Trader Joe's is my go-to grocery store now that I live just a few train stops away from it.Lara GaleI always take the train to Trader Joe's and only buy what I can carry home.Trader Joe's dark-chocolate-covered cherries and triple-ginger snaps are my guilty pleasures.I also love having Trader Joe's truffle aioli and sparkling water as staples in my fridge.When I moved to Boston, I downsized from a house to an apartment with a tiny kitchen. As a result, I now have to think about how to maximize my refrigerator and pantry space.I've always loved Trader Joe's unique ingredients and snacks, but now that I'm a quick train ride away, I shop there almost exclusively.However, taking the train means I have to carry everything I buy, so I've perfected my list of staples. Here are 11 things that I love to buy at Trader Joe's.The Ready Pac arugula and Trader Joe’s romaine hearts are my must-have greens. I'll reach for the Ready Pac arugula or Trader Joe's romaine when I need a crunch in my recipes.Lara GaleThe arugula at Trader Joe's is consistently fresh and high quality, and the price is unbeatable — especially for being organic. It's a green I can't do without in my salads, and when I'm in a rush making sandwiches or pasta, it adds a perfectly nutritious, flavorful crunch.As for the romaine hearts, I love their versatility. I can chop them up for a neutral complement to more strongly-flavored greens or use the whole leaves to wrap cheese and prosciutto. Trader Joe’s dark-chocolate-covered cherries are one of my favorite guilty pleasures.I reserve Trader Joe's dark-chocolate-covered cherries for when I have guests over.Lara GaleI don't open a container of dark-chocolate-covered cherries unless I have at least one guest over. Technically, there are multiple servings in a container, but in my experience, they completely disappear in a couple of hours if no one is around.The triple-ginger snaps from Trader Joe’s taste homemade.If I'm craving a homemade cookie, Trader Joe's triple-ginger snaps do the trick.Lara GaleI don't know how Trader Joe's does it, but all their boxed cookies taste too good to be store-bought. The triple-ginger snaps are small, so I typically have a couple more cookies than I usually would.Trader Joe’s organic freeze-dried berry medley satisfies my sweet tooth.I love adding Trader Joe's organic freeze-dried berry medley to kettle corn.Lara GaleAdding the organic freeze-dried berry medley to popped kettle corn on movie night complements the salty, sweet flavors with a perfect crunchy tang. It always impresses friends and satisfies my snack cravings.The lentil soup with ancient grains from Trader Joe’s is perfect for an easy dinner.Trader Joe's lentil soup is an easy prepared item to complement salad, rice, or pasta.Lara GaleFull of fiber, protein, and flavor, Trader Joe's lentil soup with ancient grains is my go-to prepared purchase. It's incredibly versatile and makes an easy meal.Adding half a cup of the soup — either warmed or cold — to salad, rice, and pasta adds the perfect touch of flavor and protein.Trader Joe’s channa masala is the perfect addition to my rice and veggies.I love how easy it is to make Trader Joe's channa masala.Lara GaleI'll pop Trader Joe's channa masala into the microwave while cooking my rice and steaming vegetables on the stovetop. Four minutes later, I pull it out, pour it onto the rice and veggies, and enjoy a restaurant-quality Indian entrée.Garlic naan from Trader Joe’s is one of my go-to comfort foods.The garlic naan from Trader Joe's takes only three minutes to make.Lara GaleWhether I have a guest over or I just feel like indulging in comfort food, I'll preheat the oven and pop in some of Trader Joe's frozen garlic naan. In less than three minutes, it comes out fragrant, perfectly crisp on the outside, and deliciously soft on the inside.It's quick to make, so I can easily pair it with whatever else I throw together.I keep Trader Joe’s truffle aioli in my fridge at all times.Trader Joe's truffle aioli is great as a sauce or spread.Lara GaleTrader Joe's truffle aioli is one condiment that I'll always reserve refrigerator space for. It's indulgent, vegan, and a delicious component of any meal.From charcuterie board dips to asparagus sauces and sandwich spreads, it's often the ingredient I reach for to compensate for an elusive missing flavor note.I pick up bagged citrus from Trader Joe’s on every grocery run.Picking up lemons and limes at Trader Joe's is a necessity during my grocery runs.Lara GaleI'm addicted to citrus and put lemon and lime into everything. I always grab the bagged lemons and limes at Trader Joe's because they're high-quality and come in the perfect quantity.Trader Joe’s sparkling water is the perfect summer pick-me-up.I like how Trader Joe's sparkling water doesn't weigh down my grocery bags.Lara GaleAll the flavors of Trader Joe's sparkling water are fantastic. I love sparkling water on ice — with fresh citrus squeezed in — as a summer pick-me-up after work.A bottle lasts a week for me, and I like that the plastic package is recyclable and doesn't weigh down my bag like glass does.Click to keep reading Trader Joe's diaries like this one.Read the original article on Business Insider
