Trader Joe's - GOOD!

There are a few Trader Joe's stores close to me - mostly closer to where I shop.  Usually, I pick up a few items to add some pizzazz to my otherwise ho hum and frugal Weis shopping.  But on Christmas eve, I stopped there and had about 30 minutes before the store closed to get Christmas dinner purchased.  (There is nothing like the last minute to have you throw money at a situation!) 

I picked up meat, and veggies and whatever else.  I also bought pie crusts because I planned to make a strawberry pie.  Then Kim arrived with dessert so I saved the pie crusts.  Sunday I finally made the quiche I had been threatening to make for months now.  I used the pie crusts and a made up recipe and didn't even let the crusts thaw properly.  and guess what - It Was DELICIOUS!  This pie crust is flaky and crispy and lawd a mercy I was happy I hadnochoiceasthestoreswereclosingandIneededChristmasdinner.

This got me thinking about other TJ products that I have tried and liked.  Their Vodka cream sauce is delicious.  Their polenta is very good and so easy to work with.  It comes in a tube in the pasta/pasta sauce section of the store.  You slice it up and it can be baked or fried and then put a little sauce (or for my very italian readers - gravy) on it and some mozzarella - delish.  You can also mash it up, add a little EVOO and parmesean cheese (which brings me to another TJ recommendation - their hunks of fresh parmesean cheese is a great value at 5.99 per pound). 

Another cool thing I tried once was Naan.  Naan is a Indian flatbread and TJ's version is very good.  From their fresh foods you just buy and eat in the parking lot cause you are starving is the curried chicken salad - with some Naan!

Now please share with me your favorite TJ products and how you use them.  If you have never been to TJ's - is it because you have have none near where you live (or shop) or some other reason?