Cheap Thrills: Trader Joes Recipes for Entertaining at Home

Every week, I'll bring you some great buys on events, clothes, food, home décor, and more. Add it up, and it'll be less than $50 bones.

This week, I wanted a diet makeover. Now that spring is here, I'm tired of winter comfort foods; it's a new season, I want to try some new recipes. I'm off to Trader Joe's where the prices are low, and my spirits are high.

I've loved Trader Joe's since my college days--and still love them despite the fact they are no longer handing out free balloons to kids. You can stock for fridge for next to nothing, and the frozen meals are borderline gourmet. I've cooked a fabulous three-course meal for four for less than $50 (including wine!) with Trader Joe's ingredients, but I want to mix it up with something new.

To get the creative juices flowing, I picked up Trader Joe's cookbook. It's got the scoop on the best ways to cook creative, low-cost meals with the fun items you can find on the shelves.

I got so inspired, I made two of my own Trader Joe's "recipes," and (talk about cheap thrills!) you can have them for free. They're both so simple, they hardly qualify as recipes--just the kind of "cooking" I like to do!

The Official Drink of Spring/Summer 2010: Cranberry-Lime Ricky for Grown Folks

Not too sweet, just the right amount of fizz and a nice helping of vitamin C, this refreshing drink is the perfect pick-me-up for a hot afternoon.

You will need:

100% Cranberry Juice ($3.99)
Sparkling Limeade ($2.99)
Optional: Vodka

Combine one part juice and two parts Carbonated Limeade. Serve over ice in a chilled glass. Garnish with a slice of lime or a sprig of mint.

Wanna make this a more grown-up beverage? Add a jigger of vodka to the mix for an extra kick.

The Official Appetizer of Spring/Summer 2010: Garbanz-amole

Satisfying, protein packed and easy to make, you can serve this as a snack, or spread it on a sandwich for a tasty, vegan lunch.

You will need:

1 can of Garbanzo Beans ($.89)
1 avocado (approx $.90) ¼ red onion (approx $.25)
3 TBSP Olive Oil
2 TBSP Lime Juice Salt and Pepper (to taste)

Combine the ingredients in a food processor set to chop. Don't go nuts with your processing--just a few seconds will do. You just want it blended enough to make it look like a traditional guacamole and get those onions nice and diced.

Serve with Water Crackers ($1.19)

If you are one of the poor, unfortunate folks who doesn't live near a Trader Joe's, don't cry. These recipes are still doable. But perhaps send good ol' Joe a letter and let him know you need his expert trading skills in your town ASAP!

Got a cheap and inspired Trader Joe's recipe of your own? Tell me about it in the comments below!

Annie Mebane is a screenwriter and improviser living in Los Angeles. A veteran Savings.com DealPro and beauty product aficionado, you can catch her blogging about beauty on Wednesdays.