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Trader Joe’s Cheese Pizza Dip

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This was the sample last week at our Trader Joe’s in Kansas City.

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I wanted to share it with you because even thought it is a bit different, I found myself thinking about it a few times. This is basically a warm dip that you can serve in the crock pot with little bread sticks- or at least that is what they did at Trader Joe’s.

It tastes just like a slice of cheese pizza!

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I was brainstorming how I might use this (it makes a LOT of dip) are a few ideas like a fun addition to a super bowl party as a hot dip (love those on these cold days) but I found myself thinking … what else could we do with this tasty dip ….hmmmm

So here is a short list of ideas that I thought up:

  • Pour over steamed veggies
  • Pour over hot baked potatoes
  • Use as a pizza sauce on any kind of flat bread (a tortilla, english muffin, Nan etc..)
  • Use as a hot dip for cold veggies (carrots & celery)

I am sure that there are plenty more fabulous  ideas out there- Please share yours in  the comments section at the bottom of the page.

So without further ado…here is the recipe:

Trader Joe’s Cheese Pizza Dip

2 wedges of Trader Joe’s Fontina Cheese (shredded up)

1 Pint Half & Half

1 jar of Trader Joe’s Fat Free Pizza Sauce

1 Tub (8oz) Fresh shaved Parmesan /Asiago/ Romano cheese blend

In a crock pot, combine over medium heat (or start with high and then switch to low after everything is melted) the Fontana cheese and Half & Half until blended.

Next, add the pizza sauce and the tub of the Fresh Shaved Parmesan cheese and stir together until it is all combined.

Reduce heat to LOW to serve.

Use Trader Joe’s Italian Bread sticks for dipping (that is what they used at the store) OR use what ever makes sense to you… get creative….

So YES I will be making this for my next party … I only hope I can last until the Superbowl!

 

How to Cook Fish in the Oven

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Here is a super simple recipe for cooking fish in the oven. This recipe will work for any thin white fish- such as Tilapia.

Check at your Trader Joe’s store in the frozen fish section and choose a fish that looks good to you. Make sure to thaw the fish overnight in your refrigerator before cooking.

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I love fast and easy dinners like this. We served this fish with some roasted potatoes (leftover from another meal) and a salad with yummy garlic bread just to round it out.

What you need

  • Thin white fish (1 per person)
  • Tomato slices for the fish (optional but adds great flavor & color)
  • Olive oil, salt, pepper & any spices you like

What you do:

Pre-heat your oven to 400 degrees or 425 if you feel your oven is not all that hot.

In the bottom of a oven safe dish (glass is what I like to use) sprinkle a spoonful of olive oil to lightly coat the bottom of the dish.

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Carefully add your thawed fish fillets to the pan, making sure they in a single layer.

Season with salt, pepper and any seasonings you like to use. We like to add a small amount of Trader Joe’s 21 Seasonings to our fish.

Add a few slices of tomato on the top of your fish.

Place your pan in the oven for 10 minutes, then turn your fish and place it back in the oven for 5 more minutes OR until the fish is white and flaky (no longer “clear”).

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TaDa! it’s ready…

Now serve up your wonderful fish!

So the next time you are craving a simple, yet delicious fish dinner, try this recipe and tuck into an easy and wonderful meal.

 

Wonton Soup: Fast and Easy

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Do you LOVE a steamy bowl of Wonton soup?

With the tasty ingredients at Trader Joe’s you can have a delicious bowl of Wonton style soup anytime without even leaving your house!

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Here is my bowl of soup- I added some shredded zucchini, ginger and garlic to the broth- YUMMOOO!

Last week the weather started to get cooler here in the Midwest, and there were a few days of heavy rain so my cravings for a big bowl of soup came on strong!

My favorite part was that I could make this wonderful soup at home and watch some fun flicks – all warm and toasty!

Thank You Trader Joe’s!

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Here is the super easy recipe: 

  • 1 box broth (I like vegetable broth, but chicken or beef would also work)
  • 1 bag potstickers or Gyoza – any flavor (We used Shrimp Gyoza this time)

Extras to consider:

  • Ginger root (grate into the broth)
  • garlic (grate into the broth)
  • sesame oil
  • soy sauce
  • leftover cooked vegies

What to do:

Bring your stock of choice to a boil in a large pot over medium heat.

Carefully slip the frozen Goyza into the hot stock and reduce heat to simmer.  Add any extras you are using to the pot such as leftover cooked vegies, garlic or ginger as well and cook for 10 minutes.

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Serve in big bowls with a big spoon!

I also like to drizzle the top of the soup with a little sesame oil and soy sauce when I am serving it. You will see it in the pictures.

This is an AWESOME soup to make when you are feeling a bit under the weather too… Just a few ingredients and it will warm you up from the inside.

 

 

 

 

 

How To Make Garlic Aioli

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Add Garlic Aioli to your meal tonight!

Garlic Aioli is a wonderful garlicky mayonnaise that add a wonderful “something extra” to a wide variety of vegetables and meats. I like to make it when I have an assortment of raw veggies for dinner- as a dip with a punch. Another way I use Aioli is to jazz up my leftovers- it really makes cold cooked potatoes come to life.

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Garlic Aioli is so easy and flavorful, it is a great recipe to have on hand and make at the last minute to make a meal shine.

Here is the super easy way to have delicious garlic aioli: 

Spoon some mayo into a small bow, say 1/2 cup

Add 1 or 2 cloves freshly grated garlic to taste – start with 1 clove (or even a 1/2 clove and taste to see how strong the flavor is before adding the rest of the clove).

Add a pinch of sea salt, and freshly ground pepper.

Optional: squeeze fresh lemon juice in the garlic Aioli

That is all there is to it!  Super easy, right??

Need some ideas of how to use your Garlic Aioli? Check out this list: 

  • Serve with cooked Potatoes – hot or cold
  • Dip your Steamed asparagus in Garlic Aioli
  • Use as a spread on a sandwich
  • Use as a dip for raw veggies (great with carrots)
  • Fantastic with plain shrimp served hot or cold.

So whip up a batch of Garlic Aioli today and see how many meals will be just that much better because of the addition of a little zippy mayo!