Smooth and Mellow Blend Coffee

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Smooth and Mellow Blend Coffee from Trader Joe’s is a nice middle -of -the -road coffee for those of us who like to drink a more milder coffee.  This is our second can of this coffee, as it is starting to get colder out I guess I am drinking more ….  I have really been enjoying hot coffee in the AM as well a cup of tea. hmmm….

We first were introduced to the Smooth and Mellow via the sample table. (Don’t you just love those samples!) We tried it one morning and thought …. hey, this is really good coffee! So we ground up a can and made it at home.

And it was still good at home too!

[ Side note: This has not always been our experience, unfortunately. Sometimes I get to chatting and sampling the other items  and don’t realize how much creamer (both the half -and -half or the delicious Soy milk) is going into my tiny little coffee “shot”/ sample cup. This means that when I get home, and make it my regular way…. disaster! WOW the coffee is way to strong or has a really dark roast going on. ]

So now when I find a coffee that is yummy…. I will carefully read the package for those key words such as “mild” or medium or light roast and avoid coffee that is labeled “dark” or “French Roast”.

In any event, we are really enjoying this coffee and recommend it if you are a more “mild” coffee drinker.

Also… If you are interested in a fast and easy way to enjoy coffee we suggest trying a French Press.  Click on the link below from Amazon to learn more about Making Coffee in a French Press

 

 

How To Make Kale Chips

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Are you interested in learning how to make kale chips?   Have your friends been telling you that you have to try these yummy things and you are like …eeks! no way! I will admit that I was a bit skeptical when I started to hear about Kale chips too.

I mean I enjoy eating cooked Kale, but a Kale chip? really?? Hmmmmm….

Well, we finally took the plunge and made some Kale chips over the weekend and WOW! they were really good. (and easy to make too). Here is what we did:
How to make Kale chips

Ingredients:

  • Bag of Trader Joe’s Kale (near all the bags of lettuce)
  • Olive Oil
  • Sea Salt

How to Make Kale Chips:
1. Turn oven to 400 degrees
2. Line a baking sheet with foil and spread out the Kale in a thin layer (we only used about 1/3 of the bag). Check the leafs for the tough stems, and tear them out, so you are left with only the “tender” kale leafs.
3. Lightly drizzle olive oil over the leafs and toss around so they are lightly coated. Next time I am thinking of using some Trader Joe’s Olive Oil pan spray to get a more even and yet still light coating of oil on the Kale.

Kale Chips before the oven
4. Bake for 20-40 minutes. I would check the Kale at 20 minutes and then every 10 minutes after that. The Kale should be dry and crisp (It will shrink up and get dark when it is ready).
5. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with Sea Salt.
Let them cool slightly and then enjoy!

Finished Kale ChipsEat & Repeat!

We enjoyed them and finished off the pan rather quickly… so we made more!

So now you know how to Make Kale Chips! They are fast and easy and are as addicting as Potato chips in my opinion…

Let us know what you think! Leave a comment below or on Facebook! ~THANKS!

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”!

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…