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Goodbye 2010 and hello 2011!  A new year is a great time for new beginnings, and we've decided to make some big changes.  In an effort to bring you a better and more user-friendly experience, we're moving our "Cooking with Trader Joe's" blog to a new address blog.cooktj.com .  We will be using an updated format and platform that we're very excited about.   Please bookmark this new URL and visit us often. But wait, there's more!  To kick off the new year and jumpstart our new recipe... Read Full Story

It's been another fun and wild year, complete with a new Trader Joe's cookbook (hooray, our third!) and the launch of our new recipe website .   This year, my New Year's Eve celebrations will include popping the corks on a couple of bottles of Prosecco.  Prosecco is an Italian dry sparkling wine, and the Zonin Prosecco at Trader Joe's is a great, easy-drinking, affordable ($6.99 a bottle) choice.  It's been a favorite of mine all year long and has earned a spot in our year-end libations... Read Full Story

This pie was inspired by one made famous by Mission Pies in San Francisco.  Long lines of customers mob the bakery at holiday times to buy their fresh baked pies, and this is one of their bestsellers. I decided to take the Pear Cranberry theme but make a crostata instead of a traditional pie.  A crostata is a freeform pie baked on a cookie sheet instead of a traditional pie pan.  I love the rustic look of the dough folded over the filling.  Don't worry about being too precise - keep the shape... Read Full Story

My kids love cinnamon sticks.  Whenever I make rice pudding (shown here), spiced cider, or oatmeal, I add a cinnamon stick much to their delight.  I think it started during the time they went to a Waldorf preschool.  The teacher would make oatmeal for them and put a cinnamon stick in the pot.  The cinnamon stick would disappear into the simmering oatmeal, to be discovered by the lucky child who had it scooped into their bowl.  Except they didn't call it a cinnamon stick - they called it a... Read Full Story

New spices appeared on TJ shelves last month, and we love the new modern look!  Newcomers are: curry, cayenne pepper, sesame seeds, thyme, rosemary, and black pepper.  At a mere $1.49-$1.99 per bottle, they're a terrific value!  Special holiday spices that only come around this time of year are: cinnamon sticks, nutmeg, and pumpkin spice.  It's a great time to clear out old spices and stock your cabinet with fresh bottles.   To facilitate our recipe contest, we're pleased to unveil our... Read Full Story

During December, we're all trying to think of gifts for an office mate, a neighbor, Mom, a sibling, a kid at college, or the host of the party to which we're headed.  The gift has to be festive, fun, classy, affordable, and something they'll simply love.  Over the years, I've found that a gift basket of Trader Joe's goodies goes over very well and is easy to put together.  You can customize it to the recipient, theming it around certain foods or just choosing your holiday favorites. A basket... Read Full Story

Black Friday is here early this year!  Our bestselling original Trader Joe's cookbook is now 50% off while supplies last.  What a steal! This is the original cookbook that delighted TJ fans everywhere and quickly became a cult classic.  Packaged in a longlasting hardcover, our original book is full of easy, healthy recipe ideas using shortcuts from Trader Joe's.  Every recipe has a full-color mouthwatering photo, so you can see exactly what you're preparing.  Check out our reviews on Amazon... Read Full Story

Gobble gobble!  In preparation for turkey day next week, I thought it would be helpful to repost tried-and-true Thanksgiving recipes. The first is elegant Roasted Turkey Breast with Cranberry Apple Stuffing , perfect for smaller gatherings.  Please click the link above to read an important tip on how to prepare this dish.  Do not follow package instructions on this one! Cranberry Sauce & Pomegranate Fresca are great condiments for turkey.  Try both the traditional version and a crunchy... Read Full Story

Trader Joe's Pumpkin Pancake and Waffle Mix has received cheers all around from Trader Joe's fans.   With this handy mix, it's a breeze to whip up fluffy pancakes with a distinct pumpkin-y flavor, a nice seasonal twist on ordinary pancakes.  I grew up with the other classic pancake variation: blueberry pancakes.  Would pumpkin and blueberry work together?  Why not.  I decided to combine them in a new format - instead of cooking pancakes on the stovetop, I'd just bake it all up in ramekins... Read Full Story

As we turn the corner into November, the aisles at Trader Joe's are filled with all ki nds of pumpkin-themed goods.  Pumpkin butter, pumpkin pancakes, pumpkin cream cheese, even pumpkin ice cream!  For today's post, if something doesn't include the word "pumpkin," I'm probably not going to mention it.  If you're itching for some recipes using the Organic Pumpkin Puree , we've got some really good ones!  Start your day off with some warm and spicy Pumpkin Oatmeal , then try some tasty... Read Full Story