Oh, so what is a favorite frozen TJ meal that is not junk?

Glad to hear that the dogs are all right. Porcupines are cute but the wounds can be really nasty.

Re your question, please define "junk". :) I think it's all pretty much junk. But some of it is good junk, if you think of it as heat at home rather than take out. In NYC, with the 24 hr. delivery, I can't think it worth a lot of what might be limited freezer space, but speaking of overpackaged and wasteful of freezer space, the shrimp tempura is much better than it ought to be. It's my guilty pleasure/comfort treat. There's plenty enough trapped oil to make it come out well in the convection oven, especially as I like it very crisp. But it's definitely junk food and probably from some awful Asian farm that's degrading the environment, but I don't really want to know. Most of my choices are responsible, but I'm firmly on the 80/20 bandwagon about orthodoxy in food politics.

Pups are 'hung-over' today. So glad i found such a good excellent vet team. (so rare here). At one point 4 vets did searches while they were under anesthesia doing their best to get all of them.

I had some time to kill and waiting for a vet call. I did notice less ingredients listed than most grocery frozens that i avoid.

Junk. Hmm. Just packaged with deceitful photos and healthy claims. We get enough random junk working in the city. Just avoid it at home.

A few years ago a friend had a 'fish stick' mock-up (i think TJ's) and a veg patty, smaller than a burger that was junk great. Junk meaning it was packaged ready to cook and not clear but few ingredients listed. We immediately dissected and came up with ahomemade versions. Her kids were happy. Some added sugars probably.

A working family does need some quickies. Or singles need a fast meal. Working out of town long hours i always had a bit of a struggle eating well. Just kept it simple whole foods the best i could.

I agree some can be good junk. Alternatives can end up being chips and soda and ice cream...easy junk. I do none of that but easy can be better choices.

From Costco:

Trident brand Ultimate Fish Stick (these taste so much better than other brands of fish sticks)

Tyson brand Buffalo Chicken Bites

Kirkland Pacific Bold coffee

Kirkland dog food

Kirkland toilet paper

Kirkland paper towels

Kirkland laundry detergent

Kirkland dishwasher pods

Kirkland coconut oil

Kirkland Tuscan olive oil

Kirkland balsamic vinegar

All of their fresh beef and pork, a variety of cheeses - I don't think we've had anything from Costco that we didn't like.

Forgot to say that their frozen wild caught salmon and cod are really good, too.

Can usually count on TJ's for deals on organic romaine hearts, organic carrots, avocados, garlic, and shallots. Dh likes their reduced sodium genoa salami. I keep a stash of diced pancetta and applewood smoked bacon in the freezer. Always buy their Pecorino-Romano and Unexpected Cheddar. Jarred roasted red peppers, Salsa Autentica, and Thai Green Curry simmer sauce. Frozen "junk" faves are wild blueberries, Tarte D’Alace and Chile Relleno.

My all time favorite was Thai Vegetable Kao Soi. It disappeared a couple years ago and never returned.

I like the channa masala at TJ's, along with their frozen naan or some fresh basmati. Especially if you don't have all the ingredients on hand to make your own. I too like the fact the cheese section is made up of small cuts, just perfect for a cheese tray.

Their spanish cured meats, machego and rosemary flat crackers make for a nice snack.

Mmmm........meatballs from Ikea, and Lingonberry Preserves.

Sam's Club - rotisserie chicken, giant bottles of olive oil (just the plain stuff), 40 lb. bags of birdseed, pre-cooked bacon.

Poor doggies. I know you don't use it, but ikea gravlax is pretty good. Anything frozen Indian from TJs--love the lamb vindaloo. Also the gluten free mac and cheese when available. Since someone else mentioned olive oil, TJ's Kalamata is very highly rated.

Thanks for the list, I have added some of your favs to my list of favs. I am taking a newbee (didn't know what Trader Joe's was) to TJ's tomorrow.

I missed the cured meats at TJ's and any smoked salmon. I do buy the wild Alaskan smoked salmon at Costco for a favorite pasta dish. Huge package though so it ends up being a week long event...smoked salmon chowder, and a simple snack brunch platter, etc. We love salmon in all its offerings.

I hope the puppies are okay.

Poor doggies! Hopefully they have learned to stay away from the porcupines.

Favorites from Costco:

Kirkland coffee

Kirkland laundry soap and fab softner

Bakery croissants

Kirkland trash bags

Cooked whole chicken

Gouda and Swiss cheese

Johnsonville brats (no MSG at the Costco ones

Kirkland whole grain bread, two pack

A number of the vitamins

Favorites from TJ's:

Saville orange marmalade

Tart cherry juice

Ikea favorites:

Lingonberry

meatballs

The dried 1/2 rolls

Coffees

potholders

kitchen sink scrub brush

sciccors

stemmed wine glasses. If it breaks, I don't cry over $1.99

Sorry about the doggies, I hope they recover quickly! I use the frozen polenta with spinach as an accompaniment to many meals. It's a quick easy starch that I top with parmesan cheese and nuke. Most guests rave and ask for the "recipe"! LOL

I also buy their frozen turkey burger patties. They're not perfect, but they're a quick easy protein for my lunches or a solo dinner. They are far superior to the more expensive Distel ones from WF.

DH likes the frozen Chicken Tikka and their spinach, fontina sausages. I saute them with peppers and sliced onions in a white wine.

Peppi, I've heard Costco's rotisserie chickens are the best. Still haven't tried one.

I'm adding Trader Joe's Ricotta & Lemon Zest Ravioli to my list. We tried it tonight with a smashed Sun Gold cherry tomato sauce. It was a great combo. Light and lemony.

Ikea:

stemmed wine glasses. If it breaks, I don't cry over $1.99

You buy the expensive ones, I see.

TJ's
Pineapple Salsa.
Chicken Tikka Masala - flavor can't be duplicated; love it!
Chicken & cheese tamale, frozen.
Cliff bars - cheaper than elsewhere.
Almonds - for .50 more per lb. than CostCo and much better.
Raspberry Tart from France - frozen, sad the blueberry & the pear were discontinued - all outstanding.
Pumpkin pie spice at $1.99 jar - excellent, cardamom is an ingredient.
Italian white bread (plastic bag) - nice density, thick slices good for French toast.
Breads in paper bags (brain lapse on names).
Boxed cereals.

I like the reviews of TJ products at this site. Our TJs doesn't carry some things.
http://www.whatsgoodattraderjoes.com/search/label/pantheon

CostCo
Steak and cheese chimichangas, boxed, frozen.

edited in:

Trader Joe's Thai Red Curry Sauce - 11 oz. bottle - disappointing.

Another TJ's favorite is the Korean inspired spice barbecue chicken sausages. Can't remember what they're actually called. Really good in sandwiches.

Also, some good breads.

Just bought TJ's Gluten free cinnamon raisin bread today. It's surprisingly good!

Thanks for all the advice. I'll take a closer look and might find a favorite at TJ's.

Usually disappointed with most packaged frozen foods. Some surprises usually are a starting point to come up with our own homemade version like the Costco veggie cakes. (made a smaller version like a slider and a 'meatball' style as and app with a guacamole and hummus dip).

Pup #uno may have a quill still, working its way through her lip, poor thing. They said it may happen, ugh. So tiny, the size of a sewing pin broken in half. May have to take her back Monday if we can't get it. (with pliers). So i might be back in the area.

Costco has good mini naan that freezes well. We have been making our own recently but work is getting in the way these days.

TortillaLand Fresh Flour and Corn Tortillas. These are the best! They have them at Costco and my Walmart. Not all Walmarts have them. They are uncooked, have all good ingredients, and when you cook them they are like homemade! Incredible!

TortillaLand is the best! Hard to find here. I use then as pizza crust.

Suzi, thanks for the heads up! Never heard of TortillaLand, but looks like they're available at WM and Costco here.

We do a lot of our shopping at TJs and Costco. I wish we had Ikea. I like TJs fresh vegetables...they keep well. I like their avocados much better than Costco.

TJ simmer sauces, red and green curry (I usually doctor them, but they're a decent base. Simmered the green down with a can of coconut cream...yum.) We're hooked on the organic corn chips. They're like fritos only not as greasy. Grade B maple syrup. Frozen wild caught salmon fillet. Sweet potato fries. Their mustards. Harvest Grain mix. Olive oil. And triple ginger cookies.

I grab a few of their frozen things to keep at work. They're a little bland but don't have a lot of unpronounceable ingredients. Rotini w/grilled veggies and pesto, bowties w/spinach and cheeses, chili relleno and the cheese enchiladas aren't bad with some sour cream and salsa. The mac and cheese is ok too, for frozen.

Costco for most of our staples. We're pretty happy with Kirkland brand. Organic sharp cheddar is good. Lately we've been getting the baby romaine. Makes great lettuce wraps.

I don't buy TJs prepared foods, but I DO buy a lot of their organic staples & they are mostly better quality & less expensive than anywhere else around here. Organic chicken is lower in price than anyone (except maybe Costco, but they're too far away for me) & excellent quality to boot. in fact, the price for organic chicken /parts is less than the premium 'natural' chicken elsewhere. Their organic peanut butter is the bomb & organic eggs, butter, milk, cream, cottage cheese, sour cream, yoghurt & cheeses are all excellent as well. They have a great selection of organic breads(when I do buy bread) that are fresher & tastier than the dried out bricks most health food stores around here carry. Their organic produce is also mostly superior & often lower priced than premium conventional.

Lately, I'm struggling w/an addiction to their organic corn dippers - too yummy!

My grocery bill has dropped by about a third, since I started shopping @ Trader Joe's.

TJ simmer sauces, red and green curry (I usually doctor them, but they're a decent base. Sweet potato fries. Harvest Grain mix.

I recently discovered the green curry sauce. I always add frozen peas and this last time added raw corn too. We're having the sweet potato fries tonight with burgers and corn on the cob. Also like the Harvest Grain Blend as a side or tossed in Pasta e Fagioli

Went to TJs today for my monthly cauliflower rice supply...out of stock at least another month. It's over 30+ miles round trip but it's really priceless. $1.99 for 12oz frozen is a bargain, I eat 4oz a day with 4 sautéed asparagus pieces and a tablespoon of soysauce. So good! I'll never food-process a head of cauliflower again. Good thing I have 6 reserve bags in my freezer!

And I do admit I skipped any reference to fresh raviolis because of CindyMac! Carbs and cheese are my enemy. :)

Emeraldisle, my TJ's carries the riced cauliflower both fresh and frozen.

I got some fresh today but couldn't find the frozen (even their spot wasn't "empty", just no place for it). I asked at customer service and they said at least till mid-July before it comes in due to back order. I wasn't happy!

The TJ's tuna steaks were excellent. We grill/seared them Sunday. A weee bit over-cooked as i like it with a bit of a crust and rare so i need to work on that. I had a good pink med rare once of the grill a few minutes. Third steak we had a nicoise salad for lunch next day. (planned, not left-overs, : )

Pup #1 did have a nasty quill work itself out and was starting to swell poor thing. Somehow managed to hold her down without much trauma and i pulled it with pliers. She seemed to understand that it needed to be done and held still. Happy ending. Driving away from the farm we saw the nasty critter cross the road just a head of us. Hopefully heading to another location. Local farmers hate them. They eat farm equipment...tear up tires and chew aggressively on any wood parts....i had no idea.