North by Northwestern

I somehow found myself drunk off champagne in the middle of Chicago at 5:30 p.m. last Friday. I had an hour to kill before the next Intercampus Shuttle would arrive, and in an attempt to find some solace and warmth, I wandered into one of my favorite stores: Trader Joe’s. Though I didn’t need any groceries, I found myself picking up a basket and perusing the aisles, arbitrarily choosing items that I convinced myself in my inebriated stupor that I just couldn’t live without. Twenty-five dollars and two bags of groceries later, I came to appreciate Trader Joe’s for its wide selection of unique products. While the products are good on their own, they can become even better when crafted into these filling recipes. Here are some crafty dishes that can be made with ingredients from Trader Joe’s:

Pumpkin Spice Parfait

I swear to you that Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Butter is sex on a spoon. I wait the whole year for this seasonal item to be stocked and then hurriedly race to the store and buy as many as I can. Pumpkin-y, lemon-y and indulgently sweet, this butter (which does not actually taste like or resemble butter in any way and is, by the way, fat-free) is perfect eaten alone or spread onto breads, muffins or rice cakes. My favorite way to eat it, though, is as part of a decadent pumpkin-spiced breakfast parfait that is a great brunch-entertaining option:

Here’s what you’ll need:

• 3 6 oz. containers of vanilla yogurt
• 3 tablespoons pumpkin butter
• 2 pumpkin muffins
• 1 cup of Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Spice Granola

Directions

1. Slice muffins into cubes and place on a baking sheet.
2. Toast muffin pieces in a 400 degree oven for ten minutes, or until golden brown and crisp.
3. Remove from oven and allow to cool slightly.
4. While muffins are cooling, spoon yogurt into a large bowl and mix with the pumpkin butter until the two ingredients are fully blended.
5. Crumble the muffin pieces evenly into four clear drinking glasses and then evenly proportion the yogurt mixture on top.
6. Sprinkle about a ¼ cup of the granola on top of the yogurt.
7. Dust with cinnamon for an added garnish and serve!

Tofu Masala Stir Fry

When I’m in the mood to cook but don’t have a ton of time or ingredients on hand, I always turn to Trader Joe’s sauces and marinades to give what I’m cooking a burst of flavor. I’m especially fond of their Indian-inspired Simmer Sauces. They’re great sautéed with meat, chicken and vegetables, or just spooned over some rice. If you want to make it my favorite way, try this one with Masala Simmer Sauce:

Here’s what you’ll need:

• 1 package firm or extra firm tofu, cut into cubes
• 1 cup frozen peas
• 1 white onion, thinly sliced
• 1 15 oz. can of garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 jar Trader Joe’s Masala Simmer Sauce

Directions

1. Sautee the onion in a few teaspoons of water over medium heat until tender.
2. Add the frozen peas and sautee until they are thawed.
3. Once thawed, drop the heat to low and add the tofu and garbanzo beans.
4. Once all the ingredients are heated through, add the Simmer Sauce.
5. Start by adding ½ of the jar. Stir, and then continue to add more according to your preference. If the mixture is too thick, you can add a little water or vegetable stock to thin it out.
6. If you want to make it extra rich, you can also add ½ cup of coconut milk.
7. Simmer everything for another 5 minutes and serve over rice.

Rustic Cherry Cobbler

Trader Joe’s Frozen Dark Sweet Cherries are so good I literally eat them frozen out of the bag as a snack. They are, without a doubt, the best frozen cherries I have ever tasted. They are great as a fruity alternative to ice cubes in a smoothie or melted down with a little sugar and spooned atop frozen yogurt as a healthy dessert. But if you’re looking to spice up your winter dessert repertoire, try this delicious cobbler:

Here’s what you’ll need:

• 10-12 granny smith apples, peeled and sliced
• 2 bags of Trader Joe’s frozen cherries
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 1 tablespoon cinnamon
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1½ sticks of butter, melted
• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 2 cups brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Place the sliced apples and frozen cherries in a large bowl and toss with lemon juice, cinnamon and granulated sugar.
3. Pour mixture into a large baking tin and set aside.
4. In another bowl combine the flour and brown sugar.
5. Pour melted butter, eggs, and vanilla over the dry ingredients and mix until all the ingredients have been combined.
6. Spread the topping over the apple and cherry mixture.
7. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes or until brown.
8. Serve alone or a la mode– either way it tastes damn good.

So, while I don’t encourage you to go food shopping drunk, I do encourage you to move beyond traditional grocery stores in your exploration for ingredients. Trader Joe’s, right off the Intercampus Shuttle at the Chicago campus stop, is a good first place to make your own quirky food discoveries.