The Comestibler

News and reviews of tasty comestibles and other stuff.

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Cookies for Christmas

Christmas time is cookie time and Trader Joe’s has a plethora of choices. These are a few that we like. From front to back in the photo.

Dark Chocolate Covered Peppermint Joe Joe’s

Sprinkled with candy cane bits and covered with dark chocolate, this festive version of a Joe Joe is the fancy sister of the seasonal peppermint Joe Joe’s. Which raises the question, is Joe Joe the singular form of Joe Joe’s? Or, since Joe Joe’s is possessive, is Joe Joe the singular and plural like sheep or Lego? The mysteries of grammar, but I digress. Bottom line is these are truly a special occasion cookie.

Cinnamon Stars

These are similar to the lebkuchen cookies, but a little more nutty and dense. Known as Nus-Sterne, nut star, in German and made for Trader Joe’s in Nuremberg, Germany. This is a two bite frosted cookie that looks festive sprinkled throughout a cookie platter or tuck a couple into your lunchbox for a not too sweet afternoon snack.

Danish Butter Cookies

Danish butter cookies are a holiday classic.  Trader Joe’s butter cookies are the real deal. Made in Denmark with just seven ingredients, they are buttery, (of course,) slightly sweet, and go with all your holiday activities. The tin they come in keeps them fresh and grab-able.            

Dark Chocolate Covered Shortbread Stars

At The Comestibler we watch for these little treats every holiday season even buying a couple of extra boxes to see us through January. They are just little shortbread stars covered in dark chocolate, but this is a case of the whole being greater than the sum of its parts. The chocolate isn’t too sweet or too bitter, the shortbread is crispy, and the sprinkles are like a dusting of snow. Just right with a cup of tea, glass of milk or mug of cocoa.

Sugar Glazed Lebkuken Cookies

These also come in a chocolate glazed version. Soft chewy cookies made in the German town of Nuremberg, lebkuchen are full of nuts, spices and citrus peel and are baked on an edible paper-like wafer called oblaten. They keep well and are still tasty after months of storage, but this Trader Joe’s version is soft and fresh.  Perfect with a mug of warm cider.

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5 Holiday Helpers from Trader Joe’s

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Trader Joe’s Salad Palette, Turkey Harvest

Sweet potatoes, turkey breast, Brussels sprouts, kale, spinach, dried cranberries, with an apple cider vinaigrette

 This attractive Salad Palette from Trader Joe’s is another ode to the feast of fall. Kale and roasted Brussels sprouts give it just an edge of bitter that is a nice contrast to the roasted sweet potato and dried cranberries. I find the dressings included with premade salads are often too sweet for my taste, but the vinaigrette here is nicely balanced.

Brussels sprouts, or as I have seen them labeled in the market, “little green balls of death,” are an oddly named vegetable that has never been my favorite. I blame it on too many Sunday roast dinners where they are an overcooked, stinky mass of green on an otherwise tasty plate. In this salad they are roasted and not at all mushy. Not something I would think of including in a salad, but it works.

I would buy this again, little green balls of death and all. Mr. Comestibler is not a salad guy, but did like this one. We both liked the vinaigrette and wish that it was possible to buy it separately. Stop by your neighborhood TJ’s and pick one up.

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Easy Peasy Mac n Cheese

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Turkey Gobbler Wrap

Roast turkey, stuffing, cranberries, and cream cheese in a flour tortilla with a festive dipping sauce.

At the Comestibler we love Thanksgiving and this seasonal offering from Trader Joe’s is like a turkey dinner in a wrap.  The turkey is moist and the cranberries provide a burst of welcome tartness. The stuffing is tasty for a mass produced variety. Defiantly better than Stovetop, but not as good as grandma’s -  nothing is as good as grandma’s.

The dipping sauce is sort of gravyesque in a way that I can’t decide if I like or not. Maybe if it was warm? Mr. Comestibler loved this wrap, ersatz gravy and all, and says he would happily eat it again. I liked it well enough to possibly create something similar from the leftovers of our turkey day feast.

All in all, a solid lunch pick while it’s available.

[thecomestibler]

9 Trader Joe's Treats for Fall

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Trader Joe’s Harvest Blend Herbal Tea (caffeine free)

When the weather turns chilly and the leaves start to fall I look for a warm winter drink to sip by the fire - or in front of the computer. This herbal blend is super cinnamony. Pretty much all Mr. Comestibler and I taste is cinnamon with a hint of orange. Not that this is a bad thing since it is a very good cinnamon. Sometimes spice teas can be harsh, but not this one.

It’s great with a Trader Joe’s Maple Leaf cookie. Heat up a few of the teabags with some apple juice for an easy spiced cider.

[thecomestibler]

Trader Joe’s Bourbon Barrel Aged Maple Syrup

I have never been much of a fan of real maple syrup. I like the flavor, but the watery consistency is a turn off. This offering from Trader Joe’s is different. Not only is it very smooth and tasty, but it has a thicker consistency that doesn’t soak my pancakes like water.

This syrup is best used on a blank canvas. I served it with my mom’s Swedish pancakes. It is also good mixed with some mascarpone as a dip for apple wedges.This is a syrup to use as an accent. At my local Trader Joe’s they were sampling it drizzled on molasses cake with a dab of whipped cream. mmm