Trader Joe’s is the ultimate holy grail of supermarkets. The only thing better than a trip to Trader Joe’s on a casual Sunday afternoon is an outing in the middle of the fall to test out all the latest autumn arrivals and smell the delicious scents of pumpkin spice. As soon as October hits and the leaves begin changing colors around Grounds, Trader Joe’s is the place to be. When I applied to colleges, I won’t lie to you — I may or may not have researched the closest Trader Joe’s to every campus. While I selected the University for many other reasons beyond a simple grocery store, the Bond St. Trader Joe’s — situated just seven minutes from the heart of Grounds — holds a special place in my heart thanks to its incredible selection of seasonal meals and treats.
1. Apple Cider Doughnuts
There is a reason I placed these tasty treats in the number one spot of this list. These doughnuts have a perfect doughy bite doused in a coating of brown cinnamon sugar. They mirror more of a traditional old-fashioned doughnut with a soft sour cream inside and a crunchy exterior. What’s not to love? The fall flavors allow everyone to indulge in dessert for any occasion just by the change of the season. Enjoy a box of six for $4 to take outside for a picnic on the Lawn or for a quick snack on the way to class. I highly recommend placing these treats in your cart the next time you take a trip to Trader Joe’s.
2. Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese
If you have ever been to the frozen section at Trader Joe’s, you can probably attest to its supermarket supremacy. Filled with delicious dishes ready in minutes, the frozen aisle is perfect for busy college students. After a long walk from main Grounds to Gooch, this frozen Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese consisting of rigatoni noodles smothered in a cream sauce is my idea of heaven. The trek home is worth it when I know there’s a full meal for only $3 sitting in the back of my fridge.
3. Harvest Chili
On a chilly fall day, the thing I crave the most in the world is my mom’s homemade chili. A jar of the Trader Joe’s Harvest Chili — priced at $4.49 — is the closest thing that comes to it. The soup is filled with black beans, butternut squash, cauliflower and sweet potatoes, making it not only filling and delicious but also a taste of home after a long day. I crave this smoky and flavorful stew — a cure to my case of homesickness.
4. Honey Roasted Pumpkin Ravioli
A part of me wanted to leave this dish out of this review. As a first year with no stovetop, I must state with great displeasure that this ravioli is not accessible to me. However, I would be doing a disservice to the rest of the appliance-equipped University population if I excluded this meal from my list. This stuffed pasta with a cheesy pumpkin filling and hints of nutmeg is to die for, and you can taste all of this for $3.49. All you need to do is throw it in a pot of boiling water and wait a mere two minutes for the pasta to be ready.
5. Pumpkin Spice Pretzel Slims
Last but definitely not least, these pretzel slims are no joke. Despite my familiarity with Trader Joe’s, I only recently tried these snacks and I’m happy to say I was not let down. With little time in the day to make it to the dining hall for every meal, college has turned me into a major snacker. Just about anything crunchy has my name written all over it. Yet, these pretzel slims are not only for the snack-inclined. Covered in yogurt, caramel and pumpkin seeds, I had to restrain myself from devouring the entire $3 bag within a number of minutes. Throw these in your backpack as a snack in between classes or crunch on them while studying in your dorm. I know I will be stocking up on these throughout the fall to satiate my craving of sweet and salty eats.
Take a trip to Trader Joe’s this fall and relish in all the pumpkin-filled, cinnamon-covered, roasted butternut-cubed treats the market has to offer. With the scenic mountain landscape and the large number of trees around Grounds, the University couldn’t be more beautiful come autumn. These tasty treats serve as an addition to the great atmosphere around Grounds at the change of the season.
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