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I tend to think of Dollar Tree as a place to score party decorations that I\u2019ll use once, maybe twice, and don\u2019t want to blow a lot of cash on. Occasionally I\u2019ll find an organizing gem<\/a> or a few expert-approved cleaning supplies<\/a>, but groceries have yet to make the list of items I need to pick up. That is, until now.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Recently I veered left instead of right upon entering my local Dollar Tree store (where, per all stores, nearly everything costs $1.25) and ventured into the grocery section. I was surprised to see that many items I\u2019ve been paying big bucks for at other grocery retailers are at least 50% less here, including several pantry staples aptly timed for spring.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Of the many I spotted on shelves, these are three I highly recommend to keep you inspired from breakfast to dinner (and maybe even dessert).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Strawberries always make me think of late spring and early summer (this is when they are harvested in Wisconsin, at least). I spread this on multi-grain bread one morning and, wow, it hit the spot \u2014\u00a0not too sugary or sweet-tasting, as many jams and preserves tend to be. Maybe because the vanilla balances it out?\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Based on the mini size, this would be good to take on a picnic or concert in the park, or if you\u2019re checking into an Airbnb for a relaxing weekend. Interestingly, this jam is a \u201cproduct of Poland,\u201d per the packaging, and Old World Quality Foods<\/a> was founded by a Polish immigrant, Andy Kozierski. Old World\u2019s products are also sold at retailers like Costco, Food Lion (in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast), Giant Food (East Coast), and Mariano\u2019s (Chicago area).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n You can never have too many seasonings in the pantry, and this one reminds me of spring with its citrus flavor notes (thanks to lemon oil and citric acid). I like to have all-purpose seasonings like this on hand as an alternative to big brands or even my new favorite I picked up on a recent New Orleans trip (Tony Chachere\u2019s Original Creole Seasoning<\/a>).\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Sometimes you want a little more heat or a little more citrus \u2014 or maybe both. This one has that, folding in cayenne pepper, cumin, paprika, turmeric, and basil, resulting in a full-bodied, robust collection of flavors that work well with fish, poultry, and other meats. Some seasonings taste very salty, but this one does not (that\u2019s a good thing). I\u2019m definitely using this the next time I make taco meat out of ground beef.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n A few years back I started baking with alternative, gluten-free flours, but quickly learned this can be expensive. To score coconut flour for $1.25 that\u2019s certified organic by the USDA doesn\u2019t even seem possible \u2014 but it is at Dollar Tree. Other grocery retailers sell similar-sized sacks of coconut flour for $5+ a bag, including even the most competitively priced national discount retailers.\u00a0<\/p>\n What I especially like is this product\u2019s smaller-size bag, as it\u2019s not a flour I\u2019ll use often, but know I\u2019ll go through by the August 2025 Best Before<\/em> date. Turning to my favorite gluten-free blueberry muffin recipe<\/a> with coconut flour,\u00a0I was impressed by how moist these turned out. The product is from Sri Lanka and each purchase helps support rural women gain employment and children a good education through the Foundation of Goodness<\/a>, based in that country.<\/p>\n Spot any exciting new groceries at Dollar Tree lately? Tell us about it in the comments below.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n1. Old World Quality Foods Strawberry Vanilla Jam, $1.25 for 1.6 ounces<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
2. Colonna Citrus Garlic Seasoning, $1.25 for 2.25 ounces<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
3. Nature\u2019s Goodness Organic Coconut Flour, $1.25 for 8 ounces<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n