Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate Covered Cranberries

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Trader Joe's Chocolate Covered Cranberries

Go ahead, we dare you!

These are just fantastic, chocolaty treats from Trader Joe’s. We first spotted them during the holidays but they are still available in the stores now. They look like a chocolate covered peanut or raisin, all different shapes and shiny on the outside.

But it is for the insides that you will love these little treats.

Each bite of dark chocolate is wrapped around a dried cranberry, making a wonderful mixture between the sweet rich dark chocolate, and the tangy and chewy texture of the cranberries.

We have used them in a number of ways, but our favorite is straight out of the package!

But be warned…. You may find yourself returning again and again to have “just one more”!

Cherry Lovey Gummy Tummies at Trader Joe’s

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Trader Joe's Gummy Hearts

Just in for Valentine’s Day are Lovey Gummy Tummies.  Don’t let the odd name put you off this treat. They are a wonderfully sweet and soft chewy heart with a dark cherry liquid center.  Now we normally don’t go for the gummy-type candy (the bears, fish and worms etc…) but again, magic happens here at Trader Joe’s.  Another shopper just happened to see us checking out the package and she quickly volunteered that they were just yummy and we should try them.

Well, she was right.

These cherry hearts had a wonderful texture, soft and yet you could easily bit into the candy without too much effort. The dark cherry liquid center gave each piece a great look and fantastic cherry flavor. We usually don’t like cherry flavored items, but these candies have natural cherry flavor, and  get a big YES vote from us.

We thought that these hearts would make a great garnish to many other Valentine’s Day treats as well. We first thought of frosted cupcakes or cookies for example, but then thought that they would look cute on a plate next to any dessert offering.

Another idea: sticking the hearts into a small snack size ziplock baggie and then into a Valentine’s Day lunchbox with a sweet note… Nice

We hope you are able to get your hands of a package of Trader Joe’s Lovey Gummy Tummies, and have a wonderful Valentine’s Day.

Nuts About Nuts at Trader Joe’s

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Trader Joe's Balpark Peanuts

Let’s be frank. We love nuts!

In fact, we love all kinds of nuts-all shapes and sizes. Trader Joe’s has helped with our nut love, or rather obsession,  with a great selection of nuts both toasted and raw as well as a pre-made nut and fruit snack mixes.

Two of our favorite nuts are the toasted pecan halves and the Ballpark peanuts.

First, we start with the pecans. Trader Joe’s sells pecan halves that are lightly toasted and salted and are great in a variety of recipes, or just in handfuls right out of the package.  We love to add these pecans to our morning oatmeal for a little crunch and an extra protein burst in the am. (See the post about out current breakfast at: https://www.livingtraderjoes.com/2010/02/02/breakfast-is-great-at-trader-joes/

Our second favorite nut is the Ballpark peanuts. These are the kind of peanuts that are cooked so that they have crunchy little bumps that appear on the surface of the nuts. They are crunch and lightly salted and make a wonderful snack at work with or without raisins and chocolate chips mix in…

Explore the Vitamin Values At Trader Joe’s

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Trader Joe's vitamins

Shopping for dietary supplements can be a stressful and confusing. Perhaps your doctor recommended that you take more vitamin D? Or you read an article that noted that we need more Omega-3 fatty acids for optimum health.  Then you head to a natural or whole foods type store and there are so many vitamins to choose from, that you leave the store bewildered with the task of choosing.

Luckily, Trader Joe’s has a large and diverse selection of vitamins in their stores. For the most part they are Trader Joe’s brand, with the occasional national products included in the mix.  We like that the selection of vitamins is extensive, without the myriad of choices under each different letter.

A couple of vitamins that we enjoy on a daily basis include the Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acid,  Women’s Daily ( multiple) and the B-complex.

Another favorite when we are beginning to feel run down and think we are getting sick,  is the Echinacea & Goldenseal tablets. One pill in the AM and one in the PM. We also consume extra vitamin C at the same time as well as trying to get more rest.

Just another way that Trader Joe’s helps you take care of yourself.