I develop recipes for a living. Here are 9 Trader Joe's items I use to make easy meals and desserts.

• As a vegetarian, I love the store’s super-firm tofu and vegetable masala burgers.
• When I want to make dessert, I reach for Trader Joe’s butter waffle cookies and chocolate chunks.

I love Trader Joe’s Zhoug sauce.

I use freeze-dried fruit to add color to desserts and beverages.

I like to use Trader Joe’s white queso dip to make nachos.

Trader Joe’s white queso dip is mildly spicy and has that ooey-gooey texture that I love on nachos.

I just layer tortilla chips, beans, queso, and cheese on a foil-lined sheet pan, then pop it in the oven until it’s melty, before adding my choice of toppings.

I always keep a container of Trader Joe’s giant baked beans on hand.

Beans have really been having a renaissance lately, and I’m loving it.

I always grab a container of Trader Joe’s giant baked beans in tomato sauce. The cannellini beans are creamy and rich, and make the perfect base for toast.

I heat up some crusty sourdough with olive oil, top it with the beans and a sprinkle of cheese, then pop it back in the toaster. Once warm, I like to top it with lemony arugula and enjoy.