Dear Trader Joe’s: I Love You

Last week, I posted a blog called “Bypassing Convenience”, and while I always think making your food from scratch is the way to go, sometimes you need some “convenience foods” to help you out in a pinch. Trader Joe’s is my go-to for quick easy meals when I am in a crunch.

My Most Loved Trader Joe’s Products:

Taquitos

Garlic Hummus Dip with Pita Bread

Vegetable Burritos

Chips and Salsa

Spinach Tortellini with Marinara

Rigatoni alla Siciliana

Gnocchi al Gorgonzola

Asparagus Risotto

Frozen Fruits (blueberries are affordable)

Goat Yogurt

Once in a while, I will cook a couple taquitos and top them with pico de gallo, sour cream and cheddar. Delicious! The beef is our personal favorite.

I love Trader Joe’s salsa, pasta sauce and hummus because it is beyond affordable and very yummy!

As a snack for great digestion, I often mix goat yogurt, frozen blueberries and a bit of honey together.

Trader Joe’s pasta meals, while not always the healthiest of options, are portioned well for two people. They also take less than 10 minutes to prepare.

Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love from-scratch cooking! But sometimes even a domestic diva needs a little break!

What are your favorite Trader Joe’s Products? If you don’t have a Trader Joe’s in your area, what is your favorite market?

Pasta Amatriciana

Bacon + Pasta + Cheese + Jalapeños = A Very Happy Husband!

 Let me warn you up front, this is not the healthiest meal I have ever blogged!  Though, if you are looking for a full-flavored pasta dish with many less calories than your local pasta joint, this is your best bet. I have seen a hundred variations of this recipe, but I find the one I have put together to be the most simple and flavorful. It is also, by far, the most health conscious. No expensive, fancy ingredients. Just deliciousness. If your family unit is not in love with spicy foods like we are, use a pepper with a little less spice!

Ingredients

5 oz. whole wheat penne

4 slices bacon, chopped (I use less fat center cut bacon)

3 cloves fresh garlic, minced

¼ cup parmesan or asiago cheese, shredded

1 tbsp. olive oil

½ small yellow onion, chopped

1 small jalapeno pepper, chopped

1 can tomatoes, diced (I used fire roasted)

½ tsp. dried basil

½ tsp. dried oregano

½ tsp. red pepper flakes

Directions:

1)      Fry bacon in a skillet over low heat until almost crisp.

2)      Remove bacon from skillet and let cool on paper towels. Chop when cooled.

3)      Wipe most of the bacon grease out of the skillet, but leave the skillet greased. Add onion and garlic. Cook until soft.

4)      In a medium sauce pan, combine olive oil, bacon, onion, garlic, jalapeno and tomatoes. Cover and simmer for 3-5 minutes.

5)      While sauce is simmering, boil a medium pot of salted water and cook noodles until al dente. When draining pasta, save ¼ cup pasta water.

6)      Stir in basil, oregano and red pepper. Recover and continue simmering 2-3 minutes.

7)      Add half of the parmesan cheese into the sauce along with the pasta water. Stir constantly for about 1 minute.

8)      Recover sauce and simmer for an additional 2-3 minutes.

9)      Plate pasta, top with sauce and remaining cheese.

10)   Serve immediately.

 Serves 2

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 496, Fat: 18g, Carbs: 64g, Protein: 26g, Fiber: 6g

Bypassing Convenience

I have regretfully neglected polenta and plum for several days. My father underwent emergency triple bypass surgery this past weekend. He came through fine and is recovering well, but I was required to give all of my spare time to my family. Over the past few stressful days, all I wanted to do was run get a quick burger or buy something from a vending machine. I suddenly realized that eating in that way, during that time, would be, well, really dumb! My father had to have life-saving surgery because of his life-style. He is a potato chip, ice cream, soda loving kinda guy. This close call with my family made me realize just how important keeping up a healthy diet is. It isn’t about fitting into size 4 jeans or looking great in Facebook photos. It is about living healthily and happily. More yummy and healthy recipes to come this week!