Trader Joe’s is my number one grocery store. There’s one just down the street from us, and I shop for most of our groceries there. It’s taken on a bit of a cult following over the years, with multiple Instagram accounts and websites dedicated to the grocery store. It was only a matter of time before they put out a TJ cookbook. I’m a little behind the times because this collection of cookbooks was first published over a decade ago, but let’s dive in.
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Background of the Book & Author
There is an entire collection of I Love Trader Joe’s cookbooks with variations for Snack Boards, College Kids, Cocktails, and Cooking for Two. It’s obvious that I’m not the only one that loves TJ’s. There is a disclaimer on the back of the book letting readers know that Trader Joe’s is not endorsing this book (although they should).
Kris Cramer is the author of the I Love Trader Joe’s Plant-Based Cookbook. She’s a vegan baker and blogger and runs multiple websites, like this one. She lives in the Midwest with her kids and cats, and it’s clear that her love for Trader Joe’s matches mine.
The book is divided by meal type. There are breakfasts, bites and snacks, salads, soups and stews, sandwiches, sides, main dishes, casseroles, desserts, and beverages. Sample menus in the back help you put together a fun gathering for your friends. It’s easy to find specific recipes. If you are a vegan, you can find vegan swaps to help you alter recipes with dairy to be vegan-friendly.
Pick up your own copy of I Love Trader Joe’s Plant-Based Cookbook (or on Amazon here)
What Grabbed My Attention
I’m at Trader Joe’s at least once a week, and it is hands down my favorite grocery store. The prices are typically lower than our other neighborhood options, and we’ve discovered some important staples that are always stocked at our house. The idea of a cookbook that utilizes ingredients from one specific store was interesting. The book grabs the attention of anyone who is in the “cult” and caters to the obsession with this little grocery store. Having the opportunity to try a book that was packed with plant-based recipes was enticing because it meant I could choose from everything.
Overall Cookbook Rating
Ease of recipes – 9
Knowledge of methods & ingredients – 9
Fits the theme – 9
Taste overall of test recipes – 6
Quantity of recipes that generated excitement – 5
Overall rating – 7.6/10
Feedback from a lazy cook who hates a dish pile up and making dinner decisions:
The recipes were easy and simple. This would be a great cookbook for someone who just likes to crank out meals without thinking too much or visiting multiple stores for ingredients.
Feedback from an aspiring cook who wants to impress herself and learn how to do more:
The lack of photos and stories made me feel like excited about this cookbook. Considering there are multiple recipes per page, they are easy and quick, so you won’t be stepping too far outside of your comfort zone.
Recipes I Cooked from the Cookbook:
Dish 1 – Bangin’ Black Bean Dip
I did not take a picture of this because we couldn’t wait to dig in. Plus, it kind of looks disgusting. It tastes fantastic. We love a dip in this household, and this one did not let us down. It took just a few minutes to make. The dip was way more than two of us could consume in one sitting. We ended up using it to make quesadillas along with a bunch of chopped veggies the next day. The versatility of this means we will definitely be making it again.
Changes made – None
Suggestions for next time – No notes. It was perfect.
Dish 2 – Figgy Blue Sandwiches
This recipe caught my eye because the description said it was inspired by a fancy sandwich from an upscale cheese shop in Saint Paul. It combines fig butter, blue cheese, and greens on crusty bread. I hated it, which is unfortunate because I love all the components of the sandwich separately, but it was so dry. Anytime you make a sandwich on a piece of crusty bread, it requires an abundance of condiments to help cut the dryness. The fig butter just wasn’t enough.
Changes made – None
Suggestions for next time – Would not make it again. I’d rather have these on a cheese board instead of a sandwich.
Dish 3 – Fancy Macaroni Bake
A Midwest cookbook author knows how to put together a good casserole, and this didn’t disappoint. We make our own mac & cheese all the time, but I will always try a new recipe to see if we should add any new tricks to our toolbox. This recipe includes tomatoes to give it a little color, so it’s perfect in the summer during the height of tomato season. It was tasty, but probably not something I will make over and over.
Changes made – None
Suggestions for next time – I would add some other summer veggies if I made this again with tomatoes.
Lessons Learned
- Sandwiches cannot be super dry. They require some kind of juicy ingredient.
- Dips can be used in other recipes, so make the big batch and get creative with it.
- Trader Joe’s is a great grocery store and it packs a lot of ingredients into a pint-sized store.
Who Should Buy This Cookbook
This is a perfect gift for those friends in your life who are constantly sharing their Trader Joe’s haul. The I Love Trader Joe’s Plant-Based Cookbook would be a great gift for anyone who might be considering a more plant-forward diet. With over 150 recipes, it would be easy to find some new favorites to put in the rotation.
Final Thoughts on the I Love Trader Joe’s Plant-Based Cookbook
I love the idea of these cookbooks, but once I used it, I just felt like there wasn’t much investment into making these top-notch. I’m a sucker for a beautiful cookbook (like More is More) that puts thought and energy into the design of the book. With few photos and incredibly simplistic recipes, this book wasn’t the best for me. I think it would be a fun gift for a Trader Joe’s fan, but it’s not one that I would buy and use regularly. That said, I’m off to Trader Joe’s for my usual shopping trip.
Check out the full list of cookbooks I’ve reviewed this year. Next up is Salad Seasons.
