanut butter cookies looked terrible (like uneven little brownish lumps of I-won’t-say-what), but were super-popular because they tasted awesome. I’m still thinking about peppermint cookies for the holidays this year (ever since you asked us to choose between peppermint candy and gingerbread cookies). Maybe basic sugar cookies with crushed peppermint candy canes added? Maybe half of each dipped in melted chocolate with a drop or two of peppermint flavoring added? Hmmm… have to find a recipe, I can make up successful recipes for dinner sometimes, but for baking? That’s harder!
I vote for sugar cookies dipped in chocolate! 🙂
How are your chocolate chip and pecan cookies? I need a new recipe!
Chocolate is always good!
Everyone loves the chocolate chip cookies with pecans 🙂 We use the Nestles toll house cookie recipe, but use Ghirardelli chocolate chips instead, and also add a cup of chopped pecans. Walnuts are also good, but we like pecans better. They come out better if you chill the dough in the frig for at least a half hour before you bake them. It’s really easy. I like to mix up a double batch and freeze half of it to bake later.
Yes is it. 🙂 Thanks for the 411 on the recipe. I’ve used the Nestle one before; never thought to swap out the chips though! I’ve also never done pecan cookies, either, but since I loooooove pecan pie I’m betting it’ll be delicious. Thank you, Fran!
I got the caramel guessing game, the rainbow of honeys and the chili chocolates. Plus a bottle of wassail and a ginger beer. I may go back and restock before everything gets sold out!
How are those chili chocolates? I think my husband would like those!
By the way, did you read in the Fearless Flyer that they have chocolate cherry croissants? OMG!
I love cinnamon stars. I hate my local TJ’s. It’s on one of the only streets that crosses this silly town and the traffic delays it causes drives me nuts. It’s always, always super crowded. The lines are always super long at check-out. There’s never any parking, thus the traffic jams around the store. People seem to lose any driving sense they might have within 100 ft. of that store.
That said, when I do muster up enough nerve to go inside and shop, I do like the things I find.
When there was only one TJ’s in Marin county I hated going there. The parking lot was always crowded and people would get aggressive! Same thing with the store — cramped and crowded with long lines. Now there’s three, and the one that I shop at is in my town and it’s less than 10 minutes away. Lots of parking and lots of room inside the store. If you’re ever in Novato I’d suggest stopping by just so that you can enjoy the experience, LOL! And while you’re here you and I can go grab coffee, how fun would that be?!
That would be loads of fun. Count me in!
Do you come up this way when you visit your horse? If you do, let’s make a date for the next time!
Oh My! We finally got a Trader Joe’s in Grand Rapids, MI last year and I have not yet set foot in it…however your post plus a chat I had with a sweet lady in Ohio this morning tells me I absolutely must for this holiday season. Those international chocolate bars are all DARK! with awesome cacao percentages! Think very healthy!
BUT I will be right with you on the ellptical and treadmill all this month! Hubs & I leave Jan 1st for our annual Riviera Maya vacation! So my tushy needs to stay at least semi in shape for the beach 😉
I would really love to viait a TJ.
The toffee is really fantastic, there is just way too f*cking much! It’s so fattening. I love all the seasonal drinks like wassail, coffee, and tea. I also like the seasonal veggies. I just also made a cinnamon wreath this am from the frozen section.