Wednesday, January 2, 2013

(Frozen) Lasagna Bolognese

I've had a few different types of lasagna at Trader Joe's, and overall my experiences were good (some were even excellent). I've had the refrigerated Lasagna Bolognese from Trader Joe's before, so I decided recently it would only make sense to give the frozen version a try.

I'm a fan of the refrigerated version, even though it's admittedly nowhere near as good as a homemade lasagna. As far as grocery store lasagna though, it's probably my favorite.

However, whatever works so well in the refrigerated version, seems to be lacking in the frozen version. The consistency of the egg noodles seemed a bit off, the sauce had an unpleasant aftertaste to me, and there was something peculiar about the meat in the sauce (but I can't quite put my finger on it). Not only was I not fond of the flavor itself, it seemed a bit overpriced at $3.49 for a one serving frozen lasagna. And by expensive, I mean by Trader Joe's standards.

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Trader Joe's 100% Grapefruit Juice

I love grapefruits, but grapefruit juice is my personal preference. It's difficult to find quality grapefruit juice in my area, and I tend to always be disappointed when trying anything that isn't stored in the refrigerated section. I don't know what it is exactly, but the standard shelf stable grapefruit juices never really seem to satisfy my cravings for grapefruit juice.

So when I recently noticed the 100% Florida Grapefruit Juice at Trader Joe's, I decided it was time to give it a try. I tend to avoid fresh fruit at Trader Joe's (as do most people I know that shop their regularly), but I figured that this rule didn't need to apply to refrigerated juice.

The juice was fairly (if not generously, for my area) priced at $3.29 for a bottle that contains 4 (8 oz) servings. The brand I normally buy is more like $5.99 for the same size (which is admittedly, drastically overpriced).

The juice was delicious. The quality and freshness were better than expected, although I would say I like my usual brand a tiny bit more. However, the difference is truly so tiny, that the price difference would heavily sway me towards the Trader Joe's juice. It was as bitter and tart as I like my real grapefruit juice to taste, so it's definitely not a drink for those that like their juice sweet.