Grab This Cult-Favorite Trader Joe’s Side Dish if You Don’t Feel Like Cooking This Holiday Season
Trader Joe's has basically everything you need for a delicious, successful Thanksgiving meal. When scrolling through this month's Fearless Flyer, I see Trader Joe's has already brought in its whole young turkeys, and you can choose between brined, kosher or free-range, which are fresh and never frozen. The flyer has a video on how to roast the perfect turkey, so things should be pretty straightforward when it's time to start cooking.
I also spot creamy pepper and cheeseball dips for appetizers, whole stalks of Brussels sprouts, fresh persimmons and a harvest apple salad kit in the produce section, and teeny tiny pecan and apple pies and Nantucket-style cranberry pie for dessert. It has an array of festive chips, popcorn and snack mixes to have on hand for munching, and maple pecan cold brew concentrate if your guests need a pick-me-up.
The product that caught my eye immediately, though, is Trader Joe's ever-popular Vanilla Bean Whipped Sweet Potatoes. This delightful, ready-in-minutes side dish lets you serve something absolutely delicious to your guests without lifting a finger.
And they're full of fall flavor. Tender sweet potatoes are whipped with heavy cream until extra fluffy, then flavored and sweetened with sea salt, nutmeg and brown sugar. The mixture has both vanilla bean paste and flecks of vanilla bean, really bringing home the sweet-and-savory combination.
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Vanilla Bean Whipped Sweet Potatoes, $5.99 at Trader Joe's
Trader Joe's
They take just a few minutes to cook up in the microwave, and several minutes longer in the conventional oven, according to the website listing, and result in a salty and sweet vanilla flavor with a "cloud-like texture", adding depth of flavor to any fall, winter or holiday meal.
While overall reviews are mixed for this sweet potato dish, most shoppers really enjoyed it. "This is my new favorite product from TJ's. They're heavily spiced (lots of nutmeg) but it somehow works perfectly for me. Not overwhelming. I grabbed a couple boxes last weekend and threw [them] in the freezer for Thanksgiving," said one person. "Had it and loved it, it's delicious," and "this is delish," said two other comments.
The 16-ounce package of whipped sweet potatoes sells for $5.99, making it an affordable side dish to bring to Thanksgiving, Friendsgiving or any other holiday party. With its ease of preparation, quick cooking time, and seasonality, I would suggest scooping it up next time you make a trip to Trader Joe's, as there have been reports of it selling out quickly. It's a limited-time only product, and you don't want to miss it.
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