Cool Food and Wonderful People at Trader Joe's

I had been browsing groups on Flickr, the photo-sharing website, and found a group on 'Favorite Foods from Trader Joe's'. The thread was a few months old, but I found it fun to read what people listed as their favorite foods and to see how food varied in the Trader Joe's stores according to state or location.
Some of the favorites that came up which I was familiar with but hadn't tried were the Basmati rice, the 'yellow label canned corn', and the Trex Mix cookies.

I had to leave work early for a doctor appointment, so I was stoked to visit the Trader Joe's near the doctor's office. I picked up the Basmati rice, canned corn, and cookies and wandered around to see if I'd spot something else that had been mentioned on-line.

I love their coffee, and it had, at one time become a Saturday morning routine to stop there, get a small cup of coffee, and sample their wares. I was surprised to see that they still had hot piping coffee this time of evening, but glad that they did. It was 'd'lish' as always. The lady was sampling Peach Salsa with Blue Corn Chips, and something in a bowl.

I indulged in the Salsa and chips (I hadn't had them before) both were very good, but I hesitated when offered the 'bowl mixture'.

Even though the products are 'taste-tested' and approved, by their staff, I think, my taste buds don't always 'jive' with theirs and some of the stuff I bring home loses its appeal when it leaves the store. I took a bag of the chips and a jar of the salsa, I knew I liked those and would eat those later.

Now, we all know how friendly and enthusiastic those Trader Joe employees are, and I didn't want to hurt the woman's feelings by refusing to sample the stuff in the bowl that she was stirring up. In all honesty, it did not look very appetizing to me.

A young woman came up beside me and was also offered the mixture, 'Lentil Salad' the 'sample' lady said. The young woman didn't hesitate, though she did emphasize she only wanted a little. This woman, standing there with a baby strapped to her hip, was in shorts and she looked very healthy and athletic. Certainly not the type to eat 'junk'. She probably always ate stuff that looked like that I thought. She nibbled some and said it was very good. This was my opener...

I hadn't eaten lunch and was starving but didn't want to hog the ladies salsa and chips. It would please her if I tasted her 'Lentil Salad', which, she informed us, she had just came up with that very day.

Amazingly, it was good, despite its appearance! I liked it so much I asked for the recipe. 'Bon' was kind enough to write it down for me and direct me to where I could find the products in the store.

I've gotten several quick and simple recipes by sampling the products there and I was excited to get another that I liked and would use and that was actually healthy! Lentils are supposed to be very good for your hair, which I've been having problems with lately.

Bon told me I could find the fully-cooked sliced carrots and fully cooked lentil beans over in the produce section! I don't think I've ever seen precooked things packaged like that, and refrigerated rather than frozen.

Those were wonderful, and the lentils were worth the price for me because I can never get them the right consistency. They also had the Italian Dressing that she used on sale (why is it orange-colored?). She also included crumbled goat cheese, baby greens, and sliced splendito tomatoes (what are they?).

I wanted to keep my bill down so I decided to leave off the baby greens and tomatoes. I had regular tomatoes at home and I'd just chop them a little finer and use frozen broccoli rather than baby greens. I bet this would all go well combined with pasta also.

Bon was very proud of her recipe and was giving it out freely. She was so excited that people liked it.
Here is her version of the recipe she gave me, using all Trader Joe's products:

Bon's Lentil Salad
-fully cooked lentil beans
-fully cooked, sliced carrots
-crumbled goat cheese
-baby greens
-Italian dressing
-salt / pepper
-splendito tomatoes - sliced

Mix all together in a large bowl and enjoy!