Trader Joe's Favorites for Easy Holiday Planning

So the holidays are here and even though I desperately needed to see the sight of my large Christmas tree more than usual this year, I still feel as if the season snuck up on me! Needless to say, I am excited to enjoy this time of the year with close friends and family and not put a ton of pressure on the usual holiday parties, get togethers, and extravaganzas. However, I know we all will probably still be hosting in some way and at some point, or maybe we just want to still make the holidays as special as possible. Whether you are wrapping gifts with your siblings, having your girlfriends over for a low key brunch, decorating the Christmas tree as a date night with your SO, or need last minute stocking stuffers, I have you covered. The best part is that literally everything on this list can be found at one place: the amazing Trader Joe's!

Easy & Cozy Sunday Brunch

I think having friends or family over for a low-key yet fabulous brunch is such a fun idea for the holidays. Not everyone loves cookie decorating, plus it's a lot of clean up on your part, but whip up some fantastic brunch staples paired with mimosas and egg nog and you're for sure going to give people a fun time! Plus it gives you the entire day to transition into a Christmas movie marathon by the fire with hot cocoa. This brunch staple is inspired by a delicious and trendy restaurant in Memphis, TN: The Beauty Shop. I recently recreated ones of my favorite items from their brunch menu and it was so easy once I found everything at Trader Joe's!

All you need is:

Cuban Black Beans

Arugula

Eggs

Avocado

Pepita Salsa

Crumbled Feta

This literally requires 0 effort because all you need to do is drain the black beans (do not rinse), cook eggs in a pan (I like to make them over easy), slice the avocado, and then assemble the bowls. The base of each bowl should be 1/2 beans and 1/2 arugula. Top with a fried egg, layer with avocado slices, then sprinkle feta cheese on top and add a spoonful of pepita salsa. So easy, but so delicious!

Present Wrapping & Charcuterie Snacking

It's no secret that Trader Joe's is known for their exceptional cheese and meats section, which makes it easy to go ham (no pun intended) on a decked out charcuterie board. These can absolutely be pricey, but thankfully TJ's really does have some wallet friendly options. Here are some of my favorites and go-to's whenever I am making a charcuterie board for any type of get together. I made one for my family on Thanksgiving with these staples and every bite was gone before we even cut into the Turkey.

CHEESES:

Blueberry Crusted Goat Cheese

The Unexpected Cheddar Cheese

Goat Milk Brie

Cheddar & Gruyere

MEATS:

Daniele Inc. Gourmet Deli Selection

NUTS:

Marcona Almonds

FRUIT/DRIED FRUIT:

Trio of Grapes

Dried Apricots

DIPS/JAMS:

Olive Tapenade

Honey

CRACKERS:

Rice crackers

Pita Crackers

Here is what the board I made on Thanksgiving looked like, but with a few other additions. Seriously, throw your favorites on a board and let people go to town with their own creations. Adding some greenery like fresh rosemary or flowers onto the board enhances the holiday aesthetic. Have someone else bring the wine and you are set!

Dinner & Decorating the Tree

This past Sunday, my family and I decorated our Christmas tree while listening to Christmas music and then had a lovely dinner afterwards prepared by my mom. I don't know about everyone else, but at this point it is getting harder to come up with creative meals that are also easy and don't require hundred of ingredients, which let's be honest, end up requiring multiple trips to the store. This delicious and healthy Italian meal made with TJ's Sweet Potato Gnocchi is so easy to prepare on a chilly winter night. If you're not a fan of sweet potato, you can swap it out for any other Gnocchi option that TJ's has - kale, cauliflower, or even the normal. Accompanied by a lit up Christmas tree and a $7.99 TJ's bottle of wine and you have a cozy night in. This is also a great date night option to do with you and your significant other!

All you need is:

Sweet Potato Gnocchi (frozen section)

Broccoli Rabe

Cherry Tomatoes

Organic Tomato Basil Pasta Sauce

Parmesan Reggiano

Bottle of Wine

Sauté some olive oil in a pan over Medium heat. Chop the broccoli rabe and slice the cherry tomatoes. Once the pan begins to smoke, add the gnocchi and stir until cooked through (reference package details for timing). Once pasta is a few minutes away from being done, add in chopped broccoli to cook a few more minutes until it's bright green. Remove from heat and toss with sliced tomatoes and sauce. Divide between 2 bowls and then sprinkle some parmesan on top. Pour two glasses of wine and enjoy!

Santa's Dessert Bar

Trader Joe's has some amazing holiday items when it comes to desserts, chocolates, truffles, etc. The ideas for a dessert bar are endless and there are way too many good options to limit yourself to just one. These are all of my favorites and if not properly portioned out, I could easily eat the entire box/ tin. Grab one of each listed below, throw them into some cute bowls, light some candles, and offer up some hot cocoa and/or almond nog and you have a sweet night to enjoy with your significant other, friends, or family.

All you need is:

Jingle Jangle Mix

Peppermint Bark

Candy Cane Joe-Joe's

Assorted Chocolate Dipped Biscotti

Ginger Snowball Cookies

Almond Nog

Peppermint Hot Cocoa with Mini Marshmallows

Last Minute Stocking Stuffers

December is here and if you're anything like me, Christmas shopping sometimes is left to the last minute. The great news is, Trader Joe's isn't just great for all of the grocery and produce items because they also have adorable items that are perfect for stockings. I could easily spend a solid hour browsing all of the different candies, lotions, candles, and more that Trader Joes has to offer in each isle. Here are a few ideas that you can grab on your next trip to make the holiday shopping a little bit less stressful :)

Candle Trio (cedar is my favorite)

Body Butter Trio

Everything But the Bagel Seasoning (let's be real everyone could use more of this stuff!)

Hot Cocoa Stirring Spoon

Moisturizing Hand Cream Trio

Peppermint Hand Soap

Truffles/Chocolates

Lip Treatment Duo

I hope this helps make your holiday shopping experience a little more enjoyable with a one stop shop. Have a lovely holiday season with your friends and family!

Lindsay