TJ’s cheesy greens are an experience from start to finish. A good experience? Definitely not. They come out of the bag looking like little frozen green turds. And honeslty, it doesn’t get any better when it cooks up. It’s like the Erewhon version of slop; just a textureless amalgamation of all the ingredients. You can taste something different in each bite but you can never really tell what it is. I get that they were going for creamy, but there is such a thing as too creamy. Even the mixture of cheeses—provolone and mozzarella—doesn’t really improve things.

New Product!

Trader Joe’s Cheesy Creamy Greens & Veggies

Trader Joe’s

Pros: I could maybe see myself using this as a holiday side dish in a real pinch. It might get some salvation if it’s paired with something else to give it any amount of texture. But realistically, I would rather just roast up a sheet tray of Brussels sprouts and then melt some cheddar cheese over them. Yum.

Cons: This is yassified gruel. There is no nuance to it. There is nothing hidden to be found. Just a sad pile of gloop that belongs on a certain subreddit rather than on your dinner plate. Its comical that Trader Joe’s had the gall to say there was texture to be found in this dish. As a matter of fact, I’m still not over any part of Trader Joe’s description of the product. That alone should amount to a loss of at least five Sporks.

Rating:

2/10

Sporks

The post This Cheesy New Trader Joe’s Frozen Side Dish Is a Big Miss appeared first on Sporked.

I wanted to consume this as intended, so I simply drank it right out of the fridge. When I opened the bottle, the aroma that hit my nose can only be described as “grandma’s closet.” It’s like years of perfume spritzes and mothballs conspired to create this scent. Unfortunately, the flavor wasn’t much better.

New Product!

Trader Joe’s Vanilla Cardamom Cold Brew Coffee

Affiliate

Pros: Trader Joe’s has shown themselves to be fairly proficient in brewing cold brew coffee (we really like their original unflavored arabica cold brew). And that does translate into this version. The coffee itself is more mild than a traditionally brewed cup. That, combined with the money you’d save from getting your caffeine fix from a coffee shop, gives me hope that this could be the right fix for someone who enjoys this flavor profile more than I do.

Cons: If you’re not familiar, cardamom is an aromatic seed that’s peppery, piney, and a little bit citrusy, too. It’s great in certain dishes and drinks, but I fear that someone overdid it here. You’re much better off just getting Trader Joe’s plain cold brew and adding in your own cardamom and vanilla. I think you could play around and create a blend with a much more enjoyable ratio. It sucks to have to go the extra mile, but at least you’re still saving some time and money.

Rating:

3/10

Sporks

The post The Cold, Hard Truth About the New Trader Joe’s Cold Brew appeared first on Sporked.

Turkey Hill Mini Maple Syrup Jug

When the corn syrup-based pancake syrup at the diner just won’t do, it’s a boon to have a little jug of real maple syrup in your pocket or purse. Sure, one small spill will make the local dry cleaner your new best friend, but if you are shopping for someone who is willing to risk it all for the sweet, sweet flavor of real Canadian maple syrup, this is the perfect World Market stocking stuffer.

Read our ranking of the best pancake syrup

Jacobsen Salt Co Pure Sea Salt Slide Tin

Is your friend always complaining her food is bland? Give the gift of salt! This tiny tin of sea salt is adorable and it’s the perfect thing to make a mid dish a 10 out of 10. This is the perfect World Market stocking stuffer for people who aren constantly enduring seasoning emergencies. And hey, at least if this one spills in your purse, it’ll be a little less messy than the maple syrup.

Mini Truff Black Truffle Hot Sauce

Miniature bottles of hot sauce are always among the best World Market stocking stuffers because a little goes a long way. But this hot sauce is a perfect pick for other reasons, too. See, TRUFF hot sauce is kinda pricey at around 15 bucks a bottle. Before you splurge on buying a full-size bottle of their unique blend of hot sauce and truffle flavor for someone who may or may not like it, you can test the waters with this micro bottle of TRUFF black truffle hot sauce from World Market. Now, that’s thoughtful!

Read our ranking of the best hot sauce

Fishwife Smoked Rainbow Trout

Tinned fish in a stocking?! Why the heck not! Tinned fish was made to fit into a stocking, and Fishwife tinned fish is extremely adorable sans wrapping paper, which makes it a perfect World Market stocking stuffer for the foodies in your life. World Market is a tinned fish mecca, and you can’t go wrong with this Fishwife smoked trout, which tastes “rustic and homemade,” according to Sporked‘s own taste testers. I mean, stick this in a stocking and you just might be treated to smoked trout omelets on Christmas morning. Not a bad deal!

Read our ranking of the best Fishwife products

Goodman’s Pure Vanilla Extract

Imitation vanilla extract is cheap, but the real deal stuff will cost you. If you’re shopping for World Market stocking stuffers for a serious baker, this little bottle of genuine vanilla extract is a lovely gift. Sure, getting excited about vanilla extract in your stocking on Christmas morning is peak adult, but I can’t lie, I’d be pretty pumped, too.

World Market Holiday Blend Ground Coffee

A 2 oz bag of coffee won’t get you very far. It is, however, just the right amount for people who like variety and simply cannot commit to an entire 10 oz bag of grounds. It’s also perfect for travel (just pack a pour-over setup) and for people who might want to give World Market coffee a shot. Also, I know this is a list of World Market stocking stuffers for adults, but this little bag of coffee is just plain adorable.

Mrs. Bridges Mini Preserves Collection

This is like the uber-mega-budget version of Bonne Maman’s mini spreads advent calendar (not that an advent calendar could fit in a stocking, I suppose). This three pack of preserves from World Market is perfect for people who couldn’t possibly dream of consuming 24 little jars of jelly. Honestly, getting someone the Bonne Maman calendar is kind of like buying them a pet parrot or something. It’s a big commitment to foist on a foodie friend! Anyway, this three pack of lemon curd, orange marmalade, and strawberry preserves is much less of a project.

Stirrings Old Fashioned Cocktail Mixer

This is the foundation for the best one-two punch Christmas gift. Fill their stocking with a few bottles of this old fashioned mix from World Market. Then give them a bottle of bourbon all wrapped up. A powerful pairing and the perfect World Market stocking stuffers to help anyone get through even the worst of holidays with the in-laws!

The post World Market Is a Treasure Trove of Stocking Stuffers for Grown-Ups appeared first on Sporked.

While, obviously, there are some safe and solid coffee options from around the world on the shelves at World Market, there are also some truly oddities, too. Here’s the best coffee at World Market for the curious coffee drinker for whom French vanilla just won’t cut it.

Dark Matter Unicorn’s Blood Whole Bean Coffee

We’re coming in hot (literally) with this World Market coffee from Chicago-based roaster Dark Matter. I probably should’ve put this lower on the list since it’s going to be hard to top a World Market coffee called “Unicorn’s Blood,” but here we are. This coffee has notes of cherry, semisweet chocolate, and praline, plus it’s an espresso blend, which bodes well for people who like something bold. The best World Market coffee also tends to come in a pretty bag, and this certainly excels in that category.

Twix Flavored Ground Coffee

There’s an entire line of candy bar-themed coffees at World Market. To make my job a little easier, I looked at Sporked’s definitive ranking of best candy bars and worked my way down until I found a match. That led me to this World Market coffee, which is flavored to taste like Twix (aka the best cookie candy bar of them all). I’m not mad about it, but I do think a Reese’s Take 5 or Butterfinger coffee would be pretty damn good. But alas, we’ll “settle” for the flavors of milk chocolate, caramel, and cookies in our coffee instead.

Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey Ground Coffee

It’s generally frowned upon to put whiskey in your coffee first thing in the morning. It is, however, perfectly fine to drink coffee that simply tastes like sour mash whiskey, so this World Market coffee is an excellent loophole for people who don’t actually want to catch a buzz before work. Jack Daniel’s recommends brewing this up for brunch parties, holiday mornings, or cold winter afternoons. But we gotta say, it probably hits pretty hard with a glug of actual whiskey in it on a hungover morning.

Bones Coffee Company Star Wars Twin Sun Tiramisu Ground Coffee

I’m not a coffee snob by any means, which is probably why I was won over so easily by this gimmicky ground coffee I spotted in the World Market coffee section. Bones Coffee Company had a few options that I spotted: the Pumpkin King Pumpkin Pecan Praline, Fallout Atomic Apple Pie, and “Holy Cannoli” Godfather-inspired coffee. If you love coffee and pop culture, you kind of can’t go wrong. I went with this World Market coffee for our haul not because I’m a big Star Wars fan, but because tiramisu is, in my opinion, a god-tier dessert. And tiramisu already has coffee in it, so you know the flavors work. This is a low-to-no risk coffee to buy as we see it.

World Market Stroop Waffle Ground Coffee

World Market has an impressive lineup of its own coffee beans and grounds. While there are plenty of traditional and safe options, this list is all about exciting and unique coffee blends (hey, remember that Unicorn Blood?). World Market’s stroopwafel ground coffee really beat out the competition because it best fits the theme of the store: global delicacies! I mean, how good would a stroopwafel be dunked in coffee that tastes like a stroopwafel? Very good, that’s how good.

We Found the Best Instant Coffee for Busy Mornings

Cafe Du Monde Coffee and Chicory

Transport yourself to an institution that pumps out coffee and beignets like no other. Sorry, Disneyland! Let a real pro show you how it’s done. This World Market coffee from Cafe Du Monde in New Orleans may lack any fancy flavors, but it packs a mean punch that’s best paired with a hunk of fried dough and a dust cloud of powdered sugar. World Market just so happens to sell Cafe Du Monde beignet mix, too, so you can get the full experience if you so choose.

Borgo de’Medici Italian Coffee Break 3 Piece Gift Set

Treat yourself, your loved ones, or your cranky boss to a luxurious Italian coffee gift set from World Market this holiday season. It has everything you need in one box: authentic Italian coffee grounds, caramel syrup for a touch of sweetness, and almond cantucci cookies for the perfect pairing. While it may not make as many cups of coffee as some of the other offerings on our list of the best World Market coffee, you can’t beat the convenience of an easy gift straight from the shelf.

The post Weird World Market Coffee to Add to Your Cart appeared first on Sporked.

There are teas that promise to soothe your stomach, help you sleep, and wake you up. And there are flavors—so, so many flavors. And we’re not just talking about Earl Grey, lemon ginger, or English Breakfast—the variety here puts your usual grocery store’s selection to shame. Here’s some World Market tea to take home and mix things up.

The Republic of Tea Bridgerton Featherington Blood Orange Mimosa Tea

It’s safe to say that Bridgerton is a bit of a cultural phenomenon. And like most cultural phenomenons, it’s being merchandised. You can buy Bridgerton coffee creamer, Bridgerton petit fours, and, naturally, Bridgerton tea. There were a few options in the World Market tea section, but this blood orange mimosa tea—made with hibiscus, orange peel, apple bits, and “natural Champagne flavor”—sounded like the most intriguing thing to sip while you binge your favorite bit of history porn.

Read our roundup of Bridgerton products

Teekanne Organic Advents-Kalender Assorted Tea Holiday Box

This World Market tea assortment is a little tricky. It’s marketed as an advent calendar, which is why I was drawn to it in the first place. On further inspection, it’s actually eight sets of three bags of each flavor. That still equals 24, meaning you can use it as an advent calendar, it’ll just get a little bit repetitive. The offerings range from concepts—“sleep and dream” and “calm and relax”—to more tangible flavors, like sweet apple. We have a hunch those “calm and relax” tea bags are going to come in handy as 2025 approaches.

The Republic of Tea S’mores

Can tea really taste like s’mores? We’re not so sure, but this World Market tea claims to be able to deliver notes of chocolate with hints of marshmallow and graham cracker—yep, all in a cup of tea. Which is, as you know, really just flavored water. Not very heavily flavored, for that matter. Basically, we don’t expect this to bring big s’mores flavor, but rather a soothing whisper of s’mores. It’s certainly a lot easier (and neater) to consume than a smushy melted chocolate and marshmallow sandwich.

The Republic of Tea Stollen Bread

Stollen, or German Christmas bread, is a sweet, spiced bread filled with cranberries, raisins, candied citrus, and a luscious almond filling. If s’mores tea sounds like too much of a stretch, this probably sounds a little more reasonable. And good, too. I mean, just picture yourself sipping this sweetly spiced World Market tea on Christmas morning. Heaven.

David Rio Red Panda Pumpkin Chai Mix

There are a lot of World Market tea bags on this list, but the store also stocks mixes, like this canister of Red Panda Pumpkin Chai. This stuff is perf if you’re not quite ready to say goodbye to pumpkin spice season. It promises the flavors of black tea, warm spices, and sweet pumpkin. Before you go looking at the ingredients, no, this doesn’t actually contain pumpkin, but the spices do the heavy lifting. All you have to do is add hot milk and, voila, chai tea latte, baby.

Read our rankings of the best chai concentrate and the best chai tea bags

Wangderm Thai Iced Tea

We’ve covered teas that are perfect for a British-style tea time and some Indian tea, too. Now it’s time for something even bolder: Thai tea. Thai iced tea is an experience. It’s way more powerful than the iced tea you’re used to, but if you want a World Market tea that really packs a punch, this is the stuff to buy. You get 23 tea bags for 23 individual cups of iced tea. Yes, you still need to steep the tea in boiling water and then refrigerate it until it’s cold (we do love those iced tea bags that can steep in cold water), but the extra steps will be worth it when you’re sipping something that slaps you in the face with flavor.

The Tea Collection Loose Leaf Tea Vials

I think a lot of people are intimidated by loose leaf tea. What is this stuff, why does it look like catnip, and what do I do with it if it doesn’t come in a bag? Well, all you need is a tea ball or tea infuser, which they just so happen to sell at World Market (including this cute frog-shaped one) and the world is your loose-leaf-tea oyster. This World Market tea sampler pack is the perfect way to dip your toe into the unfamiliar waters of loose leaf tea. You get a mix of black, white, and herbal teas, including honey bush rooibos tea, rosehip and lemon Infusion tea, ginger and licorice white tea, and raspberry black tea. If you want to get serious about tea, this is the best World Market tea to buy.

The post The Best World Market Tea for Hot-Bev Season appeared first on Sporked.

These are seven of the best Thanksgiving side dishes that are stupidly simple to prepare so you can worry about the dozen other fires (some literal) you need to put out on the big day.

Bob Evans Original Mashed Potatoes

Mashed potatoes will always make the list of the best Thanksgiving sides, but that doesn’t mean you have to make them from scratch to really do it right. And boy do you have options: We’ve got premade, instant, or frozen mashed potatoes to choose from for the best Thanksgiving sides to fit your needs. If you’re looking for something as close to the real thing without all the trouble, Sporked managing editor Gwynedd Stuart would argue that Bob Evans premade potatoes are the way to go. They’re rich, creamy, potatoey, and all you have to do is heat them up in the microwave. When it comes to easy Thanksgiving sides, it doesn’t get easier than that. —Vinz Karl

Read the full ranking of the best premade mashed potatoes

Stove Top Traditional Sage Stuffing Mix

Stuffing is a mainstay on many Thanksgiving tables, but it’s surprisingly easy to mess up if you make it yourself. Sorry, grandma, but your recipe surely can’t compare to Stove Top’s Traditional Sage Stuffing Mix. This is one of the best Thanksgiving sides and it can be thrown together in about five minutes as long as you have an empty burner on the stove. Gwynedd found this mix to be fluffy, savory, and packed with herby flavor. A Thanksgiving side dish that’s delicious and easy as hell (just boil some water, mix, and fluff)? Move over, grandma. That’s an easy sell for the best Thanksgiving side dishes. —Vinz Karl

Read the full ranking of the best boxed stuffing or watch Gwynedd & Justine taste test stuffing on YouTube

Patti’s Good Life Mac & Cheese

There are a few things you can rely on at Thanksgiving dinner. You’ll certainly stuff yourself more than the turkey and you’ll definitely endure political discussions that will make you consider becoming estranged from your family, but being served mac and cheese isn’t necessarily a guarantee. That’s why this tray of frozen mac and cheese is of the best best Thanksgiving side dishes to bring to a potluck. Forget Stouffer’s—Patti LaBelle’s mac and cheese is insane. It’s creamy, cheesy, buttery, and so decadent. This stuff will make the politics talk go down a lot easier. —Alex Yakimova 

Read the full ranking of the best frozen mac and cheese

Trader Joe’s Gluten Free Turkey Gravy

Thanksgiving isn’t exactly known for being the most gluten-free-friendly holiday—but Trader Joe’s did the celiac-afflicted a solid with this gluten-free turkey gravy. We love powdered gravy mix, but this premade gravy, which is sold near the soups in TJ’s refrigerated section, is fatty and flavorful without being nearly as salty as a mix. This is new to Trader Joe’s for Thanksgiving, but we hope they’ll keep it on shelves all year long. It’ll do a lot for a rotisserie chicken on a weeknight.—Alex Yakimova

Read our ranking of the best store bought gravy

Harry & David Country Cranberry Relish

If you’re looking for something a little different to slather on your plate this Thanksgiving, this cranberry relish is the way to go. It’s more sweet than tart, but the walnuts and spices make this a good alternative to the homogenous canned stuff. It’s Harry & David, so it’s on the pricey side ($8.99 a jar), but when it’s time to make leftovers sandwiches, you’ll be happy you splurged. —Alex Yakimova

Read the full ranking of the best cranberry sauce

Season’s Choice Sweet Potato Casserole with Praline Topping

Before you start peeling, roasting, and mashing sweet potatoes, we deeply need to tell you about this Aldi sweet potato casserole. It’s kind of unreal. According to Sporked editor in chief Justine Sterling, it’s sweet and buttery without crossing into the dessert realm—but you could totally pair it with some vanilla ice cream and serve it after dinner. Hey. They best easy Thanksgiving sides are versatile, and this one definitely is. —Alex Yakimova

Trader Joe’s Lemony Arugula Basil Salad Kit

When it comes to easy Thanksgiving sides, salad kits are the ultimate cheat code. No chopping vegetables. No rinsing and spinning your lettuce. Just cut open the bag, pour on the dressing, give it a good shake, and then dump it into a bowl and lie to everyone about having prepared it yourself from scratch. TJ’s Lemony Arugula Basil Salad Kit is the perfect Thanksgiving side dish—it’s a crowd pleaser and it’s fancy enough for a special occasion. It comes with a bright, zingy dressing that will break up the monotony of the richer foods on the menu. It also comes with carrots and almonds for crunch, and parm for a nutty, salty punch. —Vinz Karl

Read the full ranking of the best Trader Joe’s salad kits

The post The Best Easy Thanksgiving Sides, According to Grocery Experts appeared first on Sporked.

If you’re not familiar, Pink Lady is an apple cultivar that’s a cross between Golden Delicious and Lady Williams apples. They’re known for being sweet, tart, and very firm, which makes them good for baking—but are they good for dehydrating and turning into crispy little snack chips? Leave it to our buddy Trader Joseph to find out.

When you open the bag, these dehydrated Pink Lady apple slices, which are coated in a dusting of cinnamon sugar, smell like straight-up apple pie filling. It’s the kind of aroma that inspires visions of a cartoon cat floating on his tiptoes toward a piping-hot apple pie cooling on a windowsill. Do they deliver on flavor? Well, yes—but they have some flaws, too.

New Product!

Trader Joe’s Cinnamon Sugar Pink Lady Apple Chips

Trader Joe’s

Pros: Trader Joe’s Pink Lady Apple Chips really taste like apple pie filling. They’re a little bit crispy, but they have some chew, too, which makes it feel like you’re eating a crisp apple pie. They’re sweet and delicious. Plus, each bag has 370 calories so you could easily crush a whole bag in one sitting (I speak from personal experience) and have zero guilt.

Cons: When I started eating these, the second chip I grabbed had what appeared to be some stem still attached to it. I ate around it and moved on, but then I grabbed another chip with a one-inch-long stem still connected. Come on, Trader Joe’s! You don’t have to peel the apples, but a little bit of quality control would be nice. These would have gotten a rave review if not for the stems!

Rating:

8/10

Sporks

The post Trader Joe’s Pink Lady Apple Chips Are (Almost) Perfect appeared first on Sporked.

Président Brie

A well-appointed appetizer table is essential to a good Friendsgiving. Especially when you have a friend group like I do. God forbid anyone gets anywhere on time! The beauty of stocking up on Friendsgiving appetizers at Costco is that you’ll have plenty of food to keep the early arrivals satiated until your “fashionably” late friends stumble through the door right before the turkey gets cold. Président’s Brie is perfect to simply plop on the table with some crackers and a nice summer sausage, but this would also be perf for baked brie, brie bites, or other recipes if you really love your friend group.

Read our ranking of the best brie

Cedarlane Foods Turkey Sausage & Herb Stuffing

Every Friendsgiving needs stuffing. And I’m not necessarily talking about the food! Ayy-oooo. Well, okay, in this instance I am talking about the food. When I was looking for what to buy at Costco for Friendsgiving, I found two stuffing options, but I quickly learned no two stuffings are the same. The other option was a dried stuffing, which I’m sure tastes great and is plenty easy to prepare, but you gotta love a Friendsgiving side dish you can just pop in the oven. Plus, this stuffing has turkey sausage—even the best instant stuffing can’t hang with that.

Read our ranking of the best instant stuffing mix

Noel Consorcio Serrano Ham Reserva Leg

If you’re busting out this entire leg of jamon serrano for Friendsgiving (it costs around 120 bucks), then you are certainly in another tax bracket than me. But please do invite me over. This is swanky. This is elegance. This should require an online course to properly dish it out. But it doesn’t, so you can just throw it in your cart at Costco and hope for the best! You never know what you’ll find through those doors and I find that so beautiful.

Wellington Bites by Chef Gordon Ramsay

Okay, if an entire ham leg isn’t in your budget, you can still add a little cheffy flair to the Friendsgiving spread without going broke. Gordon Ramsay’s Wellington bites are classy and you don’t even have to futz with any puff pastry. Costco makes it easy to cook Gordon Ramsey’s signature dish and in a poppable form, which is scientifically proven to make eating 200% more enjoyable.

Read our ranking of all the Gordon Ramsay frozen meals

The Snak Yard Sweet Potato Sticks

Sweet potato casserole is a classic for a reason, but who says classics can’t be upgraded?! What do you think of pairing these dried sweet potato sticks with a big ole jar of marshmallow fluff?? All the flavors and none of the hassle! Unfortunately, Costco doesn’t sell five gallon buckets of marshmallow fluff in their stores, so you’ll have to get a more reasonably sized container at your local supermarket. Probably for the best!

Read our ranking of the best marshmallows

Darigold Classic Eggnog

You might turn some heads when you pull out a carton of eggnog from Costco this early in the year, but there are no rules for Friendsgiving! I like to think of it as the perfect way to usher in the holiday season. Pour everyone a glass and raise a toast to the time you’re about to spend with friends and family—not to mention that bitchin’ annual bonus you’re about to get. Then you can buy that ham leg!

Read our ranking of the best eggnog

Delizza Patisserie Belgian Mini Cream Puffs

See, poppable foods are in! My mouth. Poppable foods are in my mouth because they’re just too damn easy to eat. While there are quite possibly too many dessert options at Costco to bring to a Friendsgiving, I finally landed on these mini cream puffs. Your job as a friend group is to bring as much food to share as humanly possible so there’s no feasible way anyone will have room for dessert. Enter the mini cream puff. These things are transportable! And poppable! (Did I mention they’re poppable?)

Soul of Spain Wine Box

I know very little about wine. When it comes to pairing wine varietals with certain dishes, I’m as clueless as Alicia Silverstone. Soul of Spain wine seems to have solved all of my issues by creating one simple box with five options. I’m popping open all five bottles and just letting my Friendsgiving guests choose their own adventure. That’s the power of buying in bulk from Costco!

The post What to Buy at Costco for Friendsgiving appeared first on Sporked.

Pagoda Crab Rangoon

There are no rules for Friendsgiving! No one needs “traditional” appetizers. Hell, you don’t even have to serve turkey. You could honestly just serve a bunch of frozen crab rangoon and a bunch of wine and everyone will have a great time. Okay, but even if you’re going a traditional route with the rest of your spread, no one will be mad that you picked up these cream cheese-stuffed bites at Dollar Tree.

Read our roundup of the best frozen appetizers from our taste tests

TGI Fridays Spinach & Artichoke Cheese Dip

No party is complete with dip, and that goes for Friendsgiving, too. If you and your posse love to hit up chain restaurants at the mall, this TGI Fridays spinach dip will make everyone feel at home (or, better yet, like they’re in a booth at TGI Fridays during happy hour). Unlike a lot of other store bought spinach dip, this one is made to be served hot, which we love. This is a core-warming Friendsgiving app that everyone will destroy. Honestly, if you’re adding this to your list of what to buy at Dollar Tree, go ahead and buy two or three boxes. They will be eaten.

Read our ranking of the best spinach artichoke dip

Glory Foods Seasoned Southern Style Green Beans

Dollar Tree sells a lot of canned food, a lot of which will come in handy for Friendsgiving. I’m all about saving time on Friendsgiving prep so I can hang out with friends instead of hanging out alone in the kitchen, so these pre-seasoned, heat-and-eat green beans are a no-brainer.

Read our ranking of the best canned green beans

Idahoan Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes

I don’t know if you’ve ever made homemade mashed potatoes, but it’s a pain. You boil. You mash. You season and season and season some more, and still achieving a robust flavor and velvety texture is way too labor intensive for the night we’re about to have. While Dollar Tree didn’t have any of Sporked’s favorite instant mashed potatoes they did have a close cousin to many that qualified: Idahoan Roasted Garlic mashed potatoes. And if there’s anything that can cover up a few issues, it’s a butt load of garlic. So keep that jarlic on standby!

Read our ranking of the best instant mashed potatoes

Bruce’s Yams

Canned yams are a little confusing. As faithful Sporked readers know, yams and sweet potatoes aren’t quite the same thing. And Bruce’s “yams” aren’t actually yams—they’re actually sweet potatoes. Either way, they’re excellent, whether you’re making candied yams or sweet potato casserole. There are no rules on Friendsgiving and there are no rules in the realm of canned yams—YOLO, baby (yams only live once). Anyway, you can use these in a casserole, mash em up with some maple butter, or just heat as serve straight from the can. Yams always make a good complement to the salty stuff on a Friendsgiving plate, so add these to your list of what to buy at Dollar Tree.

Read our ranking of the best canned yams

Martha White Apple Cider Muffin Mix

Carbs are required for any event that you invite me to, Friendsgiving definitely included. Dollar Tree has boxed cornbread and biscuit options that will fit right into the mix. I however saw this apple cider muffin mix and couldn’t stop thinking about it! How great would it be to pull these out of the oven in the middle of dinner and watch everyone take a fat pad of butter and spread it all over as it melts into the nooks and crannies. That’s where I want to be!

The post What to Buy at Dollar Tree for Friendsgiving appeared first on Sporked.

I never got a chance to try the original version of Trader Joe’s Gluten Free Cheese Pizza with a Cauliflower Crust, but based on Jordan’s description, I’d say this round is an improvement. It smells like a Totino’s Party Pizza (a plus in my book), and it actually has flavor. But it has its issues, too. Let’s discuss.

New Product!

Trader Joe’s Gluten Free Cheese Pizza with a Cauliflower Crust

Trader Joe’s

Pros: First of all, I like the cauliflower crust, mostly because it doesn’t actually taste like cauliflower. It’s slathered with a vibrant tomato sauce that’s redolent of rosemary, oregano, and garlic powder. And while I can’t compare the cheese coverage to this pie’s previous incarnation, I will say that there’s a good amount of cheese on this pizza—not enough cheese for satisfying, Insta-worthy cheese-pull, but I got plenty of cheese in every bite.

Cons: I cooked the pizza according to the instructions on the package, and the crust just didn’t crisp up. This may be thin crust in name, but there’s no crispy bottom of which to speak. I ate the whole pie and didn’t experience a single crunch. There’s no structure here. It’s just a globby pile of pizza that slid around the pan as I tried to cut into it. All I was asking for by the end was one measly moment of texture, but no dice. It’s a floppy, soggy disgrace—but at least it tasted pretty good, which is more than we could say for the previous version.

Rating:

7/10

Sporks

The post Is Trader Joe’s New Gluten Free Cheese Pizza New and Improved? appeared first on Sporked.

Mrs. Freshley’s Reese’s Peanut Butter Flavored Cupcakes

It’s no surprise that Reese’s found a way to slap their name on some cupcakes. Reese’s would probably collab with a toilet paper company if they thought you’d buy it. Frequent shoppers know that Reese’s cupcakes aren’t quite as new as other products on this list but they are new to my Dollar Tree. Plus, Sporked’s Jordan Myrick and Justine Sterling didn’t try them in their taste test of Reese’s products, so you can one up them when you grab a pack from Dollar Tree.

Werther’s Original Cookie Butter Creme Soft Caramels

I’ll say what we’re all thinking: The world needs more cookie butter in it. Whoever created this stuff—it’s basically like peanut butter made with crushed-up cookies—deserves a medal. So you better believe I stopped dead in my tracks when I saw that Werther’s made soft caramels with a cookie butter filling. That’s an easy snag from Dollar Tree.

Read our ranking of the best cookie butter

Chocolate Lovers Twinkies

There’s probably an alternate dimension out there where Twinkies are like Oreos. A new formula getting thrown together each month leaving you with a Twinkie in every flavor imaginable. Unfortunately, we don’t live in that dimension so we have to savor the new Twinkies as they slowly trickle out. These chocolate lovers are new to shelves, and you know Dollar Tree got in on the ground floor of that action.

Read our ranking of the best snack cakes

Juice Monster Papillon

I’ll be honest: I first noticed this Monster flavor among the sea of other Monster flavors based solely on the design of the can. A peach-colored can of Monster adorned with butterflies is far from the Monster imagery I grew up with, but hey, it got me to take a closer look! This flavor didn’t make Sporked’s ranking of the best Monster flavors, but I did notice a few fans of the flavor in the comments!

Read our ranking of the best Monster energy drink flavors

Victor Allen’s Peppermint Mocha Iced Coffee Latte

We’ve barely gotten past Halloween, but there are already some holiday products on shelves at Dollar Tree, like this festive iced coffee. Victor Allen’s iced lattes come in a lot of flavors, but if you’re a proponent of seasonal creep, give this chocolate-peppermint variety a shot if you see it at your local Dollar Tree. No one will judge you for ringing in the season a little early.

Read our ranking of the best canned lattes

Snack Pack Banana Cream Pie

Snack Pack pudding cups make a good midday snack, and honestly, there’s nothing more fun than a super desserty flavor to go with your lunch (we are firm believers in breakfast dessert and lunch dessert here at Sporked). Banana cream pie you can eat with a spoon after the mediocre sandwich you packed? Sure, why not.

Read our ranking of the best pudding cups

Mrs. T’s Classic Cheddar Pierogies

Frozen pierogies are underrated. What’s not to like about mashed potatoes stuffed inside pockets of dough? Add cheese into the mix, and you just have my favorite foods all in one place. Sorry, vegetables but you can take a back seat this time! Okay, okay, we can be responsible and get a side of mixed veggies from Dollar Tree to try to balance it out a bit.

Golden Krust Jamaican Style Mild Beef Patty

Jamaican style beef patties are an easy savory snack or delicious main dish to work around for a filling dinner. Either way to choose to go about it, you’ll be glad you added a few of these to your cart at Dollar Tree. I just wish they were around last month so I could have included them in our roundup of easy lunches from Dollar Tree!

The post What to Buy at Dollar Tree in November appeared first on Sporked.

Kellogg’s Squishmallows Cereal

When it comes to gimmicky products, I typically keep my expectations low—especially when it comes to cereal. Still, this cereal is pretty perfect for parents to buy for their Squishmallow-loving kids. It’s apparently a lot like Lucky Charms—frosted cereal pieces mixed with crunchy little marshmallows—and there’s nothing wrong with that (besides the obvious: Why aren’t the marshmallows squishy??). The last thing you want is a tantrum in the morning when your kids don’t like eating the breakfast you cooked for them. Just give in and serve them what they really want: A bowl of sugary cereal.

Read our ranking of the best cereal for kids

Coconut Chocolate Pocky

Sometimes, the best things to buy at Costco are those products that just missed what you’d think would be their target season, like the time they released a dreamsicle-inspired dessert at the end of summer. They’re at it again with this tropical Pocky that would have been a perfect complement to a coconut cocktail. Instead, these Coconut Chocolate Pocky—one of Sporked’s favorite Pocky flavors—are one of the best things to buy at Costco in chilly November. Who woulda thunk it!

Read the full ranking of the best Pocky flavors

Kirkland Maple Butter Pecan Bar Cake

Okay, and now for a highly seasonally appropriate Costco treat: Kirkland Maple Butter Pecan Bar Cake. Maple and pecan are two flavors you simply can’t get enough of during fall and winter, so this cake seems like a no brainer to add to your list of what to buy at Costco in November. It’s made of vanilla sponge, a maple flavored buttercream mousse, and a layer of pecan praline. Insane. Bring it to a gathering and pass it out, or keep it in your fridge and slowly chisel away at it until your next trip back to Costco. You kind of can’t go wrong.

Read our ranking of the best Costco bakery items

Heritage Specialty Foods Lasagna Soup

Now this is a winter dinner. It comes refrigerated and you get two pouches of lasagna soup in a box. It’s got those good crinkly noodles, beef, Italian sausage, in a tomatoey base. It seems like the kind of stuff that could warm you up enough to save some money on your heating bill. I can hear thermostat-obsessed dads everywhere rushing out to Costco as we speak.

Read our roundup of the best soup

Royal Asia Thai Fried Bananas

I really don’t like frying anything in my kitchen. I also don’t have a recipe handy for Thai fried bananas in coconut and sesame seed batter. So I truly lucked out with this next new Costco product to pick up this month. It’s just icing on the cake that these bananas come with both a coconut cream sauce and a caramel honey sauce all in one easy box in the frozen aisle of Costco. They really thought of everything—but don’t forget the vanilla ice cream.

East Coast Seafood Lobster Sliders

So your favorite tiny shack by the sea closed up shop for the winter? Don’t worry, Costco’s got you covered. These sliders may be tiny in stature but every last ounce of them is carefully crafted to blast your brain with flavor. Brioche slider rolls are filled with lobster meat and a heaping serving of lobster butter so you don’t have to go digging around your spice cabinet to add anything extra. Just heat it up and scarf it down in .5 seconds.

La Boulangerie Smoked Ham & Swiss Cheese Pockets

I’m a sucker for convenience and it doesn’t get much more convenient than this. And I really mean it. This box comes with six (!) sets of cooking instructions—so you can kind of heat them however you want. Then comes the price. Are you kidding me?! A ham and cheese croissant would cost me what a whole box of eight of these beauts cost at Costco.

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