Tag: trader joes

Pumpkin Seeds – a halloween treat that’s SO good for you.

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I carved pumpkins over the weekend at my parents house – yeah I know – so cool of me. Well, anyways I love spending time with family and I take every opportunity to do so because who knows where life will take Nico and I in a few years — we could live in another part of the world because of Nico’s job and then I won’t be able to carve pumpkins with the fam so easily!

We almost threw out the seeds this time. Luckily, dad made sure to gather them all up, rinse, separate all the stringy pumpkin pulp and roast them (325° F for 25 minutes, make sure to stir them around every 8 mins or so). It wasn’t until last year when someone I used to work with brought in a ziplock bag filled with a medley of in shell roasted pumpkin seeds and roasted coconut chips (he got these from Trader Joe) to snack on. I was hooked on the flavor combination and looked into (more…)

Pumpkin everywhere! Trader Joe’s Edition.

Trader Joe’s has gone wild with pumpkin! I walked in there the other day to get some more cookie butter (I’m addicted) and walked out with about 9 different pumpkin type items – I actually forgot to get the cookie butter! shocker! Does that ever  happen to anyone else? You go to a store with one thing in mind and come out with everything else EXCEPT that 1 thing – something tells me I’m not alone with that 😉

I sampled some Honey Roasted Pumpkin raviolis – so naturally I had to get a pack to take home. I also tried the pumpkin coffee, which is the only coffee I drink in the Fall. I got pumpkin butter, pumpkin seed and cranberry pita chips, pumpkin ice cream, pumpkin dog treats, pumpkin bread mix, pumpkin rolls (can’t wait to make these!!) and pumpkin macaroons!

I’m really not pumpkin-ed-out… yet…although, I didn’t buy the pumpkin pie because Nico makes one every year from a pumpkin we get at the farm and its SO good, I cant get myself to ever buy one at the store.

So, everyone head to your nearest Trader Joe’s because these items are limited and actually run out quickly – especially the pumpkin butter and raviolis!

Oh I made the pumpkin bar (in cupcake tins) last night and improvised to make it healthier (also Vegan)

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Instead of 2 eggs – I used 1 tbsp of homemade apple sauce and 1 tbsp flax/chia seed with 3 tbsp water.

Instead of 2 sticks butter – I used 8 tbsp of Earth Balance organic “butter”

unnamed (5)This Pumpkin Bar is different than the Pumpkin Bread they also carry. It has chocolate chips in it 🙂 wooo

unnamed (4) unnamed (2) unnamed (3)Bon appétit!! 

and to make your day that much better: