a day ago
- Lifestyle
- Business Insider
I travel out of state to shop at Trader Joe's for my family. Here are 8 items worth the long round trip.
My home state of Wyoming doesn't have a Trader Joe's, so I drive to Colorado for my favorite items.
The trip is 57 miles each way, but I pick up things I'm unable to get at my local supermarkets.
I fill my shopping cart with staples like pappardelle pasta, Alfredo sauce, and sunscreen.
Wyoming has a lot to offer. One thing it doesn't have, though, is Trader Joe's.
Although I can get pretty much everything I need from local grocery stores, there are a few special items I travel 57 miles to buy at a Trader Joe's location in Colorado.
Here are eight things I cross state lines to buy at the grocery chain.
I always grab a bag of Piñata apples when they're available.
Although they're not as sweet as my favorite Honeycrisps, I love grabbing a bag of Piñata apples from Trader Joe's. They have a nice tropical flavor and come in a large, 5-pound bag.
They never last long in my house, so I always hope they'll still be available on my next shopping trip.
Trader Joe's sunscreen doesn't feel greasy.
I never wore sunscreen as a kid, mostly because of the smell and greasy feel on my skin.
As a mom, though, I always have to make sure my kids are sufficiently protected from UV rays, which means I constantly have my hands covered in sunscreen. However, I don't mind it as much when it doesn't smell or feel greasy.
Trader Joe's has a great line of health and beauty products, and I especially love the invisible gel sunscreen. I find that it soaks in quickly after application, and I can't even tell by the smell that it's been applied.
Just the Clusters vanilla almond granola makes the perfect snack.
Trader Joe's Alfredo sauce is a hit with the whole family.
This Alfredo sauce has a nice blend of Parmesan and Romano cheese flavors. Even my picky child eats it without complaining.
I like to brown some chicken and simmer it in the Alfredo sauce with broccoli and pasta. The whole process is quick and results in a quick dinner that everyone will eat.
Pappardelle is the perfect base for pasta dishes.
These wide noodles cook quickly and pair well with any sauce. I only wish they came in a bigger package.
Trader Joe's glazed vanilla-bean scones are surprisingly tasty.
My husband loves the Trader Joe's cheddar jalapeño pull-apart bread.
My husband and older son both love spicy foods, so I like to get them Trader Joe's cheddar jalapeño pull-apart bread.
It's not super spicy, but it has a nice kick. I usually buy at least one extra package to freeze, since they typically polish off the first one within days.
Trader Joe's pizza crust makes dinner easy.