8 Genius Hacks To Make Your Groceries Last Longer

Trader Joe's Valentine's Day Appetizers

Maître Pierre Tarte d' Alsace

Per TJ's, this flatbread is based on a 100-year-old recipe from the Alsace-Lorraine region of France. Sounds fancy, right? Covered in crème fraîche, caramelized onions, thinly sliced ham, and Gruyère cheese, it bakes so easily in the oven for 8-10 minutes for a great V-Day starter.

Creamy Spinach & Artichoke Dip

I don't know about you, but there's something about spinach and artichoke dip that screams 'romantic dinner' to me. It's typically on the appetizer menu at any Italian restaurant, and I'd say this $4 TJ's version measures up quite nicely. The herby cheese gets deliciously bubbly and gooey after being baked. Serve with toasted baguette bits to seal the deal!

Mini Brioche Bites

Need a bougie bite-size appetizer for your Valentine's feast? Look no further than these brioche bites that are stuffed with a sweet apricot jam and creamy brie cheese. Yeahhh, I'm drooling for this TJ's find.

Lemon Stuffed Olives

If you're plotting an abundant charcuterie for the holiday, these lemon-stuffed olives definitely deserve a spot in your spread. Equal parts tart, zesty, briny, and salty, they're worthy of snacking on by themselves. You could also slap some on a homemade pizza, toss 'em into pasta, or bake them into some focaccia for a unique flavor boost.

Olive Tapenade Hummus

This "mezze marvel" makes a simple and satisfying opening number for your V-Day date night at home alongside some veggie sticks, crackers, or bruschettas. The smooth and nutty base is expertly complemented by the salty olive tapenade in the center.

Trader Joe's Valentine's Day Main Courses

Plain Pizza Dough

I highly encourage you to make your own pizza using this TJ's pizza dough, no matter how you're celebrating Valentine's Day. It always comes out perfectly pillowy, plus it's just pure fun to let your culinary creative side run wild in terms of the sauce and toppings. If you need some recipe inspo, check out this post!

Sun-Dried Tomato & Basil Chicken Tenders

This TJ's product makes cooking yummy, flavorful chicken a total breeze. It comes pre-marinated, so you don't have to do the hard work of making one yourself. It boasts a nice balance between sun-dried tomatoes, basil, garlic, and onion, so it'd make a good pairing with something fancy-feeling like pasta or salad.

Mushroom Risotto

Risotto will always be fancy in my mind, even if it's frozen like this TJ's pick. This bag's packed with fragrant mushroom flavors, onion, garlic, and even gets boosted with extra Porcini mushroom seasoning to max out the umami vibes. Trader Joe's recommends lighting some candles, dimming the lights, and serving this meal with Caesar salad and ciabatta and EVOO for dipping. Sounds like the ultimate V-Day setting to me!

Spaghetti Carbonara

Same thing goes for this heat-and-eat carbonara dish. It's "rich, creamy, and satisfying," and even comes straight from a supplier in Italy, so you can trust its authenticity. Eat it alongside some salad or oven-roasted veggies to complete your Valentine's Day feast!

Chicken Meatballs

These meatballs can put in work way beyond your typical pasta dish. Add some to a stir-fry, sandwich, or soup, and you've got a great, tasty protein source with just enough seasoning that you don't have to add any more yourself.

Fresh Atlantic Salmon Boneless Fillet

I love cooking this TJ's salmon fillet for a fancier dinner. I'll simply season it up with salt, pepper, and a medley of whatever spices I've got in my cabinet, rub some olive oil and lemon juice on it, and bake it in the oven at 400 F for 20-30 minutes. It goes extremely well with roasted Brussels sprouts and hits the spot every freakin' time. Try it out for V-Day this year – you won't regret it!

Trader Joe's Valentine's Day Desserts

Brookie

Now, onto the sweet stuff! TJ's classic brookie never misses. Equal parts brownie and cookie, you and your partner will wanna eat the entire box.

Strawberry Mini Hold The Cone!

For a frozen delight, these chocolate and strawberry mini cones taste just like chocolate-covered strawberries.

Dark Chocolate Ganache Mini Sheet Cake

Snag this moist and flavorful $5 chocolate cake, decorate it with some pink and red icing, and boom – your V-Day dessert is ready.

Sprinkle Cake Bites

These tiny lil' cake bites (hello, Starbucks dupe!) are sprinkled appropriately for the lovey-dovey occasion.

Trader Joe's Valentine's Day Beverages

Super Happy Cabernet Sauvignon Sangiovese & Malbec

Made of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Sangiovese, and 20% Malbec, this "bold and complex" red wine makes a great pairing with barbecue, pork ribs, pizza, cheese plates, and chocolate cake. Mmm, cake.

Caretaker Pinot Noir 2022

For notes of cherries, plums, and fresh strawberries, add this $10 bottle to your cart!

Vignobles Lacheteau Touraine Sauvignon Blanc

This "deeply aromatic" white wine comes in with bright notes of citrus and spring blossoms, pairing deliciously well with foods like goat cheese and sweet Italian sausage.

Aperito Spritz

This bottled Aperol spritz ($7 for 3) is about to become your absolute favorite drink – V-Day or not!

Big Churn Chardonnay California

Finally, this $7 Chardonnay is super oaky and buttery for all you Chardonnay lovers out there. TJ's notes it's a good pairing with braised Brussels sprouts and seafood.

7 Times You Should Never Send A Venmo Request

1. You don't always have to Venmo request someone for their coffee. Gasp!

I can't believe we're living in the land of $9 lattes, so I totally understand not being able to cover the tab every single time you meet a friend at a coffee shop. But if you haven't seen a friend in a long time, or, dare I say, you know they're struggling (whether it be emotionally or financially), cover the bill y'all! And if someone has opened their home to you? A coffee is the perfect thank you.

2. Don't ask to be paid back for small, generous favors.

Getting into the weeds of every little penny will turn any enjoyable activity into a nightmare. "I had a college friend who would Venmo request every person in the car for gas money when we would drive to the grocery store," one anonymous Brit + Co reader says. "Like girl, don’t offer to drive 15 minutes then."

A Reddit user also points out that asking to be paid back for a cheap favor can come off as rude. "$10 is less than 1 hour minimum wage," they says. "$30 maybe. $50 absolutely. If this became a habit, then sure. But you don't see each other regularly."

3. Don't send a Venmo request if you're helping someone who's sick.

If you've offered to help out a sick friend who can barely get out of bed, it's probably not appropriate to charge them for things like medicine, water bottles, and soup.

4. Definitely don't ask for money if you offered to cover the cost in the first place.

When I went to a movie and a friend offered to cover my soda? So kind! When they texted me the next day to ask I send them money? I was a little taken aback. I didn't mind paying for my own drink, of course, but I would have also appreciated some clearer communication...

5. Maybe don't send a Venmo charge if your friend is being generous in other areas.

I have to admit that I never realized how expensive it is to host friends. Well, one Reddit user explains that when they hosted some friends, and offered them food, one guest ended up sending a charge to cover just a couple of dollars.

"This is after I hosted her and was very generous with my time, home, and food," they say. "Charging me for crappy cheap grocery store muffins and a soda just feels like a slap in my face."

6. Do NOT send a Venmo request just to be passive aggressive.

Just like the idea that "it's only weird if you make it weird," relationships can get messy if you let them. Case in point: money situations aren't the time to be passive aggressive.

"I once quit my job at the college coffee shop to help open a local cafe and my former boss at the college...made me feel so bad for taking the new job, like I was betraying everyone," says photographer Brittany Melissa. "He randomly sent me a Venmo request charging me $1 for emotional stress. I cried. I ended up paying it and told him it upset me and then he sent a Venmo paying me $1.50 'for causing you emotional distress.'"

7. And you shouldn't send a Venmo request if you're just avoiding confrontation.

Friendship really is all about communication, and when you find yourself splitting a bill, make it clearer for everyone and actually discuss who's paying what.

"I’ve had friends in the past Venmo request me for food or for when we go out rather than messaging me & I feel like as a friend & someone I know & when dealing with money, it’s kinder to ask for the money rather than Venmo requesting," Brit + Co reader AspenGrace Ricks says. "When requesting on Venmo, it feels like there is more of an obligation to do it."

3 Times Venmo Requests Are Totally Appropriate

1. It's okay to send a Venmo request when you have communal living needs.

If you live with friends, there's no way to avoid the fact you'll be using some of the same products (unless you buy two of everything). My roommate and I go back and forth on things like toilet paper and paper towels, but when it comes to items like the folding table we just ordered for Thanksgiving — yeah girl, send that Venmo request.

2. Feel free to send a request if you're running their errands.

Listen, as someone who's in a very happy relationship with my Instacart, I understand not having time to grocery shop. But (unless you find yourself in the aforementioned "small, generous favors" situation) if you're already at the store and a friend asked you to pick up a few things just because they're short on time, I think it's totally okay to ask for them to chip in.

But if you want to give them the favor out of the kindness of your heart and cover the cost? It'll make their day!

3. Going on a roadtrip means splitting roadtrip travel essentials.

I know the internet can have some differing opinions on what "essentials" mean, but I'm talking, like, the cost of a rental car. If your friend group is splitting the ride, then everyone should absolutely split the cost. And if you ask me, the same goes for gas money!

4. Send a Venmo request if your bill had to be on one credit card.

We've probably all been there: your 6-person bill arrives to the table (where you were all very respectful and kind to your waiter RIGHT?!) and no one wants to pick up the tab. If you end up swooping in to save the day, and you've all agreed to pay your own way, take a picture of the receipt and send those Venmo requests. Dinner ain't cheap!

“Gilmore Girls fall—it’s a thing,” Owala’s site reads. “If you’re the kind of person who needs coffee in an IV, we’ve got the mugs for you. Choose from Luke’s Diner or The Dragonfly Inn… or get both. We know Lorelai would.” This collab is already perfection!

The Gilmore Girls Owala drop honors both The Dragonfly Inn and Luke’s Diner with two super cute cup designs.

The first is a cream white 20-ounce SmoothSip Slider dotted with purple dragonflies. The lid is a bold yellow color fitted with a lavender slider that’s used to conveniently open and close the cup.

The second 20-ounce SmoothSip Slider flaunts a brown and yellow logo for Luke’s Diner with a color-coordinated lid and slider. We truly can’t pick a favorite!

Both SmoothSip Slider cups feature an insulated stainless steel lining that keeps contents hot up to 6 hours or cold up to 24 hours. The cups are certifiably BPA-free, lead-free, and phthalate-free. The lid on each cup is dishwasher-safe, while the cups themselves should be hand-washed only.

This upcoming Gilmore Girls collab is part of Owala’s Color Drop program, which means it’s bound to sell out. However, if the drop sells out in an hour or less, it’ll automatically open for backorders, which ship 10-12 weeks after purchase. Previous drops have featured limited-edition water bottle colorways and even a fun Valentine's Day vault.

The Gilmore Girls x Owala collab will be available to shop on February 11 at 10am MT. You can shop each SmoothSip Slider for $32.99 a pop, or bundle the duo for $65.98. According to reviews from shoppers, this style of Owala is the “perfect to go coffee cup” and is “truly leak-proof.”