Trader Joe’s Shakshuka Starter

Welcome to “What’s Making Me Happy This Week,” a weekly feature that forces me to appreciate the little things that are making me happy.

This week: Trader Joe’s Shakshuka Starter. (Past happy-making posts are here. Yes, there has only been one other so far, but they will collect on that page, and I will enjoy watching the list grow.)

I love Shakshuka, but I’m not going to get fancy with spices and whatnot in an already crazy morning in my house. This starter kit, found in the frozen section at Trader Joe’s, is tasty and easy.

You put a tablespoon or so of water in a warm pan, toss in the frozen tomato/pepper/spice mix, then cover the pan. After about five minutes, I add an egg–or two eggs if I’m sharing with my husband. And at the very end, I toss in baby spinach if I have some in the fridge and maybe some feta if I’m feeling extra fancy.

It’s SO GOOD!  (Photo by Sara Dubler on Unsplash) My version is not this pretty, but tastes like I imagine the version in the photo tastes.

According to the directions, you can also use the microwave, but in my opinion the microwave takes away the sensation of making something that feels fresh (even though, yes, I realize it’s frozen).

Let me know if you’ve tried it already and what you think. And if you’re a shakshuka newbie, try it and report back!

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Nina Badzin hosts the podcast Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship. She's been writing about friendship since 2014, co-leads the writing groups at ModernWell in Minneapolis, and reviews 30+ books a year on her website.

3 Responses

  1. A) I will certainly try this! I am all for including veggies in breakfast.
    B) I am loving this feature on your blog. The things you might want to notice and remember later feel so temporary when you post them on platforms like FB and Insta, but blogging, on the other hand, feels more like a scrapbook to me.

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Hi, I'm Nina

HI, I’M NINA BADZIN. I’m a writer fascinated by the dynamics of friendship, and I’ve been answering anonymous advice questions on the topic since 2014. I now also answer them on my podcast, Dear Nina! I’m a creative writing instructor at ModernWell in Minneapolis, a freelance writer and editor, and an avid reader who reviews 50 books a year. Welcome to my site! 

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Hi, I'm Nina

DEAR NINA: Conversations About Friendship is a podcast and newsletter about the ups and downs of adult friendship. I’m the host, Nina Badzin, a Minneapolis-based writer who accepted a position as a friendship advice columnist in 2014 and never stopped. DEAR NINA, the podcast, started in 2021, and has been referenced in The Wall Street JournalThe Washington PostTime Magazine, The GuardianThe Chicago TribuneThe Minneapolis Star Tribune, and elsewhere

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