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Cuor Nocciola Cookies – Trader Giotto’s

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Holiday Cookie Review – Cuor Nocciola Cookies

Have you tried the new

Cuor Nocciola Cookies / Trader Giotto’s at Trader Joes? 

We have noticed these tempting boxes near the check out of our Trader Joe’s in Kansas City on the last 2 or 3 trips.

Sooo …. we investigated to see what they were all about.

The package has all the right words on the cover:

“Italian Biscuits with Hazelnut cocoa filling, covered in milk chocolate, topped with cartelized hazelnuts”

YUMMOOO!

The verdict? These are DELICIOUS cookies!

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This is the box that tempted us …. watch out!

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This is the surprise that was in the box. 9 individually wrapped cookies that reminded me of those wonderful amaretto cookies from long ago ….

cuornocciolacookiewrappedWhen you open up each package, the cookie is actually wrapped up again – for freshness sure, but I felt “what more packaging” as I was unwrapping …

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Ahhh …. at last! Coffee meet your new BEST Friend!

 

So give them a try if you are looking for something different.

I was thinking that all the packaging was kinda a PAIN, but then got to thinking that it might come in handy if you were using these cookies for a holiday display – sprinkled on the buffet table or maybe used for a gift for a co-worker (secret santa style) with a card?

I am sure you will come up with something yummy!

 

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!

 

Cookies Beyond The Pail at Trader Joe’s

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Have you tried Cookies Beyond The Pail at  Trader Joe’s?

– A great post holiday treat.

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Our shopping trip to Trader Joe’s today resulted in some interesting finds. On an end cap was a huge display of white pails with windmills on them- and the best news? The pail was full of cookies!

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Now, not just any cookies … those rich butter-y cookies that just seem to melt in your mouth. These are the kind of treat that we love to enjoy with a cup of tea in the afternoon. the cookies are on the smallish size, so you can have 2-3 and get a taste for all the different flavors.

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I must confess that I have not noticed these cookies at Trader Joe’s yet this season, but the cookies are in the Fearless Flyer Holiday Guide 2014 on page 17. (Opps! Just when I thought I knew all the treats in the Flyer….. hmmmmm).

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According to the Flyer, these cookies are from a Danish Tradition and inspired by a city in California – home to a rich Danish tradition (actually the town, Slovang sounds like a very cook place for a visit, especially on Danish Days festivals)

Side Note- I stopped and Googled this town just to check that the good folks at Trader Joe’s were not pulling my leg with this story and this town looks so fun!

So the bottom line: I enjoy these kind of cookies – the kind you want to enjoy with your tea or coffee. It is all about getting ready for 2015 here, filing and the like, so these cookies are a nice welcome treat.

Have you tried Trader Joe’s Cookies Beyond the pail yet?

What did you think?

Share below or on Facebook or Google +

 

Trader Joe’s Gingerbread House Kit

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This year we finally tried the Trader Joe’s Gingerbread House Kit!

I have seen these kits for years and thought … FUN! but never got around to trying them out. There was always some reason or another holding me back- But not this year…. 2014 was the year.

What makes this story even more odd, is that it is our family tradition to make Gingerbread houses around Thanksgiving time- usually on Thanksgiving day while the Turkey is cooking.

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We loved this house- because let’s face it- the roof is huge &  is the best part of the decorating! I love crafting the roof- planing out the tiles or design. I think that a great roof is the best part of the house!

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This house was a flat kit that we had to “glue” together before we decorated- we usually do this the night before just to make sure that everything “holds” before we get busy adding all the candy. And YES .. we did make a few additions to the candy that came in the kit ….

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We did like all the fun candy that came with the house, but must admit to adding a few other candy favs along the way. I mean what would the Holidays be without mini- marshmallows or peppermint rounds, and my personal fav those wonderful Hershey’s Kisses (the mint & white chocolate ones are the BEST! )

Here is our Video showing off the results

Have you ever make a Trader Joe’s Gingerbread house?

What did you think?

Share your thoughts below or on Social Media!