YumSugar

Fig Pizza Pie Piled High With Arugula: That's Amore

YumSugar — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 16:15:40 -0700

A while back I maintained that I didn't like pizzas topped with salad, but I couldn't resist trying Bon Appetit's recipe for a Gorgonzola, prosciutto, and fig pizza topped with arugula salad. To make it even easier, I purchased a bag of premade dough from my local Trader Joe's. I hate to admit it, but the simple preparation of the dish meant that I had a scrumptious Summer meal in less than half an hour. The sweet figs and peppery arugula are a perfect match to the salty prosciutto and flavorful Gorgonzola. There is no sauce on the pizza, but the creamy balsamic dressing on the salad makes up for it. While I still love keeping my salad and pizza separate, combining the two can also be a fantastic option. If you want to eat your pizza and salad without ever lifting a fork, keep reading.

What Kind of Garlic Do You Cook With?

partysugar — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 09:00:04 -0800

The other day I went to Trader Joe's with my girlfriend Kristal. One of the ingredients on her grocery list was frozen crushed garlic. I was surprised and wondered why she didn't use fresh garlic. Apparently she prefers the crushed variation because it saves time and doesn't leave the smell of garlic on her hands. It got me thinking about alternative forms of garlic.

The Year's Best Grocery Store

YumSugar — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 14:00:56 -0800

Earlier we asked your thoughts on the Best of 2008, and that included your favorite grocery store of the year. Although prices went through the roof on everything from beef to dairy, you chose Trader Joe's as your number-one pick. For the second year in a row, it was the clear winner, taking 39 percent of the vote. We must be on the same wavelength because Trader Joe's is Yum's supermarket fave, too. We love TJ's because it offers a variety of unique, all-natural food choices without breaking the bank. It's got a frozen-food selection, cheese offering, and wine section. We wish every grocer could offer the same value for the quality. In fact, we love the store so much that we experimented with a cookbook that exclusively calls for items from Trader Joe's. What are your reasons for preferring TJ's?

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Must-Read: Cooking With All Things Trader Joe's

YumSugar — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 11:15:20 -0800

Trader Joe's is one of those love it or hate it topics. Personally, I am in love with it. So earlier this year, when I spotted this book in a Borders window, I literally ran inside to look at it.

Cooking With All Things Trader Joe's ($24.95) is not the official cookbook of Trader Joe's grocery stores - in fact, it has no affiliation with the supermarket chain. Rather, it was written by two devotees who wanted to create a recipe collection in which all ingredients could be found at Trader Joe's. To hear more about it, read more.

Pros:

Recipes are approachable for the beginner cook.
Recipes often make creative use of ingredients.
Each recipe is given an entire spread, including a full page picture.
The authors suggest wines (from Trader Joe's, naturally) that would pair well with recipes.
Hardcover cookbook is durable, looks nice on the shelf, and would make a nice gift.

Cons:

The recipes only call for Trader Joe's ingredients, many of which are unavailable elsewhere. This cookbook would be useless for anyone without a nearby Trader Joe's.
Ingredients could be phased out at any time. (For that reason, the cookbook makes plenty of suggestions for substitutions.)
Some dishes sound short on taste - I'll pass on the Dairy-Free Creamy Cashew Smoothie.

Recipes: The recipes are methodically organized. Some of my favorites:

Appealing Appetizers: Spicy Tropical Shrimp Boats
Soups, Salads, & Light Meals: Black Bean and Ricotta-Stuffed Portabellas, Le French Lentil Soup
Main Meals: Calamari Brodetto, Saag Paneer Lasagna
On the Side: Oven-Roasted Vegetables With Rosemary
Delicious Desserts: Saffron Ice Cream
Drinks: Sangria
Begin With Breakfast: Breakfast Crepes
Bachelor Quickies (heat-and-serve meals): Elegant Rack of Lamb with Vegetables and Apple Tart

Imagery: The images, which have not been edited in any way, are lush and enticing.

Overall Rating: Because this cookbook offers impressive-sounding, attractive dishes for minimal work, this book would be great for getting a beginner into the kitchen. If you're a Trader Joe's fan, you'll love this book. If you aren't, or don't have one near you, don't bother.

Introducing Baby Kiwi!

YumSugar — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 05:18:19 -0700

Last year I was at my local Trader Joe's when I noticed containers of something called "kiwi grapes." I'd never heard of such a thing, so naturally I picked them up. They were small grape-sized fruits which were delicious and tart, sort of like regular kiwi, but sweeter and with a smooth, edible skin. Needless to say, I fell in love and wanted to eat them over and over again. Unfortunately by the time I went back to get more, they were gone!

For a year I've been talking to people about these delicious fruits and was excited to head into Trader Joe's today and find them waiting there. This time they were labeled "baby kiwi," but they were definitely the same thing. I snatched up three baskets and already devoured one. If you can find them near you - I've heard of people spotting them in Whole Foods and other markets like that - I highly suggest you check them out. If you fall in love with them like I did, you'll be happy to know that they're actually available twice a year. In the Spring they're imported from New Zealand and in the Fall they come from Oregon. And if you find yourself pining for them in the between seasons, don't say I didn't warn you.

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2007's Favorite Grocery Store Is...

YumSugar — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 07:01:31 -0800

As part of our Best of 2007 roundups, we asked you what your favorite grocery store was. I must say, it was sort of a mixed poll, each region of the country has fantastic local markets - personally I love Nugget markets based out of Woodland, CA - so it was hard to say which place is best. I definitely have to give a nod to the local independent markets and the local farmer's markets - especially considering the word locavore was Oxford American Dictionary's word of the year - however you guys voted for Trader Joe's. This specialty market isn't in all parts of the country, but the folks that shop there are dedicated to their great line of unique products. Do you guys shop there? Do you believe it should be voted the best?

Do You Drink Charles Shaw Wine?

partysugar — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 11:57:18 -0700

Earlier today I told you about how the cheap, mass produced "Two Buck Chuck" recently won a blind taste test. Now I want to know, do you drink Charles Shaw wine?

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Wine World Reels As 2 Buck Chuck Wins Award

partysugar — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 10:13:38 -0700

Wine snobs all over the country are still fuming over a blind tasting in which Charles Shaw's 2005 Chardonnay was voted the best tasting California Chardonnay by the judges at the California State Fair Commercial Wine Competition. You may have heard this already, but so many people have been asking me about it that I couldn't let it go unnoticed! The shocking results were leaked on June 28th and declared "Two Buck Chuck" - as the wine is affectionately called due to its $1.99 price tag - the highest scoring white wine. The official verdict shows that 64 judges awarded "Two Buck Chuck" the prestigious Double Gold award, placing it first over 350 other Chardonnays, and in the top of the entire pack of 3,029 wines.

There are those who feel that the results should not be taken into account as the judges are not true, trained wine professionals.

The California State Fair competition is dismissed by some critics as representing broad-based consumer tastes rather than the palates of true wine connoisseurs.

Whether the outcome will be taken seriously or not, one thing can be certain, thousands of cases of this Chardonnay will be purchased. To be a part of the hype head to your local Trader Joe's and taste for yourself. At just $1.99 a bottle, you can buy one for all of your friends!

Source: The Press Democrat
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Yummy Links: From Carnations to Thomas Keller

partysugar — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 06:50:36 -0700

Once shunned, the affordable carnation is making a centerpiece comeback. - Hostess With the Mostess
Love cilantro? Check out this new website devoted to the fragrant herb. - Serious Eats
Tips for building the ultimate green kitchen. - Chow
One writer argues that food cannot travel and cuisine is limited to the place where it's made. - Gourmet
Trader Joe's is now selling hard boiled peeled eggs. - The Kitchn
Get excited for Thomas Keller's next big deal, Ad Hoc at Home, a family-friendly cookbook. - Eat Me Daily

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What's Cooking at Slashfood

YumSugar — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:50:49 -0800

We love Slashfood so much that every Thursday we round up their most delicious stories. Here are this week's finds:

Trader Joe's and other stores are forced to recall ground beef packages.
Why KFC's Colonel Sanders has a mixed reputation in his hometown.
The Skinny Chef's spin on German curry wurst.
Emeril's new burger bistro will have condiments made in-house.
Cozy up to cook with Long Nights and Log Fires.
You saw it coming: yet another frog-in-food incident.