Highdeas: Trader Joe’s Fig & Olive Crisps

Trader Joe’s is definitely my favorite place for snacks because while they have familiar favorites like peanut butter cups, they have other products that are unique takes on something you know, like these dope-ass Fig & Olive Crisps! Again, I don’t get paid, by anyone, for these recommendations, least of all Trader Joe’s (please give me money, TJ!). I just like to promote products that I truly enjoy, and think everyone should know about, like these awesome crackers.

So, I’ve never been one to give much thought to my cheese-bearing crackers before. Usually I would just go with the a standard water or wheat cracker, but those days are long gone. These Fig & Olive Crisps have amazing flavor that comes from the dried figs and olives that are packed into each tiny cracker, while providing a good crunch from the flax, sunflower, and sesame seeds.

Now I know some people might have hangups about some of these ingredients, “I’m not a big fig fan,” you might say or, “It sounds too ‘crunchy granola’ for me,” and I understand the hesitation. To be honest, I’m not a huge fan of figs myself, or of products that pack in all kinds of seeds, but everything blends together perfectly in these crackers to produce a salty, sweet, crunchy little square. They pair crazy well with a creamy brie, going nicely with the cheese without overpowering it. They’re also pretty tasty all on their own, and I’ve been eating them as part of my snack bowls with some other dried fruits and nuts, like a fancy person.

So, on your next trip to Trader Joe’s, definitely toss a box of these crackers into your basket, along with a wedge of their triple-cream, extra-yummy brie, and have yourself a nice little cheese plate with your favorite glass of wine…you will thank me.

*these crisps also come in a raisin and rosemary flavor, which I haven’t tried, but bet are awesome.

Highdeas: Essential Munchy Ingredients

So you got high at home, good start. But now you’re feeling hungry. Hungry, and ambitious, you want something to eat, but something good, not just anything will do. So what do you do?

I hate to say it, but a little preparation is key to your munchy experience—you want your pad to be stocked with versatile and delicious ingredients because driving somewhere for food would be a bad idea. A little planning can make all the difference, and I’m going to lay out some essential ingredients that will elevate your stoney culinary dreams, and bring you to munchy nirvana.

Let’s start off simple and classic with:

Cereal

It’s crunchy, comes in a ton of flavors, and crunchy rhymes with munchy! Eat it dry or with milk, and you have yourself a classic stoner snack. But a bowl of cereal can be boring for the ambitious stoner, so make sure you have on hand some…

Marshmallows

These sneaky treats have so many practical applications, eat them alone, throw them at people, toast them before eating them alone (maybe don’t toast them before throwing them at people), or get more creative with them. My personal favorite are cereal bars. Microwave up some marshmallows with a little butter, mix with cereal, smoosh into a pan, and you have yourself a delightful snack after a little fridge time! The classic cereal for this is, of course, Rice Krispies, but why be basic? Fruity Pebbles, Cocoa Pebbles, and Cinnamon Toast Crunch are all solid options, but heck, why stop with cereal? Do the same with popcorn, and you got yourself popcorn balls, a sweet and salty treat for those who live dangerously.

But maybe now you’re more in the mood for something savory, which is why you’ll want to make sure your fridge is stocked with:

Eggs

Incredible. Edible. Eggs. Scramble those puppies up and have yourself breakfast for dinner, or fry them up for an egg sandwich. Omelettes more your thing? Do it! And don’t forget, if you plan on baking pretty much anything, you’re gonna need a few eggs.

Avocado

Everyone knows how good these are, that’s why the stores are running out! So stock up on these green treats, because you can mash ‘em up into dip or guacamole… have you tried guacamole with Doritos?  Neither have I, but I bet it’d be great. Throw some avocado on toast like a fancy pants, or blend it up into pasta sauce… yeah, you can do that!

 

Recipe for avocado pasta, right here!

But now you need more dessert after your cool avocado pasta. I’ve got you covered with one of my favorite things ever…

Cinnamon Sugar

Simple, but amazing, this magical mixture has so many uses, Cinnamon toast is just the first that comes to mind, but you can do the same with a tortilla, or any carbs you have on hand. Maybe you have vanilla ice cream, but no sundae toppings! Enter the churro ice cream sundae—top your ice cream with some cinnamon sugar and pretend it was all intentional. Cinnamon and sugar can also be used to jazz up other essential ingredients, like…

Bacon

Candied bacon is maybe my new favorite thing, and requires only a quick dredging in cinnamon and brown sugar, then a trip to the oven. That’s it! But this is bacon we’re talking about here! It’s just fine on it’s own, or thrown into pastas and mac and cheese to kick things up. Don’t forget that food can be wrapped in bacon, like dates or tater tots.

My favorite, simple recipe for candied bacon.

These are just some of my favorite ingredients for creating stoney food masterpieces that are both easy and insanely tasty. But if all this sounds too complicated for you after a few puffs, then it might be time to invest in emergency s’mores rations.