Pazookie and Taffy.

One of my favorite things to do:

Walk up and down every single aisle of the Trader Joes and look at all the fun products.

I bought the two necessities in life. Pear salad dressing and salt-water taffy…maybe I will try dipping my taffy into that dressing to create the best combination in the world.

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I am a marketer’s dream.  I see something on tv and I don’t forget about it until I have it in my hands.

Last week we watched a show with a salt water taffy truck on the East coast and I have literally been thinking about it every other hour for the past 7 days.

I highly recommend TJ’s taffy.  I would tell you that the bag is empty to prove to you how good it is but that probably doesn’t mean anything to you because you know that anything with the first ingredient being sugar, would be gone in a flash.

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Normal People (aka Billy) are able to somehow just use one plate for dinner.

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Non-normal People (aka the author of this blog) have to eat a head of lettuce with their meal and therefore use two plates for their salad and lasagna.  PS Italians are brilliant…..a carb fest of pasta for a meal PLUS more carbs in the form of bread.

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Yesterday, the amazing Patty sent me a recipe after reading my intense need for cookies and ice cream.  PB cookies with hidden snicker’s bars inside?  You mean there are other people in this world that think of ways to eat cookies and candy at the same time and call it one dessert?

Okay, I went one step further and added ice cream of course, I bet you didn’t see that one coming.

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It tasted just like a pazookie.  Cookie straight from the oven, guey and delicious.  Recipe HERE.

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Anything you RECOMMEND at TJ’s for me to get while I still have it close for a few more weeks?

Have you ever had a pazookie (hot cookie topped with ice cream and whipped cream)?  What cookie do you choose as the base?

-YES and they are amazing.  BJ’s has the best.  I always choose the pb cookie!

Do you like salt water taffy?  What’s your favorite flavor?

-Blue raspbery and watermelon.

At TJ’s we walked by crab cakes and I realized I had never had one before?  Have you?  Are they good? Any good recommendations of where to get one or a recipe to make them?

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96 comments

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My favorite items from TJ’s are their mandarin chicken and the peanut butter pretzels. Those do NOT last long in my house. 2-3 days max. :-)

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eat a crab cake!!!

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Best thing at TJs: Multigrain hot cereal (the brand is Country Choice Organic). After cooking, I mix it with Kashi Go Lean Crunch and frozen fruit (blackberries are the best). YUM!

Another thing I love to get there (not that you can’t find it other places, but it is about half the price at Traders) is Cambazola cheese (a camembert/gorgonzola blend).

Oh yeah, also the dark chocolate “crisps” – they are the size/shape of Pringles but made of chocolate.

I might have to go there soon!

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my favorite trader joe’s treat is their cinnamon almonds…i go through about a bag a week (which is about a pound of almonds!)

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I love vanilla salt water taffy!

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I love TJ’s organic dark chocolate bars!

Never heard of a pazookie but sounds like a perfect indulgence after a hot run! Ill have to try it over the weekend :-)

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I’ve never even heard of the WORD pazookie…although I have eaten them!

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Ohhh! I went to TJs to stock up on my faves this weekend! I got:

PB pretzels
Sourdough bread
Soft dried mango slices
Balsamic dressing (Theirs is the best!)
mini chocolate chip cookies

Also, I NEED to make those cookies asap! :)

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You remind me of myself sometimes. I’m home right now in Nebraska and my favorite past time is roaming the aisles of the local grocery store. It’s so big and spacious and there are so many fun products. It’s like sensory overload. Never had a pazookie, but sounds like I should have by now.

Also, I’ve always wanted to bake cookies with candy bars in them. I think I’d put Milky Ways in my cookies. YUM!

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i love crab cakes- best though are ones you get with little filler (more crab, less may and bread crumbs) try to get the freshest possible!

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mayo**

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What’s NOT to love at TJ’s??? I have to drive two hours to get to Trader Joe’s, but we go about once a month. I highly recommend the soft dried mango slices, frozen mango chunks, goat’s milk creamy cheese, dark chocolate bars, and pumpkin butter. I could go on and on and on.

I love saltwater taffy! I like the fruity flavors and vanilla.

I’ve never had a crab cake from TJ’s (although I’m sure they are awesome), but I’ve eaten a ton of them at restaurants and at home. They are amazing and you must try them!

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You need to eat a crab cake!! They are delicious!! They are the best if they are fresh but you can get them frozen and premade places like Costco and they are still great! Also if you get the canned crabmeat (by the tunafish in a can in the store) you can google for recipes to make that into crabcakes using pieces of veggie like pepper/onion and breadcrumbs! SO good for much cheaper!!

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1lb of fresh crab meat (its not cheap but dont be tempted to buy “imitation” crab!!!)

I put half a small onion and half a small red bell pepper in the food processer and give it a couple of spins to finely dice it. Don’t be tempted to add more veggies, too much moisture and they’ll fall apart.
beat an egg and add 1/3c mayo, a TBL or two of dijon mustard, a splash of lemon juice (say 1-2 tsp), a sprinkle of salt, pepper and a good sprinkle of old bay seasoning if you have it. if you don’t use celery salt and a little bit of paprika, dried mustard and allspice. Also a pinch of cayenne!

mix in the crab and then add 1.5 c – 2c panko breadcrumbs. Chill the mixture til it’s firm, couple hours. (or if impatient like me 15-20 mins in freezer!)

form patties on a baking sheet (i made mini ones so about 40 from here) and chill again. Fry in oil 2-3 min per side til crispy. You could bake them too I suppose, I’d say 450 for 15 minutes.

served with trader joes tartar sauce because who wants to bother making that from scratch! hahaha

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Okay, you are the best!!!! That looks and sounds amazing!!!! Printing out your comment right now! Thanks Laura!!!

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I would also consider reducing the red bell pepper to 1/4 pepper and adding a small jalapeno to the food processor for a little extra kick.

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Salt water taffy will always remind me of my grandmother! It was her favorite. I’m really picky about which flavors I eat – some of them disgust me. I wish we had a TJ’s in Dallas – I think they are coming here, though!

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Trader Joe’s has the BEST peanut butter filled pretzels! You have to get them (not the unsalted…the ones with salt are SO much better!) Also, being a new england girl, you HAVE to try crabcakes…even if you don’t like them you have to try them, but I know you will love them! I recommend getting them at a restaurant, the homemade ones are never as good for some reason! Thanks for your recipe!

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I hear about these pb pretzels all of the time and I need to get them!!!

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Oh gosh, what wouldn’t be recommended at Trader Joe’s?! I love that place, too. But some of my favorite finds there have been the Pretzel Rolls [make sandwiches with these, yum!], their Challah Bread [makes fantastic bread pudding!], and also their Better Than Peanut Butter. It’s waaay lower in calories and fat than regular peanut butter and it honestly is SO, SO, SO, good!

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There are so many wonderful things at TJ’s!! I love the dark chocolate covered pretzel slims (sweet and salty, who could ask for more??), the chocolate covered bing cherries (a dried cherry covered by a layer of milk chocolate, then a layer of red colored chocolate (white chocolate?) so it looks like one big cherry rather than one big chocolate dream. These are dangerous.

They also have really good pumpkin butter in the Fall season!

Oh, and in the winter they have peppermint Trader Joe cookies- they are basically Oreos with miniscule pieces of candy cane in the white cream… I could go on and on and on

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Chocolate covered cherries…. Holy cow!! I might have to come back in the fall just for Trader Joes:)

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Pazookie is the besssssttt!!!!!

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Crab cakes are AMAZING. You most definitely need to have one asap, especially while you’re on a coast and sea food will be fresher than in Utah (no offense UT).

And there is SO much at Trader Joe’s! I love it so much. We’re lucky to have one right down the street, so it’s my main grocery store (I go there as much as you go to Costco). I suggest the Sunflower Seed butter, Just Mango, hot and sweet mustard, pb-filled pretzels, cinnamon and sugar Cafe Twists (it’s usually with the teas), and their chocolate covered pomegranate seeds. The list could go on forever, but I’ll leave it at that :)

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I always, ALWAYS get the peanut butter pretzels when I go to TJ’s, as well as the crunchy flaxseed peanut butter and the sunflower seed butter. And the Dark Chocolate PB cups. I am sensing a pattern.

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Crab cakes are my favorite food ever, you must try one. I don’t know if TJ’s is good, I’ve never bought it. My suggestion would to not have a frozen or premade one, either have one out at a restaurant or try to make it at home. Sorry no recipes here, when I make it I just put whatever sounds good in.

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I am ADDICTED to salt water taffy. I just got back from the beach last weekend, and obviously I bought a box of taffy. It was gone in about 2 days… OOPS!

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WINE! Cheap wine that tastes delicious, you can’t beat that!

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My favorite flavor of salt water taffy is any fruity kind (banana, watermelon, etc) I like all flavors but the fruity ones the best. Glad you liked the cookie recipe!

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Loved it!!! Thanks so much Patty! My family loved it too!

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Oh that cookie–why do you do this to me so early in the morning? Clearly, to get my day started with the right mentality: NEED cookies! :P

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omg! i think i love you!…pb and snickers cookies!?! *drools* My dear, I think you just gave this preggo woman a new craving/obsession. My ass and thighs will thank you later. HAHA

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Oh my goodness, never had a crabcake? That is crazy! I live in Maryland, and we make the BEST crabcakes here, so so so good. I have never made my own, but the ones with a higher crab to filler ratio are the best, crab is so yummy. The ones they sell at Costco, usually Phillips brand I think are pretty good.

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Tell me you made up the word pazookie? Because it is friggin genius!! I have, of course, eaten one – but never knew of it’s awesomesauce name!

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My aunt makes what we call “big cookie” — essentially, one giant communal pazookie. She buys a roll of chocolate chip cookie dough, presses it all into one large cast iron pan, bakes it until it’s brown, but not totally finished cooking. Then she takes it out of the oven, dumps a ton of vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, and chocolate syrup on top. Then we all grab spoons and eat it straight from the pan while it’s hot. It’s brilliant.

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I work at trader joes and it is the greatest place ever! Definitely have to try the crab cakes and the chocolate chunk cookies that come in a bag in the bread section (also a double chocolate)! They are huge and delicious!

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I am definitely going to TJ’s and try that dressing. Sounds yummy. I wanted you to know, I feel like I can speak for others, truly makes a difference. I never read your blog without you putting a smile on my face. You are willing to share the knowledge you have learned from running with your readers. Trust me, to this beginner runner, that means a lot!!!! I hope you have an awesome day.

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Wow!!!! Linda you absolutely made my day!!!! Thank you so so much for your sweet words and thanks or making ME smile!!!!! Have an amazing day!!!

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That taffy is the devil’s candy! I can not buy it anymore as I can plow through the entire bag in what seems like a matter of minutes!

You need the Smashing Smores, Peanut Vinaigrette(produce area by that pear dressing), Lentil Chips, Ginger Chews (great to stuff down your bra to fuel your runs!) and CA Protein Bread.

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I wish I had a Trader Joes; completely jealous! Crab cakes are da-bomb-diggity if you get them made “right”, but they can be horrible if not.

I hadn’ ever heard of a Pazookie. Must research!

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Oh there are so many TJ recommendations where to even start!? Veggie masala burgers, Joe-Joe’s, their pita chips, any candy thing above the frozen food shelves–>never met any I didn’t like :)

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I don’t make my husband find fun things for me to do, I just tell him he has to entertain me :)

We don’t have any TJs nearby so I don’t have any good recommendations :(

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I’m thinking you should try the taffy dipped in peanut butter. For some reason that sounds really appetizing right now. Or maybe taffy on the pb cookie/candy/ice cream dish. Nahh that’d be too much huh? :D

I didn’t know they were called pazookies (such a fun name) but my hubby and I always split a hot chocolate chip cookie with vanilla ice cream on top

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I have never tried the pear vinaigrette but I do love their regular light champagne vinagrette. Honestly, TJ’s has soooo many good things that I never see anywhere else! Recently, I have really like their steamed lentils to put on lettuce and am in love with their Chipotle Hummus (with baby carrots is my fave)!!!
also OMG that cookie looks and sounds AMAZING!!!!
~Jenn

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they have CHIPOTLE HUMMUS? How do I not know this!??? I always get the regular kind. I need to open my eyes!

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YES!!!! Its really good, in all honestly its not as spicy as you would expect a chipotle anything to be but it has a slightly spice smoky flavor! Love it!!!
~Jenn

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That salad dressing sounds delicious! :) Pretty sure I need to find that VERY soon!

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I am addicted to the “gone bananas” aka dark chocolate covered frozen bananas from trader joes. They are sooo delicious!

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mmm that cookie and ice cream look so good!

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Last night after my run I went to TJ’s and walked up and down the freezer aisle…the best thing they had was above the freezer called Chocolate covered peanut butter pretzels. SO GOOD! GET A BAG OF THESE!!!
I also really love the flax seed chips dipped in their regular hummus, or the white bean hummus.

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The cookie looks amazing! I tagged you on my blog.

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I love everything at TJ’s – I could live off of the items in their store!

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looks amazing. and yes! pretzels! i’ve actually been meaning to tell you this for weeks. haha. my SIL brings us bags of these every time she comes up from cali. i’m not a pretzel lover, but these are a must have. sounds lame, right? pretzels? but serious. they are the best. they’re honey wheat. the front has a little hiker man wearing a plaid shirt. seriously buy like 10 bags. and get 10 for me! i wish i could tell you exactly, but i already cleaned them out and threw the bag away. pretty sure they just say honey wheat pretzels. and then the little dude is obvious. and he’s not that little. buy them! tell me if you love them!

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I make those cookies all the time and I roll them in sugar and call them Snickersdoodles! I love food!

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Try TJ peanut butter creamy or crunchy salted version or their almond butter…so yummy! And I love love their tub of freshly shaved parm cheese. Once you try it, no other parm will do! Heavenly!!

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I LOVE BJ’S PIZOOKIES!!! I once bought the waiter’s button off him for $1… it said I love Pizookies.. and I do.

My fav combo is HALF PB HALF Chocolate chip… then I eat all the middle bites that have both. Yum.

I’ve had crab cakes – it’s a hit or a miss with me. I don’t like them too mushy, I like when they’re almost like a crab biscuit lol.

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I’m going to start campaigning to get a TJ’s here. It sounds amazing.
Never had a crab cake.

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I am seriously obsessed with salt water taffy! It is so so good.

And YUM those cookies look so good. Candy bar inside of a cookie…genius! That is right up there with the invention of a light bulb!

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Haha! Salt water taffy reminds me of the Friends episode where Phoebe eats some when Ross (I think) gives it too her…I don’t remember the specifics, but it makes me giggle just thinking about it vaguely, lol! :-P That cookie and ice cream looks ridiculously good…if they had a vegan version I’d be ALL over it..like a Nana’s cookie with coconut milk ice cream. Must do that! :-D Aaah, to have a trader joes close by…I too would spend afternoons delightedly roaming the isles staring lovingly at all of the fun food products…it’s what all the cool people do, lol! ;-) xyx

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From TJ’s:
-peanut butter pretzels, high brow chocolate chip cookies, Joe Joes, chocolate covered Joe Joes if they have them, Gummy Tummy Bears, Their pre-packaged Pear Gorgonzola Salad, Avocado’s Number guacamole, any of their cheese curls… so good.

Pizookie: chocolate chip for moi

Salt Water Taffy: peanut butter filled is my favorite (I have an addiction to PB)

Crab Cakes: Ok, I’m from the Mid-Atlantic, so I’m a crab cake SNOB. The ones from TJ’s are so so. Honestly, the best crabcakes I have ever had are only made in Maryland. Almost any decent restaurant in MD will have a good crabcake… the best mix is one that has large chunks of lump crabmeat, with LITTLE filler, and a good ratio of Old Bay. The Old Bay is a MUST. Always broil, NEVER FRY!!

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I haven’t had crab cakes. They always sound good, but I always stick with the same old same old. Why try to fix something when it isn’t broken? haha. I don’t think I’ve ever had crab either.

Oh how I sometimes miss the days when I used to eat sugar…I don’t anymore :O no ice cream, whipped cream, or cookies with snickers in them. I can’t even remember the last time I’ve had lasagna. Oh gosh- i’m so weird….there’s something seriously wrong with me. Should I be going to therapy? ;P

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My favorite GUILTY pleasure at TJ’s are the mini pb cups. Don’t get them! Okay, get them! Just be careful, they’re dangeroussssss

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I was just going to suggest those! I swear, I don’t even like Reese’s anymore after having the TJ’s kind.

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TJ’s has the best trail mixes. I’m obsessed with them. There is one that has nuts and chocolate in it but I can’t remember the name. SO GOOD.

Crab cakes…very yummy. Cooking Light has good recipes for those here

http://www.cookinglight.com/food/recipe-finder/

Or I have a good one in one of my Clean Eating Magazine’s I could e-mail you.

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I TOTALLY know what you mean about the head of lettuce eating…
hello, half head of broccoli/cauliflower consumed by your truly in one sitting.
:)
just went to TJ’s this morning and I…
I just am in love.

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TJ’s French Macaron Cookies. Mmmmmm! Pretty sure they are in the freezer section.

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TJ’s crab cakes aren’t that good. Go to Chart House in Dana Point. Right up the street from San Clemente. AWESOME seafood and beautiful view.

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You HAVE to get the TJ’s Peanut Butter cups. Oh goodness. They’re so addicting and so… just delicious.
I refuse to buy them because I know that I’ll eat them in .03 seconds

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Dark Chocolate Caramels.

Now you’ve done it – I have to go get more of them.

I do love salt water taffy. Favorite flavor – PB. Least is probably licorice (but I love licorice normally), but c’mon – all taffy is awesome.

I’m going on vacation next week – and there will be taffy. And fluffernutters. And fried dough.

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mmm I want that cookie and ice cream now!! I just went to TJs for the first time in a while, and we have a couple around Boston – I know…lame – but I love to pick up this grains blend they have called “Harvest Grains Blend” – it is a fun mix of all the grains I love (red quinoa, garbanzo beans, orzo, isreali style couscous!)
http://www.traderjoesfan.com/Trader_Joes/harvest_grains_blend/details/

Also the JoJos are pretty phenom – they are TJ’s version of oreos, at christmas time, they dip them in dark chocolate and roll them in peppermint candy cane pieces….

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you MUST try TJs mini peanut butter cups, usually located with the other candy above the frozen goods! Their “just mango” (dried mango) is amazingly sweet and taste like candy, yummmm! And if you haven’t already, you got to buy their pb pretzels, addictive. Their jo-jos are like oreos, and in the winter they make holiday flavors which rock! Also, if you like the peanut sauce from Thai places, then check out their peanut dressing too – obviously i LOVE TJs :)

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CRAB CAKES ARE THE GREATEST… most of the time. They are kinda hit or miss but if you find a good one its a little cake of heaven.

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did you watch the bachelorette/?!?!?! I’m gonna watch it today!! Slash I eat taffy like it’s nobody’s business, it is so good and always gets stuck in my teeth…but I like it.

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best thing at TJs: um EVERYTHING!
but try their eggplant roasted red pepper spread! i put it on everything it is DELICIOUSS!

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The TJ’s cinnamon bread (i like the one w/ out raisins) is super thick and I toast it and put PB & honey on it… I swear–it is the best thing ever and a FEAST–(because the toast is so thick) it is no small meal. And anytime you make it the whole house smells like deliciousness–as if someone just baked the bread themselves (obviously use this to trick ppl) ;)

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Oh yum…taffy is super tasty :). That pazookie looks awesome! I think I’ve had one before, but I’m not sure haha. Btw, I started my first giveaway today! :)

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I LOVE banana taffy – it’s my favorite. Carmel, CA has this little place called The Cottage of Sweets (aka heaven?) and their taffy is to die for, but it’s quite expensive :(

My favorite trader joe’s product is their Cheesy Queso Dip/Sauce. It comes in a jar and I put it on all my sauteed veggies or salads. It’s heavenly, especially warm :)

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So…I read the recipe and was like “those cookies sound amazing…I HAVE to make them sometime.” Then, here I am 5 hrs later, and I STILL cannot stop thinking about the cookies. So I decided…I will just have to stop on the way home for some snickers. Then I remembered that I have an entire bag of reese’s minis at home. problem solved and I AM making these tonight :) Thanks for sharing.

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Know what’s better than Trader Joe’s taffy? Fresh, homemade, taffy from the old fashioned candy store on Main Street in West Yellowstone.

TO. DIE. FOR.

It’s nice to know someone else shares my affinity for saltwater taffy!

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What I like from Trader Joes:
New Zealand dried apple slices (yum)
They have the BEST honey roasted peanuts,fact
Shaved parmesan,asiago+ something else in a carton,so good and inexpensive (favorite salad = tjs wild arugula + the shaved cheese + diced bacon + pears + candied walnuts or pecans (just pan fry in a bit of butter and sugar))
BBQ sauce
Sweet and sour sauce
Lemon curd! so good and saves time when making desserts, no need to tell people you didn’t make the curd haha
Their preserves are great, sweetened with juice
Diced green chilis in a can
their Hot Pepper sauce is to-die-for
TJs pizza dough (99c!) + TJS pizza sauce + TJs pizza cheese = easy pizza night! I like to make one with bbq sauce, diced cooked chicken, sauteed red onions and TJS mexican cheese! yum.

I love trader Joes.

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please eat a crab cake…for me and for you! I love them! if they are done right they are soo addictive :)

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yum, crab cakes are amazing, so are salmon cakes. Love them both!!

haha apparently I’ve had a pazookie, but had never heard it called that before. I love snickerdoodles and chocolate chip.

I definitely use a separate plate for my salads too. Not only bc they’re big but bc the dressing gets on everything else

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sob sob……no TJs in England…..sigh…..

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OMGosh I’m obsessed with “Just Mango Slices” from TJs…it’s dried mango and it’s the perfect mix of tangy and sweet. (Tip: squeeze the packages before you buy them – the squisher, the better.)
Also, I think you’d really like their chocolate covered pretzels. I was addicted to them but after going through a tough withdrawal I was able to kick the habit.

Happy hunting!

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I totally recommend the Smashing S’mores. They’re so so sooooo good! I haven’t bought a second container since the first because Iate it by myself in 2 days. Sugar rush!
The two plate dinners are a must for me too. I can not possibly fit the ‘main course’ and salads or roasted veggies on the same plate. Maybe if that plate was 2 feet wide. Hmm…but then it would be a trough, right? Also not good. 2 plates it is!

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Their YOGURT STARS are the best thing there! They’re shortcake cookies covered in different flavored yogurt..oh my gosh. Ignore the serving size on the back of the bag-It really is fit for one :)

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Thai Peanut Sauce, and make your own pad thai or stir fry. So good!

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Crab cakes are amazing. Try Courtney’s recipe from sweet tooth sweet life. I made them. Fantastic!

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Best TJ items:

1. edamame hummus
2. Pizza Olympiade
3. Lemongrass chicken sticks (frozen)
4. Pomegranate limeade
5. Joe joes (almost healthy Oreos!!)

Hope you can enjoy these before you head home!

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i LOVE pazookie!
you must try ginger cat cookies from TJ’s before you leave. i miss them sooo much! TJ’s needs to come to colorado.

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I could read through all of the comments on here, or I could be lazy and just ask… where did the word pazookie come from?? I get the -ookie part is a cookie, but what about the paz? Looks phenomenal either way. Your blog leaves me hungry every day.

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Haha I have no idea?!? I think a restaurant called it that and it has stuck over on the west coast?!?

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I just had that dressing on my salad tonight….it’s MY FAVORITE!!! Their Cranberry Walnut Gorgonzola dressing is delicious too, but pear is still my all time fav!

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ps. I WANT YOUR PAZOOKIE…I’m drooling, just wishing it would magically appear in my hands!

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I’ve never heard of a pazookie! I absolutely must try one now, though.

I’ve never been to a Trader Joe’s. =( One is opening up soon near me, though, so I will have to try everything here. ;)

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