Updated! Pick Up This, Not That: Trader Joe's New March Foods

We always have plenty of sandwich fixings on hand in our house, and this Sliced New Zealand Organic Cheddar is a great addition. It's more of a sharp cheddar, but it has a creamy taste and the slices are thick, making them great for sandwiches. Pick it up in time for April, National Grilled Cheese Month, and use it on one of these cheesy sandwiches.

The new Ancient Grains and Nuts Granola are little clusters of deliciousness. It's crunchy with a subtle sweetness and so good sprinkled on top of a homemade acai bowl. Try it with this Deluxe Acai Bowl recipe for a wholesome and tasty breakfast.

I'm always looking for a quick and easy dinner and the new Honey Walnut Shrimp is a great option. This dish takes less than five minutes and one pan to make and the shrimp comes out crispy and sweet, tossed with the sauce and walnuts. I recommend only using half of the sauce packet, because it can be a little too sweet. Serve with the Trader Joe's Organic Brown Rice and a side of vegetables, and you'll have dinner on the table in 10 minutes.

I love anything mint chocolate, and this Marbled Mint Crunch Chocolate Bar takes the cake. The chocolate-coated mint combined with a cocoa cookie biscuit crunch make a fabulous duo. It took a lot of willpower not to eat the whole bar in one sitting.

If you enjoy snacking on roasted sunflower seeds, you will love this Unsweetened Sunflower Seed Spread. Made of just sunflower seeds and salt, it has the same consistency of peanut butter but with a more buttery and toasty flavor. I used the spread to replace peanut butter in a three-ingredient peanut butter cookie recipe. Mix one cup sugar, one cup sunflower seed spread, and one egg until thickened. Roll into 1-inch balls and place on a cookie sheet, then sprinkle with sea salt. Bake at 325°F for about 15 minutes. Enjoy warm with a glass of cold almond milk for a delicious snack.

For all you cheese-lovers out there, pick up the new Fior Delle Alpi cheese from the Swiss Alps. It has a bold and strong flavor and stays firm when sliced, making it a great addition to any charcuterie or cheese board.

Trader Joe's Cannelés de Bordeaux will transport you to the South of France in your first bite. You can defrost them or pop them in the microwave for 20 seconds. I tried them warm and loved the caramelized and chewy crust with the creamy, warm custard inside. These are small but very rich and come in a pack of four. Serve the cannelés for dessert and your guests will think you picked them up at a real French bakery!

The new Organic Toasted Coconut Granola is sure to become a pantry staple. It's crunchy and sweet with a generous amount of toasted coconut. Enjoy a bowl with almond milk, or snack on it alone when you're craving something sweet. For only $4, you get a pretty big bag, which is conveniently resealable.

Trader Joe's new Oatmeal Cups come ready in a microwavable cup so all you need to do is add hot water or milk and stir. Choose from two flavors, Strawberry Raspberry or Tart Cherry, Chia, & Pumpkin Seed. I used the Strawberry Raspberry flavor to try this microwaveable oatmeal cookie recipe, topped with fresh strawberries and blueberries. The result was a tasty breakfast that actually did taste like a cookie.

Upon opening the Black Forest Cupcake Tea container, you may be surprised at how similar it smells to an actual chocolate cupcake. If you like your tea with chocolaty, cherry flavors, you will love this tea. I prefer floral teas but will definitely keep this on hand for variety. Enjoy a hot cup of tea with your favorite dessert, or try it with the new Marbled Mint Crunch Chocolate Bar.

The new Chicken Burrito Bowl is on the healthier side of frozen entrees but is still pretty high in sodium, so I'm on the fence. I did like that it uses brown rice and red quinoa and has a solid amount of veggies. I'd say if you have the time and money for a burrito bowl from a nearby restaurant, go for the fresh option instead of the microwaved one.

Trader Joe's is really amping up their cereal aisle and the Crunchy Cinnamon Squares are their newest addition. This cereal is indeed crunchy and cinnamon-y and the whole wheat and rice flour combo make them light and puffy. The only reason I'm on the fence is because of how sugary it is. Have a small bowl with a splash of almond milk and some fruit to balance it out. Or try it in a fun recipe that uses the cereal, like this take on a Starbucks CTC Frappucino.

Trader Joe's frozen Quiche Lorainne had all the right flavors but the crust wasn't flakey enough, and the eggs tasted reheated or microwaved. It's also quite small and doesn't look very impressive (or anything like the photo on the box). Considering how easy it is to make a homemade quiche, I just can't get on board with a frozen one. Check out this amazing, make-ahead quiche Lorainne recipe from our site if you really want to impress your brunch guests.

Alternative nut butters are all the rage, and Trader Joe's new Mixed Nut Butter combines all those trendy nuts (almonds, cashews, walnuts, Brazil nuts, hazelnuts, and pecans) in one. However, I found the mix to be too watery and bland. Spread the Mixed Nut Butter on a toasted bagel and top with bananas, blueberries, or strawberries (or all of the above!), and a drizzle of honey to add sweetness and flavor.

The Organic Chocolate Chip Chewy Granola Bars are certainly chewy but a little too sweet for my taste, so I'm on the fence. Made with whole-grain rolled oats, honey, tapioca syrup, and agave syrup, this would be a nice treat for that afternoon chocolate craving.