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Plus seven more items we couldn’t get enough of in 2023.
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Stephanie Ganz
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Tag: team:groceries
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The Best $1 Freezer Find We Bought at Aldi All Year
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The $2 “Perfect” Boxed Cake Mix My Aunt Swears By for All Of Her Holiday Baking
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We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.Boxed cake mix is the unsung hero of the dessert world. A fixture on supermarket shelves, its versatility makes it a game changer for home bakers. Beyond cake (an obvious use, no doubt), I use these mixes in some of my most memorable, cookies, quickbreads, and breakfast baked goods.
I’m no stranger to a good semi-homemade hack. I typically opt for traditional flavors like Funfetti or devil’s food, but, this year, I’m taking inspo from my husband’s aunt, who used the same boxed mix a few Christmas’ ago. Duncan Hines Spice Cake Mix contains all the coziness of the holiday season, featuring notable warming spices — cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg.
What’s So Great About Duncan Hines Spice Cake Mix?
For less than $2 per box, the mix easily comes together with a few other kitchen staples (oil, eggs, water) to create a perfect moist and fluffy cake that’s as good for dessert as it is for breakfast. It’s formulated to yield consistent results every time, and doesn’t require the complexity of ingredients or technique that other (from-scratch) spice cakes do.
What’s more, it’s available all-year round, so no need to worry about it flying off the shelves during the height of the holidays. The long shelf life of boxed cake mix makes it perfect to keep around for when the mood strikes.
What’s the Best Way to Use Duncan Hines Spice Cake Mix?
While enjoyable on its own, I was surprised to discover the unique flavor profile of this spice cake mix makes it a versatile canvas for many different treats. I recently stocked up on several boxes to last me throughout the holiday season and made what is perhaps my favorite pairing for a warm, wintry beverage: biscotti.
These spice cake mix biscotti make for a crunchy, dippable afternoon snack or accompaniment for morning coffee. Prepare the mix according to boxed instructions — swapping the oil for unsalted butter, and adding flour in place of water to create a dough. I shape and bake as I would with most any biscotti, and once cooled, drizzle mine with a layer of white chocolate. You could also mix some pecans, dried cranberries, or candied ginger into the batter for some extra pizzazz.
If you’re looking to branch out from biscotti, spice cake mix can become the basis for a variety of minimal-effort treats. Paired with a can of pumpkin, you can whip up the easiest 2-ingredient muffins — then, stuff said muffins with a spread of cream cheese frosting for the easiest pumpkin spice whoopie pies. Speaking of pumpkin, for easy entertaining, the cake portion of this pumpkin roll could easily be swapped for the boxed mix to create a dessert that’s bound to impress.
The mix also creates the perfect foundation for different flavor profiles. Add molasses and cloves for gingerbread, applesauce for apple cake, or, a personal favorite, carrots, raisins, and walnuts for carrot cake.
After discovering all of the simple, straightforward, and customizable possibilities, I’ll be baking through my boxes for sweet, spiced treats the rest of the season.
What’s your go-to baking mix for the holidays? Tell us about it in the comments below.
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Rachel Reiss
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We Tried 9 Ginger Ales — And the Winner Is Not What You Think
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We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.For some, ginger ale is a perpetual resident of their fridge; for others, it’s only a must-buy for holiday parties (the leftovers — even sans bubbles — make excellent next-day crepes). No matter where you fall on the fizzy spectrum, chances are high you want the best ginger ale money can buy. That, dear reader, is where we come in.
We tasted our way through nine ginger ales (not to be confused with ginger beer), focusing on widely available national brands and regional players with a decent online presence. We eliminated any potential contenders with high-fructose corn syrup in the ingredient list, which ended up including eight ginger ales (many from major brands). All but two are made with cane sugar; the ones that aren’t contain fructose (fruit sugar) and agave.
While some ginger ales were less than $1 per can (when sold in bulk bottles or packs of four, six, or 12), we added in a few pricier options to see if any are worth the splurge. We also looked at recent sales data and past taste tests to round out the selection.
After one bubbly afternoon of tasting and tallying, these are the ginger ales you’d find in our fridge from here on out.
Best Ginger Ale: Reed’s Real Ginger Ale
Reed’s Real Ginger Ale is, in two words, “on point.” (Just ask our Social Media Manager, Brian W.) In fact, seven out of 10 tasters rank this ginger ale in their top-three favorites — four of them listing it as their number one pick. From the jump, tasters are smitten: “It smells really tasty and the color looks attractive,” says Sam, our Social Media Manager. Maya, our Studio Assistant, likens Reed’s to “green tea” colorwise, with a “smell that has a bit of a bite to it, but not overpowering.”
Beyond its appealing looks and aroma, Reed’s earns high marks for its “very gingery flavor,” says Maria, our Senior Designer, though she also thinks “it could be sweeter,” and “good carbonation,” says Raquel, our Account Manager. It’s made with a handful of ingredients — sparkling filtered water, cane sugar, pressed organic ginger, natural flavors, citric acid — and several people note (and enjoy!) those citrusy notes. But what really clinched it: The “refreshing” taste, says April, our Co-op Partner Manager, adding “it goes down real easy.”
Runner-Up: 365 by Whole Foods Market Ginger Ale
Ironically, the runner-up stood out for its mild, well, everything. Another five-ingredient wonder, 365 by Whole Foods Market Ginger Ale contains carbonated water, invert cane sugar (boiled water and sugar), citric acid, natural flavor, and caramel color. That combination translates to a “slightly golden” or “VERY PALE!” color, depending on who you’re talking to, and an aroma that’s somewhere between “faint” and “non-existent” — or “an instant hit,” as Brian W calls it. The muted flavor is also a hit for tasters, like Maya, who call it “nice and balanced” and “not too sweet, not too herbal/ginger heavy.” Even the bubbles are “very fine.”
“Classic,” “very familiar,” and “instantly recognizable” are just a few of the (nice) things tasters had to say about Whole Foods’ store-brand ginger ale. In fact, several were shocked to learn this wasn’t the beloved ginger ale they grew up drinking! We guess that means it’s time for a new favorite. (Five tasters did rank this pick in their top three.)
How We Tested the Ginger Ales
We held a blind taste test of nine different ginger ales and recruited 10 ginger ale enthusiasts (so you know they’re qualified) who work in our office to participate in this one-day test. Fun fact: Two said ginger ale is the only soda they drink. Whether it’s their drink of choice on a flight, with takeout, or whisky — especially during the holidays, tasters want a tall glass of ginger ale that’s ginger-forward with strong carbonation and some sweetness. Overly sugary taste was the number one watchout for most.
Each ginger ale was assigned a letter to conceal the brand’s identity. After chilling them in the fridge, Tom, our Studio Producer, poured each one into an unmarked pitcher/large liquid measuring cup. Tasters were instructed to sample the ginger ales in random order to avoid giving any one entrant an advantage. We also had pitchers of cold water on hand for palate cleansing.
Tasters rated each of the ginger ale on a scale of one to five (1 = No, thanks; 2 = Meh; 3 = Pretty good; 4 = Really like; 5 = Yes, Please!) across four criteria — look, smell, texture, and flavor — and included any specific observations, tasting notes, and general opinions worth mentioning. They were also asked to answer, arguably, the most important question of all: Would you buy this ginger ale?
This was a blind taste test, which means tasters had no knowledge of the brands being evaluated ahead of or at the time of the tasting. It was held over one day and tasters were instructed to sample the ginger ales in random order (to stave off palate fatigue and not give any one mix an unfair advantage). The group of tasters included a mix of food professionals and ginger ale fans who work at The Kitchn and/or Apartment Therapy Media (The Kitchn’s parent company). All participated in the taste test voluntarily, and we thank them for being so generous with their time and feedback.
Speaking of, each taster filled out a score sheet (without discussion or influence) ranking the ginger ales across several criteria (listed above). The results were also tabulated without any visibility into the brands. Only after the numbers were finalized, did we reveal which brands corresponded to the winners.
Did your favorite ginger ale make the list? Tell us about it in the comments below.
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Mara Weinraub
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This “Amazing” Budget Bubbly Is the Only Bottle I’m Popping for the Holidays
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We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.If anything can bring about decision fatigue, it’s the holidays. This is why I recommend choosing a “signature wine” for the season that you use for neighborhood parties, last-minute gifts, New Year’s Eve mingling, and drinking out of a reindeer mug at 1 a.m. on Christmas Eve while wrapping all the gifts you procrastinated for weeks. This year my go-to has been Cleto Chiarli Brut de Noir Rosé, a fun, punchy pink bubbly from Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region.
What’s So Great About Cleto Chiarli Brut de Noir Rosé?
When people shop for wine, they often feel under informed, intimidated, and pressed for time (51% of Americans open a bottle of wine within three days of purchasing it). This leads people to grab something that looks familiar, like Champagne or Prosecco from a famous brand. So lesser-known regions and styles of wine that don’t have that immediate shelf appeal are often amazing values.
The wine-growing regions in Emilia-Romagna that make Lambrusco are one such area — especially because even people who do know about Lambrusco often have a negative association with it. (This region became known for sweet, one-note sparkling reds in the early 1980s.) But these regions and their signature grape varieties (there are a few different Lambrusco varieties) make a whole range of delicious sparkling wines, from bone-dry to sweet and from dark purple-red to rosé or even white.
Cleto Chiarli is one of the oldest and most established Lambrusco producers in Modena, the commune in Emilia-Romagna famous for its balsamic vinegar, and its Brut de Noir Rosé is full of zingy fruit flavors like tart cherry, raspberry, and watermelon. The texture is almost a bit creamy, and the finish is clean and mouthwatering.
Like Prosecco, it’s made using the charmat method, which tends to bring out bright, fresh, crowd-pleasing flavors. It’s made with 85% Lambrusco Grasparossa, the boldest of the Lambrusco varieties, so just a short amount of skin contact is enough to give the wine a bright pink color and lots of flavor, while the balance is Pinot Noir that brings a little acidity and aromatic intrigue to the party — and at under $20, you can afford to stock up! (Maybe just don’t mention the Lambrusco bit to older relatives unless you want that Riunite jingle stuck in your head until New Year’s.)
What’s the Best Way to Drink Cleto Chiarli’s Brut de Noir Rosé?
While this sparkling rosé is great on its own, like other wines from this part of Italy, it shines with food as well. (Emilia-Romagna is known for cured meats, Parmigiano Reggiano, and rich pasta dishes.) It’s got a little more body and tang than a lot of other sparkling rosés I’ve tried, so it’s great as an aperitif or stand-alone glass of bubbly; it would also be amazing with a charcuterie board or any of those delicious cheese-heavy appetizers we tend to make around this time of year (think: Aunt Kim’s port wine cheese ball or sweet and savory baked Brie).
Buy: Cleto Chiarli Brut de Noir Rosé, $16.99 for 750 mL at Drizly
What are some of your favorite sparkling wines for the holiday season? Tell us about it in the comments below.
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Diane McMartin
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Trader Joe’s Just Brought Back “the Best” Bougie Treat That Sold Out Fast Last Year
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We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.Trader Joe’s is stocking the shelves with fan-favorite items both new and old. From their Stollen Crisps to the iconic Candy Cane Joe-Joe’s, you can always rely on the grocer to keep your cart and belly full. What’s the most recent new product, you ask? Well, Harry & David Holiday Comice Pears have just hit the produce section, spotted by some shoppers on Reddit.
If you have ever had the pleasure of receiving a Harry & David gift box, you know that their pears are unlike any other. The fruit is sweet, juicy, and all around the most perfect pear you could ever ask for. While you can snag a box of six from Harry & David’s online store for $39.99, Trader Joe’s is selling them for a limited time at $9.99 per box. The pears are considered an “opportunity buy,” which means they won’t be around for long.
One of the greatest parts about pears is that they don’t spoil as quickly as some other fruits. Harry & David suggest keeping them at room temperature until you can gently press on the base of the stem with your finger and it surrenders. Then, you can leave the pears in the fridge for up to 10 days.
While the image from the Reddit thread is at an undisclosed location, commenters chimed in where they spotted the fruits across the United States including Massachusetts, Texas, Virginia, New Jersey, and California. “These are the best pears I’ve ever had in my life,” wrote one user. “I’d gladly pay that much for a box considering the price they go for online.”
One Redditor asked the group what the big deal is — what’s so exciting about pears? They were met with a sea of praise. “Just try them, they’re SO good,” read one reply. “I don’t eat pears unless they’re Harry and David.”
With reviews like these, be pre-pear-ed for these to sell out ASAP.
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Emma Taubenfeld
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The “Gorgeous” Store-Bought Frozen Pie I Bring to Every Holiday Party
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We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.Ever since I was a child, pie has been our family’s go-to dessert. My mom would stop by Marie Callender’s Restaurant & Bakery, and we’d select a pie from the endless list of options and bring it over to my grandma’s house to share.
Now, years later, finding a pie that rivals those memories can be tricky for me — especially because I’ve been eating a gluten-free diet. Truthfully, it’s pretty hard to find a crust that can hold up to its buttery, non-gluten-free counterpart. On a handful of occasions, I’ve tried recreating a flaky and juicy gluten-free pie myself, but rolling out the crust and mixing up a delicious filling takes more time than I often have, and I can never seem to get my pie to taste as good as the ones from my local specialty bakery.
I’ve plunked down a hefty sum to find a solid pie, and over the years I’ve built a list of must-order bakery staples. So I was surprised to find that my new favorite pie was waiting for me at my local Sprouts Farmers Market — no advanced orders needed!
What’s So Great About The Maine Pie Co. Gluten-Free Apple Pie?
Jill Miller, who runs The Maine Pie Co. (based in Maine, naturally), once owned The Runcible Spoon in Nyack, New York, where she was famous for her tasty pastries. She later chose to specialize in gluten-free pies for one very simple reason: “My husband has celiac disease, and we could not find a gluten-free pie on the market that tasted and looked homemade,” she says. “Anyone can make a good pie, but not a good gluten-free pie.”
Miller creates lab-certified, frozen, gluten-free pies made with brown and white rice flours and ships them off to grocery stores, like Sprouts, Kroger, Harris Teeter, and Whole Foods Market, to name a few. (You can also buy them directly on the company’s website.) Maine Pie Co. currently has nine pie flavors, including classics like pumpkin, blueberry, sour cherry, and apple (my favorite, so far!). You can also spot its best-selling 9-inch pie shells, a handful of tarts, and a couple of mini pies, on shelves too.
I’m here for the full-size pies and, believe me, these pastries are really, really good. The sweet and tart apples are sourced locally in Maine and made into pies the same day. Miller says she learned this trick while running The Runcible Spoon. Back then, to ensure an always fresh baked pie, her team “would assemble, freeze, and bake off as needed,” she explains.
Because you’re baking these pies at home, they taste just-out-the-oven fresh and look gorgeous.
What’s the Best Way to Eat The Maine Pie Co. Gluten-Free Apple Pie?
When I first tried the company’s classic apple pie, I was in dessert heaven! It’s a cinch to bake — I opened up the box, unsealed the frozen pie, and placed it in a preheated oven. Following the directions to a T, I baked the pie for 20 minutes, reduced the heat (from 425°F to 350°F), and continued to bake for another 50 minutes until the lattice crust turned a lovely golden-brown and the apple cinnamon filling was bubbling. The scent of butter and warming spices filled my kitchen.
After carefully taking the picture-perfect pie out of the oven to let it cool and spending a good portion of time admiring my efforts, I got out a carton of vanilla ice cream and served each warm slice with a dollop. The crust is flaky, and balances nicely with the sweet apples mixed with just the right amount of cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove.
It’s now become my go-to dessert for holiday parties — and guests can’t even tell it’s gluten-free!
What store-bought desserts are you buying for your next holiday party? Tell us in the comments below.
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Michelle Lau
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The Most Essential Costco Item I Always Grab For a Charcuterie Board
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We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.While you may head to Costco for the fixings of a giant holiday feast, it may not be your first stop when shopping for a charcuterie board. There’s no need to buy a wheel of Parmigiano Reggiano or 10 pounds of prosciutto, to assemble a bountiful — and affordable — charcuterie board from items you can buy at Costco.
There is no season that makes having a Costco membership more valuable than the holidays. With over a decade of bulk shopping and holiday hosting experience I’ve figured out how to fill my cart strategically so that I’m not hit with sticker shock at the register or too many leftovers once the party is over. I’m convinced that there is no better place to shop than Costco for your holiday charcuterie board. Here’s how to do it.
Essential Elements of a Holiday Charcuterie Board
How to Make the Ultimate Charcuterie Board with Items from Costco
The selection of gourmet cheeses and charcuterie at Costco remains awe-inspiring, even to longtime members. The warehouse wonder has found the sweet spot of cost and quality, but it usually entails purchasing oversized cheese wedges or poster-size packages of salami. When variety, not quantity, is the main objective, look for multipacks. Although you won’t have as much control over every meat and cheese you serve, your platter will be full and you may discover a new favorite.
Use the same strategy when it comes to nuts and dried fruit. You’ll save some money by buying a mixture rather than individual nuts, dried fruits, and seeds. That said, you’re sure to have some leftovers from a Costco charcuterie board, so make sure to choose foods you won’t mind snacking on in the coming days.
Here’s what I picked to serve a party of 12 and why.
Total: $68.83; $5.74 per person
A Costco Charcuterie Board to Snack on All Month Long
Unless you’re hosting the party of the decade with a guest list to match (and in that case, I expect an invitation), you’ll probably be snacking on the leftovers in the days to come. Thankfully, all of the elements of this charcuterie board can be enjoyed throughout the holiday season, so there’ll be no holiday Miss Havisham vibes here. Plus, you’ll always have something to offer unexpected guests that happen to drop in.
What are your favorite Costco charcuterie board additions? Tell us in the comments below.
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Patty Catalano
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Who Actually Owns Trader Joe’s?
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As you’ll find, the connection between these two grocers reveals a history and a family tree that’ll briefly have you looking like that one mathematical equation meme, but is essentially centered on one German family that, separately (the key word here!), owns both Aldi and Trader Joe’s.
Let’s set the scene with the family in question: the Albrecht Family (namely, brothers Theo and Karl Albrecht). Together, they largely ran and expanded Aldi (which is a combination of “Albrecht” + “Diskont” [the German word for “discount”]) in 1946, taking over their mother Anna’s original store and growing it into their own grocery empire.
Much like you might expect with siblings, the two brothers decided to split their companies in two in 1961 after they allegedly had a dispute over whether they should sell cigarettes (seriously!). Karl, who was against selling cigarettes (he thought it would attract shoplifters) then went on to run Aldi Süd in the southern half of Germany, while Theo (who disagreed) would run Aldi Nord in the northern half of Germany. Both Aldis have been financially and legally separate since 1966.
It’s all a bit Shakespearean (or an episode of Succession), and I’m not even going to get into how Theo was kidnapped and held for ransom in the ‘70s. But wait, there’s more!
While these two Aldi branches are both Aldi in name, only one is the operator of the U.S.-based Aldi locations you know and love (as well as Winn-Dixie), which would be Aldi Süd. We can also thank Karl and Aldi Süd for their Aldi locations in southern Germany, the U.K., Ireland, Australia, and China.
As for Aldi Nord (which runs the Aldi locations in countries such as Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Poland, and Spain), it most importantly is the company we can thank for Trader Joe’s; Aldi Nord bought the grocer from the original, eponymous Trader Joe himself (Joe Coulombe) in 1979.
Since the two brothers’ passing, the ownership has stayed within the larger Albrecht family, which makes it all a bit more blurry at the edges. But at the end of the day, the companies are run completely separately, with both companies now more under the influence of their respective executives than the family itself.
Like some brothers, Karl and Theo shared a lot in common — most notably their frugality. Fun fact: Theo, for one, always wore cheap, ill-fitting suits, used pencils down all the way to the stub, and preferred plain meals, with lots of potatoes. He even haggled with his kidnappers.
This same frugality is something that was key to their success, and a big reason why both Trader Joe’s and Aldi have consistently low prices to this day. So, we’ll be thanking them both for helping us keep a few more clams in our wallet during our grocery runs.
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Mackenzie Filson
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This $17 Sam’s Club Find Is Why My Mom Will Never Cancel Her Membership
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We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.As someone who recently moved back to her hometown, I’ve been looking into all the warehouses near me and comparing membership options. I knew my mom shopped at Sam’s Club when we were growing up, so I asked her if she was still a card-carrying member. Her answer? Yes! But I’ll admit that what came after surprised me.
She only goes to Sam’s Club a few times a year, and keeps her membership for one very specific and timely reason: It practically pays for itself in poinsettias alone.
What’s So Great About the Sam’s Club Poinsettia Planter?
My mom loves to decorate for the holidays, so it’s not unusual for her to buy over a dozen large poinsettia plants to display up the front steps and in the entryway. At Sam’s Club, you can get a 10-inch poinsettia plant for about $17, while most other places I’ve seen charge at least $20. If she gets around 15 poinsettias each year (she really does go all out), that saves her a minimum of $45 over the other competitors, close to the $50 yearly Club membership.
The quality is also a huge draw. My mom emphasized how BIG the poinsettias are at Sam’s Club, and that they last throughout the holiday season with basic care. (Poinsettias bloom in the winter and are fairly easy to care for — they thrive in a sunny location and just need to be watered when the soil feels dry.)
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Hollis Miller
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The Brand-New Groceries Hitting Shelves This December That We're Most Excited About
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We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.As a Sagittarius, December is naturally one of my favorite times of year. It’s not just my birthday I get excited about, but all the festiveness, too. It doesn’t matter what holiday you celebrate — December is the perfect time to rest, gather with friends and family, and get cozy around a shared meal. I love the comfort foods we gravitate to in winter, too: hot cocoa, warm cookies, and cinnamon-kissed desserts and drinks.
The new grocery items that arrive in December reflect this time of year. So far, the best and most exciting include an eggnog-inspired yogurt bursting with the fragrance of nutmeg, a limited-edition pear and cinnamon-flavored energy drink, and a nostalgic yet new take on a classic rolled tortilla chip. As the month progresses, I’ll be updating this list with more of December’s must-buy new grocery items.
1. Chobani Spiced Holiday Nog
I am an eggnog enthusiast and proud of it. One thing I will say about eggnog, however, is it can, at times, be too viscous and cloying. This is where Chobani does everything right with its holiday-inspired yogurt: The yogurt isn’t too thick and stodgy, while the flavor strikes the perfect balance between sweet and naturally tart. The addition of nutmeg makes it feel even more like the festive holiday drink.
2. Red Bull Pear Cinnamon Winter Edition
Pear is the most prominent flavor in this winter-edition Red Bull. It’s juicy and sweet with just a hint of cinnamon that follows the initial fruity flavor — almost like a poached pear in energy drink form. Although I’m partial to coffee and tea for a kick of caffeine, I could see this Red Bull also working as an excellent mixer for holiday-themed cocktails.
3. Zack’s Mighty Rolled Tortilla Chips Chile Lime
Zack’s Mighty tortilla chips are made with regenerative corn and an ingredient list that is easy to follow. Beyond the company’s commitment to sustainability, the chip itself has no faults. The chile lime flavor boasts ample heat and the right amount of zippiness. It’s rolled into neat cylinders, providing a satisfying crunch. Although the chips are sturdy enough to stand up to queso and guacamole, they are great to snack on as is.
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Kat Thompson
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The $4 British Grocery Find the World Is Missing Out On
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“The selections stretch out like a never-ending red carpet.”
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Mackenzie Filson
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7 Not-to-Be-Missed Trader Joe’s Groceries That Just Hit Stores
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We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.Much of the reason why I shop (and used to work) at Trader Joe’s is because it’s always a feast for the senses. Between the free samples, legendary people watching, and nights when your favorite manager played DJ for the shift, it’s truly sensory overload. This month’s shop, amongst all the post-turkey-buying and pie-ingredient-planning, more than proved that there is plenty to make all your senses pretty happy.
As we solidly enter the giving season, Trader Joe’s is giving and giving and giving some more, in the form of new desserts I might try to play off as homemade, a few dinner ideas to save me on days I just can’t with cooking, and even a couple of items to cozy up my apartment. Not to cause any alarm, but I think you’ll want to rush to your TJ’s ASAP to get some of these before they’re gone for the season.
1. Pretzel Bread Pudding, $4.99 for 7.6 ounces
This dessert is a feat of imaginations run wild, and one that for a very brief moment in time, actually turned me into a Dessert Person. That’s not to say I always say no to desserts, but I have a few salt teeth, so to speak, so it takes a really special dessert to get me on board. Enter: Pretzel Bread Pudding.
This dessert is not holding back at all with the pretzels, meaning they’re not just a sprinkled-on afterthought. First ingredient? Pretzels, of course. Those same pretzels get soft and doughy and ready to absorb the salted caramel topping that makes this a dream in the form of custardy bread pudding. It’s the perfect mix of sweet and salty, and just takes 45 seconds in the microwave. All you really need is a dollop of something cool and creamy to cut through the dense pudding, which I did in the form of topping it with the grocer’s Salted Maple Ice Cream, naturally.
2. Chocolate Croissant Candle, $3.99 for 5.64 ounces
As I said before, sweets aren’t things I naturally seek out (my chip selection runneth over, though). That doesn’t mean I don’t wish things kind of always smelled like a bakery or cake shop. Thankfully, Trader Joe’s new seasonal candle solves that problem for me, with its Chocolate Croissant Candle.
Before you even think it, no, it’s not cloyingly sweet or artificial-smelling whatsoever. It honest-to-goddess smells just like freshly baked chocolate croissants in a way that brings me back to sampling all the seasonal lotions at a 2008 Bath & Body Works (a high compliment). If you’re trying to sell a home (the scent of baked goods like chocolate chip cookies and bread have been shown to help close the deal), or simply want to up the coziness factor to volume 1000, this candle is for you.
3. Almond Chipotle Dip, $3.49 for 9 ounces
Dips are a way of life, meaning that Trader Joe’s dips are basically my lifeblood. One new dip I think gets a permanent spot on my dip shelf? The newest Almond Chipotle Dip.
There are so many things to love about this dip: It is seemingly vegan (yet has a bacon-adjacent rich smokiness), is as good on carrots as it is on tortilla chips, and, dare I say it, would be an amazing spread for sandwiches or tacos, or on eggs Benedict in lieu of hollandaise. Creamy and cheesy — in a way that some vegan products try and often fail to achieve — with chipotle-tinged heat, this dip has some crossover potential into a pasta sauce, too, I think.
4. Empanadas de Ropa Vieja, $5.99 for 9.6 ounces
Foods tucked into a cute little pocket are kind of the best, right? Right. So it goes without saying that buying Trader Joe’s newest empanadas was a major no-brainer. Combining the powers of empanadas with a Cuban-style ropa vieja (a classic dish composed of shredded beef stewed in a spicy, aromatic tomato sauce) meant that these snack-sized bites were eaten by me very quickly.
The filling itself was a great tribute to the ropa vieja I’ve eaten in my home state of Florida, where Cuban food is hard to beat, and the crust became nicely crisp in the oven, ready to take a dive into some hot sauce. Best of all, the cassava crust makes these naturally gluten-free, which means they’re a killer party app that crowds can enjoy.
5. Italian Tiramisu, $4.49 for 13.05 ounces
Well, TJ’s has done it again: The grocer has possibly converted one of my salt teeth into a slightly sweet one, thanks to this new Tiramisu. Differing a bit from its cake-style Tiramisu torte, this new one comes very conveniently in a two-pack, which is great for when you want the Italian creamy, coffee-soaked treat but don’t want to make it into a whole thing by getting a whole tiramisu.
An eight-hour thaw in the fridge is all that keeps you from digging into one of these Italian Tiramisus, and I promise it’s worth it. This tiramisu really has all the depth of a restaurant-grade tiramisu, with hints of marsala wine transforming the ladyfinger cookies into a cakey dream, and plenty of chocolate-y coffee mascarpone cream to keep you spooning in for more. Is it possible I ate one of these for breakfast this morning? Absolutely.
6. Shrimp Pouches of Many Colors, $4.29 for 8.46 ounces
The tinier the food, the better it tastes. I have no science to back up this finding, but I know it to be true. As a big fan of all of Trader Joe’s various dumplings, potstickers, and buns, I was excited to try this newest seasonal addition to the freezer aisle. These dumplings couldn’t be more perfectly timed, either; each bite-sized shrimp-packed pouch really does look like a little present, coming in bright shades of red, yellow, and green, along with a classic white.
The filling is just as delectable as their appearance, too; each dumpling is loaded with shrimp and a savory blend of aromatics like garlic, onion, and ginger. With four of each color (the bright hues are naturally derived from spinach, beetroot, and pumpkin and turmeric), these pouches would be a great shareable appetizer for two when you’re in the mood for a dim sum night, or an entrée for one — especially when you serve them pan-fried and dipped into soy sauce.
7. Crackling Red Fruits in the Forest Scented Candle, $9.99 for 11.28 ounces
If you, like me, are fawning over an online shopping cart full of those trendy “crackling” wood-wicked candles, but then immediately ❌out of the browser when you see the price? Well, sound the 🚨: It’s time to get yourself down to Trader Joe’s. Not only does the wooden wick charmingly “crackle” out a mellow campfire sound, but the scent also smells deluxe. Like, $40 candle deluxe.
Romantically (yet vaguely) named “Red Fruits in the Forest,” as if it’s a long-lost Taylor Swift song, the candle itself brings to mind tart currants, cranberries, and pomegranates mixed with a sage-y, pine hint which makes it really scream HOLIDAY SPIRIT. I’m already kicking myself for not buying two, so do yourself a favor and get a few of these candles (and maybe gift me one for Christmas).
Which new Trader Joe’s items are you adding to your cart? Tell us in the comments below.
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Mackenzie Filson
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12 Trader Joe’s Holiday Groceries the Employees Are Most Excited About
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We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.With Thanksgiving in the rearview and leftovers running low, the winter holidays are (finally) taking center stage. Move over, turkeys — Santa’s coming to town! (Did anyone else watch Elf this past weekend?) The latest episode of the Inside Trader Joe’s podcast dropped earlier this week, and co-hosts Tara Miller and Matt Sloan are also going all in on the festivities.
“There are 469 seasonal products at Trader Joe’s this time of year,” says Tara, and about 86 of them are completely new to stores. Can you imagine the giant stocking you’d need to stuff with all those items? The duo is doing us all a solid by giving us a starting point.
Out of the hundreds of returning items and dozens of new launches, these are the 12 they’re most excited about.
1. Cinnamon Bun-Inspired Pancake & Waffle Mix
“These [pancakes] don’t look like cinnamon buns,” says Matt. “But they do taste like cinnamon bun.” Created by a secret supplier in New York, this new mix has “all the spices in a cinnamon bun,” says Trang, a product developer at Trader Joe’s, and “little crispy bits of cinnamon candies that melt as you cook them” (or crisp up in waffle form). Plus, she adds, “They’re very fluffy.”
2. Trader Joe’s Astounding Multi-Flavor Mini Pretzels
Inside this box you’ll find four exclusive pretzel flavors in “beautifully designed” and incredibly giftable bags, says Trang, which means you won’t find them anywhere else in the store — at any time of the year. “We have a jingle jangle-inspired pretzel that has a peanut butter coating and candy gems on it,” a coffee candy covered pretzel drizzled in dark chocolate, a dark chocolate covered pretzel topped with peppermint candy pieces, and a milk chocolate covered pretzel topped with rainbow nonpareils.
A delicious dessert in less than two minutes? Sign us up for “this absolutely extraordinary gooey, delicious, salty, sweet, soft bread pudding made with pretzel bread,” says Tara. The frozen newcomer needs just 45 to 50 seconds in the microwave (or 15 minutes in the oven) and a 60-second cool-off period. They come in little cups — two per package — and once “you flip it and remove that cup, it looks like an expertly plated thing at a high-end restaurant,” says Matt.
Imported from Denmark, you’ll find not one, but three styles of cookies — all dipped in chocolate — in this box: marzipan filled Napoleon hats, coconut macaroons, and almond triangles. “They’re really beautiful, says Matt,” and “lovingly handmade.”
5. Petit Fours Mousse Cakes
Speaking of trios, these adorable miniature cakes also come in three flavors: chocolate (chocolate cake with chocolate filling and a dark chocolate coating), vanilla (vanilla cake with vanilla buttercream and a white chocolatey coating), and coffee (coffee-coated chocolate cake with a coffee filling). There are nine to a pack, so invite someone over and have yourself a tea party for two.
6. Shrimp Pouches of Many Colors
As the name suggests, these new shrimp dumplings are VIBRANT. The color comes from vegetables, like spinach (for green), beet (red), and pumpkin and tumeric (yellow). You can heat these in a steamer basket, as shown on the package, microwave them (they get a little chewier, according to Tara), or if you like them “nice and crispy,” she adds, you can pan-fry them.
“Understanding which cheddar might work well with additional ingredients,” says Matt, is one of the things the cheesemakers in Leicestershire do best. (They’ve got more than 100 years of experience making cheese.) Take this mild cheddar, which is blended with Spanish figs that have been marinated in white wine and rum. Um, yum! “I will have this on every cheese plate, cheese board, cheese presentation that I make this holiday season,” says Tara. “I’m looking forward to making a grilled cheese sandwich with this cheese,” she adds.
8. Non-Dairy Cinnamon Bun Oat Creamer
If you prefer to drink your cinnamon bun, then this oat creamer is likely your cup of tea — or coffee. “It’s modeled after [the] Brown Sugar Oat Creamer,” says Matt, which is another customer favorite. “It really does make a cup of coffee taste like a cinnamon bun,” adds Tara. “It has that cinnamon, sugary deliciousness.” Another colleague recommends using it to make French toast.
9. Hark and Holly Glühwein Mulled Wine
While you’re at it, keep those mugs handy for this Glühwein, a sweet mulled wine from Germany. Spiced with cinnamon, vanilla, cloves, nutmeg, and orange and lemon zest, “it’s not overly flavored with any of those things,” says Tara, “but I think heated on a chilly winter night, that’s kind of a fun thing to drink.”
What’s old is new with this beauty advent calendar, which first launched in 2019. This year, the package got a whole new “stellar design.” (“Yes, it’s covered with stars,” says Tara.) Beneath the perforated boxes, you’ll find 12 sample-sized products, including the wildly popular facial sunscreen and lip scrub, hair mask, body butter, and more.
11. Shimmering Candy Cane Body Butter
You might recognize this body butter from last year’s 12 Days of Beauty advent calendar. Well, its back and bigger than ever — a full eight ounces, instead of one. The moisturizer’s candy-cane smell is subtle (not “mediciney” as other pepperminty-scented things can be, explains Tara), as is its shimmer. “If you’re not looking for it, you might not really notice it, which, to me, is the best possible scenario,” she adds.
12. Chocolate Croissant Scented Candle
Even when you don’t have chocolate croissants in the oven, you can have scents of buttery laminated dough and melted chocolate wafting throughout your home. It’s a “subtle” yet “wonderful” aroma, according to Tara and Matt, and one worth clearing some space in your candle collection for.
Which of these seasonal items are you most excited about? Tell us in the comments below!
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Mara Weinraub
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The Secret to Better Desserts? This $3 French Pantry Staple
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We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.So many wonderful fall ingredients have made their way into my tiny kitchen. While pumpkin spice everything and caramel apple anything is all the rage across the U.S., in Europe it is all about chestnuts — more specifically, desserts made with chestnut purée.
This time of year, you’ll find them in every high-end patisserie in France. Top pastry chefs go hunting in the woods for chestnuts, which they then turn into a sweet and sticky purée. It’s used in decadent, indulgent desserts like Mont Blanc, where it’s piled on top of a buttery tart shell (along with whipped cream).
In all honesty, this might be my favorite French dessert. But like many great French desserts, it involves a lot of components and time spent in the kitchen — something I’m not fond of, despite being an avid baker. As much as I like to think about making everything from scratch, I have to admit that when it comes to this dessert, I take several shortcuts. I buy buttery tart shells, whipped cream (or mouse), and ready-made chestnut purée.
The chestnut purée is so beloved in France and the alpine regions of Switzerland that you can find ready-made chestnut purée (named “marron purée”) in jars and even tubes next to the jams and honey in the supermarket aisle. These days, you can also order both online. How doubly convenient!
What’s So Great About Clement Faugier Chestnut Spread?
One of the best and most common, readily available tubes of chestnut purée is the one by Clement Faugier. It’s my go-to choice when making any dessert with chestnut purée. It’s made in the company’s factory in Ardeche, a region in France known for growing chestnuts.
I like that it comes in a tube, too: In Europe, most chestnut desserts like the Mont Blanc require the chestnut purée to be squeezed out of a piping bag and in tiny little noodle-like strips. For less-experienced bakers, you don’t need to mess around with any other tools; you just simply squeeze it straight from the tube!
The chestnut purée also comes in cans (and in bulk!), which makes it perfect for desserts that call for more of the deliciously sticky-sweet paste.
What’s the Best Way to Use Clement Faugier Chestnut Spread?
In Switzerland, the sweet ingredient is commonly found in ski resorts (alongside fondue), which is where I get my inspiration from. Rather than being too precious, I take a cue from the Swiss slopes and embrace simplicity: I place hard meringues at the bottom of a glass jar, dollop lots of whipped cream over the meringue, and then squeeze the entire tube of chestnut purée on top — et voila! Dessert made in a flash.
Rather than using cream, try spooning the chestnut purée as the filling in your next Swiss roll or Yule log cake. After having two epic desserts, featuring chestnut ice cream (at Le Vieux Chalet in Switzerland and Petri in Stockholm), I went home to recreate the from-scratch sweet with Clement Faugier’s spread. It might not be “Michelin-worthy,” but it was certainly my own culinary masterpiece.
What budget-friendly baking staples are you stocking up on right now? Tell us about it in the comments.
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Michelle Tchea
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This $1 Bakery Find Is the Reason I Keep Shopping at Lidl
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We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.I’m a pretty loyal grocery shopper, in that I rarely stray from my (basically two) usual haunts. I’m not in the habit of hopping from store to store for the end-all, be-all lowest prices. I essentially have a Myspace Top 2. That is, until I discovered a new Lidl location was opening up near me; then, of course, I had to throw my whole roster out the window.
What started as casually flirting with the idea of just stopping by a Lidl ended up with me consistently with a sale flier in hand, reusable bags at the ready, and nearly getting a “I heart Lidl” tattoo on my forearm. I never looked back once I tried just one item in particular: the butter croissants.
Not only are they only $.79 a pop, but they’re also basically better than the freshly baked ones I get from my local bakery (that often go for at least six to eight times the price). How does Lidl do this witchcraft? I may never know, but I’m finally ready to stop gatekeeping this bakery gem.
What’s So Great About Lidl’s Butter Croissants?
Okay, so once you pick up your jaw off the ground from spotting that low, low price, you can get to eating one of these puppies. What you’ll soon discover is that these are the platonic ideal of a croissant: buttery, light, flaky, and airy in the middle and ready for slicing into crois-sandwiches or stuffing with something sweet and dreamy, like chocolate hazelnut spread.
Plus, they freeze up like a dream, so they’re a great thing to stock up on when they’re actually in stock because, as you’ll find, they’re pretty popular to those in-the-know. It was nearly an occupational hazard just to take a picture of these croissants over all the frenzy of other customers trying to get their share.
What’s the Best Way to Use Lidl’s Butter Croissants?
While eating them all on their own is a valid and worthy endeavor (I personally like to rip the flaky layers and dunk them straight in a milky coffee), why stop there? Anytime I can, I try to use these croissants to bring me back to my Italian vacations of yore. If that sounds just as delectable to you, do yourself a big favor and stuff your croissants Italian cornetto-style with a dollop of crunchy pistachio cream, apricot jam, or fresh whipped cream and berries.
Feeling more savory in your future? It goes without saying that these are the ideal vehicle for all sorts of sandwich fillings, like chicken salad, ham and cheese, or the best BLT you’ve had in recent memory. If you did yourself the aforementioned favor of stocking up on these croissants, you’ll be so glad you did; those croissants are going to be so happy in a savory breakfast casserole (or even a sweet one, for that matter).
Find it in stores: Butter Croissants, $.79 per croissant at Lidl
Do you have a Lidl gem more people should know about? Tell us about it in the comments below.
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Mackenzie Filson
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How a Tennessee Family of 4 Spends $178 a Week on Groceries at Kroger
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We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.Name: Meredith
Location: Memphis, TN
Number of people in household: 4; Dalton (32), Meredith (31), Lillian (3 years), and Eliza (8 months)
Age: 31
Occupation: I’m a food scientist and my husband, Dalton, is an insight sales manager. Dalton works from home full-time; I work onsite in a research and development lab three days a week and one day from home.
Where you shopped: Kroger
Weekly food budget: $150 to $200; the range gives us flexibility to buy more if certain staples are on sale.
Amount spent: $177.54Kroger: It is less than a mile from our house, and the online ordering system is easy to use. The store typically has what I need and I’m usually impressed with the quality of the store-brand items.
What’s your grocery strategy?
I plan and submit an online grocery order for pickup once a week (typically Fridays). We used grocery pick-up prior to having kids, and we love the convenience even more now as parents. Adding groceries to my online cart helps me stay within our ideal food budget for the week, which is an extra bonus.
After looking at our weekly calendar, I determine how many meals I need to plan for the week. I usually take inventory of pantry and freezer items to see what can be used, as well as shop the weekly specials at the grocery store. If an item that we regularly use is on sale, I will stock up and freeze it for future use. Taking advantage of digital coupons is an easy way to save some money in our food budget. I also like to peruse food blogs such as Budget Bytes and Tastes Better from Scratch for recipe inspiration.
We often rely on leftovers from dinner for lunches throughout the work week. Breakfast is typically bagels, cereal, yogurt, oatmeal, or eggs. Our 3-year-old daughter eats what we eat for dinner and has breakfast, lunch, and snacks provided at school throughout the week. Our 8-month-old is breastfed and receives puréed fruits and vegetables throughout the day.
- Pre-cooked chicken sausage, $6.19
- French bread, $2.00
- Tzatziki dip, $3.19
- 2 Caesar salad kits, $7.34
- Vanilla ice cream, $4.99
- English cucumber, $1.69
- Whole bean coffee, $12.99
- Bananas, $1.62
- Blackberries, $3.19
- Raspberries, $3.29
- 2 boxes oat cereal, $6.98
- 2 pounds Granny Smith apples, $2.99
- 4 Honeycrisp apples, $4.00
- Peanut butter, $7.49
- Red onion, $0.65
- Brown sugar, $1.79
- 80/20 ground beef, $6.49
- Broccoli florets, $6.00
- Seltzer water x 3, $3.99
- Olive oil, $5.99
- 18 eggs, $1.49
- 4 avocados, $2.99
- Lentils, $1.99
- Baby carrots, $1.25
- Canned tomatoes, $1.00
- Coconut milk, $2.49
- Soft tortillas, $2.99
- Honey, $8.99
- Cherry tomatoes, $2.99
- Oat milk, $3.49
- Pico de gallo, $2.69
- Maple syrup, $7.99
- 2 red peppers, $2.78
- Boneless chicken breasts, $13.02
- Tomato paste, $1.19
- Garlic naan, $3.00
- 2 boxes wheat wafers, $3.98
- Wheat crackers, $1.99
- Grape jelly, $3.29
Grand total: $177.54 (includes taxes, pickup fee, and coupon savings)
Friday: Banana Oatmeal, “a Hodgepodge of Leftovers,” Chicken Tikka Masala, and Apple Crisp with Vanilla Ice Cream
I wake up at 6 a.m. to the sound of a cooing baby. After feeding her, Eliza falls back asleep. With the house still quiet, I quickly drink a cup of black coffee while lacing up my running shoes. After my run, my oldest daughter, Lillian, is found eating a granola bar on the couch with my husband. I make some oatmeal with a banana and eat it while unloading the dishwasher. Oatmeal is my go-to breakfast — it’s quick, easy, and filling. Dalton eats a chocolate chip granola bar with blueberry Greek yogurt while starting his work day.
Eliza is awake for the morning and eats a blueberry oatmeal purée. I have Fridays off of work so we play outside for a bit before going on a walk. Lillian snacks on Goldfish and Teddy Grahams while we stroll through the neighborhood. Dalton works from home full-time so while the baby naps, Lillian and I drive to pick up our weekly grocery order from Kroger. We are back home in less than five minutes!
Lunch is a hodgepodge of leftovers from the previous week. I reheat a baked potato and top it with leftover fajita chicken, peppers, and onion. Lillian and Dalton eat leftover beef hotdogs. We have company staying with us for the weekend so Lillian and I prep an apple crisp for dessert later. We had planned to grill, but decide at the last minute to make chicken tikka masala with rice and garlic naan instead. Lime seltzer water makes a nice accompaniment to the spicy Indian dish.
We enjoy the apple crisp with some vanilla ice cream and spend time relaxing and catching up at home after the kids are in bed. The apple crisp is full of warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, which is perfect for a cool fall evening.
Saturday: Banana, Pancakes, Sausage, Bacon, and Berries, Snacks for Lunch, Drinks at the Zoo, and Chinese Takeout
Slow and relaxing Saturday mornings are my favorite: I consume a cup of black coffee and a banana while playing with Eliza in her room. We try not to be too noisy while the rest of the house continues to sleep. Lillian and Dalton wake up and we start cooking breakfast for everyone. We make a spread of homemade pancakes, sausage, bacon, and raspberries and blueberries with lots of coffee for breakfast. Eliza eats a banana and squash purée before going down for a morning nap.
Around noon, we are not too hungry for lunch, but need a little something to tide us over until dinner. We arrange a variety of snacks from the fridge and pantry to eat before going to the zoo: Tortilla chips with pico de gallo, Wheat Thins, leftover fruit from breakfast, sliced apples, and cheese make a quick and easy spread for the group.
Memphis has a spectacular zoo and our guests have never experienced its greatness. Even though we are members and go often, I still get excited every time we go! We purposely arrive ahead of the sea lion show, so we stop by the coffee shop right inside the entrance to grab some drinks to sip on while watching the animals. Dalton decides on a cappuccino and I order an iced mocha with oat milk. Our weekend guests graciously offer to pay for our drinks ($10.45). After a few hours of animal spectating, we decide it’s time for dinner.
One of our guests mentions she is in the mood for Chinese, so we pick up takeout from one of our favorite local Chinese restaurants on the way home. From experience, we know the quantities are large and we decide it is best to split a few dishes. Once home, we dig into sesame chicken, orange chicken, green curry, fried and steamed rice, hot and sour soup, egg drop soup, salad with ginger dressing, and the rangoons ($74). We are undeniably full and have plenty of leftovers.
Sunday: Cinnamon Rolls, Leftover Chinese, Bakery Snacks, and Leftover Tikka Masala and a Cinnamon Roll
Our guests plan to drive back to Nashville early and we are going to church. I pop a pan of frozen cinnamon rolls to cook while we get ready for a quick and easy breakfast. I can make some pretty decent homemade cinnamon rolls, but they take a lot of time. I’ve found the Rhodes brand is the closest to homemade that you can buy in the grocery store.
We say goodbye to our guests and pack snacks for Lillian to enjoy during church. She chooses pre-packaged Goldfish crackers and multi-grain Cheerios along with a water bottle. We grab to-go cups of coffee from home to drink while we drive 20 minutes to church. Our kids are tired once we return home, so lunch is quickly reheated leftover Chinese food from last night. I eat salad with green curry. Dalton and Liliian eat steamed rice with orange chicken.
While Eliza naps, Lillian and I venture out to a local shopping center nearby for a holiday open house. We stop in a children’s boutique first and enjoy some complimentary homemade snack mix in the store while shopping. The shopping center has a cute French bakery and we get in line to order an afternoon treat from the counter. I choose a regular hot coffee with a lemon macaron, while Lillian indulges in a strawberry macaron and sugar cookie with a cup of whole milk ($8.43). The barista is sweet and gives her the milk in a coffee cup like a big girl.
For Dalton and I, dinner is reheated tikka masala from dinner on Friday. Lillian eats a leftover cinnamon roll with sausage. Eliza eats a purée pouch of spinach, peas, and pears.
Monday: Banana, Bagel, Cheerios, Burger Tasting, Leftover Chicken Fajitas and Tikka Masala, Apple, Sheet-Pan Dinner and Toasted Bread with Butter
Monday after Daylight Saving time is rough. Everyone is up slightly earlier than usual and I enjoy a banana with my black coffee while preparing breakfast and lunch to eat at work. Dalton drinks coffee while helping get everyone dressed, ready, and packed for the day.
Lillian has breakfast, lunch, and snacks provided at school, which is a nice perk. Most mornings she does not want to eat anything until she gets to school. I pack enough purées to cover Eliza’s breakfasts for the week while at school. She currently eats two purées in addition to bottles of breastmilk throughout the day. I enjoy a second cup of coffee on the way to work.
Dalton eats a bowl of Cheerios after returning home from school drop-off. After settling in at my desk, I pop a bagel in the toaster and add some butter to the top while it is still hot.
Mid-morning, a coworker asks if I want to taste a project she has been working on. Most of my work projects are based on keeping our food safe and extending the shelf-life of food products, but many of my food scientist coworkers focus on creating new foods and flavors. I have the privilege of tasting many great food products before they go to market. I happily taste a variety of different burger patties and give some feedback. I am beginning to get hungry and the burger tasting is a nice mid-morning snack.
When lunchtime rolls around, I reheat some leftover chicken fajita and munch on an apple while at my desk. Work supplies complimentary soft drinks for the employees to enjoy and I’ve gotten into a habit of drinking a Coke Zero after lunch. I once went four years without soft drinks. I don’t drink them any other time except after lunch at work. The caffeine is a nice pick-me-up. At home, Dalton eats leftover tikka masala.
A coworker brought petit fours and I eat one later in the afternoon while finishing up work for the day.
Once home, Lillian helps me prepare dinner. We chop smoked chicken sausage, red bell pepper, onion, broccoli, and a chicken breast and place it on a baking sheet. We toss the mixture in olive oil and season it with an all-purpose seasoning (previously purchased from Buc-ee’s gas station) prior to cooking in the oven. This meal is one that I make regularly and it helps us use up fresh vegetables from the fridge. In addition to the sheet pan meal, I slice crusty French bread and top it with butter before toasting it in the oven.
Dalton and Lillian enjoy two petit fours I brought home from work. After putting the kids to bed, I make a cup of tea and eat a few Oreos while Dalton and I watch Friends on the couch before bed.
Tuesday: Oatmeal with Berries, Fried Eggs and a Bagel, Apple, Leftover Orange Chicken with Fried Rice, Tikka Masala and Sheet-Pan Dinner for Lunch, Pasta with Caesar Salad and Garlic Bread, and Oreos and Ice Cream
My body wakes up before my alarm. While sipping a cup of black coffee, I get things organized for the day. Lillian wakes up and asks for a bowl of cereal. While she eats, I make a bowl of oatmeal topped with brown sugar, pumpkin pie spice, raspberries, and blackberries. Dalton wakes up and makes coffee.
Before heading out the door, I pack a lunch of orange chicken and fried rice leftovers from Saturday, plus a Honeycrisp apple to eat as a snack. As usual, I drink another cup of black coffee while commuting to work.
Dalton waits until returning home from school drop-off before frying three eggs to eat with half of a bagel while working.
Around 10 a.m. my stomach starts growling and I remember I packed the apple from home. While more expensive than most varieties, Honeycrisp apples just taste far better than most other varieties, in my opinion.
I work through the morning and heat up the orange chicken with fried rice around noon. The Coke Zero gives me a little extra boost to help energize me through the rest of the work day. Dalton eats the remaining tikka masala with some of the leftover chicken from last night’s sheet pan dinner. We heavily rely on leftovers to make for easy lunches.
I steep a cup of mint tea around 3 p.m. and drink it while reading a few research articles. After packing up for the day, I leave the office to head to pick up the girls at school. We go on a walk around the neighborhood before dinner. Once home, Dalton offers to cook dinner while I play “kitchen” with the girls upstairs.
He cooks penne pasta with meat sauce, prepares a Caesar salad, and toasts garlic bread. I usually don’t mind cooking, but it is a nice treat to have the night off. Dalton and Lillian eat a few Oreos we bought previously while I clean up the kitchen.
I have plans to meet two friends for dessert to discuss an upcoming baby shower we are planning. We meet at a local ice cream shop and I order a coffee cookie butter ice cream in a waffle cone ($6.18). Anytime cookie butter-flavored anything is on a menu, I am sold.
Once home, I get ready for bed and regret my ice cream choice. I am wide awake, thanks to the caffeine in the coffee-flavored ice cream. Oops!
Wednesday: Banana, Eggs and Toast, Leftover Pasta, Coffees and Pumpkin Bread, Pigs in a Blanket, Caesar Salad, and Leftover Apple Crisp
I wake up early to go for a run with one of my neighbors. The five miles fly by as we catch up and watch the sun come up. Once home, Lillian and Dalton are sitting at the kitchen table coloring and drinking milk and coffee, respectively. I eat a banana while making my first cup of coffee. Soon after, I get out a frying pan to make some eggs to eat over a slice of toasted french bread with butter.
I work from home on most Wednesdays, so after school drop-off I return home to begin working on research. It’s a productive morning of writing project updates and planning for an upcoming meeting. Before I know it, it is time for lunch. Dalton reheats leftover penne pasta for both of us to eat.
After lunch, we decide to move our workspace to a coffee shop less than a mile from our house. I order an iced honey bun latte with oat milk, he orders a cappuccino, and we split a slice of pumpkin bread ($15.46). The honey bun latte is extra sweet with white chocolate, cinnamon, and honey. I drink black coffee at home, but like to indulge in fancy, sweet drinks when ordering from a coffee shop. We welcome the change of scenery as we finish up work for the day.
I don’t have the commute for work today, so I pick the girls up from school a little earlier than normal and we head to the Children’s Museum for about an hour before heading home. We go to a weekly bible study on Wednesday nights. For convenience, we pull out a frozen box of Parmesan pigs-in-a-blanket (previously purchased) to bake, make a Caesar salad, and call it dinner. Once the girls are asleep, Dalton and I reheat the last little bit of the apple crisp from the weekend and eat it while relaxing before bed.
Thursday: Cereal, Banana Oatmeal, Leftover Sheet-Pan Dinner, Birria Chicken with Rice and Raw Vegetables, and Oreos
My alarm goes off and I walk to the kitchen to make a cup of coffee. The rest of the family soon joins me and Lillian requests a bowl of Cheerios. She eats another bowl after finishing her first. She must be going through a growth spurt because she has been eating a lot more than usual.
Dalton grabs a handful of dry cereal and I make a bowl of oatmeal using one of the last remaining bananas. The banana is very ripe with the right amount of “black spots” — a nice, sweet touch to the creamy oatmeal.
I pack up my lunch for the day and head out the door to work.
Mid-morning, one of my coworkers asks me to taste a chicken patty she’s been working on — let’s just say some projects taste better than others. It is raining and cold outside, so I decide to stay in at lunch. I eat reheated chicken sausage and roasted vegetables with a side of balsamic vinaigrette and basil Triscuits and an apple.
I want something sweet after my lunch so I find some leftover Halloween candy to eat. Reese’s peanut butter cups are my all-time favorite candy, followed by Twix.
Once home after work, I heat olive oil in a skillet and sauté chicken, onions, and red bell peppers. I find a leftover jar of birria sauce from last week and decide to make tonight’s meal Mexican-inspired. I cook a pot of rice and pull out tortillas in our pantry. Dalton and I eat our birria chicken over rice, while Lillian prefers to eat hers in a tortilla. Some sliced red bell pepper and an English cucumber serve as our side dish to the meal.
After dinner, we pull out the Oreos before starting the bedtime routine with the girls.
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Mara Weinraub
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