Grocerygate: Trader Joe's

Trader%20Joe%27s%20Turkey%20Sign.JPG Up next in our Grocerygate series - Trader Joe's!

Trader Joe's is a favorite shopping spot in this city, thanks in part to their unique products and good prices. So it comes as no surprise that they are able to provide a vast array of new and exciting products and excellent deals for your Thanksgiving grocery shopping.

Let's start with the centerpiece: the bird. There are two types of turkeys that are being offered, and both choices are fresh, young, and all-natural. Brined turkeys are $1.79/pound and range from 12-20 pounds, and Kosher turkeys are $2.29/pound for 12-16 pounds. If you're not a fan of poultry, there are also large hams and Tofurky roasts to enjoy.

Need help with your side dishes? There are tons of pre-made sides to spruce up your buffet table. Located in the refrigerated case with the turkeys, you'll be able to find butternut squash, roasted garlic mashed potatoes, sausage and cornbread stuffing, and cranberry orange relish. Biscuits and mini croissants are in the freezer section; the biscuits can be baked straight out of the packaging, while the croissants need to proof on the counter overnight.

A variety of harvest-themed ingredients are also available to help make your cooking go smoothly. Steamed chestnuts, peeled and fully cooked, would be great in stuffing, and their box includes a recipe for chestnuts au gratin. Cans of organic butternut squash and sweet potato purees are in abundance and come with their own helpful recipes. Even the produce section is there to help, filled with precut fruits and veggies to make your time more productive. Try the mirepoix ($2.99 for 14.5 ounces), a carefully proportioned combination of onions,carrots and celery (2:1:1) that serve as the basis for all kinds of dishes, especially things like stuffing.

Need to keep people out of the kitchen while you work your magic? Load up on the appetizers to keep them happy and out of your hair. Trader Joe's has a wide array of hummus with just about any flavor you can think of, and the cheese selection has options to satisfy any of your guests. There are also plenty of frozen appetizers that only need to be thrown into the oven for a few minutes. Try the raspberry and brie fillo rolls for a sweet and salty treat. TJ's mini quiches are a standby for this Bostonist and are a definite crowd-pleaser.

Are you sure you have room for dessert after all that? TJ's has plenty of thaw-and-bake desserts to pass off as your own, like cherry clafoutis, mini apple galettes, and a variety of cookies. Pre-baked pumpkin and apple pies will look fantastic on the buffet table. Or you could always cook up a batch of pumpkin bread (from a mix), and there's pumpkin butter and cranberry apple butter to make any dessert a little more festive.

Don't forget the drinks, either! Sparkling cider, fresh cider, and egg nog can help you ring in the holiday season, and gingerbread coffee is a perfectly spicy way to end your big meal. Trader Joe's great selection of low- to mid-priced wines and beers are also available, but only at three local stores (Brookline, Cambridge, and Framingham).

There are 16 Trader Joe's locations in Massachusetts, and they are all open 9am-9pm. They will be closed Thanksgiving day, and the already-busy stores will probably be in full-on crazy mode in the days leading up, so make sure you've gotten everything you need well before then.