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drewsma
PeaNut
PeaNut 142,371
April 2004
Posts: 175
Layouts: 1
Loc: In the land of Pooh
 |  Posted: 12/10/2012 4:23:14 PM
Just found out a Trader Joe's is opening in my area this week. I've heard how great some of their products are. How about some suggestions from all the Trader Joe's fans on this board? | |
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Peabay
Happy now?
PeaNut 156,993
July 2004
Posts: 44,673
Layouts: 13
Loc: Connecticut
 | Posted: 12/10/2012 4:43:43 PM
Chocolate covered sea salt butterscotch caramels. |
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BlankPea
PeaNut
PeaNut 457,049
February 2010
Posts: 203
Layouts: 0
 | Posted: 12/10/2012 4:46:04 PM
TRADER JOES FAVORITES
Dark Chocolate Shortbread Star Cookies To die for goodness!
CHEESE SECTION Trader Joes Shaved GRANA PADANO PARMESAN 5 oz 4.99
NEXT TO THE CHEESE SECTION Trader Giottos Fresh Bruschetta Sauce 14.5 oz
BREAD SECTION mini baquettes and french rolls like 99 cents a mini loaf to go w/bruschetta
CHIPS SECTION Trader Joes Pita Chips Parmesan,Garlic and Herb (I am eating some now cause I had to look at the package for you)
SOUP SECTION Condensed Cream of Portabella Mushroom Soup 11 0z in a carton not can OMG makes AMAZING GRAVY!Seasonal Item Only
Balsamic Vinegar of Modena 17 oz (OMG YUMMY!!!!)
REFRIG/PRODUCE SECTION Trader Joes Butter Lettuce 7 oz bag
PRODUCE SECTION Fresh Basil Plant 2.99 and they have amazing small bags of Trader Joes Dutch Yellow Baby Potatoes (3 min in the micro and they are done) and a bag of Sun World Mini Peppers Sweet!
DESSERT SECTION Mini Triple Choc bundt cakes! (OMG again)
FROZEN SECTION Trader Joes Choc Croissants 4 to a box 12 oz let rise all night put butter on bottom while frozen cause once they are thawed and you touch them they will shrink! Yep I learned the hard way!
Check out their cooked meats near the cheese section Trader Joes Traditional Carnitas is also amazing and no need to make carnitas anymore. Its the perfect portion for the 2 of us with leftovers!
OMG now I am starving and want choc cake and croissants for breakfast! I know there are other favs but for now thats all you get.
Hope this helps you and introduces you to some NEW great and easy stuff! | |
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MikeWozowski
Ancient Ancestor of Pea
PeaNut 174,400
October 2004
Posts: 7,464
Layouts: 20
| Posted: 12/10/2012 4:48:03 PM
we like the
chocolate covered pretzels
hummus
caesar salad
tandoori naan bread
cinnamon swirl bread
joes asian sauce
brown rice
cookie butter
i am sure there are other things, but that is all i can think of right now. | |
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Monklady123
AncestralPea
PeaNut 475,028
July 2010
Posts: 4,500
Layouts: 0
Loc: Northern VA
 | Posted: 12/10/2012 4:49:23 PM
Chocolate cheddar cheese. Seriously.  |
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agnes
PeaFixture
PeaNut 11,430
February 2001
Posts: 3,676
Layouts: 23
Loc: No. CA 95610
 | Posted: 12/10/2012 4:55:26 PM
Gorgonzola Cheese Torta
Decaf Peppermint Tea
Pumpkin Butter
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Simply_Lovely
PeaFixture
PeaNut 463,295
April 2010
Posts: 3,300
Layouts: 3
Loc: New York City
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BethAnneM
Hermetically sealed for your protection
PeaNut 95,504
July 2003
Posts: 7,409
Layouts: 0
Loc: Cali Baby
| Posted: 12/10/2012 5:01:11 PM
Are you a coffee lover? If you are you must buy 10 boxes of the Kona Coffee Creamy Half-Dipped Shortbread Cookies. They are CRACK! |
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MNshotz
PeaAddict
PeaNut 4,405
May 2000
Posts: 1,736
Layouts: 33
 | Posted: 12/10/2012 5:10:56 PM
POWERBERRIES!!! |
Shawn
my gallery www.mnshotz.com
Finding joy and beauty everywhere!!
Canon 7D | |
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Anna in TX
StuckOnPeas
PeaNut 23,002
October 2001
Posts: 2,096
Layouts: 11
Loc: TX
 | Posted: 12/10/2012 5:11:08 PM
I'm marking my spot. A TJ's opened here a month ago--I haven't had time to go yet! |
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TheBiscuitScraps
Bubbie is my most prized title.
PeaNut 99,833
August 2003
Posts: 5,226
Layouts: 2
Loc: Raleigh, North Carolina
| Posted: 12/10/2012 6:28:00 PM
In the freezer section, plain cheese cake. I add our own topping. |
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mamato1
PEA-vil Genius
PeaNut 54,808
November 2002
Posts: 12,243
Layouts: 138
Loc: Sweet Home Chicago
 | Posted: 12/10/2012 7:19:27 PM
It would easier for me to list what I didn't like from Trader Joe's.
Ive really not been disappointed in the quality of anything we've purchased from there. |
~*Jamie*~
happily married to my very own Geek
Mom to the Divine Miss Em, sweet Cadiebug and baby Annie (6/09) | |
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*Delphinium Twinkle*
I'm just a pea:)
PeaNut 163,613
August 2004
Posts: 68,304
Layouts: 236
Loc: *Sunny Southern California*
| Posted: 12/10/2012 7:26:57 PM
The only thing I've found I don't like there us their Greens and their Reds drink mixes.
These are in the vitamin section and beyond nasty!
I had high hopes that they'd be as delicious as Greens2go
But I was sadly mistaken. I couldn't even gag them down.
Other than that, I honestly like everything I've bought there.
Oh, and if you don't like something, they'll take it back |
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NaughtiusMaximus
PeaNut
PeaNut 542,344
February 2012
Posts: 101
Layouts: 0
 | Posted: 12/10/2012 8:30:15 PM
Frozen section, three words: MANDARIN. ORANGE. CHICKEN.
Make it right, and it's just as good as Panda, etc. They say to put the sauce packets in after the chicken has cooked, but we found it was too runny. We just throw it in the pan about halfway through the cooking process and it reduces nicely. YUMM! Get the microwaveable frozen boxed Basmati or brown rice, and you have a good meal in about 5 minutes or so, and VERY LITTLE if any chemicals or unpronounceable ingredients, which is what the big draw of TJs is.
Also in the frozen section, that which CA TJ'ers buy in droves: Mac n Cheese. Think quick and easy microwaveable mac n cheese has to be nuclear orange and awful? Guess again! This is Mac n Cheese of the gods, four-cheese and with real ingredients. Yummy and gooey in about 3.5 minutes.
Also at TJ's: VITAMINS. High quality vitamins and supplements/protein powders, much cheaper than gyms, etc. Our friends basically bring an extra suitcase with them when they fly out here to SoCal, and one of the first stops is to TJs to fill it up with vitamins etc.
And...Two-buck Chuck! Actually a very good wine. And it is indeed two bucks! We prefer the Merlot to the Zinfandel.
Congratulations! Now go try and find a parking space! (TJ = infamous for that) | |
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NaughtiusMaximus
PeaNut
PeaNut 542,344
February 2012
Posts: 101
Layouts: 0
| Posted: 12/10/2012 8:31:07 PM
Oh yeah, ditto on the Tandoori Naan Bread, regular or garlic. | |
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IPeaFreely
It's a Higgs, baby!
PeaNut 120,657
December 2003
Posts: 12,239
Layouts: 32
Loc: CERN
| Posted: 12/10/2012 8:38:16 PM
Cuban Black Bean Soup! i just cooked pork chops in it and they were delish. Some of my other favs are:
Sourdough bread with seeds
2buck Chuck
Spanish cheese sampler
Frozen taquitos
Maple cookies
Peppermint Joe Joes
Artichoke tapenade
Bruscetta
Wasabi mayo
My rule is anything that looks good to you IS good from TJs. | |
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Fireflyy
StuckOnPeas
PeaNut 409,118
January 2009
Posts: 2,354
Layouts: 0
Loc: NC
 | Posted: 12/10/2012 8:40:56 PM
Peabay, is the caramel soft or chewy? I saw those today and almost picked them up.
What are powerberries? | |
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StampinChick
PeaFixture
PeaNut 105,522
September 2003
Posts: 3,603
Layouts: 4
Loc: Poop is raining from the ceiling. Poop!
| Posted: 12/10/2012 8:49:39 PM
Chocolate covered sea salt butterscotch caramels.
This bears repeating. My closest Trader Joe's is an hour away plus involves $8 in tolls so I don't go there very often. A couple of weeks ago I tried these for the first time. I almost cried after I tried them for the first time because I only bought one box and it's not practical to make another trip this soon. I bought a bag of Ghiradelli dark chocolate sea salt caramels hoping they might be close. Nope. The TJ's have bits of sea salt on top and it adds a bit of crunch and just the right amount of saltiness to the caramels.
Does anybody know if these are a seasonal item or are the sold year round?
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===================================
Bears. Beets. Battlestar Galactica.
Kim
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dietcokejunkee
PeaAddict
PeaNut 37,211
April 2002
Posts: 1,307
Layouts: 0
Loc: Chicago suburbs (SW)
| Posted: 12/10/2012 8:55:33 PM
somebody a while back recommended the Corn Salsa (no tomato salsa) found by the chips. LOVE IT! I highly recommend it. Sweet and spicy and yummy, if you like corn.
Staples for me:
Hummus
Sunflower seed butter (to dip apples in)
sunflower seeds for salad
flax seeds
brown jasmine rice
chili lime chicken patties (frozen 4/box)
pot stickers for kids (chicken)
The peppermint pretzel things out now are delish! Not sure of the name. The bag was devoured the day I brought home. | |
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back to *pea*ality
PeaFixture
PeaNut 471,633
June 2010
Posts: 3,713
Layouts: 0
| Posted: 12/10/2012 9:06:22 PM
This time of year candy cane joe- joe's and sipping chocolate.
Frozen section mandarin orange chicken & beef with broccoli and boxes of organic brown rice are easy go to meals.
Also, staples like organic low sodium chicken stock.
One of my favorite treats are dark chocolate peanut butter cups. Have fun at TJ's! | |
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scrapmingo
PeaAddict
PeaNut 173,756
October 2004
Posts: 1,918
Layouts: 18
Loc: Maine
| Posted: 12/10/2012 9:06:54 PM
Chili lime chicken burgers are amazing!!!! |
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redboots
BucketHead
PeaNut 399,301
November 2008
Posts: 908
Layouts: 0
| Posted: 12/10/2012 9:23:19 PM
Some of my favorites:
Tikka Masala Sauce (great with chicken);
Garlic naan bread (frozen aisle);
Arugula Pizza (frozen aisle);
Jo Jo's (their answer to the oreo);
Hummus;
Greek style yogurt;
Vodka sauce;
Fat free balsamic dressing;
The cranberry/chevre cheese roll;
The denta bones they sell if you have dogs....
So many good things there! | |
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Speattle
"FANCY-PARKING", Pea-Knitting & WASL-Free-Pea
PeaNut 140,392
April 2004
Posts: 16,048
Layouts: 35
Loc: In a parking lot, backed in!
| Posted: 12/11/2012 12:01:47 PM
If your TJ opens after Christmas, don't expect it to be stocked with a lot of their Christmas specialty items till next year.
I love almost everything I buy there. Recently I tried their crisp rice cereal. It tastes exactly like the Name Brand! and lot less expensive. |
ASTOUNDED to be here again!
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CMCLisa
PeaNut
PeaNut 103,722
August 2003
Posts: 299
Layouts: 4
Loc: Westland, MI
| Posted: 12/11/2012 12:30:39 PM
Love everything I've tried from there but a few favorites are the shelf stable whipping cream, dark chocolate roasted pistachio toffee, frozen chocolate croissants & frozen breaded eggplant cutlets. |
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peanuttle
PeaAddict
PeaNut 136,677
March 2004
Posts: 1,051
Layouts: 0
| Posted: 12/11/2012 12:44:18 PM
We love their flat breads (in the bread and tortilla section). We buy a pack, then get their bruschetta and cheese and make flat bread pizzas on the grill.
We also like:
Rosemary cibatta rolls (usually near the cheese section). They are outstanding for panini's
Hummus (red pepper's my fav)
Prepackaged veggies- Great prices and so easy.
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mapchic
Top Tier Pea
PeaNut 31,157
February 2002
Posts: 12,169
Layouts: 55
Loc: Chicagoland
| Posted: 12/11/2012 12:53:46 PM
Chocolate covered sea salt butterscotch caramels.
Was it you Peabay who called them 'tears of angels' on another thread? Because of that I picked some up last night... they are AMAZING!!!!! I don't know if I should thank you or curse you for introducing me to these delicious high calorie treats.
Things I love at Trader Joes...
Chocolate covered everything is amazing at Trader Joes.
Microwave brown rice
Frozen French onion soup
Raw pizza dough (whole wheat)
Diet ginger ale (it seems extra gingery - which I like)
Rasberry jam
Frozen spinach and artichoke dip
Frozen chocolate croissants (you put them out the night before to proof)
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"When someone asks you 'think about what Jesus would do', remember that a valid option is to freak out and turn over tables" -- Unknown
“I am a Roman Catholic - the one true faith, (the Microsoft of Christianity) and I know Roman Catholicism is the one true faith because Roman Catholicism tells me it’s the one true faith... And if you remember from earlier in this sentence Roman Catholicism is the one true faith – so how could it be wrong?” ~ Stephen Colbert ‘The Word’ 11-28-06
Vocatus atque non vocatus, Deus aderit | |
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Peabay
Happy now?
PeaNut 156,993
July 2004
Posts: 44,673
Layouts: 13
Loc: Connecticut
| Posted: 12/11/2012 12:56:49 PM
Was it you Peabay who called them 'tears of angels' on another thread? Because of that I picked some up last night... they are AMAZING!!!!! I don't know if I should thank you or curse you for introducing me to these delicious high calorie treats.
Lol. Yes I did. OMG, they're amazing. I can never buy them again. Ever. |
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tlsmi
PeaAddict
PeaNut 329,106
July 2007
Posts: 1,264
Layouts: 0
 | Posted: 12/11/2012 1:03:09 PM
Chocolate covered sea salt butterscotch caramels.
Hell's bell's, I was just there TODAY and passed these by.
I love their:
Corn salsa
Cereal, pecan clusters
Coconut Oil
Vegetables
Mac n Cheese
Fresh flowers
They had really nice fresh wreaths in our store for $22.00 and
their little Christmas trees are so cute!
Also picked up FIL a variety nut tray as a 'stocking stuffer'.
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"The difference between ignorance and apathy?
I don't know, and I couldn't care less..."
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moonglowe21
BucketHead
PeaNut 102,454
August 2003
Posts: 813
Layouts: 17
Loc: I've lost track...
| Posted: 12/11/2012 1:07:48 PM
Just a few of our favorites are:
Chili Lime Chicken Burgers (frozen)
Greek chicken w/feta, olives and rice (refrigerated section)
Frozen Naan
Corn Salsa
Jalapeno-cilantro hummus w/Sea Salt Pita Chips
Dark Chocolate Almond Toffee (near the registers in a little red pouch)
Cheese Enchiladas (frozen)
Channa Masala (Indian Chickpeas--in the freezer)--goes great with the naan!!
SO many more things. Honestly, you can't really go wrong whatever you decide to try. The only single thing we haven't liked so far was the Orange Chicken that everybody raves about!  Have fun shopping!
(*edited to correct the name of one item) |
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FLA SummerBaby
StuckOnPeas
PeaNut 290,599
January 2007
Posts: 2,921
Layouts: 0
Loc: Sunny FLA
 | Posted: 12/11/2012 1:55:33 PM
Ironically we are opening our first TJ's here tomorrow!!!! Can't wait after everything I have read on here for years. Thanks for this thread.
~~ Lisa ~~ | |
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brab74
PeaFixture
PeaNut 455,916
February 2010
Posts: 3,634
Layouts: 15
Loc: Central Illinois
| Posted: 12/11/2012 3:25:56 PM
Frozen mushroom risotto. | |
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Creativegirl
StuckOnPeas
PeaNut 180,283
December 2004
Posts: 2,803
Layouts: 18
Loc: California
| Posted: 12/11/2012 3:32:06 PM
I am going this afternoon for a few things, but now my list is getting longer- lol!
The main reason I am going is to get the Salted Caramel Chai mix I saw in their ad. Haven't tried it yet but it sounds too good to pass up! |
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NaughtiusMaximus
PeaNut
PeaNut 542,344
February 2012
Posts: 101
Layouts: 0
| Posted: 12/11/2012 3:41:22 PM
Oh, yeah, I forgot about that cranberry/chevre roll. It will destroy you. Destroy. | |
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NaughtiusMaximus
PeaNut
PeaNut 542,344
February 2012
Posts: 101
Layouts: 0
| Posted: 12/11/2012 3:42:11 PM
Great. Now I have to go there tonight. (Homer Simpson drool) | |
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NaughtiusMaximus
PeaNut
PeaNut 542,344
February 2012
Posts: 101
Layouts: 0
| Posted: 12/11/2012 3:44:57 PM
Oh yeah, one other thing -- the shrimp shu mai in the frozen section (there's usually a "central upright case" in the middle of the long frozen cases, where the pizza and stuff are. Usually the shu mais are there. Buy a couple boxes and throw them in the freezer. They make a GREAT emergency appetizer.
And TJ's cocktail sauce and ketchup have NO high fructose corn syrup, and both taste GREAT. We actually make Bloody Marys with the cocktail sauce. Throw in a couple dashes of A-1 and you have a cocktail you can practically eat with a fork. Yummmmm. | |
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batya
Making the WWW better, one post at a time.
PeaNut 59,094
December 2002
Posts: 31,838
Layouts: 24
Loc: up on my high horse
| Posted: 12/11/2012 3:46:02 PM
frozen falafel balls
frozen no meat meat balls
frozen haricot verte (thin green beans)
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OK. Newbie. This is how it works. If your post consists of 80% sanity, 10% stupidity and 10% all kinds of crazy, we immediately focus on the 20% b/c it discredits the 80%.
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SunnySmile
PeaAddict
PeaNut 193,617
February 2005
Posts: 1,702
Layouts: 19
| Posted: 12/11/2012 4:04:10 PM
Tomato and roasted red pepper soup in the carton. OMG sooooooo good. I honestly haven't found something I don't like from there. We had one store open about 40 miles from me last month. I finally went last weekend. The lines to the registers snaked clear back into the food aisles...it was awesome! By the time I was done shopping they were short...yay!
ETA: Triple ginger snaps. They have crystalized ginger in them. so good! | |
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gorgeouskid
You gots to access your uncrazy side.
PeaNut 83,119
April 2003
Posts: 9,736
Layouts: 10
| Posted: 12/11/2012 4:11:07 PM
Rosemary raisin crackers with herbed chevre (goat cheese)
roasted garlic hummus
gyoza and gyoza sauce
mini quiches
chili lime chicken patties
gumdrops
sea salt caramels
meyer lemon thin cookies
triple ginger snaps
I usually like their packaged meats (esp- kogi marinated beef for tacos) | |
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MichyM
Macro PhotograPea
PeaNut 15,409
May 2001
Posts: 7,716
Layouts: 17
Loc: Queen Anne Hill
| Posted: 12/11/2012 4:19:57 PM
I make homemade granola as gifts. Trader Joe's prices on nuts and pure maple syrup (ingredients I need in large quantities for it) are great!
I was there this morning and also picked up several containers of salted caramels (no chocolate) to give to our neighbors since I'm not doing any holiday baking this year. They look delicious....and I'm trying very hard not to open one of the boxes "just to check." |
Lauren
_____________________________________
My Blog
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NaughtiusMaximus
PeaNut
PeaNut 542,344
February 2012
Posts: 101
Layouts: 0
| Posted: 12/11/2012 6:07:23 PM
But Michy, something could be WRONG with them! Especially that one on top. And maybe the one next to it... | |
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aj*smile
PeaAddict
PeaNut 373,014
April 2008
Posts: 1,939
Layouts: 0
Loc: Planet Earth
| Posted: 12/11/2012 8:26:48 PM
Everything!
Tea Tree Shampoo (sls free)
Kitchen hand soap (also sls free)
Face moisturizer (better and cheaper than Olay)
Coffee
Mint Tea
Rooibos Tea
Chamomile Tea
Luna Bars (they carry flavors no one else around here has)
Cheese (something or other from New Zealand ... awesome)
Yogurt (Blackberry Greek)
Oatmeal Flakes Cereal
Orange Marmalade
Alfredo pasta sauce paired with their spinach ravioli
Olive oil
Vitamins
Peach salsa heated to top their Ahi Tuna Steaks (frozen section)
Milton's bread
Basically anything in the chip/cracker aisle
Sushi (not as fresh as hand rolled in a restaurant, but perfect for a quick and satisfying lunch)
Greeting cards
Cocktail sauce
Black peppercorn grinder
Sea salt grinder
Pink lemonade in the glass bottles
The single only thing I haven't liked is their fresh flower selection. They seemed to carry gnat-ish bugs  .
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Andrea
Photography / Facebook / Twitter
"Don't blow it. Good planets are hard to find." - Time Magazine cover
"The only great camera is the camera that's there with you when the light happens." - Nick Devlin
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EmileeClaire
PeaNut
PeaNut 545,005
February 2012
Posts: 31
Layouts: 0
| Posted: 12/11/2012 8:35:08 PM
If you like smoothies totally get the frozen mango also its sooo good if you just let it soften fire about five min and eat it with a fork YUM!!! | |
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scorPEAo
AncestralPea
PeaNut 181,836
December 2004
Posts: 4,981
Layouts: 0
Loc: YouSeeDavis
| Posted: 12/11/2012 10:04:16 PM
The rice crispie treats...they are crack! Soooo yummy! |
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