Grocery Shopping Haul | Fall Seasonal Bucket List Items at Trader Joe’s

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What comes to your mind and gets you excited when you think of the Fall season? 

Let me guess – fresh and crisp air, cooler weather, colorful foliage, and Halloween?

But there’s something else which gets me even more excited about Fall. 

Any guesses?

It’s the seasonal specials, you guys!

It is as if there is this year long (rather a few long months of) craving for all the Fall-yummy-goodness (it is absolutely the best time for all things food), and of course, a few other things which are exclusively found only around this magical time of the year…

SHOP THIS LOOK

And when it comes to Fall seasonal specials, no one else does it quite like Trader Joe’s does. I am simply blown away by the number of new (and old) seasonal products that hit their shelves every year. I wouldn’t be exaggerating if I said that they probably have over 100 exclusive seasonal varieties (though some of which, I honestly feel, should be made available year round, like the Butternut Squash Triangoli, oh yum!). 

However, this year I made the run to TJ’s rather too late for these Fall goodies. A little back story on that (in case you care)… in all my life in the US I had never gone by without going grocery shopping for more than 2 weeks, but this time, after we came back from our month-long vacation, Vinay took care of it every week for over a month. Now you have to know this about me, I, unlike most, love grocery shopping, it’s kind of therapy for me (Vinay keeps teasing that I go aisle by aisle looking for stuff I don’t even need, yes, even at the grocery store and not just when I am shopping for clothes (speaking of which, have you checked out all the Fall Fashion Must-Haves) or home decor. I know, I know, I am a shopaholic, or as my hubby named me ‘aislaholic’- something he totally made up and claims a trademark for it). 

So amidst all the busy-ness that is life, it completely slipped my mind that it is already the end of September (like I mentioned in this post) and that I needed to go look for all the seasonal specials, which start to make their appearance in stores over a course of a few weeks. But this time around they all hit me in the face all at once, and I was like, whoa! Though I must say that I was very proud of Vinay when he had picked up a few of those even without me mentioning about it in ‘the list’, I mean the grocery shopping list. Mind you, he is very hands-on with everything at home, except when it comes to things related to the kitchen (rather cooking), then he needs specific instructions. Well, to his credit, he does buy a few things not on the list, but when he bought home some exciting Fall specials (a few I didn’t even know existed, like the Autumnal Harvest Alfredo Sauce, score!) then that surely scored him a lot (I mean, a loooot) of brownie points. 

And since then I couldn’t wait to go back to TJ’s (with my photographer in tow, which is quite a challenge lately, thanks to our little brat) and carefully scan over each aisle, and each shelf, not only to satisfy my own cravings (ahem, OCD), but also to bring you guys all the exclusives 😉

So here’s a low down on all things pumpkins, apples, and butternut squashes available at our one and only, our favoritest ever, Trader Joe’s… 

And just so it isn’t too overwhelming I have even put them in various categories.

MUST-BUY, MUST-EAT, and MUST-HAVE!

P.S: I am even thinking, maybe for one of my Fall Bucket List Activities, a Trader Joe’s inspired Fall Potluck with family and friends would be totally Ah-mazing! How does that sound to you? Too good right, I know! You all should definitely do it too, less thinking and more eating (cuz you won’t have to worry about what to make/ bring to the potluck). Yay, that thought in itself is so so exciting… 

Now go work your way through the list… Some of these also make for great gifts (I hope you guys are taking notes every time I call them out on the blog or on my social :)).

* Most popular and highly recommended 

BREAKFAST

LUNCH/DINNER

SNACKS & TREATS

BEVERAGE

HOME & BEAUTY & MISC