7 Must-Have Trader Joe’s Finds for February

Whether you’re cooking for one or for a crowd, these are the items that will help make your life easier—and more delicious.

Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD

February is packed with reasons to celebrate, from Valentine’s Day to the Super Bowl. And this month’s Trader Joe’s Fearless Flyer has everything you need for everyday dinners, romantic date nights and game day celebrations, from apps and mains to desserts and flowers—all at super-affordable prices. Here are a few of our favorite February finds we think you’ll love, too.

Related: 9 Underrated Things to Buy at Trader Joe's, According to a Food Editor

Chicken Meatballs

These precooked ground chicken meatballs are just the right size—one or two bites—and loaded with flavor from the oregano, basil and black pepper. Whether you’re using them as part of a Valentine’s dinner for two or a Super Bowl party appetizer for a crowd, you can’t go wrong. Want to eat them as-is? Simply pop them into the microwave, air fryer or skillet to reheat. They would work great as an app in pita meatball sandwiches—use mini pitas and slice the meatballs in half—or in our Slow-Cooker Spicy Plum-Glazed Meatballs. Grab a 12-ounce package or two for just $3.99 each.

Tarte aux Champignons

What do you call a thin, crisp crust with braided edges, topped with crème fraîche, Emmental cream sauce, Parmesan cheese and two kinds of mushrooms (besides deliciously amazing)? Tarte aux Champignons—which is essentially a French pizza. Add a side salad and a bottle of prosecco, both of which are also in this month’s Fearless Flyer, to round out a romantic meal. Or cut this tasty French masterpiece into small slices and serve it as an appetizer. Grab this made-in-France tarte in the freezer section for just $4.79.

Shishito Peppers

No football party would be complete without jalapeño poppers—or at least some form of them. And, while these long, lean shishito peppers may not look like they’d be stuffable, we managed to do just that with our Manchego-Stuffed Shishito Poppers. These particular shishito peppers are grown for TJ’s in Mexico and have a peppery, grassy flavor with a hint of citrus. Shishito peppers rank between 50 and 200 on the Scoville scale. Compare this to jalapeños, which average 5,000, and this means that shishitos offer a mild, pleasant heat without the burn. Each 6-ounce package of these shishito peppers is going for $2.29 to $2.49, depending on which area of the country you’re in.

BBQ Cut Fresh Atlantic Salmon

These skin-on salmon fillets are perfect for throwing on the grill. You could also cut them into bite-size pieces, douse them in your favorite BBQ sauce and stick a toothpick in each chunk for a fun—and more nutritious—replacement for those cocktail party weenies. And while BBQ is in the name, feel free to roast, poach or pan-fry these beautiful planks of omega-3-rich goodness. They’d be great roasted with shishito peppers, baby potatoes and green beans all on the same sheet pan—perfect for that romantic dinner for two or dinner for one (with leftovers for lunch). Packages of this BBQ Cut Fresh Atlantic Salmon are $10.99 per pound in the Midwest and $9.99 per pound everywhere else.

Avocado Ranch Salad Kit

A salad kit is a quick and easy way to add vegetables to any meal. Whether you’re having chicken meatballs, Atlantic salmon or Tarte aux Champignons (or the organic free-range chicken breast that’s also in this month’s flyer) a fresh, crunchy salad is the perfect complement. This Avocado Ranch Salad Kit has a perfect mix of salad veggies—green cabbage, green leaf lettuce, carrots, red cabbage, kale and red onion. It also comes with packages of corn chips and Cheddar cheese to top your salad, plus a creamy avocado ranch dressing. Grab this salad kit at Trader Joe's for just $3.99.

Raspberry Mousse Cakes

While I often include some type of chocolate in my favorite finds, I just couldn’t pass up these little raspberry mousse cakes. Each adorable cake is decorated to look like a raspberry and is just two or three bites. They’re constructed with three layers. The bottom is a moist vanilla cake topped with a luscious layer of silky raspberry-flavored mousse, which is draped in a pink confectionary coating. What a perfect ending to your special dinner—or to just have on hand when you need dessert! But this is also a “get it now” alert because these little pink confections are only available for a limited time. Grab your tray of six Raspberry Mousse Cakes for just $3.99 (I’ll be grabbing extra to toss in my freezer).

Fruits & Greens Smoothie Blend

After the parties and celebrations are over, you might be in the mood for a little lighter fare (and a nap). I love starting my day with a smoothie. It’s easy on my digestive system, I can stuff it full of fruits, veggies and protein and sip it on the go. TJ’s Fruits & Greens Smoothie Blend has all the fruits and veggies I need, making morning smoothies a snap. Chock-full of blueberries, bananas, strawberries, dragon fruit, spinach and kale, this blend is an antioxidant powerhouse. Add some kefir, a drizzle of maple syrup, a good sprinkling of chia seeds and a scoop of your favorite protein powder, whir it all up in a blender, and you’ve got a meal in a glass. Grab a bag of this frozen smoothie blend for just $3.99.

Read the original article on Eating Well.