Easy Trader Joe's Meals - Chicken Quesadillas with Roasted Corn

... a continuation of my posts on easy meals made from ingredients found at Trader Joe's

Chicken Quesadillas with Roasted Corn
large tortillas (1 per quesadilla)
1 package shredded cheese
1 package Just Chicken (frozen)
1 package roasted corn (frozen)
1 jar chunky salsa

Heat chicken strips in microwave until just thawed (~2 min). Place tortilla on plate and cover one half of it with shredded cheese, thawed chicken, and roasted corn. Fold tortilla over and heat in microwave until cheese is melted (~2 min). Serve with salsa, sour cream, and/or Avocado's Number Guacamole.

TJ's has a variety of yummy salsas. The chunky salsa is a good basic salsa. The peach salsa is also very tasty. TJ's Guacamole is awesome! It's just as good as my homemade guac and a lot less work. It's packaged in two containers, so you can freeze half for later use. Instead of sour cream, we substitute non-fat plain yogurt. It's much healthier and tastes the same.

To turn this recipe into a burrito, add pre-cooked brown rice, diced tomatoes, and lettuce.

Trader Joe's Gingerbread House Kit

We got a really cute gingerbread house kit from Trader Joe's. Everything was included - even the sugar for the icing. The only thing we had to add was an egg and lemon juice for the icing. This is my kind of project!

HB had a lot of fun putting it together. It was easy enough for her to do it mostly by herself (after I helped her assemble the main house, she did all the decorating).

I think it turned out super cute. HB loves it!

What fun easy projects are you doing with your kids for the holidays?

Easy Trader Joe's Meals - Tilapia Citronette

... a continuation of my posts on easy meals made from ingredients found at Trader Joe's

Tilapia Citronette
1 package Tilapia Citronette (frozen)
1 package haricot vert (green beans)

Prepare tilapia according to instructions (400 degree oven for 30 min). Transfer haricot vert into a microwave-safe dish and microwave for 4 min.

While they give both microwave and oven instructions for the Tilapia, I recommend that you cook it in the oven. I found that the fish came out rubbery and dry in the microwave, but very moist and flaky in the oven.

I realize that there is really no recipe here -- just reheating an already made meal. The reason I am highlighting it is because everyone should eat more Tilapia!

Tilapia is one of the "super fishes" (along with Salmon and Herring) which are high in Omega-3's yet low in mercury. I was scouring Trader Joe's for all their offerings of the "super fishes", and came upon this wonderfuly delicious meal.

I guess it's telling that HB thinks that all fish are salmon - we eat a lot of salmon at our house. So, it's nice to find an alternate fish that still has all the great Omega-3's. HB calls this "white salmon".

Easy Trader Joe's Meals - Chicken Apple Sausage and Zucchini Stir Fry with Orange Port Wine Glaze

... a continuation of my posts on easy meals made from ingredients found at Trader Joe's

Chicken Apple Sausage and Zucchini Stir Fry with Orange Port Wine Glaze
1 package chicken apple sausage
1 zucchini
1 yellow squash
1 orange or 1/4 cup orange juice
1/4 cup port wine
1 Tbsp flour

Chop sausages into 1/2" thick slices. Chop zucchini and yellow squash. In a skillet, saute sausage with a splash of olive oil over medium-high heat until lightly browned. Add zucchini and squash and saute until they are slightly soft. Squeeze in the juice of the orange and the port wine and continue stirring for 1-2 minutes. Sprinkle in flour and stir until it is absorbed and the sauce has thickened. Remove from heat and serve over rice or pasta. I like to use TJ's pre-cooked brown rice.

I love the high-brow/low-brow character of this dish with the port wine glaze and the sausage. The real maple syrup in the sausage yearns to be paired with a sweeter sauce, and it tastes great with the port wine glaze. Since the sausage is pre-cooked, it doesn't take long to brown it up, so this meal is very quick. HB loves it because she thinks we're having hot dogs for dinner.

Easy Trader Joe's Meals - Mandarin Orange Chicken with Broccoli over Lime Rice

... a continuation of my posts on easy meals made from ingredients found at Trader Joe's

Mandarin Orange Chicken with Broccoli over Lime Rice
1 bag frozen mandarin orange chicken
1 bag broccoli florets
1 bag pre-cooked Thai lime rice

Prepare mandarin chicken according to instructions: 22 min in 450 degree oven. While chicken is cooking, heat sauce in the microwave (~60 sec), heat rice in the micro (60 sec), and steam broccoli in micro (5-7 min). When chicken is done, pour sauce over chicken and broccoli and lightly toss. Serve over Lime rice.

HB likes to have her own bowl of sauce so that she can dip her chicken in it herself, so I reserve some of the sauce in a little prep bowl for her. While they give you two packets of sauce with the chicken, we only use one of them.

Easy Trader Joe's Meals - Souped-up Lentil Soup

... a continuation of my posts on easy meals made from ingredients found at Trader Joe's

Souped-up Lentil Soup
1 can Trader Joe's Lentil Soup with Vegetables (28oz can)
1 can Kidney Beans
1 can corn
1/4 cup SoyVey Very Teriyaki Sauce
1 lb. stew beef (cubed)

Saute beef cubes on high heat with a splash of oil until outsides are lightly browned. In a large stock pot, combine lentil soup, corn (drained), kidney beans (not drained), teriyaki sauce, and sauteed beef cubes. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for 15-20 min, or until beef cubes are cooked all the way through.

This is wonderful comfort food for a cold winter evening. It goes well with a thick slice of whole-gain bread and butter (or smart balance). You can also substitute cubes of firm tofu for the beef (no need to saute, just add to the stock pot directly). This also works well over brown rice (try Trader Joe's pre-cooked brown rice).

Easy Trader Joe's Meals - Grilled Salmon with Wild Rice and Steamed Broccoli

... a continuation of my posts on easy meals made from ingredients found at Trader Joe's

Grilled Salmon with Wild Rice and Steamed Broccoli
1 package fresh or frozen salmon steaks**
1 bag broccoli florets
1 bag pre-cooked wild rice

Grill salmon on med heat for 5-6 min on each side.
While salmon is grilling, steam broccoli in microwave for 5-7 min, and heat rice in microwave for ~60 sec.

** TJ's sells several varieties of salmon. We like the pre-marinated Blackened Salmon and the Mojito Salmon. The new Pineapple Teriyaki Salmon (frozen) is super yummy, especially if you throw the pineapple chunks on the grill too (just wrap them in tinfoil first). If using un-marinated salmon, then rub with salt, pepper, olive oil, and lemon just before putting on the grill. If using frozen salmon, then defrost before grilling. We usually transfer the frozen salmon to the fridge the night before and it is defrosted by dinnertime the next day.

This meal is ultra-healthy, and nearly as good as you would find in a fancy restaurant! It takes longer to heat up the grill than it does to cook the whole meal. We usually heat the grill for 15 min before cooking and then it take less than 15 min of cooking time.

Easy Trader Joe's Meals - Chicken Parm over Penne Pasta

... a continuation of my posts on easy meals made from ingredients found at Trader Joe's

Chicken Parm over Penne Pasta
1 package pre-cooked breaded chicken tenders
1 jar tomato basil marinara sauce
1 package penne pasta
1 cup shredded or sliced parmesan cheese (the actual cheese, not the powdery stuff)

Cook pasta according to instructions. Arrange chicken tenders on a plate, cover with cheese and microwave for 2 min or until cheese is melted and chicken is warm. Heat marinara sauce in microwave (~1 min). Serve chicken over pasta drenched in marinara sauce.

Oh, OK, so this is not the most inspired or healthy meal. Forgive me. You can add frozen veggies to the marinara sauce before heating in the micro. We usually add frozen peas.

Easy Trader Joe's Meals - Hearty Spinach Salad

... a continuation of my posts on easy meals made from ingredients found at Trader Joe's

Hearty Spinach Salad
1/2 bag pre-washed baby spinach
1/2 can marinated bean salad
handful of Kalamata olives, chopped
1 package grilled balsamic chicken breast
1 avocado (optional)
1 green onion, chopped

Heat chicken breast in microwave (1-2 min). Chop into bite-sized pieces. Chop onion, avocado, and olives. Toss all ingredients in a large salad bowl. (The marinade in the bean salad and the avocado act as a yummy salad dressing. If you like your salad more “drenched”, you can add a splash of olive oil and balsamic vinegar.) You can also add any chopped veggies that you have in the fridge. Tomato, cucumber, and green peppers make great additions.

We came upon the idea of eating a big hearty salad as dinner from Café Intermezzo in Berkeley, CA. They sell a *huge* chef salad with meat, cheese, avocado, beans, and a hard-boiled egg for around $5. Back in our grad school days, this salad and a thick slice of their whole grain bread would feed my husband and me for dinner and still leave leftovers. Fast forward 10 years to us lamenting that we aren’t getting enough fresh veggies in our diet. We remembered our trips to Café Intermezzo, and decided to recreate their salad at home. We have “salad night” once per week to make up for other nights when we may not eat as healthy.

HB likes the components of this meal, but she likes to have all the ingredients separated on her plate. So, I make separate piles of chicken, beans, spinach, olives and avocado for her to eat.

Easy Trader Joe's Meals - Lemon Chicken Pasta in Light Cream Sauce

... a continuation of my posts on easy meals made from ingredients found at Trader Joe's

Lemon Chicken Pasta in Light Cream Sauce
1 package grilled lemon pepper chicken breast.
1 package lemon pappardelle pasta.
1 medium onion
splash olive oil (for sautéing onion)
2/3 cup water
1 1/2 tsp. flour
1 cup low-fat or non-fat milk
1 cup grated parmesan cheese

Finely chop onion. In small sauce pan, sauté onion in olive oil. Just as you see the slightest hint of browning, add 1/3 cup water and continue to stir. Again, just as you see the slightest hint of browning, add final 1/3 cup water and continue to stir. Finally, add flower. Cook for 1 min. Stir in the milk over medium-low heat until slightly thickened. Remove from heat and stir in parmesan cheese.

Cook pasta according to instructions. Heat chicken breast in microwave (1-2 min) and then chop into bite-sized cubes. Toss cream sauce with chicken and pasta.

Both the lemon pasta and lemon pepper chicken are very tangy. The cream sauce nicely tempers the lemon zing.

Comment: the onions may seem like too much work, but when done this way, they really do make up for the lack of fat in the cream sauce. Still, the whole meal takes only 20 minutes. The method works for mashed potatoes too. If you add onions cooked this way, you can use 1/2 the butter and not miss it in the flavor.

Easy Trader Joe's Meals - Gyoza Soup

We love love love Trader Joe's! I don't know how they do it - all the yummy food at such good prices. Since both my husband and I work full time, we have no time for gourmet meals during the week. We pick up HB from daycare and arrive at home around 6pm. We have to get dinner on the table by 6:30 in order to allow time for her bath and 7:30 bedtime. We've become masters at combining ready-made ingredients from Trader Joe's into yummy and relatively healthy meals. I'm going to periodically post some of our favorite Trader Joe's Meals (all ingredients avl at Trader Joe's). Here's the first:

Gyoza Soup
2 packets of miso soup mix (there are 4 packets per box)
1 package frozen Gyoza (pot stickers)
1/2 package frozen peas
1/2 package frozen corn

Prepare 2 packets miso soup according to instructions: boil water and add packets of soup mix.
Add frozen gyoza, peas, and corn. Boil for 5 minutes or until gyoza are hot.

To add more flavor add chopped green onion. To add more protein, add cubes of firm tofu.

This recipe is super quick. It can be done in under 10 min. And, HB *loves* gyoza. When she hears what's for dinner, runs to her high chair shouting "gyyyooozzzaaaa!!!". But, then again, she's not the typical toddler when it comes to food. She likes her espresso black, and dives for the salmon nigiri on the sushi platter. (You may think I'm joking, but I'm not. Was it all the Indian and Thai food I ate while pregnant with her?)