Help keep your group healthy and happy!
he Healthy Lazy Chef here and I'm at it again! And in this series I'll be embarking on some Trader Joe’s food reviews. Each blog, I’ll not only review one item, but will give you my tips on how to make it even better. I've given myself the challenge of making every meal less than 10 minutes to prepare and I'm also making sure that most items can be stored or cooked ahead of time - taking your healthy, yet lazy cooking routine to a whole new level!
Additionally, I’ll include some of my shopping insights (which is mostly my inner monologue) on what I'm looking for when I'm shopping for certain items and give you ideas on how to elevate the dish to not only make it taste better, but also more well-rounded for overall nutrition!
Look no further! The Trader Joe’s Harvest Apple Salad Kit is to salads as the Pumpkin Spice Latte is to coffee - synonymous with fall, warm & cozy flavors! The salad kit, itself, comes with some great sweet and savory fixins, but we’ll also include some ways to elevate this dish to make for a perfect Thanksgiving side!
The best part? It is reasonably priced and will take you 5-minutes to fix up, saving that precious time on food prep during the holiday season!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 out of 5 stars)
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Dark, leafy greens provide plenty of vitamins and minerals!
An unexpected (pleasant) surprise! One of Trader Joe’s TOP white cheeses that is smooth and creamy, yet slightly tangy!
A great, whole-food crunch that easily replaces croutons.
The raw pecans provide some sturdier texture along with some more protein and unsaturated fats.
A sweet, yummy spin on a regular balsamic that really makes this dish feel like fall.
More food? Yes, please! 2-3 handfuls would be enough to balance everything out. Romaine adds more of a crispy, crunchy salad texture, as opposed to spring mix which tends to wilt when dressing is on. This will not just make a BIGGER salad, but it will stand the test of time if it sits on the table next to the turkey!
I LOVE adding chicken to salads because it makes it more like a meal. Pre-cooked rotisserie chicken is not only convenient, but its smoky flavors complement the cheese and sweetness of the apple.
The apples add a good amount of sweetness and crunchiness, but the salad needs a crunchiness with a bit more fruity crisp. Cut into slices to assimilate into the salad with all of the other flavors and cause it's fancy!
